What do you think?
Rate this book
Diana, William, and Harry: The Heartbreaking Story of a Princess and Mother
Instant New York Times Bestseller!
“She was the best mother in the world,” said Princes William and Harry at Diana’s 10-year memorial. “Entertaining and persuasive,” ( Publishers Weekly ) this is the first big book about the private Diana, the mother of two princes.
“Royal fans will devour this well-paced biography that gives new insight into the House of Windsor. You’ll tear through it by sundown and walk away thinking about the Princess of Wales and her two sons with new perspective .” – Men’s Journal
From the moments William and Harry are born into the House of Windsor, they become their young mother’s whole world.
I’ve got two very healthy, strong boys. I realize how incredibly lucky I am , Diana reminds herself every morning. But even the Princess of Wales questions, Am I a good mother?
Diana’s faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: one son destined to be King of England and another determined to find his own way. She teaches them to honor royal tradition, even while daring to break it.
“Sometimes I’d like a time machine…” Diana says as William and Harry grow up, never imagining they’d have less than a lifetime together. Even after she’s gone, her sons follow their mother’s lead—and her heart. As the years pass and William and Harry grow into adulthood and form families of their own, they carry on Diana’s name, her likeness, and her incomparable spirit.
“James Patterson applies his writerly skills to real-life history with novelistic style” ( People ) in this deeply personal and revealing biography of the world’s most storied family, from the world’s #1 bestselling author.
“She was the best mother in the world,” said Princes William and Harry at Diana’s 10-year memorial. “Entertaining and persuasive,” ( Publishers Weekly ) this is the first big book about the private Diana, the mother of two princes.
“Royal fans will devour this well-paced biography that gives new insight into the House of Windsor. You’ll tear through it by sundown and walk away thinking about the Princess of Wales and her two sons with new perspective .” – Men’s Journal
From the moments William and Harry are born into the House of Windsor, they become their young mother’s whole world.
I’ve got two very healthy, strong boys. I realize how incredibly lucky I am , Diana reminds herself every morning. But even the Princess of Wales questions, Am I a good mother?
Diana’s faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: one son destined to be King of England and another determined to find his own way. She teaches them to honor royal tradition, even while daring to break it.
“Sometimes I’d like a time machine…” Diana says as William and Harry grow up, never imagining they’d have less than a lifetime together. Even after she’s gone, her sons follow their mother’s lead—and her heart. As the years pass and William and Harry grow into adulthood and form families of their own, they carry on Diana’s name, her likeness, and her incomparable spirit.
“James Patterson applies his writerly skills to real-life history with novelistic style” ( People ) in this deeply personal and revealing biography of the world’s most storied family, from the world’s #1 bestselling author.
448 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2022
About the author
James Patterson
1,559 books346k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
February 5, 2024
After reading some of the positive reviews, I'm left wondering if we all read the same book. This was not what I expected; the title and synopsis were misleading as this is really just a timeline touching on key events in Diana's life, and then later in her sons' lives, and not a deeper look at the relationship between Diana and her boys as I assumed and hoped for.
The first half follows Diana's life from meeting Charles to her death, and I will say that the chapters covering her death and funeral were touching. The second half looks at William and Harry's lives since Diana's death including their education, gap year activities, military careers, romantic relationships, and eventual marriages and children.
In the first half, the boys are barely mentioned, and in the second half Diana is barely mentioned. I thought this would be a look at the relationship and special bond between mother and sons and the influence she had over their characters both when they were young and still yet today. I do think they each thought highly and fondly of the other but I learned that from other sources throughout the years, and all the coverage of all that is Diana. I did not get that sense from this book., which ultimately is a disappointing rehash of previous reports with very, very little new information.
An okay read for those who want an abridged biography of Diana, William, and Harry, and who know almost nothing going in. If you, like most people, already have fairly good knowledge of the British royals, this may be a satisfactory review. Royal aficionados will prefer individual biographies on the royal person(s) of interest.
The first half follows Diana's life from meeting Charles to her death, and I will say that the chapters covering her death and funeral were touching. The second half looks at William and Harry's lives since Diana's death including their education, gap year activities, military careers, romantic relationships, and eventual marriages and children.
In the first half, the boys are barely mentioned, and in the second half Diana is barely mentioned. I thought this would be a look at the relationship and special bond between mother and sons and the influence she had over their characters both when they were young and still yet today. I do think they each thought highly and fondly of the other but I learned that from other sources throughout the years, and all the coverage of all that is Diana. I did not get that sense from this book., which ultimately is a disappointing rehash of previous reports with very, very little new information.
An okay read for those who want an abridged biography of Diana, William, and Harry, and who know almost nothing going in. If you, like most people, already have fairly good knowledge of the British royals, this may be a satisfactory review. Royal aficionados will prefer individual biographies on the royal person(s) of interest.
September 9, 2022
Well researched and historically accurate but written in a more humanist way than other books I've read about the royals. In classic Patterson style the chapters are short. There was nothing cheesy or gossipy. It's a nice reminder of the special bond between a mother and her sons. Most especially how in a short time she can encourage them to respect and honor the women in their lives.
October 18, 2022
It's an established fact that James Patterson is a very talented writer, so when he lends his skills to a Windsor biography I'm already expecting a good read. He didn't disappoint. The book begins as Princess Diana first gets romantically involved with Prince Charles, and ends after the death of Prince Philip and The Queen moving permanently to Windsor Castle in 2022. It doesn't cover anything about The Queen's Platinum Jubilee or her death in September because the book was just released in mid August.
When you read extensively about the royals as I have, new books often are rehashings of what came before. However, it becomes a hunt for new kernels of information and "aha" moments when you find them. I don't remember ever reading before that Lady Diana's engagement ring was inspired by a sapphire and diamond jewel brooch given to Queen Victoria on the eve of her wedding to Prince Albert. I always read that she picked out her ring from the tray provided because it was the biggest. But apparently, they ALL were sapphire and diamond rings to choose from based on that theme. I bought about four fabulous fakes of that ring throughout the decades, and think it's just gorgeous!
Patterson covers Princes William and Harry's loves as well, so this is a concise telling of forty years of Windsor history at over 400 pages, with some lovely color photos included.
Thank you to my local public library for the privilege of reading this book.
September 23, 2022
Diana, Princess of Wales, only lived until 36 years of age, and tragically died on August 31, 1997. She was mother to William and Harry, as anyone with knowledge of the British royal family is aware of. James Patterson and Chris Mooney have written a timely memoir of sorts in consideration of lives of Lady Diana and her sons William and Harry. As the boys came into the world, they were the chief focus of her life. As her marriage slowly fell apart, Lady Diana remained close to her sons.
While this book was more than informative about Princess Diana and her sons, it focused more on her. As I listened to this as an audiobook, I found the narration to be a bit dry. However, with excellent research a lot of what has been posted in the media was accurately recounted.
With the sad death of Queen Elizabeth, it was more than timely that I had the chance to listen to experiences that involved the royal family. I have no doubt that many other books are or will be written that focus on the British Monarchy.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
While this book was more than informative about Princess Diana and her sons, it focused more on her. As I listened to this as an audiobook, I found the narration to be a bit dry. However, with excellent research a lot of what has been posted in the media was accurately recounted.
With the sad death of Queen Elizabeth, it was more than timely that I had the chance to listen to experiences that involved the royal family. I have no doubt that many other books are or will be written that focus on the British Monarchy.
Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 28, 2022
Can you believe diana would be in her 60s if she were still alive??? My mind is blown. I just cannot deal with all of this reality. My new address is 123 cocoon nowhere yet everywhere, USA
So the narrator just said that around the time of Phillip’s death and William and Katherine’s 10 year anniversary (10! It does not seem that long) diana would have been 60 years old. I cannot imagine that. I mean realistically yes I know this to be true, but damn. I’m wondering if anyone has ever done a digital aging on her face? I just do not see her as ever growing old.
Srsly I know she had her issues ( when teaching we never said “problems”) I know she was devastated over Camilla, which I do not blame her, I even have my moments when Camilla just stuns me with her finery (good lord-that insulation hat was horrid), and I know authors want the juicy bits (which there are some in this book), but Diana sounds like one of the best mummy’s ever. She really does. She bent not just backwards, but sideways, for these boys. They both loved her so, so much. Good lord! She was granted over $22.5 million at the divorce. But lost the HRH, which chafed. William says I don’t care what you’re called, you’re mummy. But don’t worry I’ll give it back to you when I am king. And now I’m crying so much I can’t even type correctly.
So the narrator just said that around the time of Phillip’s death and William and Katherine’s 10 year anniversary (10! It does not seem that long) diana would have been 60 years old. I cannot imagine that. I mean realistically yes I know this to be true, but damn. I’m wondering if anyone has ever done a digital aging on her face? I just do not see her as ever growing old.
Srsly I know she had her issues ( when teaching we never said “problems”) I know she was devastated over Camilla, which I do not blame her, I even have my moments when Camilla just stuns me with her finery (good lord-that insulation hat was horrid), and I know authors want the juicy bits (which there are some in this book), but Diana sounds like one of the best mummy’s ever. She really does. She bent not just backwards, but sideways, for these boys. They both loved her so, so much. Good lord! She was granted over $22.5 million at the divorce. But lost the HRH, which chafed. William says I don’t care what you’re called, you’re mummy. But don’t worry I’ll give it back to you when I am king. And now I’m crying so much I can’t even type correctly.
January 20, 2023
This is a good book to read if you are not familiar with Princess Diana, William, or Harry. It is really just an overview of each person’s life. Diana definitely was a caring woman and remember feeling so sad the day she died. Then seeing both William and Harry at the funeral, it really was obvious how much pain they were in. So, the first half is really facts about Diana’s life. The second half tells about William and Harry, but on a too superficial a level.
I was hoping for an in-depth and intimate glimpse into Diana and her relationship with William and Harry. I was hoping to read new info about Diana’s early days and becoming a mother. Then wanted to know about William’s personality and Harry’s as well. This was discussed a little, but not much. Just felt more like reading their resume. There were a few interesting stories, but not much I hadn’t heard. It didn’t seem as if the author knew much about their internal lives and relationship to each other. They were known to be close and then had a falling out, but you never know why. That is not discussed in the book.
Felt is was hard on Princess Diana to be part of the monarchy at such a young age and Charles never loved her. He wasn’t allowed until so much later to be with the woman he loved. It doesn’t seem to be an easy life to blend into, but especially when she was married as a teenager. So, liked reading about Diana, as she had so many painful moments to live through, but was always happy to have her sons. She seemed to search for meaning in her life by helping others in pain as well.
I was hoping for an in-depth and intimate glimpse into Diana and her relationship with William and Harry. I was hoping to read new info about Diana’s early days and becoming a mother. Then wanted to know about William’s personality and Harry’s as well. This was discussed a little, but not much. Just felt more like reading their resume. There were a few interesting stories, but not much I hadn’t heard. It didn’t seem as if the author knew much about their internal lives and relationship to each other. They were known to be close and then had a falling out, but you never know why. That is not discussed in the book.
Felt is was hard on Princess Diana to be part of the monarchy at such a young age and Charles never loved her. He wasn’t allowed until so much later to be with the woman he loved. It doesn’t seem to be an easy life to blend into, but especially when she was married as a teenager. So, liked reading about Diana, as she had so many painful moments to live through, but was always happy to have her sons. She seemed to search for meaning in her life by helping others in pain as well.
August 20, 2022
This book was basically a timeline which can be found anywhere.
Nothing new to report and the random decision that anyone knew what people said to themselves when they were alone was a weird touch.
Nothing new to report and the random decision that anyone knew what people said to themselves when they were alone was a weird touch.
August 20, 2022
I was very disappointed in this book. The writing style is not typical of JP. It’s very choppy and doesn’t flow very well. So much of her life and what she did was left out. I was wondering how anyone could write a book about her let alone the princes in such a small amount of space. JP skipped over so much of what has come to make the Princes who they are today.
October 23, 2022
James Patterson tends to publish one or two non-fiction books, and truth be told, I don’t usually read them. However, this year I have broken new ground. I not only read his own personal memoirs – “The Stories of My Life” – during the summer, but I have just finished his take on the story of Princess Diana and her two sons, William, and Henry.
I had my doubts about reading “Diana, William, and Henry”, so before I started, I took a peek at the online reviews posted by readers on Goodreads and Amazon. This is not always a good thing as I like to avoid any chance of my view being tainted beforehand. What I found very interesting was that most readers had one of two general views. They either really enjoyed the book, praising it, or they tended to be rather negative because of their criticism that the events written about were not accurately presented. Feedback fell into those two extremes and there wasn’t much middle ground.
Because of that, I am going to qualify my review with the following comments. I am not an expert on history. Then again, let’s be honest. Neither do I expect everything to be one-hundred-percent accurate in a James Patterson book, regardless of whether it is a fiction or non-fiction. I cannot suspend my disbelief and trust any author that much, whether it be Patterson or anybody else in the general bestselling marketplace. And I am okay with that. Other readers may consider the need for strong accuracy to be a showstopper, and I completely respect that. To each their own. However, for me, I am going to be a bit lenient in this area of concern.
From my perspective there were many things to like about taking this approach to examining the life of Princess Diana and her two sons, contrasted against the backdrop of the royal family. Like Patterson’s memoirs, I found myself easily drawn into this one quickly, the pages turning fast, and my full attention and immersion was sealed quickly. The book starts in 1978 when Diana meets Prince Charles and their courtship begins. It follows their wedding, their children - William and Henry, the failure of their marriage, their divorce, Diana’s fateful death, the growing up of her sons, and their own eventual marriages to Kate and Meghan. It culminates with Harry and Meghan’s letting go of their royal duties and moving to California in 2021, long with the Queen’s departure from Buckingham Palace to spend her final days at Windsor Castle.
If you are like me, having an overwhelming love and respect for Diana and a feeling of contempt and disgust towards Charles, this is the book for you. It easily fed the personal fire of all of my positive thoughts I had of her, as well as all of the negative thoughts I had of him. I especially appreciated the chapters covering the years of William and Henry growing up without their mother in their lives and the impact she left on them. I had not heard as much about their schooling and military experiences before and it was interesting to read of those influential moments and their impacts. It was so easy to caught up in the events in their lives and feel like I was right there next to them, experiencing it firsthand with them.
Now, that doesn’t mean there were things that I struggled with. There were at least two things I must mention. The first is that Patterson’s writing style favors short chapters, and in this case, it came across at times as if each chapter were a newspaper story or article, and all of them added up together equaled a book. The transitions between chapters bounced around, causing the book to read in many ways like a timeline rather than a cohesive novel, with interconnected chapters that told a unified story. I saw that this bothered some readers, but I was able to deal with it.
The other thing that sometimes bothered me was that Patterson didn’t cover some of the major events in more detail as I wanted him to. In those instances, I was left wanting more information, but didn’t get it. However, it was clear that he made a conscious choice to focus this book on Diana and her influence and impact on William and Henry. This was meant to be a personal story of a mother and her sons, painted against the backdrop of the traditions, expectations, and responsibilities of being a part of England’s royal family. In my view, this personal approach to telling their story worked in more ways than it didn’t.
Overall, this turned out to be a more personal reading experience than I expected. It is so easy to be drawn to Diana and her story, as well as that of William and Henry. Her life and way-too-early-passing had such a profound affect throughout the world, and it had a surprising influence in my own life and my own relationship with my two young daughters. Reading Patterson’s book brought back so many of those emotional and heart-tugging memories that have influenced my views and values. Patterson may not have got all of the facts and circumstances correct, but he sure provided me a strong reminder of why I will never forget Princess Diana, her personal strength, influence, and impact.
I had my doubts about reading “Diana, William, and Henry”, so before I started, I took a peek at the online reviews posted by readers on Goodreads and Amazon. This is not always a good thing as I like to avoid any chance of my view being tainted beforehand. What I found very interesting was that most readers had one of two general views. They either really enjoyed the book, praising it, or they tended to be rather negative because of their criticism that the events written about were not accurately presented. Feedback fell into those two extremes and there wasn’t much middle ground.
Because of that, I am going to qualify my review with the following comments. I am not an expert on history. Then again, let’s be honest. Neither do I expect everything to be one-hundred-percent accurate in a James Patterson book, regardless of whether it is a fiction or non-fiction. I cannot suspend my disbelief and trust any author that much, whether it be Patterson or anybody else in the general bestselling marketplace. And I am okay with that. Other readers may consider the need for strong accuracy to be a showstopper, and I completely respect that. To each their own. However, for me, I am going to be a bit lenient in this area of concern.
From my perspective there were many things to like about taking this approach to examining the life of Princess Diana and her two sons, contrasted against the backdrop of the royal family. Like Patterson’s memoirs, I found myself easily drawn into this one quickly, the pages turning fast, and my full attention and immersion was sealed quickly. The book starts in 1978 when Diana meets Prince Charles and their courtship begins. It follows their wedding, their children - William and Henry, the failure of their marriage, their divorce, Diana’s fateful death, the growing up of her sons, and their own eventual marriages to Kate and Meghan. It culminates with Harry and Meghan’s letting go of their royal duties and moving to California in 2021, long with the Queen’s departure from Buckingham Palace to spend her final days at Windsor Castle.
If you are like me, having an overwhelming love and respect for Diana and a feeling of contempt and disgust towards Charles, this is the book for you. It easily fed the personal fire of all of my positive thoughts I had of her, as well as all of the negative thoughts I had of him. I especially appreciated the chapters covering the years of William and Henry growing up without their mother in their lives and the impact she left on them. I had not heard as much about their schooling and military experiences before and it was interesting to read of those influential moments and their impacts. It was so easy to caught up in the events in their lives and feel like I was right there next to them, experiencing it firsthand with them.
Now, that doesn’t mean there were things that I struggled with. There were at least two things I must mention. The first is that Patterson’s writing style favors short chapters, and in this case, it came across at times as if each chapter were a newspaper story or article, and all of them added up together equaled a book. The transitions between chapters bounced around, causing the book to read in many ways like a timeline rather than a cohesive novel, with interconnected chapters that told a unified story. I saw that this bothered some readers, but I was able to deal with it.
The other thing that sometimes bothered me was that Patterson didn’t cover some of the major events in more detail as I wanted him to. In those instances, I was left wanting more information, but didn’t get it. However, it was clear that he made a conscious choice to focus this book on Diana and her influence and impact on William and Henry. This was meant to be a personal story of a mother and her sons, painted against the backdrop of the traditions, expectations, and responsibilities of being a part of England’s royal family. In my view, this personal approach to telling their story worked in more ways than it didn’t.
Overall, this turned out to be a more personal reading experience than I expected. It is so easy to be drawn to Diana and her story, as well as that of William and Henry. Her life and way-too-early-passing had such a profound affect throughout the world, and it had a surprising influence in my own life and my own relationship with my two young daughters. Reading Patterson’s book brought back so many of those emotional and heart-tugging memories that have influenced my views and values. Patterson may not have got all of the facts and circumstances correct, but he sure provided me a strong reminder of why I will never forget Princess Diana, her personal strength, influence, and impact.
August 22, 2022
There really should be a way to give minus zero stars
August 15, 2022
Eye-opening, interesting, and informative!
Diana, William, and Harry is the detailed, perceptive biography of Princess Diana and her two sons, William and Harry, from the time of her introduction to Prince Charles, her fairytale wedding, her delight in being a mother, a divorce that rocked the monarchy, an early tragic death, and the pressures, responsibilities, and sadness for two motherless boys growing up to date, wed, take on careers, and become parents themselves under a bright and never-fading spotlight.
The writing is crisp and clear. The characters are inspiring, hardworking, and driven. And the novel is a compelling tale of the highs and lows involved in being a member of the most popular monarchy in the world.
Overall, Diana, William, and Harry was a nostalgic read for me as I remember both getting up early to see the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and being consumed by the horrific breaking news of her fatal car accident on the streets of Paris. It is also, ultimately, a well-researched, insightful read about a strong, independent woman and her two sons, beloved by all, and their constant struggles and challenges with the paparazzi, lack of freedom, and life within an institution where image, tradition, and responsibility are valued above all else.
Thank you to HBG Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Diana, William, and Harry is the detailed, perceptive biography of Princess Diana and her two sons, William and Harry, from the time of her introduction to Prince Charles, her fairytale wedding, her delight in being a mother, a divorce that rocked the monarchy, an early tragic death, and the pressures, responsibilities, and sadness for two motherless boys growing up to date, wed, take on careers, and become parents themselves under a bright and never-fading spotlight.
The writing is crisp and clear. The characters are inspiring, hardworking, and driven. And the novel is a compelling tale of the highs and lows involved in being a member of the most popular monarchy in the world.
Overall, Diana, William, and Harry was a nostalgic read for me as I remember both getting up early to see the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and being consumed by the horrific breaking news of her fatal car accident on the streets of Paris. It is also, ultimately, a well-researched, insightful read about a strong, independent woman and her two sons, beloved by all, and their constant struggles and challenges with the paparazzi, lack of freedom, and life within an institution where image, tradition, and responsibility are valued above all else.
Thank you to HBG Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this....but then I love James Patterson.
I hated Tina Browns book which I thought was just a book version of the National Enquirer and very tacky.
This on the other hand wasn't based on gossip it was factual and made into an easy reading, not wanting to put down book.
Thank you James and Chris!!
I hated Tina Browns book which I thought was just a book version of the National Enquirer and very tacky.
This on the other hand wasn't based on gossip it was factual and made into an easy reading, not wanting to put down book.
Thank you James and Chris!!
August 20, 2022
Not much new in this one. The author fabricates entire conversations and doesn't even repeat the correct story of how Harry and Meghan met (it was in London, not Toronto). It was sort of a waste of my time.
August 25, 2022
One of the worst books I have read in a very long time. He chapters are short and choppy. The “facts” are the same things read in newspapers and journals over the years. He jumps around stories and it doesn’t flow.
I finished the book but couldn’t wait for it to be over.
Sorry I spent money on the book- if you want to read it, get it from the library.
I finished the book but couldn’t wait for it to be over.
Sorry I spent money on the book- if you want to read it, get it from the library.
November 14, 2023
Review: What I liked--- This is an engaging read with the short chapters on an interesting topic. I did not like that so much of it felt like hearsay. It was sort of like history woven with fiction since it has too many person details that could not have been 100% truth.
Recommended For: Those who love the royals.
November 18, 2022
It's like when you forget you have a paper due and write the whole thing the night before
September 20, 2022
I am not usually a fan of biographies but I have always been fascinated by Princess Diana and her boys. Diana, William and Harry is written by James Patterson and it reads like a novel. I was grabbed from the first page as it typical with this author. His signature short chapters was also appreciated.
October 1, 2022
Pretty bad, this book is listed as NON fiction, yet he quotes what Diana was thinking when she died??? So many other things like that, that are beyond inconsistent. Almost 50 pages of notes and alleged quotes from hundreds of sources at the end. Patterson can get anything published that's for sure. I'm sure that many people will pick this up because of the queen's passing and Patterson's popularity, hopefully they will see what a sham it is.
September 5, 2022
I wasn't sure what to think when I saw this was "written" by James Patterson (or, rather, is churned out by his "writing" factory) but decided to give it a try. I guess I can see why these non-fiction books pushed out by his ghostwriters do so well—they're written like novels, but with a very elementary "See Jane Run" kind of style. I could gulp down huge portions of it extremely quickly. But it definitely doesn't give you any real insight into anything. It's all just rehashed info from what is already out there, then arranged into bite-sized, easy-to-swallow pieces. This kind of writing is akin to scarfing down a bucket of popcorn—it's a lot of empty calories that leaves you feeling strangely unfulfilled and a little queasy.
October 18, 2022
I'm not fully sure what I was expecting upon completion of this book.....but this kind of, sort of, wasn't it.
I didn't learn anything new or groundbreaking (maybe because I am a Royal family NERD to the upteenth power). The "chapters" are really about a page and a half. And while it reads conversational in town, it feels like it is badly written (but I don't expect anything different from James Patterson)
I want a look into the Royal Family NOW...you know the whole Cambridge and Sussex family drama. Also, I really would like to know if Queen Elizabeth defrosted towards Camilla before she died. How do the boys (mostly William) feel about her? I mean, this book does hit on the fact that Diana wasn't the saint we have viewed her to be. She had her own roving eye as it were.
It is heartbreaking how she passed. And how the boys relationship has grown COLD over the years. But again, that was not brought up as I wanted. =/
I didn't learn anything new or groundbreaking (maybe because I am a Royal family NERD to the upteenth power). The "chapters" are really about a page and a half. And while it reads conversational in town, it feels like it is badly written (but I don't expect anything different from James Patterson)
I want a look into the Royal Family NOW...you know the whole Cambridge and Sussex family drama. Also, I really would like to know if Queen Elizabeth defrosted towards Camilla before she died. How do the boys (mostly William) feel about her? I mean, this book does hit on the fact that Diana wasn't the saint we have viewed her to be. She had her own roving eye as it were.
It is heartbreaking how she passed. And how the boys relationship has grown COLD over the years. But again, that was not brought up as I wanted. =/
September 10, 2022
Short chapters for quick reading. Not a lot of new information; some nice pictures.
February 1, 2023
Biography of Princess Diana, and her sons, Princes William and Harry.
This was a nice overview of the lives of Diana and her sons. The first half focused on Diana until her tragic death in 1997, and then the second on William and Harry.
This was a nice overview of the lives of Diana and her sons. The first half focused on Diana until her tragic death in 1997, and then the second on William and Harry.
January 3, 2024
Was a good book to read if u want to know about Diana her sons
November 13, 2022
I have to say after reading many books about the Windsors I was expecting more than basically a re-hash of articles and other books. I almost abandoned the book several times but persevered. Which is not how I like to think about reading!
October 23, 2022
I love Princess Diana and everything Princess Diana. Would have given it a 5 except it glossed over some of the Diana tragedies a little too much, like the bulimia and depression, etc. Also, it was a little heavy on the Princes' military careers instead of family lives. Not really knowledgeable or really caring about Apache airplane flights and such. Overall, a great read-- I even learned something new as a long Princess Di fan.
September 30, 2022
Warning: To those of you who are big fans of James Patterson. Don't read my review any further. As you are not going to like it. I didn't realize why I didn't like his previous non-fiction book, about Jeffrey Epstein It fell flat. It didn't dawn on me why I didn't particularly care for it. It. I will explain later.
To those of you who are expecting a well researched book with interviews, and resources. Don't bother. Bit, those who don't care about the facts, and looking for a page turner. Then you will like it. The book felt like a novelization of Diana, and the boys.
I was about the same age as Princess Diana when the courtship with Charles started. I think she was a couple years younger.
My take on Diana, William, and Harry is neither positive or negative on the writing, and the creativity.
The book gave me a bad taste in my mouth. This book is not authorized by William or Harry, or Princess Diana's estate. There aren't any interviews. Everything I read I already knew or could have done a Google search.
The book is written like a novel with newsclipping blended into the book. Which made i call a novel. If you start reading you will see what I'm talking about.
Nothing is backed by facts. It's fiction immersed into footnotes from newspapers. If you know anything about British media. Many of it is gossip, and heresay. I was expecting it to be bad. But not this bad.
How would the writers know about intimidate details unless both these authors interviewed unless they were interviewed by family, friends, employees employed by the monarch, etc. I am not a monarch lover or hater, I'm an objective follower.
If you don't know anything about Princess Diana, or her boys then the book may interest you. But, someone like me an American, middle age. Would most likely not like reading it.
I feel Mr. Patterson is now thinks he's big for his breeches. Has a new style. He now thinks he has an an audience in non-fiction. He also must think he is fooling the general public. He may, but not me.
He thinks this is non fiction. He isn't an authority unless he does investigative and journalistic reporting. He wrote about Jeffrey Epstein a couple years ago, and then ER nurses. So he thinks this is non-fiction with only news footnotes to back up his resources without interviews. I don't usually write bad reviews. I try to be kind, and objective.
This gets my blood boiling when an author wants to dupe his audience. James Patterson name in books is a brand, nothing else. When it comes to non-fiction. He tries to come up in innovative ways to promote his brand. Not for the love of his craft.
Everyone has a right to free speech and can write about anything, and anyone they want. But, writing a biography. The book you expect should have interviews, resources, not just newspaper articles.
If it was a novel, or a thriller I would have enjoyed it. I did though like reading for the nostalgia of the Monarchy of Charles, and Diana years. That perhaps was the only thing I liked.
To those of you who are expecting a well researched book with interviews, and resources. Don't bother. Bit, those who don't care about the facts, and looking for a page turner. Then you will like it. The book felt like a novelization of Diana, and the boys.
I was about the same age as Princess Diana when the courtship with Charles started. I think she was a couple years younger.
My take on Diana, William, and Harry is neither positive or negative on the writing, and the creativity.
The book gave me a bad taste in my mouth. This book is not authorized by William or Harry, or Princess Diana's estate. There aren't any interviews. Everything I read I already knew or could have done a Google search.
The book is written like a novel with newsclipping blended into the book. Which made i call a novel. If you start reading you will see what I'm talking about.
Nothing is backed by facts. It's fiction immersed into footnotes from newspapers. If you know anything about British media. Many of it is gossip, and heresay. I was expecting it to be bad. But not this bad.
How would the writers know about intimidate details unless both these authors interviewed unless they were interviewed by family, friends, employees employed by the monarch, etc. I am not a monarch lover or hater, I'm an objective follower.
If you don't know anything about Princess Diana, or her boys then the book may interest you. But, someone like me an American, middle age. Would most likely not like reading it.
I feel Mr. Patterson is now thinks he's big for his breeches. Has a new style. He now thinks he has an an audience in non-fiction. He also must think he is fooling the general public. He may, but not me.
He thinks this is non fiction. He isn't an authority unless he does investigative and journalistic reporting. He wrote about Jeffrey Epstein a couple years ago, and then ER nurses. So he thinks this is non-fiction with only news footnotes to back up his resources without interviews. I don't usually write bad reviews. I try to be kind, and objective.
This gets my blood boiling when an author wants to dupe his audience. James Patterson name in books is a brand, nothing else. When it comes to non-fiction. He tries to come up in innovative ways to promote his brand. Not for the love of his craft.
Everyone has a right to free speech and can write about anything, and anyone they want. But, writing a biography. The book you expect should have interviews, resources, not just newspaper articles.
If it was a novel, or a thriller I would have enjoyed it. I did though like reading for the nostalgia of the Monarchy of Charles, and Diana years. That perhaps was the only thing I liked.
August 29, 2023
Very easy read and I actually learned a few new bits of information that I hadn't known before; which is rare these days when it comes to this bunch.
September 22, 2022
Fascinating and endearing. There is an extensive “notes” section that outlines all the well-researched references within individual chapters. The chapters themselves are each only a few pages long, which makes it very easy and tempting to keep reading. Overall the book was like an appetizing overview of decades and personal details, and the notes section is like a menu of “entree options” for further study. I always like when a book feels satisfying, yet inspires me to learn more, and this book did just that.
August 30, 2022
I loved this simply written book about Diana and her boys. I was not aware of their comprehensive military duty in Great Britain and the Commonwealth. I especially have a new found respect for Harry since the negative media surrounding his and Megan's departure from Royalty and Great Britain. I now understand how deeply he must have been hurt by loosing all his military appointments and honors. I am surprised the Queen acted so severely. Today I see in the news Harry supporting his mothers foundation. What wonderful men and Diana would have been so proud of both of them.
October 13, 2022
I should have realized when I started this book I would be vastly disappointed. I do not like James Patterson's writing. There, I said it. Some of you may want to tar and feather me, but if you are still reading, you must have a similar opinion of his writing as I.
This book is a superficial treatment of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her two sons. Ninety-nine percent of this book was already known to me as I was an adult before she was married to Prince Charles, and followed her history avidly. Not only is there precious little new material here, but it is presented in a sketchy, choppy manner. The chapters are short, sometimes only a page, giving no sense of flow, which I feel nonfiction books need to have as well as fiction. This book is written as a limited timeline, or abbreviated diary. The dates at the top of each page give the date in sequential manner, which would not be necessary since this book is in chronological order.
If you don't know much about Diana and her sons or you are head-over-heels about his writing, this book may be for you. I was not impressed.
This book is a superficial treatment of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her two sons. Ninety-nine percent of this book was already known to me as I was an adult before she was married to Prince Charles, and followed her history avidly. Not only is there precious little new material here, but it is presented in a sketchy, choppy manner. The chapters are short, sometimes only a page, giving no sense of flow, which I feel nonfiction books need to have as well as fiction. This book is written as a limited timeline, or abbreviated diary. The dates at the top of each page give the date in sequential manner, which would not be necessary since this book is in chronological order.
If you don't know much about Diana and her sons or you are head-over-heels about his writing, this book may be for you. I was not impressed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews