Meghan Markle’s children’s book “The Bench” completed its first week on the shelves, and the numbers that are coming in are not great. The book failed to crack The UK’s top 50 list of best sellers on its opening week. To be fair, a children’s picture isn’t necessarily something that typically sells out on a regular basis.
There was hope though that Meghan’s star power or at least her controversial figure would lead people to want to read it! The brits seem to be once again giving Meghan a cold shoulder!
According to reports around 3,212 copies of the book were sold on its first week. That puts it outside the top 50 selling books in the country. For comparison, the top-selling book in the country that week was “The Thursday Murder Club” selling 28,283 copies in the same week.
The book did crack the top 5 in the children’s book category on Amazon UK. This could be seen as a bit of a silver lining. Again though, with how much coverage the book has gotten the numbers are pretty sad!
Meghan Markle's book The Bench on a display in Europe's largest bookstore Waterstones Piccadilly, June 08 in London, England.The book comes just days after Meghan and Harry, the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, announced the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/SfGrxDVswi
— Art Gallery (@ArtGall71516523) June 8, 2021
The sales numbers are most likely taking a hit in the U.K. because most of the public has turned on Meghan. Is the book any good though? This may come as a shock to some people, but the only real way to find that out is to directly read it. Many reviews on the book shared on Goodreads.com are downright laughable.
There are people on the site giving it a 5-star review while commenting they’ve never even read it. Other folks give it a one-star review with the same credentials!
One reviewer wrote, ” I’m a serious proponent of not rating books you haven’t read – but I’m making an exception because I’m so sick and tired of the cruelty Meghan Markle receives for literally anything and everything she does.” then proceeded to give the book a 5-star review!
While some people want to point out that not everyone who has a son should be able to write a children’s book those are not Meghan’s only credentials. Other than her work on Suits, which was really the only major acting gig she picked up before marrying Harry, she ran a blog for many years.
Her blog was really where she developed a stronger fan base for sure. Many of the reviewers that were mentioned before referenced that fact. Saying they were just into the book because they missed Meghan’s blog writing.
There is an opportunity on the horizon for Meghan to boost those U.K. sales. According to multiple reports, she is planning to return to the UK at beginning of July. She will be alongside Harry for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue at Kensington Palace.
Things between the Sussexes and The Royal family have been quiet and cordial since the birth of Lilibet Diana. Prince Harry and Meghan’s second child. If they can put on a united front at the begging of next month maybe she can start to win back some of the British public!