Meghan Markle, often touted as a literary force, was reportedly denied a book deal by Penguin Random House—the very same publisher that eagerly embraced Prince Harry’s emotional memoir, Spare.
Despite Meghan’s grand vision for her own tell-all memoir, tentatively titled Paper Cuts, the publisher was apparently unconvinced of its worth. The book was meant to serve as a meticulously compiled scrapbook of every critical remark ever written about her, presented as irrefutable evidence of her ongoing victimhood. However, according to Neil Sean’s sources, Penguin Random House remained unimpressed. They may have been expecting something with depth, nuance, or at the very least, readability. Instead, what they received was described as Meghan repeatedly lamenting, This is wrong, this is wrong, hardly the compelling narrative they had hoped for.
Her association with the publishing giant was primarily a byproduct of Prince Harry’s lucrative deal. When he secured his contract, it seemed Meghan was part of the package—a literary buy-one-get-one-free arrangement. Penguin reportedly agreed to consider Meghan’s book not for its inherent merit, but because of their vested interest in Spare, a memoir in which Harry bared his soul about everything from sibling scuffles to his first intimate encounter behind a pub. Yet, as drafts of Paper Cuts surfaced, it became evident that Meghan’s version of the truth lacked a crucial component—public interest. Even a publisher willing to release Spare, with all its frostbitten appendages and deeply personal confessions, took one look at Meghan’s manuscript and collectively decided to pass.
A major flaw in Meghan’s plan was that Paper Cuts was intended as a counterattack against the British royal family. She had reportedly been banking on Buckingham Palace releasing its long-rumored report on the bullying allegations against her, expecting to refute the claims in print. However, the palace never played along. The report was never made public, leaving Meghan without an official accusation to combat. Without a central controversy to anchor the book, it transformed from a scathing exposé into a directionless rant. Deprived of its dramatic hook, the project failed to secure a publishing deal—an undeniable checkmate. It became evident that ignoring Meghan was far more effective than engaging with her.
With Penguin Random House closing its doors, Meghan appears to have pivoted her literary ambitions toward a new tell-all: a potential divorce memoir. The age-old tradition of capitalizing on a failed marriage might now be her next move. Speculation has arisen following hints from Vogue and Vanity Fair that she has been shopping around a post-Harry memoir, fueling rumors that she may already be laying the groundwork for a separation. If true, it suggests another miscalculation on Meghan’s part. She may have envisioned Paper Cuts as the next Spare, but the publishing world isn’t that desperate. Without a fresh scandal to stoke public curiosity, her book lacked the intrigue needed to captivate readers.
