Book Review: Di & I

Author: Peter Lefcourt
Title: Di & I
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date: Dec 1, 1995
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Princess Di is in love. At last. After all the fuss about Charles and Camilla, Di’s finally found the right guy—Leonard Schecter, an American with a taste for long-legged blondes and epic poetry. The love-starved pair meet at a Togolese embassy reception in London, stare into each other’s eyes, and go weak in the knees. They carry on a tempestuous affair under the noses of Diana’s bodyguards, her regal in-laws, young princes William and Harry, paparazzi, and Barbara Walters. Their passionate romance sweeps them from the Royal Box at Ascot to a McDonald’s franchise in Rancho Cucamonga, where they flee to seek a better—and private—life. Hilarious, romantic and madcap, "Di and I" is the most unlikely love story since Edward VIII ran off with Wallis Simpson. Only this time, the tale is a lot funnier

Review: Di and I is an alternative history of Princess Diana. Most of these types of books were written after her death. This one was written before her divorce.

There's something humorous about the book, because it was really ridiculous and it felt like the author's only research was reading Andrew Morton's biography. As a romance, there's absolutely no reason why Di would fall for Leonard, except that they danced together.  It drove me absolutely batty most of the time.

I've been a fan of Princess Diana's since she married Charles, and I know a bit about royal protocol.  There was one point where it mentions that if she was recognized that she'd sign autographs. THIS ISN'T DONE. Do some research when writing a book.

I truly hated how Leonard treated the other royals and for that matter how he treated Will and Harry in this book. I wanted to smack him. His portrayal of the boys was disappointing too. Will came across as a stick in the mud and Harry was just daft little boy.

Then there was Diana. Her portrayal in this book seemed like it was pulled from the bio, but other than that she's devoid of personality. She was just a cardboard character, who just happened to have sex with Leonard.

This book is labeled a romance, but the only thing that the author knows about romance is that there should be a happily ever after. In fact there's not even any conflict between the two. If Diana discovered that he was really a Hollywood writer out to do a film about her life, rather than a poet.

There was so much potential here, but it didn't live up to it at all.

Rating: 2 flowers