Debbie has always been an Anglophile, and is enjoying her experience of studying abroad for college. She meets Alan by chance and the two enjoy a casual relationship until Debbie finds herself pregnant. Alan and Debbie marry, but the wedding and new baby are the beginning of the demise of the relationship. As Alan becomes busier and busier with work and his wealthy family pays for a nanny and housekeeper, Debbie grows more and more bored. Still enjoying all things English, she begins somewhat of an obsession with English royalty, in particular Princess Diana. Debbie collects and shops for mementos to appease her boredom and help her focus on something other than her imploding marriage. Debbie and Alan finally divorce and Debbie returns to the States with her three children.

The story is told in multiple parts: Debbie's present day life in her home that has become overcrowded with her Windsor memorabilia, Debbie recalling how her past relationship with Alan has led her to become a hoarder, and from her oldest daughter, Sarah, who stars as an etiquette and organizational guru on Good Morning New York's morning show. Sarah's brother, Will, got a job on "Stuff," a hoarding show, and wants to feature their mother to help her clean out her home before she gets hurt. As the children and their mother work through the hoarding issues, they also begin to work through their parents' relationship and the effect it has had on them.

I feel like this book is not getting enough attention and recognition! It was a great story about what can trigger hoarding and its affect on a family. For a deep subject matter, this story was able to maintain a light touch with humor added around the edges. Although the story was not told from the perspective of all three children, the reader can see how the ramifications of the failed marriage and how Debbie's hoarding affected them. The reader will also have empathy for the children's father, Alan. All in all, great story about hoarding without the sadness and sickening scenes typical of hoarding stories and shows.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice break from the thrillers I typically read. It was a bit predictable, especially the ending, but sometimes that’s just what we need.

This was an interesting, entertaining book. It was a family drama with a bit of everything thrown in- humor, sadness and heartwarming moments. I enjoyed the different family dynamics and the book itself was well written. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a good read.

I absolutely adored this book--from the very first word until the very last. Contino's characters in this story are an utter delight, and I would have happily hung out with them while they cleaned out their mother's (Debbie) home. I especially loved the before parts, where we get an inside look at Debbie's thoughts and feelings and why she started hoarding in the first place, Alan was an absolute bastard.

The brilliance of this novel goes well beyond characters. It's really a grown up coming of age story, as Debbie wrestles with cleaning out her hoard for the television show Stuff...of which her son is a producer. While debbie deals with what to keep, what to throw away and what to donate she also has to deal with her feelings from the past. That leads Debbie to flee to London to confront her ex and her children follow suit...not to mention the Stuff's host and star!

Finding a heartfelt yet witty book, with an ending that made me smile, is not easy right now...and I love how I felt and looked at the world after reading this. If you want a little bit of magic in your life, this is the book for you.

This was an interesting book and not something I usually read. I liked the 2 person narrative and I really enjoyed the drama throughout the story!

Such a fun read. This book is full of emotions and family drama. Loved it. It’s a perfect escape read

Even though I don’t watch hoarding shows, I’ve always been fascinated by the why. Why do people choose to keep and keep? Why can they not let go of items that to the unassuming eye, may not hold any special meaning? This story digs into Debbie’s why, with chapters jumping from past to present. You begin to peel back the layers of Debbie’s heartache that continues to affect her as she reluctantly accepts to appear on this show.

Told in two perspectives, A House Full of Windsor tells the story of Sarah, a tv show personality, and her mother Debbie. Debbie is a hoarder of all things royal, and her life is somewhat parallel to the life of Princess Diana. When her son gets a job on a tv show called Stuff, a show about hoarders, he gets Sarah and Debbie to be on it. The book takes you between Debbie’s present time and past as she tries to tackle her past problems to be able to deal with the current ones. While in Sarah’s perspective on how her mother’s past affects her future.

I thought the concept of the book was really cute. It’s an easy read that any royal lover will want to pick up. It surprised me in all the right ways and I would definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait to read more of Kristin Contino’s books.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kristin Contino and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting, entertaining book. It was a family drama with a bit of everything thrown in- humor, sadness and heartwarming moments. I enjoyed the different family dynamics and the book itself was well written. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a good read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing and Kristin Contino for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this one not knowing much about it, but was pleasantly surprised! Love the Royal connection in this book, particularly to Princess Diana! I love the family dynamic in this story! I think it goes to show just how much family members can love, annoy and frustrate each other. But they also go to bar for each other and each of the kids just wants their mom to be happy, healthy and safe! The romantic storyline was fun, funny, and a joy to witness!

This story deals with issues of holding on to the past, trying to fill a void with physical items, family disagreements, and taking a leap to face past grievances. Worth the read and a fun group of characters to hang out with!!!

Debbie was in her early 20s when she was studying abroad in Britain and got pregnant by a dashing but a little bit hapless wealthy British man. After the dissolution of her marriage, she goes back to her hometown in Pennsylvania and 20 years later her hoarding habit of British royalty items has put a riff in her relationships with her daughter Sarah (host of 'Sarah Says' & organizational wizard) and twin daughter & son. When her son gets a job on a hoarding show and wants her to be on it she is reluctant to show the whole world her secret & face her past.

A House Full of Windsor was a fun & unique contemporary read. I thought the book would be more focused on the British royalty but I was happy it really didn't except to mention some parallels between Debbie & Princess Diana. This book went into some deep feelings including the insecurities of both the main characters (Mother, Debbie & Daughter, Sarah). I'm always glad when books don't always end with a tight wrapped and perfect ending and this one didn't. Real life isn't perfect and I'm glad this book reflected that.

There was a little bit of romance in this book as well but it was very surface level which I was unsure about.
I would have rather seen this book be all in on the romance or none at all.

A House Full of Windsor is not about the Royal family - although you could see them as one of the main characters! It is a story about a family, how divorce impacted each of their lives, and hoarding.
Debbie and Alan met as she was about to graduate from college in London. Her obsession with the Royal family started then, as their relationship began to parallel that of Diana and Charles. After marriage, and having Sarah and then twins Will and Annie, Debbie finds that her life isn’t turning out as she planned/hoped and she finds that shopping help fills the voids in her life.
The bulk of the book takes place in the Philadelphia suburbs, where Debbie and the kids moved after her divorce. The story is primarily told from the perspectives of Debbie and Sarah, and you’ll initially see how different they are. I also enjoyed the visits to London, both the tourist experience and also the opportunity to see how the “other half” lives in Percy House.
The book puts a face on hoarding, although Debbie doesn’t really fit the profile we usually see on the hoarding tv shows. Her hoarding is very focused on all things Royal - from dresses Princess Kate wore to a tea tin commemorating the Queen’s 90th birthday. And, she also seems to be a very organized hoarder.
They all have issues from their upbringing, and in Debbie’s case, her marriage, and we wonder if being on a reality TV show will help resolve them, and enable all four to move forward? Add A House Full of Windsor to your TBR list and find out!
Thanks to Netgalley and Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing for the opportunity to read A House Full of Windsor in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delight to read. I didn't expect a story about hoarding & the impact it has on the hoarder and their family to be so heartwarming. I liked having Debbie & Sarah's perspectives, and the flashbacks to important moments in Debbie & Alan's marriage. I thought the characters were well-written & loved seeing Debbie realise that she could let go of the past so that she could enjoy her life.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “A House Full of Windsor” by Kristin Contino, July 2021. On Tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours.

Kristin Contino, the author of “A House Full of Windsor” has written an intriguing, captivating, and heartfelt novel. The genres for this novel are Literary Fiction, domestic fiction, and historical fiction. There is also some historical fiction. The timeline for this story starts in the 1980s and goes to the present. The story is set in both England and America. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex, complicated, flawed, and dysfunctional. I appreciate that the author discusses important issues as problems of hoarding, obsessions, communication, therapy, second chances, and forgiving. Also, the author mentions the importance of family, friends, love, and hope.

Sarah Percy is both English and American, and currently has a show in New York that is called “Sarah Says”. Unfortunately, the ratings are down, and Sarah is also stressed and about to go with her twin sister and brother to help with their Mother’s problem.

Sarah’s mother Debbie is a compulsive shopper and hoarder. Debbie has always been fascinated with the Royal family, especially Charles and Diana. Now single, Debbie’s married relationship mirrored Charles and Diana’s in many ways. Her house is a tribute to many of the souvenirs that she acquired in England before she moved back to America.

Will, the brother is doing a reality show on Hoarding, and who better than to showcase, than his mother. Not only will it help Will, but Debbie will be able to clean out her house and get the help that she needs. Will would also like Sarah to be involved because of the show she is currently on. He just needs both his mother and sisters to agree.

If this show, “Stuff”, is a success, it can either cause more problems for the family or better solutions. I enjoyed this memorable, thought-provoking story and highly recommend this to others.

An unexpectedly endearing tale about dysfunction, heartache, and love.

I received an advanced digital review copy of this book. ;-)

This book is great. It is moving, heart-warming, heart-wrenching, full of both sad and sweet moments, and has a touch of romance. Whenever I picked up "A House Full of Windsor", I was whisked away on a journey with this book, and found myself hooked from the very first page.

Firstly, I love this cover! It is so adorable!

This book is told in two alternating viewpoints; Debbie and her daughter Sarah. Debbie is absolutely obsessed with anything dealing with the British Royal Family. She collects everything memorabilia wise, and over the years, has become a hoarder. She has a specific memory and reason for keeping each item, and is unable to part with them. Her son gets a job on a reality TV show called "Stuff", and agrees for his mom to appear on an episode without speaking to her first. I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, this book explores
how people can handle struggles in life in different ways. Moreover, it also explores different viewpoints of some similar events, and what it can truly take for different people to move forward in the way they need to.

In part of the alternating viewpoints, as the reader, you see many past moments, and how some events in Debbie's life mirror similar time wise to Princess Diana's. This makes Debbie feel connected to Princess Diana.

If you enjoy contemporary fiction, I recommend this book! It had me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and I found myself reading into the early hours of the morning not wanting to put this book down.

Thank you so much to Get Red PR and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, and to Get Red PR for sending me a physical ARC as well! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you love travel, especially to great Britain then this is the novel for you. There is love adventure and culture in this warm hearted tale!

Full disclosure, I received an ARC copy of “A House Full Of Windsor” from NetGalley for me to read and provide my unbiased feedback on prior to release date.

⚠️Caution: this book heavily covers the topic of hoarding, and the intervention of hoarders’ behaviors through the method of a reality tv type program. Also, addressed as one of multiple side storylines, is an estranged parental relationship with a gay son.

Final housekeeping item before I dive into my thoughts on the book. Genre classification, more for my followers than anything, “A House Full Of Windsor” should be thought of as a contemporary fiction novel, specifically a family drama, that has a side romantic interest arc and is laced lightly a sprinkle of British humor. If you are going into this for a romance, you will be left hungry, because the offering is only snack sized.

That being said, “A House Full Of Windsor” was a cute and fun novel. It definitely digs into some of the complexities children who are raised A) by hoarders, and B) by parents whose marriages are falling apart, in general can face in building their own lives and relationships. However, it doesn’t go to far beyond the surface level of what those struggles are. I think that is the pro and con of this book, it stays fairly light on what is a very serious and what is often a dark topic of discussion. That lightness is fairly universal throughout the book, which is what makes it an easy read, but it also leaves you wishing for more. More depth, build the characters and their relationships fuller. It is a good book, but it had the potential to be a great book if it had been flushed out a bit more.

For me, this really is a solid 3.5 star book that gets rounded to the 4.

A unique story about a semi-disfunctional family dealing with the realities of hoarding. I really enjoyed how Debbie’s life mirrored Princess Diana’s with the timing of the wedding, kids, and divorce. It was a great plot point! There was a lot going on with every family member which was hard to follow. The timeline of Debbie’s flashbacks were a bit confusing for me.

The marketing emphasized the royal nature of the book (which makes some sense with the Diana parallels in Debbie Windsor's life)--but I feel like I was tricked into reading a book about hoarding. I enjoyed the flashbacks and Debbie's POV about British royalty-related events, but I didn't connect with the present-day scenes or any of the characters, who I disliked immensely.