I enjoyed the “Royal watcher” elements of Debbie, the flashback scenes gave me Mamma Mia vibes in the best way. I found it hard to get into the sibling tension but overall I enjoyed the book. I think the theme of parenting our parents is something that resonates with the demographic of this book.

Readers who love anything royal will probably pick up this book based on the title and cover alone. Both are super cute, but this book is actually about something much more. Debbie is an American obsessed with things, particularly memorabilia pertaining to the British royals. She is a hoarder, whose collection has destroyed her relationships. This was a good read about family, although I have to admit that Debbie at times drove me crazy, talking about people touching her things and refusing to throw anything away. As someone who only knows about hoarding from television shows, I thought this was well depicted. However, she was a frustrating character to like simply because her hoarding seems to have initially started due to the boredom of being a housewife. This was the heart of the book, but there were other things going on with her three children, in particular Sarah, her first-born. The alternating chapters between Debbie and Sarah at times sounded too similar and I would forget which narration I was actually on. Sarah wasn't relatable to me and I tend to dislike characters who find most of their gratification from social media sites. Plus, I thought her little tips were basic and silly. Why was she popular on tv? And the flirtation with Pierce came out of nowhere and was just unnecessary and contained no substance. The resolution to the issue at hand was resolved way too fast to be believable but I suppose it worked in an "end-of-the-episode" fashion. I think this book would work much better as General Fiction than Romance and I was way more interested in Debbie's story. Her flashbacks taking place at the same time as Charles and Diana's relationship was a nice touch and I liked picturing all the different objects she collected. Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it, although readers looking for a straight up romance or a book about the royals will probably be disappointed.

This was a unique family drama about a dysfunctional family dealing with their mother's hoarding (particularly, hoarding British Royal memorabilia.) The book explores Debbie Windsor's past as she confronts her future when her children nominate her for a hoarding show, Stuff. Going back and forth between 1980s/90s London to present day Philadelphia, this book explores some family drama and romance within the backdrop of Debbie's children, particularly her eldest Sarah, trying to convince her to let go of her past (and her hoarding tendencies.)

This book was cute, and I would give it a solid 3 stars. I wasn't particularly drawn to any of the characters, and I thought that some of the storylines did not fully flesh themselves out. I think the book could have been a little more focused rather than branching out into all of its different plotlines (absent father, romance with boss, drama at work, etc.) which led them all to fall a little flat. Overall, still a fun read especially for any royal fanatic like myself.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A House Full of Windsor tells the story of Sarah Percy and her mother, Debbie. Sarah is the popular morning show host known for her perfect style and her famous "Sarah Says!" advice. Debbie is a shopaholic and a secret hoarder. Debbie's main source of "stuff" is Royal Family memorabilia. When Debbie and Sarah have the chance to appear on "Stuff" a popular show about compulsive hoarding suddenly both women have to take stock of what really matters in life.

There were a few things about this book I enjoyed. I'm interested in both the Royal Family and the compulsion to hoard so I found those parts of the books palatable. I also thought the use of Debbie's memories and her love life running parallel with Charles and Diana was cool. However, there was more about this book I didn't like. All of the characters were terribly underdeveloped and the writing seemed juvenile. (For example we were supposed to be rooting for Sarah and Pierce to get together? I could have cared less because Pierce was such a one dimensional character.) Also, "Sarah Says!" wonderful advice was all so basic. Every time I saw one of the sayings at the top of the chapter I cringed. Finally, everything was tied up so neatly at the end it came across as very unrealistic.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

** spoiler alert **
Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted advance copy.
This book was cute. It tells the story of the family dynamics in a divorced family split between the US & UK. The story is told from two perspectives, mother & daughter, however the mother’s storyline alternates between the past and present, which was confusing initially. While I liked the characters, I just didn’t find this story all too believable (Yes, I realize this book is fiction). 30 years of family drama is seemingly resolved in a one weekend trip to the UK? The mother magically decides to give up her hoarding collection after this one weekend? Nobody finds it odd that this woman is OBSESSED with the Royal family? Some chapters weren’t consistent with their US/UK lingo. I realize this was just supposed to be a cutesy story and it was successful in that, I just think that for readers that need more relatable characters, this would be hard.

Pop quiz. This book is about:

a) Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (RIP)
b) A bakeshop owner in London
c) A Windsor Castle housekeeper
d) Mary Poppins

Haha, trick question! None of the above. A House Full of Windsor is about a hoarder. In Philadelphia. Didn’t see that coming, did you?

As someone who rarely reads the full synopsis of a book beforehand, I can be caught off guard occasionally. Here I just glanced at the first sentence of it and said SIGN ME UP: “Spanning from 1980s London and the royal wedding of a century…” Those few words check a lot of boxes for me.

In fairness, our hoarder’s last name is Windsor. She also has an obsession with the British royal family, so her hoard consists of commemorative bits and baubles (and allllllll the tea towels) cranked out anytime Prince George so much as takes his first poo in a potty.

Now Ms. Windsor’s grown children decide it’s their job to help her chuck her possessions. Their solution is to sign her up for a “Hoarders”-like reality TV show. But this is make believe, so we’re meant to visualize a clean (if “unsafe”) hoarder home that smells like lavender potpourri rather than decaying smashed rats and Taco Bell wrappers. We’re also meant to accept that in-depth, serious treatment of her mental illness isn’t really necessary, because reality TV can cure anything.

Personally, I never really could accept those things, and reading a hoarding romcom (oh, there’s a little romance too) was kind of like eating an asparagus-flavored cupcake.

BUT, there are flashbacks to those promised scenes of London in the ‘80s and ‘90s, where our hoarding heroine was present for the wedding of Charles and Diana as well as the princess’s funeral. I enjoyed her first-hand perspective of those events. I also found the book to be easily readable with some interesting secondary characters. That makes me curious to see what this author will come up with next. While I hope it’s not something as mundane as a vanilla cupcake, maybe it’ll be a little sweeter?

I received an advance copy to read and review from Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing via NetGalley. A House Full of Windsor’s anticipated publication date is July 13, 2021.

A House Full of Windsor was much more than I had anticipated! I went in expecting a contemporary based on a love of the royal family. This story however goes much deeper than that.

You flash between Sarah and her mother Debbie. Debbie has become a hoarder of all things royal related and it’s had an extremely negative impact on her life. Her marriage dissolved, her children regard her with a mix between pity and anger and now she’s found herself as part of a new television show that specializes in helping hoarders overcome their addiction and create a safe space for them to live.

This story was fun and engaging. It flashes back between present day events and events in the past surrounding the royal family that began Debbie’s lifelong obsession.

I wish some of the romances were more fleshed out. There was plenty of romantic connections being established and it was approached with a fun, albeit brief overview. But Debbie’s hoarding has deep, deep seeded roots that all come down to her relationships. The ending was also very satisfactory, but it was all wrapped up just a bit too quickly for my personal taste. I would have loved an epilogue or something that gives us a bit more closure after following all these characters throughout a story spanning decades!

Overall I definitely enjoyed this book!

This book was such a joy! Having the perspective of both Debbie and Sarah was brilliant. As the reader, you truly get to see the big picture. The supporting characters are equally as entertaining and unique (my personal favorite being Mrs. Percy - I would love to have tea with her at Percy Hall).

Debbie Windsor is a shopaholic and a compulsive hoarder. She's gone through a divorce and a messy past. Her children Sarah, Anne and Will work together to try help her get her life back on track. They want to put her on a TV show about compulsive hoarding, but she keeps brushing them off whenever they try to help.

This was a cute lighthearted read. I requested this one because I love anything to do with the royal family and England. The cover of the book also appealed to me. Debbie was my favorite character because she was relatable. I really enjoyed the family drama part of this book but I felt towards the end it was a bit rushed, I would of liked for the meet up scene in England to go a little longer. It also would of been better if it dove deeper into the issues during that meeting. I liked reading from alternate points of view. I especially enjoyed whenever princess Diana or the royals were mentioned and how it played a role in Debbie's life.

If you are looking for a light family-drama read pick this up!

My first dive into Ms.Contino's work and I'm pleasantly surprised at how beautiful her writing is and how she weaves important issues into page-turning read. It's safe to say she has a fan in me right here and I'm excited to read more books from her.

This story weaves the tale of a hoarder obsessed with royal memorabilia with the stories of their children and how the hoarding has an impact on all of their lives. This was not the light, breezy story I expected, but it had a lot of heart and funny moments.

What do I have in common with the royal family or hoarders? Nothing at all. What do I love about Kristin Contino's new book A HOUSE FULL OF WINDSOR? Absolutely everything! Debbie, a royal-obsessed woman who finds comfort in her massive collection of trinkets, proves a sympathetic heroine. Throughout the narrative, the reader comes to understand why she became a hoarder in the first place. Debbie’s children attempt to help their mother by casting her in a reality television show called Stuff. The irony is that while they’re saving their mother, they also save themselves. Contino’s depiction is both believable and compelling.

This is a delightful read. The pacing is quick and the conflict kept me turning the pages. Definitely a five-star book I highly recommend!

Delightful! A book about a repatriated ex-pat who hoards royal paraphernalia and ends up on a reality show with her worried (and somewhat traumatized) children? Yes, please. Author Kristin Contino, a Yankee herself, is a royal expert, serving as Chief Reporter for Royal Central. Contino shows off her love of England in this romp that takes the reader back and forth in time from Princess Di-era England to today in Pennsylvania. Full of humor, family, nostalgia, and a bit of romance, A House Full of Windsor is a great book to have in your bag for the beach or the park or wherever you plan to escape to this summer. Thank you NetGalley and Wyatt-Mackenzie for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.

3.5 STARS

So I really enjoyed the characters in this one. Their personalities shown through. Debbie was fantastic and really endeared me the most to this plot that was told from a few povs (past and present and a mother and a daughter...with epistolary tidbits).

This was a complex storyline with a lot going on. For me, that’s why I wasn’t able to give it four full stars. However, if you’re the type of reader that likes multiple storylines over many characters, this will be right up your alley!

Oh! And I just loved everything British in this. Again, Debbie is the best!

Thank you netgalley for the advance e-copy.

I am an admitted Anglophile, so when I saw the cover of "A House Full of Windsor" and read the blurb, I had to read the book! Kristin Contino did not disappoint. She connected past and present through the viewpoints of Sarah and Sarah's mother Debbie (maiden name Windsor, no relation). Debbie married and spent several years raising her children in England. While there, she was obsessed with the Royals and her experiences paralleled those of Princess Diana. Fast forward twenty years to Sarah and Debbie's current day perspective, Debbie has become a hoarder and Sarah a television and media personality offering tips on etiquette and home. When a challenge arises to clean out Debbie's home, deeper emotions and concerns are raised that further endeared the Percy/Windsor family to me. I was disappointed when the book ended-all the pieces fit together, but I wasn't quite ready to leave the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wyatt-MacKenzie publishing for a chance to read an ARC of this wonderful story.

This delightful read must be added to your #summerreadinglist as soon as it’s released in July. Sarah, a popular NYC morning show talent, is stressed with keeping her perfect persona intact when her brother proposes to have their hoarder mother be the focus of a national tv show. Debbie, the hoarder mom, has to come to terms with how her obsession with collecting has hurt her family while also reflecting on the beginning and end of her marriage. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #romancenovel by @royallykristinc for #royalenthusiasts. 📚📚📚 #netgalley #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #ahousefullofwindsor #bookstagram #booklover #london🇬🇧 #princessdiana

📖 Book Review 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date: July 13th, 2021

Family tale meets Princess Diana’s 1980s England meets reality TV show for hoarders meets romance …. what a super cute read Contino has written!!

The main character, Debbie Windsor, the mother, loves all things British royalty. She collects souvenirs to fill the void of England (she lived there previously). She moved to Pennsylvania two decades ago, but still surrounds herself with all things England.

Her son Will, gets a job on a reality TV show called “Stuff” and gets his mother a spot on the show with the help of his sisters. Sarah, Debbie’s daughter, lives in New York and hosts a segment on the city’s top morning show called “Sarah Says” but ratings are down so she is enlisted in helping make this “Stuff” episode a success.

Contino really explores the social, emotional, mental, and physical toll hoarding has on the individual as well as the family. It was really interesting to read Debbie explain why she collected her royal souvenirs, as she had an explanation for each item. It was interesting to get into the mind of a hoarder and better understand their thinking.

While Debbie is the main character of this book, I loved the exploration of how each of her children handled the years and years of hoarding. Each adult child seemed to handle it differently but it seemed to shape each of them as individuals as well as together. I loved following the journey this entire family took during this book. All of the characters were very likable.

This book explores not only family relationships but also romantic relationships. Debbie is able to confront her past in order to heal and move on with a local small business owner, Rich.

This book has some twists and turns where you think things may go in a different direction but in the end there is a happy ending. This book is a light read, delightful, and somehow refreshing.

Thank you Kristin Contino, Get Red PR, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of A House Full of Windsor from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I couldn't wait to read this as I absolutely loved the cover and anything having to do with the Royal Family. This book was so much fun to read as Debbie's life is very similar to Princess Diana and Charles. I loved the book and was sad for it to end. I am hoping for more from this author as she had a great writing style that is lighthearted and fun. You won't be disappointed if you read this!

This book was a really fun and enjoyable read. The characters were relatable and had great depth. I definitely recommend it and will be ordering copies for my library.

Thank you to GetRead PR and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I loved this book. Such a unique take on so many subjects; aging parents, hoarding, how our childhood can affect us, secrets we keep and so much more. Sarah's mother is obsessed with all things royal, to the point of hoarding. When they parlay a job with clearing out her mother's items, the struggles of the past come to light, with some understanding how these issues can come about. I recommend this book.