Prince Harry’s memoir selling like Michelle Obama’s smash best-sellers

Spare will be available in brick-and-mortar stores on Tuesday

JR Moehringer is the US writer, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and novelist who ghostwrote Prince Harry's memoir, Spare. Getty

Spare was released globally on January 10

Moehringer moved to Las Vegas to work on tennis star Andre Agassi's memoir

Moehringer said he turned Agassi down several times before agreeing to work with him on Open. Getty / AFP

Moehringer worked with Nike creator Phil Knight on his best-selling memoir, Shoe Dog

Moehringer's own memoir about his childhood growing up on Long Island is called The Tender Bar, which was made into a film

George Clooney directed the Hollywood version of Moerhinger's memoir The Tender Bar. Ben Affleck starred in it as Uncle Charlie. AFP

Moehringer with actor Daniel Ranieri, who played his younger self in the fictionalised film version of his memoir. AP

From left, Affleck, Lily Rabe, Daniel, Tye Sheridan and Christopher Lloyd arrive at the premiere of The Tender Bar in Los Angeles. AP

Rabe and Affleck played a fictionalised version of Moehringer's mother and uncle in The Tender Bar. AP

Daniel and Affleck in a scene from The Tender Bar. AP

Early orders of Prince Harry’s memoir are similar to former US first lady Michelle Obama’s industry-leading bestsellers, according to Barnes & Noble.

As of Friday afternoon, Spare is the top-selling book on the website of the largest US bookstore chain, the company said.

The title, published by Penguin Random House, also has the top spot on Amazon in the UK and US. Waterstones, the UK’s biggest bookshop chain, said it is on pace to be one of this year’s bestsellers.

“Hands down, it will be one of the biggest books of the year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes & Noble’s head of books.

The memoir will be available in brick-and-mortar stores on January 10.

Ms Obama’s Becoming sold more than 17 million copies worldwide and was translated into 50 languages, according to publisher Penguin Random House.

Its success led to Ms Obama becoming the third best-paid author of 2019, according to Forbes.

Many details in Spare have already been revealed, but that has not slowed sales, according to Ms DeVito.

However, some UK bookstores are trying to lure customers by offering discounts for ordering early.