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The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Memoir & Autobiography (2017)At the one-year anniversary of his death, legendary musician Prince's first wife shares a uniquely intimate, candid, and revelatory look inside the personal and professional life of one of the world's most beloved icons.
In The Most Beautiful, a title inspired by the hit song Prince wrote about their legendary love story, Mayte Garcia for the first time shares the deeply personal story of their relationship and offers a singular perspective on the music icon and their world together: from their unconventional meeting backstage at a concert (and the long-distance romance that followed), to their fairy-tale wedding (and their groundbreaking artistic partnership), to the devastating losses that ultimately dissolved their romantic relationship for good. Throughout it all, they shared a bond more intimate than any other in Prince's life. No one else can tell this story or can provide a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Prince - both the famously private man and the pioneering, beloved artist - than Mayte, his partner during some of the most pivotal personal and professional years of his career. The Most Beautiful is a book that will be returned to for decades, as Prince's music lives on with generations to come.
In The Most Beautiful, a title inspired by the hit song Prince wrote about their legendary love story, Mayte Garcia for the first time shares the deeply personal story of their relationship and offers a singular perspective on the music icon and their world together: from their unconventional meeting backstage at a concert (and the long-distance romance that followed), to their fairy-tale wedding (and their groundbreaking artistic partnership), to the devastating losses that ultimately dissolved their romantic relationship for good. Throughout it all, they shared a bond more intimate than any other in Prince's life. No one else can tell this story or can provide a deeper, more nuanced portrait of Prince - both the famously private man and the pioneering, beloved artist - than Mayte, his partner during some of the most pivotal personal and professional years of his career. The Most Beautiful is a book that will be returned to for decades, as Prince's music lives on with generations to come.
9 pages, Audiobook
First published April 4, 2017
662 people are currently reading
10429 people want to read
About the author
Mayte Garcia
1 book101 followersMayte Garcia is an internationally acclaimed American dancer, actress, singer, and choreographer. Garcia was born on a military base in Alabama (due to her father’s military career) and is of Puerto Rican ancestry. She has appeared in numerous films, various television series and starred in the VH1 reality series Hollywood Exes.
From 1992 to 1996, she was a featured dancer and background singer with Prince as part of his New Power Generation. On Valentine's Day in 1996, Garcia, then 22, married Prince, then 37, in Minneapolis. In 1998, Prince announced the couple's divorce, eventually filing an annulment June 2000.
Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her adopted daughter Gia. She is a vegetarian, and animal rights activist for PETA.
From 1992 to 1996, she was a featured dancer and background singer with Prince as part of his New Power Generation. On Valentine's Day in 1996, Garcia, then 22, married Prince, then 37, in Minneapolis. In 1998, Prince announced the couple's divorce, eventually filing an annulment June 2000.
Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her adopted daughter Gia. She is a vegetarian, and animal rights activist for PETA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 933 reviews
April 10, 2017
So I have to be honest here. Going into this book I had a preconceived notion that Mayte Garcia was only writing this book to capitalize on Prince's death and to taint his legacy in some way because anyone who knows anything about him knows he never would have allowed this book to come out if he were still alive. After quickly devouring this book and actually being sad to see it end, I can honestly say I think I was pretty much totally wrong.
"The Most Beautiful" really isn't a book about Prince. It's a book about Mayte who just happens to have fallen in love with one of the enigmatic celebrities of all time. Mayte grew up as an accomplished dancer. She perfected belly dancing and also took lots of ballet and was basically supporting herself financially by the time she was 14. Her parents were very supportive of her, but were dysfunctional at best. When she was young, she saw Prince on TV and in concert and immediately commented that she would one day marry him. Strangely enough, Prince made the same comment to someone when he first saw Mayte. Mayte started a friendship with Prince, centered around her dancing and his music, when she was young and once she became of legal age, it slowly developed into a relationship. Many aspects of their relationship are truly beautiful and they share quite a love story. However, like most relationships, things weren't always easy. Mayte and Prince tragically lost their son when he was born due to a horrible genetic disease and later on, Mayte miscarried again. Neither recovered from this loss and it did set the path for the destruction of their marriage a few years later.
So basically after reading this, I do believe Matye and Prince were soulmates. There is a lot of discussion in the book about previous lives and fate and the such and I think in their case, they may have had a point. However, even though Prince was Mayte's soulmate, I think he had one that took precedence over her - his career and persona. I do think she came a close second and I can't help but feel they still loved each other when he died (I know she did), but she was never able to fully compete with Prince himself for Prince's attention (confusing). I learned a few surprising things while reading this. First of all, Mayte wasn't the pushover I expected. She stood up to Prince several times in her lifetime and wasn't just some starstruck little brat. Secondly, her dog Mia saved her from overdosing and taking her life following the death of her son which is why she is so heavily involved in rescue work. And finally, Prince could be a jerk. Now I love Prince so that pains me to say. But in reality, he was only human so it's really no big revelation. Also, even though their marriage failed, it don't think it tarnished the beauty of their relationship for fans. Lots of celebrity marriages fail and I think it's often too much pressure for people in the limelight to endure.
I really did enjoy this book. I have a new respect for Mayte and while some of the book wasn't necessarily pretty, she didn't slam Prince of talk negatively about him - and believe me, she probably had reasons to do both at times. And I still love Prince just as much. This book showed me some of his flaws and I'm pretty sure that no matter how much I adore the man, given the chance (and come on, there was NO CHANCE!) I would have never started a relationship with him - gee, now my husband can sleep better at night ;) He was too controlling and he was a perfectionist. Everything in his life had to be perfect and I think it was physically painful for him when things and often people, didn't measure up to that standard.
If you are someone who likes Prince, this is a great book to pick up. Just go into it with an open mind. You'll read about a beautiful love story and I hope that if there is some justice in this world, Prince and Mayte will eventually meet up again and be able to continue their love story without all the other stuff thrown in and without millions of eyes watching.
"The Most Beautiful" really isn't a book about Prince. It's a book about Mayte who just happens to have fallen in love with one of the enigmatic celebrities of all time. Mayte grew up as an accomplished dancer. She perfected belly dancing and also took lots of ballet and was basically supporting herself financially by the time she was 14. Her parents were very supportive of her, but were dysfunctional at best. When she was young, she saw Prince on TV and in concert and immediately commented that she would one day marry him. Strangely enough, Prince made the same comment to someone when he first saw Mayte. Mayte started a friendship with Prince, centered around her dancing and his music, when she was young and once she became of legal age, it slowly developed into a relationship. Many aspects of their relationship are truly beautiful and they share quite a love story. However, like most relationships, things weren't always easy. Mayte and Prince tragically lost their son when he was born due to a horrible genetic disease and later on, Mayte miscarried again. Neither recovered from this loss and it did set the path for the destruction of their marriage a few years later.
So basically after reading this, I do believe Matye and Prince were soulmates. There is a lot of discussion in the book about previous lives and fate and the such and I think in their case, they may have had a point. However, even though Prince was Mayte's soulmate, I think he had one that took precedence over her - his career and persona. I do think she came a close second and I can't help but feel they still loved each other when he died (I know she did), but she was never able to fully compete with Prince himself for Prince's attention (confusing). I learned a few surprising things while reading this. First of all, Mayte wasn't the pushover I expected. She stood up to Prince several times in her lifetime and wasn't just some starstruck little brat. Secondly, her dog Mia saved her from overdosing and taking her life following the death of her son which is why she is so heavily involved in rescue work. And finally, Prince could be a jerk. Now I love Prince so that pains me to say. But in reality, he was only human so it's really no big revelation. Also, even though their marriage failed, it don't think it tarnished the beauty of their relationship for fans. Lots of celebrity marriages fail and I think it's often too much pressure for people in the limelight to endure.
I really did enjoy this book. I have a new respect for Mayte and while some of the book wasn't necessarily pretty, she didn't slam Prince of talk negatively about him - and believe me, she probably had reasons to do both at times. And I still love Prince just as much. This book showed me some of his flaws and I'm pretty sure that no matter how much I adore the man, given the chance (and come on, there was NO CHANCE!) I would have never started a relationship with him - gee, now my husband can sleep better at night ;) He was too controlling and he was a perfectionist. Everything in his life had to be perfect and I think it was physically painful for him when things and often people, didn't measure up to that standard.
If you are someone who likes Prince, this is a great book to pick up. Just go into it with an open mind. You'll read about a beautiful love story and I hope that if there is some justice in this world, Prince and Mayte will eventually meet up again and be able to continue their love story without all the other stuff thrown in and without millions of eyes watching.
April 10, 2017
If this book has taught me one thing, its that as much as I love Prince's music I could never in a million years have been married to him. Prince was hard work. His own wife didn't have his phone number. Mayte Garcia paints a vivid picture of the late great rock star's weird and lonely world.
I highly recommend it.
I highly recommend it.
January 15, 2021
One need not be a fan of Mayte Garcia or Prince to enjoy this book. I was not a fan of either before I picked up the book, and you see by my favorable rating that I have liked it a lot. I have no difficulty figuring out why I have liked it so much. Mayte, Prince’s first wife, dares to express her emotions. She speaks from her heart. She lays bare both the joy and happiness she shared with Prince and her anger, sorrow and grief concerning his dalliances with other women and his death in 2016.
She speaks of her relationships with her parents and sister too. She speaks of the grief she suffered at the loss of her son and subsequent miscarriage. She speaks of the happiness the adoption of a daughter has brought her.
The book drew ME to Mayte, more than to Prince. I see her with both respect and empathy now. Her family's involvement in her dancing career is something to observe!
I love Mayte’s voice. I recommend listening to the audiobook rather than reading the paper book. Her enthusiasm, her honesty and no nonsense, straightforward, down to earth manner of expressing herself is just so darn wonderful to listen to. The narration I have given five stars.
The audiobook includes a PDF file with many wonderful photos.
Listen to this book; you will not regret it. You don’t like audiobooks? Then read it.
She speaks of her relationships with her parents and sister too. She speaks of the grief she suffered at the loss of her son and subsequent miscarriage. She speaks of the happiness the adoption of a daughter has brought her.
The book drew ME to Mayte, more than to Prince. I see her with both respect and empathy now. Her family's involvement in her dancing career is something to observe!
I love Mayte’s voice. I recommend listening to the audiobook rather than reading the paper book. Her enthusiasm, her honesty and no nonsense, straightforward, down to earth manner of expressing herself is just so darn wonderful to listen to. The narration I have given five stars.
The audiobook includes a PDF file with many wonderful photos.
Listen to this book; you will not regret it. You don’t like audiobooks? Then read it.
March 8, 2017
*No Spoilers*
I was lucky enough to be given an early copy of this book to read. I expected Mayté to write a book that lacked a lot of personal details of her life with Prince or made Prince look bad in any fashion. This book is very honest, raw, heartbreaking, and even funny at points. I appreciate Mayté's honesty and generously giving the reader a glimpse into some very personal moments in her life. If you are a Prince fan, this book will not disappoint.
I was lucky enough to be given an early copy of this book to read. I expected Mayté to write a book that lacked a lot of personal details of her life with Prince or made Prince look bad in any fashion. This book is very honest, raw, heartbreaking, and even funny at points. I appreciate Mayté's honesty and generously giving the reader a glimpse into some very personal moments in her life. If you are a Prince fan, this book will not disappoint.
November 6, 2023
Ok so strange enough, I am a bigger fan of Mayte than I was of Prince.
I loved her spirit on VH1 and unlike a lot of the other shows, the one in which she was featured was more uplifting then dramatic.
Mayte's portrayal of Prine was tasteful and truly unique to her experiences.
Great job.
I loved her spirit on VH1 and unlike a lot of the other shows, the one in which she was featured was more uplifting then dramatic.
Mayte's portrayal of Prine was tasteful and truly unique to her experiences.
Great job.
March 10, 2017
A beautifully written, heartfelt and honest experience. Mayte answered so many questions I've had and also kept several matters private. I went to her dance class in New York, I was afraid of how this book might change my perception of her. I'm glad to say I love her all the more.
June 5, 2017
I picked this up in the airport the other day and read it on the flight home from London. I´d recommend it to anyone who has any interest in Prince, his life and music. I´m a Prince freak but it´s the first time I´ve felt able to get a glimpse into his world: most of the existing musical biographies out there are over-written or suffer from being the point of view of someone with their nose squished up against the Paisley Park glass but unable to get in. This one is very much from the inside.
The writing is dignified and respectful but there´s steel, too. This is Mayte Garcia writing her story. As she says, there´s too much to say that can be summed up in a glib soundbite. Her story is remarkable and needs telling in a book. From fan to partner to lover to wife to mother to ex-wife. Each step is told here with honesty and sometimes painful precision.
As I said, anyone who has any interest in Prince and his music - or what it must be like to be married to a famous pop star - should read this book. There are revelations, yes. There is the good and the bad. The characters come out of this as humans - not caricatures. But it should be read, not summarised in a review. If you´ve read this far, you´d like it.
The writing is dignified and respectful but there´s steel, too. This is Mayte Garcia writing her story. As she says, there´s too much to say that can be summed up in a glib soundbite. Her story is remarkable and needs telling in a book. From fan to partner to lover to wife to mother to ex-wife. Each step is told here with honesty and sometimes painful precision.
As I said, anyone who has any interest in Prince and his music - or what it must be like to be married to a famous pop star - should read this book. There are revelations, yes. There is the good and the bad. The characters come out of this as humans - not caricatures. But it should be read, not summarised in a review. If you´ve read this far, you´d like it.
April 7, 2017
WOW JUST WOW...As I sit here letting this story sink in, the tears are just streaming down my face..I have ugly cried, and straight up sobbed off and on during this whole wonderful story. What I love about a good memoir is it reads almost like fiction...and then you remember, Oh my this really happened! Mayte Garcia, you just made me a new fan for life!
Oh Goodness, I feel like I have so much to say...first off, if you are thinking this is a book about Prince's life, you are mistaken..although he is a huge part of this book...and as I write this, I am listening to Let's go crazy on my Prince station on Pandora...which is fairly new because Prince didn't like to share his music on open platforms...I respect that...I have owned his music in all different forms...From record...to tape..to cd...I became a fan when I was probably about 12yrs old...now being a 45yr old woman it hasn't changed...
That being said this truly is Mayte's story..and she is an amazing woman...I embrace her in my heart for telling these hard to tell truths, from her greatest accomplishments to her lowest tragic lows. I do believe Prince and her were soul mates...but life is not always perfect...and great tragedy can destroy a perfect relationship. They both did what it took for them to survive the loss of 2 babies..no one can judge them for this...You will never know the true pain of losing your child unless it has happened to you...and let me tell you this.it is the most horrific thing you will ever experience..and you never truly recover..you just learn to go on..and it changes you forever!
Mayte has had an amazing career..that started when she was 3yrs old..by the age of 12...yes 12 she had almost 100 grand in her own personal checking account..she continued to work as a dancer doing personal gigs, and traveling with her family...and one day at a concert Prince discovered her...and a beautiful friendship started...they were pen pals, phone mates...she would go visit him and they would talk till the wee hours of the morning...laughing..everything was quite respectable...he would watch her dance tapes,,,he wrote her music, drew her pictures..it was truly an amazing courtship...she eventually became part of his show, and toured with him..and they fell deeply in love...he never even touched her until she was 20yrs old...he truly wooed her...I cant even imagine how cool that was...
They were married and started trying for a family right away..and were overjoyed with the news they were to be parents...that's when things started going a little downhill..she had a rough pregnancy and Prince being so private made it difficult at times for her to get some of the medical care and testing that she probably really needed...their little angel was born and lived for 6 days...they had to make a tough choice after doing all that was medically possible..and chose what they thought was best for Amir, I dont agree with how Prince let this be handled...Mayte deserved to be there when her baby boy left this world...I think that is something that will weigh on her forever...she did get pregnant again, but that pregnancy ended in miscarriage..this relationship just never healed.
Mayte tried..but Prince withdrew from her..and I wont go into detail here...but I do think she got a really raw deal...and this truly broke her heart...but this beautiful woman picked herself up, dusted herself off, and went on..She did eventually forgive Prince and they rekindled their friendship, for this she gets my mad love and respect...She went into acting and choreography..Dated Tommy Lee...that impresses me...they were good for each other and helped them both heal after failed marriages...and they too are still friends to this day..Mayte started a pet rescue called Mayte's Rescue,,,and while doing a long stint on the reality show Hollywood Exes, she expressed her desperate need to be a mother...and someone who was looking for a parent for her little girl saw it and it was fate...she got her Gia..oh how this made me cry..This baby was born on her birthday..how wondrous is that?And then it happened Prince died...and Mayte never got to introduce her little girl to him..she kept putting it off, busy with life...I think this will haunt Mayte for a long time also..
I really cant express how much I loved this book...and how much it has touched me, very deeply, all I can say is listen to it...it is well narrated with so much raw emotion, and beautifully written..it is going in my ATF file..and I know I will listen to this again...Fave listen of 2017 so far...I just cant stop crying...but now its more happy tears than sad, because Mayte is AWESOME!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND A CREDIT...WISH I COULD GIVE THIS A MILLION STARS!!!
Oh Goodness, I feel like I have so much to say...first off, if you are thinking this is a book about Prince's life, you are mistaken..although he is a huge part of this book...and as I write this, I am listening to Let's go crazy on my Prince station on Pandora...which is fairly new because Prince didn't like to share his music on open platforms...I respect that...I have owned his music in all different forms...From record...to tape..to cd...I became a fan when I was probably about 12yrs old...now being a 45yr old woman it hasn't changed...
That being said this truly is Mayte's story..and she is an amazing woman...I embrace her in my heart for telling these hard to tell truths, from her greatest accomplishments to her lowest tragic lows. I do believe Prince and her were soul mates...but life is not always perfect...and great tragedy can destroy a perfect relationship. They both did what it took for them to survive the loss of 2 babies..no one can judge them for this...You will never know the true pain of losing your child unless it has happened to you...and let me tell you this.it is the most horrific thing you will ever experience..and you never truly recover..you just learn to go on..and it changes you forever!
Mayte has had an amazing career..that started when she was 3yrs old..by the age of 12...yes 12 she had almost 100 grand in her own personal checking account..she continued to work as a dancer doing personal gigs, and traveling with her family...and one day at a concert Prince discovered her...and a beautiful friendship started...they were pen pals, phone mates...she would go visit him and they would talk till the wee hours of the morning...laughing..everything was quite respectable...he would watch her dance tapes,,,he wrote her music, drew her pictures..it was truly an amazing courtship...she eventually became part of his show, and toured with him..and they fell deeply in love...he never even touched her until she was 20yrs old...he truly wooed her...I cant even imagine how cool that was...
They were married and started trying for a family right away..and were overjoyed with the news they were to be parents...that's when things started going a little downhill..she had a rough pregnancy and Prince being so private made it difficult at times for her to get some of the medical care and testing that she probably really needed...their little angel was born and lived for 6 days...they had to make a tough choice after doing all that was medically possible..and chose what they thought was best for Amir, I dont agree with how Prince let this be handled...Mayte deserved to be there when her baby boy left this world...I think that is something that will weigh on her forever...she did get pregnant again, but that pregnancy ended in miscarriage..this relationship just never healed.
Mayte tried..but Prince withdrew from her..and I wont go into detail here...but I do think she got a really raw deal...and this truly broke her heart...but this beautiful woman picked herself up, dusted herself off, and went on..She did eventually forgive Prince and they rekindled their friendship, for this she gets my mad love and respect...She went into acting and choreography..Dated Tommy Lee...that impresses me...they were good for each other and helped them both heal after failed marriages...and they too are still friends to this day..Mayte started a pet rescue called Mayte's Rescue,,,and while doing a long stint on the reality show Hollywood Exes, she expressed her desperate need to be a mother...and someone who was looking for a parent for her little girl saw it and it was fate...she got her Gia..oh how this made me cry..This baby was born on her birthday..how wondrous is that?And then it happened Prince died...and Mayte never got to introduce her little girl to him..she kept putting it off, busy with life...I think this will haunt Mayte for a long time also..
I really cant express how much I loved this book...and how much it has touched me, very deeply, all I can say is listen to it...it is well narrated with so much raw emotion, and beautifully written..it is going in my ATF file..and I know I will listen to this again...Fave listen of 2017 so far...I just cant stop crying...but now its more happy tears than sad, because Mayte is AWESOME!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND A CREDIT...WISH I COULD GIVE THIS A MILLION STARS!!!
April 26, 2017
I have to be honest and say I was on the fence when it came to purchasing this book. It didn't have anything to do with Mayte personally but I have been disappointed in the past when it came to celebrity books. I won't say any names. Ok... I will whisper the name to you.
Remembering Whitney by Cissy Houston
Back to Mayte...
I watched Hollywood Exes on VH-1 and I knew Mayte was holding back when it came to Prince. I don't blame her because we know Prince + his money could make things happen or make things not happen. In the book, she never mentions how he felt about her starring on Hollywood Exes - but he did have his people contact her when he found out about her auditioning off some of his items.
In the beginning of the book, she talks about how she and Prince forged this friendship when she was the tender age of 16. She talked about how they were pen pals for a lack of a better word. They would correspond with each other through letters and videotape. I found myself saying awwwww... as I listened to her tell the story.
Then my motherly instincts kicked in... A 32 year-old man writing letters to a 16 year-old. Even though her parents had no problem with her being around Prince - I still couldn't shake it completely.
Especially when Prince admitted being attracted to her but didn't act on it until she was 19. I will say this - times have changed because Social Media would have had a field day with this one.
This was a love story but it was also a story about heartbreak. There's a part in the book where Mayte talks about Prince and the touching of the hands. My eyes were watering up because I have been there before. Sometimes the warning alarms are going off loud and clear but we still turn a blind eye because we don't want to give up on love.
She also opens up about the tragic lost of their son, Amir. She dispels the rumors that her son was named Boy Gregory Nelson. She tells readers how that rumor got started and as usual the press had it wrong. That was another part of the book that had me shedding tears especially when you find out why she doesn't have her son's ashes. I think that incident would have sent me over the edge.
After listening to the last chapter of The Most Beautiful: My Life w/Prince by Mayte Garcia - I sat still for a minute and then I exhaled.
The bottom line is she loved Prince.
Did this book change my opinion about Prince? No! I won't say I was a diehard fan but I was a fan. Super fan - Die hard - Groupie - as fans there are things we aren't privy to.
We tend to put our favorite celebrities on pedestals but they are human like the rest of us. We are all flawed. (Side note: Does this include Oprah Winfrey? Lawd!! knows I love me some Oprah!) There is also mention of Oprah Winfrey in the book.
You can read everything related to Prince - you can memorize the lyrics to his songs but you will never know the man that Mayte knew. She was his first wife and the mother of his children something no else can claim. If you are upset with her for writing this book - don't buy it. You will get over it. It's her story to tell and she did it in her time.
There are so many things I want to share about the book but I don't want to spoil it. So I will end it here.
April 17, 2017
"I hear his voice in my heart, and I know as surely as I know my name that I will see my love again."
As a huge fan of Prince I was very excited to get my hands on Mayte's book. It's safe to say we all know somewhat about the artist Prince, however, the man Prince was often secret and kept out of the public eye. Mayte's book was going to give the reader an eyewitness account of the artist we loved. My hopes were high for this book, but unfortunately Mayte didn't deliver what I wanted. The title of the book contains the words "My Life with Prince", but the first whole half of the book was about Mayte becoming the belly dancing sensation that she is. Not that I don't appreciate a good story of a female overcoming adversities and making a name for herself, it's just that the book was supposed to be about her and Prince. It felt as though mid-way the book she realized oh now I am supposed to share about Prince and then we finally get to the life with Prince. Mayte takes us through a friendship that blooms into a connection of souls type of relationship. She'll make you smile as she describes Prince's actions while they court each others. I enjoyed this, but I wanted more in details from Mayte. I felt that she was holding out many things that lead to the next level of their relationship. One moment she was talking about how they were just friends hangout in his hotel room and the next he is asking her to get on birth control. I found myself flipping back through the pages like wait a minute. When they start dating for him to even ask her that and for her to agree. The beginning of their relationship seemed to blur together and it was hard to differentiate when things progress. It immediately started to feel like Mayte was leaving us hanging. She mentioned way later in the book that sometimes their hotel hangouts became physically, but never below the belt. It was confusing for her to mention it while she was talking about their engagement. The book felt very much like a very long diary entry about Prince. Things were only hinted upon like we were supposed to know what that meant. She mention one time that Prince was very mean to her sometimes, but she never tells how he was. This was another thing Mayte did in the book, she did a lot of telling us things for example Prince was mean, instead of showing us like describing an actual event where Prince was mean to her. The only part in the book that I felt as if Mayte had finally started to bring her guard down on her and Prince's relationship and let us in was when she wrote about the lost of their son and her eventually losing her relationship to Prince. She was finally starting to pour her heart into this book.
Overall, I felt this book was a beautiful ode to Mayte's relationship with Prince. Mayte kept this beautiful image of Prince in the reader's eyes. From the beginning to the end of the book the reader can tell that Mayte loved Prince and still loves Prince. If you are looking for a book that will just make you feel awl then you'll enjoy this book. However, if you are looking for a book that is going to make you feel as though you too were friends with Prince, courted by Prince, married to Prince and eventually divorced from Prince, this is not the book and unfortunately you'll feel left with a lot of questions and deflated high hopes.
As a huge fan of Prince I was very excited to get my hands on Mayte's book. It's safe to say we all know somewhat about the artist Prince, however, the man Prince was often secret and kept out of the public eye. Mayte's book was going to give the reader an eyewitness account of the artist we loved. My hopes were high for this book, but unfortunately Mayte didn't deliver what I wanted. The title of the book contains the words "My Life with Prince", but the first whole half of the book was about Mayte becoming the belly dancing sensation that she is. Not that I don't appreciate a good story of a female overcoming adversities and making a name for herself, it's just that the book was supposed to be about her and Prince. It felt as though mid-way the book she realized oh now I am supposed to share about Prince and then we finally get to the life with Prince. Mayte takes us through a friendship that blooms into a connection of souls type of relationship. She'll make you smile as she describes Prince's actions while they court each others. I enjoyed this, but I wanted more in details from Mayte. I felt that she was holding out many things that lead to the next level of their relationship. One moment she was talking about how they were just friends hangout in his hotel room and the next he is asking her to get on birth control. I found myself flipping back through the pages like wait a minute. When they start dating for him to even ask her that and for her to agree. The beginning of their relationship seemed to blur together and it was hard to differentiate when things progress. It immediately started to feel like Mayte was leaving us hanging. She mentioned way later in the book that sometimes their hotel hangouts became physically, but never below the belt. It was confusing for her to mention it while she was talking about their engagement. The book felt very much like a very long diary entry about Prince. Things were only hinted upon like we were supposed to know what that meant. She mention one time that Prince was very mean to her sometimes, but she never tells how he was. This was another thing Mayte did in the book, she did a lot of telling us things for example Prince was mean, instead of showing us like describing an actual event where Prince was mean to her. The only part in the book that I felt as if Mayte had finally started to bring her guard down on her and Prince's relationship and let us in was when she wrote about the lost of their son and her eventually losing her relationship to Prince. She was finally starting to pour her heart into this book.
Overall, I felt this book was a beautiful ode to Mayte's relationship with Prince. Mayte kept this beautiful image of Prince in the reader's eyes. From the beginning to the end of the book the reader can tell that Mayte loved Prince and still loves Prince. If you are looking for a book that will just make you feel awl then you'll enjoy this book. However, if you are looking for a book that is going to make you feel as though you too were friends with Prince, courted by Prince, married to Prince and eventually divorced from Prince, this is not the book and unfortunately you'll feel left with a lot of questions and deflated high hopes.
April 1, 2019
What a beautiful and good person inside and out that Mayte Garcia is. Her book is honest, tender, heartbreaking, funny. She narrated it so well too, I was 😭 right along with her...
November 6, 2017
By the time Mayte Garcia was 16 she’d had her whole future planned out. Belly dancing professionally since she was just 3 years old, Mayte knew she belonged in Cairo where all the great belly dancers perform. But when her family decided to catch a Prince show while on vacation… all of that changed. Encouraged by her family, Mayte sought out the tour, with a video of her dancing in hand with the hopes that she could get it to Prince. She succeeded of course, which led to a deep friendship and a job with the man himself.
Mayte was much more then just a girlfriend and wife. She was a partner, collaborating with Prince on many different projects throughout their time together. While they had many beautiful years together a shift began after the loss of their son Amiir who was born with Pfeiffer’s Syndrome Type 2. Both would deal with this loss in different ways, with Prince soon turning to religion for answers. When he became immersed in the Gospel of Jehovah and Mayte didn’t follow suit, another woman from his study group entered Prince’s life. Eventually the pair would divorce, with Mayte moving forward in LA. She has been acting and dancing ever since, is now mother to her adopted daughter Gia and runs Mayte’s Rescue, a charity which helps abandoned and abused dogs find happy homes.
Even though they weren’t together in the end, Mayte knows their love was fate, and that they will meet again in another life. “He was my family. His love lives on in me. “Never say gone, never say gone” my husband told me over and over in those terrible days after our son died. With Gia in my arms, I hear his voice in my heart and know as surely as I know my name that I will see my love again.”
This was a beautifully written book and you feel the passion & love Mayte has for Prince on every page. She is honest, without judgement and opens up in ways many others leave out of their memoirs.
If you want to hear more about Mayte check out my episode on her on Muses and Stuff
Mayte was much more then just a girlfriend and wife. She was a partner, collaborating with Prince on many different projects throughout their time together. While they had many beautiful years together a shift began after the loss of their son Amiir who was born with Pfeiffer’s Syndrome Type 2. Both would deal with this loss in different ways, with Prince soon turning to religion for answers. When he became immersed in the Gospel of Jehovah and Mayte didn’t follow suit, another woman from his study group entered Prince’s life. Eventually the pair would divorce, with Mayte moving forward in LA. She has been acting and dancing ever since, is now mother to her adopted daughter Gia and runs Mayte’s Rescue, a charity which helps abandoned and abused dogs find happy homes.
Even though they weren’t together in the end, Mayte knows their love was fate, and that they will meet again in another life. “He was my family. His love lives on in me. “Never say gone, never say gone” my husband told me over and over in those terrible days after our son died. With Gia in my arms, I hear his voice in my heart and know as surely as I know my name that I will see my love again.”
This was a beautifully written book and you feel the passion & love Mayte has for Prince on every page. She is honest, without judgement and opens up in ways many others leave out of their memoirs.
If you want to hear more about Mayte check out my episode on her on Muses and Stuff
May 15, 2017
Full disclosure, I am a huge Prince fan, so my review may be a little biased. Honestly, I think Mayte served up what she promised. If you are looking for intimate and salacious details about Prince’s life, this is not that book. She keeps the focus on the bond between her and Prince. Right from the start, she states, "The story I'm about to tell you now is the story I'll tell Gia someday: the story of my life with Prince and my life without him, the career I forged before we met, my struggle after we separated, and how I made sense of it all in order to move forward." On that basis she has delivered and although the prose is plain and straightforward the book is well done.
She provides a good sense of who she is and was as a 16-year-old befriending Prince. Having achieved success as a dancer before meeting Prince helped her stay kind of grounded and she seemingly avoided being caught up in the idea of Prince. Mayte builds trust with the reader early via her budding dancing career, her many performances and her handling of her own money. She had saved $100,000 and was set to go big in Egypt but two unfortunate circumstances conjoined to interrupt that strategy. And in the interim she met Prince and became a part of the NPG family. She shares some interesting tidbits that Prince fans will smile at, and she writes honestly and tenderly about the lost of their son which was the most difficult time of their marriage and something they as a couple never truly recovered from, especially having that pregnancy followed up by a miscarriage. Prince’s deepening descent into Jehovah Witness doctrine is humorously talked about. Mayte was definitely not onboard and had a difficult time seeing her husband, “sucked into something just because he was vulnerable in that moment.”
Prince could not have been an easy guy to love, as I’m sure most anyone of that stature is not and Mayte examines some of the difficulties in being married to a mega star who always had options aplenty. The feel is one of love, not pain or anger. Definitely worth a read.
She provides a good sense of who she is and was as a 16-year-old befriending Prince. Having achieved success as a dancer before meeting Prince helped her stay kind of grounded and she seemingly avoided being caught up in the idea of Prince. Mayte builds trust with the reader early via her budding dancing career, her many performances and her handling of her own money. She had saved $100,000 and was set to go big in Egypt but two unfortunate circumstances conjoined to interrupt that strategy. And in the interim she met Prince and became a part of the NPG family. She shares some interesting tidbits that Prince fans will smile at, and she writes honestly and tenderly about the lost of their son which was the most difficult time of their marriage and something they as a couple never truly recovered from, especially having that pregnancy followed up by a miscarriage. Prince’s deepening descent into Jehovah Witness doctrine is humorously talked about. Mayte was definitely not onboard and had a difficult time seeing her husband, “sucked into something just because he was vulnerable in that moment.”
Prince could not have been an easy guy to love, as I’m sure most anyone of that stature is not and Mayte examines some of the difficulties in being married to a mega star who always had options aplenty. The feel is one of love, not pain or anger. Definitely worth a read.
August 14, 2017
Caution: Do not read or listen to if you have Prince on a pedestal you don't want him knocked from.
This will change how you see him in a video or hear his music from now on.
I have always been a fan of Prince, now I realize I am only a fan of his music and not the person I used to be infatuated with as a little girl. After listening to this auto-book, I am now a fan of Mayte Garcia.
I think I connected with her because we are the same age and went through a lot of the same 80's and 90's pop culture that makes me feel such nostalgia coming from her stories. Listening to her voice, and her almost lyrical words, brought me through EVERY emotion. I was happy, sad, pissed off, disgusted and thrilled with her throughout her journey. That last chapter had my arms in goosebumps and crying at the same time. I freaking love this woman!
As for Prince or Symbol or whatever he liked to call himself before he died, he was not the person I thought he was and almost dropped a star because I was so disappointed, until I realized that this is not a bad movie, this was his life and it happened. I won't spoil anything here but if you want to know Mayte's story, get the audio-book. You will get so much more out of it hearing it from her own voice.
This will change how you see him in a video or hear his music from now on.
I have always been a fan of Prince, now I realize I am only a fan of his music and not the person I used to be infatuated with as a little girl. After listening to this auto-book, I am now a fan of Mayte Garcia.
I think I connected with her because we are the same age and went through a lot of the same 80's and 90's pop culture that makes me feel such nostalgia coming from her stories. Listening to her voice, and her almost lyrical words, brought me through EVERY emotion. I was happy, sad, pissed off, disgusted and thrilled with her throughout her journey. That last chapter had my arms in goosebumps and crying at the same time. I freaking love this woman!
As for Prince or Symbol or whatever he liked to call himself before he died, he was not the person I thought he was and almost dropped a star because I was so disappointed, until I realized that this is not a bad movie, this was his life and it happened. I won't spoil anything here but if you want to know Mayte's story, get the audio-book. You will get so much more out of it hearing it from her own voice.
May 29, 2023
Mayte Garcia was 16 years old when she met 33 year old Prince in 1990. She had studied ballet (and been a prima ballerina) and had successful career as a belly dancer earning awards as well as good fees. At 16 she had bought her own car and had $100,000 in the bank. With front row tickets to a Prince concert, her mother saw that Prince received a video of Mayte dancing. He responded with a backstage invitation.
It’s not difficult to imagine how the phone calls that followed would affect a teenager still in high school. You can see how this significantly older man, who fused musical styles for a young audience was fascinated by this beautiful teen with this exotic career.
After graduating from high school, she becomes part of Prince's New Performance group. While they are living separately (she in a Prince owned place near, or maybe at, Paisley Park) you can see Mayte and Prince growing as soul mates. They share a love of performance. They critique the art, content and technical aspects of what they do. She delves into the artistic work at Paisley Park, admires his art, drive and ability to challenge artists. You see him respect her artistic judgment. She demands nothing from him materially and does not pry into things he does not want to discuss.
She describes Prince’s home production studio that has its own costume department and hair salon. She writes about creating some of the albums and videos. Her writing on the Prince tours is fascinating. You learn the A – B –C accommodations; – how an advance “foo foo” team arranged Prince’s hotel rooms to be like home – how you get reminded of what city you are in, etc. As a performance professional she glowingly writes about the lighting, sound, synchronization etc. and the technical work that supports the art that is perfectly executed at each show.
While Mayte does not call this out, it appears that Prince’s relationships are primarily on his terms. He calls people; no one calls him. He leaves people (starting with his father), sometimes at critical moments. He terminates long term staff. He changes his name, without telling anyone what to call him. He, alone wants to make the medical decisions that affect his both Mayte and their son. He thinks Mayte should share his religious beliefs.
The unequal power dynamics of Prince and his crew are similarly not stated outright. He takes ideas and phrases, sometimes whole verses from everyone and incorporates them in his lyrics. It seems that like Mayte, no one gets credit. Similarly, Mayte provided choreography and artistic services for which she was paid by housing and had to ask for more than $300/month when her savings were depleted. I wonder how much like this was going on. I heard an interview with Appolonia who said she gladly gave Prince her lyrics since he did so much for her career.
The writing of the sad ending of the Garcia-Prince marriage is on par with the writing of many leading writers. With all that has gone before, you feel the couple’s joy of soon becoming parents quickly dash to panic and pain. You see Mayte and Prince trying to live with the loss of their child and the disappointment of not having a second. Mayte needs Prince and he checks out emotionally and then physically. He is relying not just on this coping pattern, but also the pattern of finding a new partner.
This book is 5 years old, so Prince fans most likely have read it; if not they will want to.
In showing how independent artists built international careers in the 1980’s and 90’s (Frank Zappa comes to mind as another) this book can be inspiring to others. It may be of interest to young girls for its examples of how women have built artistic careers. For parents who have lost a child, they may receive comfort in seeing how they are not alone. For general readers it is engrossing and highly recommended.
It’s not difficult to imagine how the phone calls that followed would affect a teenager still in high school. You can see how this significantly older man, who fused musical styles for a young audience was fascinated by this beautiful teen with this exotic career.
After graduating from high school, she becomes part of Prince's New Performance group. While they are living separately (she in a Prince owned place near, or maybe at, Paisley Park) you can see Mayte and Prince growing as soul mates. They share a love of performance. They critique the art, content and technical aspects of what they do. She delves into the artistic work at Paisley Park, admires his art, drive and ability to challenge artists. You see him respect her artistic judgment. She demands nothing from him materially and does not pry into things he does not want to discuss.
She describes Prince’s home production studio that has its own costume department and hair salon. She writes about creating some of the albums and videos. Her writing on the Prince tours is fascinating. You learn the A – B –C accommodations; – how an advance “foo foo” team arranged Prince’s hotel rooms to be like home – how you get reminded of what city you are in, etc. As a performance professional she glowingly writes about the lighting, sound, synchronization etc. and the technical work that supports the art that is perfectly executed at each show.
While Mayte does not call this out, it appears that Prince’s relationships are primarily on his terms. He calls people; no one calls him. He leaves people (starting with his father), sometimes at critical moments. He terminates long term staff. He changes his name, without telling anyone what to call him. He, alone wants to make the medical decisions that affect his both Mayte and their son. He thinks Mayte should share his religious beliefs.
The unequal power dynamics of Prince and his crew are similarly not stated outright. He takes ideas and phrases, sometimes whole verses from everyone and incorporates them in his lyrics. It seems that like Mayte, no one gets credit. Similarly, Mayte provided choreography and artistic services for which she was paid by housing and had to ask for more than $300/month when her savings were depleted. I wonder how much like this was going on. I heard an interview with Appolonia who said she gladly gave Prince her lyrics since he did so much for her career.
The writing of the sad ending of the Garcia-Prince marriage is on par with the writing of many leading writers. With all that has gone before, you feel the couple’s joy of soon becoming parents quickly dash to panic and pain. You see Mayte and Prince trying to live with the loss of their child and the disappointment of not having a second. Mayte needs Prince and he checks out emotionally and then physically. He is relying not just on this coping pattern, but also the pattern of finding a new partner.
This book is 5 years old, so Prince fans most likely have read it; if not they will want to.
In showing how independent artists built international careers in the 1980’s and 90’s (Frank Zappa comes to mind as another) this book can be inspiring to others. It may be of interest to young girls for its examples of how women have built artistic careers. For parents who have lost a child, they may receive comfort in seeing how they are not alone. For general readers it is engrossing and highly recommended.
August 19, 2022
Mayte Garcia was just sixteen when she had a chance meeting with Prince backstage at a concert and an unexpected friendship developed. She was already financially supporting herself as a well-known belly dancer living in Germany where her dad was stationed, had the support of her family as she finished high school early while studying dance, and prepared to work in Cairo where she had the opportunity to become a world-renowned dancer.
She tells readers there was nothing romantic between the two while she was a minor and it was mutual respect for their artistry that kept the pair talking on the phone and writing letters back and forth. Eventually, Mayte dropped everything to go on tour with Prince, a romance developed (after she was legally an adult), and the two married. Their bliss continued when Mayte discovered she was pregnant ...but soon turned to heartbreak when their son was born with a rare genetic disorder that was not compatible with life.
After their son Amiir died, Mayte and Prince grieved in very different ways. I can’t imagine how hard it was to recount the grief, the loss of her son, and the slow loss of her husband afterward.
I love that this book wasn’t just about Prince and spilling the tea on the notoriously eccentric musician and it didn’t feel like a money grab in the wake of his death- it was an honest account of her life with a focus on their life together, her thoughts, and shows the love and respect she has for him.
I see this story as one of a girl caught up unexpectedly in the whirlwind of a brilliant musician and though there’s plenty to criticize (he kept her close until she was of legal age, he was controlling, he pushed her away when she needed him the most and they could’ve grieved together, he cheated on her…) she didn't do that, instead it was honest and gave rare insight into Prince’s personal and professional life.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
She tells readers there was nothing romantic between the two while she was a minor and it was mutual respect for their artistry that kept the pair talking on the phone and writing letters back and forth. Eventually, Mayte dropped everything to go on tour with Prince, a romance developed (after she was legally an adult), and the two married. Their bliss continued when Mayte discovered she was pregnant ...but soon turned to heartbreak when their son was born with a rare genetic disorder that was not compatible with life.
After their son Amiir died, Mayte and Prince grieved in very different ways. I can’t imagine how hard it was to recount the grief, the loss of her son, and the slow loss of her husband afterward.
I love that this book wasn’t just about Prince and spilling the tea on the notoriously eccentric musician and it didn’t feel like a money grab in the wake of his death- it was an honest account of her life with a focus on their life together, her thoughts, and shows the love and respect she has for him.
I see this story as one of a girl caught up unexpectedly in the whirlwind of a brilliant musician and though there’s plenty to criticize (he kept her close until she was of legal age, he was controlling, he pushed her away when she needed him the most and they could’ve grieved together, he cheated on her…) she didn't do that, instead it was honest and gave rare insight into Prince’s personal and professional life.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
June 27, 2019
Prince seems kind of awful
I thought this book would make me fall more in love with Prince, but it actually just made me incredibly upset at his behavior, specifically towards the women in his life. It seems pretty clear that he engaged in grooming with Mayte, and possibly Manuela, and was also emotionally abusive and manipulative. He was a incredible musician and performer, but I'm so tired of the great misunderstood man being allowed to be shitty because of his artistic contributions.
I thought this book would make me fall more in love with Prince, but it actually just made me incredibly upset at his behavior, specifically towards the women in his life. It seems pretty clear that he engaged in grooming with Mayte, and possibly Manuela, and was also emotionally abusive and manipulative. He was a incredible musician and performer, but I'm so tired of the great misunderstood man being allowed to be shitty because of his artistic contributions.
April 3, 2017
It helped me understand a lot about them both. Usually, I take the "David Ruffin" approach to rock stars-I love you onstage, could careless about your private life. But this gave me insight not only into Mayte but Prince, her pre-Prince career, his wooing and everything in between and after. She was a little spicy about Manuela, but in the same situation, I would feel the same. Cliched writing in the beginning, a bit wordy towards the end. It's not going to win awards but it held my interest.
April 5, 2017
A heartbreaking, beautiful, and at times, very funny book. You can tell she loved the man and still loves the man. I was worried this would be some sordid or strange tell it all. it was the opposite..she tells enough (more, actually) than I thought she would, but she also keeps some things private. There were only a few things that gave me great pause and heartache, and those were not unexpected. If I liked her before, I love her now.
April 27, 2017
I thought this was such a beautiful book. I love a good biography and this was one of my favorites I've ever read.
I'm a lifelong Prince fan and getting these insights into his life and love just made me love him even more. It was written by someone who truly seems to have loved him completely and that just made it so special and personal.
I'm a lifelong Prince fan and getting these insights into his life and love just made me love him even more. It was written by someone who truly seems to have loved him completely and that just made it so special and personal.
September 15, 2017
This is one of the several books I managed to read by solar lights during the recent multi-day power outage after Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irma made her way through our state. By far it's my favorite of the books I read though, a real love story. Although we know it doesn't end well it's still quite romantic as it goes along, even if it is quite heartbreaking and there were boatloads of tears at times, it just had to be read. Even more romantic than imagined, incredibly so. And yet...well you have to read it for yourself to see the rest. No spoiling it. I enjoyed Mayte's story, painful as it was, beautifully told. There are some wonderful pictures too, reminding us how much Prince is missed.
April 19, 2017
Disappointed in the vague accusations without solid confirmation. Disappointed in the release date on the heels of the anniversary of his death. Disappointed in the author's friend social media attacks in defense of this book. I could not in good conscience and my admiration for Prince, support it. Returned for refund.
October 17, 2023
I don't care what anyone says - I absolutely adored this book. I know people may have gotten too hung up on who Mayte was and what her relationship with Prince was like towards the end of his life. However, I refused to let that stop me from really delving into this book. I was curious, and I knew I wouldn't be left wanting after reading it. If you can get past your own hang-ups and prejudices, then you will really enjoy this one. I stand by that statement.
I know people may see this as Mayte milking Prince's death and making money off a man she hadn't spoken to in twenty-odd years, but I feel like everyone has a right to tell their story. It didn't matter if they weren't on the best of terms when he died or not. People need to understand that just because you may not speak to someone anymore doesn't mean they didn't make an impact on your life. Regardless of how good or bad your relationship may have ended, it still happened.
People see this as Mayte using his name for her own come-up. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. The fact remains that Mayte didn't drag Prince's name through the mud like some people think. This book humanized Prince on a deeper level. She didn't unnecessarily demonize him; she made him seem more human and realistic with her words. He wasn't the musical icon and legend, Prince, in this book. No, he was just a man like anyone else. I think that's all anyone can do once someone dies. There's nothing wrong with reminding people, especially fans, that their fave isn't as infallible and flawless as they would like to believe. Especially if it's done right and with care, which is what Mayte did. She was his wife and they were in love at some point, but then it ended. That's it. Hate it or love it, but that's the extent of it.
All in all, it was a great book. We know Mayte excels in her dancing, but her storytelling is really good too. This was excellent.
I know people may see this as Mayte milking Prince's death and making money off a man she hadn't spoken to in twenty-odd years, but I feel like everyone has a right to tell their story. It didn't matter if they weren't on the best of terms when he died or not. People need to understand that just because you may not speak to someone anymore doesn't mean they didn't make an impact on your life. Regardless of how good or bad your relationship may have ended, it still happened.
People see this as Mayte using his name for her own come-up. Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. The fact remains that Mayte didn't drag Prince's name through the mud like some people think. This book humanized Prince on a deeper level. She didn't unnecessarily demonize him; she made him seem more human and realistic with her words. He wasn't the musical icon and legend, Prince, in this book. No, he was just a man like anyone else. I think that's all anyone can do once someone dies. There's nothing wrong with reminding people, especially fans, that their fave isn't as infallible and flawless as they would like to believe. Especially if it's done right and with care, which is what Mayte did. She was his wife and they were in love at some point, but then it ended. That's it. Hate it or love it, but that's the extent of it.
All in all, it was a great book. We know Mayte excels in her dancing, but her storytelling is really good too. This was excellent.
July 17, 2019
I am probably one of the few people who never listened to Prince music. Besides his notable songs such as When Doves Cry, Call My Name, Purple Rain to name a few, he never really stood out to me. I know that he was a very compelling artist who was very intriguing and introspective. Very private in nature, he was one that many boasted about such as talent wise. However, his music never stood out to me significantly..I know that is blasphemous to some people but I am being honest.
Regarding the book, it was decent but nothing really made an impact. Maybe because I never really cared about him as an artist, or possibly it was the contents. I did enjoy the pictures though, I saw a side of Prince that I rarely see in the media. I also reading about how he disliked taking pictures and how he was as a husband. Yet for the most part, I was skimming some parts cause it was really dry with the majority of the content.
Oh well it could have been better, and this book did not convince me to read more about Prince.
Regarding the book, it was decent but nothing really made an impact. Maybe because I never really cared about him as an artist, or possibly it was the contents. I did enjoy the pictures though, I saw a side of Prince that I rarely see in the media. I also reading about how he disliked taking pictures and how he was as a husband. Yet for the most part, I was skimming some parts cause it was really dry with the majority of the content.
Oh well it could have been better, and this book did not convince me to read more about Prince.
April 20, 2017
Thought the writing was just OK. As for the actual story, granted she was very young when they first met, but.....she just followed him. Always waiting for his phone call. Allowing herself to sign the annulment.....thought she was going into "Mama Bear mode" and wasn't going to allow their son Amiir to be born into wedlock......yet she still signed the paper. Thinking her daughter who never even met Prince may someday tell her grandchildren that "He fathered me, in a way." When Prince didn't agree with Mayte not "drinking the koolaid" of his new found religion he basically cheated on her, banished her, and found her replacement. No love story is perfect....why is she writing this book 6 months after he died? She hadn't seen or spoken to him in years.
April 6, 2017
OMG, this book was so profound, honest, and nothing like some people thought it was going to be. I didn't find anything in the book salacious, but was surprised by her candor on topics that have been discussed thoroughly on various Prince fan boards. It's a must read for anyone who loved Prince and for those that have recently encountered his genious. There are some in the " Purple Family" who are hating on her, but it's shows more of what they are about than her.
Mayte does tell her story from love and it's her story to tell and I'll say that all day long!
Mayte does tell her story from love and it's her story to tell and I'll say that all day long!
August 18, 2017
This book was more delusional facts than anything; add to that, sappy dialogue and a bit of boredom. Mayte weaves a story of unconditional love and a special relationship between two people that were made for one another, but sadly it was mostly on her part. Prince controlled her every waking moment (he said, "jump" and she jumped high, people), cheated on her with other women, and in the end would not give her the time of day. She finally got tired of the cheating and found enough dignity to divorce him. He never looked back, although she kept hoping he would.
March 23, 2018
Give me a moment to interpret what The Most Beautiful... really is. I am trying to determine how I felt about this book. Can't criticize Mayte's experience as Prince's wife, but ...
Look for full review. Coming shortly.
Look for full review. Coming shortly.
April 14, 2017
I cried and laughed. What more could one want from a book? A must-read for any Prince fan.
April 12, 2017
Wow. This is a heartfelt, love-story about a woman who knew Prince more intimately than probably any person on earth. I became a Prince fan around 89-91, and became really interested in his music and life around 93-94, just around the time he was becoming romantically involved with Mayte. It's also the time he became more open to media interaction, so this formerly enigmatic star started to open up, and I chewed it all up. I knew basics about what happened in their personal lives, particularly the death of their child, but the details remained shrouded in mystery.
The true story of what happened, from Mayte's perspective, touched me very deeply and (not ashamed to admit) made me cry. I started the book in hardcover format, but was going on a trip, so continued it in audiobook format. The audio was even more touching, as you could hear the pain in Mayte's voice. There are parts that I had to stop the audio (usually the same parts where she was crying herself).
The book is very well written, and clearly a very personal story. I commend Mayte for writing such an amazing account of what happened. This book provides insight into the thought process and both business and personal life of a musical genius - but one who was still a deeply emotional and spiritual man. What happened in their marriage and relationship could happen to any of us, and it provides a very human perspective on someone who many feel was super-human in his abilities (an image which he probably encouraged). That being said, Prince clearly didn't think like most of us. The insight of a woman who is amazingly relatable, normal, and clearly has a very big heart is one that we all can relate to.
Bravo, Mayte, for telling your story. I will re-read this book many times.
The true story of what happened, from Mayte's perspective, touched me very deeply and (not ashamed to admit) made me cry. I started the book in hardcover format, but was going on a trip, so continued it in audiobook format. The audio was even more touching, as you could hear the pain in Mayte's voice. There are parts that I had to stop the audio (usually the same parts where she was crying herself).
The book is very well written, and clearly a very personal story. I commend Mayte for writing such an amazing account of what happened. This book provides insight into the thought process and both business and personal life of a musical genius - but one who was still a deeply emotional and spiritual man. What happened in their marriage and relationship could happen to any of us, and it provides a very human perspective on someone who many feel was super-human in his abilities (an image which he probably encouraged). That being said, Prince clearly didn't think like most of us. The insight of a woman who is amazingly relatable, normal, and clearly has a very big heart is one that we all can relate to.
Bravo, Mayte, for telling your story. I will re-read this book many times.
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