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Don't Lose Your Head: Life Lessons from the Six Ex-Wives of Henry VIII
Survive alongside Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and the rest of King Henry VIII’s ill-fated wives with this witty book of essential life advice, history, and trivia—the perfect handbook for fans of the hit musical Six .
Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six , as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six , as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published February 16, 2021
9 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 8, 2021
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this if you haven't read much of the six Tudor wifes drama. But if you have this is a very fun and informative book, it has surprisingly a lot of humour and every chapter of the queens felt like a reality drama shop. An very entertaining non fiction for sure but if your in the mood for an ultra serious book then this isn't for you, even though the facts and such is correct
May 24, 2021
Henry VIII is infamous for his good looks, charm, religious reform, tyranny and the six wives that were best known for being "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived." History has been told from the male point of view for quite some time; however, the women in Henry VIII's life have their own contributions and their own stories to tell of their lives with Henry. Beginning with Henry's mother and moving through each of his six wives, Don't Lose Your Head allows the women to have their say.
I am a huge fan of all things Tudor, especially the Tudor women; so, Don't Lose Your Head is right up my alley. Written with the women all speaking after their deaths took place, I loved that the women had a modern tone and were able to be completely honest with no consequences. Each woman was able to tell her story in her own words with witty banter and with their own unique voice. Well timed interjections by the other wives in one another's stories add an extra level of humor. Through the women's stories, they share their accomplishments and what they would like to be known for other than being a wife of King Henry VIII. I learned that Catherine of Aragon served as an ambassador to Spain between being wed to Arthur and being wed to Henry. She was also Henry's regent during a military campaign and rode to address the troops in full armor while pregnant. Anne Boleyn heavily guided Henry in religious reformation. Jane Seymour, often painted as sweet and innocent, knew how to play her cards well and manipulated the situation to her advantage. Anna of Cleves sidestepped disaster and found happiness for herself away from her stifling family and was able to outlive all of Henry's wives. Catherine Howard was able to find the small joys in her short, tumultuous life. Catherine Parr was able to publish books under her own name as well as bridge the gap between his daughters. A fun, fast-paced read for young adults interested in history or for any Tudor-loving history buffs.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of all things Tudor, especially the Tudor women; so, Don't Lose Your Head is right up my alley. Written with the women all speaking after their deaths took place, I loved that the women had a modern tone and were able to be completely honest with no consequences. Each woman was able to tell her story in her own words with witty banter and with their own unique voice. Well timed interjections by the other wives in one another's stories add an extra level of humor. Through the women's stories, they share their accomplishments and what they would like to be known for other than being a wife of King Henry VIII. I learned that Catherine of Aragon served as an ambassador to Spain between being wed to Arthur and being wed to Henry. She was also Henry's regent during a military campaign and rode to address the troops in full armor while pregnant. Anne Boleyn heavily guided Henry in religious reformation. Jane Seymour, often painted as sweet and innocent, knew how to play her cards well and manipulated the situation to her advantage. Anna of Cleves sidestepped disaster and found happiness for herself away from her stifling family and was able to outlive all of Henry's wives. Catherine Howard was able to find the small joys in her short, tumultuous life. Catherine Parr was able to publish books under her own name as well as bridge the gap between his daughters. A fun, fast-paced read for young adults interested in history or for any Tudor-loving history buffs.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Don't Lose Your Head: Life Lessons from the Six Ex-Wives of Henry VIII
Author: Harriet Marsden
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Royal fans, SIX the Musical fans
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: History
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, beheading)
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Pages: 192
Synopsis: Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six, as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
Review: If you’re into Henry VIII and his wives, this is the book for you! I’ve been a fan of the royals since I was little and I loved reading this informational book about the ill-fated wives. The book was informative and fun to read. The book also is fairly small sized so you can take it with you while walking through the Tower grounds.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Don't Lose Your Head: Life Lessons from the Six Ex-Wives of Henry VIII
Author: Harriet Marsden
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Royal fans, SIX the Musical fans
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: History
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, beheading)
Publisher: Ulysses Press
Pages: 192
Synopsis: Get the inside scoop from some of the toughest women in English history, as ex-wives, mothers, and daughters of King Henry VIII dish out all their survival secrets in this humorous guide to life. With a bit of sarcasm and friendly charm, each of these legendary ladies explains how their 16th-century hard-earned lessons (from living with unstable men to stifling Tudor traditions) apply to 21st-century dating, marriage, and feminism.
Written from the perspectives of each of the different women around Henry VIII, you’ll get the facts from the Queen Mother and the less-remembered but no less important Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and more.
With must-know historical trivia alongside wise life advice, Don’t Lose Your Head is the perfect survival guide for fans obsessed with Broadway’s latest historical pop musical Six, as well as anyone fascinated by British royalty and culture.
Review: If you’re into Henry VIII and his wives, this is the book for you! I’ve been a fan of the royals since I was little and I loved reading this informational book about the ill-fated wives. The book was informative and fun to read. The book also is fairly small sized so you can take it with you while walking through the Tower grounds.
Verdict: It was good!
December 18, 2024
"But take note. Be careful what you wish for. And if you dance on another woman's grave, for sure there will be one who dances on yours. Karma was a bigger bitch than she was."
September 30, 2021
This was an easy, fast read. If you’re a fan of the musical this is a good book to read to understand that wives.
I didn’t personally like the style it was written in. A little too campy for me. And it definitely felt like a rip off of the Musical. But it did make for a fast read.
It was also a good overview of the history without going into too much detail of the politics of the time. While at the same time representing the wives well.
I personally already knew most of the history that was in the book but I still found it to be an entertaining read. And it was well represented. It’s important to remember (and this book did a good job at showcasing) that England is what it is today (and survived to be what it is today) because of these six women.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants an quick understanding of Henry VIII’s six wives.
I didn’t personally like the style it was written in. A little too campy for me. And it definitely felt like a rip off of the Musical. But it did make for a fast read.
It was also a good overview of the history without going into too much detail of the politics of the time. While at the same time representing the wives well.
I personally already knew most of the history that was in the book but I still found it to be an entertaining read. And it was well represented. It’s important to remember (and this book did a good job at showcasing) that England is what it is today (and survived to be what it is today) because of these six women.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants an quick understanding of Henry VIII’s six wives.
March 14, 2022
As a huge fan of the musical Six, I needed to read this book. There are a lot of books about the wives of Henry VIII that I am interested to read but I started with this one because it was written with the context of the musical. The queens narrate their life stories and once in a while, roast each other with a sarcastic, humorous tone. I loved it.
February 28, 2024
Yeah, no. Gotta dnf this one.. I just can’t with the same tired Tudor party line, with evil, child-murdering tyrant King Richard (all lies), and the Great Henry Vlll. He may have done some great things, but they were only done for the benefit of Henry.
I started to write a pretty scathing review of what I’d read, and the historical inaccuracies, but then l realized that my biggest issue with this book was, in all probability, ME. I’m a purist, and the historical inaccuracies just drove me nuts. And that was just the first 20 pages. The author made it a point to clarify that this was a work of fiction, but that she’d done her research. So I got annoyed. But, this is a book about the Tudor women, so she probably didn’t research Richard as much, or Henry Vll. I can’t fairly hold that against her.
The only thing about the book itself that I could fairly critique was what little of Elizabeth of York being the one spewing all of the usual, wildly inaccurate garbage about Richard lll. He never intended to marry her, but they did have a caring relationship, appropriate that of an Uncle and a niece. That and that Henry Vll was very likely illegitimate himself, and only got any backing in England at all by promising to marry Elizabeth of York, uniting the two houses. He tried to back out of it after he usurped the crown. Still, this isn’t a book about him, or about Richard, so when I give it a second shot, I’ll do it when I can be a bit more fair about what I’m reading. It had a great tone, and I suspect it’s probably pretty good. It just pissed me off tonight.
I started to write a pretty scathing review of what I’d read, and the historical inaccuracies, but then l realized that my biggest issue with this book was, in all probability, ME. I’m a purist, and the historical inaccuracies just drove me nuts. And that was just the first 20 pages. The author made it a point to clarify that this was a work of fiction, but that she’d done her research. So I got annoyed. But, this is a book about the Tudor women, so she probably didn’t research Richard as much, or Henry Vll. I can’t fairly hold that against her.
The only thing about the book itself that I could fairly critique was what little of Elizabeth of York being the one spewing all of the usual, wildly inaccurate garbage about Richard lll. He never intended to marry her, but they did have a caring relationship, appropriate that of an Uncle and a niece. That and that Henry Vll was very likely illegitimate himself, and only got any backing in England at all by promising to marry Elizabeth of York, uniting the two houses. He tried to back out of it after he usurped the crown. Still, this isn’t a book about him, or about Richard, so when I give it a second shot, I’ll do it when I can be a bit more fair about what I’m reading. It had a great tone, and I suspect it’s probably pretty good. It just pissed me off tonight.
May 4, 2021
If you like reading about Henry Vlll and his six wives you will enjoy this quick read. This is written in the first person or ghost as you will learn. Each wife explains a little about how they felt being the wife of Henry Vlll. Each person seemed to have a much different Henry. I love how each of the previous wives gets in a few jabs at the other. I got in quite a few laughs while learning some history. I received a copy of this book from Pacific and Court for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
May 6, 2022
For fans of Six and the history of the Tudors, here we have a breezy, chatty history of Henry VIII and his six wives.
Elizabeth of York is the first narrator, giving as concise a history as she can on the Wars of the Roses, the awfulness of having Margaret Beaufort as a mother-in-law, and how she might have, just a teensy bit, spoiled her darling favorite son Harry.
Henry and each wife has a profile with the basic facts of their lives, very much playing up to the dating app similarities.
Each wife tells her life story, with plenty of snark and color, their voices fresh and modern as they lay out the facts, with the other wives occasionally jumping in to offer counterpoints, very similar to the musical.
Each wife gets her say, always sticking the facts but also pointing out the bias and hypocrisy they faced from their society.
At the end, Mary I and Elizabeth I chime in to add a bit about their reigns and how their mothers and step-mothers influenced them.
A fun - and informative - history of the Six.
Read
February 18, 2022I stopped cold when the writer, writing as Catherine of Aragon, referred to Moors - entrapped by Catherine's mother in Granada - as "rats" and two paragraphs later refers blithely to the expelling of Moors AND Jews...
I mean, I didn't know I was going to be charmed and tickled when I picked up this book.
Why do I bother reading about these imperialist slave-driving shit bags called the Royals?
Die a death already.
SUB ZERO FUCKING STARS.
I mean, I didn't know I was going to be charmed and tickled when I picked up this book.
Why do I bother reading about these imperialist slave-driving shit bags called the Royals?
Die a death already.
SUB ZERO FUCKING STARS.
July 8, 2024
Don't lose your head
I liked this book. It reads as does SIX the musical plays out. More or less info. I have always been obsessed with The Tudors. I knew Henry was brutal, but he was far worse than I even realized. This book is tongue and cheek, yet there is history to be learned. Many important messages to women
" 3 in the bed and the little one said if you want to be wed make up your mind. Her or me chum don't want to be some girl in a threesome are you blind"
I liked this book. It reads as does SIX the musical plays out. More or less info. I have always been obsessed with The Tudors. I knew Henry was brutal, but he was far worse than I even realized. This book is tongue and cheek, yet there is history to be learned. Many important messages to women
" 3 in the bed and the little one said if you want to be wed make up your mind. Her or me chum don't want to be some girl in a threesome are you blind"
February 11, 2023
Since I’m going to see the musical Six soon, I wanted to read this book before attending the musical. It was a great, quick way to learn about the six wives of Henry VIII. The book was delivered in quick, witty, & informative writing. It wouldn’t be a book I’d pick to read, but with going to see Six soon, it was great.
November 7, 2023
loved every single thing about this one! the sassiness, the jabs at the king (and other queens) and most of all their amazing stories! Vv educational while also absolutely hilarious! Would highly recommend to any six lovers out there or generally anyone interested in women's history :) like who doesn't love themselves a lil tudors story <3
June 1, 2022
I found this book very amusing even though it was historically accurate. Each of Henry’s wives tell of their marriage to Henry in their own words. Sometimes they comment to each other. It was a short book. Perfect for a spring read.
February 13, 2023
Lighthearted look through the eyes of the 6 queens
No new information (I didn’t expect any), but the book provided good perspective. I especially liked the conversations between the queens.
No new information (I didn’t expect any), but the book provided good perspective. I especially liked the conversations between the queens.
March 15, 2021
A quick primer of all the wives of Henry the VIII. Targeted toward a teenager, so I rolled my eyes at a lot of the style. Still, if you have a teenager into Six the musical they'd enjoy this book.
April 10, 2021
I am obsessed with all things Tudor and I thought that this book was such a fun, quick read! I devoured it in one sitting straight out of the package! Perfect for YA+ readers!
May 6, 2021
actual rating 3.5 stars
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August 7, 2022
Read this review and others at: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2021...
October 23, 2022
Snarky retelling of the marriages of Henry VIII, told from the perspective of each of the wives. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the eccentricity of British court life back then.
February 16, 2023
A comical yet informative way to learn more about the Tudors.
July 4, 2023
A short but funny take on the history of the 6 wives of Henry the 8th. I really enjoyed the little blurbs from all the queens as they each told their own story.
May 4, 2024
A very cute, very quick read! After recently seeing SIX and loving it, I read this book which is not affiliated but has the same feel.
October 7, 2024
a fun read!
This was great! Really fun and lots of details!!! I love the banter! A fun read if you love everything Tudor!
This was great! Really fun and lots of details!!! I love the banter! A fun read if you love everything Tudor!
September 29, 2025
cute!
This isn’t what I was looking for, nor is it written in a way that I would usually enjoy. But, the story was interesting & the arguments between the Queens were funny!
This isn’t what I was looking for, nor is it written in a way that I would usually enjoy. But, the story was interesting & the arguments between the Queens were funny!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews