As a busy mom of two, catching up with my favorite forms of entertainment usually looks like listening to my favorite podcasts while cooking dinner or watching my favorite shows after the kids go to bed. That means I’m pretty picky with what I fill my “me-time” with. When deciding what to read, watch, and listen to, it always helps when there are reviews. The most recent show on my radar is With Love, Meghan, which debuted on March 4, 2025, on Netflix. Its host and executive producer is the former Suits actress, who is now formally known as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Meghan is a mom of two to a 5-year-old son, Prince Archie of Sussex, and her 3-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
If you’re a Suits fan, I’m sorry to break the news that Meghan isn’t returning to the series just yet—that we know of. But the good news is that if you love cooking shows and anything that has to do with hosting and entertaining, her new Netflix show just might be the next thing to add to your watchlist. I watched the first three episodes, and despite its pre-debut backlash, I’m a fan. Here is my honest review of With Love, Meghan—without spoiling all the details.
In each episode of With Love, Meghan, Meghan invites guests to her kitchen (and garden) in Montecito, California, where she currently lives with her family. She shares personal stories, tips, and tricks from cooking to hosting and more, all while catching up with friends (old and new). Her experiences aren’t the only thing she’s sharing. She and her guests learn new skills together throughout the series, like candle-making, which is showcased in the first episode. Guests on Meghan Markle’s show include people like Mindy Kaling, Roy Choi, and Alice Waters.
If you’re wanting to watch With Love, Meghan, all eight episodes are available on the Netflix streaming service. Each episode ranges from 35 to 41 minutes long.
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Before the series aired, multiple news outlets claimed the Duchess of Sussex’s show was unoriginal and even used the word “plagiarism” when referring to the series. With Love, Meghan has been compared to Pamela Anderson’s Cooking With Love. Similarities with Anderson’s show include its name, Cooking With Love, as well as a few other similar phrases used in the show. One outlet reported Meghan says, “I’ve always liked to take something common and elevate it,” while Anderson says, “I’ve always wanted to take things to another level.”
I have to say, as an avid viewer of home and cooking shows like Barefoot Contessa, Giada at Home, Selena + Chef, Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, and more, the criticism of Meghan’s show tells me that the critics have never really watched a cooking show before. In shows alike, words and phrases like “elevate” and “take things to another level” aren’t new. Isn’t that the point of watching shows like With Love, Meghan—to either simplify or elevate what you, as the viewer, are doing at home? It’s a common theme among cooking and lifestyle shows.
Other articles have focused on the fact that the show isn’t filmed right in her own kitchen—but it’s for a good reason. Meghan shared with Today that she wanted to protect her kids’ “safe haven.” As a mom, I respect that. Even Joanna Gaines of Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines films her cooking show offsite at a renovated 1800s flour mill. So, my approach going into watching With Love, Meghan, was to cancel out all of the public noise and form my own honest opinion.
Meghan opens the first episode by checking on her beehive. She confesses she still gets scared of the bees even after a year of having them. She goes on to say, “You know what it is? It’s like that reminder to do something that scares you a little bit. I think that’s part of it, but I’m trying to stay in the calm of it, because it’s beautiful to be this connected.” This opening scene had me hooked, as it’s a common theme of the show and a message to her viewers. Whether you’ve never decorated a cake before or the thought of doing something outside of your comfort zone scares you, it’s OK to try.
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Throughout the show, she sets the tone about imperfection. I love that she addresses this because the comparison game in motherhood is so easy to do. At one point, referring to putting together a crudités platter (raw vegetables served as appetizers), the Duchess of Sussex states, “It’s imperfect, but it doesn’t need to be perfect.”
In writing this review, I originally planned to only cover the first episode. But one of my favorite things to observe over time with podcasts and shows is noting how long it takes for hosts to become more comfortable on set. Understandably, Meghan seemed a little too formal in the beginning. By episode three with Chef Roy Choi, I could tell she felt more at ease with her guest interactions. Love this for her! Plus, she’s a natural at explaining what she’s doing and how to do things.
In the first episode, while preparing to make a cake for her dear friend Daniel, Meghan reveals that baking isn’t her favorite thing. Yet, she’ll do it for one of her favorite people. Like anything in life, you don’t have to enjoy every single aspect of anything, truly. You can love motherhood but hate the bedtime routine. You can enjoy having a baby but hate the newborn phase. In this case, you can like cooking but dislike baking. She also uses a plastic Ziploc bag as a piping bag for icing, which is definitely more realistic.
I’ve already added Meghan’s Single Skillet Spaghetti to my meal rotation for next week. It looks so easy and her friend Daniel Martin’s reaction to how good it was had me chuckling. In episode two, she shares details and ideas of how to throw a garden-themed kids’ birthday party. They were all cute and simple ideas to elevate a get-together.
I can’t fail to mention the duchess’s fashion. One of the first things that caught my attention was what she’s wearing in each episode. From jeans and a plain tee to a chic linen outfit, Meghan’s simplistic style has always been timeless and stunning. Mindy Kaling took notice, too. Kaling wanted to know what Meghan was wearing in episode two. Surprisingly, Meghan said she was wearing a pair of pants from Zara.
I’m not the only one at The Everymom who noticed the show’s aesthetic. Senior Editor Kathy Sisson, commented, “I like the modern Martha Stewart vibe of it” and the show seems like a “Nancy Meyers escape.” I have to agree with Kathy. The whole show is aesthetically pleasing. From the bright colors to the beautiful garden to the transitions of the cut scenes—it all just makes me happy. Plus, the constant sounds of birds heard in the background make me feel like I’m there.
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Formerly known as “Meghan Markle,” you may recognize the duchess for her role as Rachel Zane in the popular TV series Suits. Her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is fifth in line to the British throne. In 2020, Meghan and her husband stepped away from their royal roles. However, she is also known for a variety of work.
Her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, was popular among her fans from 2014 to 2017. The same day her new show premiered, her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched its first line of products as seen on With Love, Meghan.
The Duchess of Sussex’s 2022 podcast Archetypes included interviews with A-listers like Serena Williams and Mindy Kaling. Her children’s book, The Bench, was published in 2021 by Random House Children’s Books.
Notably, Meghan’s bio on the Sussex’s website describes her as “a feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity.” The duchess has been listed in TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People, The Financial Times’ 25 Most Influential Women, Variety‘s Power of Women, and British Vogue’s Vogue 25.
As a world traveler, the duchess has also supported humanitarian missions. In 2020, she and her husband founded The Archewell Foundation, which supports “communities in need, in both moments of crisis as well as for long-term aid.”
Meghan Markle’s Netflix show is pretty on par with other cooking and hosting shows. So far, the recipes and tips on hosting don’t seem to be ridiculous. I’m excited to see all the other guests she brings on. I love it when cooking shows have guests and make you feel like you are part of their conversation. I’ve also noticed she’s quite thoughtful in welcoming them, like how she makes a welcome tray for a friend with his favorite things. To touch on hosting, as a mom who isn’t a fan of throwing big birthday parties for my kids right now, I’m also open to her take on party favors.
The aesthetic is a big plus for me, too. Reading other negative reviews, it feels like some outlets are pulling for any ounce of negativity they can get. In a world where women are so easily scrutinized for anything and everything we do, I say, I think the naysayers are wrong. With Love, Meghan is lovely, and I’m rooting for her.
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.
