The War of the Roses

I LOVED this book. I read it in one afternoon as I just couldn't put it down.

The Roses start off as a seemingly normal, if a little bonkers, couple who appear to have everything. The inevitable spiral into self-destruction is tantalising. It is cringey, far-fetched but wonderfully voyeuristic to watch - there is a touch of the 'real housewives' or 'Made in Chelsea' about it as you watch the unravelling insanity as the Roses try to take each other down no matter the damage they cause to themselves or others.

I felt sympathy for both of the Roses and could understand the initial drive to cling onto the home they had made together, and each decision they made - despite the inevitable destruction, in some ways seemed ration and forgivable...

I thought the ending was wonderfully written, and still had an element of surprise.

This was not what I expected, and not the type of book that I would usually read, but I absolutely loved it!

I absolutely love this movie and wanted to read the book for awhile. I definitely wasn’t disappointed and neither will you be. Amazing book.

A ferocious, fiendish and utterly compelling portrait of a dysfunctional couple descent into hell, The war of the Roses kept me in stitches all night long! I couldn't believe how nasty those two dimwitted idiots were to each other and how determined they were to destroy each other. A marvellous and truculent tapestry of marital bliss gone absolutely bonkers and an unflinching look and vitriolic description of the venomous and almost murderous consequences that brings about the total destruction of a marriage.
Very hilarious & peppered with some unforgettable verbal pyrotechnics, this delightful psychological novel is also a terrific slice of late 70s-early 80s American life! Now I need to watch the 1989 film version once again!
Highly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Stonehouse Press for this fantastic ARC

This was an interesting read that was hilarious to experience. War of the Roses may be a well known title but you haven't seen it like this!

I am always a fan of dark comedy and this definitely did not disappoint in that vein. I knew that the book was based on an awful divorce, but never saw the movie and knew nothing going into this book. It starts out slowly and builds up into such and unbelievable frenzy of craziness. This is one of those books that I could not stop reading once I got invested because I had to know what happens next. The sheer level of creativity in the exploits was genius, however I wish the characters would have been more developed. It was hard to take any side which was good for propelling the plotline. I did not end up understanding the character of Ann and why she was so invested. I felt that her character was unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. The ending left me just spellbound. I could not stop thinking about resolution. I thought this was a thrill ride of a book that really did have some valid points about relationships and marriage. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This is not a book where you can fall in love with the characters. The War of the Roses begins with marital bliss that quickly disintegrates into the divorce from hell. The venomous consequences (hilariously) destroy not only Jonathan and Barbara Rose but also their home, antiques, pets and family.

Warren Alder pulls us deep into the snowball effect of psychological warfare, leaving this reader wanting to shake sense into the combatants. The tense storyline will keep you cringing as the Roses both refuse to leave the family home, each finding more and more destructive ways force the other out. Now I want to find the 1989 film version to watch. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Stonehouse Press for the advance reader copy.

I loved this book! The story follows the breakdown of Jonathon and Barbara Rose's marriage and their bitter fight for divorce. The lengths the two go to to win custody of their house and possessions were extreme and hilarious. I felt fully engrossed in the story and loved every second of it!

A deliciously engrossing darkly comic story of the bitter disintegration of the Rose's marriage and the lengths people will go to for revenge and justice when they feel maligned. I have to watch the film again as i loved the book very much