from the title to the pages in between this is a thoroughly brilliant book. its dark and humorous at the same time. and i feel slightly bad saying i found these often toxic pair and their marriage breakdown humorous. but dark drama sometimes gets a giggle factor woven through it. perhaps to help us cope with the storylines lol. and this one did that. perhaps too with the audacity of what this couple was doing and becoming. a way of coping if you will.
i do like a book that follows the everyday life. or an occurrence within a family or couple. youd think on sight that just looking at something so every day wouldn't be a good read. but it so is! these viewing of others lives. whether dramaticised or not. it can be thrilling. and lets face it some things behind closed door are indeed that shocking.
this book follows the breakdown of a marriage. and what happens next. and next. and next as these two spiral and heighten their need for "winning" or control. or just the need for the family cutlery!
on the face of it our couple have it all. they have wealth, they have the house, they have the lifestyle. right? well, when Jonathan has what they think is a heart attack things start to split apart. Barbara feel more than the attack, she feels its a opening of all that is crumbling in their relationship.
grievances soon come to light and the need for more of their possessions. the need to be heard. the need to be either the wronged or the right builds and builds until the tensions and hurt they start to cause eachother gets out of control. the life they've built seems to be all that they are. was it real? well. whatever it is they seem to need it all. and both want it all from eachother.
i got the full picture in my mind of the scenes as they played out. i could at time sympathize or at least imagine how moments go to where they were between the two. when resentment builds it can certainly make a person turn.
a really fascinating read.

The War of the Roses by Warren Adler is a darkly comedic and sharply satirical novel about the disintegration of a marriage, capturing the emotional aftermath of divorce and the destructive forces at play when two people who were once in love become enemies. The story revolves around Jonathan and Barbara Rose, a seemingly perfect couple who live a life of suburban comfort. Jonathan has a stable law career, and Barbara is an aspiring entrepreneur, working on perfecting a pâté recipe. Together, they share a large home filled with a valuable antique collection, which initially brought them together.

However, their marriage begins to unravel when Jonathan suffers what seems to be a heart attack, and Barbara confronts the growing emotional distance between them. What starts as a mild disillusionment soon escalates into an all-out battle, with both partners using their personal grievances and material possessions as weapons in a fight for dominance. Adler delves into the themes of materialism, contempt, and selfishness that erode their once-loving relationship, raising the central question of how far we are willing to let our possessions define our identity and our sense of worth.

The novel is written with biting humour, exploring how a marriage can fall apart under the weight of greed, resentment, and revenge. The Rose family's breakdown is unpredictable and often absurd, as both Jonathan and Barbara engage in increasingly extreme actions to try to “win” their war. The result is a story that is both tragic and darkly funny, shedding light on how emotional and material stakes can override logic and compassion.

The narrative is vivid and well-crafted, with sharp, brutal dialogue that adds to the tension and drama of the story. The characters are richly drawn, portrayed as flawed and deeply human, yet also capable of cruelty and manipulation. The novel’s exploration of the darker side of human nature, particularly in the context of divorce, is unflinching and compelling.

Adler’s The War of the Roses has earned its place in popular culture, not just as a novel, but also as the basis for a successful 1989 film starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. The novel’s portrayal of a marriage gone wrong resonates just as much as the film does, with its blend of humour, pathos, and social commentary. The story serves as a stark reminder of how unchecked emotions and materialism can drive people to the most extreme actions, even in the name of love.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Darkly humorous book that had me engaged from page 1. Highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.