The War of the Roses

256 pages

“If you are looking for a high-octane tale of marital dysfunction with guaranteed laughs, The War of the Roses is endlessly diverting.”
—The Times of London, March 23, 2025 (read full review)

With the highly anticipated release of The Roses—a bold new film adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman—Warren Adler’s legendary novel The War of the Roses is poised to captivate a whole new generation of readers. Since its publication, The War of the Roses has become more than just a best-selling novel—it’s become shorthand for the most volatile, emotionally charged kind of divorce. Referenced in legal circles, pop culture, and now reimagined on screen, Adler’s tale of love lost and vengeance found remains strikingly relevant. At its heart, The War of the Roses charts the unraveling of Jonathan and Barbara Rose—a couple who seemingly have it all. He’s a successful attorney. She’s a passionate gourmet with dreams of culinary success. Their home is filled with rare antiques, shared memories, and two children who bind them together. But when a sudden health scare exposes the cracks in their marriage, a quiet resentment erupts into a full-blown war. What begins as a marital separation soon devolves into psychological and physical warfare, as both parties refuse to give up the house—or the upper hand. With razor-sharp wit and chilling insight, Adler exposes the darker side of love and marriage, asking readers to consider: What happens when pride and possessions matter more than the people we once loved? How far will we go to get even? Equal parts comedy, tragedy, and biting social commentary, The War of the Roses is a timeless—and timely—exploration of materialism, ego, and the fragile architecture of modern relationships.

As The Roses prepares to hit theaters in Summer 2025, there’s never been a better time to (re)discover the unforgettable novel that started it all.

Hardback
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Roses-Warren-Adler/dp/1837263604/
Waterstones – https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-war-of-the-roses/warren-adler/9781837263608

Paperback (Publishing 14 Aug 2025, pre-order)
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Roses-Warren-Adler/dp/1837263639/
Waterstones – https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-war-of-the-roses/warren-adler/9781837263639

Audiobook
Audible – https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-War-of-the-Roses/dp/B0DM2FTDH2/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

Reviews

“The divorcing Roses go to battle over their beautiful home and the objects in it – and take revenge to stunning heights. You may have seen the fantastic 1989 film with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas, but the book is even more terrifying, black-humored, black-hearted and bristling, because you’re trapped inside the self-justifying, increasingly mad minds of Oliver and Barbara Rose.” — Gillian Flynn, Author of Gone Girl

“The War of the Roses is a clever look at the breakup of a marriage…It is Adler’s achievement that he makes the most bizarre actions of each (party) seem logical under the circumstances…Both frightening and revealing.” — The Washington Star

“Warren Adler writes with skill and a sense of scene.” — The New York Times Book Review

“A very, very funny novel.” — New York Daily News

“This book is a dazzler, the wildest, most outrageous, most macabre comedic book we’ve read in years.” — Richard Zanuck and David Brown