Wealthy Family’s Trials in the 2008 Crisis

Western Alliances by Wilton Barnhardt is a darkly humorous novel set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis. The story centers on the Costa family, a wealthy and absurdly dysfunctional clan. The patriarch, Salvador, runs one of Wall Street's biggest banks just before the financial collapse. His children, Roberto and Rachel, are equally complex and flawed, each navigating their unique struggles and ambitions. Its rich characters, insightful themes, and engaging writing style make it a standout read for those interested in family dramas and socio-economic critiques.

Western Alliances is a vivid portrait of a wealthy family set against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis. This laugh-out-loud, darkly funny novel follows the Costa family—whose members are every bit as richly absurd as the characters in HBO’s Succession. Salvador, the patriarch, runs one of Wall Street’s biggest banks the summer before everything collapses; Roberto and Rachel, his two children, have never worked a day in their lives; and Lena, his ex-wife, is a scheming hypochondriac. Part travelogue, part epic family drama, the novel follows Roberto and Rachel across Europe as the two dilettantes come to terms with their father’s choices and the repercussions of his actions.

I see and understand the comparisons to succession! I enjoyed the story and all the drama and loved the satire

This book was really well written don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t for me. I kept putting it down and I wasn’t invested in the characters. I did read the full thing, just took awhile.

"Western Alliances" by Wilton Barnhardt was an interesting novel about a family, raised with a successful economist/entrepreneur father, driven by wealth and clever money management. The grown children, living an entitled life, exploring sexuality, and struggling with their relationships as a family. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

"Darkly funny" is the key to really reading Western Alliances by Wilton Barnhardt. It has a wild cast of unforgettable characters. I am not sure that I liked all the characters, but what I did appreciate is the honesty in the writing. Barhardt writes the characters as they are and explores topics of family and loyalty. I also like the humor!

I wanted to love this, I really did. The premise is great and it SOUNDS amazing. But I struggled to slog through it. Honestly, I just found it boring and I had trouble finding a plot. I didn't find a single character likeable. The writing style was great and kept me going longer than I would have otherwise. But this was a DNF for me. 2 stars for great writing.

I've started and stopped this one a few times and I just don't think it's for me. Fully believe this could be someone else's fave book and it has a lot of potential! *graciously bows out*

This was a cute and silly book. I found the characters to be very enjoyable. Anyone who enjoys sitcoms will really enjoy this.

In his darkly comedic novel, "Western Alliances," Wilton Barnhardt takes readers on a whirlwind tour of the excesses and absurdities of the wealthy elite. The story follows Roberto Costa, the dilettante son of a powerful Wall Street investment banker, as he and his equally aimless sister, Rachel, embark on a series of extravagant escapades across Europe.

Roberto's journey is a far cry from the traditional Bildungsroman. Instead of seeking self-discovery or enlightenment, he revels in his privileged upbringing, indulging in fine dining, luxurious accommodations, and fleeting romantic encounters. His observations of the world around him are acerbic and often hilarious, exposing the hypocrisy and shallowness of the wealthy class.

Barnhardt's writing is sharp and witty, capturing the essence of the privileged world with a keen eye for detail. His characters are a collection of eccentrics, each more outlandish than the last, their interactions a constant source of amusement and cringe-worthy moments.

The novel's backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis adds a layer of social commentary, highlighting the vast inequalities and irresponsible behavior that led to the economic collapse. Barnhardt's satire is not without its bite, but it is also laced with a sense of absurdity that prevents it from becoming overly preachy.

"Western Alliances" is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of dark satire and social commentary. Barnhardt's sharp writing and keen observations of the privileged class will leave readers laughing and reflecting on the excesses of wealth and power.

Western Alliances is a book about a family, spoiled by their wealth and then having to deal with the loss of their financial security. I found the storyline hard to follow and confusing. I put the book down a few times before making the commitment to finish it. I found the characters funny at times, trying at times and hard to relate to most of the time. It's like the whole family was out to manipulate and screw over each other!

This just may not of been the book for me...I like the cover! I don't regret reading it so pick it up and see what you think.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If your looking for a book that takes you literally across the world with a wealthy family who's patriarch runs a huge wall st bank, his children never have the need to work, with quit the scheming ex wife this familiar puts the FUN in dysfunction when it comes to reading about the adventures of the Costa family Salvador, Roberto, Rachel & Lena then you'll wanna check this one out.
A dark & humorous read. I've rounded up from 3.5 stars for this one.

While I enjoyed the premise and the writing was funny, I had a really hard time getting into this one and staying interested. I understand the Succession comparisons, but I didn't feel the tone or style of this one tracked the show and lacked the tension, which makes the show engaging.

Overall, enjoyed but maybe should've DNFed.

This was entertaining and engaging but way too long of a read. Audiobooking this would have made this more enjoyable for me. The story lines and characters were Netflix Mini Series worthy for sure. This is not my usual genre and it was a nice switch for me. This is best suited for folks who have no problem with large novels that may take you longer to read and follow the various scenes and story lines. #NetGallery #FamilyDrama

Western Alliances is described as a funny romp and I must disagree. However, the comparison to Succession is accurate. This family novel is full of dislikable characters and a lot of history, art, architecture, and geography. The author Wilton Barnhardt writes with precision and his descriptions place the reader in place in a manner that allows one to hear the street noise and see the sights. However, the relationships are dark and doomed. A reader who enjoys seeing the underbelly of society might enjoy this book, but I am not the target audience. While I appreciate Bernhardt's skills as an author, I desire a more optimistic tone.

First, this book is not very funny nor would I call it a "romp," yet I finished it. I don't have to like characters to enjoy a book, but when I loathe them, it makes it hard to finish a book. Roberto is fluent in many languages and prides himself on going to various obscure places in Europe to check off every architectural wonder found in a German Book that is the Bible. Here's what I really liked about the book: The photographs that illustrate the things Roberto and his companions go to see. Roberto's sister Rachel is working on a paper about Trompe L'oeil and gets into unfortunate relationships with controlling people. Their mother Lena is a grifter and a con artist who isn't above doing things that hurt her kids. Their father Sal is a bond fund expert who made a ton of money and is on a regular show about money. The novel takes place during the financial collapse of huge wall street financial institutions and Sal is trying to save one of them in some gutsy moves.

People who like this book a lot would enjoy the characters' messed up view on life and what is normal. I happen to love quirky books and parts of this worked for me, but it was too darned busy. Too many moving parts. Too many characters I loathed for their total self-involvement. Yes it is satire. Yes it is meant to be funny. Yes, I got a kick out of parts of it. So, I finished it.

Wow, this one was definitely not what I was expecting! This was my first read by Wilton Barnhardt and I will say, I am impressed! It was laugh out loud funny in certain scenes and then found a way to be dramatic and serious as well. Great read!

really good book and kept me on my on my toes of what would happen. really enjoyed the characters and their journey and would read this author again.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This made me think of the show succession and shits creek having a baby and all the drama that would follow.

A family drama, with travel, manipulation, power struggle, tragedy, and money on the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis.

Sal Costa comes from humble beginnings, but has become a powerhouse on Wall Street. He has a TV segment that helps people learn financial intelligence and how to invest. He has 2 kids, Rachel and Roberto who have never worked a day, travel europe, and spend their trust funds. His ex wife cons people out of money with schemes and false promises. When the kids financial security is in jeopardy, and their father wipes his hands clean of their antics, they must both figure out how to hold onto dear life the nice life they have always known. They are willing to screw over everyone in their path, themselves and each other. Their mother even uses them to her advantage.

The writing in this one really surprised me, this is my first novel by this author and I am intrigued enough to check out his other works. The travel element is this one was probably my favourite part. It really felt like i was in europe with the characters experiencing all the cities with the characters. The comparison to Succession is what drew me to this book in the first place and while I would not 100% agree with it, I did love the cutthroat family dynamic.