Rose Gold testifies against her Mother (Patty), who she believes made her deliberately ill throughout her entire childhood. Patty feels betrayed by the daughter she centred her whole like around. When Patty is released from her 5-year prison sentence for aggravated child abuse, Rose Gold (now a mother herself) stuns their hometown by forgiving Patty and taking her in. Patty plans to re-establish control over Rose Gold and her new grandson. But Rose Gold, sick of being the victim, has plans of her own. The books goes back and forth between them, and at different times, to tell a compelling story about love, betrayal, control and revenge.

This was an excellent book, which borrowed heavily from the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case, but was different enough that it didn't seem like just a ficitonalized account of that particular true crime. This is a novel about Munchausen syndrome by proxy but it's also a story about a lot of really horrible people. Really, the only people in the whole book I liked were Anna and the baby. Both Patty and Rose Gold were manipulative and for almost the whole book I was unsure who was really playing whom here, which I think speaks for how well this book was written. Rose Gold also gets to meet her father and his family and while I agree that Rose Gold's antics were completely out of line, I don't think her father and his family were especially welcoming to her even prior to her inappropriate behavior. The characters were well developed and I went back and forth on whether or not I felt sorry for Rose Gold (and Patty) and then something else would happen and I'd change my mind again. The one I really felt sorry for was the baby, who was used as a pawn in this vicious battle between mother and daughter. The end was also a surprise and not what I was expecting. I really liked this and read it in one day and would definitely recommend it to patrons looking for a good thriller.

Wow! Where do I begin?? This book took me on a roller coaster ride from start to finish. I had no idea which way this story would go next and the more you get into it the more you keep shaking your head and saying did that just happen? Some of it was a little far fetched but for the most part the story was pretty real and focuses some very real subjects like paranoia, revenge and Münchausen syndrome by proxy. I think the story is a pretty good depiction of serious mental illness and how that can affect people and families.
Overall the book is a winner. I liked how the author kept the story going right up to the end. You didn’t get the reveal at 75% through the book and the remainder of the book is all filler. This was great story telling. It will keep you shaking your head and rooting for sides you didn’t think you would. You’ll like and dislike characters all throughout the story and your opinion will change frequently. The author did a fantastic job of creating completely unlikeable characters and they will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

When Rose Gold Watts’ mother is released from prison, Rose Gold is there to pick her up, to give her a place to stay, to possibly begin the process of repairing a badly damaged relationship. The first twist: Rose gold is the reason her mother was sent to jail in the first place - convicted of child abuse in the form of Munchausen by Proxy. Neither Rose Gold nor her mother are reliable characters, and as the story unfolds, the reader must shift his/her sympathy from one to the other as details are revealed. The other twists are doled out slowly throughout the book, and the final one is not so much a shock as it is a way to tie together the pieces of the plot. I think what bothers me about the book is the missed opportunity to flesh out the mother’s story, to pull the reader into both sides more thoroughly, to banish the last of the distance I felt from the true motivations of both characters. It felt, too often, like the author was holding back, avoiding the really dark and difficult feelings which push the characters towards their most terrifying urges. It was an adequate story, it just wasn’t creepy enough.

I got my ARC from NET GALLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One reviewer called it "Gone Girl on steroids", and I found that close to true. Here is a primer for all you new and budding parent wanna be's out there in how NOT to form a relationship. Wow , this was a roller coaster of a read for me.

This is a great read for psychological thriller fans who aren't necessarily into murder. I loved that both characters had sinister undertones, and I was held in suspense until the end. I'm also fascinated by true crime and this is one I think regular nonfiction readers/listeners will really go for.

Since a lot of reviews compared this book to the real life story of DeeDee and Gypsy Rose, I read up on that and see that while it might have been inspired by that story, I don't agree that it is a rip-off of it, as some contend. I actually think this is a much better story than the real thing, with a very clever scheme by Rose Gold to get revenge on her mother and others who have wronged her. The voices of both Rose Gold and Patty are distinct and rich; it's easy to feel immersed in their worlds. The sub-plots are interesting and convincing and cleverly contribute to the overall arc of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I am a big fan of books in which villains are not quite villains and heroes are not quite heroes. People are never black and white. In this page-turner, told from the point of view of a "hero" and a "villain", you will go back and forth on who is doing the right thing and who is doing the wrong thing the entire time. Will you ever figure it out? This will be a great book for a book club to discuss. The author is a master suspense-builder and also a master at crafting multidimensional characters. Loved this book. So far my absolute favorite suspense novel of 2020!

Rose Gold had been a sickly child. Patty, her mother, took very, very good care of her. She made sure to get her to all the best doctors, and sacrificed her whole life to make sure Rose Gold had the best care. After almost 18 years of severe illnesses, her online boyfriend helped her realize Patty had been poisoning her over the years. With her mother in prison for 5 years, Rose Gold struggled to find a purpose for her life. Everyone saw her as a victim, but she wanted to be something more in their eyes.

When Patty was released from prison she had nowhere to turn, so Rose Gold made herself available. She needed to make sure her dear mother knows how much she loves and trusts her, because Rose Gold has a plan. It might not seem like anyone understands why she wants to be with the woman who ruined her life, but hadn’t she learned how to lie from the greatest liar in the world?

In alternate voices Patty and Rose Gold tell their complicated stories of revenge, love and hate going from past to present to fill in the missing gaps in the story. The author had me on the edge of my seat as I tried to suss out who was lying, who was telling the truth, and who was planning what to whom. I’ll have to admit she totally blindsided me, as I never saw Rose Gold’s plan coming AT ALL!

Highly recommended for Adults.

A psychological suspense novel that is a first rate debut from an author to watch. Perfect for fans of twisty plots and vindictive characters.

Ever read a book and can't decide who is the worst character in terms of being a jerkface? This is one of them. A few years ago I came across the story of Dee Dee and Gypsy and was for some reason fascinated. After watching The Act and the documentary, I thought a book version of this would be great. And here we are.

I honestly thought I would hate it because the main characters are obviously based off Dee Dee and Gypsy, and I thought the story would be pretty cut and dry with no real twists or anything. However, this book really made you wonder who the real villain was. The ending actually was a surprise and I didn't guess that until towards the end.

Creepy take on the true story of Dee Dee and Gypsy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this.

I knew I had to get my hands on Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel as soon as I read the synopsis. The story reminds me of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, a true story that is worth your time to read about.

I read another book which was inspired by Gypsy’s life and I’m curious how the author will create another intriguing plot around this idea. I am looking forward to reading this one, the early reviews are glowing and I have a feeling I’m going to love it.

Here’s the synopsis:

For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold.

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar.

After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes.

Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she’s forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score.

Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling…And she’s waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

I’m all for writers being inspired by a true crime event and using that as a launching point for a novel. What do you think?

The book comes out on March 17, 2020 so you can celebrate St. Patricks Day by reading a book! It’s really how I celebrate every holiday- with a book in my hands!

I could not finish this book. I could not figure out what the point was. And it was boring. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Very interesting topic to write about. I would of like to have more of the mothers side of the story. Will recommend to people. I think this book would an great book for a book club to read, definitely interesting topics to base a discussion around.

OH NNOOOOO!!! This is too nasty, disturbing, agitating and creepy! This is totally sick, insane, dark, edgy! CARRIE MEETS HULU’S “ACT” SHOW! And I LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT! Who cares if I’m not normal! I loved those brilliant, ultra evil genius brain cells of the author. If I ever have plastic surgery, I will demand to have that kind of batshit crazy brain cells so I can create creepier, nail destroyer, body hair lifter, and scary stories. As a result: I can happily give 5 gazillion stars without thinking a second and say 2020 will be exciting year to read such amazing thriller books!!!!

I’m writing this review hid under the couch, hands shaking, breathing heavy, praying God get those mother and daughter away from me and at least for 2 two hours my husband still thinks we’re playing “ hide and seek”! He still couldn’t find me (Or he acts like that because I can hear his laugh and soccer critics’ nonsense comments so he might take the control of the TV and finish my last bottle of Chardonnay! Dammit! I’m so scared to leave my hiding place!!! Oh no, am I smelling Italian takeout! That’s it! I left my book and took the cannoli! Luckily I don’t intend to poison my husband as a punishment like these sweet and lovely villanelles did on the book!)

Okay, nmmmmm, yes this pad thai and papaya salad is excellent…Okay let’s start again! Argggkk (Don’t worry, this painful sound is coming from my husband because I’m sitting on him when I’m writing this review! I might have gained a few pounds. Who counts the calories anyway!)
When I’m writing this review in the meantime, I’m formulating a letter to Ryan Murphy stop working AHS and advise him to produce this story and give the leading role PATTY to Jessica Lange. She was my dreamy villanelle! When I read the parts of Patty especially her snapping to her daughter at the jail, I only saw her face on my head and I started screaming, dropped the book but luckily I caught my Chardonnay glass so nothing has gone wasted!

So our terrifying mother PATTY, abuse victim, her own brother killed himself, turned into a monster (or she was baby monster but she has grown up to be wilder version of herself), poisoned her daughter for years and isolated her from outer world, made her believe she has been a victim of unidentified rare disease. When she got convicted by her own daughter’s testifying against her, her poor daughter Rose Gold was suffering from being under-weighted, hairless, having rotting teeth, looking like malnourished ten year old boy.

The story has so many resemblances with Hulu TV series “Act” like daughter’s turning against her mother at the court, the neighborhood friend’s efforts with her make up products to help her feel better and as soon as the neighborhood friend leaves her house, the mother dearest cleans the make-up from poor daughter’s face and steals her forty second happiness away from her. The mother’s fake helpful and genuine manners around the community to earn their respect were also similar with the book. Even Joey King who was acting as sick girl suffered from her mother’s secret madness named “Gypsy Rose”

But thankfully we’re not stuck at the past story of those two characters because the book is focused on after life of Rose Gold and her reborn from her ashes after she sent her mother to the prison and took her freedom back. But as trauma victim, she did have no friend. Even her online boyfriend did not want to talk with her face to face in real life. And as soon as she found out her father was not dead… Well, this story had also no quite happy father-daughter gathering ending. So neglected, lonely and broken Rose Gold needs her revenge to move on! I think she gets her first big step to the dark side after her mother’s denying her sins! (Darth Vader’s theme song Imperial March begins to play nananana!)

Then five years later, PATTY the MOTHER DEAREST ( mash-up of One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest Nurse Ratched, Carrie’s mother Margaret White and combination of all evil Meryl Streep characters!) gets out of the prison to live with her daughter and her grandson ( What? Rose Gold had a baby ? As we consider her ancestral characteristics: pure baby could be also Rosemary’s baby!) at her own childhood house. (SURPRISE!! HER DAUGHTER DEAREST bought mother’s childhood house she has been suffered from parents’ abuses for years! Evil laugh comes from Rose Gold!)

So THE MOTHER and DAUGHTER’s revengeful adventure begins. Which one will poison the other? Which one is more intelligent at mind games? Who is the father of the child? Could be Patty innocent? Of course not, I hit my hand to write this silly question! SO LET THE MIND GAMES BEGIN!

I’m not gonna give spoilers but I’m giving my SLAP CONTEST RESULTS FOR THIS BOOK:
PATTY (incarnated Lucifer’s mother) 5 gazillion punches, 3 million slaps
Billy Gillespie (asshole father) 3 million punches, convicted to watch Travolta’s Battlefield Earth 4 million times without restroom break)
Alex ( asshole worse best friend) 3 million slaps and permanent epilation of her eyebrows!

So yes, I love this Kill Bill quote : “I roared and I rampaged and I got bloody satisfaction”!

I liked this novel but was very put off by how much it tore its plot from the story of DeeDee and Gyspy Rose. It really wasn’t even inspired by that sad situation, as much as ripped off. And I think that is the main reason I am rating this low- I did not feel like this author was very unique, creative or thoughtful. It was a fast read and interesting. I would recommend it to people who are into creepy thrillers. But beware that it is quite uninspired.

As a child, Rose Gold's mother Patty intentionally made her sick. She sheltered Rose Gold at home, away from school, away from the internet, and away from anyone who might question what was going on. When Rose Gold realized what was going on, she turned to a neighbor. The police were called, and her mother was arrested. 5 years later, her mother is getting out of prison, and Rose Gold has a plan of her own.

This was a well written and engaging book. I found it hard to put down. The author expertly blended the past and present, revealing tidbits along the way. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, highly recommended.

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read a lot of book about the complications of mother/daughter relationships but I have never read one that was so complicated that it became fascinating such as Darling Rose Gold. Stephanie Wrobel does a stellar job in reflecting the importance of not only the relationship aspect but for the growth of Rose Gold for having the curiosity factor to find out the truth and discover who she really is after bailing her mom out of jail and focusing on the gift of coming home to your mother even when your mother has a difficult track record attached to her. The bravery and tenacity of Rose Gold was very inspiring and at some point everyone should take a look at this book.

We will consider adding this title to our Mystery collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Darling Rose Gold is a recommended first purchase for collections where thrillers and true crime is popular. Crossover appeal for HS collections where the same genres get traction.

Thank you Netgalley for the early advance copy.

This book is pure crazy, totally insane, absolutely twisted pile of events.
Through the entire time I had no idea who is the victim and who is the villain. It was incredibly well written. The story captured my attention from the beginning until the very end. I was blown away by how interesting the plot is and how complex these characters are.