Review: Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

Title: Darling Rose Gold

Author: Stephanie Wrobel

Published: March 2020, Berkley

Format: ARC E-copy, 320 pages

Source: Netgalley

Summary: 

Sharp Objects meets My Lovely Wife in this tightly drawn debut that peels back the layers of the most complicated of mother-daughter relationships…

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.

My thoughts: As soon as I heard of this book, I requested it. I am completely fascinated by

Munchausen syndrome by proxy and will read just about any book that touches upon it. And this one…WOW. 

This is loosely based on the Gyspy Rose Blanchard case and one that I am somewhat familiar with, but not enough that I know the story inside and out, though I do plan on looking into it further after reading this book. But what sets this story apart from all the others on this topic is that it deals with the aftermath of everything. And buckle up because things are about to get bumpy and a little crazy!

I loved this book. Yes, it is dark and twisted and filled with characters you love to hate on, but isn’t that what a good thriller is all about? One that has characters that you can’t help but wonder about? One that has you wondering if you can trust their actions, even though you might be swept up in their backstories and made to feel sympathy for them. 

I loved the way this story was told, alternating between two points of view – mom and daughter – and moving quite effortlessly back and forth between the present and the past so that you get a false sense of security with these characters. You will feel things for them – lots of emotions here – but can you trust those emotions? Getting to know Rose Gold you start to put together how she turned into such a complicated character…she’s devious and complex for sure and you can see why she turned out the way she did.

This book will keep you on your toes and once you start reading it, you will be hard-pressed to put it down. I flew through the pages, not able to guess where it was going. It’s a dark and disturbing cat and mouse game that is such a fun, thrilling read and I cannot recommend it enough! And for sure, I will be keeping an eye out for what Stephanie Wrobel writes next…this debut was quite impressive and I am eager to read more from you!!!