THE USA TODAY AND EDGAR AWARD NOMINATED BESTSELLER“If you enjoyed The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, read Darling Rose Gold.”—Washington Post “Sensationally good – two complex characters power the story like a nuclear reaction…”—Lee Child A most anticipated book of 2020 by Newsweek ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ Shondaland ∙ PopSugar ∙ Woman’s Day ∙ Good Housekeeping ∙ BookRiot ∙ She Reads … Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ Shondaland ∙ PopSugar ∙ Woman’s Day ∙ Good Housekeeping ∙ BookRiot ∙ She Reads
Mothers never forget. Daughters never forgive.
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.
“Dazzling, dark and utterly delicious”—J. P. Delaney, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Before
“One of the most captivating and disturbing thrillers I’ve read this year. An astonishing debut”—Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife
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I read this one on a friend’s recommendation.
Amazing. I spent most of the book flipping back and forth wondering which one was the schemer: mother or daughter? This would be an excellent choice for book club, lots of points for discussion.
4.5 stars
Wow! What did I just read? This book is all kinds of crazy with a side of sick and twisted. Mind. Blown. I really don’t want to go into any details here because you get everything you need from the synopsis and this is one of those books that the less you know, the better it is.
I would highly recommend this book for all lovers of sick and twisted, psychological thrillers. Well, less “thriller” because it is more of a slow motion train wreck that you just can’t stop staring at. This book had me hook, line and sinker and I read it in record time.
And one last thing, I NEED to see those teeth. The fact that there wasn’t a graphic was killing me, because OMG, the teeth.
Thank you to Penguin Publishing for my copy of this book via Edelweiss
Imagine thinking that you are ill when in reality, your mother was poisoning you. Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel is a Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy story of Rose Gold, told in alternating chapters, Rose Gold and her mother Patty Watts, in this the reader learns what happened to Rose Gold in her childhood but also after her mother was arrested and jailed for 5 years. Most people know about Munchausen by Proxy and how it messes up a life.
Rose Gold’s life after her childhood is not a very good one either, she purchases her mother’s childhood home so she can take in her mother when she gets out of prison. Patty is not real pleased but she dearly wants to be a family with her daughter and her little boy, Adam, yes Rose Gold has a baby.
This story is twisted for sure, the treatment of Rose Gold and how life is after Patty gets out of prison and the living arrangement that is creepy at best. If you are interested in this type of story, pick this one up, I really loved the story, it reads fast and the cover is brilliant!
Patty Watts was convicted of aggravated child abuse for which she served five years in prison. Debut author Stephanie Wrobel takes readers inside Patty’s mind via her first-person narration that begins on the day she is released. The alternating narrative from her daughter, Rose Gold, commences earlier — in November 2012 shortly after Patty has begun serving her sentence. While Patty’s storyline proceeds in real time, Rose Gold’s moves forward incrementally until the two finally merge in the present.
Living on her own for the first time at the age of eighteen, Rose Gold, at the outset, resides in a rundown apartment and works as a cashier at Gadget World. Initially taken in by Patty’s best friend, Mary Stone, Rose is now learning to navigate the world independently. Unable to tolerate food for most of her life, she learns what foods she likes and how to prepare them. Her only friend, Alex (Mary’s daughter), has moved away, but they remain in touch. Rose has a boyfriend who lives in Colorado. She met Phil online and they have never met, but text regularly and she looks forward to seeing him in person so that she can experience her first kiss. Before that happens, however, she wants to undergo dental treatment for which she is saving her money. Her misshapen, discolored teeth are a result of years of stomach acid eating away the enamel surfaces. So she is extremely self-conscious, holding her hand in front of her face. And Rose is, of course, infamous in the little town of Deadwick where she has lived her entire life. She tells herself that she is “not disgusting,” but she doesn’t believe it. It was, in fact, Phil who helped Rose Gold figure out what her mother was doing to her. “It’s odd that hospital food never makes you sick. Only your mom’s food,” Phil told her. Still, it took Rose Gold another six months to piece it all together and finally seek help.
By the time Patty is released, much has happened to Rose Gold. Her friendship with Alex has changed dramatically, she has purchased and moved into her mother’s childhood home, and arrives at the prison with her two month old son, Adam.
The two women take up residence in the family home and begin a tense game of cat and mouse. Wrobel reveals Patty’s plan to regain Rose Gold’s trust and hear Rose Gold ask forgiveness for having testified at Patty’s trial. After all, it was Rose Gold’s testimony that secured her conviction. Little by little, Patty seeks more time alone with Adam . . . and to exert control over Rose Gold’s life as she did for so many years.
The two women’s inner dialogues are diabolically entertaining and full of surprising twists. Wrobel slowly reveals the depth of harm that a lifetime of mistreatment has caused Rose Gold through her naive, but calculating interactions with others. Rose simultaneously engenders sympathy and anger, ultimately describing how she arrived at the realization that she was utterly alone in the world and finally decided to visit her mother in prison for the first time.
Wrobel keeps the two story lines advancing at a steady pace until they converge and the action accelerates. Shocking revelations about the women’s goals and motivations lead to a jaw-dropping conclusion.
Darling Rose Gold sets itself apart from other fictional stories about Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In those tales, the mystery is usually about what is actually happening to the child or which parent is the perpetrator. But Wrobel set out to write a story that is “more about the why. Not only does the reader know what Patty has done, but they’re also forced to live inside her head and watch her rationalize these actions.”
And that is precisely why Darling Rose Gold is such an impressive debut. It succeeds as an in-depth, disturbing character study about a tragically dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. Each woman wants to be loved and accepted by the other. Both want to be celebrated for their individuality and, in Patty’s case, she wants to be appreciated for the great sacrifices she contends she made for her daughter. Yes, she maintains her innocence — even to herself — even though she fails to deceive anyone, including the townspeople who refuse to welcome her back and her former best friend, Mary who is convinced from the moment she arrives back in Deadwick that no good will come from her return.
Darling Rose Gold demonstrates that Wrobel is a gifted and promising writer with the ability to develop multi-layered, complex characters while examining controversial topics that do not lend themselves to definitive conclusions. In Darling Rose Gold she has done so with sensitivity and compassion, while sustaining reader interest with unexpected, expertly-timed plot twists. Psychological thriller fans will find it impossible to put down . . . and contemplate it long after reading the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
One of the most captivating and disturbing thrillers I’ve read this year. An astonishing debut.
I love it. Fascinating, immersive, whip-smart, with a supremely clever ending that left me gasping.
People have a fascination with Munchausen Syndrome proxy. How could a person do such a thing to someone that they love. To make someone else sick just so you can have other people give you sympathy and tell you what a wonderful person you are for taking care of another person. Last year when The Act premiered, I had a lot of friends who watched and really enjoyed it. I still haven’t watched it, but when Darling Rose Gold began showing up all over social media, I decided to give it a read.
First off, that title. What a fabulous marketing idea. People had The Act, a true story about Gypsy Rose and DeeDee Blanchard, still on their minds. So if they enjoyed that show and they came across Darling Rose Gold, there was a really good chance that they would pick it up.
The story itself was very engaging. Although I knew Rose was trying to get back at her mother, Patty, after a five year prison sentence, I didn’t see all the twists coming. And I really enjoyed how Stephanie Wrobel wrote the scenes of rage and showed how unstable both of the main characters could be. Although some of the scenarios that Rose came up with were kind of far fetched, it was still an enjoyable read. And the way that Wrobel slowly revealed both of the women’s secrets was done exceptionally well. Even when the last page was finished and I was thinking about all the horrible things Rose did, I still felt some sympathy for her.
If you are fascinated by Munchausen Syndrome stories or enjoy reading about twisted mother and daughter relationships, you should definitely give Darling Rose Gold a read.
It’s rare for something genuinely fresh to come along in this genre, but this book has it all — a killer premise, twisty plotting, crisp writing and compelling characters. Dazzling, dark and utterly delicious.
Darling Rose Gold is an original, stunning debut! Masterful crafting of a split time-frame and utterly compelling characters will hook readers from the very first page until they finally learn the truth hiding within this chilling mother-daughter relationship. An intelligent, beguiling read that should be at the top of every reader’s list.
I inhaled this book. Darling Rose Gold delves so deep into family dysfunction that we are left gasping as the last pages turn. Compelling, intriguing, beautifully written and paced like a roller coaster ride, cancel all your plans when you pick up this terrific book.
More than a page-turner — although it’s undoubtedly that — Darling Rose Gold plumbs the depths of this poisoned mother-daughter relationship, asking probing questions about why we all hurt the ones we love. An explosive debut from a thrilling new voice.
Wrobel writes a fascinating and thrilling debut that looks deeply into the complicated reasons a mother and daughter choose to hurt each other. A psychological twister that had me completely captivated until the end.
I absolutely devoured Darling Rose Gold! … I couldn’t get enough of Patty and Rose Gold, alternating my opinion of them at the same speed that I was turning the pages! A fabulous read!
What a twisted story! Patty, the mother, is sentenced to five years in prison for deliberately poisoning her daughter throughout her childhood. Then when Patty is released from prison Rose Gold, her daughter, allows Patty to move in with her. That right there is a bit strange. But Rose Gold, now a mother herself, has been eagerly awaiting her mother’s release.
The writing is good, but I thought the story was predictable. Neither of these women are likeable, and the only emotion I felt was disgust. I shake my head and think “like mother, like daughter”. But I give the book four stars because the “breadcrumbs” are dropped sparingly along the way, allowing the suspense to slowly build. The pace is excruciating but timed perfectly.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I’ve heard of people who did this to their children and have always been disgusted by their stories. Stephanie Wrobel did a lot of research while writing this story about a mother who fakes her child’s illnesses. The story had a heartbreaking affect on me, while opening my eyes to the strength a child can gain when a mother is held accountable for the things done to the child.
Rose Gold did not know her mother was a bad person when she was growing up, she thought her mother had her best interests at heart because that is what mothers do. Until the truth comes out and she realizes that all the things she thought was wrong with her were all part of her mother’s sick life. I hated that a child went through this but enjoyed learning how Rose Gold would continue her life without the one person who has always been there for her. She got a job, struggled with life, and needed retribution for all that had been done to her.
The retribution was interesting. I could see that Rose Gold and Patty were both playing games with each other, I was guessing at who the ultimate winner would be and had no clue how it would end. The twists and turns kept me wondering and turning pages while I prayed that Rose Gold would come out on top.
If you are looking for a book full of twists and turns that will tug at your heart Darling Rose Gold is the book for you.
For eighteen years Rose Gold was told by her mother that she was ill with some disease that no one could figure out.
Her mother, Patty, took her to many doctors and actually told the doctors what tests to try.
When a doctor got suspicious, she took Rose Gold to a different doctor.
Little did Rose Gold and the doctors know that her mother was actually poisoning her to make herself look like super mom who saved her daughter.
It all caught up with Patty one day, though, when Rose Gold figured it out, and Patty was put on trial and sent to prison.
Five years later, Patty is out of prison. Surprisingly Rose Gold picked her up and has her stay with her.
We follow the story line as we hear about Rose Gold’s childhood, the background of her mother, and present day.
What does Rose Gold have in mind by having her mother stay there with her and especially since she now has a child of her own?
Can she trust her mother?
Will she so easily forget what her mother did to her?
Can Patty forget so easily that her daughter sent her to prison?
Will the town forget what she did to her daughter?
The big question, though, is who is the better/biggest liar, the most dangerous, the most cunning, or the most evil?
DARLING ROSE GOLD is a tense, chilling book, but is very well written. You won’t want to put the book down.
If you like psychological thrillers, you will enjoy DARLING ROSE GOLD. This book was every bit a thriller as well as a read that will keep you wondering what these two characters will do next. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
WOW!! Stephanie Wrobel, author of “Darling Rose Gold” has written a compelling, enthralling, engaging, captivating, intense and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this novel are Psychological Thriller, Suspense, and Fiction. This novel reminds me of a game of chess and a gamble, with the stakes being dangerously high. Who is going to say “Checkmate”? I appreciate the way the author draws the audience in, and vividly describes the characters, events, and actions. The story takes place in the present and goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes her characters as complicated, complex, dysfunctional and determined.
Rose Gold Watts has spent the first 18 years of her life on a feeding tube, in a wheel-chair, and dependent on her Mom, Patty Watts. The doctors, nurses, no one could find out what was wrong with Rose Gold Watts. It seems that Patty has been in jail for the last 5 years accused of doing many things so that Rose Gold was put in that situation. As a matter of fact, it was Rose Gold’s testimony, that sealed Patty’s fate. Now Patty is going to be released, and can you guess who will take her in?
The whole neighborhood is very surprised that Rose Gold would take her mother in. It seems Patty feels entitled to come and live with Rose Gold. Can you believe that sweet and fragile Rose Gold could be so forgiving to take the mother that caused her so much pain to live with her?
It is quite true that Rose Gold has been waiting for Patty to get out and come live with her. Actually, even well planned out. Perhaps Rose Gold isn’t the sweet and naive little girl anymore. I suggest that you sit back if you can, and watch as the action plays out. I would highly recommend this edgy, riveting and thought-provoking novel!!!
Song/s the book brought to mind: All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers
There is a lot of hype surrounding Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel, and while it did mostly live up to the hype for me, I wasn’t completely there like almost everyone else.
Darling Rose Gold felt slow to me, but steady. This is a character study in my opinion, as opposed to a quick moving thriller. However, I was glued to the pages even though I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot going on until the last quarter of the book. I really liked that this was a different take on the Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard story, and that it switches between Patty and Rose Gold PLUS, Rose Gold past and present. It added more intrigue and kept me turning those pages!
I figured out where it was going before the end, but there was one twist I didn’t figure out and it was quite the surprise. I really liked the revenge aspect of the novel and I quite enjoyed the ending. Darling Rose Gold did feel pretty light overall and doesn’t go into a lot of detail, but it will be interesting for those people that like revenge stories or want to know more about Munchausen by proxy.
Overall Darling Rose Gold is a solid debut novel and I was intrigued by it. Plus the gorgeous cover also gives it bonus points! I do wish it would have gone into more depth with Munchausen by proxy, but it was a dark, enjoyable read that still felt on the tamer side.
Thank you to Edelweiss (and my friend @MyReadingChronicles!) for my advance review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Domestic Drama/Thriller | Based on a True Story
Darling Rose Gold is a “ripped from the headlines” debut that chronicles the aftermath of a munchausen by proxy case. I’m sure many readers have heard the case of Gypsy Rose and Deedee Blanchard as there have been movies and true crime shows about them. If you haven’t you can read about it here >> Gypsy Rose Crime Case . This book is NOT a true crime book and it’s NOT a story about that specific case, but as far as I can tell it is based on it. Not all the particulars are the same of course and this book can stand fine on its own without any knowledge of their story. It is interesting to read though, and I found myself to be rather gripped by the plot and the way it delivered.
Darling Rose Gold has all the trimmings of a great domestic thriller. Family woes that drive the characters actions, hidden secrets and obvious truths, enticing family drama that makes you want to grab a bag of popcorn and watch with shocked expressions, and a gratifying ending after an angst filled twist! None of the characters are particularly likable in this book but readers can find loose connections with them out of pity. Some may think that doesn’t make for a great book but in this case it REALLY does. I never felt the need to HAVE to like the characters I only needed to find some UNDERSTANDING about their motives. If an author can deliver this as Stephanie Wrobel does, then you know you have a winner on your hands.
While this may not have been a five-star read for me, it definitely was an engrossing one. I read this book in under 24 hours because I was hooked to the story line. I love a book that’s based off the truth (even if it’s loosely based on the truth) and the author made this one just as intriguing as if it WERE real. The entire plot leaves a sense of dread sitting in your stomach (kind of like you have a hard lump of coal there) and watching the spectacular twist at the end makes said coal disintegrate. I LOVED THE ENDING. Most readers won’t necessarily feel shocked with it as it’s somewhat predictable, but the way the author pieced it all together was PERFECT for the story.
With all that being said, I found this book to be a solid debut and I’m looking forward too many more books by the author in the future. I’d especially love to see some more “ripped from the headlines” type books because I find them to be sensational!
This debut novel by Wrobel is an unpredictable thriller with a complicated plot. At the beginning of the story, we are introduced to the two protagonists, Rose Gold and her mother Patty Watts. Patty is just getting out of prison after serving her sentence. As it turns out, Patty was in prison because Rose Gold testified against her. The novel is told from the points of view of both women. It seems that Rose Gold spent the first eighteen years of her life thinking she was extremely ill. What is the truth is that Patty was deliberately making her ill. Now, the two are together and both are set on revenge and both are equally evil. Let me just say that I did not enjoy reading this book but read it because of my commitment to do so. The two protagonists were like spawns of the devil to me, totally unlikeable and unredeemable. The book was a creepy commentary on mother-daughter relationships and not one that I would like to read again. I was just not prepared for the evil seeping out of the pages of this book. Think ROSEMARY’S BABY kind of evil and you will be close to what I felt as I read. Nothing was wrapped up in a pretty package with a bow. The mental illness portrayed was not treated; if anything, it was ridiculed so that I was left wondering why neither character could be helped. This book was a dark and wild ride and one I did not enjoy much. Fans of such dark thrillers might enjoy it, but be prepared for the darkness that just doesn’t stop!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”