This book was a really intense mystery story that had a lot of psychological twists and turns to the plot. Both characters are manipulative, vindictive, and a bit unlikable. I can't say that I liked either of the main characters. I did originally feel sorry for Rose Gold, but as the plot unfolded that pity started fading away. The author did a great job weaving the story together; the past timelines fit really well into the present timeline. The whole time, you were left wondering who exactly was telling the truth and whether Patty did do anything wrong; the end also leaves this a bit in the air. The writing was well executed. but readers should beware of the dark subject matter of the story. I didn't expect quite as much as was present in the story.

The first half of the piece got me thinking of the Blanchard case, but as the storyline progressed, it really took a hold of my attention. It wasn’t my favorite read by far, but it took a spin that I felt was well done. Unfortunately, it was a little slow and the ending was a bit predictable, but it was well-constructed. The author took great care in constructing her characters and you could see the progression of Rose Gold’s persona evolve over time.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC! A more comprehensive review will be posted on social media closer to the date of publication.

I LOVED IT! Hands down! I couldn't decide who i hated more! The Mom or Daughter. This book leaves you thinking "WTF did I just read!" I loved it! You know how you "cheer" for the good guy in the book, this book doesn't even have defined good guys/bad guys!
So good! Highly recommend!

"You would never love your mother as much as she loved you"

As with all my ARC reviews, I will be starting by saying thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sadly, by the time I finished this book I did not like it. I really enjoyed the first half. The suspense of whether or not Patty really poisoned Rose Gold and made her sick all those years. The mystery of Rose Gold’s life after her mother was sent to prison. But the more I got to know Rose Gold, the less I liked her. She was a liar, for no good reason. I understand she had a real shitty childhood, but after finding her dad, there was so much potential for good things in her life and she threw it all away. Instead of moving on, trying to make a better life for herself now that her mother was in jail, she plotted revenge.
As for Patty, I didn’t like her from the start. I have a one-year-old, and I understand the stress and worry about whether my child is healthy or not, but to purposefully make my child sick? I could never, even when she’s getting four molars at the same time and cries at me to hold her all day long.
I’m going to keep this short and to the point because I’d like to wipe this story from my memory as soon as possible. While the writing was really good, and the story was fast-paced and interesting, I hated both main characters so much that it ruined the story for me. There are likely lots of people out there that will enjoy this, but I’m not one of them.

Darling Rose Gold is intense, suspenseful, and has a captivating story-line. My review is brief as I do not want to give any spoilers. Rose Gold has been sick her entire life. Actually not much of a life. She is in and out of hospitals with countless tests and medical procedures. Her mother home schools her and she has very little contact with the outside world. Her entire life consists of home, hospitals and Doctors. Then she comes in contact with someone and her life changes.
Sorry I know this is vague, but make this book one of your top reading choices in 2020.

Thank you NetGalley!

This is an original, dark, disturbing novel. It’s gripping, but neither of the two main characters are likeable. Yes, you have empathy for them because of their terrible childhoods, but they make horrifying decisions that make your eyes goggle.

THE KEY POINTS OF THE STORY⇣


⬥DYSFUNCTIONAL MOTHER/DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP
⬥ACTUALLY WAY BEYOND DYSFUNCTIONAL
⬥SLOW-BURN PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
⬥MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY

STATS⇣

BOOK COVER⇢ This cover is perfect for the story.
SETTING⇢ Deadwick, Illinois
SOURCE⇢ I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
eBOOK LENGTH⇢ 320 Pages

MY THOUGHTS⇣

A part of me loved the way this played out and another part of me was exceptionally bored...at least until the last 20%. More of a slow-burn psychological thriller. My feelings ranged from sad to disturbed to anger to huh, no shit...I can't believe she did that.

This book feels both well written and well researched. The characters are fleshed out terrifically, the story feels horrifyingly real, even. Some writers engage a reader right from the beginning and others not so much. Maybe, though, this author will get there someday. I feel she has the potential to do so.


MY RATING⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+

BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 4/5
Characters⇢ 4.3/5
The Feels⇢ 3.7/5
Pacing⇢ 3.5/5
Addictiveness⇢ 3.8/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4.3/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4.3/5
Ending⇢ 4/5

I was given a copy of Darling Rose Gold in return for an honest review. Grateful reader always here!

I‘m a huge true crime fan so this book appealed to me as I believe it to be loosely based on the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story.

It does change the story a bit and is super creepy. Who can be trusted ? Nobody here !

I enjoyed this one even though it wasn’t exactly new to me.

I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars -
There was just something I couldn’t get behind 💯 percent but overall it was an enjoyable recommended read!

We’ve all read the stories and watched the news of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a young woman who was forced to pretend to be ill by her mother for over a decade. Darling Rose Gold is a novel that takes a spin on that tale and changes the fatal outcome into a fast paced, nail biter of a novel.

Rose Gold Watts grew up thinking she was a very sick child. Wheelchairs, hospitals and a stream of medical teams were her normal. But the truth came out and her mother was convicted of aggravated child abuse; Rose Gold taking the stand and putting her mother away for 5 years.

Darling Rose Gold begins at Patty’s, Rose Gold’s mother, release from prison, where she’s overjoyed to have reconciled with her daughter. Told from dual perspectives, Rose Gold’s version of events begins when her mother is already in jail and is told in a reverse timeline.

The authors spin and take on this story was fresh and intriguing; I couldn’t put this one down!

'I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.'

"They say a grudge is a heavy thing to carry."

Rose Gold was believed to be sick all her life, but it turns out she was being poisoned by her mother, Patty. Patty gets sent to prison for 5 years and when she gets out, things take a turn for the worse.

Literally everyone was stabbing everyone in the back. The mind games, revenge and manipulation in this were gruesome. I actually gasped out loud towards the end when I realized what was going on. My stomach was turning every page worrying about Rose Gold's baby (YOU'LL SEE).

I hated every single character in this book, which is good because I think that was the intent. The book is in two POV's: Patty and Rose Gold. They're both unlikeable, vengeful and full of hate (for valid and completely ridiculous reasons). I felt bad for Rose Gold for 2 seconds and then I was like NOPE.

Patty- manipulative bitch who put herself on a pedestal and believed nothing she ever did was wrong.
Rose Gold- manipulative and believed her actions were justified because of the people that wronged her.
Alex- maybe the worst "friend".
Phil- maybe the only character that was likeable, if not for the creepy part.
Billy- jerk father, who definitely could've tried harder (but still didn't deserve that).
Adam- poor, defenseless baby

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was full of suspense and made me uncomfortable like any good psychological thriller does. Everything was described and explained well to form the conclusion. Quick and entertaining read, however I did get a little bored in the middle, which is why it was a lower rating. I wish they would have stabbed each other in the back more literally.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book!

What a rollercoaster of a book. Justice is sweet, but revenge is sweeter. This seems to be the motto of this book. Rose Gold's childhood was spent in and out of hospitals. Why, you ask? Because of her mother. When Rose Gold finally testifies against her mother and sends her to jail, her new life begins, but it isn't what she thought it would be.

When Patty Watts gets out of prison, her daughter Rose Gold is there to take her in. However, it isn't the sweet reunion Patty was banking on. Instead, Rose Gold's attention and love are now focused on her baby son, Adam. Still, something isn't quite right with the arrangement...

By the end of this book, I wasn't quite sure what to think about either Rose Gold or Patty. Who could be trusted? Who was lying, What games were they playing? It was all very well built up to an ending that was both surprising and expected. I was hooked until the last page!

Well this was a strange one. Not one sympathetic character in sight. This book alternated between two different viewpoints allowing us to know both Rose Gold and her mother Patty. There were both psychotic. I didn't need Rose Gold to be a pathetic victim to make her sympathetic -- just less crazy. I think it makes sense given who her mother was, but it made it very hard to root for her. Her desperation to be loved and needed was very off putting. I actually found myself liking the mother more, but it was more by default.

I read some reviews were people were put off by the ending, but I didn't mind. I figure Rose Gold would be found out eventually. Her rotting teeth are such a prominent descriptor that I feel that she could never truly hide.

The story was interesting and fascinating. It was very well written, so that made it very difficult to put down.

Loved this one from start to finish. A total delight. Kept me guessing and there are some really great characters here. I was surprised by the ending and yet it makes total sense.

Patty and her daughter Rose Gold are all they’ve got. Rose Gold’s childhood was full of illness, vomiting until her teeth rot, head shaved to hide the clumps falling out, and sometimes confined to a wheelchair. When Rose Gold grew up, she realized her childhood was not normal and testified in court, sending her mom to prison. When Patty gets out, she finds her darling Rose Gold is a different person. There are so many twists and turns in this page-turner!

Darling Rose Gold will be the book everyone is talking about in 2020! Seriously this book is so twisted and disturbing and I loved every single page.. Darling Rose Gold is about Rose Gold and Patty Watts. Patty suffers from Munchhausen by Proxy and this causes her to mistreat Rose Gold her entire life. Patty is sent to prison for aggravated child abuse due to poisoning and starving Rose Gold. after Rose Gold testifies against her mother at the trial. The story begins as Patty is being released from prison and Rose Gold actually agrees to take her mother in to live with her. - Say what!!???
The story is told from alternating POVs, between Rose Gold and her mother Patty. While reading, you'll be trying to figure out who is manipulating who and also you will question the reliability of both characters. Did Rose Gold really forgive her mother and intend for their relationship to have a fresh start? Or is she all about revenge? Was Patty really innocent all along? Does Patty forgive Rose Gold for putting her behind bars? There are so many questions the reader will have and it will keep you turning pages. The writing was amazing and I could not predict the outcome of any of it! This is an absolutely amazing debut novel. It is a story of obsession, revenge and dysfunctional family relationships. You will definitely want to add this to your TBR and pick it up whenever it is released on March 17, 2020. Stephanie Wrobel will be an author I intend to look forward to. I hope she will write another book as amazing as this one!

wow now that was a messed up book and I loved it! I couldn’t believe these characters Rose Gold or Patty. The lengths they would go to get revenge😖 This was one of those stories you just couldn’t look away, I had to keep going to see what they would do next! The twist too😨A good twist just made the book even better!!! 4.5⭐️ coming March 2020

Darling Rose Gold is the first novel by Stephanie Wrobel. As you can read above, Rose Gold's childhood was one of doctor offices and illness. Throughout eighteen years she was being poisoned by her mom, Patty, in order for Patty to take care of her. After Rose Gold figures this out she sends her mom to prison to serve five years. With Patty demanding she is innocent, Rose Gold testifies against her which puts the key in the lock. During the time that Patty is in prison, Rose Gold attempts to figure herself out without her mom. In the last year of Patty's sentence Rose Gold reconnects and when Patty is released Rose Gold agrees to take her in until she is back on her feet. By that time, Rose Gold has a child, Adam, that Patty is able to help take care of. However, stuff starts happening that makes Patty think that Rose Gold is against her. The question is what is truly going on? Is Patty actually innocent? Is Rose Gold against her?

This novel reminded me of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, it leaves you on your toes trying to figure out who the crazy person really is.

I really enjoyed this novel, it is well written and is something i would love to reread in the next few years. I give this novel ⭐⭐⭐⭐✫ (4.5 stars). I took off half a star because of one part in the ending, i don't want to give anything away but I hoped it wouldn't be the case.

If you enjoyed Sharp Objects then i think you would really enjoy this novel!

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Release Date: March 17, 2020
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital advanced copy.

When the blurb said this was Sharp Objects meets My Lovely Wife I immediately requested it. Because come on, why wouldn't I? Those have been two of the more memorable books for me since I love some twisted psych you out type books. This book met those expectations and more. I admit at first I was thinking of the Netflix movie and all that out with the similar storyline of the girl this happened to in real life, but this book is so so much better than true life! How the author accomplished that I am in awe. It's a mother versus daughter book with both being so crazy you wonder through most of the book, who will win the title of craziest!

Five years ago Rose's mother was sent to prison for child abuse. One of the sickest kinds, Munchausen by Proxy. Now her release date is coming around and wait for it...Rose wants to get back in touch with her mother. They want to repair this relationship, or do they really? Who is the predator and who is the prey this time? Split between both their POV and neither one very reliable you are on for a wild ride of a book. How will this end? Does Rose really want to make up or does she want her mother to pay? You HAVE to read it to find out and I am telling you.... YOU HAVE TO READ THIS.

Dark, complex and plenty of unlikeable characters to hate on...

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is such a fascinating and disturbing disorder. There are many real-life cases that have made headlines. I'm not familiar with the details of any of them, but have seen news reports.

The mommy from hell in this one is Patty Watts. She has been released from prison after five years for abusing her daughter, Rose-Gold Watts. They have decided to move in together and see how it goes....Rose Gold has a forgiving heart.

Alternating POV from Patty and Rose-Gold take us into their disturbed thoughts and motivations. All the creepy vibes.

I didn't know who to believe or trust. Both narrators seemed unreliable and crazy as hell . I definitely had an uncomfortable feeling while reading.

Patty vs. Rose-Gold .... read it to find out who holds the cards now.

I don't even know where to begin with "Darling Rose Gold". Rare is the book that has no characters the reader likes, enjoys, relates to, or has empathy for. This one qualifies. Ooooops. I nearly forgot . . . Rose Gold's younger half sister is an innocent and likable young girl.
In this case, finding nearly all the characters distasteful is not a bad thing. Stephanie Wrobel has written a very interesting novel. She weaves a believable story through ups and downs and through countless schemes and motives from the despicable characters.
I gave the book four stars because it really is an interesting book. Yes, there are crazy characters. But through all the unpleasantness, we find a compelling story that is very well crafted.
I just hope in Ms. Wrobel's next book (and I do hope there is a next book) I can find a character I like!