Something I most enjoy while reading a psychological thriller is its ability to make me question every character's motive and their subsequent actions. Darling Rose Gold did just that!

This novel is told via two alternating point of views (the daughter, Rose Gold, and the mother, Patty) as well as in different time frames. I found it very interesting how the framing of the story was presented and how it added to the suspense!

The characters were both unreliable in their own way and each suffered in different ways.

This book really has the "creep" factor based on how the characters are acting. So many times I found myself thinking "no, no, no, don't do that!!"

I was incredibly invested in the story and the ending was well worth it! I definitely did not see the ending coming!!!

Although this story does have some similarities to the infamous Gyspy Rose and DeeDee true story, do not get confused in thinking it is only a fictionalized account. It is so much more and does not take the same path.

Wow, so I went into this *thinking* I knew how it would end. After watching The Act on Hulu, I had my mind made up already. Little did I know!.........

Mother Vs daughter. Crazy vs bat —— crazy! I was appalled watching the show, at the mother and hated her from the get go. I felt the same way in the book.

This psychological thriller is hard to look away from. Like a train wreck that is explosive and your life is in danger just watching but just oneeee more glimpse will do.

It’s so bad that you thank the lucky stars *your* family is not like THAT.

Both of them should have been locked up and throw away the key. Mental illness, family abuse- it is REAL, even if it is from your own mother/daughter.

Loved this book! Really enjoyed both unreliable narrators. Kept me guessing until the end. I'm having my book club read it in February.

Heavy subject matter. The characters are draped in their mental illness. This novel is about a mother and her daughter. The mother, Patty, has Munchausen's disorder. The daughter, Rose Gold, was her victim. The story begins after Patty serves a five year sentence in jail. She is released with no where else to go and talks Rose Gold into allowing her to move back in with her. They both have devious reasons to be together. I understand that both characters hae mental issues but they are vengeful and manipulative human beings. Some people may like to read about characters with these disorders. I have a hard time reading novels where the characters are so unlikeable. Not my cup of tea.

This book was interesting albeit predictable. I made many guesses along the way and there were some interesting little twists. I wish it had a bit more depth though, I'd still recommend.

Ended up listening to the audiobook
This one really kept me guessing as to whose story to believe both of these women are unreliable narrators!

I was fascinated by the Gypsy and DeeDee Blanchard story and the docu-series The Act and this book is kind of a re-imagining of that story.

Megan Dodds & Jill Winternitz are both new to me narrators and both did a very good job and I would listen to them again!

Highly recommend this one!!

This was one of the most grotesque and horrendously raw books, I’ve ever read. I’m very familiar with the true life story this books was absolutely based on (at least some parts). It was and intense, nail biting read and I have to say I was enthralled the whole time.

Rose Gold was one of the most complex characters I’ve had the opportunity to read about. I loved reading from her perspective, it was just so intense. The inner working of her brain from all that abuse was so interesting and made for a dark read.

If you are ok wait reading raw, and intense books this one is absolutely for you. There are a ton of trigger warnings I would say to look into first. This was a great roller coaster ride of a psychological thriller if you need one!!

This dark look at Munchausen by Proxy was a thrilling read. I was wrapped up in the plot and the story moves quickly. I felt it veered toward the salacious at times, but I still enjoyed the read. I will be purchasing a copy for my library.

I really enjoyed the author's writing and how she was able to keep me engaged throughout the entire story despite me disliking all of the characters.

When if first saw this book, I knew it was one I had to read. I tend to read, and love, the darker stories, and this is SO a "me" book!

I really loved how DARLING ROSE GOLD was written. Getting the perspective of Patty. Her narrative is so twisted, and while it's frustrating to be in her head, it shines a lot on why someone with her thought process does the things they do.

Getting the past perspective of Rose Gold too, was fascinating and sad at the same time. All Rose Gold wanted was to be loved, have friends, and just... live her life. She was so lonely, and while yes she made some mistakes, I got it?

I was cheering at the end and even yelled YES GIRL in my car while listening to the audio (I switched between the audio and book).

Overall, well done and highly recommend

I didn't realise that this would be loosely -- I mean loosely -- based on a true story. The reason I even read this book to begin with is because someone had mentioned it was reminiscent of the true story, so I didn't think anything of it when I picked it up.

Thankfully I have lived under a rock for most of my life, because this was a true story I had never even heard of so it didn't really skew my experience while reading. You can guarantee I researched the true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard after finishing Darling Rose Gold, though. Quite fascinating.

Back to the book, though. I was instantly drawn in. It had alternating points of views from different time frames and it was only slightly hard to follow along with where I was and who I was "listening" to. The pace picked up pretty quickly and the story wasn't rushed into anything.

The plot was a little weird with finding out where it was going, but whew! When the twist came . . . it was completely unexpected and I was living for it! From what I can understand based on the true story, this part might be the only thing that isn't related to the actual story at all. Everything else is more or less very loosely truth based. I knew Rose Gold was up to no good!

I don't usually rant and rave, and suggest books to friends because I know my friends tastes and don't infringe on that. However, this is one book that I had to tell everyone to read if they hadn't already. It was that good.

If you like true stories without feeling like nonfiction, I would definitely suggest Darling Rose Gold. The twist gives the vibe of someone taking control of their lives finally, even as twisted and a little fucked up it is. The ending is what made the book.

Stephanie Wrobel is a master of voice in her debut and will surely become a staple in the suspense and thriller genre. Wrobel bravely creates incredibly flawed characters that created an intense emotional response in me, to the point that I could feel myself growing physically irritated by them both, yet still somehow empathized with them. Flawed characters don't always work, but Wrobel hit the nail on the head with this one.

The Gypsy Rose Blanchard case is one I have personally followed and studied now for years, and this book was created/inspired from that story. So, it's only fair that I give it a read! The story itself overall is pretty good, albeit a fictionalized version of a real story. Rose Gold did not disappoint though in the twists and turns, and set up a horrifying version of this mother/daughter relationship. Did I really like either of the main characters, not particularly. But I was on the edge of my seat anyway.

Normally disturbingly fascinating psychological thrillers are my favorite, but something about this didn't sit right with me and I can't put my finger on it. Well written, but something is off.

“But some of us cannot forget and will never forgive. We keep our axes sharp, ready to grind. We hold pleas for mercy between our teeth like jawbreakers.” -Stephanie Wrobel, Darling Rose Gold
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Finished this book and WHAT DID I JUST READ?! My head is still spinning. I really loved where this one went and I didn’t see some of the crazy twists coming. 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 from me!

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This is quite the crazy plot that is loosely based on Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard. It is told from the POV of both Rose Gold (daughter) and Patty (mother), and also flashes back to the past and present for Rose Gold, and it worked really, really well. It is a different take on the story however, as it focuses on what happens when Patty gets out of jail. This deviates slightly from true life (e.g. Dee Dee was murdered).

I really enjoyed the back and forth between the mother and daughter, which let’s be real, most mothers / daughters have issues at some point, but these two? There are no words. The hot mess of a mother who thought that just because she had served her time it would all go back to normal and the town should be nice to her again like they used to be. And Rose Gold, the daughter who thought she was strong enough to handle a master manipulator of a mother, forgetting that she was most often the subject being manipulated. Both women were out of their minds.

Given all of the above, this made for one WILD ride until the very end. There were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, I enjoyed them very much and thought they were well done. Oh and I need to mention the audio is fantastic should you want to go that route.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the free copy to review.

'Darling Rose Gold' is about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters--and what can sometimes go very, very wrong.

Loosely based on the real-life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, 'Darling Rose Gold' is centered around Rose Gold and her mother Patty Watts. For years, Rose Gold believed she was seriously ill, but it turns out that Patty may have been faking the illnesses and poisoning Rose Gold. Patty is convicted and sent to prison, and Rose Gold tries to move on with her life.

Rose Gold gets a job, learns to drive, and has a baby. She seems to be making a new life for herself. But then the date of Patty's release draws near, and Rose Gold decides to make contact with her and get some answers. Rose Gold invites Patty to stay with her when she is released.

As the two live together once again, questions emerge. Did Patty really poison Rose Gold for all those years, or were Rose's illnesses real? Will Rose have revenge for what happened to her? Or will Patty continue her abuse--now on both Rose, and her daughter?

We see the story from the POV of both Rose and her mother, and the relationship between them is fascinating, if not horrifying as well.

Recommended for those who like psychological suspense and family drama.

It is hard to think of a relationship tighter or more layered and complex than that of mothers and daughters. Even in the best of circumstances, our relationships with our mothers can be complicated --- all the expectations, fears and joy are easily muddled, no less so than when you weave in generational differences and rapidly changing times. So what happens, then, when a youngster is paired with a “bad” mother, one who cares more about appearances and glory than the actual well-being of her child? In DARLING ROSE GOLD, Stephanie Wrobel explores the world of bad mothers, Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and revenge.

For the first 18 years of her life, Rose Gold Watts’ every move was controlled by her mother, Patty. Swear words were forbidden, the television was a vessel for only Disney films and “Blue’s Clues,” and all doctor appointments were heavily monitored and dictated by Patty’s narrative. But that’s not all --- Rose Gold was also convinced that she was seriously ill, allergic to nearly everything and confined to a wheelchair. For years, it seemed that no combination of tests, medications or fundraisers could get to the bottom of Rose Gold’s numerous mysterious symptoms.

In case you haven’t caught on, Patty was a textbook representation of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. That is, until Rose Gold met a boy, Phil, online, who poked holes in her mother’s story and convinced her to dig a little deeper. Why was she never made sick by hospital food, but always vomited after eating her mother’s food? The answer, of course, was poison. Five years ago, Rose Gold confessed that she thought her mother was abusing her and threw Patty into the harsh and unrelenting spotlight reserved for abusers. And then she did the unthinkable by testifying against her own mother, complicating their already toxic relationship even more.

Now, Patty’s sentence is up, and contrary to the media and her neighbors’ expectations, it seems that Rose Gold is ready to forgive and forget. Or is she? A new mother herself, Rose Gold has learned a thing or two about the power of maternal instinct and how to toy with a relative’s emotions. Beginning from the moment she picks up her mother at the prison, Rose Gold seems to torment Patty, first by revealing that she has purchased the home where Patty grew up (and was violently abused by her father) and then by gaslighting her at every turn.

With Rose Gold’s son forcing the women closer, Rose Gold begins to set boundaries, talk back and drop hints that she really has not forgiven Patty. Desperate to recover the close relationship they once had, Patty acquiesces to Rose Gold’s moods...until she doesn’t. With the neighbors --- and their long memories --- breathing down Patty’s back, and Rose Gold acting stranger and stranger, the lines between villain and victim become blurred, and the stage is set for some serious dysfunction and revenge.

Alternating between Rose Gold’s and Patty’s perspectives, Wrobel reveals what the last five years of Rose Gold’s life were like and how she has prepared for her mother’s return. In Patty’s voice, the author recounts what it is like to reunite with her daughter while grappling with her own ever-present control issues and need for attention. She writes two unique and distinct voices, each plagued by moments of rage, love and revenge. While Rose Gold is the obvious victim, you cannot help but wonder if she has pushed her need for closure too far. At the same time, Patty represents the best of unreliable narrators. Even when readers are in her head, she is guarded and deceitful, often burying her true thoughts --- violent and controlling --- beneath extravagant dinners and manipulative acts that look like love.

Through it all, Wrobel keeps her plotting taut, her characters as believable as they are riveting, and her premise just “ripped from the headlines” enough to keep you turning pages long past your bedtime.

DARLING ROSE GOLD is a thriller in every regard, but it is also more heavily layered with family dynamics than your average suspense story. The premise is immediately eye-catching, but it is what Wrobel does with her characters that will make this book unputdownable for readers of all genres. I particularly enjoyed the chapters written from Patty’s perspective as she was so desperate to lie to herself that I nearly believed her --- and then, just when I was comfortable, Wrobel would drop a bombshell of a thought that would upend all my expectations.

Those who enjoyed HBO’s documentary, Mommy Dead and Dearest, will gobble up this book in no time, and with good reason. Wrobel has penned a compelling and well-researched tale for lovers of women’s fiction, thrillers and true crime alike.

I was on the fence about requesting this book initially because I thought it would be just another retelling of the Blanchard case that was all over TV in recent years. It is defiantly not. Some circumstances are similar and the name is not too far off, but it is a different story altogether. I don't think there is one likable character in the story and yet, I could not put it down. Usually I grow bored if every character is detestable but even while condemning their internal dialogue and their actions, I still enjoyed reading their story.

What makes this book different from all others? And why should anyone care?
This book was unlike any book that I have read in a log time. If you are someone who enjoys mysteries without the gore this one is for you. This book follows Rose Gold Watts and her mother Patty, both twisted in their own ways and for their own reasons. Patty has Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) and Rose Gold grew up constantly sick at the hands of her "concerned mother." After the truth comes out, Patty lands herself in prison and Rose Gold tries to pick up the pieces of her life but ends up finding her own twisted web of lies to reside in.

If you are interested in the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case, this will appeal to you. The author kept me guessing throughout the book, I was never bored, and I was eager to find out what was going to happen next.