Darling Rose Gold

By: Stephanie Wrobel

Narrated by: Megan Dodds, Jill Winternitz

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The USA Today and Edgar Award Nominated Best Seller

"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

Mothers never forget. Daughters never forgive.

For the first 18 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 best-selling 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 best-selling author of My Lovely Wife)

©2020 Stephanie Wrobel (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of...

Newsweek’s 20 Most Anticipated Books of 2020
Marie Claire's Best Books by Women in 2020
Washington Post's what to read in 2020 based on the books you loved in 2019
Woman’s Day Best Fiction Books Coming Out in 2020
Bustle’s 20 Must-Read Books of 2020
PopSugar’s 41 Books Coming Out in 2020 that Need to Be on Your TBR Now
Goodhousekeeping.com's The 20 best books of 2020 to add to your reading list ASAP

"Perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train...set to be next year's biggest thriller." (Stylist)

“Darling Rose Gold is an absolutely brilliant book; funny, dark, authentic and a total page turner. I loved it." (Lisa Jewell, New York Times best-selling author of The Family Upstairs)

This is a must read for fans of psychological thrillers!

I tore through this book very quickly. Obviously this was written with some basis on the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case but the twists and turns the author makes are fantastic!
The narrators nailed it!

This was good

I don’t write too many reviews so...
Anyway this is a good solid story. The narrators/actors were perfect. Didn’t give a 5 just because sometimes we can see around corners. No spoilers, totally worth a credit.

BWAHAHAHAHA! (evil laugh!)

I was intrigued by the premise of this story - and I was not disappointed. It was even better than I had expected and really full of twists and turns. The back and forth plot building was terrific and the narration was spot on.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

Love the performance & story! 5 STARS

I’m not one to leave reviews even though other’s reviews are what decides my next read. But, ohhh what a book! The performances of the two actresses whom narrated this incredibly satisfying story were absolute perfection! I don’t believe that anyone could have done better. And the story was so good! I have never had an audiobook pull me in quite like this one did and I just wanted to listen to it from start to finish in one sitting. It was fascinating to follow this writer’s alternate path of the true life story of Gypsy Rose. I will recommend this to absolutely everyone and give it the highest rating in all categories.

This is an AMAZING STORY!

Amazing but scary!! It Will make you think about those people who hold grudges forever!

two crazy women

I listened to the audible production of “Darling Rose Gold” by Stephanie Wrobel, narrated by Megan Dodds and Jill Winternitz. Both narrators are perfect for the characters.

The story is creepy. Author Stephanie Wrobel explores the mental illness Munchausen by proxy and how it shapes the victim of the abuse. What Wrobel found entrancing is that a parent, most likely the mother, is the perpetrator of the abuse, which generally begins when the child is an infant and easy prey.

In Wrobel’s story she gets into the mind of the mother, in this case Patty, and the daughter, Rose Gold. Both Patty and Rose Gold tell their stories in alternating chapters, with Patty’s story being “now” and Rose Gold’s in the past. Rose Gold tells us the decades of abuse and how her. Mother did it. Patty, who is crazy to everyone but herself, tells us how she was wronged. She was an attentive parent who cared deeply for her child.

Neither characters are likable. At first one feels sorry for Rose Gold, but as the story continues, Rose Gold has some issues herself. Even taking into consideration what happened to Rose Gold, it’s difficult to continue to feel sorry for her.

This is a diabolical read. Patty is a piece of work. Rose Gold sees the world in a “bent” way. Given what happened to her, one doesn’t expect Rose Gold to be innocent and sweet. Yet, what she becomes makes this a thriller of a story! I look forward to Wrobel’s next novel.

Not sure who is worse

For a long time, I wasn't sure what to make of this book. A few times I thought of returning it but in the end I had to finish it. I had to see how it would play out. Now that I have, I can honestly say I'm not entirely sure which character is the worst. I will say that I found both of the main characters dispicable in their own way. I will also say that once I really got into this book, I couldn't stop thinking about it and read it every chance I got. I found it unputdownable, but it was more like a bad traffic accident you couldn't look away from.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, I would, and I have, with the caveat that that both characters were horrible people in their own right. I can't wait to see what my friend thinks of it once she's read it.
I think I may read this book again some day. Now that it's over, I don't think I will be returning it. Would I say it was worth the credit and worth the ten plus hours I put into reading it? Yes, I think I would say it was worth all of those things. Just be prepared for a really screwed up experience when you read this book. Apparently that's my thing. If it's also your thing, you will enjoy Darling Rose Gold.

Twisted

This was PURE FUN ♥️👶🏼 🍼 and the dual narration was fabulous 🎧 A suspenseful mother/ daughter psychological thriller.
But who’s playing who???

You won't regret it!!

Addictive, fast paced, well written and amazing delivery!! I loved listening to this story!!

Very compelling story

Liked the Audible production. Great story, very compelling kept me guessing for most of the book. Not the happiest ending, but a compelling and poetic one. As a therapist who has worked with abused kids, I feel it definitely gives a realistic look at the ripple effects that unhealthy dynamics and upbringing can have on a person. As well as how much our society contributes to that victimization.