Book Reviews – No. 13: Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel

When I first started reading darling Rose Gold I wasn’t sure if I was really into it. I was two chapters in when all of a sudden, folks I was all in, racing through the pages like tumbleweeds in a storm

Book Reviews – No. 13:

Darling Rose Gold, by Stephanie Wrobel

When I first started reading darling Rose Gold, (Simon & Schuster Canada), I wasn’t sure if I was really into it because I had recently watched a movie based on the same concept of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, which is a mental illness and form of child abuse. “The caretaker of a child, most often a mother, either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick,” states Medline Plus.gov online site.

I was two chapters in, the first one narrated by mom Patty, and the second one narrated by her daughter, Rose Gold, when all of a sudden, folks I was all in, racing through the pages like tumbleweeds in a storm.

Darling Rose Gold takes the concept of Munchausen syndrome to a whole new level. It is reverse manipulation at its finest, one initiated by Patty, and expertly finessed by Rose Gold. Their story goes back and forth in time – Rose Gold as a little girl, always sick and in need of medical care and Patty the ‘oh you poor thing mom’ figure who garners sympathy and support, both emotionally and financially by many and varied communities. However, there is a seismic shift in control when Poisonous Patty is found out and reported for child abuse and then subsequently imprisoned for five years as a direct result of Rose Gold’s testimony against her at the trial.

Five years pass and Rose Gold, now a new mom, meets Patty at the penitentiary gates and brings her home to live with her and the baby until Patty gets back on her feet.

And this is where the proverbial plot, like molasses on a cold day, thickens and grows sticky, trapping everyone in its viscous syrup.

Adding to the Rubik Cube, while Patty is still in prison, Rose Gold’s father – whom she has never met- shows up at her work and apologizes to her – tells her he wants to get to know her, be a father to her, and oh yes, introduce her to her step siblings and stepmom, Kim, who let me tell you, is just not that excited to embrace her new stepdaughter.

The twists and turns and poetic justice that weaves and wiggles throughout this book are singular and unique. I was thoroughly captivated by the dialogue, which sparkled with Patty’s sardonic wit and Rose Gold’s self-involved stream of conscience ramblings, until that is, it reveals itself as a blueprint for revenge.

“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. They say a grudge is a heavy thing to carry. Good thing we’re extra strong,” opines Rose Gold.

Somewhere along the line, Rose Gold definitely loses her right to be considered ‘Darling.’

Cece is the feature cover writer for several prestigious publications and is an informed, connected and enthusiastic book blogger at cecescott.com. Her first book, The Love Story, was published in 2019. Her second book will be coming out in the spring of 2021.

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Cece is also working on a book of Daily Reflections for Auto Immune Condition Warriors.

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