The story begins when the five-year sentence for a crime has come to an end and Patty Watts is being released back into society to rebuild her life. Her victim had been her daughter Rose Gold, who for 18 years had suffered at the hands of her mother who had Munchausen by proxy syndrome.
Rose Gold had spent all her childhood and teenage years in and out of hospitals as her mother, a former nurse, convinced doctor after doctor of illnesses that her daughter didn't really have. Rose Gold had, a couple of years before, mended bridges between them and was now willing for her mum to move into the house she was buying. Rose Gold also had a baby boy herself now.
The story is told by both Patty and Rose Gold as it drops back to the past while moving forward into new territory too. What comes across straight away is the twisted mind of Patty who is like a cat ready to pounce on the mouse and put it back in its place again but in the meantime is content to toy with her. But Rose Gold isn't a child anymore.
The actual story of Rose Gold growing up is extremely similar to the real-life case of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose, which I watched as a series on NetFlix's true-life drama in 2018. The ending to that story is very different though.
The story really began to get under my skin, with many OMG moments that made me look at everything differently. The more I read the more I wanted to keep the book at arm's length but I couldn't put it down.
I really loved the character development of both mother and daughter in the book, in a twisted entertaining way, which grows darker on every page. I could feel myself pulling away from these characters, but I was mesmerised with them like a rabbit caught in headlights unable to see what was coming at me. Oh, boy was this just brilliant. What a trump card to play!!!! A cracking read.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I am so glad I requested it. The story is compelling and clever, and the ending completely unexpected. Although the central characters are irredeemably awful, it is impossible not to feel some sympathy at times. The author also paints a nice portrait of a very close community, which can make life very difficult for transgressors. A really enjoyable read, in spite of the dark subject matter.

Oh dear where do I begin? Firstly this is one seriously f*cked up, twisted, dark and seriously uncomfortable book and secondly I absolutely LOVED it. Everything about this book ticked my warped and disturbed mind.

To say I devoured this book in almost one sitting is not an exaggeration – it’s literally UNPUTDOWNABLE. The Recovery of Rose Gold (or Darling Rose Gold in the US) is one hell of a powerful and disturbing debut novel from Stephanie Wrobel.

Told from the viewpoints of Patty Watts, a devoted and misunderstood mother who has just been released from serving 5 years in prison for aggravated child abuse and her daughter, Rose Gold Watts now 22 years and trying to rebuild her life and reconnect with Patty despite the horrendous childhood she endured at the hands of her mother.

The story alternates from the present and events leading up to Patty’s arrest and the five years she was in prison and it doesn’t hurt that both women are “bat-shit crazy” and slightly unreliable narrators throughout.

I don’t want to admit that I “enjoyed” this book because the subject matter is really uncomfortable and dark, but my obviously depraved mind and dry sense of humour absolutely LOVED it.

If you like twisted and deeply flawed characters in a story that both sickens and entertains you then I am 100% guaranteed you will love this book as much as I did. The only downside is that it’s not available to buy until March 2020 – but in my opinion it is definitely worth the wait.