About the Book
Mothers never
forget. Daughters never forgive.
For the first eighteen 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.
My Review
This book was … fascinating, in such a sad way. Rose Gold was horribly mistreated and medically abused by her mother as a child, and Patty served her time. Now that she is out of prison, Rose Gold and Patty are reunited … but it’s clear that both have ulterior motives. This is a fictional story but based on the true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and DeeDee Blanchard – a horrific case of Münchausen by Proxy.
There were several plot twists that kept me on my toes while reading, and I was thoroughly invested the entire book. One twist was so shocking it still gives me a pause when I recall that chapter. I thought the story was well-written in an unsettling way, and the characters will stay with you after you’ve read the final page. I was pretty surprised to learn this is a debut novel and would highly recommend.
5 stars
