Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

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. Neighbours did all they could, holding fundraisers 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 begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes. And Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling. And she’s waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment & child abuse
  • Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
  • Self-harm
  • Kidnapping

The Companion by Katie Alender

The other orphans say Margot is lucky. Lucky to survive the horrible accident that killed her family. Lucky to have her own room because she wakes up screaming every night. And finally, lucky to be chosen by a prestigious family to live at their remote country estate. But it wasn’t luck that made the Suttons rescue Margot from her bleak existence at the group home. Margot was hand-picked to be a companion to their silent, mysterious daughter, Agatha. At first, helping with Agatha, and getting to know her handsome older brother, seems much better than the… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Graphic child abuse
  • Drugging
  • Munchausen by Proxy (theme)
  • Nightmares
  • Catatonia
  • Parent with substance addiction mentioned
  • Non-consensual medical treatment and medication
  • Needles & syringes
  • Physical illness & injury, including graphic emesis & seizure
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother, father, and sisters in a car accident
  • Death of a sister
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Drowning
  • Death of a pet cat recounted

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

My disease is as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that… Read more.

GoodreadsThe Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Ableism
  • Child abuse due to Munchausen by Proxy (theme)
  • Needles & medical procedures for chronic illness (on-page)
  • Hospitalisation

* Context : The plot revolves around the discovery that the protagonist does not have a chronic illness but is being abused by her mother who has Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (also known as Factitious Disorder).