Books with the name Rosie in the title catch my eye. It’s probably because I really liked The Rosie Project. While in the middle of my last read, I once again found myself at the library during lunch, picking out the next one. This one was on the new book shelf, caught my eye, and here we are, book number 14 of 2018.
Book Read: Rosie Colored Glasses
Author: Brianna Wolfson
Number of Books Read: 14
Imagine you’re eleven. Your parents are divorced, and you think you are more like your mother than your father. He has checklists, rules, a “do not touch” sign on the glass dining room table. She has pizza nights, the same clunky knees, Elton John blasting in the car, and Rocky Horror picture show parties.
Willow is experiencing all of these things. She notices the friction between her polar-opposite parents, craves her dad’s (Rex) kisses instead of checklists, dreams of running away with her mom (Rosie), and wonders why she is so different. She gets through days of bullying by wearing the same outfit, and eating the grape Pixie Sticks someone leaves for her on the bus. She notices that her younger brother, Asher, and she are raised slightly differently. Rex tries to provide the structure Rosie can’t, tries to decide what is right, even though he is usually wrong when it comes to parenting Willow. Rosie loves her kids the way she knows how, but admits all good things come to an end, just as she and Rex knew their marriage would.
As Rosie’s actions and life start to fall apart, her children’s lives are sent in a tailspin. Rex is trying to hold things together, but is failing at connecting with his daughter. Willow longs to have the Rosie she knows back, but begins to see that some things, are not always as they seem. And that growing up can also letting go.
Flipping between the beginning of Rosie’s and Rex’s opposites attract relationship and present day, in her debut novel, Wolfson tells a semi-autobiographical story that is real, relevant, and could be found on any block in any neighborhood. Rosie is wild and quirky with a secret to hide, Rex is structured and super serious. Asher is still too young to determine who he takes after, but little does Willow know, while she thinks she is a clone of her mother, from her hair to her knees, has the determination of Rex built in.
I read this book in two days. Two days of bus ride commutes, one night of wanting to keep reading. Needless to say, I enjoyed this one. It was light-hearted, yet emotionally heavy. Takes on the role of an eleven year old with ease but will break your heart then mend it back together again.
Rex’s and Rosie’s story is a turbulent, poignant, beautiful one. Sit down, open the book, and you’ll be hoping for the best, but turning the page to know things don’t always have the storybook ending.
Next Read: Room by Emma Donoghue
