Once I realised this book was first published in 1949 and is set in the 1930s it helped! The story is written as a journal from the viewpoint of a 16 year old girl and spans 6 months of her life, recently after leaving school, and the problems of how to escape poverty with limited options open to girls. In some ways Cassandra leads an idyllic life in a castle with her father, step-mother Topaz, sister Rosie, brother Thomas and the son of a previous housekeeper Stephen. New neighbours find an opportunity for the family to improve their situation and Rosie soon becomes engaged to the new Landlord of their castle.

This ended up being the tale of a girl passing into womanhood and the discovery the no matter how much you love someone it only causes heartache if the love is not returned. Rather poignant and quite sweet in a way and with Rosie's actions being a surprise a refreshing end where it doesn't end up happily ever after for all.

Outside Costa Coffee