The Bermondsey Bookshop by Mary Gibson

 Kate Goss is brought up in Bermondsey. When she is very young her mother died in a tragic accident, and her father leaves her with his horrible sister and vile cousins while he disappears on business, but promises to come back. Years later he hasn't come back. Her Aunt removes her from school and sets her to work in the local tin factory - keeping nearly all the money. Kate spends much of her precious spare time daydreaming of when her father would return and take her away.

Meanwhile the situation at her Aunt's is so horrible she gets into a fight, and has to make her own way. She takes on an extra cleaning job at the Bermondsey Bookshop to help make ends meet. This soon becomes a refuge where she makes friends and sees another side to life. When the tin factory lays off girls for a while, she gets into debt with the local money lender, but help comes from an unexpected source. She continues dreaming, in her cold and lonely Garrett, of when her father will return and rescue her.

Unfortunately things don't always work out in the way you think or dream they will.

A brilliantly written, insightful, story of the times, and the differences between the poorer areas of Bermondsey and the richer area of Belgravia. I didn't want to put it down.