Burning Bright – Helen Dunmore

A relatively old novel by Helen Dunmore, telling the twin tales of independent women two generations apart.

Teenage Nadine is lured away from home by her exotic experienced older man, Kai, whose plans for her involve satisfying a British politician’s secret sexual preferences. With parents focused on her disabled younger sister, it isn’t long before Nadine falls out of the “system” and is persuaded to move in with Kai, into a Georgian terraced house (“ripe for renovation”), and sitting tenant Enid firmly ensconced in the attic.

As the two women become friends, we learn more about Enid’s life and loves, and Nadine’s self sufficiency.

Amazon.co.uk link: Burning Bright – Helen Dunmore