Posted this in Children's fiction but thought it may get mire traffic here...
Read as young teen in 1980s
Heroine I think called Persephone,glamorous older sister Cordelia,
Family in reduced circumstances,live in flat above chip shop
Persephone sleeps in little attic room with views over other houses,she can see into elderly lady's house and becomes friends.
There is a Jane Austen connection,she may be reading Pride and Prejudice??
Anyone remember anything?
Its driving me mad!