SOLVED. Book about a young lady called Isobel who works in a sewing factory, stages a strike but gets fired. She lives with her parents [and also a younger sibling, I think] but her father abuses her. [s]

[NaanBaka]

Anyway it's about a young woman who works in a (maybe sewing) factory of some sort with a load of other women. She tries to organise a strike/protest for some reason, but the other women drop out and she ends up being the only one that strikes and then gets fired.

Also she's abused by her father. I remember a certain scene where he rips open her shirt and her button[s] falls off or something like that. Anyway, her father gets pushed down (accidentally I think) the stairs by the girl's mother during one of his drunken episodes, and he dies. It turns out that he isn't actually her real father though.

She also has a younger sibling.

Anyway, in the end she marries a guy who I think is called Lawrence (maybe spelled differently) after having sex with him in a lake or something. I think Lawrence was the factory owner's son or relative of some sort.

It's not set in modern times; I'm not sure the time period or location. I'm sorry I'm so useless but it's been bugging me that I can't remember this book! Any help would be muchly appreciated. :D

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Uprising features a girl named Bella. The setting is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory - the book tells the stories of three girls who work there and the blurbs don't say which of the girls survive(s) the fire. There was a strike at the factory 13 months before the fire.

[``Laurie]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Uprising features a girl named Bella. The setting is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory - the book tells the stories of three girls who work there and the blurbs don't say which of the ..."

How sad the strike didn't get better working conditions for those poor women.

[NaanBaka]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Uprising features a girl named Bella. The setting is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory - the book tells the stories of three girls who work there and the blurbs don't say which of the ..."

Hey, no it's not that one. There's no such fire in this book. Also, the book specifically refers to her as "Isobel", I believe. Thanks, though! :)

[NaanBaka]

bump :D

[Tab]

how many years ago did you read this?

Was this book for adults or teens?

[NaanBaka]

Tab wrote: "how many years ago did you read this?

Was this book for adults or teens?"

Hi, I read it about 8 or 9 years ago. It was a book for adults, or older teens.

[Holly]

Do you remember if it was a historical romance or more literary fiction?

[NaanBaka]

I thought of a bit more information that might help. The whole strike thing only takes up like the first chapter or so. The rest of the book deals with her struggling to find a new source of income, being abused by her dad, meeting Lawrence, her finding out that her dad isn't her real father and the relief she feels at that.

I think she elopes with Lawrence at the end of the book. I seem to remember them having a conversation in a car at the end of the book, and he calls her by her new name [she took his last name]. Might be making that up, though, not too sure.

There's also a side story with a lady who I think is related to Lawrence and the rich factory-owner man. She might be Lawrence's younger sister or cousin; I'm not too sure. I think she falls in love with someone who's poor [possibly Isobel's brother. I think] and the owner guy doesn't approve.

[NaanBaka]

Holly wrote: "Do you remember if it was a historical romance or more literary fiction?"

Ummm, I think it was historical fiction. Emphasis on the 'think', haha.

[Holly]

Maybe it'll be on this list? https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

[NaanBaka]

Holly wrote: "Maybe it'll be on this list? https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7..."

No it's not, unfortunately. Thanks for your suggestion.

[Ayshe]

The Dark Side of Love by Elizabeth Warne? Review on amazon mentions abusive father: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Side-Lo...

[NaanBaka]

Ayshe wrote: "The Dark Side of Love by Elizabeth Warne? Review on amazon mentions abusive father: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Side-Lo..."

Years late, but it looks like this might be it. I've just ordered the book on Amazon so when it arrives I'll let you know. :)

[NaanBaka]

Ayshe wrote: "The Dark Side of Love by Elizabeth Warne? Review on amazon mentions abusive father: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Side-Lo..."

Yes, this is it!!! Thanks so much; I can finally close this thread. :)