SOLVED. YA novel about a girl with a jealous stepmother who runs away to become a singer in Paris. [s]

[Veronica]

I read this novel for young adults in the 90s. It was set in the 60s/70s.

The main character is a girl with a jealous and unkind stepmother. I remember a flashback to her childhood where her stepmother takes her for a haircut because she looks like a "ragamuffin" but she thinks a ragamuffin sounds quite nice. There is also a moment of jealousy which is described as her stepmother "looking to the laurels" and this has to be explained to the main character.

She moves (maybe runs away?) to Paris and meets interesting and artistic people. An older woman takes her under her wing. She discovers vintage clothing and make up. There is a bar she goes to, and she starts singing with a band which is a focal point for the story.

Please help me figure out what this book is - thank you!

[Becca]

Pictures of the Night by Adèle Geras looks like a match. It was also published as a 3-in-1 in Happy Ever After.

‘Look, darling,’ she said to my father one night. ‘Bella’s turning into a little ragamuffin. You don’t want to be a little ragamuffin, Bella dear, do you?’
‘No,’ I answered, a bit doubtfully. Secretly I thought a ragamuffin sounded rather nice, like a tastier version of a muffin.

‘You will ’ave,’ he said with a shrug, ‘to . . . as you say, I think . . . look to the laurels.’
Marjorie’s anguished stare nearly shattered the glass. We left the salon quickly. I knew better than to ask Marjorie herself what ‘look to the laurels’ meant.

[Veronica]

Becca wrote: "Pictures of the Night by Adèle Geras looks like a match. It was also published as a 3-in-1 in Happy Ever After.
‘Look, darling,’ she said to my father one night. ‘Bella’s ..."

You have no idea how happy this has made me. Thank you SO SO SO MUCH. The memory of this book has just been occupying my mind so much. Thank you xx

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Veronica.

"Egerton Hall" series by Adèle Geras - https://www.goodreads.com/series/4475... - Becca's find.