Anna and Her Daughters by D. E. Stevenson was written in 1958, but has something of an old-fashioned feel to it.

Anna and her three daughters live in London, and their father has just passed away. Anna’s cousin and solicitor, Andrew, has to tell them that their money is gone. They’re not penniless, but they’ll need to economize. The girls will need to get jobs.

Anna decides instead that they’ll move back to her native Scotland.

The oldest, Helen, is beautiful but self-absorbed. She can’t stand the thought of leaving London and her friends and parties.

Rosalie is quiet and has always lived in Helen’s shadow, “pretty, but not as pretty as Helen.”

Jane is the brainy one who was headed to Oxford but can’t go now.

Everyone adjusts to life in Scotland and things like preparing their own food, except Helen. She goes to live with relatives in Edinburgh. Rosalie flourishes without Helen around. Rosalie and Jane get different but interesting jobs that they like.

Then Jane meets a young scientist named Ronnie but is too shy and awkward to even ask his name. Rosalie brings him home for dinner, basking in his attention–until he sees Helen.

The story is told through Jane’s point of view as each girl goes through trials and growth experiences.

The book ended up where I thought it would, but took a different route than I thought. I was a bit disappointed at first, but the situation is also found in Jane Austen’s books and even the Bible.

Stevenson’s writing reminds me a little of Louisa May Alcott. Not the language–they’re several decades apart. And Stevenson doesn’t drop in moral or instructive observations in a didactic way. But they both have a homey feel and an emphasis on family.

The audiobook is superbly narrated by Candida Gubbins.