Little Pretty Things by Lori Rader-Day

Juliet was always #2.  Maddy had that extra burst of strength that carried her over the finish line a few steps ahead of Juliet.  Despite that, they were friends.  Then she couldn't run the final race of the year (so no one did) and she leaves to start college early without even really saying goodbye.  Juliet never understood why.  She just thought maybe they weren't as good friends as she thought. So she never expected her to walk in the old motel she worked in and say hi.  What could have made her come back?

Seventh Street Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you'll be able to find a copy now.

When Maddy wants to talk to her, she goes in the bar with her but doesn't have much to say.  The Juliet gets angry because Maddy has a huge engagement ring, expensive clothes and  a nice car and Juliet is still living at home and working as a cleaning lady at the motel.  She won't listen to her.  The worst part is that the next morning, Maddy is dead...

The cops seem to think Juliet might have done it, since it's murder instead of suicide.  So Juliet has to do some investigating on her own if she wants to prove otherwise.  The problem is the gap of ten years with no contact.  The key to the cause of the murder is actually ten years old.  As Juliet thinks back about her school years and what happened there, she begins to understand that what she thought she saw and knew wasn't correct:  There was more to it.  And, with time, Juliet finally figures it out.  The bad news is that the guilty parties know she has and want to silence her.

This story is depressing in many ways.  It has lost opportunities, abused young women and lost faith in it.  Somehow, though, Juliet survives and comes out of the experience with a better knowledge of herself and what she wants in the world.  Maddy died for what she believed in; Juliet finally came in #1 as a survivor.  She needed this win and she got it.