SOLVED. YA with main character named Prudence [s]

[Laura]

This was a YA book I read about 15 to 20 years ago or so (yeah, I admit I wasn't actually a young adult then, so I was immature for my age). ANYway, the main character was a teenager named Prudence, and she had at least two sisters. The two whose names I remember were Hope and Grace (Hope, Grace, and Prudence -- get it? I wonder why they picked Prudence and not a nicer name like Faith, but whatever).

Prudence had a best friend whose name I don't recall now, who was kind of overweight and sort of an outcast. The friend had a mother who not so great in some way -- I think maybe she was an alcoholic. The friend also loved lemon drops and kept them hidden in a coffee can in a tree (I swear I'm not making that up). Eventually, Prudence started dating some guy named something like Eliot (not sure that name is right) and so she started spending a lot less time with the friend, and the friend eventually committed suicide.

Does this ring any bells?

[Laura]

bumping this up again to see whether someone new remembers it.

[Laura]

Ok, found it -- it's Swann Song by Kathryn Gibbs Davis.

[Rainbowheart]

Swann Song for the link.