Excerpt from The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Mom," Erin says, "you need a better hobby."

She recognizes the look on Mom's face. It's like the face dropping from before, but worse.

"Empathy, Erin," Mom says softly. Her eyes are wet.

Erin feels something grab and twist the pain place in her chest. That means she is supposed to say she's sorry.

"I need some space," Erin says instead. "I'll be in my room." Her mother exhausts her more than almost anyone else. It's not necessarily being around people that drains Erin's batteries, it's being around people who want her to act like someone she's not.

"Come on, Spot," Erin says. The dog follows Erin out of the kitchen, loyal even when Erin says things that make Mom sad. Erin never knows if Mom moves from her place at the island counter while she's gone, because every time she comes back, Mom's still there.

Excerpted from The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. Copyright © 2017 by Amy Reed. Excerpted by permission of Simon Pulse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.