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Needy Little Things
Sariyah is determined not to let her missing friend become just another statistic, one of many vanished Black girls. But despite her talent for ESP, Sariyah is struggling, even when the clues point surprisingly close to home.
When Sariyah's birthday celebrations at a music festival turn sour with the disappearance of one of her friends, she knows she can't rely on the police to find her. The authorities are no more help than they were when her friend's twin sister, another young woman of colour, went missing five years earlier. Sariyah feels guilty that her uncanny ability to predict people's needs didn't help to keep her friends safe. She is determined to find out what's happened to Deja. But the more she cracks the clues leading to her, the closer she gets to home 鈥� A brilliantly page-turning thriller with an unusual psychological twist, which fans of One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder will love.
When Sariyah's birthday celebrations at a music festival turn sour with the disappearance of one of her friends, she knows she can't rely on the police to find her. The authorities are no more help than they were when her friend's twin sister, another young woman of colour, went missing five years earlier. Sariyah feels guilty that her uncanny ability to predict people's needs didn't help to keep her friends safe. She is determined to find out what's happened to Deja. But the more she cracks the clues leading to her, the closer she gets to home 鈥� A brilliantly page-turning thriller with an unusual psychological twist, which fans of One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder will love.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2025
135 people are currently reading
28.1k people want to read
About the author
Channelle Desamours
2听books229听followersChannelle Desamours is an author and a high school science teacher. When she鈥檚 not napping to recover from her five a.m. writing sessions, Channelle can be found building tiny homes on The Sims 4 or cheering for Atlanta United at soccer matches. NEEDY LITTLE THINGS is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 579 reviews
March 7, 2025
A gripping blend of magical realism and mystery, this novel follows Sariyah, a seventeen-year-old with a unique gift, as she navigates friendship, family struggles, and the dark secrets behind her friends' disappearances in a thought-provoking exploration of social issues and suspense.
A unique magical concept of telepathically hearing people's needs and fulfilling them drives this twisty, fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The story tackles triggering subjects like racism, missing persons, parental abandonment, drug addiction, mental illness, and dysfunctional family issues with great sensitivity. This book perfectly blends important social commentary with fiction, creating an unputdownable mystery with magical realism that keeps you glued to the pages and delivers a five-star reading experience.
The story follows seventeen-year-old Sariyah Lee Bryant, who has a special gift: she can hear people's needs in her head, from simple things like pencils, hair ties, gum, and phone chargers, to more crucial items like pepper spray! She was best friends with twins Malcolm and Tessa since childhood until Tessa vanished without a trace.
History repeats itself when Sariyah attends a music festival with her friends Deja, Malcolm, and her new crush Jude. While waiting in the restroom line, Sariyah zones out, only to realize Deja is no longer standing beside her.
Determined to find her friend, Sariyah uses all social media platforms to raise awareness. Meanwhile, she deals with her mother's depression, who rarely leaves her bedroom except for work, and her nine-year-old brother who suffers from sickle cell disease. Adding to her struggles, she begins fighting with Malcolm during their search, questions her romantic feelings for Jude, misses her father who remains in Chefley (their former home), and longs for her summer friends.
Questions multiply: What happened to Deja? Why was she acting strange and secretly texting someone? Why does her mother's tears seem fake, as if hiding guilt? Why does Deja's stepdad give off unsettling vibes, and what's the story behind the lock on Deja's room? Was she running from someone? Could Tessa and Deja's disappearances be connected?
The secrets her friends harbor may lead Sariyah down a dangerous path she never intended to take.
Overall: This is a twisty, dark, engaging, and thought-provoking read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this unputdownable thriller's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
A unique magical concept of telepathically hearing people's needs and fulfilling them drives this twisty, fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The story tackles triggering subjects like racism, missing persons, parental abandonment, drug addiction, mental illness, and dysfunctional family issues with great sensitivity. This book perfectly blends important social commentary with fiction, creating an unputdownable mystery with magical realism that keeps you glued to the pages and delivers a five-star reading experience.
The story follows seventeen-year-old Sariyah Lee Bryant, who has a special gift: she can hear people's needs in her head, from simple things like pencils, hair ties, gum, and phone chargers, to more crucial items like pepper spray! She was best friends with twins Malcolm and Tessa since childhood until Tessa vanished without a trace.
History repeats itself when Sariyah attends a music festival with her friends Deja, Malcolm, and her new crush Jude. While waiting in the restroom line, Sariyah zones out, only to realize Deja is no longer standing beside her.
Determined to find her friend, Sariyah uses all social media platforms to raise awareness. Meanwhile, she deals with her mother's depression, who rarely leaves her bedroom except for work, and her nine-year-old brother who suffers from sickle cell disease. Adding to her struggles, she begins fighting with Malcolm during their search, questions her romantic feelings for Jude, misses her father who remains in Chefley (their former home), and longs for her summer friends.
Questions multiply: What happened to Deja? Why was she acting strange and secretly texting someone? Why does her mother's tears seem fake, as if hiding guilt? Why does Deja's stepdad give off unsettling vibes, and what's the story behind the lock on Deja's room? Was she running from someone? Could Tessa and Deja's disappearances be connected?
The secrets her friends harbor may lead Sariyah down a dangerous path she never intended to take.
Overall: This is a twisty, dark, engaging, and thought-provoking read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this unputdownable thriller's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
February 25, 2025
It鈥檚 funny how the first thing that struck me after finishing the book was just how clever the title is 馃き.
Sometimes, when I dive into a book and it doesn鈥檛 deliver what I expect, it can go in so many directions鈥攐ne of them being me outright disliking it. But that wasn鈥檛 the case here. Instead, I found myself appreciating that I got so much more than just a simple 鈥渨hodunit.鈥� I could sense that this was going to be an impactful read, especially with the thought-provoking themes woven throughout. I鈥檒l admit, I was a little concerned about how everything would come together because, at times, it felt juuuust a bit all over the place. But in the end, it all clicked perfectly, and every piece fell into place.
I really want to touch on the big theme of the book without giving too much away, because this is definitely something you need to experience for yourself. The exploration of the unequal efforts made for minority victims was handled nicely. The book brought awareness to this issue in such a unique and memorable way. I love when authors tackle heavy topics in creative ways because it tends to leave a lasting impression鈥攁nd this is one I won鈥檛 forget anytime soon.
I absolutely adored almost everyone in this book, especially the main character, no question. Sariyah, with her gift, was fun, but honestly, it didn鈥檛 feel like it added too much to the story. Sure, it played a role in helping them figure things out, but the book wouldn鈥檛 have suffered without it鈥�.I think馃 Still, it was a nice touch. What really stood out to me was how the author delved into her family dynamics. It was a little heartbreaking to see the struggles they faced, and Sariyah had to grow up way too fast. But UGH, she was such an amazing sister and daughter馃グ. I just wanted to hug her and say, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e doing AMAZING, sweetie!鈥� And the friend group? They cracked me up so many times鈥攖hey were exactly the kind of friends I wish I had in high school. Oh, and let鈥檚 not forget the romance sprinkled in there鈥攍oved it.
If I had to nitpick, I鈥檇 say the mystery aspect wasn鈥檛 always super gripping. It had its ups and downs, but the clues scattered throughout kept me just interested enough to keep going. Overall, though, I really enjoyed the story and am so glad I read it. I heard this is Desamours鈥� debut novel? Well, I鈥檓 definitely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next!
Sometimes, when I dive into a book and it doesn鈥檛 deliver what I expect, it can go in so many directions鈥攐ne of them being me outright disliking it. But that wasn鈥檛 the case here. Instead, I found myself appreciating that I got so much more than just a simple 鈥渨hodunit.鈥� I could sense that this was going to be an impactful read, especially with the thought-provoking themes woven throughout. I鈥檒l admit, I was a little concerned about how everything would come together because, at times, it felt juuuust a bit all over the place. But in the end, it all clicked perfectly, and every piece fell into place.
I really want to touch on the big theme of the book without giving too much away, because this is definitely something you need to experience for yourself. The exploration of the unequal efforts made for minority victims was handled nicely. The book brought awareness to this issue in such a unique and memorable way. I love when authors tackle heavy topics in creative ways because it tends to leave a lasting impression鈥攁nd this is one I won鈥檛 forget anytime soon.
I absolutely adored almost everyone in this book, especially the main character, no question. Sariyah, with her gift, was fun, but honestly, it didn鈥檛 feel like it added too much to the story. Sure, it played a role in helping them figure things out, but the book wouldn鈥檛 have suffered without it鈥�.I think馃 Still, it was a nice touch. What really stood out to me was how the author delved into her family dynamics. It was a little heartbreaking to see the struggles they faced, and Sariyah had to grow up way too fast. But UGH, she was such an amazing sister and daughter馃グ. I just wanted to hug her and say, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e doing AMAZING, sweetie!鈥� And the friend group? They cracked me up so many times鈥攖hey were exactly the kind of friends I wish I had in high school. Oh, and let鈥檚 not forget the romance sprinkled in there鈥攍oved it.
If I had to nitpick, I鈥檇 say the mystery aspect wasn鈥檛 always super gripping. It had its ups and downs, but the clues scattered throughout kept me just interested enough to keep going. Overall, though, I really enjoyed the story and am so glad I read it. I heard this is Desamours鈥� debut novel? Well, I鈥檓 definitely looking forward to seeing what they come up with next!
January 31, 2025
Sariyah has a supernatural power鈥nly it usually feels more like a curse. The Atlanta high-school student can sense exactly what the people around her are about to need, whether it鈥檚 chapstick, dental floss or an epipen. While she鈥檚 saved the day several times, she鈥檚 falling behind in school because her head is so full of the needs of people around her. They鈥檙e intrusive thoughts she can鈥檛 get rid of until the need is met.
Then one day, as she鈥檚 heading to a music festival with friends, she senses a particularly ominous need coming from her friend Deja: pepper spray. Sariyah gives Deja a spare pepper spray key chain and resolves to keep a close eye on her, but the girls get separated and Deja goes missing. Now, Sariyah must harness her powers鈥攁nd her innate intelligence鈥攖o figure out what happened to her friend.
This book was an incredibly fun ride, and also points to the very real discrepancy between the attention the cases of missing white girls and those of missing BIPOC girls receive from the public and media. As someone with OCD (but sadly no superpowers), I thought that Sariyah鈥檚 powers were a really interesting take on intrusive thoughts. Sariyah鈥檚 mother鈥檚 depression is also depicted in a very realistic way that I think a lot of readers will find relatable. But as much as it sheds light on very real issues, this book is at its core a fun and incredibly readable mystery story. I recommend this one to teens AND adults.
Then one day, as she鈥檚 heading to a music festival with friends, she senses a particularly ominous need coming from her friend Deja: pepper spray. Sariyah gives Deja a spare pepper spray key chain and resolves to keep a close eye on her, but the girls get separated and Deja goes missing. Now, Sariyah must harness her powers鈥攁nd her innate intelligence鈥攖o figure out what happened to her friend.
This book was an incredibly fun ride, and also points to the very real discrepancy between the attention the cases of missing white girls and those of missing BIPOC girls receive from the public and media. As someone with OCD (but sadly no superpowers), I thought that Sariyah鈥檚 powers were a really interesting take on intrusive thoughts. Sariyah鈥檚 mother鈥檚 depression is also depicted in a very realistic way that I think a lot of readers will find relatable. But as much as it sheds light on very real issues, this book is at its core a fun and incredibly readable mystery story. I recommend this one to teens AND adults.
November 28, 2024
How good was this?!! Well, I thought it was freaking fabulous!! I鈥檝e not read very many YA books, and absolutely loved this from beginning to end. It鈥檚 also hard to believe that this is the author鈥檚 debut.
Seventeen year old Sariyah (Ri) has a very unique gift of ESP, passed down from her Grandmother. One weekend, she and her three friends attend a music festival, in which one of them disappears. Over the years, there have been numerous girls going missing in Atlanta, and Ri doesn鈥檛 want her friend to become another statistic.
She feels guilty that her 鈥榞ift鈥� of predicting people鈥檚 needs, failed to protect her friend, and is determined to find out what happened to her. This YA mystery is an absolute addictive page turner, with twists and turns aplenty, with an awesome group of characters, especially Ri鈥檚 nine year old brother Josiah (JoJo), who is absolutely adorable, and stole my heart.
This story deals with various issues, such as, racism, missing teens, and dysfunctional families, etc.
Thanks to the author Channelle Desamours, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
5 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍
Release Date: 13 January 2025
Seventeen year old Sariyah (Ri) has a very unique gift of ESP, passed down from her Grandmother. One weekend, she and her three friends attend a music festival, in which one of them disappears. Over the years, there have been numerous girls going missing in Atlanta, and Ri doesn鈥檛 want her friend to become another statistic.
She feels guilty that her 鈥榞ift鈥� of predicting people鈥檚 needs, failed to protect her friend, and is determined to find out what happened to her. This YA mystery is an absolute addictive page turner, with twists and turns aplenty, with an awesome group of characters, especially Ri鈥檚 nine year old brother Josiah (JoJo), who is absolutely adorable, and stole my heart.
This story deals with various issues, such as, racism, missing teens, and dysfunctional families, etc.
Thanks to the author Channelle Desamours, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
5 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍
Release Date: 13 January 2025
February 16, 2025
Human beings are Needy Little Things!
Just like her grandmother before her 17 year-old Sariyah Bryant has inherited a unique ability. She senses peoples needs, even before they do. To placate the voices in her head Sariyah carries a red duffel (dubbed 鈥楽anta bag鈥� by her little brother) wherever she goes, crammed with everyday items. Need a stick of gum, hair brush, or nail file, Sariyah鈥檚 got you covered. Her Santa bag doesn鈥檛 contain an EpiPen, but Sariyah will go racing to her high school鈥檚 nurses office to check the stock upon hearing someone鈥檚 need for one.
When her friend Deja Nelson鈥檚 urgent silent plea penetrate Sariyah鈥檚 brain on their way to a music festival to celebrate their friend Malcolm Hawkin鈥檚 eighteenth birthday, Sariyah is filled with dread. Why would Deja need pepper spray? And she鈥檚 right to be worried 鈥� because hours later Deja disappears from the festival. And this isn鈥檛 the first time something like this has happened. Five years ago, her best friend and Malcolm鈥檚 twin sister Tessa vanished, and no trace of her has ever been found. Sariyah, Malcolm, and their new friend Jude Abrams are determined to find Deja before history can repeat itself.
Needy Little Things was a haunting YA mystery, with a supernatural undertone. A slow burn but a sense of unease permeated the pages right from the beginning. The twists were heart-pounding, and the last sentence sent a cold shiver down my spine. The writing was beautiful, impacting, powerful, and immersive. I could have highlighted every sentence on my Kindle. Every line of dialogue counted conveying emotion, subtext, and conflict in every scene. All the characters were given clear motivations, vulnerabilities, personality quirks, external and internal pressures, backstories, and relationships to one another.
Sariyah鈥檚 premonitions blended seamlessly into the story, both helped and hindered her investigation, and were viewed by her as both a gift and a curse. Only family and friends, or people who鈥檇 experienced it first hand, believed in her ability, and aside from Deja (who was a newish friend) Sariyah was unable to read the needs of those closest to her. Sariyah was often overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally by how much her psychic power invaded and impacted her life, as well as the morality, ethical use, and sense of duty associated with it. Other serious themes included police, media, and the publics bias applicable to the race of missing children and teenagers, the powerlessness, uncertainty, blame, suspicion, and devastation of not knowing what has happened to a loved one, mental health, physical illness, financial strain, and academic struggles.
Needy Little Things completely worked as a standalone, but I鈥檓 crossing my fingers it鈥檚 the start of a series, as I feel there鈥檚 more to explore, and I鈥檓 not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I can鈥檛 believe this was Channelle Desamours鈥� debut. I鈥檓 awestruck!
鈥楶aper clip. Crayon. Shoelace. Chewing gum鈥�
Just like her grandmother before her 17 year-old Sariyah Bryant has inherited a unique ability. She senses peoples needs, even before they do. To placate the voices in her head Sariyah carries a red duffel (dubbed 鈥楽anta bag鈥� by her little brother) wherever she goes, crammed with everyday items. Need a stick of gum, hair brush, or nail file, Sariyah鈥檚 got you covered. Her Santa bag doesn鈥檛 contain an EpiPen, but Sariyah will go racing to her high school鈥檚 nurses office to check the stock upon hearing someone鈥檚 need for one.
鈥楶epper spray. Pepper spray. Pepper spray鈥�.
When her friend Deja Nelson鈥檚 urgent silent plea penetrate Sariyah鈥檚 brain on their way to a music festival to celebrate their friend Malcolm Hawkin鈥檚 eighteenth birthday, Sariyah is filled with dread. Why would Deja need pepper spray? And she鈥檚 right to be worried 鈥� because hours later Deja disappears from the festival. And this isn鈥檛 the first time something like this has happened. Five years ago, her best friend and Malcolm鈥檚 twin sister Tessa vanished, and no trace of her has ever been found. Sariyah, Malcolm, and their new friend Jude Abrams are determined to find Deja before history can repeat itself.
Needy Little Things was a haunting YA mystery, with a supernatural undertone. A slow burn but a sense of unease permeated the pages right from the beginning. The twists were heart-pounding, and the last sentence sent a cold shiver down my spine. The writing was beautiful, impacting, powerful, and immersive. I could have highlighted every sentence on my Kindle. Every line of dialogue counted conveying emotion, subtext, and conflict in every scene. All the characters were given clear motivations, vulnerabilities, personality quirks, external and internal pressures, backstories, and relationships to one another.
Sariyah鈥檚 premonitions blended seamlessly into the story, both helped and hindered her investigation, and were viewed by her as both a gift and a curse. Only family and friends, or people who鈥檇 experienced it first hand, believed in her ability, and aside from Deja (who was a newish friend) Sariyah was unable to read the needs of those closest to her. Sariyah was often overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally by how much her psychic power invaded and impacted her life, as well as the morality, ethical use, and sense of duty associated with it. Other serious themes included police, media, and the publics bias applicable to the race of missing children and teenagers, the powerlessness, uncertainty, blame, suspicion, and devastation of not knowing what has happened to a loved one, mental health, physical illness, financial strain, and academic struggles.
Needy Little Things completely worked as a standalone, but I鈥檓 crossing my fingers it鈥檚 the start of a series, as I feel there鈥檚 more to explore, and I鈥檓 not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I can鈥檛 believe this was Channelle Desamours鈥� debut. I鈥檓 awestruck!
February 5, 2025
Is there something in your childhood that made you grow up faster than it should have?
Needy Little Things took me a mintue to get in to, but once I did I was hooked. From about 1/3 of the way to the end of the book - I was hooked!! Reading from a perspective completely different from my own is always an enjoyable journey - but I appreciate Desamours's ability to write such introspective characters that came to life on the page!
In the heart of Atlanta, and across the US, there are many families struggling with the same issues that our heroine, Sariyah, faces. From a chronically ill sibling to racial inequalities - Needy Little Things was a perfectly executed YA thriller. Teaching us a little something along the way and giving us an ending we didn't see coming!
**Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. 鈥� SLR 馃枻
Needy Little Things took me a mintue to get in to, but once I did I was hooked. From about 1/3 of the way to the end of the book - I was hooked!! Reading from a perspective completely different from my own is always an enjoyable journey - but I appreciate Desamours's ability to write such introspective characters that came to life on the page!
In the heart of Atlanta, and across the US, there are many families struggling with the same issues that our heroine, Sariyah, faces. From a chronically ill sibling to racial inequalities - Needy Little Things was a perfectly executed YA thriller. Teaching us a little something along the way and giving us an ending we didn't see coming!
**Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. 鈥� SLR 馃枻
January 11, 2025
My first 5 star read of the year! I read very little YA anymore and even less magical realism/speculative fiction, but the blurb for this book sounded intriguing and Desamours knocked it out of the park. I can鈥檛 believe this is a debut.
is pact with so much: friendship and family relationships, mystery and a teen鈥檚 disappearance, racial inequality, mental health, chronic illness, and the unique gift Sariyah has to hear people鈥檚 needs. Yet even with so much, it all fits and it is balanced perfectly. Nothing feels underdeveloped and it never feels like too much.
I loved getting to know Sariyah and being in her head. I felt for her. She was a multi-dimensional character that was extremely well-written. Each side character added even more depth to the story and their personalities were fleshed out and had stories themselves (even with this being first person).
The main mystery stays strong throughout but none of the side stories ever get lost or forgotten. Each one feels intentional and moves the story forward in some way. Again, I am so impressed at this being a debut, and cannot wait to see what Desamours writes next!
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
is pact with so much: friendship and family relationships, mystery and a teen鈥檚 disappearance, racial inequality, mental health, chronic illness, and the unique gift Sariyah has to hear people鈥檚 needs. Yet even with so much, it all fits and it is balanced perfectly. Nothing feels underdeveloped and it never feels like too much.
I loved getting to know Sariyah and being in her head. I felt for her. She was a multi-dimensional character that was extremely well-written. Each side character added even more depth to the story and their personalities were fleshed out and had stories themselves (even with this being first person).
The main mystery stays strong throughout but none of the side stories ever get lost or forgotten. Each one feels intentional and moves the story forward in some way. Again, I am so impressed at this being a debut, and cannot wait to see what Desamours writes next!
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
February 16, 2025
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book tagline: In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger...
DO NOT LET THIS BOOK PASS YOU BY! I don't care what your age is, YOU, yes, my fellow reader, need a good dose of Channelle Desamours.
I couldn't put this book down. Thank goodness I had completed all my morning chores, and the laundry wasn't finished for a while. Because my attention was 100% on this story, Sariyah Lee Bryant was the type of protagonist that I enjoyed. She is feisty, has a good heart and is so very trusting of the people around her. Her gift of sensing what people need was interesting, and I liked that the book focuses on the issue of missing people in different demographics. I couldn't have anticipated how everything was going to play out, and that ending has me wondering if we might see Sariyah pop up again in a literary journey.
I guess we will have to wait and see.
#NeedyLittleThings #NetGalley.
Publication Date 04/02/25
欧宝娱乐 Review 16/02/25
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Book tagline: In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger...
DO NOT LET THIS BOOK PASS YOU BY! I don't care what your age is, YOU, yes, my fellow reader, need a good dose of Channelle Desamours.
I couldn't put this book down. Thank goodness I had completed all my morning chores, and the laundry wasn't finished for a while. Because my attention was 100% on this story, Sariyah Lee Bryant was the type of protagonist that I enjoyed. She is feisty, has a good heart and is so very trusting of the people around her. Her gift of sensing what people need was interesting, and I liked that the book focuses on the issue of missing people in different demographics. I couldn't have anticipated how everything was going to play out, and that ending has me wondering if we might see Sariyah pop up again in a literary journey.
I guess we will have to wait and see.
#NeedyLittleThings #NetGalley.
Publication Date 04/02/25
欧宝娱乐 Review 16/02/25
January 8, 2025
Needy Little Things
by Channelle Desamours
YA Fantasy Mystery Speculative
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 14+
Even if they don't know themselves, just like her grandmother, Sariyah can hear what people need. A pencil, a phone charger, a hair tie, etc. Hearing all of these needy things from a lot of people at one time can be overwhelming and if she doesn't give out the needs, she'll get a migraine.
After handing over a need, she hears it was used to protect a woman's life, landing another in the hospital, then after fulfilling her friend's, Deja, need, she disappears.
Five years ago another one of Sariyah's friends, the twin to her best friend, is still missing, but another girl was found within a few months after her disappearance, and her disappearance went viral.
Because of the past, Sariyah and her friends don't trust that the police are not taking Deja's disappearance seriously and will not investigate, so they start their own.
This story's plot is mostly focused on the disappearance of young girls and the lack of police and the public's interest, focusing on how not everyone is treated equally; and how money and race have a major influence. And I agree, this is an issue and one that should be addressed and fixed!
Sariyah's gift is a unique one, and being able to go to a store and fill a bag (called Santa Bag) full of things, then be able to hand what another needs before they need it, is very cool.
Two other plots in this story are mental health; how depression affects everyone, not just the one suffering, and sickle cell disease and the pain, physical and emotional, it causes.
Overall, this was a good story and all but the beginning of the book moved along at a great pace, but there were a few characters whose importance grew towards the end of the book and weren't really talked about or explained in enough detail to reflect on the ending and make it as dramatic as it should have been. But the ending of one of the side plots was a great conclusion!
A faster paced beginning, more about the other disappearances, and the development of those important minor characters would have earned this one more star!
3 Stars
by Channelle Desamours
YA Fantasy Mystery Speculative
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025
St. Martin's Press
Ages: 14+
Even if they don't know themselves, just like her grandmother, Sariyah can hear what people need. A pencil, a phone charger, a hair tie, etc. Hearing all of these needy things from a lot of people at one time can be overwhelming and if she doesn't give out the needs, she'll get a migraine.
After handing over a need, she hears it was used to protect a woman's life, landing another in the hospital, then after fulfilling her friend's, Deja, need, she disappears.
Five years ago another one of Sariyah's friends, the twin to her best friend, is still missing, but another girl was found within a few months after her disappearance, and her disappearance went viral.
Because of the past, Sariyah and her friends don't trust that the police are not taking Deja's disappearance seriously and will not investigate, so they start their own.
This story's plot is mostly focused on the disappearance of young girls and the lack of police and the public's interest, focusing on how not everyone is treated equally; and how money and race have a major influence. And I agree, this is an issue and one that should be addressed and fixed!
Sariyah's gift is a unique one, and being able to go to a store and fill a bag (called Santa Bag) full of things, then be able to hand what another needs before they need it, is very cool.
Two other plots in this story are mental health; how depression affects everyone, not just the one suffering, and sickle cell disease and the pain, physical and emotional, it causes.
Overall, this was a good story and all but the beginning of the book moved along at a great pace, but there were a few characters whose importance grew towards the end of the book and weren't really talked about or explained in enough detail to reflect on the ending and make it as dramatic as it should have been. But the ending of one of the side plots was a great conclusion!
A faster paced beginning, more about the other disappearances, and the development of those important minor characters would have earned this one more star!
3 Stars
February 3, 2025
This is a debut novel I picked up because it is about a girl with a unique ability I found intriguing. It's a YA novel and the author is a high school science teacher.
Description:
Sariyah Lee Bryant can hear what people need鈥攖angible things, like a pencil, a hair tie, a phone charger鈥攁n ability only her family and her best friend, Malcolm, know the truth about. But when she fulfills a need for her friend Deja who vanishes shortly after, Sariyah is left wondering if her ability is more curse than gift. This isn鈥檛 the first time one of her friends has landed on the missing persons list, and she鈥檚 determined not to let her become yet another forgotten Black girl.
Not trusting the police and media to do enough on their own, Sariyah and her friends work together to figure out what led to Deja鈥檚 disappearance. But when Sariyah鈥檚 mother loses her job and her little brother faces complications with his sickle cell disease, managing her time, money, and emotions seems impossible. Desperate, Sariyah decides to hustle her need-sensing ability for cash鈥攁 choice that may not only lead her to Deja, but put her in the same danger Deja found herself in.
My Thoughts:
I liked the character Sariyah, but her ability would drive me nuts if I had it. It certainly would be a tremendous distraction to focusing on anything. It was fun following the friends' investigation of what happened to their friend. The book drove home the point that police treat missing teens differently depending on the color of their skin and their family's status. The read was both engaging and thought-provoking. A really good debut Channelle Desamours!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Sariyah Lee Bryant can hear what people need鈥攖angible things, like a pencil, a hair tie, a phone charger鈥攁n ability only her family and her best friend, Malcolm, know the truth about. But when she fulfills a need for her friend Deja who vanishes shortly after, Sariyah is left wondering if her ability is more curse than gift. This isn鈥檛 the first time one of her friends has landed on the missing persons list, and she鈥檚 determined not to let her become yet another forgotten Black girl.
Not trusting the police and media to do enough on their own, Sariyah and her friends work together to figure out what led to Deja鈥檚 disappearance. But when Sariyah鈥檚 mother loses her job and her little brother faces complications with his sickle cell disease, managing her time, money, and emotions seems impossible. Desperate, Sariyah decides to hustle her need-sensing ability for cash鈥攁 choice that may not only lead her to Deja, but put her in the same danger Deja found herself in.
My Thoughts:
I liked the character Sariyah, but her ability would drive me nuts if I had it. It certainly would be a tremendous distraction to focusing on anything. It was fun following the friends' investigation of what happened to their friend. The book drove home the point that police treat missing teens differently depending on the color of their skin and their family's status. The read was both engaging and thought-provoking. A really good debut Channelle Desamours!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
February 3, 2025
I was so excited to get an ALC for Needy Little Things, especially since I鈥檓 trying to be more intentional about reading debut authors this year! Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with this free advanced listening copy for review consideration!
馃摉 This YA mystery follows Sariyah, a high school senior who has a rare ability 鈥� she can sense what people need. Sometimes it鈥檚 small, like a phone charger or a hair tie, but sometimes it鈥檚 life-or-death. When her friend Deja goes missing, Sariyah is determined to find her, especially knowing how often Black girls鈥� disappearances are overlooked. As she digs deeper, juggling family struggles and her own survival, she starts to wonder if her ability is more of a curse than a gift.
馃挱 I loved the way this book blended mystery, social commentary, and a touch of magical realism. It tackles real issues鈥攔acial injustice, media bias, systemic neglect鈥攂ut in a way that feels natural to the story. Sariyah is such a compelling protagonist, and the fact that it鈥檚 set in Atlanta made it even better for me (I live in ATL!) I loved catching little references to places like MARTA and Zoo Atlanta. That said, the middle section dragged a bit for me鈥攖here were a lot of breadcrumbs leading up to the big reveal, and some parts felt slower than I wanted. But the last stretch pulled me back in!
馃帶 I listened to this on audio, and Alaska Jackson nailed it. She brought so much depth to Sariyah鈥檚 voice and made every character feel distinct. I loved the voices she did for different characters!
猸� 3.75 stars, rounding up to 4! If you鈥檙e into YA mysteries with speculative elements and important themes, this is definitely worth picking up :)
馃摉 This YA mystery follows Sariyah, a high school senior who has a rare ability 鈥� she can sense what people need. Sometimes it鈥檚 small, like a phone charger or a hair tie, but sometimes it鈥檚 life-or-death. When her friend Deja goes missing, Sariyah is determined to find her, especially knowing how often Black girls鈥� disappearances are overlooked. As she digs deeper, juggling family struggles and her own survival, she starts to wonder if her ability is more of a curse than a gift.
馃挱 I loved the way this book blended mystery, social commentary, and a touch of magical realism. It tackles real issues鈥攔acial injustice, media bias, systemic neglect鈥攂ut in a way that feels natural to the story. Sariyah is such a compelling protagonist, and the fact that it鈥檚 set in Atlanta made it even better for me (I live in ATL!) I loved catching little references to places like MARTA and Zoo Atlanta. That said, the middle section dragged a bit for me鈥攖here were a lot of breadcrumbs leading up to the big reveal, and some parts felt slower than I wanted. But the last stretch pulled me back in!
馃帶 I listened to this on audio, and Alaska Jackson nailed it. She brought so much depth to Sariyah鈥檚 voice and made every character feel distinct. I loved the voices she did for different characters!
猸� 3.75 stars, rounding up to 4! If you鈥檙e into YA mysteries with speculative elements and important themes, this is definitely worth picking up :)
March 24, 2025
Ya Thriller and commentary on the systematic failure and lack of media attention given to missing black and brown girls
One of my favorites this year. God I love the main character, Sariyah.
I just kept thinking this is a series I would read and RARELY do I want to read a series.
I rate all genres differently.
However torn between a 4.5 and a 5.
I would love to see these characters emerge especially given that Sariyah has the magical realism part that can really be expanded upon!
One of my favorites this year. God I love the main character, Sariyah.
I just kept thinking this is a series I would read and RARELY do I want to read a series.
I rate all genres differently.
However torn between a 4.5 and a 5.
I would love to see these characters emerge especially given that Sariyah has the magical realism part that can really be expanded upon!
February 9, 2025
This book pulled me in from the very beginning. I was once again playing detective trying to fit the pieces together to find out what happened to Deja. I suspected everyone and their mama and I was wrong! I鈥檓 still in shock after finishing this book and that just lets me know that this mystery/ thriller was done right!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
February 1, 2025
4.25 stars 馃ぉ
NEEDY LITTLE THINGS by Channelle Desamours
Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies (and cute pouch for all of my *little things*). #macaudio2025
It's been a hot minute since I've read a YA novel, but I'd been seeing early rave reviews of this beauty... so when it arrived at my doorstep, I decided to drop everything and read it along with the audiobook. I'm so glad I did!
馃摉 Needy Little Things is a debut novel blending speculative fiction and mystery. The story follows Sariyah, a high school senior with a unique ability: she senses what people need. Little things, like a pencil or a hair tie, but also big things, like an EpiPen or insulin. Her gift is both a blessing and a curse, as it's hard to be a normal teen when you can hear people's needs. When her friend Deja disappears, Sariyah is determined to find her, especially since missing Black girls rarely receive the same attention as their white peers.
馃挱 Needy Little Things is a gripping, imaginative story that explores themes of racial inequality, mental health, and the overlooked struggles of Black girls in the US. Desamours crafts an authentic, emotional narrative with a diverse cast of well-developed characters. Sariyah鈥檚 journey is layered with personal challenges, including her mother鈥檚 depression and her brother鈥檚 chronic illness. Needy Little Things is both a thrilling mystery and a powerful reflection on societal neglect and injustice.
馃帶 Narrator Alaska Jackson is fantastic! This book has a fairly large cast of characters, and Jackson voices them all uniquely, showcasing her incredible range and talent. 5 猸� performance! Loved this as an audiobook!
馃搶 Available 2/4
NEEDY LITTLE THINGS by Channelle Desamours
Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for my #gifted copies (and cute pouch for all of my *little things*). #macaudio2025
It's been a hot minute since I've read a YA novel, but I'd been seeing early rave reviews of this beauty... so when it arrived at my doorstep, I decided to drop everything and read it along with the audiobook. I'm so glad I did!
馃摉 Needy Little Things is a debut novel blending speculative fiction and mystery. The story follows Sariyah, a high school senior with a unique ability: she senses what people need. Little things, like a pencil or a hair tie, but also big things, like an EpiPen or insulin. Her gift is both a blessing and a curse, as it's hard to be a normal teen when you can hear people's needs. When her friend Deja disappears, Sariyah is determined to find her, especially since missing Black girls rarely receive the same attention as their white peers.
馃挱 Needy Little Things is a gripping, imaginative story that explores themes of racial inequality, mental health, and the overlooked struggles of Black girls in the US. Desamours crafts an authentic, emotional narrative with a diverse cast of well-developed characters. Sariyah鈥檚 journey is layered with personal challenges, including her mother鈥檚 depression and her brother鈥檚 chronic illness. Needy Little Things is both a thrilling mystery and a powerful reflection on societal neglect and injustice.
馃帶 Narrator Alaska Jackson is fantastic! This book has a fairly large cast of characters, and Jackson voices them all uniquely, showcasing her incredible range and talent. 5 猸� performance! Loved this as an audiobook!
馃搶 Available 2/4
June 14, 2024
Needy Little Things is one of those rare stories that gives you everything. You'll get twists, turns, laughs, tears, and characters you'll be sad to leave behind when you reach the end. This is a brilliantly constructed mystery with a haunting message that will linger long after you turn the final page.
February 25, 2025
Thank you to Wednesday books for the gifted review copy of this book!!
The timing of this release was *perfect* and I LOVED it!
Why was the timing perfect? Because the Netflix documentary about Gabby Petito鈥檚 case just aired, and her parents have been putting so much emphasis on the number of black and brown women who go missing and are murder each year who don鈥檛 get the same coverage white women do. And that leads to worse outcomes鈥攚hich is exactly what Sariyah is looking to address when yet another person close to her goes missing.
On top of that incredibly difficult theme, she鈥檚 also managing a mother with severe depression, a brother with sickle cell disease, and a magical ability to hear the needs of those around her. Armed only with Santa bag (her bag of random things that people may need), her phone, and the determination to find her friend, Sariyah has a LOT to deal with for someone her age. And honestly, I thought it was all handled and represented incredibly well.
As with most YA books, this was fast paced. But even with so many threads and sub plots, it was easy to follow and stay engaged.
I really enjoyed this story and honestly can鈥檛 wait to see more from this author! Highly recommend for fans of A Good Girl鈥檚 Guide to Murder looking for a little magical twist to their story.
The timing of this release was *perfect* and I LOVED it!
Why was the timing perfect? Because the Netflix documentary about Gabby Petito鈥檚 case just aired, and her parents have been putting so much emphasis on the number of black and brown women who go missing and are murder each year who don鈥檛 get the same coverage white women do. And that leads to worse outcomes鈥攚hich is exactly what Sariyah is looking to address when yet another person close to her goes missing.
On top of that incredibly difficult theme, she鈥檚 also managing a mother with severe depression, a brother with sickle cell disease, and a magical ability to hear the needs of those around her. Armed only with Santa bag (her bag of random things that people may need), her phone, and the determination to find her friend, Sariyah has a LOT to deal with for someone her age. And honestly, I thought it was all handled and represented incredibly well.
As with most YA books, this was fast paced. But even with so many threads and sub plots, it was easy to follow and stay engaged.
I really enjoyed this story and honestly can鈥檛 wait to see more from this author! Highly recommend for fans of A Good Girl鈥檚 Guide to Murder looking for a little magical twist to their story.
February 17, 2025
THE ENDING HELLO??? will come back with a real review but all I have is holy shit I loved this
UPDATE:
I devoured this book lmao it literally had me gagged from chapter 2 like to the point that I had to call my best friend and have a mini crash out because what is going ON.
Anyways, this was such a good read. We had internal conflict, mystery, magic, thriller - all wrapped up in one. As someone that doesn't consume a ton of thrillers, I can absolutely say that this kept me on the edge of my seat WITHOUT scaring me to death - a win imo lol. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Can't wait to read more from this author.
UPDATE:
I devoured this book lmao it literally had me gagged from chapter 2 like to the point that I had to call my best friend and have a mini crash out because what is going ON.
Anyways, this was such a good read. We had internal conflict, mystery, magic, thriller - all wrapped up in one. As someone that doesn't consume a ton of thrillers, I can absolutely say that this kept me on the edge of my seat WITHOUT scaring me to death - a win imo lol. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Can't wait to read more from this author.
February 2, 2025
That last sentence gave me chills!
---
This is a thought-provoking YA mystery with a fantasy twist, blending supernatural abilities with a raw look at race, media bias, and mental health. Sariyah鈥檚 power鈥攂eing able to sense what people need鈥攕eems small at first, but Desamours weaves it into a much larger, deeply resonant story. It feels like an allegory for how much Black women are expected to carry, whether for their families, their communities, or even society at large.
At its core, this book tackles the disparity between missing persons cases鈥攈ow white girls receive media frenzies while Black and Brown girls are often forgotten. Sariyah refuses to let Deja become another name on a list, and her determination propels the story forward with urgency. The mystery is well-paced, slowly tightening its grip as the tension builds, and the story doesn鈥檛 shy away from how grief and trauma affect people in different ways. I especially appreciated how the book gave space to different responses to loss鈥攖here鈥檚 no single "right" way to grieve.
The audiobook is exceptional. The narration doesn鈥檛 just tell the story鈥攊t brings Sariyah and her world to life, amplifying the suspense and emotional weight of the plot. It made the mystery feel even more immersive, and I couldn鈥檛 stop listening.
And that final line? Absolute chills. I love when an ending leaves just enough open for the reader to sit with鈥攁nd Needy Little Things nails it.
Thanks to much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
---
This is a thought-provoking YA mystery with a fantasy twist, blending supernatural abilities with a raw look at race, media bias, and mental health. Sariyah鈥檚 power鈥攂eing able to sense what people need鈥攕eems small at first, but Desamours weaves it into a much larger, deeply resonant story. It feels like an allegory for how much Black women are expected to carry, whether for their families, their communities, or even society at large.
At its core, this book tackles the disparity between missing persons cases鈥攈ow white girls receive media frenzies while Black and Brown girls are often forgotten. Sariyah refuses to let Deja become another name on a list, and her determination propels the story forward with urgency. The mystery is well-paced, slowly tightening its grip as the tension builds, and the story doesn鈥檛 shy away from how grief and trauma affect people in different ways. I especially appreciated how the book gave space to different responses to loss鈥攖here鈥檚 no single "right" way to grieve.
The audiobook is exceptional. The narration doesn鈥檛 just tell the story鈥攊t brings Sariyah and her world to life, amplifying the suspense and emotional weight of the plot. It made the mystery feel even more immersive, and I couldn鈥檛 stop listening.
And that final line? Absolute chills. I love when an ending leaves just enough open for the reader to sit with鈥攁nd Needy Little Things nails it.
Thanks to much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
February 26, 2025
Full review below
February 4, 2025
4.5* Needy Little Things is one of the most additive and compelling YA thrillers I鈥檝e read in a long time.
Unique in its quiet use of magic, this book expertly balances social commentary and mystery, all while exploring topics such as mental illness, racism, neurodivergence, addiction, chronic illness and complex family dynamics, with grace and nuance.
With a constant air of building suspense that doesn鈥檛 once let up, I found this truly difficult to tear myself away from and ended up devouring it in a matter of hours.
I absolutely loved the way Channelle Desamours writes can鈥檛 wait to read more from her in the future (hopefully a Needy Little Things book two because after that ending, I have a desperate need for it!!)
Overall, this was a superb and memorable debut and one I would both happily and highly recommend.
what to expect:
鈥� twists and turns
鈥� black, bi fmc with adhd
鈥� sickle cell anemia rep (side character)
鈥� close knit friendship group
鈥� sweet, slow burn romance
鈥� mysteries upon mysteries
Unique in its quiet use of magic, this book expertly balances social commentary and mystery, all while exploring topics such as mental illness, racism, neurodivergence, addiction, chronic illness and complex family dynamics, with grace and nuance.
With a constant air of building suspense that doesn鈥檛 once let up, I found this truly difficult to tear myself away from and ended up devouring it in a matter of hours.
I absolutely loved the way Channelle Desamours writes can鈥檛 wait to read more from her in the future (hopefully a Needy Little Things book two because after that ending, I have a desperate need for it!!)
Overall, this was a superb and memorable debut and one I would both happily and highly recommend.
what to expect:
鈥� twists and turns
鈥� black, bi fmc with adhd
鈥� sickle cell anemia rep (side character)
鈥� close knit friendship group
鈥� sweet, slow burn romance
鈥� mysteries upon mysteries
January 4, 2025
I cannot fathom having my mind and brain infiltrated by the constant thoughts or needs of others .. the needs of the people around me taking residency in my head鈥� I feel like I would go insane. The responsibility, the constant need to feel like you MUST give them what they need..
My first thoughts was that it鈥檚 so鈥� black 馃槀 & I mean that in the best way possible. The way it鈥檚 written, the language, the relatable nuggets we all know from growing up in a black household, the way the parents spoke etc. For the most part, I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics/relationships. Though this had a very promising start with great potential, it did fall a little flat near the last 25%. I figured out a huge part of the 鈥渢wist鈥� fairly early but even with that, the ending still felt like it didn鈥檛 make sense 100%. All in all, this is one of those situations where you really love the journey even if the final destination wasn鈥檛 great. Giving this 3.5 stars but let鈥檚 round it up to 4!
Thank you Net Galley for this e-ARC.
My first thoughts was that it鈥檚 so鈥� black 馃槀 & I mean that in the best way possible. The way it鈥檚 written, the language, the relatable nuggets we all know from growing up in a black household, the way the parents spoke etc. For the most part, I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics/relationships. Though this had a very promising start with great potential, it did fall a little flat near the last 25%. I figured out a huge part of the 鈥渢wist鈥� fairly early but even with that, the ending still felt like it didn鈥檛 make sense 100%. All in all, this is one of those situations where you really love the journey even if the final destination wasn鈥檛 great. Giving this 3.5 stars but let鈥檚 round it up to 4!
Thank you Net Galley for this e-ARC.
February 13, 2025
This book is about life, it's about being Black, it's about a missing friend, it's about family and eldest daughter syndrome, and it's about system racism and biases.
I flew through this book. I've been craving a solid mystery and this was it. This hit all the right notes of social justice, of being a teenager living out a series of terrible life events, and the idea that one small action can cause a chain reaction much bigger than any individual person really realizes.
Five years later, Sariyah is still reeling from the disappearance of her best friend, Tessa. Still close with Tessa's twin brother, Malcolm, they've since welcomed Deja, and most recently Jude, into their circle. But Tessa lingers there - particularly in Sariyah's dreams. When Deja also goes missing, Sariyah, Malcolm, and Jude refuse to let her be another Black girl who never comes home. However, when it rains it pours. Not only is Sariyah forced to confront her feelings around Tessa's disappearance, along with her guilt for her powers of premonition and how they didn't help either of the missing teens, she also now needs to take care of life at home as her mother falls into a depressive spiral and her powers may have chained into the death of a man, all while she's also trying to bring some joy into her brother's life.
I loved Sariyah - she wants to help people and her power to predict people's needs boosts her ability to do so. It also makes it harder for her because she can't hear the needs of those closest to her. I loved that metaphor, that feeling of helplessness when you can do so much good for those you don't know, but those in your camp are sometimes the most unknowable to us. I appreciated all the realistic fights and spats that happen due to pressure and stress and all the things crashing down around Sariyah and her friends. I do think Malcolm needed to cut Sariyah a break (girl was going THROUGH it), but I loved how they always had each other's backs. There was a lot to digest and this book also takes on a lot of big issues. It's all executed so well though and so terribly heartbreakingly at times and I just wanted to give all our characters a hug.
A phenomenal debut, Needy Little Things had me absolutely glued to the pages. Excited to see what's next for Channelle Desamours!
Rep: bisexual Black MC, Black cast
TW: drug use, injury detail, blood, death, kidnapping, violence, stalking, vomit, depression, systemic racism
ARC gifted by a friend.
I flew through this book. I've been craving a solid mystery and this was it. This hit all the right notes of social justice, of being a teenager living out a series of terrible life events, and the idea that one small action can cause a chain reaction much bigger than any individual person really realizes.
Five years later, Sariyah is still reeling from the disappearance of her best friend, Tessa. Still close with Tessa's twin brother, Malcolm, they've since welcomed Deja, and most recently Jude, into their circle. But Tessa lingers there - particularly in Sariyah's dreams. When Deja also goes missing, Sariyah, Malcolm, and Jude refuse to let her be another Black girl who never comes home. However, when it rains it pours. Not only is Sariyah forced to confront her feelings around Tessa's disappearance, along with her guilt for her powers of premonition and how they didn't help either of the missing teens, she also now needs to take care of life at home as her mother falls into a depressive spiral and her powers may have chained into the death of a man, all while she's also trying to bring some joy into her brother's life.
I loved Sariyah - she wants to help people and her power to predict people's needs boosts her ability to do so. It also makes it harder for her because she can't hear the needs of those closest to her. I loved that metaphor, that feeling of helplessness when you can do so much good for those you don't know, but those in your camp are sometimes the most unknowable to us. I appreciated all the realistic fights and spats that happen due to pressure and stress and all the things crashing down around Sariyah and her friends. I do think Malcolm needed to cut Sariyah a break (girl was going THROUGH it), but I loved how they always had each other's backs. There was a lot to digest and this book also takes on a lot of big issues. It's all executed so well though and so terribly heartbreakingly at times and I just wanted to give all our characters a hug.
A phenomenal debut, Needy Little Things had me absolutely glued to the pages. Excited to see what's next for Channelle Desamours!
Rep: bisexual Black MC, Black cast
TW: drug use, injury detail, blood, death, kidnapping, violence, stalking, vomit, depression, systemic racism
ARC gifted by a friend.
January 14, 2025
"Needy Little Things" took off for me at the beginning.听 You could've fooled me to think this is a YA mystery because I was fully immersed!
Sariyah has a special power to know what little things a person may need. She ends up feeling her gift may be a curse due to the disappearance of her friend, Deja. The book highlights how black girls/ minorities don't get the same media coverage when missing as white girls. Other subjects such as dealing with sickle cell disease, depression, ADHD, grief and difficult family dynamics are mentioned tastefully.听
I squealed at the mention of a certain favorite Disney show of mine & of my favorite "cartoon character cat with the bow"! There were a few digs at what teens today think older generations do, which had me laugh!听
However, the middle of the book seemed to drag for me, especially after Deja has been missing for a few days. It focuses more on Sariyah & her friends many disagreements rather than finding Deja. The end of the book seemed a little predictable, yet wild & rushed. 馃え
BUT - very last chapter; is it possible for a second book for Sariyah?!? The future seems clear!
Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.鉂わ笍
Sariyah has a special power to know what little things a person may need. She ends up feeling her gift may be a curse due to the disappearance of her friend, Deja. The book highlights how black girls/ minorities don't get the same media coverage when missing as white girls. Other subjects such as dealing with sickle cell disease, depression, ADHD, grief and difficult family dynamics are mentioned tastefully.听
I squealed at the mention of a certain favorite Disney show of mine & of my favorite "cartoon character cat with the bow"! There were a few digs at what teens today think older generations do, which had me laugh!听
However, the middle of the book seemed to drag for me, especially after Deja has been missing for a few days. It focuses more on Sariyah & her friends many disagreements rather than finding Deja. The end of the book seemed a little predictable, yet wild & rushed. 馃え
BUT - very last chapter; is it possible for a second book for Sariyah?!? The future seems clear!
Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.鉂わ笍
February 22, 2025
WOW! this book really took me on the ride!! What a powerful debut novel. I love a good YA and this book had me hooked from the beginning. The topic of "Missing Black Girls" in this book was handled so masterfully and I just love how the author didn't really hold anything back. Without giving much away, you should definitely give this book a try!! The craziness that happened the last half of the book had my mouth on the floor. Even though this was a fiction book, it definitely makes you wonder because some part just felt all too real. Overall, 4.5/5 猸愶笍
February 28, 2025
me and sariyah 馃 wearing earplugs
February 23, 2025
Spoiler free: I really enjoyed Desamours' writing style. I found Sariyah to be a great, intelligent, resourceful, and caring character. There weren't the usual annoyances I have with YA novels where the MC is self-centered to the point of being insufferable and the dialogue reads like a 40+ writer trying to imitate how teenagers talk. The characters in this book read like people in my family, so, I found it easy to read.
The premise is very interesting. The concept of a character with the supernatural ability to know what people need being incapable of using it on the people closest to her. That's a great conflict for a character and I thought Sariyah's desperation to help others never dipped into an annoying sense of self-sacrifice. She was just an interesting character.
The family issues she had were hard to read because it was clear these were issues she couldn't solve. Money problems, her mother's depression, her brother's illness and need for attention - these were real issues and Sariyah, despite trying, couldn't fix all of them. It made for a sympathetic character.
The romance aspect was the smallest aspect of the book. Such that I forgot it was even a thing frequently. I will say, it's maybe one or two lines, but I didn't know Sariyah was a queer character. That was an unexpected joy. The romance here is m/f though, in case anyone was wondering.
Onto spoilers:
The premise is very interesting. The concept of a character with the supernatural ability to know what people need being incapable of using it on the people closest to her. That's a great conflict for a character and I thought Sariyah's desperation to help others never dipped into an annoying sense of self-sacrifice. She was just an interesting character.
The family issues she had were hard to read because it was clear these were issues she couldn't solve. Money problems, her mother's depression, her brother's illness and need for attention - these were real issues and Sariyah, despite trying, couldn't fix all of them. It made for a sympathetic character.
The romance aspect was the smallest aspect of the book. Such that I forgot it was even a thing frequently. I will say, it's maybe one or two lines, but I didn't know Sariyah was a queer character. That was an unexpected joy. The romance here is m/f though, in case anyone was wondering.
Onto spoilers:
February 17, 2025
Started off good but really picked up near the end when we find out what happened to Deja. I appreciate the author鈥檚 message about who gets media attention.
February 5, 2025
This book, which I enjoyed a lot as an ARC, is published now. Original review:
Sariyah, a 17-year-old from Atlanta, has a special ability: she hears other people's needs. That's not thought-reading, not divining someone's secret aspirations; rather, it is most often something that people themselves aren't aware they would need real soon. Usually banal daily items: a toothpick, a band-aid, a fresh pair of socks because apparently someone is going to splash something on them in a moment. But Sariyah starts to see everything in a grimmer light when she picks a need for a nailfile off the owner of the local ice cream shop - and it ends up handy not for fixing her manicure but as a tool of self-defense when the lady is attacked by a stranger at night. And then, as Sariyah and her friends are getting ready to go out to a musical festival, she picks off her female friend, Deja, a need for some pepper spray. Despite the precautions, Deja disappears that night, in what looks like a violent attack.
Despite the presence of some fantastic assumptions (Sariyah hearing the needs of strangers and thus divining the future in a way), this is primarily a YA detective story. The thing is, five years ago, Sariyah's best friend and Malcolm's twin sister also went missing, her whereabouts unknown to the present day, and the teens have this very acute experience that the police is hardly going to do any good. Then there was a more recent story of a white girl's disappearance, and as her story went viral on social media, she was found within three days. (Her body, sadly). So our protagonists' goal is two-fold: both to raise awareness on social media, so as to increase the chance that Deja would be recognized not only in their neighborhood but wherever the potential kidnapper might be keeping her, - and to investigate what might have happened that night themselves. Could any of the people they met at the festival be involved? Could she have had some problems at home that would make her escape? Could she have had a secret boyfriend?
This is very well-written YA detective story with enough twists and deadends in the investigation. (The denouement? I didn't see that coming at all!) That, combined with an exploration of social issues, like the fact that racial injustice can be traced not only in the material conditions of living but even in the "economics of empathy" defining who is worth caring and reposting about and who is not. I liked how the seemingly fantastic gift of Sariyah's is woven into that all. Within the depicted world, it is not an illusion or hallucination that she hears others' needs but a matter of fact - yet at the same time this can be read as a metaphor for either a health condition (and the effect of this fantastic ability on her life is like that of a mental-health/neurological condition - something like ADHD with added migraines, which severely impacts her academic performance) or as a conditioning to put strangers' needs before your own and your nearest ones'.
It has a somewhat similar feel to in that the teens of color in a disadvantaged neighborhood have to take upon themselves an investigation of a crime, as they know in advance that specifically because of their racial and social background the police is more likely to fail them. That comes to both structural and thematic similarities: the first-person narration by a Black teen girl, an investigation by a group of friends, the school break vibe, the teens' overtaking family carer roles because of the parents' absence/health problems, and the combination of a well-devised detective plot with attention to social injustices. I was looking for similar things after I read that one last year, and I am glad that I got a chance to spend a couple of nights with this read.
Official publication Feb 4, 2025.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Sariyah, a 17-year-old from Atlanta, has a special ability: she hears other people's needs. That's not thought-reading, not divining someone's secret aspirations; rather, it is most often something that people themselves aren't aware they would need real soon. Usually banal daily items: a toothpick, a band-aid, a fresh pair of socks because apparently someone is going to splash something on them in a moment. But Sariyah starts to see everything in a grimmer light when she picks a need for a nailfile off the owner of the local ice cream shop - and it ends up handy not for fixing her manicure but as a tool of self-defense when the lady is attacked by a stranger at night. And then, as Sariyah and her friends are getting ready to go out to a musical festival, she picks off her female friend, Deja, a need for some pepper spray. Despite the precautions, Deja disappears that night, in what looks like a violent attack.
Despite the presence of some fantastic assumptions (Sariyah hearing the needs of strangers and thus divining the future in a way), this is primarily a YA detective story. The thing is, five years ago, Sariyah's best friend and Malcolm's twin sister also went missing, her whereabouts unknown to the present day, and the teens have this very acute experience that the police is hardly going to do any good. Then there was a more recent story of a white girl's disappearance, and as her story went viral on social media, she was found within three days. (Her body, sadly). So our protagonists' goal is two-fold: both to raise awareness on social media, so as to increase the chance that Deja would be recognized not only in their neighborhood but wherever the potential kidnapper might be keeping her, - and to investigate what might have happened that night themselves. Could any of the people they met at the festival be involved? Could she have had some problems at home that would make her escape? Could she have had a secret boyfriend?
This is very well-written YA detective story with enough twists and deadends in the investigation. (The denouement? I didn't see that coming at all!) That, combined with an exploration of social issues, like the fact that racial injustice can be traced not only in the material conditions of living but even in the "economics of empathy" defining who is worth caring and reposting about and who is not. I liked how the seemingly fantastic gift of Sariyah's is woven into that all. Within the depicted world, it is not an illusion or hallucination that she hears others' needs but a matter of fact - yet at the same time this can be read as a metaphor for either a health condition (and the effect of this fantastic ability on her life is like that of a mental-health/neurological condition - something like ADHD with added migraines, which severely impacts her academic performance) or as a conditioning to put strangers' needs before your own and your nearest ones'.
It has a somewhat similar feel to in that the teens of color in a disadvantaged neighborhood have to take upon themselves an investigation of a crime, as they know in advance that specifically because of their racial and social background the police is more likely to fail them. That comes to both structural and thematic similarities: the first-person narration by a Black teen girl, an investigation by a group of friends, the school break vibe, the teens' overtaking family carer roles because of the parents' absence/health problems, and the combination of a well-devised detective plot with attention to social injustices. I was looking for similar things after I read that one last year, and I am glad that I got a chance to spend a couple of nights with this read.
Official publication Feb 4, 2025.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 16, 2024
I want to start by saying all in all I had a good time and I liked the FMC because she had depth even if she was occasionally a little too trusting.
I have a little issue with the repercussions for what happened and the reasoning behind everything that happened. I鈥檓 just mad at some of the side characters cause their intentions were in the right place, but the delivery was awful.
The FMC carried the book, if there was another book following another path her gift leads her down then I would read it.
I鈥檇 happily rate it 3.5 - 3.75
I have a little issue with the repercussions for what happened and the reasoning behind everything that happened. I鈥檓 just mad at some of the side characters cause their intentions were in the right place, but the delivery was awful.
The FMC carried the book, if there was another book following another path her gift leads her down then I would read it.
I鈥檇 happily rate it 3.5 - 3.75
June 9, 2024
3.5 stars
This book was a really fast-paced, enjoyable YA thriller. The first half was slow but the suspense in the second half of the book made up for it.Overall it was a very entertaining read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a really fast-paced, enjoyable YA thriller. The first half was slow but the suspense in the second half of the book made up for it.Overall it was a very entertaining read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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