<< Thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. >>

I had a pretty good time with this. I love a good YA mystery and the concept of Sariyah's ability was unique and interesting. I felt the author did a pretty good job in leading us on and keeping us on our toes. The ending wasn't my favorite, but overall the story was solid and intriguing; it definitely kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading more from this author

The premise of this book is what drew me in. What would the world be like if you could here the needs of others? This story was very mysterious and timely. I loved how giving the main character was yet and still there was risk involved with their kindness. I loved the mystery the story centered around and how the kids were going about solving it. And the ending!!!! Y'all, I did NOT see that coming. Overall I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book and appreciated the message it held.

An important, beautiful novel full of well developed characters who I loved rooting for. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, devouring every page and chapter as quick as I could.

Excellent pacing and strong debut. There was definitely a wild ending that I definitely did not see coming. I loved the metaphor of this Black young woman taking on everyone's burdens and trying to fix all problems, and how this eventually leads to burnout and ignoring personal and mental health needs in Black women.

Why Did I Listen To Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

The cover of Needy Little Things caught my attention on Netgalley so I was quick to take a peak at the blurb which also quickly captured my attention. A teenage girl with the ability to sense the things that those around her need? Plus, a focus on the disappearance of a black teenage girl? Count me in!

What’s The Story Here?

Sariyah is a black high school student with a unique supernatural power. She can sense exactly what the people around need such as Chapstick, a nail file, or an EpiPen. This power feels more like a curse than a blessing for her as she has difficulty focusing on daily activities such as school because her head is so full of the needs of those around her. These needs become completely intrusive thoughts that she can't get rid of until the need is fully met.

One day to celebrate her best friend Malcolm's birthday, she goes to a music festival with her friends. On the way, she senses that her friend Deja needs pepper spray and gives her a spare pepper spray keychain. The need feels especially dark to her and Sariyah does her best to try and keep an eye on her friend. Yet as often happens in large music festivals, the girls get separated and suddenly Deja is nowhere to be found.

What Did I Think Of Needy Little Things

This book was so good! There is just so much heart especially coming from Sariyah. As the main character, she really holds things together (even when she's barely holding herself together). The consistent presence of her ability does not feel distracting but really does play a key role in what is happening. Channelle DeSamours does a fantastic job with magical realism and all of her characters feel fleshed out and real.
Disabilities and mental health each play an important role in this story. The author includes conditions such as sickle cell anemia, ADHD, and depression which each play critical role in the lives of affected characters and those around them. There is also a strong exploration of racial disparities in how missing persons cases are handled. This is so well done and is very impactful! Channelle DeSamours is now definitely on my radar for any future releases (especially after the ending of this one).

How’s The Narration?
The audiobook is narrated by Alaska Jackson and is 8 hours and 6 minutes in length. I listened to it at double time and it did not feel that long at all. The narration kept me completely engaged and added to the tense environment of a missing black teenager. I felt like all the characters had their own voices and that their personalities were able to shine through. I would definitely listen to another audiobook narrated by her.

The book skillfully balances moments of heartbreak with humor, creating an engaging reading experience that keeps the audience invested. Desamours tackles themes of self-worth, societal expectations, and the consequences of emotional reliance, all woven into a story that feels both timely and timeless.

Needy Little Things has been one of my favorite reads so far this year! I was intrigued when I learned this book would be about a young girl who could sense the needs of others around her. And the read did not disappoint! The pacing was fast and kept me on my toes. So much so, that I could barely put this book down. This was such a great read with a great message that kept me engaged throughout the entire read!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Missing girls, a talent to help, and a very close of friends struggling to understand why no one is helping them look.

A shocking mystery - Sariyah's best friend has been missing for a while now. She's grown close to her best friend's twin brother and another girl in school. They've become a tight group. But when another girl goes missing, Sariyah can't wait for the police and the media to finally figure out girls are going missing.

Because Sariyah has a special talent. She can hear, kind of like an impulse, what someone needs in that moment. It knocks against her thoughts, whether she likes it or not, telling her again and again what someone wants. It makes it hard for her to concentrate, get through school, walk through crowds. She carries a catch-all bag around that she hopes to meet some of these small needs to quiet them around her. To try to help in small ways.

This was a compelling story that did a great job of showing how not every missing girl is treated the same by society and the media. The color of your skin can affect how much attention the story gets. I also loved Sariyah's ability and how it was invasive and disruptive, definitely showing it was both a curse and a gift.

This was a compelling mystery too. I kept wondering what could be going on, what the answer could be. I never guessed the twists and I enjoyed the conclusion. A good audio, too, with a narrator that kept me sucked into the story.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Sariyah has a special talent. She can sense what people need without them telling her. This is not a skill she necessarily wants or enjoys. It is constant distraction for what she should be doing, like passing the 12th grade. But when her best friend, Deja goes missing, the second friend of hers this has happened to, her specail gift might help to find her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I loved Sariyah. She was a force to be reckoned with. She cares deeply about those around her, even when she can't hear their needs. Her friends are her world, so when Deja goes missing, which she blames herself for, she is overwhelmed with what to do. Coupled with things going on in her household as well, it's a lot to land in the lap of a young girl. There is a part that was a bit predictable, but it played out differently in my mind.

Young adults will enjoy this book. 4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Needy Little Things blends coming-of-age, mystery, and the supernatural through the story of Sariyah, a Black teen in Atlanta with the power to sense what people around her need. When her friend Deja goes missing, echoing a similar disappearance from her past, Sariyah is pulled into a deeper investigation that critiques the racial disparities in how missing persons are treated.

The relationships—especially with her brother Jojo and her best friend Malcolm—are emotionally grounded, and the Atlanta setting adds authenticity. While the concept of Sariyah’s ability is compelling, its origins are left vague, and the mystery gets muddled with too many side threads.

Still, this is a strong debut with heart, tackling grief, obligation, and systemic injustice in a unique and memorable way.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I rated this book 4 stars. It was honestly a great read. I found Sariyah such a compelling FMC, and the magical realism element of being able to hear others' needs (which is what drew me to the book) was done in such a clever way that made the story feel firmly in the thriller genre, rather than fantasy.

I have to say the plot was really well executed. I was surprised by how much the twists in this book caught me off guard. I often see twists coming, especially in YA mystery/thrillers, but this one genuinely surprised me.

It was incredibly thought-provoking and really explored how missing children—particularly Black girls—are treated in America, without ever coming across as preachy or heavy-handed. The thriller part of it really worked, but this book was so much more than that. It offered a look at family dynamics, friendship, mental health, growing up too fast, and what it means to have to take on a parental role for a younger sibling.

If I had one critique, it would be that I wished for a bit more tension surrounding the mystery of Deja's disappearance. At times, that thread felt like it lagged behind the other elements Sariyah was juggling, which pulled me out of the urgency of the mystery a bit.

Still, it’s hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel because the writing was incredibly strong. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on what Channelle Desamours does next.

✨ The Vibes ✨
Speculative YA with a powerful message

📖 Read if…
✨ You love a good YA thriller
✨ You don’t mind some speculative elements in your thrillers
✨ You like fiction that offers a powerful message about the real world


Needy Little Things is a debut speculative YA thriller that focuses on Sariyah, a teen girl who has the ability to anticipate the needs of those around her. Her powers can be burdensome, and they become even more so when her friend Deja suddenly disappears after Sariyah fulfills her need.

I can be picky about stories with speculative elements but I thought this one was excellent! Sariyah’s powers are balanced really well with the more grounded elements of the story. Sariyah and her friends were all really well-developed characters and the way their stories intertwined felt very natural. As you read, it was clear why Sariyah felt burdened and you could understand her motivations and some of her more questionable choices as she investigated Deja’s disappearance.

One of the key themes of Needy Little Things is the way the media and the justice system prioritizes disappearances of white women, while paying less attention to the disappearances of women of color. It’s a frustrating reality and Desamours really illustrates the human impact of these systemic failures, through not only Deja’s story, but the other missing girls that are mentioned throughout.

Needy Little Things is the perfect book for anyone looking for a unique YA thriller that doesn’t shy away from real world issues. It’s an impressive debut and I’m eagerly anticipating Desamours’ next book. Needy Little Things is out now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has truly blown me away—definitely one of the best I've read this year! The pacing was spot on, keeping me hooked from start to finish. I couldn't help but feel the deep emotions of the characters, completely immersing me in their journey. The storyline was compelling and delivered its message without feeling heavy-handed. I was so captivated that I devoured it in just four hours! It was an absolutely fantastic read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really interesting and kept my attention the entire time! I loved the magical realism aspect though I had one question that didn't feel fully wrapped at the end of the book but it was not big enough for me to dislike the ending.

I like the main character, though I didn't really care for Malcolm.

The social commentary in this book is accurate and raises good questions.

4.75* rounded up

Before I started this book I had forgotten what the synopsis and mistakenly assumed it would be about her using her Needs ability to track down the missing girl by like walking around until she heard something. I was wrong, but I'm not upset about that. I loved this book, the mystery took me in and I had to force myself to put down the book to get some sleep.
The reason it isn't a full 5 stars for me was due to a couple of aspects that I wasn't the biggest fan of - the mother subplot line and the first big twist of the book. However the cliffhanger at the very end was brutal, and I hope that the author writes a sequel to this book. If she doesn't I still think the way the book ended was amazing.
One powerful theme the book highlights is how so many missing BIPOC girls do not get the same media attention as white (typically blonde) girls.


Thank you Netgalley, Channelle Desamours, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was really enjoyable. It had great ADHD rep, a very interesting mystery, and characters that I really enjoyed following. I will say that the main character's power in this book is lowkey my nightmare, but that is not at all a detriment to the book. It's very well done and I will totally be reading the author's next book

I absolutely loved this book! It gripped me right away. Soriyah is pragmatic and has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. She was such a relatable main character. I was really intrigued by her powers and the guilt that she feels about her ability to hear other people's needs. I loved the exploration of whether her abilities meant she owed others the fulfillment of their needs. I also loved the discussions about how racism affects the criminal justice system and how quickly cases with Black victims get solved. The mental health representation was portrayed with a great amount of nuance (her mom suffers from depression). The mystery had me hooked and the topics the book brought up were dealt with so thoughtfully. I'm hoping that there will be more books in this series because that ending left me wanting to spend more time in this world.

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

I am now on an ALA committee and cannot leave a real review. Thank you for your patience. Sorry for the inconvenience This is NOT a rating. This just a place holder because I had to.

Sariyah Lee Bryant has the ability to hear the needs of others. She spends a lot of her day providing people with these needs to stop the voices in her head, while also trying to care for her ill brother, and depressed Mother. Years ago, Tessa, her best friend Malcolm's twin sister went missing. When her best friend Deja goes missing, she refuses to let her become another statistic and so she decides to use her powers to make some extra cash, in the hopes of finding her.

I think this book did a great job with blending social commentary with mystery and magical realism. This was a slow burn story, but I really liked the overall message of this story. It tackles the topic of the unequal treatment of minority victims in missing people cases. I listened to this on audio, and the narrator did an incredible job bringing Sariyah to life. I really enjoyed Sariyah as a main character, and I was so intrigued by her power. It almost felt like her power was an analogy for OCD with the constant intrusion in her thoughts, and the compulsion to help meet the needs of others - but I could be wrong. I do think the topic of mental health, especially with her mother's depression was well done. The ending was interesting, and took a turn I really hadn't expected. It almost felt like we were left on a cliff hanger, so I am hoping there is another installment!