This is my first book by this author and I'm genuinely excited to read MORE. I thought this was interesting from the blurb that I read, but after finishing this one up, I immediately went on to Goodreads to see if there was any more of her work, I could completely lose myself in. I thought this was a good YA Thriller/Mystery and would for sure recommend it to a friend.

For Fans Of: The Lilies, The Blonde Dies First, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: 💥 Speculative Teen Thriller
Violence: 🔪🔪
Spice: 🔥

Premise: Sariyah “Ri” Bryant has an unusual talent—she can hear the needs of people around her for tangible objects—though it feels more like a curse than a gift. When her friend Deja vanishes shortly after she fulfills a need for a concerning object, Ri wonders if she is somehow to blame for her disappearance.

Thoughts: When I first read this book’s premise, I thought Sariya’s gift was about wish fulfillment. But the world-building around Ri’s power is so much more dynamic & suited to creating suspense. The story’s central mystery also interrogates a key theme: whether the disappearance of a young Black girl like Deja will garner the same police, media, and public attention as a missing white child, a fear that makes Ri and friends sleuthing more believable. All Desamours characters feel authentic, with complex backstories and messy emotions. The plot meanders a bit in the middle. While its focus on Ri’s experience with her power adds depth to her and the people around her, preventing the book from dragging, it does feel like the mystery comes in and out of focus. That being said, Needy Little Things is a great read. I did not see the final twist coming and I will definitely pick up the sequel.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press & Wednesday books for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Needy Little Things is the debut YA novel from Channelle Desamours that is full of suspense, unique plot and wonderful storytelling

High schooler, Sariyah has a gift of being able to hear what people need. But they tend to be smaller things. Scissors, gum, tape, clothespin...she can hear the voices of people's small things in her head. Only her closest friends and family know about this ability. This "gift" tends to hold her back in school and sometimes even with her friends. When her and her friends go to a music festival, one of her friends (Deja) goes missing after she fulfills one of her needs. But Deja isn't the first of Sariyah's friends to go missing, so she knows they must do everything in their power to find her. They do not want her to be another Black girl that goes missing with little help from the authorities.

Told completely from Sariyah's POV, we follow along on their quest to find Deja while weaving other aspects of their lives into the storyline. The pacing was even and easily digestible and each character seem to have their place in the story. It's even mentioned in the novel, but it almost was like an episode of Scooby Doo where they are trying to find clues to a mystery and connect all the dots. Time's ticking and all they want to do is find their friend.

I loved really getting to know Sariyah throughout this story and how she fought for her friends and family in every way. She may not have the best grades in school, but that didn't show her true character and how far she would go to take care of those around her. Not only did we get a story of a missing girl, but Desamours combined that with the issues of Sariyah's family at home and the fact that a lot of responsibility was put on her shoulders. So many layers were woven into this speculative YA thriller that hit on some racial injustices, mental and chronic health and of course the whole journey of searching for Deja, her missing friend.

With twists and turns, a great cast of characters and an explosive ending and a message to its readers, Needy Little Things is a great debut book.
Lastly, if you get the chance to listen to the audio, Alaska Jackson rocked her performance. She captured the tense situation while keeping the audience engaged and anticipating what was going to happen next adding to the overall reading experience. I can't wait to see what Channelle Desamours comes up with next. And with an ending like she gave us, I wouldn't mind more in this world.

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’t believe this is a debut.

Needy Little Things is pact with so much: friendship and family relationships, mystery and a teen’s disappearance, racial inequality, mental health, chronic illness, and the unique gift Sariyah has to hear people’s 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 really liked the blend of genres in this one: mostly young adult mystery but with a FMC that can sense other people’s needs. Sariyah can hear the physical items other people are in need of, which is a unique type of psychic ability to possess. (At least that I’ve read of before.) It also provided a unique way to help find her missing friend Deja, a Black teen whose need was for pepper spray before she ended up going missing.

This book brings to light issues with how the media, the police, and the country in general seem to care more about missing white girls than missing girls of other races. Will Deja garner as much attention as the last girl who went missing, who was white?

The mystery was a little easier to guess, but I didn’t see all the parts to it. Overall, an interesting read, and one I’d recommend to anyone who likes YA mysteries. Also, I absolutely adore the title.

A really stunning debut. The prose shines and the complex interiority of the main character is the true star of the show. I think tons of teens will relate to this deeply and I'm excited to see what Desamours writes next!

This was an amazing debut book! Sariyah has the gift to hear people need's and be able to fulfill them. When one of her friends goes missing sat a music festival in Atlanta, Sariyah is determined to find her. This book is YA, but the twists and turns made me not be able to put this book down.

"Needy Little Things" by debut author Channelle Desamours is an intense, unstoppable force that blends mystery and magical realism flawlessly. With themes of friendship, mental health, disabilities, secrets, and betrayal, readers are invited into a multidimensional world with relatable characters and an unforgettable journey.

Having supernatural abilities sounds great unless you are Sariyah Lee Brant, a teenager blessed (or cursed) with the ability to hear what people need. From little things like a hairbrush or a pen to something major like pepper spray, Sariyah can hear it all whether she wants to or not. When she fulfills a need for her friend Deja, who goes missing shortly after, Sariyah feels like she's to blame. It doesn't help that another friend from her group went missing years ago and still hasn't been found. She does not want Deja to become another forgotten Black girl.

Determined, Sariyah and her friends do everything they can to find Deja. But when problems arise at home and Sariyah finds herself short of funds, she must utilize her gift in a way that earns her money. Doing so leaves her open to people who want to abuse her gift for themselves and may lead her straight into the same danger Deja found herself in.

"Needy Little Things" is one of those novels that is not only hard to put down but also leaves an impression. Packed into the mystery of Deja's disappearance is a social exploration of how the media and public handle the disappearances of missing girls due to their appearance. Deja's disappearance feels all the more real and desperate in light of this glaring discrepancy. This explains the determination Sariyah and her friends have to take matters into their own hands and find their friend before the police and the public give up. While they put themselves in danger, clearly they have a lot of love for their friend and will do whatever it takes, even uncovering dark secrets, to understand what happened to Deja and where she went.

Even though the ending wasn't a big surprise, the events leading up to the end were gripping. It's easy to get caught up in the characters and the struggles they're grappling with, on top of the mystery of Deja's disappearance. "Needy Little Things" is a rollercoaster of emotions, causing laughter one moment before dropping into a tearful low. The story is a reminder that Sariyah's story, though infused with the supernatural, is also a painful reminder that there are people who go missing every day, people in our community, who are friends and children, who deserve equal chances of being found.

"Needy Little Things" by Channelle Desamours is highly worth the read for the humour, the powerful friendship, the heartbreaking disappointment from family members, the struggle with mental health and physical limitations, and the unflinching message delivered within the story. Make sure to add "Needy Little Things" to your TBRs and look for the book on its expected publication date of February 04, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for providing me with a free copy of this e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the copy of Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours. This is an amazing debut novel and I loved every word of it. I loved Sariyah’s talent of being able to hear what people need, even if the people have no idea they need it. She goes a step further and carries around a bag of random items so she can supply the needs. It was so clever how her talent was woven into the story and the plot. Sariya is an engaging and relatable main character and I enjoyed learning so much about her family and friends. The characterizations were deep, especially for a short book. If you’re looking for a beautifully written and captivating story with an ending that will shock you and make you think, don’t miss this book. I will be anxiously awaiting Desamours’ next book. 5 stars

A Black Female Lead, who know what someone wants in the moment??? Sign me up!! i might be the friend that’s too woke, but being black and then everyone around you expects you to know what other people need is the parallel of this female lead. The suspense, there. Friendship? there. I want more of this, i had to hide under my covers because it was intense

This had such a strong start. I felt like the playful chemistry between the characters really made for an enjoyable read. It felt like it was written for✨ the culture✨. The banter is top tier and the spotlight on topics such as depression, adhd, sickle cell disease & racial bias was done well.

Unfortunately, once I reached the 70 percent mark, I could already see where the story was headed (which annoyed me) and the final twist just didn’t make sense to my adult brain. All and all, I loved how this book had an essence of fantasy tied to our main character. However, the ending landed flat for me and I was tired of reading the words “Santa Bag”.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

What a debut! This is a book that has a little something for everyone--fabulous suspense and twists, realistic depictions of the characters' lives and struggles, and a great deal of complexity. I will be adding this to my classroom library for sure!

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

I'd give Needy Little Things a 3.8. I enjoyed it but it didn't grab me as much as thought it would. However I would still recommend it to others and would definitely read more of the writers work.

Phew!! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this!

two sentence review:
some people say the teens sounded too old, but as a youth librarian, I’ve seen teens have hard conversations like these with eloquence and understanding. what an incredible novel; hoping there will be a part two.

The writing is well done and it really evoked Sariyah’s complicated feelings in me. Her gift is unusual, which I think is a fun way of creating mystery when Sariyah’s power is almost psychic-like. The differences in how society handles Casey’s and Tessa’s missing cases are obviously connected to the book's social commentary; however, it was done in a way that never felt forced or out of place just to drive the point home. I think certain plot points were explored too much when they were not really revisited at the end.

Sariyah knows when people need things before they need them. And that knowledge is overwhelming. And now for the second time, she has a best friend that has disappeared.

I loved the magical realism tied with the mystery along with the mental health aspects. This blends so many real life issues with a touch of magic.

Pub Day: Feb 4


Read if you enjoyed: Monday’s Not Coming, Not Like Other Girls or Dear Martin

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with an advanced e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Without giving too much of the plot away... the story follows Sariyah, who has an amazing gift that seems to be both a blessing and a curse for her. What's the gift you ask? Well, she can anticipate the needs of others. Having survived the trauma of a friend going missing, Sariyah finds herself dealing with another friend who goes missing. While trying to advocate for her friend's disappearance (amongst other good deeds), Sariyah dealt with more than she was equipped to handle.

The characters were dynamic and well-written. Though Malcolm got on my nerves, he provided a depth to the novel that added additional complexity. Sariyah is a wonderful, sister, friend, and human being who can empathize with others, even when I was not so sure they deserved it. While the plot elements were a little slow for my liking, the ending's plot twist made it completely worth it. I highly recommend the book and rate it 4.5 stars out of 5.

I loved the concept of this book. I thought it had a very unique premise. The main character, Sariyah, has this gift where she can predict what a person around her is going to need, for whatever reason. She carries around a bag (named ‘Santa Bag’) with items inside that she can give to a person to fulfill their need.

Sariyah has two close friends, Malcolm and Deja. Early on in the story, Deja goes missing and Sariyah, Malcolm, and Sariyah’s new friend, Jude, try to find out what happened to her.

I thought this was a pretty good mystery. I loved trying to figure it all out and I didn’t find it predictable. However, the pacing felt a little off. The beginning was intriguing and seemed fast-paced, the middle dragged a little, and the ending seemed rushed. I wasn’t really a fan of the ending. I liked what the author was trying to convey, but I didn’t like certain characters’ actions.

I liked the main character. I thought she was a really interesting and strong character.

I did really like this author‘s writing and I liked the theme of this book. I do look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This book is a thought-provoking novel that follows Sariyah, a girl with the rare ability to fulfill people’s needs. Though Sariyah uses her powers selflessly to help those in need, her own life becomes complicated as she struggles with the emotional toll of constantly giving. the novel skillfully blends the supernatural with a searing critique of society's neglect toward Black girls who vanish without a trace while addressing the lengths that people go to challenge that neglect. There were a lot of moving pieces that kept me engaged and sometimes even on edge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it combines an emotionally gripping narrative with an important social message.