This story is about a teenage girl named Sariyah who is very unique. She is plagued with premonition like abilities that tell her what everyone “needs” around her. Their needs can be an item they need in the moment, or an item they don’t even know they’ll need in the future. Sariyah’s ability made this book so compelling as you never really know how the items she provides will be used by the individual.

She walks around with a “Santa bag” full of random items, but one day when she fulfills the need of her friend Deja she shortly goes missing after. This isn’t the first time one of her close friends have gone missing, but this time her and her friends are determined to find Deja and bring her home.

This was surprisingly twisty & complex and tackled so many themes such as depression, dysfunctional families and friendships, Sickle Cell disease, food insecurity, and the way media bias can impact the search and investigations into missing people of color.

This wasn’t predictable & had me suspicious of every character. The needs coming off of people around her, even strangers, was incredibly insidious and anxiety inducing at times. This was a such a great book and I won’t soon be forgetting it! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a YA book to read this month by a black author in particular & want to widen your reading horizons!

Thank you NetGalley & Wednesday Books for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Magical realism meets mystery could be just the thing to save a life.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours is her debut novel and is filled with special abilities, things to solve, intense moments, and a wild group of friends.

This was so freaking good! I really hope it gets adapted into a show. It would be fantastic to see this played out.

I love how there’s a quad group of friends and their interesting dynamics. They are all equally friends but each has stronger relationships with certain people in the group.

Between the missing people, special gifts, and the need to save herself, this is filled with tons of intensity, drama, mystery, and kept me in the thick of it. I love her (Sariyah) brain and how she represents a special category of ADHD. The struggles that she experiences in her life and at school due to the combination of her gift and ADHD are presented in a very strong way.

I enjoy the chaos of Sariyah’s gift of hearing other’s needs and how they cause so many problems for her. It is one of those things that people would love and hate. It is relatable.

I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to dive into a teen mystery with black characters, mental health, and special abilities.

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Needy Little Things from Channelle Desamours via NetGalley

4.25 stars

I can't imagine hearing everyone remotely around me and hearing there most recent need as Sariyah does. This is a great debut and really picked up in the last 20% with the Thriller and Mystery part. This is YA but I would recommend it to everyone. I look forward to seeing what else Channelle writes.

Thanks to the author Channelle Desamours, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Needy Little Things took me some time to get into, but once I got a grip on the characters and the story, I was hooked. If you love YA mystery thrillers with a touch of magical realism, this one will likely pull you in just like it did me.

While at its core, this is a fun and engaging mystery thriller, it also weaves in deeper, thought-provoking themes. Our main characters face real struggles—caring for a chronically ill sibling, a mother battling depression, and the harsh reality of how race, sex, and socioeconomic status affect the way missing person cases are handled by both the police and the media. These layers added a level of relatability and depth that made this story more than just a thriller—it’s an exploration of systemic issues that many will connect with.

If you’re looking for a book that balances an intriguing mystery with emotional weight, Needy Little Things is worth picking up - I cannot believe this was a debut novel and I can't wait to see what Desamours writes in the future.

This book had kind of a lot going on from both a genre and plot-point perspective, but being that it's YA, I think it worked well and would actually be engaging and a good fit for a YA reader (which is something I can't say for all "YA" books!). I usually award bonus points for a unique premise, and the magical realism element ("need-sensing") in this book was not just unique, it actually added some intentional internal conflict for our protagonist, Sariyah. Despite the magical element, the characters and situations felt realistic (though I know I am in no way the correct person to judge of whether the author accurately captured life as a Black teenager living in Atlanta). The second half of the book had plenty of surprising twists and turns. All in all I think this was a great debut, and I think it would be perfect for a book club!

I read this book (both as an e-book and an audiobook) as a NetGalley ARC. I really liked the audiobook narrator and the way she immediately gave the readers a sense of Sariyah's personality, but would have preferred the audiobook handled the "need-sensing" differently to help them stand out a bit more, like they did in the text version.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’sPress, and Channelle Desamours for the early access copy of Needy Little Things.

Needy Little Things tells the story of Sariyah, who inherited a gift from her grandmother that while around others she can hear what they need. Tangible things. The only way to ease hearing the need is to fulfill it. When Sariyah hears an odd need from her friend Deja, then she goes missing, Sariyah knows she needs to find her. She knows she needs to figure out what happened to Deja and if her gift is more of a curse.

Needy Little Things is a gripping YA thriller that shows the inequalities of missing Black girls and women. The story shows two storylines of a missing teens and the fight to get support. The story has well-developed characters, fast-paced writing, and twists that will keep readers guessing.

This book felt really clever—I loved the “magic” and the relationship between the characters, particularly the complexity between Sariyah and her mother. The issues touched upon in the pages of this book felt so timely and absolutely necessary.

The red herrings were all solved really quickly after their introduction, and I would’ve loved to have a little more suspense in the story, but the conclusion became predictable—an exciting, well written ending, with a very important message. Definitely recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an advanced copy of this book! Opinions are my own.

when i tell you that im kicking myself so hard for waiting to read this book, i truly mean it. this book gave me A Good Girls Guide to Murder vibes, but with Black main characters and it heavily goes into detail about how people don’t put as much effort into finding missing Black people as they do with white people.

this was such an amazing wake up call that i feel a lot more people need to read.

we follow a group of 3 best friends, Sariyah, Malcom and Deja. Sariyah has a sort of sixth sense to be able to pickup on things people need and she gets a bad feeling when her friend Deja thinks about needing pepper spray before going to a huge outdoor concert type of thing. then, while waiting in the bathroom line, Deja disappears from Sariyah and that creates the start of everyone trying to find her.

there were so many lies and secrets kept within their group, literally everyone was suspicious, i couldn’t tell who i thought did it, there was mental health rep with showing depression and how heavily it can impact you as well as a chronic illness.

this was so thrilling, fast paced, rooted so deeply in friendship and trauma especially in Black teenagers. it was so phenomenal!

Thank you for allowing me to read and review. This was such a good read. Firstly, the cover was beautiful. This book touched on topics that are so overlooked and for that reason alone, I appreciate it. Sometimes adults forget that kids/young adults are deeply affected when tragedy strikes. It highlights the difference in response to tragedies by various cultures. Sariyah's character was well-developed and showcased just how much pressure can be put on older siblings.

Needy Little Things covers a wide range of topics, including racial injustice, friendship and family ties, mystery and the disappearance of an adolescent, psychological health, long term illness, and Sariyah's special ability to listen to people's needs. it had a little bit of everything and I loved it!

A great read from start to finish. This story follows our main character Sariyah. Like her late grandmother, she can "hear" the needs of people around her. She fulfills needs for folks in the community and tries to do it on the down low, so that people won't catch on and start nagging her for things. There's a good mystery here that will keep you guessing until almost the very end. Definitely a must-read for mystery fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the ARC!

What a cool fun twist on the disappearance trope! Very very reminiscent of Tiffany Jackson. Malcolm and Deja were such interesting characters and utilizing Sariyah’s power as not this “Okie spookie chosen one” stuff but it just being apart of Ri’s everyday life was something that was really cool to see!

I loved the writing, I think it’s a little hit and miss with all the twists, and Malcolm rly did gaslight my girl Ri into thinking this was all her fault when like??? What was the point??? You were mad at her because of Tessa? It’s not her fault??

It’s gonna feel like the logistics of Sariyah’s powers don’t make sense, but then once you get into like the REVEALS!?!?! Genius level shit.

This was so fun!

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours is a gripping blend of mystery, supernatural ability, and social commentary. Sariyah Lee Bryant has always used her unique gift—sensing people’s tangible needs—to help those around her. But when her friend Deja vanishes after Sariyah fulfills a request, she’s forced to question whether her power is more of a curse. Determined not to let Deja become another forgotten Black girl, Sariyah takes the investigation into her own hands. But as family struggles mount, she begins hustling her gift for cash—a decision that might lead her to Deja or straight into danger herself.

Desamours masterfully weaves suspense with real-world issues, making this more than just a mystery—it’s a powerful reflection on community, resilience, and the systemic neglect of missing Black girls. The pacing is solid, the stakes are high, and Sariyah’s voice is raw and compelling. While the supernatural element sometimes takes a backseat to the real-life struggles, the novel’s emotional depth and urgency make it a must-read. Fans of Monday’s Not Coming and Allegedly will find a lot to love here.

Thank You @Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my review copies.

The story did start off painful slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with the book, but I'm glad I did but the last half of the book was wild and I didn't see that one twist at ALL! Stunned I tell ya!! The narrator Alaska Jackson did a great job with the story as well.

Story 3.5 stars
Narration 4 stars

4/5⭐️ A debut author…this was an interesting read following a young woman Sariyah and her gift of being able tell what a person needs. And when her friend goes missing now she must find her and secrets are revealed! This book explores not only the magic but racism, injustice and mental health issues within families and how that can affect other members in the family but the person who’s actually going through it themselves. It definitely all came together in the end and that’s what I like! Give me a beginning, middle and end story and that’s it! Well done!

I don’t really read much YA these days, and the ones I do read, I’m pretty picky about. (Zero shade to anyone who loves it!) I am a sucker for magical realism though, and the premise of this book had me hooked!

Our protagonist has what could be considered a gift or a curse, depending on the day. She can sense what little things other people need and spends her days fulfilling those needs, not really knowing a lot of the time how she’s impacting the people around her. But when the whole world seems to be collapsing around her, she’s uses that gift in a variety of ways she never saw coming.

Some things I enjoyed about the book:

🎧 There is a huge focus on missing people, and the disparity in resources and focus when it comes to trying to find them, particularly regarding race.

💼 There are a variety of social, medical, and mental health issues addressed in the book. We see how these impact families in their everyday lives. Some of these include chronic illness, depression, drug/alcohol impacts, complicated family dynamics, the cost of health care, and long term grief.

🎧 The characters had depth and layers to them, which I definitely always appreciate. They often made dumb decisions, but those dumb decisions felt realistic to the age and experience they each have had.

💼 The magical realism element of the main character’s fulfillment of needs was unique and intriguing. And it was also interesting to see how she acted as a carer both with her gifts and just generally in her life. She constantly put others above her own self, and I think that’s why the very last page was as shocking as it was. Normally I don’t love an abrupt ending, but this one felt fitting!


If you enjoy YA, magical realism, and mysteries, this is the book for you!

Read If You Like:
🎧 Young Adult Mysteries
🎧 Disability and Black Character Identities
🎧 Supernatural/ Magical Realism Vibes
🎧 Social Narratives
🎧 Racial Injustice and Media Bias Discussions
🎧 Missing Persons Cases

In her debut novel, *Needy Little Things*, Channelle Desamours absolutely crushed it! This story centers around Sariyah, a high school senior endowed with a unique ability: she can sense the tangible needs whether they are aware of the need or not of those around her. This gift, is something she tried to hide and to not act on, but if she doesn’t the needs start to overwhelm her forcing her to comply.

Early in the book we learn about her best friend Malcom’s twin sister who went missing years prior and was never found, and now it appears history is repeating itself when her friend Deja disappears shortly after Sariyah fulfills a need for her of pepper spray at a music festival they attend together at the start of the story.

Determined not to let Deja become another overlooked missing Black girl, Sariyah, along with her friends, embark on a quest to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and to try to use sosical media to help bring awareness.

The story delves deep into pressing societal issues, notably the disparity in media attention between missing persons cases involving white individuals versus those involving people of color. Which is so timely in today’s world with the continued progress towards disbanding DEI efforts in America.

Needy Little Things is a truly well done debut that offers a a lot of important social commentary with the mix of supernatural alongside the mystery.

Thank you so much to Wednesday books for my ARC and my finished copy and to Macmillan audio for my gifted ALC!

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’m still in shock after finishing this book and that just lets me know that this mystery/ thriller was done right!

This book was wild. I can’t wait for the sequel. The concept of hearing what people think sounds cliche but I appreciate how this is reimagined. It feels fresh and untold. Also, focusing on missing Black girls seems so timely. The twists the story took were exciting and had you think one thing was happening but it wasn’t but then maybe it was, partially. I’ve never read anything like this before and I loved it.

This captivating and thought-provoking novel will undoubtedly appeal to young adult readers who are drawn to mystery and speculative fiction, especially those who enjoy stories that feature resilient and determined Black protagonists. These characters navigate a myriad of challenges, including intricate social issues, family conflicts, and the unwavering strength of female friendships when confronted with adversity.

The book delves into the complexities of societal expectations and the courage it takes to challenge them. Readers will find themselves immersed in a world where the protagonist's determination and resilience shine through, inspiring them to confront their own obstacles and celebrate the power of friendship. The speculative elements woven into the narrative add an extra layer of intrigue, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the mysteries that lie within the story.