Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for the advanced audiobook.
I don't read much YA, but the cover of this book and synopsis piqued my interest!

This is the author's debut book. It is a wonderful debut! This speculative YA mystery, follows Sariyah , a young Black teen with a unique ability, she has premonition-like powers. She can sense someone's "needy things", and her Santa bag can deliver. She is faced with the mystery of the disappearance of her best friend. And this is not the first time someone she knows has disappeared. Now she must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger.

This book covers mature issues, such as the lack of media attention given to missing Black children, and the pain associated with sickle cell disease. The author covers these important issues with care, and maturity appropriate for YA readers. Plus with a mystery to keep the readers engaged.

This is a great YA book, with substantive social issues, done appropriately for YA readers.
I enjoyed the narrator and her portrayal of the characters. The story is well-paced and truly enjoyable.

The audio was very enjoyable.
Sariyah, Malcolm, and Deja are their own little crew. Sariyah has special “powers” that allow her to hear the needs of strangers. So she carries around a bag of trinkets to pass out to strangers. She cannot hear the needs of the ones she loves, unless they’re in distress.

Excited to go to Afro Alt Music Festival, the teens have a night of fun until Deja goes missing. Just like Malcom’s twin went missing 5 years ago. The theme throughout this story is “When white girls go missing vs. when Black girls go missing.”

A lot of the middle of the book was repetitive and the explanation for the Santa Bag worked my nerves. Sometimes reading about the day to day life and activities of the teens felt pointless to the story. We got nervousness from a lot of people who ended up not being important to the story. And the people who were important to the mystery, we didn’t get to see their actions at all and that took away a lot for me.

I was really excited about this one, however, I was a little let down.
You can honestly read the first 20 pages, skip to 75% of the book and not miss a beat in between and the case will be solved for you.

▪️Missing Teens
▪️Racism
▪️YA Mystery

I am now a huge fan of debut author Channelle Desamours!  I had so much fun with this fast paced, captivating novel and could not stop listening to the absolutely remarkable audiobook narrated by Alaska Jackson.

Needy Little Things (Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025) follows Sariyah Bryant, a teen who has a very unique super power that only her family and best friend, Malcolm know about.  This story is concise and very well-written with unforgettable, lovable and not so lovable characters. 

Sariyah and her friends, Malcolm, Jude, and Deja attend a music festival where they later realize they have lost sight of Deja.  They continue looking for Deja but eventually leave the festival to alert the police because she is nowhere to be found.  Sariyah and Malcolm are equally terrified due to Tessa’s (Malcolm’s Twin) disappearance five years ago.  The unbelievable twists and turns will keep you engaged with uncertainty, curiosity and shock as they attempt to uncover what really happened to Deja.

This speculative YA Mystery creatively looks at an ongoing issue regarding the lack of urgency and attention black and brown people receive when they go missing.  The author responsibly tackles heavy subject matter, such as depression, racism, mental health, addiction, and sickle cell disease that’s appropriate for the young adult audience. 

Overall I loved how Needy Little Things used magical realism to bring awareness to the lack of attention given to missing people of color in our society.  The characters, writing and storyline was phenomenal and I feel readers young and old will enjoy reading this book.  There was also a huge cliffhanger that has me hoping this novel will eventually become part of a series!  

I’d like to give special thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed how this YA mystery dove into social issues surrounding missing people and how the police, society, and the media prioritize who matters. It's a sad reality which leads the main character Sariyah and her friends to take matters into their own hands when their friend Deja goes missing. Sariyah has a special ability to hear people's needs telepathically, except those closest to her, and I liked how the gifts she gives others played a role in how the events unfolded in the book. I also appreciated the real-life circumstances she faced and how real the characters felt. I read this one mostly on audio and the narrator, Alaska Jackson was great to listen to.

Narration: 5/5
Plot: 4/5

This was such a fantastic book with so much to unpack in such a small page count. This book is super easily digestible while also packing an absolute punch. I cried quite a few times throughout the book, especially when Sariyah was dreaming and talking about Tessa. That last line of the book DESTROYED ME. Part of me wants second book because I loved following Sariyah and seeing her strength. I wanted some more closure to the Tessa storyline, but also, a stronger part of me, realizes how perfect the ending of the book is.

My only hold up is the actually mystery part. I personally feel like this book was more YA Contemporary Speculative instead of YA Mystery Speculative. The mystery aspect was definitely the least developed and didn't entirely work. I also didn't love learning the behind the scenes of what was going on with Deja. That was a bit frustrating and not my favorite "twist."

But overall, it was amazing and I couldn't put it down. The narrator was also phenomenal and made it feel like I was there experiencing everything with the characters.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an e-ARC. These are my honest opinions.

I couldn’t put Needy Little Things down, or more specifically press pause. First, I have to give credit to Alaska Jackson, the narrator, for bringing the story and characters to life!

Needy Little Things is a must read for those that enjoyed A Good Girls Guide to Murder. Both follow a bright, young woman while they stop at nothing to unravel a mystery. Needy Little Things, however, effortlessly blends magical realism into the story with Sariyah’s ability to sense the needs of those around her. It also stands as evidence that representation in media is essential. Desamour tackles heavy topics like institutional racism, poverty, mental health stigmas, and disability with stunning clarity and at an age appropriate level for a YA novel. Sariyah’s ability to sense people’s needs has downsides by causing migraines and physical/emotional distress when she attempts to ignore the needs of those around her. (I personally identify with this as I was a teenager with chronic migraines and an IEP.) On a larger scale, I was stuck by the parallels of this draining impact in the magical sense to the real world draining impact from the emotional and unpaid labor done by women, especially Black women.

Would absolutely recommend reading, for readers of any age!

Needy Little Things is a propulsive YA mystery with speculative elements. Sariyah can hear people's thoughts, specifically what they need. When she uses this power to help a friend and then said friend disappears, she begins a descent in her mind- questioning if this is more a curse than a gift.

As Sariyah distrusts the police, she works with her friends to discover more about Deja's disappearance. I loved how this used an element of magical realism to tackle critical topics and to approach the classic coming of age dilemma in a different way. This is the kind of YA that will appeal to young and adult readers.

Disclaimer: Audiobook provided by MacMillan Audio via NetGalley for an honest review.

~

First of all, I have to say that I am entirely impressed at this being the author’s debut novel. Like I literally enjoyed this audiobook so much especially because the narrator’s voice which was so engaging. For me personally, I would not have thought twice about reading in the different accents knowing it’s set in the south, but Alaska Jackson really set the scene perfectly.

From the jump, I was immediately engaged because the main character Sariyah has a unique superpower that she has absolutely no control over. And with this “power”, she believes it is her duty to help whenever she can with her iconic Santa Bag for everyone’s needs. This story shows it’s to her disadvantage at times where her struggles may overshadow what may be happening around her. But I empathized with her so much as the story progressed it felt like people weren’t seeing her struggles.

As a black woman myself, this story did a perfect job at addressing what people from other communities may try to hide or not want to address. But it speaks complete facts! Missing black women and black girls are never given the same opportunities or publicity needed to locate them and the media completely ignores it all. It breaks my heart knowing that this is an everyday reality for us knowing that it’s just us for ourselves each time. And I’ll always remember what Malcolm X said….

Anyways, one thing I’ll say is that yes, the first plot twist in the last 20% I could see coming from all the hints dropped throughout the story. BUT! The second plot twist definitely threw me for a serious curveball and I fear I haven’t recovered yet. One thing I’ll say though, if I was Sariyah I would not have forgiven anything because it showed everyone’s true thoughts and feelings towards her. I would’ve dropped them immediately because why are you playing in hg’s face?

And the ending?!?!? A sequel better be in the future because an ending like this leaves so many unanswered questions 😭

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This story was very well written and kept me guessing the whole time. This was a great debut novel and I cannot wait to read more from this author. I enjoyed the narrator as well.

Wow, this was great! Especially for a debut. Love the cover art too.

Desamours has written an engaging story with a protagonist I was very down to root for. I loved the idea of a special ability that makes you hear exactly what people need. Raya handled her ability really well for a teen with a LOT going on.

There really is a lot going on in this novel--that's my one criticism, it feels like too much is packed in here at time. Raya has ADHD in addition to being able to hear people's needs, her brother has sickle cell, her bestie went missing 5 years ago, her bestie is missing now, her parents are long distance but still married, her friend's mom has a drug problem, she might go to trade school instead of college--it's a LOT. I love the representation and that the author validated paths like trade school, but some of it just feels forced at times and doesn't add much. Her brother Josiah going to the hospital for a sickle cell blood transfusion? Didn't add anything. Sorry.

The ending caught me somewhat, but not entirely, by surprise. I had predicted that Malcolm was up to something (he was lowkey the worst, wasn't he?) but I didn't see the twist coming with Fitz/Jed. Even though I checked 'hide because of spoilers' I don't wanna spoil too much, so I'll just leave it at that. I thought I wasn't paying enough because I was multitasking with dish washing/baby feeding/driving, but I do think the reveal was a bit abrupt and came out of nowhere. I did love the tension and horror of the whole scene in the crawlspace and the mud and all that. It felt like watching a horror movie unfold, in the best way!

All in all, a great read. Also worth noting: the audiobook narrator for this was INCREDIBLE. Give her all the applause! I loved the voices she did for each character. It all felt so natural and made me feel really immersed in the story. 10/10 would listen to a book by her again.

I was absolutely engrossed in this story and didn’t want to put it down. I love the magical realism and special power/gift that wasn’t secret to Sariyah’s close friends and family. This was such a fun read that had me guessing til the end. The audiobook was so entertaining and the characters were teenagers I would’ve loved to have been friends with at that age. I feel like the end was so perfect; but at the same time, I would love to see where it would go if there were to be a sequel (please Channelle Desamours😉😉).

Thank you @macmillan.audio for this fabulous early listening copy. I was also lucky enough to get a digital copy too from @wednesdaybooks (thank you to them as well!)! I devoured this one in less than two days.

Add this to your TBR if you like:
✨magical realism
✨mysteries
✨young adult
✨red herrings
✨great characters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NEEDY LITTLE THINGS will be available on 2/4/25!

This was an absolute 5 star read!! I love a good mystery with a twist I don't see coming. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I highly recommend anyone that likes mystery to read this. As a mother of two children with sickle cell disease I also really appreciate the representation because so often people with invisible illnesses are forgotten. This was a great read and I will definitely be purchasing when it comes out next month.

i'm calling it now, NEEDY LITTLE THINGS is the new YA mystery/thriller that EVERYONE is going to be raving about, and alaska jackson brought this book to life perfectly. i was encapsulated by the story and narration, and having full body reactions throughout. it was not uncommon for me to blurt out "NOOOOO" "whaaaaaaat?!" "YOU'RE KIDDING" and other expletives at various points of the story. it's blowing my mind that this is channelle desamours debut novel.

buuuut lemme catch you up, NEEDY LITTLE THINGS follows sariyah who has the ability (or curse????) to hear what people need. these needs range from mundane to life saving, and the only way to quiet those needs is by providing them. when one of their best friends, deja, goes missing, sariyah and her crew decide to take matters into their own hands. after seeing the media and police fail their friend (and twin) tessa when she went missing, sariyah and malcolm are determined to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

sariyah was such a wonderful protagonist to follow. her personality, emotions, and responsibilities are so complex and truly make you want to root for her. does she make some iffy choices here and there? sure, but what 17-year-old doesn't? especially when they're desperately trying to uncover what's going on with their best friend.

malcolm was so HILARIOUS and fun. he is such a fierce friend to sariyah. he definitely uses humor to hide how he's feeling, but his grief and anger are so real. i just want to give him a hug because i know he's struggling (i mean seriously, who in his position wouldn't be?).

jude, jude, jude, jude, jude. you are so sweet with your thoughtful gestures and willingness to show how you feel. he's made mistakes, but he's also learned from those mistakes which i respect. i need more jude content in book two please and thanks!

SPEAKING OF BOOK 2!!!!! that ending?????? HELLLLOOOOOOOOO?? channelle, you better have that draft under lock and key because i need it NOW (for legal reasons, this is a joke).

NEEDY LITTLE THINGS is the perfect combination mystery, magical realism, activism, and commentary and i need each and every one of you to pick this book up. i need this book getting ALL the hype that was given to A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER. i'm talking virality, theories, book-to-screen-adaptations -- ALL OF IT!

if you loved AGGGTM, you're going to love this book. and if you didn't like AGGGTM, but you love YA mystery/thrillers, you're still going to love this book. with a touch of magic and a jaw-dropping twist, NEEDY LITTLE THINGS is a one-of-a-kind, unputdownable read.

Love love loved this. I was hooked from almost the first chapter. What a fascinating, and surprisingly emotional and heavy magical gift for someone to have; especially a teenager. Sariyah is savvy, caring, and so strong to deal with this "gift" while trying to navigate school, her home life and helping take care of her younger brother, just normal teen stuff. And that's on top of the trauma of her best friend having done missing in her past.

Now MORE drama is heaped on her, and I absolutely admire her determination to "do the right thing" and use everything she can to help find another friend that goes missing, while also dealing with guilt about the unexpected and long term consequences of her magical ability.

This book was raw, emotional, gutting, but also funny and sweet at times. The feelings of loss, inequity in the treatment of Black teens, especially Black girls going missing, dealing with issues like depression in such an open way, I really love how this was written for teens - I think this is going to mean a lot. The writing itself was so easy to read and relate to. I love the YA romance and how it's slowly developing with a real connection.

I was SHOOK by the twists, it did NOT go anywhere I was expecting.

The cliffhanger had me SCREAMING OUT LOUD. I am going to need another book ASAP please please please!

I both read and listened to this one and I enjoyed both versions!

Is it a gift or a curse? to know just what everyone needs except those closest to you, leaves Sariyah distracted, exhausted and struggling to finish high school. Perhaps her mental state is why she fails her friend, who becomes one of the many missing Black girls the media loses interest in. Can knowing people's hidden needs lead her to where her friend is hidden? Will a grassroots social media effort be enough to keep anyone interested?

Wow, what a debut novel!! Channelle Desamours is definitely someone I’ll be paying attention to!

Needy Little Things is about a FMC with a unique gift: she can sense what people need. In order to deal with the constant barrage on her mind, she works to fulfill people’s needs or just get to quiet places. These friends are mostly African Americans and they’ve lost people in their past. They notice that white girls who go missing receive different press than their friend who goes missing. There is a lot of racial tension in the way the friends have experienced search efforts.

This was so entertaining, I just couldn’t stop reading (or listening in my case!) The audiobook was fantastic! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Sariyah has a gift. Playing endlessly in her brain is everything the people around her need. She carries a Santa Bag to help those in great need of something as usually those needs are the loudest. When her friend, Deja, goes missing at a music festival, Sariyah can't help but think of another missing Black girl whose case still hasn't been solved.

Sariyah is such a beautifully fleshed out character, leaping off the page in her raw authenticity, so much so that the other characters kind of fade into the background. This can be either a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. I thought this was an interesting and unique story, but I was really on the fence with the ending. I didn't really like how things ended up and the very very end was not my cup of tea either. In the end, I didn't hate this book, not at all, but I didn't love it either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Alaska Jackson was a fantastic narrator. She really brought Sariyah to life.

The artwork drew me in and the plot was everything I love. A Black girl with "powers"?! SIGN ME UP! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job! This was a great listen and I would recommend it. I plan to buy a physical copy of the book to add to my collection.

*4.25 Stars*

I really enjoyed the world in this book. the main character had such an interesting power, it was something I'd never read before. I loved the concept and the mystery part was very well done and I was with the main character from begging to end. I adored her. I had a little more trouble with the side characters and when the twist was revealed, I was mad, even more so than Sariyah. but I don't want to say too much. I really had a great time with this book and I liked how it broached very real and important subjects with supernatural elements. Anyway, Sariyah was a badass and this book made me want to read more books by Channelle Desamours. And you should read this.

This debut novel by Channelle Desamours captivated me, especially as I listened to it in audiobook format. The narration brought the story to life, with the narrator’s lively and engaging performance, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

The story follows 17-year-old Sariyah, who possesses a unique, premonition-like gift inherited from her grandmother. This gift allows her to sense the unspoken needs of others, identifying items they require, often before they even realize it themselves. During a music festival, Sariyah’s best friend, Deja, mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Frustrated by the lack of urgency from the police, Sariyah and her friends take matters into their own hands, using social media hashtags to raise awareness and conducting their investigation.

While the book is YA mystery, it also tackles significant societal issues. One key theme is the disparity in attention given to missing BIPOC teenagers compared to their white counterparts. The novel is unapologetically political in this regard, shedding light on systemic injustices.

The book also delves into critical topics such as mental health, chronic illness, substance abuse, and the risks associated with social media. These themes are interwoven seamlessly into the narrative, creating a layered and thought-provoking story without detracting from the mystery at its core.

The cliffhanger at the end was phenomenal and left me eager for a second part. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and will highly recommend it to my high school students. It presents important messages that are both relevant and worthy of discussion. Additionally, the relatable vocabulary and compelling characters make it accessible and engaging for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out on February 4, 2025.