Needy Little Things

This book kept me up at night! Channelle Desamours knows how to craft a deftly written mystery thriller. So much fun and so quick to read, I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for it to come out to get a physical copy!!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Needy Little Things" by Channelle Desamours is a captivating YA thriller that is unique in both the plot and the storytelling. From the very start, the book promises a fast-paced journey, although the first half is a bit slow. However, the suspense and twists in the second half more than make up for it, transforming the story into an unputdownable page-turner. Some of the twists as well as the actions of certain characters were quite the surprise, and I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of this book as well as Sariyah’s ability.

The protagonist, Sariyah Lee Bryant, is a Black teen with a unique ability: she can sense what people need—be it a pencil, a hair tie, or a phone charger. This peculiar talent, known only to her family and her best friend Malcolm, becomes both a gift and a curse. When her friend Deja vanishes after Sariyah fulfills a need for her, Sariyah is thrust into a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind Deja's disappearance. This isn’t the first time one of her friends has gone missing, and Sariyah is determined not to let Deja become another forgotten Black girl.

Desamours brilliantly constructs a mystery filled with twists and turns, making "Needy Little Things" a standout in the YA thriller genre. The plot is layered with little moments that make you invested in Sariyah’s journey. I really enjoyed seeing the exact “needs” for why Sariyah’s ability had her give people various items. Her ability is so unique and also helpful in so many different ways. Rather than being a curse, throughout the story, you can see that Sariyah’s ability is truly a gift. With the plot, Desamours skillfully weaves in social commentary, highlighting issues of racial injustice and the lack of media attention given to missing Black girls, adding depth and urgency to Sariyah’s mission.

Sariyah is a compelling protagonist, relatable in her struggles and admirable in her determination. As she delves deeper into the circumstances of Deja's disappearance, Sariyah faces mounting personal challenges: her mother's job loss, her brother's health complications, and the overwhelming pressure of her own financial and emotional burdens. There did seem to be a bit too much going on with some of these plot points, but they did all come together at the end and did all contribute to both the plot as well as Sariyah discovering the worth and depth of her own ability.

The story's climax is intense and satisfying, with all the puzzle pieces clicking into place. Desamours' writing is both haunting and poignant, ensuring that the book's message lingers long after the final page is turned. I really liked the book’s structure as well, as the pace moved from a slower start to a thrilling, suspenseful finish. A few of the side characters could have had more development, especially Sariyah’s love interest, but they all contributed to the plot and mystery.

Overall, "Needy Little Things" is a superbly crafted story that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy a mix of mystery, suspense, and heartfelt storytelling.

Sariyah… my girl! Now she is a true friend, especially if you ever go missing. Sariyah and her friends are so real and super funny, I loved the banter between them especially with her best friend Malcolm! Her brother is a lovable character and I enjoyed when he appeared in the book!

The first part of the book does well at introducing the characters, world-building, and showing Saraiyah’s abilities without being too slow.
Sariyah has the ability to hear people’s needs and she fulfills them. In the book we begin to see her struggle with the implications of her ability, because for her, filling the needs is unavoidable and leads to her into some troubling situations. When her friend Deja goes missing, she begins to realize how helpful her ability can be.

Then the plot thickens! From that point on it picks up and becomes increasingly suspenseful without feeling like it's dragging on. There were plenty of times in this book where my eyes were glued to the page, reading to know what was going to happen next! And the twists!! were truly something I did not expect. This is another thing I enjoyed because I DNF books when the ending is obvious. Speaking of the ending… Oh. My. Gooodness!!! I literally went from shedding a happy tear to being shocked and excited!

I love how this book touches on the sad truth of missing black girls being forgotten and sometimes never found. This book does well on integrating this issue without losing the plot and the fun banter between the friend group. Her brother has complications with sickle cell disease, her mother loses her job, and a few of the characters struggle with mental health issues. This book does a great job of highlighting real-world issues without it being too heavy to enjoy the lighter moments.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and hope that the author comes out with another!

This was a great book. The pacing was fast and the characters were lively and dynamic. I was never bored when reading this book. Desamours has written a book that is good for YA readers and even older readers. I highly recommend it for readers. Desamours will bring you right into the story and make you feel like one of the characters.

I would like to thank this author for getting me out of my reading slump by writing a book that was engrossing from the very first pages. It was hard to put this book down. I was immediately sucked in by the main character's voice. I loved the side characters who were just as fleshed out as the main character. The ending wasn't super satisfying, but I don't regret spending my time reading this book at all. I devoured it in days. The forgotten missing Black girls subject matter reminded me of "Delicious Monsters" and it's interesting to see the different approaches the authors took to highlight this important theme. I hope there is a sequel. Getting ready for ride with this book!

WOW! Needy Little Things was such a great read! The author brought in a real world issue that needs attention and does it in such an engaging way! As a teacher, I can’t wait to get this in the hands of my students!

Sariyah is endearing as she struggles with caring for her brother, her friends, and even those around her as she fights to block out their needs and focus. This book has a great message for teens and I found the characters so realistic and captivating!

I highly recommend this story to people who like mystery, compelling characters, and thrilling endings!

Honestly amazing. Fast paced and keeps you on your toes. Loved this unique story. Great young adult story that anyone could enjoy! Highly recommend!!!

I received an arc of this book and am leaving an honest review. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I didn’t want to put it down….and didn’t. My black girl heart was jumping around because I related to this book! I enjoyed the banter and the thriller elements. Now the author had me thinking I knew the outcome of the book only for her to be like nah that’s not it, try again. I did call what was going to happen but I damn sure didn’t call who was doing the happening 😂 and let’s not talk about the absolute audacity of the ending of this book! I scrolled to the next page and it was the acknowledgments and I was like oh no no no. I need you to go on and write what hopefully will be a sequel or give me a novella, but you can’t leave me hanging like that!! I hands down recommend everybody read this fantastic book. And I didn’t give details because I recommend going into this book blind, but to give you a taste….what does a nail file, ring, pepper spray, and door lock have in common? Read this and find out!

This book contains multitudes.
Sariyah has a really interesting gift. She can sense people's needs. Often they are small things that the recipient doesn't yet know they'll need. For example, she might give them a safety pin and then they lose a button later. But these needs invade her mind, making it difficult to concentrate and causing her problems.
When one of her friends goes missing, Sariyah tries to use her gift to help find her.
This book looks at many of society's problems, but mostly focuses on how missing persons cases are treated differently depending on demographics.
There are a lot of great characters and it explores some morally gray areas.
I enjoyed this mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Publishing for an early copy for review.

This was a great read. It had a little of everything I love in a book — mystery, supernatural abilities, a sprinkle of romance, angst.

I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end and it was wrapped up nicely. It was a very fast paced, interesting story and had me hooked from the first page!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Needy little things is about a girl who has the power to sense people’s needs. Gum, pepper spray, you name it. When her friend disappears, it’s a race against time to solve the mystery before she finds herself in danger.

First of all: thank you for letting me read this book NetGalley. It was “wow, omg, what?, ohhhh, OMG”

The message in this book was so impactful and a bit sad because sometimes it’s our reality but it was a really good book with amazing suspense and characters. I laughed and I might’ve teared up so this book deserves all the stars from me.

More on Goodreads.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours is a truly incredible read. This story has a little bit of everything, but it is written in a way that big impacts are felt. The abilities, the mystery, the injustice, and the romance all work beautifully together to create a powerful story.

Desamours's NEEDY LITTLE THINGS is such a wonderful speculative thriller—the plot is nonstop, the characters dynamic and deeply sympathetic, and the message relevant and timely. A debut to watch!

In this gripping YA mystery, Sariyah has the power to sense what people need, but when her friend Deja goes missing after she helps her, Sariyah starts to question if her gift is more of a curse. Determined to find Deja and not let her be another forgotten Black girl, Sariyah teams up with friends to solve the mystery, even if it means putting herself in danger. Needy Little Things is a powerful story full of twists, emotions, and unforgettable characters.

Cover is to die for , i connected to the characters and fell for them. the evolution of the story was great and I'd read more by this author.

I’m not sure where to start with this review. I was blown away with this book. There is a depth to the message that shines through. It's not just a fantasy/mystery novel. It's a story with real social and topical issues. It's a book that makes you pay attention.


Sariyah has a special ability: She hears others' needs—not what they think they need, but what they really need—including something someone ends up using for self-defense later that night. Sometimes, even when she knows what they need, it's not enough, like when her friend Deja disappears—just like her bf who went missing five years before.

Now, a white girl goes missing, and everyone is talking about it, kinda sounds familiar? So Sariyah decides to raise awareness on social media, hoping that they can find Deja. The story's complexity, with so much going on, can be overwhelming at times, but it's a challenge that's worth it. The payoff, though… Chef Kiss.

Everything about Needy Little Things Is just perfect.

Thank You to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC copy in return for an Honest review.

This was a thrilling and an exciting read. there was legit never a dull or boring moment. this is gripping ya thriller that i just couldn't put down. i devoured every bit of it. wow... i just can't stop thinking about this book. my mind has officially been blown

Fantastic read beginning to end. Very emotional. The writing is great! I cried several times. Fear, sadness, happiness, anger. It’s eye-opening and a reality check of the racial disparities in our country about who gets national attention when it comes to missing people.. Great character development, great plot, I did have to take breaks from reading because of the different situations that had me on an emotional roller coaster but I loved that! It’s nice to glimpse the life of teen and see they go through things and should be able to speaks to their truths without not be judged. 5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Great read for teens and adults.

This was an AMAZING mystery/thriller with hints of fantasy woven throughout. It focused on an important social issue, how little press coverage people of color receive when they go missing in comparison to white people. It also showcased mental health and its impact on the family as a whole. It also discussed all of this with the fresh spin of the main character having magical intuition about what others need. All around, this book was excellent and I will be recommending it to library customers.

Needy Little Things is a gripping, suspense-filled ride from start to finish. I absolutely loved this book! Heather Crews masterfully weaves an unpredictable plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what could possibly happen next. The suspense builds with every chapter, and just when you think you have it all figured out, a shocking twist throws everything into chaos. I was completely flabbergasted by the ending—it was both unexpected and brilliantly executed. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, Needy Little Things is a must-read!

This was a terrific and wonderfully well written book! I was able to fully immerse myself into it quickly becuse not only was it a quick paced story but the characters were dynamic, lively, and entertaining as all get out. They seemed to come alive the more I read them into existence in my mind. Those with vivid imaginations will be captivated because this is the kind of book you can imagine in great and immense detail.

I really, really enjoyed reading this book! It was nothing like I expected. I will admit that I was a little confused in the beginning with the random words and not really understanding what was happening. Once it was explained about her ability it all made it sense. I enjoyed the character building between the friends, the only thing that I wished was different was if we got a little more background on Jude. He seemed interesting and I wanted to know him a little more. The plot twist was INSANE! I thought I had it all figured out but the ending had my mouth open. I never would’ve thought! Seems like there will be a book 2? I hope so. Also..what was Sariyah’s mom’s deal? I’m assuming it was depression but it never specially talked about it so I’m not 100% sure how that fit in with the story.

Needy Little Things is a book that will have you wondering how many things do we randomly thibk we need during a day. The main character is vefy likable and overcomes her challenges with a grwce and determination that not many her age woold have. Highly recommend

I think my students will like this book, the characters feel real and relatable and while it is a mystery, a search for a missing friend, it explores a lot of family and friend relationships and issues about racism.

Sayriah is a teen with ADHD and special abilities. She is able to sense the needs of others around her and provide them with the items that they need. Although her abilities don’t work on the people she cares about. Over a span of 2-3 weeks, we follow Sayriah as she navigates the needs of others and trying to find her friend Deja. In the end, Deja is found, her and her father are recovering from the incident that happened, and she received a clue to find one of her best friends that has been missing for years.

4.5 stars. LISTEN. This was so good! I ate it up. Couldn’t put it down. It shed light on so many different topics in the Black community and snuck in a thrilling/mystery vibe to it with an ending that left me SHOOK. My gawd. I mean we covered grief and loss, job challenges, outrage between missing girls and how much coverage they get based on the color of their skin. AND I absolutely loved all the characters! JoJo being one of my favs. I went in to this book blind and it gave me everything that I didn’t know I needed.

Needy Little Things is an engaging and relevant YA read about seventeen year old Sariyah who possesses a special "gift." The book deals with a variety of themes that makes it applicable to any reader. While this book is considered a thriller, I like that it also tackles social issues. I would recommend this book to any age.

Thank you Negalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story gave you all the things. All the twists, turns, laughs, and emotions! It was a great thriller. I’m 29, and I love a good YA book and this thriller was no different!

I really love the magical realism/mystery genre. This had a lot of twists and turns and it kept my attention. Overall I really enjoyed!