Sariyah has a special power that makes it so she can hear what people need, objects. While the story mainly focuses on the disappearance of Sariyah’s best friend and the lack of police and public’s interest on focusing on how not everyone is treated equally.

For this being a YA thriller it started off a little slow, but it started to pick up a bit a 1/3 of the way through. I truly didn’t expect what happened to happen.

DNF at 10% | Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

I was curious about Needy Little Things, but unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me. I made it about 10% in before realizing I wasn’t connecting with the characters or the story.

It might just come down to the fact that I’m not the right audience — this feels like a book better suited for a younger YA demographic. I can see how it might appeal to readers in that space, but it didn’t quite hold my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to check it out!

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamoures, senior Sephora has a unique ability to hear what people most need and it is such a distraction she carries around her santa bag full of dollar store items ready to hand them out to quiet the voices one at a time. people are so pleased sometimes they even give her gifts and this is how she receives four tickets to Afro Alt, a music festival to celebrate those on the fringes of the black community. She gives it to her best friend Malcolm for his 18th birthday and he couldn’t be more excited she even invites her new friend and coworker Jude to make it her, her best friend Malcolm and Desi. For different reasons they can all use a distraction for her and Jude it’s to distract them from the attempted murder their boss committed the night before, for Malcolm it’s to distract him from his missing twin sister tess, who should be there also celebrating her 18th birthday and Desi who needs distractions from things she keeps very close to her chest. at the music festival Desi goes missing and having a missing friend is something her and Malcolm know all too well but in the end it may be too much for her to take. She has a lot going on with her mom suffering from a dark depression her brother who has sickle cell and this on top all of the teenage issues Sephora faces daily with her gift that she looks at as a curse and it’s also causing her to fail senior year. not to mention handsome Jude who is new in town and has secretly crushed on Sephora despite the fact she didn’t even notice him until he started working at the ice cream shop with her. There is way too many things in this book for me to give it a good summary just know when Desi goes missing Malcolm is obsessed with trying to get her post to go viral like it did for their white pier Cassie and although the author very intelligently poses every argument one can have four and against in some way shape form of fashion I think this was an awesome book but there was just way too much going on the main plot would’ve been enough but there was so much more. I would be lying if I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy the book because I totally did I thought the author gave a fair portrayal of what it’s like to be a teenager and what it’s like to be one with this possible ability. I really like the book and absolutely recommended I thought it was well written but just a little bit overly written. The author has a very casual yet profound ability to to write lyrical pros even in desperate situations not to mention the lol moments I found throughout the story. I definitely recommend this book as I said there’s a lot in it but still definitely worth the read. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #ChannelleDesamoures, #NeedyLittleThings,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

i -

so many theories ran through my brain while reading this one but the actual ending was certainly not one of them. this was such a good mysterious read with great narration and also such an important real life commentary on how missing girls are treated when they’re BIPOC - definitely noteworthy ESPECIALLY with the current climate of the world. highly recommend this read

Thank you St Martins Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

4.5 rounded up

I really enjoyed this story. When reading YA, I have to remind myself that the main characters are younger & often kids that make dumb decisions 😅 but that can often make the best content for thrillers/mystery stories.

So the story follows Sariyah, a senior in high school who has an odd gift of knowing exactly what random item a person needs. After one of her best friends, Deja goes missing while they’re at an outdoor concert, Sariyah uses her skill to try to figure out what happened to her friend.

The supporting characters were great in this but I have to admit that Josiah (Ri’s younger brother) was easily my fave lol.

The characters are complex but developed well. The balance of mystery and story building even throughout the flow of reading. And this was a fairly quick read! The fact that I didn’t guess the plot twist took this up even higher! And I LOVED how the end have a resolution to one of Sariyah’s main issues in her life 🥹

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this book. It was great. It spoke a lot about how a lot of black girls go missing but not a lot of media coverage ever appears. This was fast paced and well written. It is good for YA and older readers. I like this book.

"Needy Little Things," a debut novel by Channelle Desamours, is as compelling as it is timely. This story hooked me right from the start.

Missing black girls don't get as much media attention as their white counterparts; it is a sad fact. This book expertly tackles that issue in such a heartbreaking manner.

I think this is one book that everyone should read someday. I truly believe it will have people thinking long after they turn the last page.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for selecting me for this ARC.

This was a solid YA contemporary with suspense and heart. It's just magically enough to keep things interesting but the powers that Sariyah has are never expanded on in a way that would make this a superhero origin story or comic book tale. They main focus is on a missing friend and how far folks will go to help someone they love. I found the characters very realistic to how teens act - poor decision included. The writing was also very engaging and I found myself a little shocked at some of the reveals which is great. Can't wait to pick up more from this author in the future.

Something new and different that is always good to have with a book. Sariyah has a unique gift, or maybe a curse, it depends on how you see it. Hard to be a child when all you hear are what people need. Hence the title, which was spectacular by the way. Paper clip, scissors, nail file. She hears these all day, never has a break unless it seems they are super close to her. Which is a great break from time to time, right? To help ease a bit of the pressure in her head from all the thoughts she carries a bag, and if she has the item, she gives it without a second thought. Now my question, as I didn't fully understand it, was that she would purchase things to give out, but she didn't know until they kept thinking it. Example socks. No one really thinks of socks, so how would she think to just have that in a bag to hand out? That was just one of those things that I couldn't fully figure out.
With this going on, we have a mystery of her best friend's twin going missing. No clue where she has gone. It sticks with them all.
So when one of their friends goes missing, it brings back many feelings, and Sariyah and her crew have no need to help find her. Though it seems it isn't all what it seems, and that is what keeps you reading. Where did Deja go? Why did she need pepper spray? Dive into this mystery and find out. I will say the ending has me asking so many more questions and wondering if we could get a second book out of this.

I loved this one, the concept is fantastic -- a girl can hear "what people need" and has to drown it out with music, or feel like she has to fulfill the need. She doesn't know what the need is for, and it could be something as simple as a paperclip. The mystery was compelling and I really enjoyed the heroine Sariya's voice. I binged it in two days.

This was SO good! Such great writing and such an interesting story. I can't wait to read more from this author!

While I don't want a sequel there's should be a second book.... I just don't like unsolved mysteries. I also didn't vibe with the main character. And I wonder if I missed something explaining other if there are more special abilities people could have in this town or it's just her family

This was phenomenal. I love books that combine this one secret small power with helping people. And this one doesn't disappoint. Our main character is incredibly complex and wonderful. She has a complex relationship with this power and that is handled so well.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the early e-copy of this book. Initially, I wanted to give this book a 3 .5 out of 5, but I had to think what would 17-year old Jasmine rate this book? 17-year old Jasmine, likely would have given this one 5-stars, so my rating will fall in the middle and I'll settle with 4.25-stars.

This is a YA-speculative fiction novel that follows Sariyah who is able to detect the needs of people. Sariyah has internal conflict with whether this ability is a gift or curse. In the midst of that her friend Deja disappears on a night out. As a result, Sariyah and her friends feverishly search for her.

I read this book quickly. I found myself zooming through this book and thinking about it when I put it down. I had to know where Deja was! I enjoyed Sariyah a lot. She was very mature for her age. She was dealing with a lot as a teenager internally and externally. As a reader, I could certainly sympathize with her. I loved the relationships that she had with her friends and how she took on a motherly role for her little brother.

The end of this book was a little hectic. I don't want to say too much to spoil the ending, but there was a red herring that was a little unnecessary. Other than that this book was good, it kept my attention. It has an important social message that is suitable for it's YA audience.

This one has my stamp of approval!

If I’m ever forced to pick only one genre to read it would be Young Adult. AND if I’m ever asked about a perfect book this right here is as close as it gets. The amazing way this was written, I almost have no words gosh, the mystery and the superpowers had me on a chokehold. I have never read a book technically in one sitting until I read this. Sariyah is one of those characters I’ll think about forever. Kudos to the author for the spot on dialogues between these young characters!!

First book by this author but I will for sure read more by her in the future. Loved the pacing of this story and the characters were really interesting.

Really enjoyed Needy Little Things. I feel like this is a cool take on "psychic" powers. The characters are done very well, and I can't wait for the next book to come out. At least with the way that ended, I really hope there's another one coming out.

Needy Little Things offers a great commentary about the startling differences taken in the investigation of missing girls based on their race. With some supernatural elements thrown into the mix, Needy Little Things will be sure to keep you on your toes.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a copy of this book. This was a great thriller that I could not put down. I think it will be a hit in the genre and can't wait to hear what everyone thinks about it! Can't wait to read more by this author!