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A review by mythicalreadsreviewer
Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I rated this book 4 stars. It was honestly a great read. I found Sariyah such a compelling FMC, and the magical realism element of being able to hear others' needs (which is what drew me to the book) was done in such a clever way that made the story feel firmly in the thriller genre, rather than fantasy.
I have to say the plot was really well executed. I was surprised by how much the twists in this book caught me off guard. I often see twists coming, especially in YA mystery/thrillers, but this one genuinely surprised me.
It was incredibly thought-provoking and really explored how missing children—particularly Black girls—are treated in America, without ever coming across as preachy or heavy-handed. The thriller part of it really worked, but this book was so much more than that. It offered a look at family dynamics, friendship, mental health, growing up too fast, and what it means to have to take on a parental role for a younger sibling.
If I had one critique, it would be that I wished for a bit more tension surrounding the mystery of Deja's disappearance. At times, that thread felt like it lagged behind the other elements Sariyah was juggling, which pulled me out of the urgency of the mystery a bit.
Still, it’s hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel because the writing was incredibly strong. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on what Channelle Desamours does next.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @mythicalreadsreviewer for more reviews!
I rated this book 4 stars. It was honestly a great read. I found Sariyah such a compelling FMC, and the magical realism element of being able to hear others' needs (which is what drew me to the book) was done in such a clever way that made the story feel firmly in the thriller genre, rather than fantasy.
I have to say the plot was really well executed. I was surprised by how much the twists in this book caught me off guard. I often see twists coming, especially in YA mystery/thrillers, but this one genuinely surprised me.
It was incredibly thought-provoking and really explored how missing children—particularly Black girls—are treated in America, without ever coming across as preachy or heavy-handed. The thriller part of it really worked, but this book was so much more than that. It offered a look at family dynamics, friendship, mental health, growing up too fast, and what it means to have to take on a parental role for a younger sibling.
If I had one critique, it would be that I wished for a bit more tension surrounding the mystery of Deja's disappearance. At times, that thread felt like it lagged behind the other elements Sariyah was juggling, which pulled me out of the urgency of the mystery a bit.
Still, it’s hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel because the writing was incredibly strong. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on what Channelle Desamours does next.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @mythicalreadsreviewer for more reviews!