4.5 StarsOkay, this book seriously messed me up.Echoes of Need was a read I wasn't expecting. It wasn't just a well-written story; it beautifully captured the social commentary on the lack of community support when Black girls and women go missing. Desamours did an even better job illustrating how much Black girls and women give to the world, using Sariyah's magical ability as a lens. What a fantastic debut novel! I had a minor issue with the final reveal, but I'm definitely looking forward to r...

It's funny how the first thing that struck me after finishing "Echoes of Need" by Channelle Desamours was just how clever the title is 🤭. Sometimes, when I dive into a book and it doesn’t deliver what I expect, it can go in so many directions—one of them being me outright disliking it. But that wasn’t the case here. Instead, I found myself appreciating that I got so much more than just a simple “whodunit.” I could sense that this was going to be an impactful read, especially with the thought-pr...

Human beings are Needy Little Things! ‘Paper clip. Crayon. Shoelace. Chewing gum’ Just like her grandmother before her, 17-year-old Sariyah Bryant has inherited a unique ability: she senses people's needs, even before they do. To quiet the voices in her head, Sariyah carries a red duffel bag (nicknamed 'Santa bag' by her little brother) everywhere she goes, crammed with everyday items. Need a stick of gum, hairbrush, or nail file? Sariyah's got you covered. Her Santa bag might not contain an E...

3.5 starsThanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own. Book tagline: In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger...DO NOT LET *Echoes of Need* PASS YOU BY! I don't care what your age is, YOU, yes, my fellow reader, need a good dose of Channelle Desamours' writing.I couldn't put this book down. Thank goodness I had complete...

Did something in your childhood force you to grow up too fast? It took me a little while to get into Echoes of Need, but once I did, I was hooked. From about a third of the way through to the end, I couldn't put it down! Reading from a perspective so different from my own is always an enjoyable experience, and I really appreciated Channelle Desamours's ability to write such introspective characters that truly came to life on the page! In the heart of Atlanta, and across the US, there are countle...

My first 5-star read of the year! I don't read much YA these days, and even less magical realism or speculative fiction, but the blurb for "Echoes of Need" sounded too good to pass up, and Channelle Desamours absolutely nailed it. I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Seriously impressive."Echoes of Need" is packed with so much: friendship and family relationships, a compelling mystery surrounding a teen’s disappearance, racial inequality, mental health, chronic illness, and Sariyah's unique gi...

Echoes of Need by Channelle Desamours YA Fantasy Mystery Speculative NetGalley eARC Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025 St. Martin's Press Ages: 14+ Even if they don't know themselves, just like her grandmother, Sariyah can hear what people need. A pencil, a phone charger, a hair tie, etc. Hearing all of these needy things from a lot of people at one time can be overwhelming, and if she doesn't give out the needs, she'll get a migraine. After handing over a need, she hears it was used to protect a woman's l...

Sariyah has a supernatural power…only it usually feels more like a curse. This Atlanta high-school student can sense exactly what the people around her are about to need, whether it’s chapstick, dental floss, or an EpiPen. While she’s saved the day several times, she’s falling behind in school because her head is so full of the needs of people around her. They’re intrusive thoughts she can’t get rid of until the need is met. Then one day, as she’s heading to a music festival with friends, she s...

How good was *Echoes of Need*?!! Seriously, I thought it was freaking fabulous!! I haven’t read that many YA books lately, and I absolutely loved this one from beginning to end. It’s also hard to believe that *Echoes of Need* is Channelle Desamours' debut novel! What a start to her writing career.Seventeen-year-old Sariyah (Ri) has a very unique gift of ESP, passed down from her Grandmother. One weekend, she and her three friends attend a music festival, during which one of them disappears. Over...

A gripping blend of magical realism and mystery, this novel, Echoes of Need by Channelle Desamours, follows Sariyah, a seventeen-year-old with a unique gift, as she navigates friendship, family struggles, and the dark secrets behind her friends' disappearances in a thought-provoking exploration of social issues and suspense. A unique magical concept of telepathically hearing people's needs and fulfilling them drives this twisty, fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The stor...