They Call Her Regret - by Channelle Desamours (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this young adult speculative mystery, a teen must find a way to free a cursed witch in order to save her best friend before time runs out.

Every year horror-loving Simone Washington throws an epic Halloween party for her classmates. Party-planning is her favorite escape from the dark secrets in her past, and this year, she's taking things up a notch with an invitation-only event to celebrate her eighteenth birthday--something that will leave the halls of Pinegrove Academy flooded with gossip about the big ghoulish bash. The overnight stay at Doll's Head Lake will be filled with spooky pranks and scary stories told by the fire--including the legend of a local witch named Regret.

But those dark secrets from Simone's past are forced to the surface at the party when her best friend Kira drowns under questionable circumstances. The witch appears and offers Simone a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within fourteen days, all of Simone's regrets will be erased. If Simone accepts, Kira's life will be immediately restored. But if she fails, Kira will die again--and Simone will be the one to kill her.

Review Quotes

Praise for Needy Little Things:

"A mesmerizing speculative thriller." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Desamours' debut spotlights an emotionally complex hero... An engaging, innovative critique of the systems that protect whiteness and rob Black girls of their innocence." - Kirkus

"Desamours debuts with a tense, speculative mystery...twisty...with plenty of surprises, suspects, and red herrings." - Booklist

"This genre-crossing mystery/thriller with interlaced fantastical elements results in a page-turner... Unexpected twists are sprinkled throughout, with a bombshell cliffhanger... -Riveting and complex." - School Library Journal

"An unexpected twist on an important story, Needy Little Things weaves a skillfully crafted tale that grips readers from start to finish. A gem of a novel!" - Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give

"Engrossing and original, with a twist to leave you gobsmacked. Channelle Desamours is an exciting new voice on the thriller scene." - Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of The Legacies and The Counselors

"A propulsive mystery with well-rounded characters, immersive prose, and more than a few tricks up its sleeve. I couldn't put it down." - Ryan Douglass, New York Times bestselling author of The Taking of Jake Livingston

"An unputdownable mystery centering a missing Black girl and the relentless search of friends who won't give up on her. Speculative elements expertly weave in intrigue and scathing commentary on who society wants to be found. Needy Little Things is a triumphant debut." - Jessica Lewis, author of Bad Witch Burning

"Dripping with voice and riddled with twists, Needy Little Things held me captive from the first page to the last. Desamours' debut is a tour-de-force in character, mystery, and heart." - Courtney Gould, award-winning author of The Dead and the Dark