That time I obsessively stalked a thrift site for a book

Chapter #40: The lengths readers will go to...

Feeling My Shelf is a newsletter about books, life, and, well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
This YA mystery follows a teen with the ability to sense people’s needs who must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger. The story started slow, but around halfway through, it picked up, and I was hooked! I particularly appreciated the commentary on how missing Black girls often go unnoticed by mainstream media. It's a crisis that, thankfully, more and more books are highlighting, but in this case, the main character's premonition-like powers provide a fresh and unique perspective on the topic. While I had a slight inkling of where the story was heading, I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists. A fantastic debut, and I can't wait to read more from Channelle Desamours.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest
The last book in The Greene Sisters series, The Love Lyric, follows Iris, the eldest Greene sister, a single mother and corporate executive who catches the eye of Angel, a rising R&B singer. Romances involving celebrities rank high on my list of favorite tropes, so I was very excited to read this, and it didn’t disappoint! It was swoony and light despite its themes of grief and love after loss. The chemistry between Angel and Iris was undeniable—a slow burn that didn’t feel slow—and Iris’s fear of falling in love was incredibly relatable. A perfect conclusion to the series.

the perfect find

It’s always, “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” and never, “What would you do for a book?” Even I never stopped to consider what lengths I’d go to until recently. It all started when I stumbled upon this post on Instagram… 

My thumb instantly stopped scrolling when I saw it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Books—actual physical books—based on Moesha. An out-of-print treasure. It felt like something I should’ve always been aware of as if a piece of my childhood had been hiding in plain sight. 

Moesha wasn’t just a show—it was *the* show. It was a coming-of-age story focused on a smart, stylish Black girl navigating friendships, family, and first loves. She was a writer, just like me (though a more annoying one, always in someone’s business). Even though I was just a kid, Moesha made me feel seen in a way I couldn’t yet express. She had opinions, she had a voice, and she used it—even when it got her in trouble.

And now, there were books? Tangible pieces of that world I could hold in my hands? I needed at least the first book in the six-book series. A task that turned out to be next-level difficult. Because it’s out-of-print, copies are few and far between, or being sold for absurd prices. 

I love you Moesha, but I was not paying $300 for your books. So, finding an affordable copy became my side quest, my part-time job, my tiny, ridiculous obsession. It’s funny how getting older makes you crave those small, seemingly random joys from your childhood.

For about seven months, I checked ThriftBooks as if it were a stock market in which I had serious investments. I refreshed and refreshed, fingers crossed, as if I could manifest a copy into existence through sheer willpower. I bookmarked the page. I searched other secondhand book websites. I even considered setting up an alert, but deep down, I knew that the moment a copy showed up, it wouldn’t last long.  

And then, on one random afternoon, when I had almost convinced myself to finally let it go, it happened. A single copy appeared. For just $5. Five dollars. It felt like fate as if the book gods had finally deemed me worthy. My heart raced. I knew I had minutes—maybe seconds—before it was gone again. No time for hesitation. No second-guessing. I hit “add to cart” and checked out so fast my hands shook. 

When it finally arrived, I didn’t even tear into it right away. I just held it. This ridiculous, unnecessary, but deeply satisfying victory. Because in some small way, owning this book felt like reclaiming a piece of my childhood—a reminder of the girl who stayed up late watching Moesha (constantly) argue with Frank, dreaming of being a writer, never far from a journal (or a cute boy!) 

Would the world have ended if I didn’t get it? No. But knowing it’s mine—knowing I won this absurd little battle? That’s the best part.

What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve ever done (or would do) for a book? Let me know in the comments.

I’m currently reading an ARC of Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory (one of my auto-buy authors!), a queer romance following a type-A newbie to dating and a charming heartbreaker who agree to harmless flirting lessons. But soon their undeniable chemistry turns the activity into something much more serious.

Amandla Stenberg defends Children of Blood and Bone casting — but Hollywood’s colorism problem still exists. An ode to my favorite Bridgerton couple: Kate and Anthony. 5 new books that reimagine Black History. A major book publisher announced a change. The industry freaked out. Bridgerton Season 4: Everything we know. Ariana DeBose shares the books that keep her awake at night.

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