A new favourite! Sasha is funny, smart, and always does the right thing (even if she tries not to). The story is heartwarming and hilarious - I absolutely devoured it and can't wait for the sequel. There are magical creatures, mischievous dogs, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that wasn't even mildly nauseating. I would love to go on a road trip like this (even with the dive-bombing dragons).

4.5 stars.

This book was a friggin' delight to read! I loved just about everything about it. Sasha made for such a good heroine. She's definitely not perfect - she loves animals, but she still has money on her mind when she stumbles upon a dying sea dragon during an early morning run and realizes she can its magic and sell it for an extremely high price. She's also no dummy. The daughter and granddaughter of con artists (although not the most successful ones, based on the family's dire financial straights), she knows some smart moves to keep ahead of the uber-rich magic handlers and government agents who are immediately on her trail. She quickly sets off on a cross-country journey to try to sell the dragon's magic go to someone who can both pay her a lot of money but will at least try to do something good with it. But as smart as she is, she struggles to figure out who to trust - and how, which isn't easy for someone who comes from a family of liars and has had it ingrained in her to trust no one.

And Ari was also a delight as the love interest. I loved how he didn't want to play games and pushed her in multiple ways. Even the "evil" characters never felt clownish, although they were certainly fun and entertaining.

My only quibbles were pretty small. It sometimes felt like the author was going to develop a plot point, like Sasha's strained relationship with her mother, that never went anywhere. And then there were some things that didn't entirely make sense - how has Sasha's home been in the family since her grandparents but her dad has a mortgage on it? How did they ever manage to afford a home in the very expensive Carmel-by-the-Sea area???? Why not just sell it if they have a mortgage on it?? But ultimately these didn't really matter much. It was a joy to immerse myself in this story.

This was a fun read! The voice was more of a younger YA / older middle-grade voice. Spunky heroine, fun characters, good worldbuilding/magic. I would definitely give this to my younger teens to read!

A fun for all free for all - quite the road trip with a large and hilarious cast of characters, dragons, and Yorkies that steel the show. A bit of romance simmers under the fast moving and genuinely funny adventure leading to a "wait, it's over!!?!?!"

The premise of this book is great. An imaginative almost world, where things like Hyundais and college debt exist, but add dragons and magic. There is the possibility of a really fun YA romance here. However, it is in need of a firm editors hand to achieve that. The repetition of certain themes, and often times just words themselves within a sentence, made what could have been an enjoyable read frustrating.

I really wanted to like this book, and I hope the author continues to write, as there is clearly an intriguing imagination behind the story, but I hope they will do so with a really good editor to give needed structure and flow to their novels.

I am not sharing this review on social media.

I really enjoyed this one! It was very cozy and I liked the dragon lore the author created. It was a teensy bit cheesy at times but I love that in a YA book. Sasha’s sass made me cackle quite a few times and I really liked the way she brought the family to life. I felt like the pacing overall was good and would read whatever comes next in the world she’s created.

This was great fun! It felt like a new style of romantasy - very fresh and modern and funny I will definitely look out for book 2.

This is (apart from the copy editing, which I'll mention later) a sound piece of work. The characters have plenty of backstory, which makes them feel like they didn't start existing in Chapter 1, and also makes sense of their actions and feelings during the book. Relationships matter, a lot, especially family for the protagonist, and most of the relationships are not straightforwardly like or dislike, trust or distrust; they're messy and complicated, like real relationships. This is a level I don't see often in first books.

I definitely called what would happen with the money side of things well in advance. Money is an obsession of the protagonist, since her family is struggling with debt; she's working four jobs to try to save for college, but has to keep paying off overdue mortgage payments with the money instead. I predicted both that <spoiler>she would have to give up the McGuffin without being paid for it, because it was the right thing to do</spoiler> and that <spoiler>she would still make money out of the publicity surrounding it, just not the obscene amounts selling the McGuffin would have brought</spoiler>. The end point of the romance plot was also predictable, because after all, romance plots all come out the same way, though it did have a rocky road to get there, and was well thought out and believable in its evolutions. Having said that, it wasn't a made-from-box-mix, totally predictable plot at all, and it kept me thoroughly engaged, even gripped, throughout. Most of the book consists of a road trip, taken while being hunted, not knowing who to trust or how to escape pursuit, which keeps the tension high. There's constant comic relief, not only from the snark of the protagonist (which isn't cruel), but from the antics of the three little dogs she has stolen from one of her jobs for reasons that are a bit glossed over. I think it's to make it more believable that she's been kidnapped, but... it doesn't, really. <spoiler>Perhaps the McGuffin got involved in manipulating events earlier than it seemed to?</spoiler>

The author, like an increasing number of authors these days, is under the mistaken impression that it's correct to put a hyphen between an adjective and the noun it's modifying. This is most noticeable with "magical-creatures," because that's the pair that occurs most frequently, but it's a more widespread problem, and she also hyphenates numerous phrases that shouldn't be hyphenated either. At least once, in a compound adjective (which is almost the only place you should hyphenate), she doesn't hyphenate all the words in the phrase. It's good that authors want to use more punctuation, but not that they don't know where to put it. Otherwise, there are a couple of the usual errors, but most of them don't occur frequently, and some, but by no means all, of the apostrophes are in the right place. An editor is credited, but that may or may not be a copy editor. I've seen way worse, but the excess hyphens were a distraction.

Usual disclaimers: I received a pre-publication review copy, and more editing may happen before publication. Also, many people don't know or care how punctuation works, but for those readers who do, I give specifics in my reviews so they can decide how much it will reduce their enjoyment.

It's to the credit of the author that, even though the punctuation annoyed me, I was still strongly gripped by the plot and was cheering for the protagonist all the way along. Recommended.

I really enjoyed reading Sasha Vs the whole wide world. Such a lovely book set in a magical world but still an easy cosy read without getting to complicated trying to understand the setting of the book.

This is a lovely YA offering that will be the great for a series. Sasha was SO done being poor!
When an amazing opportunity falls her way, it’s hectic in. a fun way from all of the activity to
take her found treasure and keep it for herself. It turns out that this will not be all that easy.
By the ending Sasha’s world is so better ~ in some great ways. To avoid unintentional
spoiler content, let me just suggest this is a delightful story that kept me turning pages
to keep up with the adventure.
My thanks to the Author, via NetGalley for the download copy for review purposes.

Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and dragons) by Rachel Taylor Thompson is a masterpiece! I'm totally flabergasted by this book. So so good. Loved every single part of it.

Brilliant light read for palate cleansing after a heavy book, or a long work day.
Montague-Smith-Montague is a frankly hilarious surname to give a fake British aristocrat, but did feel overly american compared to the actual nonsense endemic to England.
I liked that I didn't have to think too hard about what was going on, although this did mean I saw quite a few of the twists coming.

Thank you Netgalley and Rachel Taylor Thompson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rachel Taylor Thompson delivers a fresh, fast-paced fantasy adventure in “Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons),” blending humor and high-stakes action in a story that will appeal to fans of road trip books and dragons. With a unique magic system and a dynamic protagonist, this book is an excellent entry point for readers new to fantasy while still offering plenty for seasoned fans of the genre.

At the heart of the story is Sasha Clems, a bold and determined protagonist who is simply tired—tired of working four jobs, tired of foreclosure notices, and tired of dreaming about a better life instead of living it. When she stumbles upon a dying seadragon and its magical jewel—an object worth a fortune—she sees her chance to finally change her circumstances. But with the government, the Magic-Handlers' Alliance, dragons, and a certain annoyingly charming magician named Ari on her heels, Sasha’s plan turns into a wild, cross-country chase filled with magic, danger, and self-discovery.

One of the book’s standout aspects is its magic system, which feels refreshingly original. The way magic-handlers access and utilize spells is well thought out, with clear rules and limitations that add depth to the story. The worldbuilding, particularly the variety of dragons, is fascinating, though I did wish for even more focus on these magical creatures. I’ve been on a dragon kick recently, and while the ending brought more development of the dragons, I wanted more of a focus throughout the book. The lore unfolds naturally as Sasha learns more about the truth of her world, and her growing understanding plays a key role in her character development.

The book’s humor is another highlight. Sasha’s sharp wit and her banter with Ari keep the story lighthearted even as the stakes rise. Their friendship develops in a natural and entertaining way, filled with teasing, moments of trust-building, and just the right amount of romantic tension. The road trip element adds to the fun, as the duo travels across the U.S. (and even into Canada), facing unexpected magical encounters along the way.

Animal lovers will also appreciate the role of the Brontes—Sasha’s loyal dogs, who remain by her side throughout the chaos and survive the adventure unscathed (except for one interesting and unique change to one of the dogs, which fits with the humorous writing perfectly). Their presence adds warmth and charm to an already engaging story.

The ending, while somewhat predictable, is satisfying and fitting for Sasha’s journey. It wraps up the story well while still leaving room for potential future adventures. The final act moves at breakneck speed, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

Overall, “Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons)” is a fun, action-packed read. It’s perfect for readers looking for a lighthearted but engaging fantasy adventure with a dash of romance. Whether you’re new to the genre or a longtime fantasy fan, Sasha’s journey is one worth taking.

I went into this expecting a fun heist across the USA and it didn’t just deliver it gave me everything I wanted and DRAGONS. I know it was in the title, but I had expected a few dragons, not a glorious world full of different varieties. We have seadragons, truedragons, even beedragons!

As for the romance - I just love a good dreamscape scene, when both lower their boundaries and just talk without the pressures of the real world and this had several glorious examples of how well this can be done! Ari was just adorable – and how sweet he was with the dogs! (did I mention that there are three dogs named after the Bronte sisters along for the heist???)

Such a fun read and 100% worth it this needs to go on your TBR for 2025!

What a fun story! An alternate reality where dragons and other magical creatures exist, as do those who can wield magic. Sasha finds herself with a magic item and in dire need of money, tries to hide it until she can sell it. Chaos ensues. In her cross country quest, we meet great characters and have great adventure. Really enjoyable.

This book is so fun! It would make a great book for someone who’s just getting into fantasy, dipping their toe so to speak. Sasha Clems is brash, intelligent, and not afraid to tell anyone what’s on her mind. Armed with a (reluctant) friendship with Ari, her odd traveling companions in the Brontes, and a deeply ingrained can-do attitude from her family, Sasha takes you on a journey like no other. I honestly had a great time reading this book. I think people who want a slightly more mature Percy Jackson would really love this book!