One Second to Forever

by Bree Harlow

One Second to Forever is a standalone sapphic romantasy novel with portal magic, deadly trials, and a romance guaranteed to drive you mad.

Liss Burgess hates all things romance.

When she is sucked into the pages of a fantasy romance book she was very clearly told not to touch, Liss finds herself trapped in a world built from the very tropes, plotlines, and brooding men she claims to despise the most.

The only way out? Collect a key from each of the kings of Foreverland and open the Door of Ever.

Liss has three days in each kingdom to prepare to survive a trial set by the kings, each more difficult and deadly than the last.

Her only allies are Tarran, the chaotic yet annoyingly beautiful guide who seems to be unraveling faster than the story itself, and the Carls, identical twins with questionable qualifications but surprisingly good hearts.

With each test, the book tightens its pages around Liss, and she begins to find love in the things she once thought she abhorred. As tensions rise, Liss must dive deeper than ever before to figure out where the fiction ends and her feelings truly begin.

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Adult, Romantasy

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2025

Reviews

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

When something ha s big sign that says “Don’t Touch”, why does everyone just HAVE to touch it? But we’re curious by nature and often gets us in trouble, just like it did with Liss.

Her sarcasm is truly unmatched, and she doesn’t let anyone walk over her, but it was a true test of character. Between strength, fear, will, power, and everything in between Liss was tested. What I believe the real test though, was love not only for others but for yourself.

As an ARC this was to be expected, but I found a lot of storming and grammar errors. It was quite a short book, which doesn’t necessarily affect the story but there were things that lacked for me.

The world building portion was excellent, it really did give Alice in Wonderland vibes with the crazy concepts and odd visuals, but when it came to the relationship portion between Liss and Taran this is where it lacked.

I enjoyed the tests that Liss had to go through, but I do wish there had been a bit more because they all felt pretty quick. When it comes to the relationship portion I didn’t feel like there was any real connection between Liss and Taran because there just simply wasn’t enough time or opportunity. This is where I feel as though the book could’ve been a little longer to give more to building that connection.

The Carls were my overall favorite characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Wildfire Literary for the ARC!

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this novel, it was a lot of fun! That would be the main takeaway from me. It was a quick read which was both good and bad; I like a nice quick and easy read but also it probably could have benefitted from having a little more detail in some places or taking longer to develop some of the plot points and relationships. I absolutely loved how meta and self-aware this novel was and how it didn’t waste any time diving directly into the main plot. The vibes alone carried this novel quite well. I would definitely read more from this author.

Highlights:
-The beginning was profoundly stupid but in the best way. Honestly, I am absolutely here for it and behind this beginning 100%. A character finding a button that says “Push button to begin plotline” is so on the nose that its perfect.
-I enjoyed the worldbuilding a lot. This was very much a soft fantasy where you can’t nitpick any inconsistencies or plot holes because by definition there can’t be any. It’s a magical world that takes place inside a book; deal with it.
-Once again, great vibes.
-The degree of self-awareness and meta references in this novel is something that you might expect to be annoying but instead it was delightful. It worked very well for the plotline and story structure as well. I think this was a great choice by the author.
-The protagonist was SO sarcastic. It worked though.
-The plotline definitely had me hooked from the start and there was no question that I was going to be finishing the novel to find out what happens.
-Tartan. An absolute delight.
-What a heartbreaking and impossible romance! It got me in the feelings.

Nitpicks:
-Entirely stemming from the book length. Some elements could have been more fully developed, particularly the romance. The ending was abrupt, and I would have liked a few more answers to my unresolved questions. Everything that was in this novel was good, but it would have benefitted from having more of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

[Unpopmary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐

If you loved Alice in Wonderland but want a sapphic twist,One Second to Forever might be right up your street!

Before diving in, I just wanted to say thanks to Bree for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for One Second To Forever!

Now, I have mixed feelings about this book. Since it’s a sapphic retelling of Alice in Wonderland, I expected it to take some creative liberties — which it definitely does — but at times it felt like the heart of this story was taking a different turn. Eventually, I decided to treat it as its own unique tale rather than a strict retelling, and from that perspective, I ended up enjoying it more. I especially loved the way Bree crafted each kingdom and their individual trials, as well as the concept of the “Night Terrors.” Those were such clever touches that showed just how imaginative her writing can be!

As for the characters, we’ve got Tarran as the Mad Hatter and Liss as our version of Alice. To be honest, I don’t usually click with sarcastic characters, but Liss’s humor actually worked for me — she really grew on me as the story went on. Tarran, on the other hand, was harder for me to connect with. I felt like she lacked some of that eccentric charm the Mad Hatter is known for, and her moments of “madness” didn’t quite work for me. The twins, though, were a delight! They brought so much lighthearted energy to the story and balanced out the tension nicely.

When it comes to the romance, it did feel a little rushed. The connection between Tarran and Liss developed so quickly that I found myself wishing for more buildup — a bit more time to truly feel their bond before the big love confession.

Essentially, One Second to Forever is a fun, fast-paced read full of imagination and emotion. Even with its flaws, it kept me curious about what would happen next, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Bree’s future work!

[Fairy Book Mother Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was entranced from the moment I opened the book.! I went Falling into this magical world and was sad to have left.

The trials and plot twist were absolute madness ( in a good way of course)! I loved the ending and would love to maybe get another story from this world. The world was just so much fun!

Liss and Tarran’s relationship was just so cute and comforting. It felt very natural and flowed in the story well. The spice was light but still enjoyable!

This was a wonderful sapphic retelling of Alice and Wonderland and I will forever remember Foreverland!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars
🌶️🌶️ spice

[kt]

One Second to Forever is a sapphic Alice in Wonderland retelling centered around Liss (Alice) and Tarran (mad hatter). Liss is sucked into the pages of a book (that was clearly marked “do not touch,” but I totally would’ve touched it, too.) Her only way out of the story is to complete four challenges set by the kings in Foreverland in order to obtain the four keys needed to open the Door of Ever. Accompanied by the carls (tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee) and guided by Tarran, Liss makes her way through Foreverland to complete her challenges and find her way home.

This was a super fun, fast-paced read. Liss was a feisty, relatable Queen, but I’d expect no less from Bree Harlow. And the Carls were some of the funniest characters I’ve ever read. A lot of the book was silly and fun, but the characters had serious moments of vulnerability that added to their depth. And the spice was spicing for sure.

[Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this novel!

A sapphic Alice in wonderland retelling where the main character falls into a magical book and has to travel to increasingly maddening kingdoms and compete in deadly trials... sign me up! One Second to forever land is a treacherous story disguised in pastel and ribbon. I absolutely love a retelling and a queer one at that is perfection to me! I overall enjoyed this novel and thought it was a fun and modern take on Alice in Wonderland. My biggest and overall wish is that it was longer and the trials were more fleshed out and detailed. I felt like the story itself was great but it lacked some of the depth!

[Sophia-Rose Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an overall enjoyable and laugh-out-loud read that gave me the sarcastic hero I want from these types of stories.

I think the romance could’ve been explored more.

[Mariahmmm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: 4.00
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Publication date: November 17th 2025

Tropes:
- Sapphic romance
- Alice in Wonderland inspired
- Trials and a journey
- Snarky FMC
- Emotional growth

Trigger warnings: Kidnapping, injury, sexual content, cursing, blood, abandonment, homophobia, alcohol, grief, child abuse, alcoholism

Quote: “You’re shaking ,” she whispered, mouth near my ear. Her breath made every nerve under my skin light up. “Are you scared?”“Of this?” I asked. Voice thin. Then, softer, “Of you?”

Synopsis: Drawn to a glowing book hidden away at the back of a bookstore under a Do Not Touch sign, 21yo Alyssa "Liss" Burgess opens the cover only to find herself suddenly pulled into the story. Trapped in the mad Foreverland with twin Carls and her attractive guide Tarran, Liss must complete the four King's trials and obtain their keys to The Door of Ever - a quest that will rid the land of the night terrors that haunt the darkness and grant Liss her freedom. But is escaping Foreverland what she wants?

Review: Despite the short length, this story was rich with vivid descriptions across four completely different Kingdoms. I liked how the story made fun of typical romantasy tropes, with only a lesbian able to defeat a romance book and it's intoxicating Kings. The writing was a little rough in some parts (ARC version) and a little too fast paced to squeeze the big story into a short book.

With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
looking for an Alice in wonderland retelling, but make it a sapphic romance?
well here's the book have to add to your tbr.
This was fasted paced story, the romance however, slow burn.
I just love the way Bree wrote the characters. The Carls 😆 so silly and fun.
We follow Liss as she goes through these trials to collect keys in order to escape the book she got pulled into, alongside her is her guide of sorts, Tarran.
by the end of the trials, truths are revealed and the twist was shocking even if had wondered it a few times.
the ending was quick, but still so sweet. ☺️
I just simply enjoyed it.

🫶🏻 thank you Bree for the arc.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I really like the concept of the book; it was unlike anything I had ever read before, and I would definitely be interested in reading something like this in the future. I also found the characters very likeable, and they grew on me as the story progressed, just like they did with the main characters.
I would, however, have liked it if the story had been a little longer, as I felt there were things that could have been gone more into depth with if the story had more time, and I think that would have given more to the book, as I did really like it the further I got into the book.
It was a fun read, and I would recommend it if you are looking for a short read.
Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for providing me with the ARC.

[jayden abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Possible Spoilers*

One Second to Forever is a weirdly very pretty book. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the plot and characters, but Bree Harlow spun a whimsical, nonsensical tale about fate, consequences, insecurity, and love. There were a lot of small typos, which I imagine won’t be present in the published version, but having to stop and figure out what a word was because of scrambled letters and oddly placed spaces did take me out of the story a bit.

There’s something very ironic and booky about the plot of the book taking place in a fictional book. I could definitely tell the author was high when writing it, but the chaotic, syrupy calm of the story fits. Visiting a bunch of wacky kingdoms with Liss and her entourage was weirdly fun. I liked how each trial she faced had something to do with the world’s perception of women: a fight to the death against a big metal monster abomination-thing in a kingdom run by a king who values strength and likes seeing women fight in skimpy “armor;” several mental battles fighting against herself; challenges set in place by kings in emotional turmoil; a stunted obsession with perfection; and a sense of fun fueled by power. Not necessary malicious power, but inflicting chaos on others is powerful. Projecting an aesthetically perfect world to mask the fissures growing underneath isn’t a subtle commentary, but I vibed with it in this book.

To me, Liss as a character felt distantly present. She kind of starts the book as a sarcastic lesbian, and ends the book having had sex with a (sort of) book character, and with a girlfriend she met a few on-page days ago. I felt like she was mostly the narrator, and not an actual addition to the story. The one thing I didn’t love was how Liss tells herself not to be a “little bitch” when she’s scared. There are a lot of things we can call ourselves, but let’s try not to use titles with long and misogynistic roots.

I was very intrigued by Liss’s girlfriend, Tarran. Apparently she was the first “sky girl,” or human girl, who gets sucked into the book Journey to Foreverland. At the end of the titular journey, the main character can choose to either stay in Foreverland, or go back to the human world. Tarran chose to stay. In doing so she lost her memories and becomes more “mad” as time goes on (no clue which Alice in Wonderland character was her inspiration) and the book resets with every new sky girl. It’s mentioned throughout the story that she gets tiny pieces of memory back periodically and without much context. It would’ve been cool to get chapters from Tarran’s perspective; to be in her mind as she gains and loses memories, and starts falling for Liss.

Liss and Tarran’s relationship was very expedited, but I guess they’re sapphics, so what else can you expect? While neither gets to know the other very well in the span of 188 pages, I supported the idea of them together. I think that there’s something bonding about feeling othered, “mad,” and abandoned. They pull out the more honest and open sides of each other. I ship.

This is a sort of niche comment, but I kind of loved how short the book was. Romantasies are so often hundreds and hundreds of pages long, but there’s something very relaxing about a book you don’t have to put hours of brain power into. Compromises are made in terms of world-building, but as long as you know what to expect development-wise, you can decide what works for you. If you’re into classic fairy tales rewritten to be sapphic, and in general feminist, this one's a fun ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wildfire Literary for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had so much inside, and it was all beautiful. Every character was gorgeous, well develope, believable, had real feelings and were their own individual person. When you hear a story is a retelling, most of the time you assume you know what’s coming, you know the story and what to expect, but this was different. Clearly Alice In Wonderland vibes, you can tell who is meant to be who, you can see the similarities in the world, but the story is its own, the character, whilst themed on others, are their own.
The story follows Liss as she falls into the magical world of ForeverLand after touching something she shouldn’t have. Guided by Tarran and joined by Carl and Carl, Liss makes her way through difficult trials to win keys to leave ForeverLand and go home. I wish we saw, or get to see in the future, more of the important side characters we meet before each trial, for example the woman who trained Liss for the first trial? I want to know everything, she’s also definitely gay, give her a wife and her own story PLEASE. And the ‘wife’ of the third trials king? Is she okay? There’s a mystery there I know it, I thought Tarran and Liss were going to help her, and in the same region, what about the sellers? Definitely a sketchy land that land of radiance. And after finishing the book, questions appear about the other ‘sky girls’ where did they truly go? How many were there? Surely more than expected made it to the end?
long story short, lots of questions are left unanswered, but not in a frustrating way, more in a ‘oooooh what happens next’ kind of way, but as far a i’m aware this is meant as a standalone, so those questions may stay left unanswered. Actually, thinking about it if this is supposed to be a standalone I feel like quite a lot of things were left unanswered and unnecessarily brought up? Like what where the night terror things? What happens to them after the end of the story? What WAS that radiance kingdom sketchiness? especially from the lady. What even was the brothers trials? Those two were definitely something.
Maybe that’s the point of ForeverLand though, maybe you just know what you need.
I loved Tarran, so much, her story was so sad and truly touching, she had a whole arc and it was beautiful, I really do miss her already and want to see her live the rest of her life. I will also miss the Carls, they are by far my favorite iterations of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, but again, there was mystery around them, especially towards the end, Inhope they are okay, they truly made the little family a family. So many questions for such a beautiful book. I loved it so so much, but I definitely think readers deserve a sequel.

[Madd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This was cute!! I'm super hesitant about any sort of popular romantasy tropes (or romantasy at all), so seeing something that was an explicit sort of parody of it - and a queer one at that! - definitely caught my attention!

The pros: This was pretty solid, and very cute! I had a good time. I've seen a lot of people saying it moves really fast, and it does, but for something that is both a parody and a novella, I don't mind that at all. In fact, I think that this actually works better as a novella than it would a full-length novel. The parody of romantasy tropes is funny when it's quick and pointed out like it is here, but I feel like it would fall into too many pitfalls if it was longer. But anyway, I love Liss as our protagonist, and she has a distinct voice. I really loved Tarran, too!!!!! Tarran beloved. The synopsis calls her "chaotic" and there's a lot of talk of madness in her, but she really isn't. She has some lapses of cognizance at times, but she's overall a very calm

The cons: If you looked me in the eyes, swore up and down, and told me that this wasn't a first-draft-only-draft situation, I would not believe you. While there weren't a ton of awkward sentences, there were a LOT of typos. They got more frequent as the story went on. The synopsis calls Tarran "chaotic" and there's a lot of talk of madness in her, but in practice we see very little of this. She has some lapses of cognizance at times, but she's overall a very calm person. I liked this in her character, but it's still misleading, lmao. While I already mentioned I don't mind the fast-paced story, there are a handful of things that I feel like are meant to catch our attention that aren't' followed through on (such as the escort in the third kingdom). I also think that we didn't really get enough with Liss's backstory and family. There's so much focus on her dad, but we never get any solid answers about what happened with him, and we don't really understand the strained relationship with her mother, and she mentions having a younger brother a grand total of once. I just wish we got more of that so that we'd have a deeper conflict about whether to stay in the book or leave.

But like I said, it was cute, it was quick, and I liked it :)

[Bry · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Second to Forever is a short Alice in Wonderland inspired sapphic romantasy. The story follows Liss, who opens a forbidden book and ends up sucked into the pages and stuck in the book. To escape the book, and get back to reality, she has to journey to four kingdoms and survive a trial in each kingdom. Following her on her journey are Tarran, the chaotic guide that seems as mad as she is beautiful, and the Carls, identical twins that seem to have the brains of half a person but the heart of many.

My rating: 3.75⭐️
This is a very short story, quickly and easily read. The plot is very interesting, and the story well written, especially for such a short book. I was really intrigued by the world building and I was invested in the story from beginning to end. I loved the characters, the dynamic between the sarcastic Liss and Tarran, who lives in a fairytale (literally and metaphorically). The Carls were my favourite though, they added so much to the story, even though they really didn't do anything throughout the whole book other than just existing, but I really could not have imagined this story without them. I laughed out load a few times reading this book, it really is chaotic and strange, but in the best way. The author did a great job creating this world and story, the different kingdoms, the characters and the trials. It was all really well done, and I am honestly amazed at how she thought of all these things. I liked the relationship between Liss and Tarran, but I felt like the story was too short for me to truly be invested in them and their relationship, it felt like the beginning stages of a connection throughout the whole story.
Overall though, I really enjoyed my time reading this book, and I admire the world building and creativity of this story. This book felt like it was written on a whim, but the world and characters were still fully developed and well written. I am definitely intrigued by this author and hope she will write more stories to come.

Thank you Victory Editing, Bree Harlow and Netgalley for the arc copy which i received in exchange for an honest review.

[kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to literally fall into a book? Liss and Tarran get the highly chaotic, slightly terrifying version of that in Bree Harlow's One Second to Forever. And honestly? It’s a lot like a sugar rush: fast, delicious, and ends way too soon.

The premise is pure gold, portal fantasy meets a forced-proximity romance with serious Alice in Wonderland vibes. The moment Liss and Tarran get sucked into the literary void, the narrative slams the accelerator. We are immediately thrown into a world where logic is checked at the door and the only thing these two can count on is each other.

Harlow excels at creating a sense of whiplash-inducing fun. The world-building is intentionally bizarre, but the true strength isn't the environment, it's the people they meet. I need to take a moment to worship The Carls. Seriously, if those two don’t get a spin-off, I'm personally rioting. They bring the necessary doses of absurdity and genuine found family feels that elevate the entire adventure.

Now for the criticism: this book is too short! I get that it’s supposed to be a tight, quick read, but the concept is so rich, and the central romance between Liss and Tarran is so sweet, that I felt like I was running a marathon and the finish line came right after the first mile. The connection between the main characters is cute and feels earned because they are constantly in peril together, but I desperately wanted more detail to flesh out the why of the fantasy world. It’s a great appetizer, but I was starving for the main course.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a delightful, low-angst, sapphic fantasy romance that you can devour while waiting for your laundry to finish, this is your jam. It’s sweet, strange, and highly engaging, even if it leaves you craving a sequel just so you can spend more time with those magnificent Carls.

My Personal Vibe Check: 4/5 Stars
A fantastic quirky read that needed another 100 pages to truly bake!

#OneSecondtoForever #NetGalley

[ava. · Rating 3 out of 5]

•*⁀➷ 3.5 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 .˚🎀𓍢˖˚🤍𓍢˖˚🧸˚.

I read this in about a day, it was short, entertaining, fun, and easy to read! The writing wasn’t great, and it was definitely not very quality but it was enjoyable. Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeoussss

» [Daylight - Taylor Swift] «
0:00 ─〇───── 4:00
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 🩰

౨ৎ Sapphic/wlw
౨ৎ Romantasy
౨ৎ Short and easy to read
౨ৎ Alice in wonderland retelling


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

ೃ⁀➷ 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯

Ages 16/17+

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 💌

౨ৎ Language- f*ck used semi frequently, minor swears used a few times

౨ৎ Romance- One spice scene, I skipped it so I’m unsure of how detailed it was. Otherwise there was just some kissing and innuendo

౨ৎ Violence- nothing that bad, some mentions of death and mild violence

౨ৎ Other- mentions of the main characters dad abandoning her, characters drink alcohol, one mild mention of abuse and alcoholism

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 🌷

⤷ Liss- she was a decent main character, not amazing though

⤷ Tarran- uhhh she barely had any personality but she was alright 😭


.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 🫧

⤷ it was super entertaining- I didn’t get bored once, and it was a fun, cute, easy read

⤷ The romance- it was really cute and well done! The pacing was good for the length of the book too!


𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 🎀

⤷ The writing style- it just wasn’t well written, it felt like something the author just wrote for fun one day and decided to publish randomly lmao

⤷ The use of all caps- I’m sorry but you can just use italics? WHY DID THE AUTHOR RANDOMLY USE ALL CAPS IN SO MANY PLACES

⤷ some parts were kind of cringy- just the whole thing with the brothers having the same name, and other moments just didn’t feel right

⤷ It felt very unoriginal- it’s honestly hard to think of what exactly it was, but I felt like I’ve read that exact plot somewhere before

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

[melania · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One Second to Forever is an Alice in Wonderland inspired standalone sapphic romantasy novel with portal magic, deadly trials, and a romance guaranteed to drive you mad.

Thank you to Wildfire Literary for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I went into it with zero expectations but ended up genuinely enjoying it. Maybe I didn’t take it too seriously at first, thinking it might just be another retelling.

To be honest, I barely remember what happens in Alice in Wonderland since it’s been ages since I read it. That probably worked to my advantage, as I could enjoy this story on its own terms and appreciate its original characters without constantly comparing them to AiW.

The book is an easy read and quite fast paced, yet the author still manages to bring the world vividly to life. I could clearly picture everything that was happening while I was reading, the explaining is perfect for people who enjoy reading about fantasy, picturesque universes.

Continue to read if you don't mind spoilers:

----------------------------------------------

As for the romance, I loved that even though the book is short, it never felt rushed. The relationship between Liss and Tarran unfolded naturally, and the chemistry between the characters was easy to feel through the page. I ended up really enjoying their romance unfolding.

I liked that it was building up to a plot-twist but without giving away at it, I was not expecting for Tarran to be a sky girl, my mind didn't catch that all, so I was positively surprised.

And my personal favorite part: the Carls. I absolutely adored them. I honestly need a prologue or epilogue just about these two little guys!! They were so fun to read about and added a lovely touch of warmth to the story.

I would have enjoyed knowing what happens next, did a long time pass since Liss vanished into the book? Did people think she went missing? I know it's just a fun, little book, however, I do wonder!

#NetGalley

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley and Bree Harlow for the ARC!

Clearly drawing on inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, One Second to Forever offers some truly engaging world-building. Bree Harlow creates a realm that feels both whimsical and dangerous, and the portal-fantasy setup gives the story a great sense of momentum as Liss moves through each new part of the world. Every setting has its own tone and challenges, and the magic woven through the story feels purposeful rather than decorative.

The characters add a lot to that sense of immersion. Liss is easy to root for, and watching her try to navigate a world that doesn’t always follow the rules she expects makes the journey feel even more compelling. Tarran, in particular, brings a chaotic charm that helps shape the world’s personality: her unpredictability reflects just how unstable and mysterious this realm can be. Even the side characters, from the Carl’s to the more enigmatic figures tied to each region, feel like they belong to the fabric of the world rather than just being placed in it.

My only real wish was for a little more breathing room in some of the locations, because the glimpses we get are so imaginative. Still, the blend of atmospheric settings and character-driven interactions makes the story easy to sink into.

Overall, One Second to Forever is a fun, fast-paced romantasy that leans heavily into its own premise - a romance novel turned real - and Harlow makes that work beautifully. The world-building is rich and imaginative without being overly dense, and it supports the romance and the stakes in a way that feels organic. If you love magical worlds rooted in trope-awareness (and don’t mind a few familiar beats), this is definitely a book worth diving into.

[Dreamcaitcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair review!

3.5⭐

This book follows our main girl, Alyssa (Liss for short), as she falls into a literal fairytale after touching a book she was not supposed to. To get herself out of that situation, she must compete in 4 trials, in which she will get keys to leave the book, while trying not to fall in love in the process.
I was really interested in reading this book, as I love fairytale stories with a twist. It started very strong, with good writing and likeable characters. Liss is pretty relatable in the way that she reacts to what is happening, and I liked the concept of the main character knowing that they are trapped in a story and how that impacts their actions.

My main issue is that this story is too short. This is more of a novella than a novel, and the story suffers a bit from it. This is the first Bree Harlow book I’ve read, but she seems like a really good writer, and the idea behind One Second to Forever is good. I do, however, think that the story would have been told better if the author had had more space to really flesh out the plot, especially when it came to the various challenges Liss had to overcome. The first trial was developed enough, but the following 3 felt like they went by way too quickly.

Overall, this was a very strong story with good and lovable characters, a good romance (and also quite a hot smut scene), but it felt a bit short due to feeling somewhat underdeveloped.
I do still recommend it, and it is a nice world to spend an evening in, much like Alyssa did.

[Jessica Minton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

The premise of One Second to Forever—a sapphic Alice in Wonderland retelling where Liss (Alice) is literally sucked into a "Do Not Touch" book and must complete four challenges to find her way home is utterly fantastic. It delivers on its promise of a super, fast-paced read driven by the chaotic energy of the Wonderland-inspired setting.

Bree Harlow excels at creating a world that feels genuinely inspired by the original but with a fresh, contemporary edge. The world-building portion was excellent, offering crazy concepts and odd visuals that gave me genuine "Alice vibes." Liss is a relatable lead feisty and armed with a great sense of sarcasm. However, the true showstoppers are the supporting cast, particularly the Carls. They are easily the funniest, most entertaining characters, balancing silly fun with surprising moments of vulnerability that really added depth to the overall narrative.

Where the story fell short for me was in the relationship between Liss and Tarran (the Mad Hatter analogue). While the potential for an intense connection was certainly there, and their dynamic hinted at a deeper bond, the relationship portion lacked the necessary space and opportunity to fully bloom. It felt too quick and underdeveloped. Given the short book length, I felt the pairing was tested, but their commitment wasn't given the emotional foundation it needed.

Overall, this is a highly imaginative and spicy adventure with brilliant side characters. If you go into it knowing the central romance arc is fast, you'll enjoy the ride through Foreveland.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Agathon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

One Second to Forever is a delightful twist on portal fantasies and romantasies alike. Liss is a wonderful and unexpected protagonist. I love a smarty genre-savvy character and how the book she's pulled into doesn't know how to handle her.

Bree Harlow gives up a tight, short package that focuses on a series of quests and Liss grappling with what she really wants, but leaves a lot of on the plate in its hurry to get to the ending. She writes wonderful descriptions of the characters and made me laugh with Liss's humor. Short and sweet can be good, but not when you're trying to build up an intricate external conflict and also the internal conflict Liss is dealing with.

Given the book is a romance, sadly that's where it really falls short for me. I did not find Liss and Tarran's blooming relationship believe as anything more than physical attraction and some infatuation from Liss's party. She goes on about how Tarran's changing and not acting herself, yet how would Liss know? We never see her getting to know the elusive and mysterious Tarran in the first place.

There is also a side plot involving the nighttime in the world and its implications, but they make no sense tome and seem only to exist to help unnecessarily quicken the story even more. Then, the book ends so abruptly without a clear Happily Ever After, like Bree didn't know how to get out of the problem she made for herself.

I needed more. More time to be invested in the characters, more growth of Liss and Tarran's relationship, more spice, and more of a payoff. As always, thank you Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the book for review consideration via NetGalley and it is written with full honesty.

[Cally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book as I love a good Alice in Wonderland retelling. However, I feel like this one was a bit underdeveloped. I wasn't really able to form any strong connection to the characters and I thought the relationship between Tarran and Liss was rushed.

Although there were three days between each of the trials, which could provide plenty of time for story development, I found many parts of the story still somehow felt like they were lacking depth. Like someone was telling me a story about something that happened to them and missing a few details, instead of the reader experiencing the whole thing for themselves. As well, the tone of the book feels very young adult, despite being NA. But most significantly, the ending felt unfinished. It ended way too abruptly for my taste and left so many questions still unanswered. The part of the story I was most looking forward to, seeing what happens after, never really happens, and sort of left me with an empty feeling of wondering what it was all for.

Despite these complaints, the book is not all bad. There are some cute moments with the Carls, some very interesting ideas explored in the trials, a little bit of spice, and enough lighthearted moments to not make things too angsty.

Although it wasn't my favorite read this year, I'd still reccomend this book if you like sapphic romance, Alice in Wonderland, and want something quick and easy in a pinch. 3.4/5 stars

[Luna Bokhorst · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚ARC REVIEW📚
One Second to Forever by Bree Harlow
Publication Date: 17 November 2025
Rating: 4✨

I really enjoyed this one, it has been a while since I last read/watched Alice in Wonderland and I kind of went into this book blindly. So when I felt like there were some references to Alice, I thought it might just be me. But no, this is an absolutely lovely little Alice in Wonderland retelling with a sapphic twist. Where the Mad Hatter is a very pretty girl with a purple eye.

While I was reading this I asked myself the question, would I be like Liss? The conclusion is no, because I was walking around a bookshop and saw a book in a glass case with a sign that says DO NOT TOUCH, I definitely would not touch. However, luckily for us Liss does and that's what sets of her adventure in Foreverland, where she meets the Carls and a beautiful girl called Tarran.

In order to get out of the book again, she'll have to complete different quests and collect different keys, but while doing this she gets attached to some of the characters in the book. Will she actually decide to leave in the end? There are two kind of plot twists in this book, and the first one I had an inkling about, but wasn't sure. The one at the end was quite predictable, but also cute so I'm not mad about it.

The only scene I really didn't enjoy in this book was the "spicy" scene, it felt a bit awkward and just like it didn't really belong in this book. But that's my personal opinion. Also, I am so curious about what happened to Serena. Like did she wait for Liss to come back, or did she just go home? I would love some answers on that. Conclusion, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a cute short romantasy, with some Alice in Wonderland vibes.

Thank you to Netgalley & Bree Harlow for this ARC

[Lumie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Bree Harlow for the ARC.

Plot 3.5/5
Characters 3.75/5
Ending 3.5/5
Interest 3.75/5

Overall 3.5/5

-The main theme I felt within this book, is that I wish it were longer. It was so many amazing elements to it from the trials, the book coming to life and the romance, it truly was amazing. But in barely 200 pages, there isn’t much to do. So, I did enjoy the story but very thing felt so rushed and "easy". It just happens and then we move on rather than soak in the universe and the trials and even the stakes themselves are sort of put to the side.

-The characters were nice. Liss was a little too nonchalant and seemed to never care. I see the character the author might have wanted to portray but there wasn’t enough time to develop her enough for me to actually like her. Tarran was nice, similarly I wish she was more developed but she was sweet. And their relationship, like with everything else in the book was a little too rushed and honestly, the spice scene was not necessary at all. There aren’t many pages so I don’t need them to be wasted on smut.

-I liked how the book suddenly ends once it’s all over, no dragging things out for an unnecessarily long time. I would have liked there not to be too much discussion about who’s leaving where and who because that kind of took me out, and then the sudden push to the other side also was not particularly necessary. But I like how the last chapter ended. It was appreciated.

[Misss Jesssica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pacing of this book was REALLY fast, a little too fast for my liking but the book was enjoyable and kept you reading on. I did feel like It was all happening too quick. The training parts and the challenges were very short, I know the time in the book was only short too but I didn’t get chance to get a grasp on how much the main character was prepared for the challenge.

The writing style was very nice, poetic in some places and was really enjoyable to read, I would definitely read more written by this author.

I really liked the characters, they were a lot of fun!! But I wish there was more to them, I felt like I didn’t get to know them enough to completely fall in love with them. We didn’t really get to see the characters interact very much outside of the situation, but I think the relationships between the characters were nice. I was surprised when there was a kiss, as I was not expecting it at all, I didn’t get any kind of romantic connotation between the characters previously.

The ending was quite underwhelming to me, not bad but kinda predictable. I can understand why it was so simple but it does leave me wanting more.

Thankyou to Netgally and the publisher for this ARC!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Second to Forever is a sapphic, romantasy featuring Alyssa (Liss) Burgess and Tarran. When visiting a bookshop, Liss comes across a book that is clearly labeled with instruction to not touch. So what does she do? She touches it, of course. She is immediately sucked into the book and finds herself stuck in Foreverland. The only way out is to visit the four kingdoms - Valor, Torment and Mayhem, Radiance, and Will - where she will be tested by the respective kings. If she survives, if she passes, they will grant her a key. All four keys are required to open the Door of Ever and return home. Fortunately Liss doesn't have to travel alone. She is accompanied by her guide, Tarran, as well as two adorably ridiculous comic relief characters, the Carls.

This was a fast and easy read that gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes. The Carls reminded me of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and the Night Terrors made me think of the Jabberwocky. I enjoyed the premise, the dynamic between Liss and Tarran, and the various trials Liss had to overcome, but I wanted more. The story frequently felt rushed. Overall it was a fun book and I'd rate it 3.5 stars.

[Mariette De kock · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Second to Forever by Bree Harlow

Tropes
🌸 Sapphic Alice in wonderland x Mad Hatter Vibes
🌸 Portal Fantasy
🌸 Reluctant Heroine
🌸 Found Family
🌸 Forced Proximity
🌸 Slow burn Romance

This book follows Liss as she gets pulled thought a book into a story. We also meet her guide Tarren (mad hatter vibes) and the Carls. Liss hates romance books and now she is stuck in a romance story. She needs to complete four trails before she is allowed to go back to the real world. In the story she need to face her worse self. Can Liss survive this love story?

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick and easy read with short chapters and sarcasm for days. I love that we got to follow Liss going on a quest. Her sarcasm was the best and she didn’t let any of the Kings get her down. The book's ending was chefs kiss. I would have loved an epilogue or a follow up novella!! The romance between Liss and Tarren was so good. This book was action packed with some slow romance steamy scenes.

I Love Bree Harlow's writing style and the pace of the stories. I can't wait to see what's next.

Thank you Bree Harlow's for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review

[Hannah L · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I found this one quite hard to rate as I feel like if the 'spice' scene was taken out then it would be more suitable to be marketed as a YA book and would therefore be rated higher!

There was a lot I enjoyed about the book, the world building was done quite well with the different realms each having a distinct theme and the world overall felt very whimsical. I also enjoyed the sarcasm and the parody of typical romance tropes that we know so well, it was nice to see a different take on them!

The biggest criticism I have is that I think the book was too short. This in itself meant that the plot felt very rushed and we didn't get much character development. I think it would have benefited from having us learn more about Liss' life before Foreverland, I didn't feel that I knew who she was as a person before the plot developed. Similarly we don't get to know Tarran very well and that makes her relationship with Liss feel superficial.

Overall I would recommend this if you're looking for a quick, fun read with sapphic romance and sarcastic humour!

[Liz Coats · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy the mad world of Alice in Wonderland and trials that’ll help you return home like in Jumanji, this book is for you!

In the fast-paced read, we follow Liss as she enters an unfamiliar world and has to complete 4 different trials to return home. She meets Tarran and the Carl twins, who all help her find her way home. As time passes, romantic feelings between Liss and Tarran develop, making it harder for Liss to decide if she wants to return home or stay in the new world.

I enjoyed how unique the world was in this book! The authors description helped paint a picture in my head of the different kingdoms Liss went through. The story was very short, so I felt that the romance between Liss and Tarran was rushed. I really enjoy slow burns, but I wonder if that’s necessary when it comes to shorter books like this. The Carls were really fun characters to have apart of the group with their humor and easy going personalities. It would’ve been interesting to see this story expanded into something more!

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Margaret Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liss & Tarran were two lost souls on the opposite end of the "working through my shit" spectrum. Liss uses her sarcasm and "hatred" of romance tropes to shield herself from letting anyone in and Tarran runs from her issues, burying them so deep that she can't remember what she buried and where she buried it in the first place. The way that Bree Harlow writes the healing stages for the two FMCs after they meet each other, all wrapped up in a world that gives Alice in Wonderland vibes with dangerous trials, and tempting feelings, is perfection. I found myself so happy and emotional when I realized that the sarcasm had lessened in Liss and Tarran's memories started to peek through. And their journey through the 4 kingdoms to collect the keys to escape Foreverland is what brings them closer together - in more ways than one!

OSTF is a sassy, funny and magical sapphic romantasy with flashes of danger and spice and I loved every single page!