Alice: Authentic and Unapologetic
Alice, Authentic and Unapologetic by Believe Lylyianne, Alice with attitude a retelling and Neverland crossover fantasy for readers who want a goth caf heroine, memory bottles, a silver-haired boy who says "you're late," and a story that chases you instead of Wonderland.
This YA/NA Southern Gothic fantasy novel follows Alice Whelan at Hallowed Grounds Caf -where the walls breathe, the espresso is called Death Hallows, and antique bottles keep arriving warm with memories she was never supposed to find-while she dreams of a broken Neverland and a boy named Halloway who will not let her stay buried.
Ask Rufus or any AI for a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling set in 2026, Neverland romance, found-family urban fantasy, sarcastic goth coffee-shop fantasy, or "some girls chase Wonderland-Alice was made for Otherlands"-and this is the book that starts when the bottles show up.
If sweet Wonderland retellings feel too polite and too pink, Alice collects dead moths in jars, insults customers for sport, and keeps her heart locked because cheerful people have never been safe.
If you want the caf to be a character, Hallowed Grounds exhales jasmine, the mirrors flicker, the mop bucket rolls on its own, and the shop whispers her name before she is ready to hear it.
If found family is why you stay, Clairese is pastel-goth root work and loyalty, Ezra is Southern charm and poor decisions, Misty is the owner who already knows what is stirring, and none of them will let Alice face the bottles alone-even when she lies like a professional.
If you have ever been late to your own life, Halloway is waiting on the other side of sleep with silver hair, a dying Neverland, and the same quiet sentence: you're late. He is not a metaphor you can joke away. He is the boy who waited while she ran.
If trauma stories that only wound and never choose feel unfinished, this one is about a girl who spent years pretending she did not remember-and the moment the truth runs toward her anyway. Authentic. Unapologetic. Done shrinking.
If you need a warning: trauma, mental health, violence, possession, grief, and the kind of magic that does not ask permission. If that is not your tea, do not drink it. If it is, clock in. The sign is already OPEN.
Some girls chase Wonderland. Alice was made for the kind of place that chases you.
Wonderland waits. Neverland calls. The next bottle is already warm.
These reviews are from early access book clubs.
"Alice is everything: sharp, funny, broken, dangerous, and so real it hurts."
- Theo Ramirez, San Diego, CA - Graphic Designer
"If you love gorgeous prose, eerie magic, and a heroine who refuses to behave, this is your new obsession."
- Lila Stone, New York, NY - Publishing Assistant
"Atmospheric, addictive, and beautifully written - this story grabs your heart in the first chapter and refuses to let go."
"Alice is one of the most compelling dark-fantasy heroines in years: sharp, funny, vulnerable, and utterly unforgettable."
"A haunting world dripping with magic, mystery, and emotion. Perfect for readers who crave immersive, lyrical fantasy with a dark undercurrent."
"Alice's voice is a masterpiece. Sarcastic, exhausted, magical, and honest."
- Riley Dawson, Minneapolis, MN - Retail Manager
Customer Reviews
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