I have accepted a journal paper for a peer review for the first time. However, given a very limited time to review it, I’m no longer confident about whether to continue or come back from it.

The subject of the paper is my field of research for years. Also, I have many publications in the same area (optimization in wireless sensor networks). That is why I was excited about the experience and decide to accept reviewing the paper. Especially since I was waiting for the opportunity to take a first paper to review.

The problem is that I didn’t give much importance to the due date which is of 20 days. I thought they were enough time to review something you already know. And I didn’t know that practically, a review takes at least one month to three months, till now.

I am in the middle of the required period and I start doubting my decision on accepting to review. I want to ask what should I do.

Should I send an email to the editor explaining my position and declining the review? In that case, wouldn’t that affect my credibility and image in the community?

Or should I continue with the review and do as much as I can with the remaining time? In that case, I could perform a not very high-quality review (for the reason of the very short given time). Wouldn’t that affect again, my image and give a false idea about my capabilities? Another important point is that I could “harm” the paper author and not be “too fair” with the decision on his paper.

So, to resume my question, I have only 10 days or less left to review a journal paper for the first time, and don’t know if it is enough time even for a paper in the heart of my research area.