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The Whitewashed Asylum
187 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2025
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 9, 2025
OVERALL RATING: 6 stars. Period.
MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR: Hi, Leah!!! I don't know if you have GoodReads, so I don't know if you'll ever see this (maybe I'll just email you after writing my review and tell you about it... hehehee), BUT... I. LOVE. YOUR. BOOK!!! I finished it last night, and OH MY GOODNESS YOU DID AMAZING, I'M SO FRICKEN PROUD OF YOU! <3 <3 <3 I can't believe my friend from birth (even though we only see each other a few times a year *cries), YOU,
THE PROCESS: I honestly have no idea how you kept this, your very own, first self-published book, a secret for-- how long? A year? Over a year? I mean, I'd assume it would take over a year to write a book mostly by yourself, y'know? That's IMPRESSIVE. I wouldn't be able to contain my happiness lol. But, I'm glad that you had at least SOMEONE (*coughcoughHuntercough) to rant to about it/during the whole process of writing your book. I would most likely implode from not being able to tell anyone, so I'm, once again, glad you had your brother (and parents, of course).
THE WRITING: Okay. I genuinely LOVED your writing style. It was so simple. And, in my opinion, for the most part, I enjoy simpler writing, because I think that it allows the reader to experience YOUR story and YOUR ideas through THEIR imaginations and minds. I, personally, think that everyone has such different imaginations and minds, that when someone as an author and/or writer tries to describe every moment with the most detail in order to get the reader to see that moment/scene/dialogue/view/experience in the story EXACTLY how THEY, the author, sees/imagines it, it causes there to be more of an opportunity for the reader to get bored or bothered. But, sometimes, that's not always the case. Sometimes you really DO need more detail at some part in your story for it to truly unfold perfectly before the readers' eyes and minds. So, I really appreciated and enjoyed how simple your writing was-- and, it also wasn't TOO simple. Like, you described everything perfectly as it was. You didn't over-describe something. You kept it simple, yet understandable/readable and enjoyable, and that drew me into your story more, so great job! <3 OH, ALSO... I just wanted to say that the way you wrote the 'Past' chapters were... honestly incredible. I was just blown away. I genuinely felt like I was seeing and experiencing everything that 17/Skye did AS A LITERAL CHILD, LIKE YOU INTENDID, AND IT WAS SO. GOSH. DANG. COOL!!! The way you made her think seemed exactly like a young kid would, and I don't think I've ever read anything like it before, so it was a new and SUPER creative and cool experience for me as a reader. I always looked forward to the 'Past' chapters.
THE CHARACTERS: I think my favorite character was 17/Skye when she was a child lol. She made me laugh out loud and AHHHH HER MOMENTS WITH HER MOM WERE SO FREAKIN SAD YET CUUUUUUTTEE!!!! Oh, and Andre... hehehe, he was SO sweet. I just wish we got to see him more.
THE WHOLE STORY IDEA: The story of the book was REALLY creative. I honestly have no other words. It was just so cool. How did you come up with it?? What or who gave you the idea???
THE ENDING: OH, goodness... the ENDING. I honestly felt like I released stress when they finally escaped the building/asylum lol. The ONLY thing I wished that happened in the ending was when/if 17/Skye reunited with her mom. I would probably cry lol, and I felt so bad that like her mom just LOST HER DAUGHTER FOR, WHAT, OVER 10 YEARS??? LIKE WHAT!?!? I also think that you could make separately, maybe, a back story of the Asylum and how it began and WHY THE HECK THE STOLE CHILDREN FOR SOME KIND OF EXPERIMENTS?? That's another thing I loved about this book. Is the constant mystery and questions that popped up. Even though some/most of the questions I still have never got answered... BUT... It makes me want more lol.
CONCLUSION: Anyyyyyway, I should probably go do school now lol... I just wanted to share my thoughts on MY FRIENDS SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK... (Anyone who is reading this, PLEEEEEEASE GO ORDER HER BOOK ON AMAZON, LEAH IS SO TALENTED!!!) I hope you keep writing, Leah! Never stop! God gave you this gift, so keep it up-- and most of all, for His glory! I can't wait to see what you do next!!! I'M SO HYPED!!! Anyway, once again, GREAT JOB! THIS IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT, GIRL! I love you so much, Leah! Ciao!
Love, your friend, Lucy <3
MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR: Hi, Leah!!! I don't know if you have GoodReads, so I don't know if you'll ever see this (maybe I'll just email you after writing my review and tell you about it... hehehee), BUT... I. LOVE. YOUR. BOOK!!! I finished it last night, and OH MY GOODNESS YOU DID AMAZING, I'M SO FRICKEN PROUD OF YOU! <3 <3 <3 I can't believe my friend from birth (even though we only see each other a few times a year *cries), YOU,
THE PROCESS: I honestly have no idea how you kept this, your very own, first self-published book, a secret for-- how long? A year? Over a year? I mean, I'd assume it would take over a year to write a book mostly by yourself, y'know? That's IMPRESSIVE. I wouldn't be able to contain my happiness lol. But, I'm glad that you had at least SOMEONE (*coughcoughHuntercough) to rant to about it/during the whole process of writing your book. I would most likely implode from not being able to tell anyone, so I'm, once again, glad you had your brother (and parents, of course).
THE WRITING: Okay. I genuinely LOVED your writing style. It was so simple. And, in my opinion, for the most part, I enjoy simpler writing, because I think that it allows the reader to experience YOUR story and YOUR ideas through THEIR imaginations and minds. I, personally, think that everyone has such different imaginations and minds, that when someone as an author and/or writer tries to describe every moment with the most detail in order to get the reader to see that moment/scene/dialogue/view/experience in the story EXACTLY how THEY, the author, sees/imagines it, it causes there to be more of an opportunity for the reader to get bored or bothered. But, sometimes, that's not always the case. Sometimes you really DO need more detail at some part in your story for it to truly unfold perfectly before the readers' eyes and minds. So, I really appreciated and enjoyed how simple your writing was-- and, it also wasn't TOO simple. Like, you described everything perfectly as it was. You didn't over-describe something. You kept it simple, yet understandable/readable and enjoyable, and that drew me into your story more, so great job! <3 OH, ALSO... I just wanted to say that the way you wrote the 'Past' chapters were... honestly incredible. I was just blown away. I genuinely felt like I was seeing and experiencing everything that 17/Skye did AS A LITERAL CHILD, LIKE YOU INTENDID, AND IT WAS SO. GOSH. DANG. COOL!!! The way you made her think seemed exactly like a young kid would, and I don't think I've ever read anything like it before, so it was a new and SUPER creative and cool experience for me as a reader. I always looked forward to the 'Past' chapters.
THE CHARACTERS: I think my favorite character was 17/Skye when she was a child lol. She made me laugh out loud and AHHHH HER MOMENTS WITH HER MOM WERE SO FREAKIN SAD YET CUUUUUUTTEE!!!! Oh, and Andre... hehehe, he was SO sweet. I just wish we got to see him more.
THE WHOLE STORY IDEA: The story of the book was REALLY creative. I honestly have no other words. It was just so cool. How did you come up with it?? What or who gave you the idea???
THE ENDING: OH, goodness... the ENDING. I honestly felt like I released stress when they finally escaped the building/asylum lol. The ONLY thing I wished that happened in the ending was when/if 17/Skye reunited with her mom. I would probably cry lol, and I felt so bad that like her mom just LOST HER DAUGHTER FOR, WHAT, OVER 10 YEARS??? LIKE WHAT!?!? I also think that you could make separately, maybe, a back story of the Asylum and how it began and WHY THE HECK THE STOLE CHILDREN FOR SOME KIND OF EXPERIMENTS?? That's another thing I loved about this book. Is the constant mystery and questions that popped up. Even though some/most of the questions I still have never got answered... BUT... It makes me want more lol.
CONCLUSION: Anyyyyyway, I should probably go do school now lol... I just wanted to share my thoughts on MY FRIENDS SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK... (Anyone who is reading this, PLEEEEEEASE GO ORDER HER BOOK ON AMAZON, LEAH IS SO TALENTED!!!) I hope you keep writing, Leah! Never stop! God gave you this gift, so keep it up-- and most of all, for His glory! I can't wait to see what you do next!!! I'M SO HYPED!!! Anyway, once again, GREAT JOB! THIS IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT, GIRL! I love you so much, Leah! Ciao!
Love, your friend, Lucy <3
March 19, 2025
Finished reading this book in two sittings couldn’t put it down. So impressed with Leah’s writing :) I feel cool saying I know her.
April 23, 2025
One of my favorite books ever now!!! Leah Colwell is such a fantastic author!
October 16, 2025
This book was delightful! I love the characters and plot. I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!! I can't wait to read more books by this author!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews