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Asylum
June Foster’s summer is limping along. Her life on a 1950′s farm in eastern Washington is boring–full of milking cows, picking apricots and tending to the chicken coops. Her only friends are her record player and her books. But when gorgeous, turquoise-eyed Frank falls into her world, her life becomes anything but ordinary.
June falls for Frank hard and fast–he’s beautiful, impossibly strong, and capable of things ordinary humans are not. But she’s wary about his father Jonas, a creepy man with an agenda. She should be. Suddenly June is deathly ill, falling in and out of consciousness. When she recovers, June and Frank discover Jonas’s deadly plans for her–and June takes revenge.
Convicted of murder, declared insane and sentenced to life at Washington Pines Sanitarium, June is stuck. Jonas’s plans are reaching her beyond the grave, and she suspects that there’s a lot more going on in the sanitarium than group therapy and electric shocks. Something evil has followed her here, or maybe it was waiting for her all along. If Frank doesn’t break her out soon, she’ll lose her mind–and her life.
June falls for Frank hard and fast–he’s beautiful, impossibly strong, and capable of things ordinary humans are not. But she’s wary about his father Jonas, a creepy man with an agenda. She should be. Suddenly June is deathly ill, falling in and out of consciousness. When she recovers, June and Frank discover Jonas’s deadly plans for her–and June takes revenge.
Convicted of murder, declared insane and sentenced to life at Washington Pines Sanitarium, June is stuck. Jonas’s plans are reaching her beyond the grave, and she suspects that there’s a lot more going on in the sanitarium than group therapy and electric shocks. Something evil has followed her here, or maybe it was waiting for her all along. If Frank doesn’t break her out soon, she’ll lose her mind–and her life.
ebook
First published March 19, 2013
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About the author
Jenny E. Miller
2 books6 followersJenny Miller grew up in Seattle, writing sappy (illustrated!) novels for her obliging parents. She studied creative writing at the University of Washington and holds a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University. She still lives in the Emerald City with her husband, two kids, and a dog who thinks he’s a cat. ASYLUM is her first novel.
You can find her at Jennyemiller.com and her food and humor blog RainyDayGal.com.
You can find her at Jennyemiller.com and her food and humor blog RainyDayGal.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 3, 2013
What a great surprise! I've had Asylum on my Kindle for a while now and I'm so glad I finally read it. I loved this book---it was unique, had a fast-paced plot, and had tons of mystery and suspense that kept me guessing.
Asylum was a very intense read. The subject matter is heavy enough on its own: a young girl convicted of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment in an insane asylum. And all of this happens in the 1950's, when psychiatric care was much more rudimentary than it is now. I used to work in a hospital and had to regularly work with patients in a locked psychiatric unit. I know first-hand what those places are like, and to think of June, a mere teenager, being stuck in there for the rest of her life broke my heart for her.
Each chapter alternates between present and past tense. I love that kind of storytelling: I think it keeps the book very interesting. Asylum is a fairly long book with a very detailed plot. I loved that--too often the plots in YA novels are very simple and that can get boring. There was nothing boring about Asylum, that's for sure. Miller kept me guessing for the entire story and I could not wait to find out what would happen at the end.
I did not know this when I started Asylum but there is a magical realism aspect to the story. I haven't read much from that genre but I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. It was unique and well-developed.
There were so many things I loved about Asylum, but I had one complaint: I finished the book with a lot of unanswered questions. I like it when series novels leave some things open, but there were too many issues left open in my opinion. I would have liked more closure.
The open ending doesn't keep me from recommend Asylum, however. I thought it was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Jenny Miller.
Asylum was a very intense read. The subject matter is heavy enough on its own: a young girl convicted of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment in an insane asylum. And all of this happens in the 1950's, when psychiatric care was much more rudimentary than it is now. I used to work in a hospital and had to regularly work with patients in a locked psychiatric unit. I know first-hand what those places are like, and to think of June, a mere teenager, being stuck in there for the rest of her life broke my heart for her.
Each chapter alternates between present and past tense. I love that kind of storytelling: I think it keeps the book very interesting. Asylum is a fairly long book with a very detailed plot. I loved that--too often the plots in YA novels are very simple and that can get boring. There was nothing boring about Asylum, that's for sure. Miller kept me guessing for the entire story and I could not wait to find out what would happen at the end.
I did not know this when I started Asylum but there is a magical realism aspect to the story. I haven't read much from that genre but I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. It was unique and well-developed.
There were so many things I loved about Asylum, but I had one complaint: I finished the book with a lot of unanswered questions. I like it when series novels leave some things open, but there were too many issues left open in my opinion. I would have liked more closure.
The open ending doesn't keep me from recommend Asylum, however. I thought it was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Jenny Miller.
March 29, 2013
I was approached by the author to read and review this for her.
When I saw the synopsis for this book, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. I mean, 1950s and an asylum? That's just awesome. It's the hay-day of mental institutions that were truly awful. I wanted to see what this would do with that premise.
Every chapter in this story jumps between what happened at the beginning of the summer and what happens now in the fall. It takes a little while to get used to when you're reading, but it created a neat effect of feeling like two stories in one.
I really liked the stuff that happened inside the asylum. There were some other girls there as well that were interesting characters to say the least. It's a different kind of scenery than I usually read about.
However, there was a part of the story I just wasn't expecting and therefore did not really enjoy. There's a twist added to the story very early on and I just sighed when I got to it. It's not mentioned anywhere in the synopsis, but it's there in the early chapters. So great. Not what I was expecting, but I guess I can work with this. And then there were more dramatic twists added that made me kind of want to roll my eyes. Ok, whatever.
It wasn't that the story was bad. It wasn't. It was actually quite thrilling. It just wasn't what I was expecting, which was a historical fiction focusing on a girl housed in an insane asylum. But most of the story is in her flashbacks and with this incredibly important plot twist involved that changes everything. Not the best story I've read, but it's not bad.
When I saw the synopsis for this book, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it. I mean, 1950s and an asylum? That's just awesome. It's the hay-day of mental institutions that were truly awful. I wanted to see what this would do with that premise.
Every chapter in this story jumps between what happened at the beginning of the summer and what happens now in the fall. It takes a little while to get used to when you're reading, but it created a neat effect of feeling like two stories in one.
I really liked the stuff that happened inside the asylum. There were some other girls there as well that were interesting characters to say the least. It's a different kind of scenery than I usually read about.
However, there was a part of the story I just wasn't expecting and therefore did not really enjoy. There's a twist added to the story very early on and I just sighed when I got to it. It's not mentioned anywhere in the synopsis, but it's there in the early chapters. So great. Not what I was expecting, but I guess I can work with this. And then there were more dramatic twists added that made me kind of want to roll my eyes. Ok, whatever.
It wasn't that the story was bad. It wasn't. It was actually quite thrilling. It just wasn't what I was expecting, which was a historical fiction focusing on a girl housed in an insane asylum. But most of the story is in her flashbacks and with this incredibly important plot twist involved that changes everything. Not the best story I've read, but it's not bad.
May 13, 2013
I loved this book, at least I did after a while. It was well written and you never knew what happens next in this book and that will keep your interest in the story. It was fun to read a story who took place in the 1950's with both the paranormal aspect and insanity part it was a great mix that really made this story intriguing.
At first I had some problems with the main character, she felt so distant to everything that was happening to her. Like she had no feelings at all, but after a while when I got to know her better I really liked her character and sort of understood her as well. she has a very strong mind and sometimes perhaps a little too strong and I think that is one reason I felt like she was emotionless at some points in the story. But how would one cope with everything she has been trough. Perhaps just like that.
I loved, loved, loved mr superboy Frank. Even though he was something out of the ordinary he was so down to earth and realistic. He was June's anchor I think in this story.
This book had a real cliffhanger and I can't wait to read more of this story. By the end I was so hooked I thought there was something wrong with my kindle since I couldn't change page after that last line. I couldn't believe that was the end! I am so curious about what will come next and how June will handle it.
At first I had some problems with the main character, she felt so distant to everything that was happening to her. Like she had no feelings at all, but after a while when I got to know her better I really liked her character and sort of understood her as well. she has a very strong mind and sometimes perhaps a little too strong and I think that is one reason I felt like she was emotionless at some points in the story. But how would one cope with everything she has been trough. Perhaps just like that.
I loved, loved, loved mr superboy Frank. Even though he was something out of the ordinary he was so down to earth and realistic. He was June's anchor I think in this story.
This book had a real cliffhanger and I can't wait to read more of this story. By the end I was so hooked I thought there was something wrong with my kindle since I couldn't change page after that last line. I couldn't believe that was the end! I am so curious about what will come next and how June will handle it.
May 30, 2013
In the 1950s, while Elvis and Buddy Holly are burning up the charts, June Foster finds herself in Washington Pines Sanitarium. She sentenced by the judge to spend the rest of her life there after being found not guilty by reason of insanity for committing a murder. She’s making some new friends, such as her roommate Clem, but Washington Pines isn’t all nice therapists and meds. Then we go back to the beginning of June’s troubles. As we travel with June toward the inevitable and beyond, things aren’t always as they seem…
‘Asylum’ pulls you in fast and deep within the first chapter. It’s amazing how believable June’s situation is and it makes you wonder “what if?”. June’s mother and her new boyfriend’s father are involved in the use of experimental drugs on children. Watching June put all the pieces together I can totally understand why she snapped. I liked June and Cal, her mom’s boyfriend (who cared for June more than her own mother), and I also really liked Clem and some of the other girls in the sanitarium. ‘Asylum’ does end in a cliffhanger, but thankfully there’s an excerpt of the next book to whet your appetite. ‘Asylum’ is a tricky thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Asylum Saga: Asylum (1), Descent (2)
‘Asylum’ pulls you in fast and deep within the first chapter. It’s amazing how believable June’s situation is and it makes you wonder “what if?”. June’s mother and her new boyfriend’s father are involved in the use of experimental drugs on children. Watching June put all the pieces together I can totally understand why she snapped. I liked June and Cal, her mom’s boyfriend (who cared for June more than her own mother), and I also really liked Clem and some of the other girls in the sanitarium. ‘Asylum’ does end in a cliffhanger, but thankfully there’s an excerpt of the next book to whet your appetite. ‘Asylum’ is a tricky thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Asylum Saga: Asylum (1), Descent (2)
February 2, 2014
This is a fantastic book. I can't remember a sympathetic strong female protagonist like this one. I wasn't sure about the genre or the story or anything when I started this book. I have to admit I was predisposed to dislike it. I bought it simply to be nice to someone who knows the author and I didn't have any expectations that it would be any good. Luckily I was hooked from the first page. I kept thinking, one more chapter and I will put it down for the night. I ended up reading it in one sitting that lasted into the wee hours.
I enjoyed it a lot and I recommend it.
I enjoyed it a lot and I recommend it.
July 11, 2013
This book is a gripping read. I didn't want to but it down. The magical realism was surprising, but as a whole it works fairly well. i like the flipping back and forth from past to present... Quite a good showing for a first time author.
Editing notes: The kindle version, especially towards the end, needs editing - there were several sentences I had to re-read because off poor punctuation. Character names were mixed up, too. Those should be fixed in future versions.
Editing notes: The kindle version, especially towards the end, needs editing - there were several sentences I had to re-read because off poor punctuation. Character names were mixed up, too. Those should be fixed in future versions.
June 22, 2013
It was not what I was expecting at all but WOW it was worth the read. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come because so many things were left open. I started reading it thinking it was about a girl in a asylum not sure where it was going to go and I was really surprised as to where it went.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews