I have always had a love of early American literature and of the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne in particular. So, when I learned that Laurie Lico Albanese’s new historical fiction novel was an origin story of the character Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, I could not wait to read it. The premise both excited and enticed me. What if Hester Prynne was based on a real person that Hawthorne had a relationship with and that she became his inspiration for both the character and the novel? What if Hester got to tell her own story? I was immediately intrigued.

This is the fascinating tale of Isobel Gamble. Her story begins in Scotland but soon takes her to Salem, Massachusetts where she sees new opportunities for her embroidery talents. A seamstress with a unique ability that allows her to see colors as words, she creates art with her needle and thread all the while keeping her gift a secret. It is in Salem that she meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, a man of great genius who is tortured by his guilt over the role his forbearers played in the witch trials of the 17th century. There is an immediate attraction between the two but Hawthorne is never able to think of her as his equal and continually views her as an outsider. Theirs is a romance that is doomed from the beginning.

Albanese does a wonderful job of weaving the dark history of Salem and Hawthorne’s own history into this tale of love, loss, resilience and magic. Isobel is a captivating character. In a world and time when a woman is taught to be dependent on a man and to expect little for herself, she has a shrewdness, strength, and boldness that allow her to dare to dream for more. But those very attributes can also be turned against her as Isobel soon discovers. The romance between Isabel and Hawthorne, clandestine and forbidden, is beautiful but inherently ill fated as the troubled Hawthorne keeps letting his inherited guilt over his ancestor’s misdeeds get in the way of his own happiness.

Albanese employs a wonderful and lyrical use of language that is reminiscent of the writing style of Alice Hoffman, yet also uniquely her own and with it she creates literary magic. And while the book draws its inspiration from The Scarlet Letter, it stands on it’s own, separate and independent of the Hawthorne classic. And what an entrancing piece of fiction it is. I loved this book. It has a beauty, luminescence and honesty that I had not anticipated and I was captivated throughout. I imagine I will think about this book frequently in the years to come and will remember it’s unique magic. It bewitched me.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @StMartinspress for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy of this glorious book. A very exquisitely written story about a young woman,Isobel Gamble, raised in Scotland who has a true gift with her embroidery. The man she marries turns out to be a sincere cad and they are forced to leave home and travel to America where they settle in Salem, MA...a twist of fate as she's descended from a woman who was accused of and tried for being a witch. Her husband leaves once more on the ship they came on to find his fortune, while she meets and falls in love with Nathaniel Hathorne. The tale is one that imagines the inspiration for the story of The Scarlet Letter, but it is so much more. It's a story of very strong women and how they always find a way to prevail in the face of adversity. Absolutely loved it, highly recommend!

Another tired story of the imagined real story behind Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.

I don’t appreciate fictionalized stories about real people who are long gone and can’t tell their side of the story. Nor do I appreciate a “man bad/woman good” theme.

I don’t deny that women were mistreated in the past, I’m just weary of this tired theme which is so prevalent in current books. I’m over it.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I was one of the weird kids that loved having to read The Scarlet Letter in school. I was super excited to be approved to read this and ended up so impressed that the chose this as my monthly book in one of my subscription boxes!

This is a wonderful retelling of a classic with beautiful writing. I love how it brings the story back alive through fresh eyes.

This is a version of where the inspiration for Hester Prynne came from. Hawthorne and Isobel Gamble meet in the New World. They are both trouble and have their own histories that influence how they behave and react to each other. Can a single woman find a life in this time, or will it destroy her?

Having never read The Scarlet Letter I was not at a disadvantage and still really enjoyed it. I did know the basic plot from Hawthorne's story which is enough. This story is a fictional take on the influencing person for Hester Prynn and she has an incredible character ARC.

😍Loved: The descriptive storytelling, the Salem setting, all of the history (which most of new for me!), the full circle moment at the end of the novel, the MC Isobel is beautifully written.

😀Liked: The very layered subplots, learning about 1800s Salem and society (Ps. When I'm Googling and on Wiki midway through a book - that's a win for me), the synesthesia was fascinating.

😐Lukewarm: This is a bit of a slow burn so at times I was wanting things to progress quicker. Overall, worth the wait though.

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If the infinite, hidden forms of women’s resilience and will could take the form of a book, this would be it. A protagonist gifted (or cursed) with a synesthetic sight and the myriad women she encounters finding solace in their own strength, in the beauty they create, and in each other.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
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Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to an e-ARC of this beautiful, spellbinding book.
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Hester breathes new life into Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter by shaping a woman named Isobel into the inspiration for the lasting image of that scarlet A and his eventual story. Every turn of phrase was a delight, and the language choices settle the reader *seamlessly* into the 1800’s era of the story (you’ll get that reference once you read it, I promise). I adored the stylistic choices in this novel, and the subtle ways the author wove important, unspoken moments in history into the undercurrent of the plot. I rooted for Isobel, even in her missteps, and I was completely captivated by the imagery and the way emotion transported each of the characters onto they never anticipated travelling. With elements of the Crucible and the Salem Witch Trials intertwined with the present struggles of the characters it follows, Hester is a wonderful, magical historical fiction and literary retelling that I would encourage anyone to read. Grab your sewing needle, some scarlet thread, and follow the spool to your nearest bookstore

I love historical fiction and was a fan of The Scarlet Letter which, of course, we had to read in school. Hester is inspired fiction from that story and I really enjoyed it.

This was hard to put down and I ended up finishing in one day. I loved the mix of the Salem Witch Trials and Hawthorne's family history. I also loved how this story wove the "truth" into the meaning behind The Scarlet Letter which Hawthorne wrote.

Very fun and engaging read and one fans of Historical Fiction should grab.

I sincerely appreciate St. Martin's Press for the review copy. While a review wasn't expected, I have offered my opinion and these are my own thoughts.

4.5 Intense Stars
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I found this to be something to ponder. We have a telling from another perspective of times that we have read through the Scarlet Letter.

It reflects those times but if you allow yourself to see how a husband's addiction and selfish behavior cause his wife to be left to fend for herself, you might see how it could be a story not so far from today.

Someone who has never read The Scarlet Letter may not be the target audience for Hester, but here I am!

Set in 1800s Salem, Isobel Gamble is a Scottish immigrant trying to escape a miserable marriage and make her mark as a seamstress in the "small" town. After finding herself pregnant from a dalliance she's faced with a choice that can have major ramifications on her future.

While I enjoyed this novel, it was slooooooowwwwwwww, and I think had I read The Scarlet Letter I might have followed along a bit better than I did. All in all, a decent read.

This book packs quite a punch by bringing together so many issues including social, moral and tradition. I’ve never read The Scarlet Letter but know the story and this was reminiscent of that tale. What brought this book to life for me was the MC’s condition of synesthesia which allows her to feel her emotions in colors. This was a beautifully written novel full of legend and imagery.

Isobel Gamble, a talented seamstress, leaves Scotland for America when her husband, Edward, a pharmacist, loses their home and possessions to a drug addiction developed after a leg injury. She has little to take with her besides her skill and a closely guarded secret—she experiences words and letters as colors which enhances her exquisite embroidery but which her mother fears might mark her as different, even endanger her, similar to the fate of Isobel Gowdie, an ancestor accused of witchcraft.

Immediately after arriving in Salem, Edward gains passage to the Caribbean as a ship’s doctor without leaving Isobel any funds. She establishes a garden and takes a menial job at a dress shop while planning to unveil her full sewing talents at an upcoming ball. As the weeks pass, Isobel believes that Edward won’t return to Salem, and she entertains her attraction to bookish, awkward aspiring writer Nathaniel Hathorne who is haunted by his own ancestors’ persecution of alleged witches. Although Hathorne returns her flirtation and supports her artistry, he also sees her as an outsider, not of his social class, not educated, not American. On the precipice of rejection, she begins to see the deep societal divisions and reckon with the lack of freedom in the supposed bastion of liberty.

Isobel, the imagined inspiration for Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne, is savvy, ambitious, independent, and slightly defiant, often looking at Isobel Gowdie as symbol of strength, and equal to the men in her life. Descriptions of her embroidery were beautiful, though I thought the use of synesthesia was heavy-handed. I loved the descriptions of Salem as a wealthy, international port city full of spices, fabric, dishes, and tea from around the world. The reach of southern slave owners was harrowing, as was the indifference of many of the citizens of the north, but at the same time, I had concerns about how the underground railroad was used.

The extent of Albanese’s research is evident, and she’s said that for all of Hawthorne’s books save THE SCARLET LETTER, the plot can be traced to an autobiographical event. HESTER, then, not only imagines the root of the classic book but gives its protagonist a voice and agency not present in the original.

I never found myself truly attached to this book. I was excited to receive the audiobook through NetGalley, but found the narrator to be difficult to understand. I imagine this is due to the accent. Because of this, I listened to the book slowly. The book itself was a bit confusing for me and wasn't at all what I expected. I found myself really interested in parts of story dealing with Hester and her needlework or moments when she sought to make a name for herself in her community though. It gave me slow, but spooky vibes leading into the October season.

I would recommend this book through reader's advisory, if the right opportunity presented itself. The book is ok, just not my particular cup of tea.

While the concept of this book was interesting, I ultimately did not finish it. I think you need to have some level of understanding of the Scarlett Letter and the Salem Witch Trials and since it had been a while since I had read Scarlett Letter and learned about the trials, I was very confused and lost while reading. The writing was good but also found it a bit boring. I can definitely see why others would enjoy it, but it wasn't for me.

Hester is a brilliant retelling of The Scarlet Letter. Set in 1800's Salem, Isobel is a Scottish immigrant fleeing a terrible marriage who finds herself pregnant by none other than Nathanial Hawthorne. This book is so beautifully written and richly drawn. There's so much depth here. The author actually brings color to life, The female characters are all so strong and resilient. I loved every beautiful word of this book.

This used to be my favorite genre but over the last few years, not so much. Yet this story intrigued me, especially considering today’s feminist rage. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the 19th century - every student’s nightmare assigned novel, many teacher’s nemesis in HOW to engage kids with it, and really, a rather feminist take on what’s happening in today’s America.

A young woman named Hester, an unwed mother in puritan times, who instead of slinking off ashamedly chooses to proudly wear her scarlet A for Adultery, reminding the townspeople of their religious hypocrisy in their treatment of Hester and her daughter, Pearl.

But from whence did Hawthorne create this story? The rest of his books were fairly autobiographical; could this one be?

The new novel Hester answers that question and I was intrigued. At times the story dragged but rarely for me. It would definitely provoke some conversations around the hypocrisy and feminist backsliding we’ve seen lately in modern day America!

This is FANTASTIC! I loved the setting, I felt like I was there in Salem, MA during the early 1800's. I loved learning about the history of Salem, with good and bad. And adding the Underground Railroad story was such a great part! I loved the main character, Isobel. You can tell how much research this author did. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

What an incredible story! I’m so sad that it is over. I was not familiar with The Scarlett Letter (I know, I never had to read it growing up) but still loved the book! This is one of the best books I've read this year! Thanks so much, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the gifted ebook!

Hester should be the book read and taught in schools, not The Scarlet Letter.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the digital ARC and finished copy of Hester!

Hester is a stunning and (literally) colorful reimagining of the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic story, told through the eyes of Isobel. Author Laurie Lico Albanese gives us a new classic and relatable heroine and sweeping tale rooted in history and the often-persecuted "magic" of women.

This book is a Scottish immigrant story, a story of love and loss, and a story of resiliency against a lifetime of suppression and oppression. Even set in the mid-1800s, Isobel's journey and her struggles are timeless and universal.

And the writing - wow. Albanese weaves colorful magic in her words, bringing Isobel's intricate stitching to life. I'm definitely not a seamstress and I can't sew, but this book made me want to learn to tell stories with needle and thread.

This is the story of Isobel Gamble, a talented seamstress who arrives to America from Scotland with her husband Edward. Isobel is a descendent of Isobel Gowdie, a woman tried and found guilty of witchcraft, but who manages to escape to freedom. This is an original reimagining of the 1850s in Salem, MA, where you feel the history of witchcraft around every corner, and the ancestors of the witches and accusers live together, with or without much resentment.
Isabel and Edward have arrived here in an attempt to start over after he loses all their money in Scotland. He has grand ideas for an elixir of life and soon sails off with a trading ship to sell his idea, leaving Isobel alone.
She soon falls in love with a local, handsome writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He also leaves her, and she is forced to survive on her own, using only the skill of her needle to avoid starvation. There are very few friends in this town as most of the descendants of the original founders fear outsiders. Isobel soon makes friends with her neighbors, and ladies who admire her embroidery. The remainder of the story is how she fights the establishment and makes a name for herself with her extraordinary skills. Isobel has Synesthesia, and sees colors in people's voices, and in her letters. The Letter A is scarlet=passion, knowledge, and pain. Blue is hope, yellow is truth, orange is joy, and green is goodness. Her work soon becomes desired by locals and women from afar.
This story is about women's empowerment, feminism, and using your skills to your best advantage. There are also several subplots about slavery, and another timeline describing the history of Isobel Gowdie, her ancestor.
We also get a heaping does of the history of witchcraft during this time.
Very rarely have I enjoyed a re-imagining of a "Classic" as I did this one. For sure I probably would have enjoyed the original "The Scarlet Letter," back in high school Considering the fact that Halloween is just days away, perhaps a visit to Salem, MA would be appropriate. Trick or treat anyone???