I’d been in a serious reading slump when I picked up Hester. As a mood reader this is almost always me, not the book. I was cranky and needed a win, can you relate reader friends? I got into the bath with a glass of wine (highly recommend!) and started reading Hester. I was lured in immediately by the atmospheric, lyrical writing. I stopped only to think aloud “Oh, we ARE going to be friends. Do NOT let me down!”. She did not!

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese is a reimagining of the inspiration for Nathanial Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne. It is the story of Isobel Gamble, a young seamstress, wife of an abusive, alcoholic, swindling husband Edward, who must flee Scotland for the New World in the early 1800’s. She brings with her secrets passed down generation to generation by women in her family. While Edward is at sea Isobel must survive anyway she can, finding work as a seamstress, and eventually meeting young Nathanial Hawthorne.

The author seamlessly sweeps us back to a time when anyone on the fringes of a community, who either can’t or doesn’t fall or adhere to societal norms, is ostracized and at extreme risk. Who do you trust with your story, who do you help or accept help from, and what do you do to simply exist out of view while in plain sight…and at what cost?

I felt such a connection to the women of the Gamble family, who experience the world in a way others do not. They are misunderstood, feared, diagnosed, learn to deny and hide their truths. I thought this aspect of the story was fascinating. #spoilerfree

I highly recommend Hester for fans of historical fiction, reimaginings and retellings, book clubs because there’s so much to discuss, and those loving stories featuring strong women telling #herstory ! Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @lauriealbanese for the digital review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

In Hester Laurie Lico Albanese speculates on the woman that might have inspired Nathaniel Hathrone(Hawthrone)'s Hester Prynne. As our story begins we are introduced to Scottish woman, Isobel Gamble, a young seamstress that descends from a line of women who see colors and have often raised the suspicions of the local people. When Isobel makes the passage to America, it is here that she and Nathaniel will cross paths.

Something in him knows— I believe this, even after all this time— that although his father will never return , a story just as powerful is coming toward him. It is me, bent into the wind, fleeing home with my colors and my needle and my own set of needs and dreams.
It is me with my red letter secreted away.

I can easily say that I was quite consumed by this story. It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed Isobel as a protagonist and I fell hook, line, and sinker for this reimagining. I was also intrigued by author Nathaniel Hawthorne who was certainly a man of his time. That's me not excusing his behavior as the story unfolds but rather accepting that "it is, what it is." I am even going to go as far to state Hester was better than The Scarlet Letter.

I’m a witch and he’s a sorcerer. Or perhaps he’s the sorcerer and I’m the cauldron. I wrap my arms around him and touch the place where his shoulder is scratched and raw. He cries out and my eyes fly open. I want to know him down to the soul.


* My quotes are taken from the ARC*
Publication Date 04/10/22
Goodreads review published 04/10/22

"Hester" by Laurie Lico Albanese is the fictional story of Isobel Gamble, the fictional muse for Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlett Letter." Told through a dual timeline, the book follows Isobel as she moves from Scotland to Salem, Massachusetts , only to be abandoned by her husband. Set against a backdrop of real historical events, the fictional Isobel must find a way to survive as a woman in a world dominated by superstition and men.

I found this book to be thoroughly entertaining, with an engaging story, strong female characters, and even a bit of "magic." Unlike a few other reviews, I was not bothered by the author's portrayal of Nathaniel Hathorne's character. This book is fiction after all, and feminist fiction at that. I loved the parallels between Isobel and Hester Prynne, Nathaniel and Arthur Dimmesdale, and Edward and Roger Chillingworth.

I think "Hester" is an excellent work of historical fiction and enjoyed reading it very much. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not for me. I think it would have benefitted for more sensitivity readers, and while I can tell that the author was trying to make a statement about the horror of slavery in early America, their descriptions and handling of the topic feel ill-managed.

When Isobel and Edward Gamble were forced to leave Scotland, they came by ship to Salem. Her husband gets a job on the ship after they land and goes out to sea, leaving Isobel by herself in the new world. Isobel knows she has to survive and does what she has to in order to make that happen. This is a different world for her, one she has to come to understand, and learn how to navigate through it.
Salem is where the witches were hanged and as Isobel starts to make a living by her needle and thread, there are things in her sewing that could be interpreted as witchcraft. As a seamstress, she creates clothing that hides women's imperfections, find ways to hide secrets, and it is amazing to read the things she does.
Salem has secrets, still has cruelty, and she tries to learn enough to make a living but go unnoticed. Her life isn't easy, but Laurie Lico Albanese writes the story, so it made me feel like I had stepped back in time. It was a different world, but even though it is a story, it taught me a lot about the going on during that time period, what women went through, and Isobel had to learn who she could trust. Sometimes she learned the hard way.
This is a book that will keep you reading, made me emotional at times, and it will show what people back then went through. I have never read, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, so I don't know how close this story is to that, all I can say is I really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.

Classics may not be for everybody, but HESTER definitely breathes some much needed life into the woman who inspired Hester Prynne. This book took a minute to get into for me, but once things get rolling I was hooked. I highlighted a ton of quotes from this one. I really loved how this book centers women and POC as opposed to Hawthorne himself. The juxtaposition between Isobel and “Nat” really illustrates the shortcomings of privileged white men in a society dominated by patriarchy, and the strength that women had to draw upon to overcome the obstacles society threw at them, a testament to the many women who encapsulated the spirit of Hester Prynne. And the way that Albanese weaves historical themes and entities such as The Underground Railroad, 1820s Massachusetts and the Witch Trials of the 17th century was very well done.

I have never read the Scarlett Letter, but I did watch the movie adaption. I mainly picked up this book because it sounded like the witch season read – and for that it did not really disappoint, oh and the cover is pretty. There weren’t a ton of witches, but it had strong witch undertones and it was interesting.

Isobel is a young seamstress, having learned to sew from a very young age from her mother. Isobel has a secret though, letters have colors for her. Isobel hides this skill in fear of being called a witch, like her grandmother whom she is named after. Isobel marries the local apothecary and they soon make their way to the new world from Scotland. Her husband has a vice for poppy and this becomes a problem when he sets sail after they arrive in America and doesn’t make it home from his journey for a long time. While he is gone, Isobel becomes an established seamstress and falls in love with Nathaniel Hawthorne. When she becomes pregnant with his child, he throws her to the side and she is on her own. However, on her way to American she saved the captains life, and he has indebted his life to her. He helps her escape and establish a new life. Later, when her daughter is grown, she learns Nathaniel is finally a published author, having penned The Scarlett Letter.

I actually didn’t realize seeing letters as colors was a real thing, and the author did a great intro into the background of it. A small portion of the population is able to do that, and I found it rather interesting. This book was so interesting that I didn’t want to put it down. I have read some people found the pacing rather slow, but that was not an issue for me. I appreciated the use of the page breaks, that helped me when I did need a break. I was so excited that @netgalley and the publisher, @stmartinspress, for my e-ARC – THANK YOU! In return for the book I promised to write this honest review. This one publishes TODAY – So grab your copy, it’s a perfect read for this time of year.

I love historical fiction. I nearly hated The Scarlet Letter. Learning of the existence of Hester had me very seriously conflicted, but I decided to give it a go; I think the gorgeous cover tipped the scales for me. That was an excellent choice because this book was worth it. Beautiful story that provides the reader with a very plausible origin story for Hawthorne's creation, but also is a wonderful story on its own. Isobel was intriguing and captured my interest from the start. This was my first read from Albanese, but it won't be my last.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Hester is a vivid reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and a journey into the enduring legacy of New England's witchcraft trials."

I really enjoyed this book. Isobel has synesthesia, (experiencing) multiple responses when only one sense has been stimulated, In her case when she hears someone's voice she sees colors. But she is instructed by her mother to hide her condition or talent as at the time such "unusual-ness could be misconstrued as witchcraft.

She is an artist. She doesn't call herself that but she stitches her experiences and feelings onto her cape. Later she tries to make a living with her needlework. Author's descriptions of the pieces Isobel creates is very vivid and rich. I generally enjoyed this aspect of the book but I must admit It slowed down the book in places. She is told her patterns are enchanting but Isobel doesn't know if she is a witch and how she'd keep her powers from revealing them to others. Her grandmother is a woman accused of being a witch back in Scotland as well.

Interspersed with Isobel's story is the stories of Isobel's grandmother and Salem witch trials, of which Nat's ancestor John Hawthorn was a part of (mid to late 1600)

This is a story about love and desire. Since we know this fictional character was based on novel The Scarlet Letter we know the adultery is part of the storyline. The author doesn't romanticize it. Isobel is young, naive and lonely. She thinks she found her soulmate in Nat. Obviously he has a way with words and it dazzles Isobel. "What happened between Isobel and Nat was the love between an unformed girl held captive by her secrets and a haunted man held captive by his ghosts."

There is also an additional storyline about free slaves in the North, slave catchers and helping escaped slaved to safety. Mercy is a great character. Mercy and Isobel's friendship is a beautiful one. it is built on mutual trust and understanding.

I thought the premise was so original. what made Nathaniel Hawthorne write that book? Could it be autobiographical? Could he be the brooding handsome man who could not stand behind the women he loved due to his fear about ruining his reputation?

This was a rich, well researched historical fiction. Isobel's character growth is impressive. If you like layered historical fiction stories about grit and love and second chances and female friendship and ambition and creative power you'd like this book.


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An imagining of the woman And circumstances who could have inspired A Scarlet Letter.

The best parts of this were the small, very sensual but not overly explicit romance scenes. You could really feel the heat in a touch of hands or looks between lovers!

The very detailed descriptions of dress making, embroidery and the materials used were interesting but repeated far too many times. Actually, a lot of the book was interesting but a bit repetitive. It made it a lot slower than I would have liked. However, I’d still recommend and think it will be on many best of the year lists!

I just finished this book roughly two minutes ago and I am speechless.
I went into this book expecting a dark and powerful retelling of Salem’s witch trials, it’s impact and traces through the coming decades, and to hear a different side of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story. This book followed through on all of that AND more.
Let me first start with the characters/character development. Isobel is the narrator of this story and through the years of her life we see incredible growth. We see real and raw growth that only happens as a by product of real and raw experiences. Laurie Albanese has perfectly written Isabel. Her relationships with those she meets, including Nathanial Hathorne, Captain Darling, Nell, Abagail, and especially Mercy, are powerful and real. They are never surface level and they explore the dark and ugly sides of desire and love while also showing the lightness and hope that accompanies love.
This story is a feminist novel, perfectly demonstrating how history has poorly treated women and minorities. Isobel is not free from mistakes and flaws, but she is powerful and she is strong and the women in her life are smart and kind and most of all courageous. This is a story about a woman that has been dealt a terrible hand of cards, but with the strength of those who care for her, and a hidden strength inside of her, she prevails.
I can’t recommend this book enough. Thanks Laurie Albanese, I will be purchasing a physical copy to add to my collection.

While I am certainly familiar with the storyline, I never actually read the original novel that this one is based around, but I could still appreciate what the author did here. I especially enjoyed the author's notes at the end that explained the research that went into this and how this work of fiction could potentially be close to the truth. Further, I don't know how the original novel dealt with slavery, but I liked how this book not only acknowledged it as an additional dark part of the time period, but also highlighted early Underground Railroad operations. I also appreciate the timing of this novel, as The Scarlet Letter was an early "banned book" and we are now somehow in a new era of banning books. As I write this on the eve of its release, I know this book is getting a lot of pre-release and I definitely think it lives up to its hype.

Hester was a solid read, there is originality in the premise and I am always intrigued by speculative historical fiction, especially when digging into the unknown aspects of historical figures’ lives.

The is an enchanting and witchy quality to the read which makes it perfect for a cold New England season. I’d be interested in how this reads if one more recently read the Scarlet Letter - for me it has been years but the callbacks were clear enough.

Albanese introduced original concepts, I loved the tie in of needlework and colors to emotions and storytelling. The book explored themes of wanting, community, womanhood, muses, and legacy. The start was a bit slow-paced but the last chunk was engrossing. It was fun to have grown up near Salem and be transported to the past of the familiar town by reading this book.

I had some issues with just how cartoonishly villainous and lacking nuance some of the characters ended up being. I respect where the book ended though, it wasn’t overly depressing and I was happy with where the characters ended up and the lasting impact of earlier actions, and the epilogue tied it all together seamlessly

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese is a mesmerizing story full of mystery, with the central theme of guarding one’s extraordinary ability at the time, seen as witchcraft. If you love Historical Fiction, you will love this book. I definitely did.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese has written a brilliant reimagining of The Scarlet Letter from the female perspective. The Scarlet Letter is often part of high school curriculum, at least it was in my day, and honestly, I recall very little of it. After reading this, I’m hopeful that English teachers require reading of both the The Scarlet Letter and Hester, to compare POV, pacing and characterization. As a huge fan of her last book, Stolen Beauty, I was anxiously awaiting this one.

The book focuses on Isobel Gamble who is heavy with secrets about her synesthesia, her opium addicted husband and the stirring she feels when she first sets her eyes on Nathanial Hawthorne. Albanese brings the time-period to life with her use of language and setting. Just the way she’d describe the detailed designs Isobel stitched with her imaginative colors were incredibly portrayed.

Additionally, the author seamlessly brought both the Underground Railroad and the Salem Witch Trial to life, which added more depth and breadth to the storyline. There’s no doubt this book will be a popular pick for years to come. Well done!

Lauri Lico Albanese’s Hester is being appropriately released during Halloween season. Inspired by The Scarlet Letter, Hester tells the story of Isobel, a Scottish woman with a rare ability that runs in her family and that her mother has warned her to hide. Like Isobel’s grandmother accused of witchcraft, Isobel has synesthesia, the ability to see colors in shapes such as letters and in sounds such as voices. Raised on folklore stories of fairies and silkies, Isobel uses her “colors” to become a skilled embroiderer and seamstress.

When she makes a “good marriage” to Edward, a widower apothecary, things go bad, forcing Edward to take a job as a ship’s medic bound for Salem, Massachusetts, where he almost immediately leaves Isobel to fend for herself as he accompanies the ship’s captain in search of financial gain.

In a world of slavery and witch mania, Isobel quickly makes black friends and encounters Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose ancestors played a role in the infamous 17th century Salem witch trials. Wanting to ply her trade but hesitant to reveal her powers, Isobel wears her own embroidered red letter A, hidden away in a hem.
Readers interested in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Salem’s colorful past, or historical novels in general with strong female characters will most likely become engrossed in Isobel’s story beautifully written by Lauri Lico Albanese.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy of this new fall treat.

HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese offers a captivating hypothesis about the inspiration for Hawthorne's Hester Prynne. This new novel is set primarily in 1829 in Salem, Massachusetts and while Hawthorne is one of the characters, the story mainly centers on Isobel MacAllister Gamble. She is a Scottish lass who has inherited synesthesia, the ability to see words and sounds as colors. She becomes a talented seamstress and her unusual (but misunderstood) abilities greatly enhance her needlework artistry which Albanese is so adept at describing. Being different is often a source of concern, though; Isobel and her ancestors (including Isobel Gowdie who lived in 1662 and was accused of being a witch) face potential ruin. The need for secrecy is key, yet Isobel struggles, asking, "But how can I live and be silent? How can I speak and be safe?" HESTER is historical fiction which confronts discrimination involving race, immigrant status, and gender. There definitely is a feminist message and the constraints which women encountered are shown especially when Isobel is betrayed by her husband and other cruel or weak men, further reflecting The Scarlet Letter. Learning to rely on herself and other women takes courage. At one point, Isobel muses, "I have begun to learn how a woman apportions and gathers what she needs to survive; what she sacrifices for beauty, sustenance, health, or children." This novel was deservedly chosen as a LibraryReads selection for October. There is an extensive author's note with many references. For those intrigued by the experience of synesthesia, look also for the middle-school novel A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Moss.

In Hester, the author creates a fictional narrative behind the well-known historical fiction, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. As the latter is required reading for most high school students, Hester fills in the proverbial void in the original. It brings color to the tale of a woman caught in the anti-female sexual mores of the time. Perhaps because of the familiarity of the preceding work, the reader will have certain expectations. Most of the time, those expectations were exceeded. On the rare occasion when that was not the case, I do believe it was owed to my own views of The Scarlet Letter.
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy to review. All opinions expressed above are my own.

The originating question for this book was “What if Hester Prynne were allowed to tell her own story?” … and wow, what a story it is! This is a very a well-drawn reimagining of the woman who inspired The Scarlet Letter, and it has so much in it. From the position of women in society to the Salem witchcraft trials to 17th & 19th century feminism to issues of racism and slavery, it's dissected and brought back together with a fresh and unique perspective. I could't put this book down and it will stay with me for a very long time. Fans of Hour of the Witch and The Lost Apothecary will love this. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

In a unique take on a retelling of The Scarlet Letter, Laurie Lico Albanese successfully allows us to revisit the pages of Nathanial Hawthorne's novel by taking us into the suggested enchanted inspiration of the story. Isobel, a Scottish woman forced to come to America due to her apothecary husband's love of opium, is quickly abandoned by him as he takes all of their savings and boards a ship as a medic. Left behind, Isobel and Nathaniel develop feelings and our Scarlet Letter backstory begins.

I really appreciated all of the layers in this book - the retelling, synesthesia, embroidery, the Underground Railroad, and what it took to be considered a person in America in the early 19th century. The dual timeline between Scotland and Salem was really well done, as was the intertwining of Salem witch trials, having a child out of adultery, and the Underground railroad. This one is absolutely perfect for historical fiction lovers.