Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese is a beautifully written and captivating story. From the first page, I was taken in by the immersive quality of the novel. Hester follows Isobel, a young Scottish woman whose family had a difficult history during the Scottish Witch Trials. After the death of her mother, she ends up moving to Salem (where she meets author, Nathaniel Hawthorne).

Laurie Lico Albanese beautifully weaves in both main characters' familial histories with witch trials and their impact. This is an absolute gem.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the fictional story of the main character of the Scarlett Letter. Storylines about Salem, witches, treatment of immigrants from Scotland and Ireland and African Americans are interwoven in a captivating book.

(4.5 stars) “Hester” started off slowly for me. I almost dnf’d the book at the halfway point after reading some reviews that made it sound like there wasn’t much to review. Thankfully, I persevered, because I really enjoyed the second half and I dug the ending.

“Hester” reimagines Nathaniel Hawthorne’s inspiration for the tragic heroine Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne appears as himself, with Isobel Gamble his love interest and muse. Isobel is a vividly imagined character, a seamstress married to an opium-addicted doctor. When the doctor sets sail on a long cruise, Isobel is left to scrabble out a living through her sewing. She falls for Hawthorne and becomes the gossip of the town.

Interspersed with Isobel’s story are brief vignettes from the Salem witch trials. These didn’t work as well for me as the main story. They felt disconnected, coming as interruptions of Hester’s more interesting tale. It’s probably that I’ve read quite a bit about the Salem witch trials, so that nothing was all that new to me.

In the end, “Hester” is a well-written piece of historical fiction. It answers questions that I didn’t think I had, particularly who was Hester Prynne and how did she come to be the focus of The Scarlet Letter. It was interesting enough that I may even give The Scarlet Letter a re-read.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this enchanting book. Forget the Scarlett Letter that you read in middle school this is so much better!
I treasured every sentence, every word that was put into this book.. it will stay with me for a long time.
Isobel Gamble with her fiery red hair, such a strong, independent woman moves to Salem with her creepy husband. While her husband is away, Isobel works diligently with her sewing needle to support herself. She falls in love with Nat, Nathaniel Hawthorne. There’s so much depth to the story, my review won’t do it justice. Do yourself a favor read this book it will be one of the best you’ve read in a very long time. Outstanding !

Most American children have read The Scarlet Letter at some point or the Witch if Blackbird Pond. Hester is a unique take on a well known story and an interesting bit of historical fiction. Isobel is a wonderful narrator; she is strong, compassionate and attune to the world around her even when she knows there's still much to learn. what she is naive about in the world has more to do with believing what can be fair and right as opposed to all the ugliness that lurks in ppls hearts (particularly for wealth and power). Unsurprisingly, Nat is a coward and Edward is the absolute worst. But the friendships that Isobel is able to form in the novel is really the core of it; the love story is with these women who find ways to survive in a society that doesn't allow for much. And for characters like Mercy (and in the flashbacks Tituba) it's even worse. But these women come alive against that backdrop. This may be something of what The Scarlet Letter is based on but its far more than that. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

“Hester” by Laurie Lico Albanese is a first read and new author to this reader. I’ve read “The Scarlet Letter” however, this book was quite unusual but interesting to read. It took me some time to get into this story but when I did, I enjoyed it very much. It is a haunting story of a woman Isobel Gamble, with kinesthesia and who was accused of being a witch. She pretty much hides her abilities to protect herself and her family. She and her husband Edward flee Scotland to start their lives anew in America. Unfortunately, she is left penniless by her husband in a country where her only source of income is as a seamstress who dreams of one day making beautiful clothes. Later, she meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, an upcoming author who has his own ancestral demons. They are instantly drawn to one another having their own secrets that haunt them.

This story is historical fiction that in some retrospect tells the life of Hester Prynn and is inspired from “The Scarlet Letter” a classic book by Nathaniel Hawthorne. As I usually do not read genre that deals with witchcraft, however I can say that it was well-written, shows the empowerment of women, and I was surprisingly delighted with the story from beginning to end. Although it was a little slow in pace, but I understood the premise of the plot.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc for my honest opinion. This is a historical fiction book. Hester is a paragon of female empowerment. There are not a lot of books written with a main character like this. It's a quick read and seems to be written more nonfictionish to me. I didn't like the way this was written and its my first book I've read by Laurie Lico Albanese. But I did overall enjoy the book in hole.

This historical fiction was beautifully written. Isobel was a complex, intriguing character. The connections to the “Scarlet Letter” were flawless. I recommend readers pick this book up immediately, and you will enjoy it as much as I did!

This book dates back to both Scotland and Salem in the 1800’s. The book started out slow and in some instances I had a hard time keeping the characters lineage straight. It tells of the life of Isobel, a young seamstress, who leaves her home in Scotland with her older husband Edward for America. Edward is hooked on opium. He continues to work on the ship that brought them over, but he is so addicted that he steals Isobel’s money to support his habit. The money had been given to her by her father before leaving Scotland, thus leaving her penniless.

Isobel has a gift of color. Everything she sees refers to a color. She finds work as a seamstress and becomes involved with Nat Hathorne. She becomes his mistress and is soon pregnant with his child. Nat is a writer and has a dark side. He leaves no claim to the child causing Isobel to leave Salem or be shunned by the town. Nat does write his book, The Scarlet Letter, whose story and character Hester were inspired by Isobel. Isobel does leave Salen with the captain of the ship that brought them over and settles with him in Canada raising her daughter. She eventually has a shop of her own which was always her dream.

As the book went along, I grew to love the story and Isobel. It gave such an insight into living during those times. The book was well written and I became engrossed in it. Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this pre-release.

This book is a retelling of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne but in this retelling Nathanial is a participant in the tale rather than just the author. Isobel Gamble is from Scotland and has married an apothecary named Edward. They both keep secrets from each other. At first their marriage is happy and Edward is proud to show off his beautiful wife. Unfortunately, he becomes addicted to opium and loses his mind and his money. He manages to arrange a trip to Salem, Massachusetts for free so long as he acts as the shipboard medic.

The trip across the ocean starts off as promising but once again Edward begins using drugs and is in such bad shape the Captain has to separate the couple. Isobel saves the life of the Captain and the two remain friends for the rest of their lives. When Isobel and Edward lands in Salem Edward finds a cottage where they can live. Unfortunately, Edward is unable to get any business going in Salem so he volunteers to once again sail with the Captain and act as the shipboard medic. Before he leaves he finds the hidden cache of money given to Isobel by her father and leaves with it in his pocket.

Isobel is left penniless and has to use her skills as a seamstress to survive. Live is difficult but it becomes bearable when she learns that her husband is no longer coming home and she begins a relationship with Nathaniel Hawthorne. She becomes pregnant, Nathaniel leaves her and her life becomes a living nightmare.

This book is a cautionary tale that women should never depend entirely on a man and sadly nothing has changed in 200 years. Isobel does make a life for herself elsewhere and raises her daughter alone.

Beautifully written, this author mesmerizes the reader so that they can’t put the book down until it is finished!

Is Isobel the woman who inspired Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlett Letter?” This imaginative story offers many reasons to believe so.

Isobel, a skilled needleworker and someone with kinesthesia, feels compelled to marry Edward Gamble, an apothecary with a secret addiction to opium and gambling—only to learn Edward isn’t all he made himself out to be. In desperation for a better future, the couple make their way from Scotland to America where Isobel dreams of one day opening her own seamstress shop and being a clothing designer and Edward wants nothing more than to dabble in alchemy to create new medicines and find great wealth. On the first day of her arrival in Salem, Isobel catches the eye of Nat Hathorne who later discloses he believes he conjured her because she so closed resembles the muse in the novel he’s struggling to write. This chance meeting begins a complicated love story and intimacy where dark secrets are shared and slowly revealed after Isobel finds herself alone with no money and only her needle skills and wit to survive on.

This historical fiction is set in Salem, Massachusetts during the early 16th century—capturing elements in history surrounding the Salem witch hunts, immigrant migrations to the New World, the Underground Railroad and freedoms being sought by enslaved African Americans, and merchant trades transporting sugar and other highly sought-after goods from the Caribbeans.

The story is written with a good mix of trials and triumphs. I especially enjoyed reading about Isobel’s skill embroidering and the level of detail in describing her projects.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book for anyone who is interested in historical fiction and may have wondered about the inspiration for The Scarlet Letter. This book is set in dual timelines of the late 1600’s and the 1800’s. It is not packed with action but does have a bit of drama and characters that a reader can become fully immersed in. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the very good ARC that I received free, in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this read. Very interesting well written book. I look forward to more by this author. Absolutely fantastic!

Loved the history of the Salem Witch Trials and the literary parallels to the Scarlet Letter. The characters were well developed and the setting seemed accurate

I remember reading "The Scarlet Letter' in high school and thought it pretty dull. I wanted to know more about Hester - her real thoughts and feelings, what really happened. This book answered all those questions. Written by a woman (which no offense men, but this book needed to be written by a woman to dive into the depths of 'Hester's' mind and emotions), the author reinvents the tale by using different names and characters, but is a metaphor for the famous novel. It even has Nathaniel Hawthorne as a character! With wonderful prose, historical attention to detail, and bringing to life the belief of those times that women who didn't fit in to societal expectations could be guilty of witchcraft, this was a book I could not put down until I finished the last page.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese is a remarkable retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne' s Scarlet Letter encompassing Hawthorne as a character along with Isobel and others. The comparisons of the characters makes the novel enticing to read as the romance develops and Isobel struggles at every turn in her life. I wonder why the title Hester? I realize the significance in relation to the original Scarlet Letter, but to me it was confusing. It is a great read.

This is an amazing, beautifully written historical fiction! The story centers on Isobel Gamble, who represents the "muse" that may have been the inspiration for the character, Hester Prynne, in the Scarlet Letter. Laurie Lico Albanese weaves an enchanting tale, following Isobel from Scotland to Salem in the new United States. It is told in dual timelines, Isobel's story, and the story of her ancestor and namesake, Isobel, once tried as a witch. Isobel endures and experiences much, and we are able to see the world as it was then through the vivid colors, that she both sees and stitches. Isobel is one of those characters that will long be remembered for her strength, love, and determination. I simply loved this book! I did receive a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher and I am so glad that I did. It is one of my favorite books this year.

I know that not all high schoolers love classic novels they’re forced to read, but The Scarlet Letter was one of my favorites in my teen years. For a lot of us, Hester is one of the first feminist characters we come across in a high school curriculum written by old white guys. I was really excited to be approved for this arc to see a modern retelling of this strong character.

I loved getting all of the backstory about Isobel, the “Hester” inspired character. We see where she grows up and how her mother tries to tame her spirit in an attempt to protect her. We also see how she saves herself and her husband before they immigrate to Salem, and then how she uses her intelligence and skill to keep herself afloat when her husband abandons her. I appreciate the inclusion of Black characters and their relationship with Isobel, and how slavery and the Underground Railroad are incorporated into the story. It was great to see those topics addressed head on, though many stories centered around that time make it seem as if it wasn’t a relevant issue in the north.

Definitely pick up this book! If you disliked The Scarlet Letter, this is a fresh take. If you loved Hester like I did, its great to learn more about her.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

First off, Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fans of a Scarlet Letter may be drawn to the synopsis of the story. The book was just honestly not for me. Although I am usually a fan of historical fiction, I just could not get into this book. The pacing was too slow for me and I often felt like it was a chore to get through a chapter.

I wish I could have been drawn into the story line more. The writing was done well, and the concept is interesting. The plot was just weak and wasn’t strong enough to hold my interest.

This might be a good fit if you like slower pacing and taking your time with your reading. I really wish I loved this!

3 stars out of 5

Fans of The Scarlett Letter will be fascinated with this imaginative take on the possible inspiration for the story. Hester tells the story of a young woman struggling to navigate her future, while honoring her past. Hester is peppered with historical accounts and references deftly woven into an intriguing narrative.