Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese was an incredible retelling of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Ms Albanese has taken a classic novel and completely turned it on its head. This retelling follows Isabel Gamble, a young seamstress from her home in Scotland to America, where she meets a young Hawthorne. The scarlet letter A has an entirely different meaning in her life and he is aware of it when he writes his novel after their relationship takes a wrong turn. Everyone should read this. To further enhance this excellent novel, the audiobook is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who is by far the best narrator I have ever heard.

Thank you to the author, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio track of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the audiobook. I wanted to listen to this because I teach The Scarlet Letter to high schoolers, and I wanted to see this version of Hester fleshed out. I really enjoyed that Isobel had synesthesia, which is a real but rare medical issue where she saw the world in colors. Of course, back before modern science, this would be considered witchcraft and would have to be hidden. The writing is beautiful, and even though I'm not normally an audiobook fan, the narrator was compelling. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves lyrical writing, and if you are an English teacher, you definitely will want to check this out!

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.

First off, the cover of this book is simply beautiful. I first looked at requesting it because of that, then when I saw that it was a "reimaging of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne" of The Scarlet Letter, I knew I had to request it. So I did.

This was so worth it! I loved that Isobel saw the world in colors. Something that is a real medical issue and something I can imagine back then was considered witchcraft. I loved seeing her learn and grow into the woman she was born to be. Seriously, just read the description of this book and tell me you don't want to read it. It is just beautiful writing. I am going to see if this lady has written more because it was amazing.

Review for audio - 4 stars
Great narrator, but hard to know which timeline (there were three, I believe) as the main characters' names were the same. The only date change mentioned was on one character's POV and was easily missed listening via audio.

Review for book - 3 stars
Fiction reimagining is lovely, but fiction reimagining with real people and false history is not. There is a good amount of documentation and theories on the inspiration for the Scarlet Letter (easy to look up.) My main worry is that readers will think the historical fiction in this book is accurate and start to form opinions on a false Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The aspect of seeing colors with letters and words would have worked better as fantasy or magical realism, at least for my reading experience. Knowing it is a medical condition with no magic made it sadder than alluring. Instead of colors being like reading an aura with a secret insight into that character, it was more like "this is how Isobel sees the colors/how she assumes that person is." And often, she misread them.

Too many plots - Scarlet Letter, 1600s Scotland, Salem witch trials, slavery/underground railroad, evils of addiction. The book took on some heavy hitters, and I sometimes felt a little lost trying to keep up. The Salem witch trials, in particular, seemed a little too extra. Sticking to two timelines would have been less confusing, and I was sad the original Isobel's story wasn't explored more. It just disappears.

All in all, the story kept my interest, and I loved the writer's skill and storytelling. I would recommend this to people, understanding that it's the author's fictional tale of how the Scarlet Letter came to be.

I found the first half of this retelling to be incredibly boring. I had this on audio and that helped me push through. I might have DNF'd this and I don't do that often. That said, the second half was much better, and certainly told a different perspective than we are used to: that of the muse and in this case . I think the intention was great, but execution was off. I wish Alix Harrow had written this.

I enjoyed this one so much!! It was honestly very unexpected! I dove straight into the book and it did not disappoint!
The writing was spellbinding, and I really came to like Isobel. Her special talents were interesting and I found myself seeing Isobel leaving Scotland and arriving in Salem. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if she would be persecuted for being a witch.
The author's writing was very descriptive and I found myself easily imagining Isobel's surroundings. I loved how this was like a backstory to A Scarlet Letter.
The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the inflections used. Saskia's tone was very engaging! I absolutely enjoyed it!
If you enjoy a mystery, and multiple secrets, then consider grabbing this book.

One of my all time favorites classic l reads is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. So when I saw that Hester is a fictionalized novel about Hawthorne’s inspiration for Hester Prynne, I couldn’t wait to read it!

🪡 What’s is about?
Isobel Gamble grows up in the 1850s seeing the colors of letters and words, but is told to bury it so she’s not suspected of witchcraft. As an adult, she married a doctor, but his misdeeds force them to leave Scotland and start anew in America.

During their trip across the sea, Isobel saves the captain’s life and finds an ally in him when they land in Salem, MA. He whisks her husband back off to sea with him and leaves Isobel to find her way in a new country. Fortunately, she has almost a magical way with stitching and needlework. Just as she starts to find some success, she begins a secret affair with writer Nathaniel Hawthorne.

🪡 My thoughts:

This is a book about many things, but what stood out to me the most were the ways in which the outcasts–primarily women–quietly banded together. Isobel is faced with trial after trial in Hester. So many times I wondered if the poor woman would ever get a moment of peace or happiness. Every time she seems to find it, something or someone harms her. It was a painful read from that perspective. However, there are small moments of redemption that bring light to an otherwise dark book.

I got hung up on the pacing of this book. It is overly descriptive, especially about needlework, and it slowed the pace significantly.

🪡 Still though, Hester is a beautiful piece of historical fiction and well worth your time.

🎧 Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and she brings so much life to the characters of Hester. Her accents and inflection are impeccable!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I read The Scarlet Letter years ago, and I liked it in the same way I enjoy many classics…I appreciate them for what they are but also, no matter how hard I try, I almost always want them to be more, and that’s largely what I got from this novel. This book acts as an intriguing prequel of sorts to the original text, but it’s not necessary to be super familiar with it in order to understand the story. As long as they know the absolute basics about Puritan culture, the Salem witch trials, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, I think any reader could easily appreciate this updated, contemporary take on some of the issues. Even if they didn’t know anything about the other novel, this one stands on its own as an intriguing piece of historical fiction. I quite liked it and am excited to see what else the writer has created and will create in the future.

I typically shy away from anything considered "witchy." Though I'm a total history (and historical fiction) nerd, I never loved learning about Salem and the witch trials. I was therefore a little skeptical of this new take on a story of Salem. However, I actually really enjoyed this book! It tells the story of the witch mania in several different contexts - both in Salem and in Scotland. It also sheds light on Nathaniel Hawthorne- who I previously knew very little about outside of his work as an author. My favorite part of this book was the strength and resilience of the female protagonist and the acknowledgment and interweaving of the stories of enslaved people and the slave trade. Women, particularly in historical fiction, are often cliched versions of their characters, but Isobel was a strong, yet nuanced character who develops significantly throughout the story. I loved the cast of supporting characters and the discussion of Salem's history with the slave trade, which is often overlooked or hidden since the north abolished slavery earlier than the southern states. I appreciate when historical fiction actually does justice to real events and narratives, and Laurie Lico Albanese did an excellent job of this! The audio was also great - I very much enjoyed the narrator and the voices felt genuine to the story.

I am not a big Nathaniel Hawthorne fan. In fact, I do not like The Scarlett Letter. When I saw that this book had the author Nathaniel Hawthorne as a main character, I almost did not read (listen) to it. However, there was also a little magic and witchy stuff in the book. I love those types of books so I decided to give it a chance.

This book has a steady pace. It is not a book that starts off dragging the reader along. The author took her time in her character and story development. I feel that this was a HUGE help for the book. I became quickly invested in Isabell's character. I wanted to to see her be the badass she is and I was not disappointed. This books really speaks to the resilience that women have when they are determined to survive and make their own way.

This story has multiple timelines going on. You have the storyline of Isabell's ancestor - Isabell. You have her timeline, and then you get a glimpse of her daughter and granddaughter's timeline. It takes place after the Salem Witch Trials and all Isabell is trying to do is start over in the New World with her husband. While they had a rough start in Scotland, she is confident that she can use her gifts and her needle and thread to secure herself a good life.

Meanwhile Nathaniel Hathorne is trying to outrun and change his legacy. He believes that the only way to do that is through his pen and paper. But why is he drawn to this mysterious redhaired siren from the docks?

Thank you St Martins Press for a digital ARC and MacMillan Audio for an ALC through NetGalley.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book since I’ve never read The Scarlet Letter. I’m sure my reading experience would have been enhanced if I had, but it certainly wasn’t hindered because I hadn’t.

I was hooked from the beginning by the discussion of synesthesia and how at the time it was considered to be a characteristic of witches. I also loved the way the author added in Nathaniel Hawthorne as a character. This book was atmospheric in both time and place and I now want to read The Scarlet Letter to see if it feels similar.

I loved this , great reimagined tale of The Scarlett Letter, prequel. I was so invested in Isobel and got completely immersed in old Salem

It’s a bold move to take on a canonized novel like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, but with Hester, Laurie Lico Albanese delivers an absolutely magical version of the old story. Our Hester is Isobel Gamble, a young seamstress navigating Salem, MA after she and her husband leave Edinburgh in disgrace.

Isobel is left to her own devices when her husband promptly abandons her, and as she works to support herself, she meets and falls in love with the oh-so-tortured Nat Hawthorne. Talk about a dreamy emo boy who just can’t deal with his own BS.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved Isobel’s struggles as a Scottish immigrant, her gift of synesthesia, the stupid townspeople, the Underground Railroad, the witchiness of it all. This novel felt really well-researched to me: I was immersed in Isobel’s story so thoroughly and completely, I had a hell of a book hangover when I was finished.

I don’t think you need to know much, if anything, about The Scarlet Letter to read this book. I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, and I wouldn’t really put this book in that category. It’s more like a good story that just happens to take place a long time ago.

Did you read The Scarlett Letter in high school like I did? I’ll never forget my English teacher that year. She was one of a kind.

#netgalley #hester #bookstagram #booklover #bookreview #Arctober #rsrbcarctober #jenisbooks #witchy

✨ Review ✨ Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese; Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

Oh man, I have a lot of feelings about this book. I think that the concept was super inventive - I loved that it told the fictional backstory of the woman who inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write the Scarlet Letter. It was such a clever approach to thinking through the role of color and sound via synesthesia, and weaving in different elements of Hester's story.

With that said, I think that there were pieces of this that weren't fully fleshed out or that were problematic. I don't think the book handles race and racial difference well. I think it left loose ends in whether magic existed or was just an excuse used to gain power. I also think she really wrote NH as kind of a jerk (and maybe he was, but 🤷‍♀️ )

I was swept up in the story and certainly engaged, but I was also left wanting more from it. Great concept, but mediocre execution!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: historical fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction
Location: Salem
Reminds me of: The Scarlet Letter 😂
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ The Scarlet Letter
⭕️ discussions of cloth and other textiles
⭕️ fictional contextualizations of the past

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and #netgalley fo advancedr e-copies of this book!

Isobel and Edward arrived in the New World with hopes for a better and brighter future. But shortly after their arrival, Edward leaves his young wife to defend for herself. Luckily, Isobel is a master in her trade and puts her seamstress skills to work. But abandoned by her husband and lonely, she falls into the arms of darl and handsome Nathaniel Hawthorne. Unfortunately, her happily ever after is short-lived and the young girl finds herself in yet another misfortunate situation.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel. It covers the history of the Salem witch trials, and our main heroine Isobel comes from the line of women who fell under the witchcraft category. I also enjoyed the back story of the well-known Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Hester is a great novel, full of interesting historical facts and an overall absorbing story. Rumor has it that Isobel is an inspirational character behind Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter", and now, more than ever, I am eager to read this classic. Thank you, NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book.

Expertly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, the audiobook version of Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese is first-rate. Maarleveld seamlessly switches from one accent/voice to another, enlivening the characters and enhancing the story’s pacing. This audio version enriches the text, bringing it to life so that the listener understands and appreciates Isobel’s unique gift (synesthesia) and can “see” the colors of words just as she does.

Hester is an imaginative retelling of Nathaniel (Nat) Hawthorne and his inspiration for the classic novel, THE SCARLET LETTER. His inspiration for Hester Prynne - a women named Isobel Gamble who has special gifts and a secret history. Isobel’s gift is synesthesia a sensory response that allows her to see words and letters in color. She worries if anyone discovers her gift, then she will be accused of witchcraft or shunned more than she already is as an immigrant from Scotland. Weaving in and out of Nat and Isobel’s lives are the stories of women accused as being witches in the Salem witch trials and in Scotland in the 1690s. These stories also involve ancestors of both Nat and Isobel.

The writing is rich and atmospheric. The author used true witch trial events and characters which added interest to the story for me as well. Not only does it cover the witch trials but also depicts how people in Salem were making money off of slavery in the 19th century. This story is one of hope, love, pain, friendship, resilience, and strength. Isobel’s character was fierce and I enjoyed how her friendships evolved and became her family. How the story came full circle ending with the publishing of The Scarlet Letter is perfection.

The narrator was superb for this book and gave it an authentic feel. There couldn’t have been a better choice.

HESTER by Laurie Lico Albanese is a deep emotional and mesmerizing tale of love and freedom. I love the idea of a book about the woman who could have inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s main character in the Scarlet Letter. The story of Isobel was beautiful, raw, and moving. I also love that the author explored the subject of synesthesia which was perceived as witchcraft in those times. The stories of Isobel’s ancestors were not as attractive as her own, but I appreciate that the author wanted to set Isobel’s alleged witchcraft ancestry. The writing is wonderful, and the descriptions of Isobel’s needlework are beautifully detailed. This is a superb read.

The audio was well done.

"...they are the women who help one another in ways that can be seen and also in invisible ways that aren't always known. It's not that we are witches or fairies or that we deny God, it is that we are more beautiful and strong together than apart."
One of the best books I have read in 2022! Hester is both a prequel and a retelling of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale, "The Scarlet Letter." Isobel is a young seamstress who leaves her hometown in Scotland for the new world of America. She lands in Salem in the early 1800's. Hoping to start anew yet is encountered with puritanical religiosity and deeply held bias. She is a talented seamstress and embroiderer and her art is beautifully portrayed throughout the book. She has sensory synesthesia, seeing letters and words as colors, which puts her at risk when a women with different talents could be considered possessing dark magic. Hester is drawn to a young writer named Nathaniel Hawthorne. Secrets, twists and well researched history make this such a compelling read. Themes include women's friendship, religious hypocrisy, female empowerment and touches on the underground railroad. I highly recommend this 5 star read!

This is a reimagining of the inspiration behind Hester Prynne, the main character in The Scarlet Letter., and involving the author himself, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Isobel finds herself married to an addict, an apothecary addicted to his own opiates. Edward is a controlling man who will not let Isobel use her talent for sewing to help them make ends meet. When he falls into financial ruin, they flee to the New World. Edward eventually leaves for a new job on a ship, and Isobel is left on her own. She begins to try and use her talent with the needle to make ends meet. Then she meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, and they are drawn to each other.

This is such a richly woven book, sewn together as magically as one of Isobel's designs. The whole premise of the story is intriguing. Who is the inspiration behind Hester Prynne? Isobel's disillusion, first with Edward, then with the New World and her fellow man, is a somber dose of reality. Her relationship with Hawthorne is enlightening. The struggles of women in that time period were well described. The Salem Witch Trials and their horrors are put under scrutiny. All of this combines to create a compelling novel.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was absolutely wonderful. The talented Saskia Maarleveld held me mesmerized as she drew me into this world with her compelling voice and flawless command of the characters.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.