Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

Scottish Isobel has inherited synesthesia, where all letters and sounds evoke colors. As a seamstress, this can be a plus, but she must tell no one of this oddity. Relatives have been accused of witchcraft because of it.

It is the early 1820s and newly married Isobel travels to America where she hopes to have her own dress shop. She has been told this is impossible for a woman. Soon, Isobel finds herself alone and penniless in a strange country.

Details of her many seamstress jobs become tedious minutia; the many threads, fabrics, and buttons. She is extremely talented but never gets her due. Soon, lonely Isobel nurtures a relationship with an elusive dreamer, Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The story is good, the writing is ultimately good, but it all gets bogged down in too many details. It’s a three star read from this reviewer. Thank you to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an ARC for my review.

I can’t thank Net Galley, the author, and publisher enough for providing this book for my honest review. Wow. Everyone needs to read this book. Just go read it! This book is inspired by Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. It follows Isobel, a young married lady starting her new life in Salem in 1829 after she and her husband essentially flee Scotland to avoid their debts and her apothecary husband’s drug addiction. Isobel has synesthesia, the ability to see colors in letters and words. It isn’t understood at the time and she must keep it a secret for fear others would misunderstand it for witchcraft. When Isobel lands in Salem, her husband is offered a job sailing and she is left to her own devices in an unknown land. She befriends Nathanial Hawthorne and this beautifully and well researched historical novel imagines that she becomes his muse for the character, Hester, in the novel he one day writes. Another storyline follows Isobel’s relative, Isobel Goldie, who was accused of witchcraft in Scotland in 1662. Both storylines are so interesting and the writing just flows so well. I was lost in this story and felt that I was right there with each Isobel. I can’t wait to read this again and reread The Scarlet Letter as well. Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and publisher. This is easily going to be one of my top favorite books I have read this year.

"Isobel was full of obedient determination". When taught embroidery by her mam in early 1800 Scotland, she told mam that "A is red...B is blue. C is yellow." Isobel had synesthesia, the comingling of senses, seeing colors associated with letters. "They'll call you crazy or say you're a witch." The colors must be hidden. "Even as I kept silent, the colors became more vivid and my dreams wilder...". Isobel Gowdie (her namesake) had been accused of witchcraft in 1662.

"Trust the needle". These were the words Isobel Gamble would cling to after husband Edward's debt caused the couple to spend time in the poorhouse. The couple fled Glasgow. Edward, an apothecary, had defamed himself through his opium addiction. Perhaps the promise of a fresh start in the New World would save him. An ocean voyage to Salem. Isobel had to "flee home with [her] colors and [her] needle." The New World seemed to be a land of possibilities. "I wanted to be a dressmaker...put[ting] my visions into cloth in a way that no one questioned...let me keep my secrets in plain sight, where I prayed they would hurt no one, least of all myself." Immediately, however, Edward signed up as a ship's medic and left for Bermuda. Isobel was left to fend for herself.

By the 1800s, the descendants of those accused of witchcraft as well as the families of the accusers lived side by side in Salem, Massachusetts. The sins of one's ancestors weighted heavily on their progeny. In Salem, "a tall man in the long black cape...his features are strong and pleasing, his voice gentle." There were immediate sparks of magnetism between Nathaniel Hawthorne and Isobel Gamble. "We were each in our own way struggling to be free-he with his notebooks, I with my needle." Nat was haunted by his descendants who sent innocent women to the gallows during the New England Witch trials. Isobel was the descendant of Isobel Gowdie, a women tried for witchcraft. Had this solitary writer found his muse?

"Hester" by Laurie Lico Albanese is a reimagining of Hester Prynne, the tragic muse in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter". The novel, however, is so much more. It examines resident life in Salem circa 1800. Who were the "real" Americans? Isobel Gamble was a red-haired Scottish lass with a noticeable brogue. Isobel's intricate needlework was sold in an exclusive shop under the name of another while she was paid a pittance. Neighbors Mercy and Zeke, born free, would not have the same freedom and liberties as others. The slave catcher was always searching. Salem was a town of strict rules. One must be seen on Sundays attending the "correct" house of worship. Gossipmongers, were always at the ready to obtain and spread juicy tidbits....a pair of gloves spelled disaster.

Author Albanese has infused this historical read with a beautiful tapestry of colorful prose while delivering the tale of a creative seamstress and would be pattern maker. The Puritan culture of the 1800s was loathe to recognize or encourage women's accomplishments. How would Isobel fair? Highly recommended.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Boy, it is a huge risk for an author to take a character from a well-known work and use that existing work as the skeletal outline for the main character of their own book. It often falls a bit flat, or can leave readers feeling like the original work/author has been somehow disrespected. For every single well done Jane Eyre (Mrs. Rochester!) character launch, there are a dozen or more that have fallen flat. That is not at all the case with Laurie Lico Albanese's Hester.
Hester shines as an example not only of what historical fiction can achieve, but also how an author can respectfully use source material and create something wholly new and original and captivating.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A beautifully written and easily imagined tale of Isobel Gamble, a young seamstress who accompanies her husband Edward from Scotland to America in the early 1800's. Edward, an apothecary addicted to opiates, sets sail as a ship's medic soon after arriving in America, leaving his young wife alone in a strange country where she must find a way to fend for herself.

Isobel sees the world, words, and people in vivid colors which she channels into her beautiful needlework. Her mother warned her as a child to keep "the colors" a closely guarded secret as one of her ancestors, Isobel Gowdy, saw the colors too and was convicted of being a witch in the 1600's. Isobel Gamble knows of the Salem witchcraft trials and realizes there is much to fear of gossip and takes care to keep her secret well.

The book alternates between the two time periods, with the majority of the story focusing on Isobel Gamble. Readers are easily placed into the her life and the time period via the vivid descriptions provided by the author. Isobel meets and develops an interest in Nat Hathorne, a writer, and a man with secrets of his own about his ancestors. It is interesting to watch these two bandy and flirt as their relationship blossoms during Edward's absence. Isobel becomes his muse, and later serves as the inspiration for Hester Prynne in the Scarlet Letter.

I also enjoyed how the author wove in the prevelant beliefs, interests, conventions, and happenings of the time; the restriction of interactions between the races, the beginnings of the underground railroad, the prejudices held against immigrants, and commonly held beliefs about women, especially women who had to work to provide for themselves. America was certainly not the land of the free for everyone, and there was much discussion on who could even call themselves true Americans.

This was a wonderfully engaging read, and I look forward to reading more books by this author!

My thanks to St.Martin's Press for permitting me to access an ARC of the book via NetGalley. Publication is slated for 10/4/22. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Having read The Scarlet Letter in high school and taught it to many high school students, I was excited to see what author Laurie Albanese would do with her story. I especially liked the beginning. Isobel met Edward Gamble, an apothecary, when her father burned his hand. She was seventeen and he was almost thirty. Edward’s first wife died of a terrible cancer and he was grieving. Isobel’s father remarried after Isobel’s mother died. After Edward and Isobel married, she found out that Edward had financial problems and they were taken to the poorhouse. When released, she and her husband left Scotland on the New Harmony for America. Albanese’s writing of the time spent on the ship made me feel seasick, feel like I was in the room when Edward operated on the ship’s captain, and develop a strong dislike of Edward. He is addicted to opium and has no concern for Isobel. Shortly after arriving in Salem, Edward leaves Isobel to work as a ship doctor leaving Isobel penniless.

I feel the first several chapters were excellent. The author’s development of Isobel’s character made me feel like I was “a fly on the wall” as she figures how how to survive by herself. The story starts to drag in the middle and the relationship with “Nat” Hathorne moves very slowly. I enjoyed several of the scenes with the different characters Isobel interacts with as she establishes herself. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Hester tells the story of Hawthorne’s muse for the book, The Scarlett Letter. After journeying to the New World from Scotland, Isobel Gamble is left on her own in Salem when her new husband sets back off to sea. She’s a gifted seamstress who uses her talent to provide for herself in her husband’s absence. She meets Nathaniel Hathorne and falls in love.
Isobel is a smart, strong, resourceful woman. Hathorne is easy to dislike but also it’s easy to see what enchants Isobel.
I remember reading The Scarlett Letter for school and really had a love/hate relationship with the story. I was thrilled to read this reimagining of who the character from the book may have been. And her much more interesting and compelling story. This book is beautifully written. The author’s detailed descriptions made me feel like I was in the streets of Salem myself. I think this book should be required reading in school!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Do you ever "slow read" a book that you are really loving? This was one of those books for me. I loved the language, the strong female main character, and the history. I loved the Scarlet Letter, and frankly that is probably what drew me to this title, but honestly the connections are so wispy (but fun to see!) even if you never read The Scarlet Letter---or even if you hated it---this entirely works on its own. I was sad when this ended. Thank you NetGalley and publishers, for providing a digital ARC for review. This is in stores early October! happy Reading :)

What an amazing story. This is the perfect fall read, set in Salem in the 1800s and topics of witches, curses and spell are at the front of everyone’s mind.
This story is about the woman who “inspired” Nathaniel Hawthorn’s novel, The Scarlet Letter.
Isabel came to America from Scotland because of her devious husband. Through many circumstances, she is left alone to fend for herself in Salem and falls in love with Nate.

This is a hopeful story and reminds you that magic can be found inside all of us within our day to day tasks. Isabel has a special talent with needle work and she has a unique gift of seeing colors within words. This was a beautifully creative story and I loved the artistic nature of the main character.

Don't worry if you haven't read the Scarlett Letter or if you, like me, read it so long ago that it's hazy in your mind- this magnificent novel stands on its own. Isobel, the latest in a long line of women who see colors and who, over time, have been pursued or condemned as witches, marries Edward because it seems like a good idea. It's not. He's an apothocary with a taste for opium, which leads them to ruin, and then to sail to Salem. Salem should be a haven, a fresh start where Isobel can use her skills with the needle to make a new life especially after Edward leaves on a new sailing. But there's darkness in Isobel's attraction to Nat Hawthorne, who becomes her drug. The most interesting parts of this involve the social mores of the time - the prejudice against the Irish and Scots, Nat's view of his family- and Isobel's discovery of the horrors of slavery via her neighbor. No spoilers from me but know that this has a few big twists, a bit of melodrama, and is just terrific. The characters - from Edward to the Captain, Nat, the women Isobel works with, even the undertaker- are vividly rendered. Isobel has a strong voice and I found myself fascinated with her world of colors. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't miss this one!

Albanese conjures up an outstanding prequel to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Her surrogate for Hester Prynne is Isobel Gamble, a young , Scottish needle worker who possesses exceptional sewing skills and seeks freedom from the constraints of society.

Her skills are enhanced by her ability to visualize sounds as colors, however; her mother warns her to never tell anyone about her gift because in the past female family members were accused of witchcraft. In addition, her parents advise her to use her needle to help herself.
Years later because of her husband Edward’s opium addiction and a short imprisonment in the poorhouse, she and Edward sail for Salem, Massachusetts where they hope to begin anew. During the voyage, she meets the ship’s captain, William Darling, a kind and giving man, who encourages Isobel to use her embroidery skills to improve her position and presents her with many colorful silk threads . Captain Darling assists Isobel more than once in her times of need.
In Salem she accidentally meets the writer Nathaniel Hawthorne and believes he shares her longing to be free and the two begin an ill advised romance the leads to talk of adultery and far worse for Isobel.
Moreover,Isobel must make hard choices for herself and for the sake of others.
The novel stands out because Albanese skillfully describes the sound of colors throughout the story and her characters have depth. Furthermore, she highlights the historical prejudices of 1829 Salem.

I have never read the Scarlet Letter, but I don't think you need to read it to be able to enjoy and appreciate this book. Don't read this if you are in the mood for a fast-paced book, this is more of an eloquently written historical fiction. That is not to say you won't want to keep reading, however! I was entranced by Hester and her relationships throughout the book, especially the one she forms with Nathaniel. This is the perfect book for the fall season!!

See Below for Synopsis:
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.

Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Glasgow for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they've arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.

When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward's safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?

In this sensuous and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our country's complicated past, and learns that America's ideas of freedom and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel and Nathaniel's story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a "real" American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of "unusual" women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet evocatively imagined, Laurie Lico Albanese's Hester is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.

I really enjoyed this book! The author’s writing was beautiful and I could vividly picture the scenes. I felt the main character, Isobel, was fleshed out, strong, and easy to root for.

Also, I’m a cross-stitcher, so I loved the detailed bits about Isobel’s needlework and how it was a central theme throughout the book and her life. I totally understand her love of the needle and thread! :)

Thank you NetGalley, Laurie Lico Albanese, and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Hester is a very fascinating book that follows and reimagines Hester Prynn from “The Scarlet Letter” - which is one of my favorite classics.

In this story, Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress who journeys to the New World with her husband Edward. However, things quickly change and she is forced to learn to survive in a new place on her own. Nathaniel meets her and they become closer as the story progresses. I really liked the writing in this book and how it focuses on Isobel’s power and her gifts. It features the witch trials and other parts of history as well and combines a love story with a story of survival.

This is an easy book to read and I finished it quickly. I recommend this one!

I adored this book. What an amazing re-imagining of the story behind The Scarlet Letter. I had read the Scarlet Letter in high school and loved it from the start. Reading this fictionalized account of how Nathaniel Hawthorne found inspiration for his novel was an adventure. I loved seeing the themes repeated in this story and the explanation of how they found their way into the 1850 novel.

Laurie Lico Albanese weaves a compelling tale of enchantment and artistry. A story of immigration, slavery, the historical abuse of women, of judgement and prejudice. There were so many elements of the story that were woven tightly together just like Isobel's own embroidery. I loved the flashbacks in time to both Isobel's ancestor and to Nat's ancestors. It felt like I was reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible, The Scarlet Letter, and an entirely new story wrapped into one.

Even if you don't have fond memories of required reading in high school or a fondness for "classic" literature such as The Scarlet Letter you can find enjoyment in this novel. I very much recommend this one, it's a perfect eerie setting for fall too!

This is a magnificent story of a woman with synesthesia and her unique art of needlework.
Isobel Gamble sees colors differently. Her mother told her not to mention this to anybody because she would be declared as a witch or closed in the asylum. Marrying Edward, Isobel has a hope for a brighter future but didn’t expect her husband to be addicted to opium, which ruined his apothecary. They were forced to go to the New World where life is not what she expected. Her husband joins a ship as a medic leaving her without money and food. When she meets Nathaniel Harthorne, who is so different from her husband and who supports her unique needlework, her hope for a better life returns.
Beautifully written, with a douse of mystery, this book takes the reader to a world powered by men who easily accuse innocent women of witchcraft. I loved Isobel, her strong personality and the fact that she could see colors in words and implement them into her stiches. Not only do I prize the author for her outstanding writing, but also for her ability to tell a captivating story from Salem.
Many thanks to the publisher @StMartinsPress and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

really had no idea what to expect with Hester especially since I really disliked The Scarlet Letter when I had to read it in high school but this was so good.

Isobel sees colors. People's words have colors and each letter of the alphabet is a different color. She dreams of using all the colors in her needlework until she stitches a scarlet A and her mother becomes worried. What we call synesthesia now was called witchcraft back then and could have a deadly effect. When she marries Edward, a local apothecary, she thinks she will settle into a nice life but Edward has a dark side. After he becomes an addict and loses their money they move to Salem to start a new and better life but after they get there Edward has a scheme and sets off to sea again leaving Isobel with no money. She turns to her needlework and again starts seeing all the colors. She is also attracted to Nat Hathorne, a struggling writer.

There was a lot going on here. Her relationship to Nat and Edward. The people in the town look down on her thinking her little better than the Blacks and Indians but she perseveres trying to sell her needlework and make a living. Add in some runaway slaves and great characters like Isobel and Captain Darling and Mercy and this was a great read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy

This book has an interesting premise, but it falls flat from the jump. The best parts are the 1600s parts, looking briefly at John Hathorne’s involvement in the prosecution of the Salem Witch trials and Isobel Gowdie’s trial for witchcraft. I liked how they informed Nathaniel and Isobel’s lives in the present, with each of them living in the shadow of their respective legacies.
But I feel like it was a mistake to try to make this into a romance that is taken directly from the pages of The Scarlet Letter, especially as it completely emasculates Nathaniel. Even taking into account the context of the time period, it feels odd to me that he would ostracize her, then years later write a romantic-tragic tribute to her.
I do somewhat appreciate the acknowledgment of how hard it was both in the 17th and 19th centuries to be “different” and/or step outside what was considered conventionally acceptable as a woman. However, the execution of it in the midst of the other elements fell very flat.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


I don't remember much about The Scarlett Letter, mainly that it was the only assigned reading i ever liked in high school. I think that made this book that much more enjoyable for me.

If you remember the basic plot of TSL you won't be surprised by major themes, however, the prose.... the prose! This book is beautiful. If you liked Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman, you will enjoy this! It's magical, realistic, and you can easily imagine every stitch Isobel creates. And if you don't run to Hobby Lobby for embroidery floss, hoops, and fabric I'd like to know how you stopped yourself because I think I have a new hobby thanks to this book!

Not for me. Too far-fetched. Taints original intent of The Scarlet Letter.
Paula Reed's novel, ironically of the same title, is a much better actual sequel to The Scarlet Letter.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.