R E V I E W
Have you ever read a book/listened to audio and think omg what am I even going to write a review about? This is how I feel.
I was SO intrigued by a storyline that followed the scarlet letter and loved this aspect of the novel. Follows a female lead as she travels to America after her husband falls into debts due to an opioid addiction. There she falls for the Nathanial Hawthorn who is writing his novel which may or may not be loosely based on her.
I do wonder if doing the audio took away from the story line for myself. I think the alternating timelines confused me at times.
However, one thing I notice about myself as a reader is when I do not feel connected (not necessarily like the MC) but like I can UNDERSTAND them, I have a harder time enjoying a book.

Review will be up on Instagram in a few days :)

I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book. Isn't it stunning? I was fortunate enough to get an Advanced Listener's Copy of Hester from NetGalley and was thrilled. Having loved reading The Scarlet Letter in high school, I was eager to extend the story and imagine who Nathaniel Hawthorne's muse was. Rather than getting a modern twist on a classic, Laurie Lico Albanese beautifully wove the 1850s into her plot. Not only did we get to meet Nat Hathorne himself, but immerse ourselves in the world of that time period; both in Scotland, the Bahamas, and Salem. Albanese touched on the plight of women, slavery, freedom, immigration, poverty, and that everyone has hidden depths. Whether they hide it in plain sight, or weave it into the tapestry of their lives - secrets surround us all.

I had never hear of Synesthesia before this book. The author's note mentions this is when people experience multiple senses as one input. In the case of the female protagonist, Isobel, grapheme-color synesthesia was experienced. This allowed for beautiful descriptive imagery, as well as gave Isobel hidden depths. I though it was a very original way to explain the origin of the scarlet letter A that has become iconic.

The narrator of this audiobook was phenomenal. The gentle lilt of her Scottish accent added a dreamlike quality to the sensory experiences Isobel was describing. I would highly recommend it if you are someone that loves audiobooks. The only flaw that I found was that part of the story is told in the past and in several different settings. The audiobook did make that a little hard for me to track.

Laurie Lico Albanese wrote a beautiful story, that many will enjoy much more than the novels muse, The Scarlet Letter. In Hester we are introduced to Isobel a young woman with synesthesia who moves to America from Scotland, with her apothecary husband Edward. Edward's addiction have landed them in financial trouble, and he leaves Isobel, for a life aboard a ship as a doctor. Forced to fend for herself Isobel uses her tenacity and and embroidery talent to make sure she can get by. She befriends a young Nathaniel Hathorne and the two seem to have an instant and mutual attraction to each other. "Hester" is told in a dual timeline, one being the story of Isobel in 1800's America and the second timeline is Isobel's ancestors from two hundred years ago who stood trial in the Salem Witch Trials. The story touches on many of the same important topics as The Scarlet Letter including morals, religion, slavery, gender, etc.

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.

In this imagining of Hawthorne's inspiration for The Scarlet Letter, we dive head first not only into the Salem of Hawthorne's time, but the history of witches and persecution of the other that has haunted women and people of color across continents and time. The story may focus on Isobel Gamble, a young Scottish woman trying to make her way in America, but we also learn about her ancestress Isobel Gowdie, a suspected witch in 1660s Scotland, and Hawthorne's ancestor, an unrepentant judge at the Salem witch trials. Their stories weave together to create a well-researched immersive experience that questions what role our family history plays in our lives and what we can do to break the mold.

The narrator is strong and gives Isobel a clear voice with good pacing.

I couldn’t finish this audio. I couldn’t get past the narrator. I will read the book and hope I get into the story. The rating is for the audio

When I saw Hester: A Novel, I was immediately drawn to the gorgeous embroidered cover art, and was equally intrigued by the concept of a reimagining of the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Hester from The Scarlet Letter…

First off, I’ve never read the scarlet letter, but as everyone else knows it’s about adultery and the consequences during a puritanical timeframe. Does Hester have adultery and puritanical repercussions, you bet, but this book was so much more!

I don’t want to give the whole story away, but our heroine Isabel is afflicted by synesthesia, condition were letters and numbers are seen and perceived in colors. During this time frame this would be perceived as witchcraft.

This book was so much more than I had anticipated, the inclusion of magic both sensory end of the earth brought it to another level along with the sisterhood that accompanies such magic. The tale of magic is told through two stories where we have the current story of Isabell who will be come the inspiration for Hester and her ancestors and their fight to survive during the Scottish witch trials.

And if the inclusion of witchcraft is not enough for you, the theme of social justice and female/family rights is highly prevalent in the story. Taking place in Salem Massachusetts, slavery is banned but the South is still deeply entrenched in this plays a large role in the story. As well Isabell and other women in their role in the family and their status is explored through class differences in their social rights as people.

I received an audiobook arc of Hester and found that at some points the Scottish accent was difficult to keep up with, but the narrators work did fit well with the story in the time frame. This is definitely one of the books I would’ve enjoyed having a physical copy to look upon while listening to the narration.

Overall, this story did not play out how I anticipated, but I found it deeply satisfying in the end.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my arc.

#HesterANovel #LaurieLicoAlbanese

When I was in school, The Scarlet Letter was required reading. Oh! How I hated that book. I despised how everything was always the fault of the woman and that was my introduction to the phrase "It's a man's world." Hester, this brilliant twisted masterpiece, is my "moment of truth." This is the story told from the heart and soul of "Hester," who is actually Isobel Gambel, and details her trip from Scotland to Salem and how she came to be Nathaniel Hawthorne's woman of The Scarlet Letter.

The comparisons with Scotland's witch attack and that of Salem's witch trials years later, are terrifying and serve to show that history often repeats itself and you never know who you can trust with your secrets. Neighbor turns against neighbor. Husband turns against wife. The author also introduces the similarities between the witch hunters and the slave hunters who were also very active during this time period.

Isobel's mother taught her to use a needle and thread for sewing, decoration, and embroidery. Along the way she learned tricks to camouflage a woman's body and these talents helped her survive when all else was against her. The imagery of her embroidery and how she learned to weave her magick into her work kept me attached to this book straight through to the end!

Hearing the other side of story made the horrid book from my youth make much more sense and I understand how Isobel's personal story could be, and most likely was, twisted by young author Nat Hawthorne who was both trying to make a name for himself among the literary greats and also trying to cover his own mistakes in life by shifting the blame elsewhere. This book helped me to put the pieces together and unravel the truth to a history that was twisted to benefit men. I'm very excited to share this book with others and I cannot urge you enough to get your own copy!

I received an audio version of this story. While the narrator has a delightful accent that added strength to all of the characters, I believe I might have enjoyed the book even more had I read it myself and been able to add my own thoughts and ideas into the characters and their actions and words. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a very readable and entertaining historical fiction book. I really liked the premise, especially as I enjoyed The Scarlet Letter back in high school. The story moved at a great pace and the writing was enjoyable.

The reason I didn't rate the book higher is because I didn't feel like the author addressed race very well. She compared the experience of immigrants to formerly enslaved people in a way that equated their experiences, which is very inaccurate and harmful. Immigrants were not discriminated against to the same degree as Black and Indigenous Peoples in the US, but the book might make the reader think otherwise.

In regard to the narration, I thought it was excellently narrated. The voice was pleasant and easy to understand and well paced.

This is a great, masterful retelling of the Scarlet Letter and a great witchy read for anyone looking for a non scary witchy read this October. This works for readers not familiar with the Scarlet Letter, don't let that hold you back, and offers a welcome perspective missing from (white man writing about women's lives classic literature). I really embraced the focal points on history and the drop ins of larger context points along with the development of a story of immigration, who/what is American, and what it means to be a creative soul. The narration and production was excellent and I welcomed this change of pace read (I don't read a lot of historical fiction!) and know that this is a welcome book in the growing sub genre of witchy reads.
Recommended for Alice Hoffman fans as well as fans of Chris Bohjalian's The Hour of the Witch (which I really did not care for... this book is superior in all ways).

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the Advanced Reader Copy of 'Hester (Audio book)' in exchange for my truthful opinion. Hester was published October 4th, 2022.

Hester is the reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne from Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'.

Having never read 'The Scarlet Letter' myself, I was unsure what to expect from this storyline....but I loved it.

Isobel is a young Scottish seamstress who makes her way to the new world with her husband Edward hoping to leave behind financial ruin and his addictions. Almost immediately upon landing in New England, Edward leaves Isobel to pursue riches and notoriety as an onboard ship doctor, leaving her stranded and poor. Forced to earn her own way, Isobel uses her talent of needlework to make a name for herself and put food on the table. When Isobel meets Nathaniel, she is taken with his soft, gentle nature and soon their passions take over.

I truly enjoyed how the story unraveled. Saskia Maarleveld was such a brilliant choice in narrator, and I could listen to her read all day. I enjoyed how the author incorporated flashbacks to the past that centered around Isobel's ancestry, the witch trials, and how Isobel's gift of synesthesia had to be hidden as to not be misinterpreted as witchcraft.

🌹 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 🌹

𝗛𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿
𝗕𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲
𝟯𝟯𝟲 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 - Out now!

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸:
𝟵 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝟱𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀
𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗱

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ • 5/5 stars

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.

What a book!! Absolutely, positively fantastic!!!!! 👏 THIS is the kind of 'witchy' read I love; the kind that explores the wicked history of.... not 'witches', but of the world toward women.

The dark history of 'witches' in the US (and beyond) is steeped in something smellier than a fictional witch's brew: the murder of women who didn't adhere to the status quo. Women who couldn't bare children. Inheriting women. Women who didn't go to church. The Puritan patriarchal systems of the past labeled women 'witches' when they didn't conform. It's the accusers who are guilty of evil.. not the accused 'witches'.

But I digress...

Hester is a dual timeline historical fiction, with the main timeline being in the 1800s, as we follow our Scottish MC Isobel into the New World (Salem, Massachusetts). We flash back to the 1600s, when our MC's ancestor, also named Isobel, is accused of witchcraft.

In present day, Isobel is met with struggles in her new home. It's incredibly difficult for the Irish and Scottish to find work. I really loved how the author explored this aspect of the immigrant experience. Isobel is penniless and alone when she meets and becomes friends with the charming Nathaniel Hawthorne. And though she's married, her husband has taken off on a ship and is feared dead. What will come of this newfound bond between Isobel and Nat?

This is a must read! I listened along with the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed Saskia's performance (as always). I highly recommend in either format. Very well done!! 👏

Thank you @macmillan.audio & @netgalley for my ALC.
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A historical fiction inspired by the scarlet letter. The story follows Isobel, the adulteress who inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's character Hester. It is a work of fiction, and not based on a real person, but still a great read!

Full of color and sound
Begins with note on synesthesia

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a free ALC of this title! I loved it!

Laurie Lico Albanese weaves a tale as gorgeous and inspiring as her protagonist's embroidery. 'Hester,' under the guise of a very well crafted historical fiction about the writing of a literary classic, is actually a moving story of legacy, love, and womanhood in the age of witch accusations.

Isobel Gamble is a gifted seamstress haunted by her secrets and the shame society has conditioned her to place upon herself. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author to be of 'The Scarlet Letter' and generally sullen young creative, is weighed down by his own family legacy of shame and expectations.  Albanese brilliantly reverse-engineers this fictional iteration of Hawthorne's inspiration through his own fraught romance with Isobel and the way he copes— or fails to— with the consequences thereof. If you're familiar with Hawthorne's most famous novel, you will easily pick up all the clever ways Albanese works it's facets into Isobel's and Nathaniel's lives. If you've only heard of 'The Scarlet Letter' in the broader sense and never been provided with or sought out any context for the actual story, you'll miss out on a bit of the skill with which Albanese crafts 'Hester,' but there is no shortage of emotional substance and wonderful storytelling otherwise that will be apparent to any reader. In a refreshing change of pace from this particular brand of historical fiction, instead of starring the man whose name would go on to become a household staple, this novel is told primarily from Isobel's perspective, interrupted only to provide context through the trial and escape of Isobel's ancestor (actual famous historically accused "witch" Isobel Gowdie), the women accused dirong the infamous Salem witch trials of the early 1690s, and a handful of brief flashes into Isobel's mother's point of view. This choice to have 'Hester' told entirely from the point of view of women allows for a very personal lens through which to take in all the ways systemic misogyny can harm and stifle a woman in each setting.

Feminist framing and expert use of inspirational material aside, Albanese's prose is succinct and well paced. The narrative voice in this novel reads like a story being told by the lit hearth on a stormy night, covering a stretch of events and emotions in an atmospheric and engaging way without getting bogged down by indulgent purple prose. Particularly enchanting is the use of the synesthesia. Isobel's (and her forebears') experience with synesthesia is depicted with incredible detail while still remaining in perfect context for the time. Each instance of both Isobel's sensory intake, as well as her output in the form of her embroidery is crafted with beautiful imagery. The stigma and fear associated with the affliction and it's proximity to perceived witchcraft of the time is communicated clearly and organically.

As an audiobook, 'Hester' is an incredible experience. Saskia Maarleveld's performance is outstanding, each voice and accent distinct and wonderfully done. Listening instead of reading written word allows for the multi-sensory nature of the prose to shine.

With a gorgeous cover and even more gorgeous content, I absolutely recommend this one for your tbr and your physical collection.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Saint Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese, publish date October 4th, 2022
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

I received a copy of this audiobook in the summer of 2022, and waited to listen to it until the autumn. I am so glad for it, because the book has a lot of reference of Salem witch trials and has "Halloween" written all over it. It is an atmospheric historical fiction, reimagining Nathaniel Hawthorne and his inspirations to write Scarlet Letter.

Isobel is a young Scot seamstress who marries an apothecary in early 1800s. Together they sail from Scotland to America. Isobel has color synesthesia and sees letters in colors, but her mother forbids to associate letters with colors. I have never heard this condition, and it perked my interest. The story is slow to develop, maybe not unlike to stitch letters together, and eventually Isobel meets Hawthorne, along with other members of Salem community.

I have really enjoyed the story, and the narration for this audiobook is exceptional. The last 30% of the book is suspenseful and I had difficulties putting down, and I enjoyed the book's ending as well.
Overall I would have given five stars if I didn't struggle to engage in the story at the beginning.
The book is perfect for October, especially if you have ever visited Salem, Massachusetts or interested in history of Salem.

An advanced copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. Thank you!
Opinions stated hereby is my own.

I found the story “Hester” captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, a retelling of Hester Prynne the heroine in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter. Set during the 1800’s, it follows the story of a young Isobel Gamble. A seamstress from a descended of ladies’ seamstresses who see words and hear voices as colors, with her namesake being proclaimed a witch. Isobel married an older pharmacist who ends up losing everything because of his addictions. They set sail to America for a new beginning. On the ship, Isobel saves the life of the captain who then protects her. Isobel’s husband Edward goes off to sea leaving Isobel alone to fend for herself. Isobel’s stories are stitched into the garments. The narration was done very well.

Thank you #NetGalley, #St.Martin’sPress, #MacmillanAudiio, #Hester, #LaurieLicoAlbbanese and #SaskiaMaarleveld for the advance copy for my honest review.

I read the Scarlet Letter in High School ages ago just like most teenagers in America. I absolutely loved the book, so I suggested re-reading it a few years ago in my book club and found it pretty boring and dreadful. When Hester came out and I read the description, I thought maybe this was the redemption my second attempt at the Scarlet Letter needed, and it absolutely was. This was a great reimagining. I think it was better than the original. I love that it was grounded in history and although it was fictitious it felt like it could be real. I really enjoyed it.

Hester is a retelling of The Scarlet Letter. I vaguely remember reading The Scarlet Letter in high school, but was still excited to read Hester. I feel this retelling was very well done with a lot of historical accuracy included which made it feel more realistic. The writing was beautiful and I quite enjoyed it.

This was such an interesting look into the witch trials. There were so many different things that women could do that would have them labeled a witch in Salem in those days.

I’ve done plenty of research on the Salem Witch Trials. It’s so interesting and has proven that I absolutely would have labeled a witch in those days.

This books follows the experience of an immigrant woman who finds herself in alone after her husband departs on a boat almost immediately upon arrival in the New World. When she meets Nathanial Hawthorne, she finds a friend to talk to during a complicated time in her life. Nathanial is dealing with his own guilt over the actions of his ancestors during the witch trials, while our woman, Isobel, is dealing with demons of her own.

There are throwbacks to Salem and I found those to be the most interesting parts of this book. While the story of Isobel was fine, I really enjoyed the blips of the past that brought the witch trials to life.

Thanks to NetGalley I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and I only have one complaint. It wasn’t always easy to determine whether we were in the 1600s or the 1800s. While the narrator does let us know, the voices being identical made it difficult to remember and caused much of what was happening to blend together.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I usually don’t read historical fiction but I simply fell in love with this novel. The story was mesmerizing, clever and heartbreaking. Isobel is probably one of my favorite characters of the year: I was captivated and inspired by her strength and determination. Stunning and beautiful, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.