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

Isobel Gamble, a seamstress set sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. Her husband's addiction to opium had incurred a mountain of debt, and they had to leave Edinburgh for the New World with hopes of a new life and brighter future. But after days after arriving in Salem, MA, Edward joins a departing ship as a medic, leaving Isobel with no money and having to scramble to support herself.

When Isobel meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, she feels an attraction and with Edward still gone, the two grow closer...

This book also touches on the Salem witch trials and the underground railroad. I had both the book and audiobook of Hester and found myself mainly listening to the audiobook.

Like many have mentioned, The Scarlett Letter was required reading in High School. I loved the book and have several copies of it that I have found in antique book shops, so this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed how Isobel was a strong character who was self-sufficient and a survivor.

Well written and gripping!


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

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