Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

A Scottish immigrant in 1800s Salem weaves her secrets into silk while navigating a forbidden affair with Nathaniel Hawthorne—the man who would eventually turn her life into a legend.

Isobel Gamble arrives in 1800s Salem only to be abandoned by her husband, leaving her to navigate a judgmental town with nothing but her needlework. Isobel carries a secret: she sees emotions as vibrant colors—a gift of synesthesia she hides within her embroidery. When she meets the brooding Nathaniel Hawthorne, their shared status as outsiders sparks a deep connection. As their relationship grows, Isobel becomes the unwitting catalyst for his most famous work, learning too late the danger of being a muse for a man obsessed with sin. Hester is a vivid reimagining of the woman behind the "A," exploring the weight of a writer’s betrayal.