Before I go into this review, just a heads up that I read an ARC of this novel, and it doesn't release until November 2022. Therefore, the book I am reviewing could be incomplete.

"...History isn't what's written or told. History is hidden away in dark corners and shadows."

I both loved and hated this book. On one hand this was a slow telling of the woman who inspired the writing on The Scarlett Letter, on the other hand it's a beautifully written literary novel that tackles themes on race, womanhood, and independence. 

I truly thought the author could have cut this book in half and it would have been just as impactful. The first 100 pages are slow and full of very unnecessary details. The writing gets better around page 150 or so and the story really speeds up. The second half of the book feels almost like a completely different story. I think the version I read could benefit from another edit. 

This book held a lot of potential for a 5 star read. Unfortunately the slow beginning and overly detailed background impacted my rating.