I really enjoyed this story by Lynda Cohen Logiman. I was really drawn in from the beginning. I am finding out that I really enjoy stories with potions and the lore they carry. Thanks NetGalley for the eArc.

This was just alright. I was in the minority and didn't find it that compelling. Miscommunication trope is annoying. genre description is misleading. would've been better as a short story

I absolutely loved this book - loved the Boca/Brooklyn settings and time periods, the love story between Augusta and Irving, the conflict between medicine and healing, the Jewishness of it all, and how it all played out. I read it in Boca Raton, which was the perfect place for it.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is about a pharmacist who recently turned 80 and is forced to leave her beloved career. She retires at a community in Florida, which also happens to host her first love, Irving. The two reconnect, much to Augusta's ire, and the book flashes back their present to Augusta's life in 1920s Brooklyn. I absolutely loved the Matchmaker's Gift by the same author so was very excited to read this book!

It absolutely did not disappoint!! I read this in one day because I could not put it down. I found the story and the characters so engaging. Much like The Matchmaker's Gift, there are some fantastical elements, which I thought only added to the uniqueness of the story. I liked seeing a elderly career-focused female main character who never had children. I loved how it progressed and could not wait to see how the story threads came together.

I highly highly recommend this book! 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC, my thoughts are my own!

I was fortunate enough to receive both a digital and audio ARC of The Love of Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman. I loved the dual timelines throughout this book and how the author seamlessly flowed between the two. One of my favorite 5 star reads of the year!!


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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This was one of the NetGalley books that I had fallen behind on and is well past its publication date. Now I am sorry that I waited so long to read it. I recently lost a friend to cancer and needed a light read that was not depressing. This filled the bill, though it was not mindless fluff either.
This book is told in a dual timeline, going back and forth between Augusta's younger life and her now, in "old age." Augusta is not your average 80 year old. She had been working until she is told she needed to retire. She retires to Florida, which could be a disaster for someone like August who is a very vital 80 year old. However, she meets people she used to know, including her old flame, Irving and some others. Irving was the one that got away. The question is why and whether he will get away again, and you will need to read the book to find out.
Through the second time line, we learn why he got away.
This fit the bill of what I needed. It was engaging and the characters were vivid. There were a few moments where my attention veered but on the whole, it was diverting but not mindless fluff. I would give this 4.5 stars.
I mostly read the book although I did listen to the audio on the train and the narrator was good.
Thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for providing me with this novel and audiobook in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you, to the publisher and Netgalley for my gifted copy.

I loved The Matchmaker's Gift, so I was excited to read this one. I love how the author can just pull you into her story and not let up. I definitely recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this historical fiction the touch of magical realism just made it so cozy and the story was so heartwarming. This book follows Augusta as a young girl and as a recently retired woman who recently found out she was living in the same community has her high school sweet heart. We follow Augusta in current times as she try’s to work out if she wants to take a chance with her past love. We also follow her as a young woman as we watch the romance come to be and what went wrong. This was definitely a low stakes slice of life kind of book so the pacing could be a little slow at times but found the book to be atmospheric and I really just enjoyed seeing these characters live their every day lives. This is my first book from this author but really hope to read more in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I absolutely adored every minute of this wonderful story. It’s a dual timeline story, alternating between 1920s Brooklyn and 1980s Florida. The story flows beautifully, unraveling the story of how Augusta came to so adrift at almost 80 years of age. This is historical fiction, but there is a lovely storyline of romance. Add in just a little bit of magical realism and mystery and you have yourself an unputdownable story. I hugged this book when I finished because I was sorry to leave Augusta, even though I was delighted by the resolution. A story about the beauty of second chances and the belief that we can always start over, no matter our age. I loved it. Five Glowing Stars.

I enjoyed this one and am always up for an older protagonist. The historical storytelling was strong, even if the modern story was a little less so for me. I was interested and engaged the whole time.

This was an absolutely lovely story. Dual timelines, misunderstandings, a little bit of magic, and love at long last.

This is my first book by Lynda Cohen Loigman, I look forward to reading many more.

I did enjoy this book. It was a nice read and I thought the characterization was thoughtful and well done. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of modern medicine and old remedies as well.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a captivating historical fiction that blends love, mystery, and family secrets. The story explores a woman’s journey to uncover hidden truths, with well-developed characters and an engaging plot. Loigman’s writing is immersive, making it an enjoyable read for fans of emotional, character-driven narratives.

This author is a wonderful storyteller engaging you from the very first page until the last page. Her characters are beautifully written with warmth and a bit of humor. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would recommend it.

This historical fiction is set in 2 different time settings and locations- 1920’s Brooklyn and 1980’s Florida.. Augusta has worked many many years as a pharmacist for her family's business and she is informed that it is time for her to retire. She leaves Brooklyn and moves to Florida to move into a retirement home where she has a surprising second chance at love. The author does a beautiful job of weaving together both story lines and will leave you laughing and in tears at the same time

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review!

When I requested this book I thought it might be a cozy fantasy or at least witchy. It is not, but I still enjoyed the book.

When retired pharmacist Augusta Stern moves to Florida, she is confronted by the man who broke her heart 6 years before. Irving is keen to reignite their relationship, but Augusta is still living over his betrayal.

The book goes back and forth from 1987 with the present day characters trying to communicate the truth of the past, and the 1920's when Augusta's great aunt Esther arrives and changes everyone's lives.

This is a nice read, it's very Jewish which I enjoyed. I especially enjoyed the 1920 storyline and I loved Aunt Esther!

This story is the perfect mix of quippiness and seriousness, historical elements and magical realism. The characters and relationships are real, deftly drawn, and stayed with me well after the final page. Five stars!

I loved being in the world of Augusta Stern and all her friends/foes. Told in the form of two timelines, the reader learns more about the life of Augusta. When we meet her, she is just about to retire from her job as a pharmacist and to move to a community in Florida, and we alternate between her retirement life and her life as a young girl growing up in New York. When Augusta gets to Florida, she suddenly finds herself in the presence of someone she has forced herself not to think about in 62 years- Irving Rivkin. The reader learns their history, and how they were brought back together after being ripped apart so long ago.

I thought the dual timelines were a fantastic way to tell the story, which flowed seamlessly throughout. The characters were so fully developed that I felt like I knew them myself after reading the book. Some of the side characters were such bright lights in the story- Augusta’s Great Aunt Ester being one of them. She was a fascinating character and I loved all the scenes in which she was in the book. I’m not sure which timeline was my favorite. I immensely enjoyed learning about her background, but also had a lot of fun with the retirement community periods. Nevertheless, I thought this book was very charming, easily readable, and is one that I will likely remember for a long time. 4.5/5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

In an effort to tackle my backlog of reviews, I am going to experiment with writing mini-reviews. Writing short reviews has never been my strong suit, so we'll see how this goes.......

A delightful romantic tale that explores the magic and messiness of love through Augusta’s unique apothecary and its potions. When she crafts a love elixir, it unintentionally triggers a series of surprising happenings in her quaint community. As Augusta grapples with the ripple effects of her concoction, she learns that while her intentions with the love elixir were good, real connections and emotions are irreplaceable and essential for meaningful relationships.

The book reminds us that love, trust, and understanding are the foundations of strong bonds, and that sometimes, even the best intentions can lead to unexpected outcomes.

🎧Narrator, Gabra Zackman’s expressive voice masterfully captures the book’s whimsical and heartwarming essence, bringing depth and personality to each character while vividly conveying the emotions of key moments.

Meanwhile, author Lynda Cohen Loigman’s narration adds a unique personal touch, enriching the storytelling with her deep understanding of the characters and plot. Together, their performances make this audiobook a delightful journey.

I throughly enjoyed this charming story and recommend it to anybody who enjoys tales of imperfect connections.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and author Lynda Cohen Loigman for gifting me a copy of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. In exchange for the review copy, I offer my honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this novel. Lynda Cohen Loigman brings so much Jewish Joy to her novels, blending historical fiction, magical realism, romance and drama. The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is told in two timelines, 1920’s Brooklyn, where Augusta “ Goldie” Stern is a young woman coming of age after the loss of her mother and the other timeline is 1980’s Florida, where Augusta Stern is approaching her 80th birthday. Cohen- Loigman is beyond talented in creating memorable characters who are easily identifiable and relatable.
This story is full of charm, magic, heart and soul. A truly wholesome and delightful story, good for all ages. I loved this book so much, I bought a copy for my 80 year old mom…who loved it too!!!