Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a heart-warming story about Augusta Stern who is turning 80 and has recently retired from owning a pharmacy and being the pharmacist. She has always been independent, strong-willed and speaks her mind. She has moved into a senior community in Florida and runs into someone from her past, Irving Rivkin, who worked for her father at the pharmacy and broke Augusta's heart. The story moves back and forth between the present days (the 80s) and the 1920s when they were growing up in Brooklyn together. We slowly learn of Augusta's treasured Aunt Esther and the many things she learned from her (a homeopath). The "magic" that Aunt Esther conjures intrigues Augusta and will play a part in how Augusta sees and lives her life. We find there are many disappointments and heartbreaks from the 1920s which has shaped Augusta but will she ever learn the full story which may change the way she sees her life and love? An enjoyable read.

This was such an unexpectedly delightful novel! Generally, I'm a pretty serious reader, and most days, you'll catch me reading a historical fiction novel or memoir. But when the opportunity for this unique magical realism novel was presented, I thought, 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕? and my goodness, am I happy I did!

Told in dual timeline format, this story dips into Augusta Stern's life both as a teen in New York and later as an 80-year-old woman in Florida, where she encounters an old flame. The entire time, the reader is brought along on this mini mystery quest to find out why their relationship ended all that time ago.

Generally, in dual timelines, I am most often immersed in the past, as it is often a richer, more in-depth story. However, I'll be honest, both of these time periods had me fully invested. I truly adored the focus on octogenarians and their ability to lead a very fulfilling existence, despite their old age.

If you're looking for a charming, insightful novel that's sure to bring a smile to your face, look no further!

So grateful to St. Martin's Press for this gifted review copy!

A lovely book about second chances and octogenarian love: I enjoyed the characters and the dual-time storyline. It is not a very high-stakes story, nor is it trying to be one, but the amount of work that went into the details and the writing makes it a very good read.
The fact that the main events in the "now" (1987) take part in Boca, where I work and used to live, made the book particularly interesting to me. The French restaurant where the group went for the birthday dinner had closed in 2006 - but it was a real place and described in the novel very vividly. A very nice touch.
I can't say anything about 1920s Brooklyn, but I am guessing the details there would be close to the history as well.
I enjoyed a bit of the self-awareness in the book. At one point, Augusta says, "This isn't some sort of geriatric fairy tale where everything gets magically fixed in the end." But it is!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for sharing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun sweet story!

We meet Augusta Stern as a 79 year old recently retired pharmacist who moves from Brooklyn to a retirement community in Florida. Much to her surprise, she finds an old flame who jilted her 62 years earlier, Irving Rivkin, lives there also. The story oscillates from present to past as we learn how the two are connected and where it all fell apart.

I really enjoyed this and liked how Augusta's story played out. Aunt Esther was one of my favorite characters with her little remedies and "soups". The little twist at the end kept things interesting although I did struggle a bit in the middle. It was sweet to see how it all played out once things were revealed but felt like we could have perhaps gotten there a bit quicker to avoid the slog in the middle. It was worth it to get to the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review!

I don’t read magical realism often but am so happy I said yes to this incredibly charming tale (+ having only the slightest magi-realism, perfect for me). Eighty-year-old retired pharmacist Augusta Stern crosses paths with an old love who had broken her heart. But as fate would have, it found a way to bring them together 60 years later. This is such a tender-hearted story told in the past + present about second chance love, new beginnings and found family. This is my first Lynda Cohen Loigman novel.. what a wonderful storyteller she is! ❥ 5 stars — Pub. 10/8/24

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman may appear to be a simple story of old friends reuniting after nearly sixty years, but it is anything but. The characters are endearing, courageous, and full of strength.

The novel alternates between two timelines, beginning in 1987 as Augusta prepares for retirement, while the other delves into her past as a teenager. There is a mystery at the heart of the story that unfolds across both timelines. Augusta Stern, at eighty years old, is a tenacious and unforgettable lead character. Who says life can’t have a fresh beginning at that age?

This book was a delightful read—sweet, humorous, and emotional in just the right places. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a copy.

On the cusp of turning 80, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart 60 years earlier.

Like a warm slice of pie and a cup of tea, this book is such a charming, cozy, and slightly magical story of love lost and found as well as family ties, secrets, healing and the power of love. I loved Augusta’s character. She is smart, insightful, and sometimes quirky with a mind of her own as she learns to make her way in a world and a profession uncommon for the women of her young adulthood.

This story is told through dual timelines—1920s Brooklyn and 1980s Florida, and I thoroughly enjoyed these historical fiction aspects. I loved Augusta’s relationship with Irving during her childhood, and then through their tense relationship after reconnecting 60 years later. It’s clear they both still harbor feelings, and I confess I was a bit annoyed that someone like Augusta, who never holds back on her commentary and opinions, took so long to discuss their past with Irving. I loved Augusta’s great aunt Esther, a wise and mystical presence in Augusta’s life, and Augusta’s relationship with her niece was so heartwarming. Her new Florida friend Shirley was a hoot.

“We did the same work, we healed the same illnesses, but they called him the apothecary and they called me the witch.” ~Esther

What happened between Irving and Augusta 60 years ago wasn’t much of a surprise to me, but I did love how the ending and Augusta’s birthday party tied it all together.

I highly recommend this for its warmth, the lovely writing, and a wonderful senior female main character. You won’t soon forget Augusta! 4.5 stars

Augusta Stern is a formidable character; she’s smart, strong, and knows who she is and her place in this world. Except when it comes to Irving Rivkin. I enjoyed getting to know Goldie, both in the present day, trying to find her footing in a new location, and the past, where she was learning about both the scientific and the natural healing sides of the pharmaceutical business. Both timelines swept me up into their worlds and had me entranced.

After delaying her retirement for as long as she possibly could, Augusta Stern is finally retiring at the age of 79. The next step in her life brings her to to the Rallentando Springs senior community, Florida. As she starts accepting the new realities of retirement and Florida heat, she runs into Irving Rivkin, the man that broke her heart six decades ago. This unexpected surprise has Augusta reminiscing about her childhood, her family and ultimately the decisions that shaped her life’s trajectory! The dual timelines truly complemented each other with Augusta being introduced in her present retirement era as well as when she was a young adult in the 20’s. Growing up in Brooklyn, Augusta and her sister would help their father, the local pharmacist, run his shop. After their mother passed, their great-aunt Esther moved in to help, making the most delicious meals and soups. Esther quickly starts to interact with her nephews patients by offering them alternative cures that quite frankly sound more like potions to Augusta. Curiosity and eagerness to learn has her split between dad’s pharmaceuticals knowledge and her aunts apothecary remedies.

Augusta Stern is such a delightful character to follow throughout the decades, which the story slowly unfolds. She’s unapologetically herself and I’m here for that! I truly loved how the book was broken down into dual Augusta timeline, giving us so much insight into her life and accomplishments such as being a pharmacist in an era where men thought women belonged at home with the kids. Definitely grab this one if you are looking for a wholesome historical fiction about new beginnings, second chance romance, mystery and magical realism.

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍. 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇'𝗌 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 ＆ 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝖦𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵

I fell in love with Augusta Stern. She is an extremely complex character who knows and understands love and significant loss, is funny, resilient, stubborn and romantic You can’t help wanting the best for her even when she is too stubborn to see it.

The story is told in a dual timeline – modern day Florida where August has moved to a retirement community and 1920s Brooklyn where Augusta spends her pre-retirement years. During Augusta’s teenage years, Augusta’s mom passes away from diabetes and this event has a significant impact on her life.

While Augusta is growing up, she discovers her desire to be a pharmacist and help heal others. Some of this is driven by her mom’s death and the inability to manage her diabetes because of the timing of the disease and insulin not being a viable treatment. She is also driven by working in her father’s store where he is a pharmacist at a time when people trusted pharmacists and they were highly regarded. What complicates Augusta’s love of pharmacy/science is her Great Aunt Esther, who moved in with the family after Augusta’s mother’s death. Esther is known for using non-traditional healing methods that work and therefore, challenge Augusta’s belief in the more traditional treatment approaches.

The other key character in the book is Irving Rivkin, Augusta’s first love. Despite it being her first love, over time Augusta feels her love grow and Irving become her person. Unfortunately, their romance ends unexpectedly one day and August is left feeling bitter, alone and abandoned. Fast forward to present day and Irving reappears in Florida and Augusta is none too happy to see him. If you want to be immersed in a heartwarming tale, meet the characters who are a part of Augusta’s world and find out eventually what happens between Augusta and Irving, you will have the read the book. Trust me, it is worth your time!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#NetGalley #TheLoveElixirOfAugustaStern #LydiaCohenLoigman

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This book was a delightful historical fiction. It is told in two timelines with the more current one being in the 1980's. Augusta Stern is forced into retirement at 80 after years as a pharmacist. As we flashback through her life, we learn that she also learned healing arts from her grandmother's sister that incorporate a hint of magic.

At first, I was much more interested in the earlier timeline. But the more I learned about Augusta's life and the turns it took, the more I was invested in the modern timeline and what would happen next.

This is a book that really demonstrates the foibles of human nature and how things can turn out. It made me think so deeply. I think it would be excellent for a book club, and I would love to chat if you have read it.

I especially appreciated the Jewish representation. And listening to the author's note helped to cement how well the story was researched and told. I am again so impressed with Loigman's writing.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lynda Loigman Cohen is now one of my favorite authors. I enjoy her style of writing, and her character development. I connected with every character, and loved how the two timelines were weaved together. The story follows one family from the 1920s to the 1980s.

One of my favorite books of the summer. I loved the 80 something characters and their silly antics. I also loved the historical part of the story and would love to learn more about Aunt Esther and her soup and healing herbs.

I loved this book, for the characters, the time periods and the feeling of comfort reading about traditions and family. Augusta was moving to Florida upon retirement as a pharmacist, where she happens to run into the man who changed the trajectory of her life. Irving lived in the same Florida complex, and was a lost love from Augusta’s youth in Brooklyn in the 1920’s. As Augusta’s story unfolds, of her life as a daughter of a pharmacist, a sister, a niece of a healer, we begin to see how the disappointments in Augusta’s life also combined to give her a strong sense of humanity. “She believed in the power of moonlight in kitchens, in the power of women, in the,power of words.” The story is beautifully written. I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really loved this book. The author effortlessly wove together two narratives: one in 1920s Brooklyn and the other in 1980s Florida. The characters were multi-faceted and I became so invested in their lives and stories that I didn't want it to end! A fantastic read. 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a rom-com featuring second-chance romance and some well-seasoned characters.

Pharmacist Augusta Stern is turning eighty and has recently retired to a senior community in southern Florida where she crosses paths unexpectedly with an old flame, Irving Rivkin. Irving was the delivery boy for her father’s pharmacy and after a serious courtship, broke her heart. August was close to her aunt Esther and was curious about her unconventional and traditional healing methods which conflicted with modern (1920s) medicine. August follows in her father’s footsteps and takes over as the neighborhood pharmacist. Sixty years pass and after a successful career, she sees Irving again and wonders where her relationship with him went wrong. Will she and Irving have a second chance at love?

A 1920s timeline fills in the history between Augusta and Irving, and eventually, we find out what broke them apart. In addition, I enjoyed hearing about a woman’s interest in science and the pursuit of a career in 1920. (based on a woman from the author’s family)

Fans of second-chance romance, later-in-life romance, and childhood sweethearts might enjoy the angsty reunion of these two. A rom-com, senior citizen style.

Some readers might wonder if magical realism is at play in the story…or is it the powerful effect of well-chosen herbs? I think either interpretation will work. If you enjoy hints of magical realism, this story delivers. If you don’t enjoy magical realism, you can attribute these elements to the herbs!

I don’t enjoy profanity in general, although I can see occasions for its usefulness. However, I don’t appreciate religious profanity, and I took off a half-star for this reason.

Content Consideration: religious profanity

If you enjoy seniors finding romance, a mature rom-com, a bit of magical realism, dual timelines, and don’t mind religious profanity, I think you will enjoy The Love Elixir of August Stern. Gentle sides of humor add to this entertaining read.

Thanks #NetGalley @StMartinsPress for a complimentary e ARC of #TheLoveElixirOfAugustaStern upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Augusta Stern, a lifelong pharmacist, is forced into retirement just shy of her 80th birthday, leaving her feeling untethered and unsure of her place in the world. Reluctantly, she leaves behind her life in New York and moves to a retirement community in Florida. There, fate reconnects her with Irving Rivkin, a man from her distant past. As their paths cross once more, the story seamlessly shifts between two timelines: Augusta’s present and her memories of childhood in the 1920s, beautifully brought to life through poignant flashbacks.

This heartfelt tale weaves together not just Augusta’s journey, but the rich legacy of strong women in her family, particularly her aunt Esther. Both Augusta and Esther shine as healers—one through the practice of modern medicine, the other through the art of Jewish herbalism. Each character is imbued with a distinct voice, and their names carry deeper meaning; Esther, fittingly, means "star," and she radiates like one throughout the story.

The dialogue sparkles with wit and warmth, blending moments of sharp humor with an enchanting touch of apothecarial magic. But at its core, this is a story about love—of family, of tradition, and of self. It’s a reminder that no matter your age, it’s never too late to learn, to forgive, to dream, and most of all, to love.

This uplifting, charming novel will leave you with a renewed sense of hope and the belief that life’s most meaningful moments can happen at any stage.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story is absolutely beautiful.

I loved the dual timelines with young Augusta and older Augusta. Such a good, cozy story to curl up with.

This was a skillfully written, absorbing and poignant slowly-evolving love story, with a glimmer of magic that enhances without overwhelming the sense of realism.

I especially appreciated the skilled depiction of Augusta's life growing up Jewish in New York City during the twenties. How she struggled with personal loss, while pushing against the cultural expectations of women (marriage, children), aided by her marvelous and slightly mysterious Aunt Esther, a healer of the old world, and her dad, a man of science who believed her capable.

Equally absorbing was Irving's backstory. And how these two came together in the sunset years of their lives made this an outstanding novel imbued with a message that it's never too late to live and be joyful.

It is never too late for love. Eighty-year-old Augusta has moved into the same retirement condos where the love of her life now lives. From their first time seeing each other, the attraction is there. I love that they have both lived a full life and are older but they both cannot stay away from each other. Augusta does her best to put Irving off at every attempt.

The dual times were wonderful. The past timeline shows how they met, what their lives were like, and gave hints at why they could not be together. I truly did not put it together, the reason why they did not stay together, until it was revealed. I love not knowing. I love having to work through the whole story before putting it all together, the wondering what really happened, and when would it all be revealed. The clues that were given were just enough to keep me intrigued and guessing while also letting me get to know the characters more and learn more about their young lives.

Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a quick and fun book. It was so easy to read. The storyline moved along at a good pace. The characters are so fun and relatable. I recommend picking up your own copy.