Master storyteller (favorite author) Lynda Cohen Loigman returns following The Two-Family House, The Wartime Sisters, and The Matchmaker's Gift with her latest magical and timeless journey, THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN —it is never too late for love and second chances.

Captivating. Exhilarating. Magical. Heartwarming. Charming. Uplifting!

About...

Brilliantly told in dual timelines, this story features a cast of memorable, well-developed characters full of heart and wit, whom you will root for until the end.

1987: Augusta Stern has been a pharmacist for many years and is retiring. She is nearing her 80th birthday, even though her paperwork says she is much younger.

Jackie, her niece, has found a wonderful new retirement community for her in South Florida, Rallentando Springs. Upon arrival, she is shocked to find her first love, Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy at her dad's pharmacy who broke her heart sixty years earlier. He called her Goldie and has not forgotten her.

1920s: Brooklyn, NY. Augusta was working in her father’s pharmacy. He was all about medicine. Her mom died, and her quirky, fun great aunt, Esther, moves in with them. She brought unconventional potions for spiritual healing powers, remedies, hope, love potions, and more. Augusta finds herself caught in the middle of both medicine and miracles.

While Augusta attempts to find her place between her father and her mysterious aunt, she falls in love with Irving, the delivery boy.

But when she gets involved in the elixir, a mysterious concoction with the power to change lives, things take a turn. Here she is sixty years later, face to face with the love she wanted back then. What happened long ago to tear them apart?

Will Irving and Augusta have a second chance at love?

My thoughts...

I loved this book! I have read all of Lynda's books, and this is my absolute favorite.

With dual timelines (equally as engaging) and well-developed characters, you will be enchanted by this charming, magical, and delightful love story of second chances! It's a narrative that will captivate you, proving that it's never too late for new beginnings. No matter your age or time. Top Books of 2024!

Fully immersive and engaging, a mix of lyrical, romance, nostalgia, and mystery! I fell in love with Augusta and Esther, who grew up in a time when it was a man's world. Augusta is tenacious and witty, full of hope, heart, and soul, and finally opens her heart to second chances.

As always, I love Lynda's storytelling and the power of words. I enjoyed the South Florida setting. (Part of the inspiration was Lynda helping her dad move from Boynton Beach- in my backyard.)

THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN is not just a novel; it's an experience. It's an ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions. Check out the author's letter, inspiration, and book club discussion questions. From the stunning front cover, the story, the characters, the setting, and the superb writing—a first-class novel that will warm your heart.

Recs...

This book is a must-read for fans of the author, Sarah Addison Allen, Patti Callahan Henry, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Kristin Hannah, Nicholas Sparks, and Rochelle Weinstein,

It's a story that understands your love for fiction, literature, storytelling, romance, historical novels, and the power of love. It's a perfect addition to your reading list. I am a huge fan of the author; everything she writes is enchanting!

Interview...

Be sure to check out my upcoming featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Lynda on pub day (Oct 8). In this exclusive interview, we will go behind the book and explore up and close and personal from this mega-talented author! (sign up for my newsletter on my blog).

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for the honor of reading a digital advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest opinion. I also pre-ordered the hardcover copy for my home library and look forward to the audiobook, narrated by Lynda and Gabra Zackman. #SMPInfluencers

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 8, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars +
October 2024 Must-Read Books
Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A

Lynda is one of my favorite authors, and one of the few who will make me love a historical fiction book! The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern was such a unique book, I loved the premise and the dual timelines of the 1920s in Brooklyn and 1987 in Florida that told Augusta and Irving's stories.

In the 1920s, Augusta's mother has passed away from diabetes before doctors knew how to treat it. Her father is a pharmacist and she questions how medicine couldn't have saved her mother. To help the family out, her great-aunt Esther moves in. While her father works to cure their neighborhood with medicine, Esther takes the homeopathic route. Augusta is drawn to the "magic" Esther works for the women who visit her, and begins to shadow her. When her friendship with her friend Irving turns into more, but she questions if he truly loves her, against Esther's warnings, August makes a potion to reveal Irving's true feelings, which ends up breaking her heart. 62 years later, when Augusta moves to a retirement community in Florida, one of the first neighbors she meets is Irving.

I enjoyed learning about the alternative methods Esther created throughout the book, and how she helped shape Augusta in who she became. Augusta was such a strong character, who even with the losses she faced throughout her teenage years, stayed true to herself and her dream to become a pharmacist and a healer. I loved both timelines, as Augusta and Irving's relationship began and Augusta resenting her aunt at first and then forming such a close bond with her, and later, having characters in their 80's who were continuously making me laugh and learning that it is never too late in life for a second chance. The Jewish representation was incredible and I know I can always count of Lynda for writing some of the best Jewish characters!

This is a gentle, easy-going story that follows the life, love and work of Augusta Stern that is filled with secrets, grudges and misunderstandings that impact a couple for decades.

This book has lots of great themes, but it fell flat for me. Despite it being a character-driven story, we don't get to know many of the characters well. There is a whiff of mystery about why Augusta and Irving were separated, but it soon became apparent, and the intrigue felt forced.
There are a few memorable characters, but they are all secondary and include Augusta's firecracker friend Shirley and her great-aunt Esther who was the most intriguing character but got very little page time. They were both a hoot!

The story begins with an interesting start, followed by a lull in the middle and a final 'ta-da' not being surprising as it was delightfully anticipated. I love the message of the book that is full of hope and how the author shows that being older doesn't mean you stop living, loving and experiencing life.

This is a simple character-driven read that features two timelines, long-held secrets, family dysfunction, sexism in medicine (women healers known as witches, while men are considered doctors) and not what I'd call magical realism, more like homeopathy versus modern medicine.

Note: I wish Augusta's sister Bess and her husband George were given different names - I immediately thought of Bess and George, Nancy Drew's two BFFs from the popular mystery series

Disclaimer: Thanks to St Martin's Press for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Augusta's story. She learned to be a pharmacist when she worked in her dad's pharmacy. But she also has an aunt Esther that teaches her some different ways to heal others. Then there is Irving, a delivery boy for the pharmacy. Augusta tries to use a Love Elixir with him, but things go awry. This is a story with various timelines in Augusta's life and I just loved it. The characters are good people and likeable and I just enjoyed this feel good book! Highly recommended! I love other books by this author too!

Augusta is such an awesome character! We follow her present life in Florida in the 1980's and in the past in Brooklyn in the 1920's. I love Augusta's story. I don't want to say much and ruin anything, but just make sure you read this book! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is an enchanting novel that shows that it’s never too late to forgive and love again. This is a dual timeline novel, and when we first meet Augusta she is a teenager, working in her father’s pharmacy and mourning the loss of her mother. It was a joy to watch her grow and learn as she helps her father and also as she learns about alternative methods of treatment from her great aunt. Sixty years later, Augusta has just retired to Florida, where she is reunited with the man she had loved when she was a teenager, opening up old wounds, but also forcing her to wonder what might still be possible for the rest of her life. This book is filled with warmth and heart, possibility and hope.

Absolutely loved. This is what people need to read right now—smart, historically accurate, heartwarming with a little bit of magic. I love Loigman’s writing and find her to be such an easy sell to a multitude of customers.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a feel good read for readers of all ages and genres.

This book is told from two points of view. In one, Augusta is a young adult discovering who she is. Her father owns a pharmacy and Augusta has always been interested in following in his footsteps. Her aunt Esther also provides remedies to people who need them, but in a more homeopathic way. She is determining her future in a town with several lovable characters and one in particular catches her interest. As she falls deeper toward her future there are events along the way that will determine her path seemingly forever.

Sixty years later Augusta retires to Florida where she runs into familiar faces from her past. Her grudges and misunderstandings give her a rough start into the community but she quickly forges friendships that help thaw her heart.

I absolutely loved this book! The main characters and the supporting casts in both timelines are flawed but extremely lovable. While the story is a bit predictable it wasn't off putting because this is such a comfort read. This is the kind of book that will make you smile and melt your heart.

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved Augusta as a teenager and as an octogenarian and the delightful way the pieces are woven together. I laughed and I cried, highly recommend.

All the stars……..Fun, light, lovable characters is what the Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is all about. If you are Jewish and go to Boca Raton for the winter this is a must read. This book by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a crack up.

Augusta moves into a 55 and over community in Boca, and finds out that Irving, the love of her life and the man she was supposed to marry is living there. Well…..you can imagine what happens from there.

Augusta believed “That even on life’s darkest days, a bowl of chicken soup could offer comfort.” When Augusta and Irving were young, Irving would go to the ends of the earth to make sure Augusta and her family were happy. What then, could have possibly kept them apart.

If you liked Don’t Forget to Write you will LOVE this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this! From the incredible characters, to the plot, to falling in love with everything so quickly- I couldn’t put this down. I highly recommend this! It really just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. In my opinion, those are the best books and I couldn't get enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern; this novel is a delightful, enchanting read that beautifully combines second chances, love, and a dash of magic. The story's use of dual timelines and multiple points of view creates a rich, layered narrative that draws you in deeper with every chapter.

I loved following along on Augusta's journey, reconnecting with her past, rediscovering herself, and learning what love really means. She's a relatable, lovable character with all her flaws and quirks, and the other characters in the book are just as engaging, adding humor and heart along the way. The second-chance romance at the story's heart is both touching and heartfelt. The multiple POVs give us insight into not just Augusta's perspective but also the people who shape her life, making the story feel more dynamic and real. The way the past and present timelines intertwine adds depth, revealing how past events still shape the characters today.

The writing is engaging and light, and the mix of humor, emotion, and a touch of magic makes it hard to put the book down. If you enjoy stories about second chances, self-discovery, and the magic of love, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a must-read!

Lynda Cohen Loigman’s THE LOVE ELIXER OF AUGUSTA STERN is a bittersweet story of lost love and second chances. I love the dual time line that details Augusta’s teen years and her retirement life. Lovable characters, the 1920’s NYC setting and a little bit of magic make this novel a unique heartfelt delight. I enjoyed every page.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lynda Cohen Loigman really knows how to write great characters. Augusta Stern is a character who will stay with me for a long time. The supporting characters, particularly Esther, are wonderful too. The story goes back and forth between the 1920s when Augusta is a young woman and 1987 when she is living in a retirement community in Florida. I particularly loved the parts in the 1920s. The. Author must have done meticulous research into this time period to make the story so authentic. She really made it feel that you were right there with Augusta and her family. This is the kind of book that makes you feel a bit sad when it’s over because you just loved the time you spent in this world!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman celebrates strong women breaking barriers.

Augusta’s father is a well known pharmacist who teaches his daughter all things pharmacy. Then you throw in her aunt Esther with her non traditional healing methods- Augusta ends up with the perfect balance of science, and old world home cures. Sometimes a bowl of homemade chicken soup has the power to heal more than any pill could. Esther taught Augusta of the power to heal through words. Truly a woman ahead of her time.

Common themes were that it is never too late to live your life, and it’s never too late to correct the wrongs from the past. Another theme was the reality of women and the workplace - it is all too familiar, even today. As aunt Esther would say: if a male was producing elixirs- he would have been an apothecary, but women - it’s all witch craft.

Augusta had some serious hardships throughout this coming of age story. You just felt for her. You wonder why she made certain decisions, but the author seamlessly goes between 1920s and 1980s and you understand exactly why she’s on her own trajectory.

Read this if you:
-love historical fiction and are looking beyond the WWII stories
-like the grumpy vs. sunshine storyline
-enjoyed Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

Thank you to Cindy Burnett with the Thoughts From a Page podcast / Page Turners Patreon group for arranging ARC copies. Thank you to the publisher; the author; and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Augusta is a retired pharmacist, leaving her home in the New York area to move to a retirement area in Florida. She is almost 80 and feels a bit lost without her work. She ends up meeting Irving, an old friend who used to work in her father's pharmacy, and she has no interest in renewing this friendship with him.

The story is told in two time periods - the 1920's and the 1980's -so we get to know Augusta and Irving as teens working in the pharmacy together. And also in the retirement village, mostly around the pool where many gather to swim laps, play cards, read or have lunch - the social place.

There is obviously something to the story of a close friendship when they were teens and then decades later where Augusta wants nothing to do with him.

I enjoyed Loigman's previous book, The Matchmaker's Gift, but enjoyed this book even more! There is a mystery that slowly unwinds between the two time periods as we learn about Augusta's life and Iriving's life and the secrets they didn't know about in each other's lives.

My thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this e-book.

This book made me laugh out loud a lot, while also having a bit of sadness for the life Augusta had. We see Augusta's life from the 1920s and then again as a retiree to Florida in 1987. As someone who grew up in Florida, the snowbird jokes were 100% accurate. I loved all the characters and stayed up past my bedtime to finish the last 100 pages. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a chance to read this one early in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW 💫

The Love Elixir Of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Something about the writing in this book was super readable. I spent most of the book thinking this was just an average 3 star read. Nothing bad about it, just lacking in plot and/or vibes. I liked the characters throughout the whole book though. The cozy/heartfelt/slightly magical vibes came in the last quarter of the book and increased my rating. It also made me look back on the rest of the book with more positive feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lynda Cohen Loigman for this ARC ebook. The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern will be published October 8, 2024.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reading Challenge 2024: 107/100

Strong female characters, dual timelines, Brooklyn, Florida
What’s not to love, in this book?
Augusta Stern has recently retired to a lovely community in Florida. However, she soon finds out, several people from her old neighborhood are also living there. The story begins to weave together her life, and her heartbreaks. We are left to discover what second chances she may be willing to take.
This is my first Lynda Cohen Loigman book, but it won’t be my last.

If “The Lost Apothecary” and “The Notebook” had a love child, it would be this book. I absolutely adored Augusta getting so into her father’s passion of medicine and science, but the internal struggle she had of appreciating her great-aunt Esther healing people in other ways. As a woman growing up in the 1920s and wanting to pursue such a scientific career, Augusta had to face such challenges. The back-and-forth between then and the late 1980s after she retired from her successful career was beautiful but bittersweet to know the heartbreak she suffered for so long. I thought the banter within the privileged south Florida retirement community was exactly what I’d expect from places so close to where I grew up. The ending felt so perfect, and I know I won’t be able to stop thinking about how incredible of a read this was for a very long time.