The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

Wow! After reading The Matchmaker's Gift and enjoying it thoroughly, I was excited to receive a copy of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. I started it immediately after downloading it to kindle, and I'm so glad I did. This did not disappoint.

Once again, Loigman successfully combined culture, research, and an enchanting fiction tale into one book. Augusta Stern moved to Florida upon retirement, and is visited by characters of her past. The story flipped between the 1920s and the 1980s, with elements from each time period connected to the other. The reader learns about Augusta's past working with her pharmacist father, as well as with her great aunt, a healer. I was mesmerized by the passages describing the herbs and magical elements employed by her great aunt, along with the medical and scientific pharmaceutical options of the early twentieth century. Throw in a 'missed connections' past love story, and it all comes together in an intriguing manner.

I definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction, romance, and magical realism. 5 stars!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Loigman

"Because you can't have the highs without the lows. That's how love works."

Lynda Loigman is one of my favorite authors—and humans. And she's done it again! Remember her captivating, beautiful The Matchmaker's Gift? In her latest novel, Lynda also crafts a heartwarming story with characters readers will cheer across the finish line.

Pushing 80, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern moves from NYC to a Florida retirement community. She never expects to run into Irving, the man who broke her heart sixty years ago. August thought Irving loved her back then, but she had been horribly mistaken.

Based on the adage, "You're never too old, and it's never too late," this novel weaves stories set in 1980s Florida and 1920s Brooklyn. It is an enchanting read.

Lynda Cohen Loigman's 'The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern' is a captivating novel that weaves together elements of romance, magic, and self-discovery in a way that is both enchanting and thought-provoking.

The characters are beautifully crafted, each with their own complexities and vulnerabilities that make them incredibly relatable. From the first page to the last, I found myself completely immersed in this magical tale, unable to put it down.

What a unique book with multiple layers and complexities that add such dimension and depth to the characters and story. It pulled on my emotions - joy, regret, sadness, hope - to experience Augusta's journey from the beginning when it all went wrong, to the end when there is new hope for old wounds.

This one really got me in my feelings. It was so incredibly sad but also managed to put me back together? The plot will have you bawling but by the ending the heart might be mended.

A 62 year love story in the making. What a beautiful story of enduring love, forgiveness, second chances, medicine and magical healing. Well developed, likable characters that you can relate to. This book will stay with you long after you turn the last page. My first time reading Lynda Cohen Loigman, but hopefully not my last.

Big-hearted and whimsical! A story of “it’s never too late for love.” Readers will adore this book set in the 1920s and 1980s about two star-crossed young loves who find their way back to one another—with a little help! —Dianna Rostad USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of You Belong Here Now

Lynda’s books are such a pleasure to read. Great story with great characters and unputdownable. This was no different. I loved this new one and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. I was pulled in from the very first page and now I’m sad it’s over. You do not want to miss this one!

This was one of the best books I have read for a while. This was Augusta's story, switching between her eighties and her growing up years. She was one of the few women in her time to attend college and earn a degree in pharmacy. While she devoted her life to her career, she always regretted missing out on love and her own family. There's so many layers to this story, you will have to trust me when I say do NOT miss this book. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. Definitely recommend!!

This was such a fantastic book! The old world healing. The family entanglements. Love finding its way again after 60 years. It just was such a wonderful book of all could have beens and all there is to come if we let it. This was just such a great story of all the people in the "old neighborhood".

This was a love story unlike any that I have read before. Augusta Stern is probably the first main character that I have ever read about in her eighties. The book does have a dual timeline so we learn about Augusta in 1987, but also about her life growing up in the 1920s. There was so much to enjoy.

The background of what Augusta's life was like growing up Jewish in New York City during the 1920s was really interesting. Seeing how she handled the loss of her mother as well as the struggle to become a pharmacist when women were still expected to just marry and have babies. The best part though was her relationship with her Aunt Esther and the magic/mystery surrounding her. The reader also learns about Irving and what his life entailed. However, hands down, the best part of the book was Augusta and Irving's life in their Florida retirement village. This was a fantastic novel about second chances with a dash of magic. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Hands down my favorite book I’ve read in a long time. I genuinely could not put it down. I loved the dual timelines equally and the growth and arc of Augusta and Irving were both completely believable. The questions of what happened in the past kept me reading for hours on end. All in all this book was a beautiful and engrossing love story that felt tender, light, and impactful.

Another heartwarming gem by Lynda Cohen Loigman! I absolutely adored this book! Plucky and intelligent Augusta Stern is such a delightful, well drawn character, and her tale - which follows Augusta from her teen years in 1920s Brooklyn to her 80s at a Florida retirement village - is utterly charming and endearing. Simply put, it sparks joy. The story is also beautifully crafted - well researched and well plotted, with an excellent sense of place at every turn.

Highly recommended! (And if you’re new to Loigman’s novels, I also strongly recommend The Matchmaker’s Gift, which was among my favorite reads of 2022,)

Many thanks to NetGalley and to St. Martin’s Press for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I love all of Lynda's books and Love Elixir is no exception. She beautifully balances past and present, and Augusta Stern practically leaps off the page. It's smart, funny, and surprising yet ultimately so satisfying. Another winner that I will be sharing with everyone I know.

This was …. One of the sweetest, emotional books I’ve ever read. I loved the back and forth between past and present, the characters were real- real, flawed, humans and so, so bittersweet.


Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this in exchange for my review!

Fantastic. This novel blends elements of romance, magic, and self discovery in a way that is both enchanting and thought provoking. I loved the richly developed characters and the themes of healing and second chances.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book! Chock full of lovable characters, rich with historical details and sprinkled with a dash of magic, THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN has it all. Toggling between Brooklyn in the 1920s and a Florida retirement community in the 1980s, AUGUSTA STERN is beautifully written, fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining novel about family, medicine, love, second changes and, one of my favorite topics: making your way as a strong woman in a man's world. Dare I say this is Loigman's best yet?

The Love Elixer of Augusta Stern is definitely one of my favorite books this year--I absolutely devoured it. It's quiet and beautiful and I was completely drawn into Augusta's story in both her past and present narratives. This will be one I'll be recommending for sure.

Thank you to the publisher for making this book available to read and review through NetGalley.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a heartwarming story of strength and second chances.

At almost eighty and recently retired, Augusta Stern moves to Rallentando Springs, Florida, where she unexpectedly reunites with Irving Rivkin, the man who broke her heart six decades ago.
This meeting sparks memories of Brooklyn in the 1920’s, where Augusta has to navigate between her pharmacist Dad and her Great Aunt Esther’s unconventional remedies.
When an error occurs with one of Esther's potions which leads to heartache and a decision to change her methods forever.

This book is truly a treasure. The author writes of resilience, second chances, and reconciling with past mistakes.
This book is beautifully crafted and profoundly relatable, and Augusta’s journey serves as a poignant reminder that it’s never too late to forge new connections, seek love, and embrace happiness.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a touching, poignant, and hopeful read that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the opportunity to experience this inspiring novel.

What a wonderfully lovely story written in a magical way. The author intertwined two stories as a brilliant weaver, past and present. A strong female lead, warm and well developed characters …. I felt like I was there with them. A story of love, friendship, family, redemption, and a touch of magic.

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to have read this book in exchange for an honest review. My heart is full after reading this one.

Such a great story about a retired pharmacist who runs into an old flame. I loved jumping back in time and the world building for the 20’s was great. I loved Augusta and her story.

Imagine retiring and moving to a retirement community only to run into your ex flame! Such a cute story that will make you laugh and cheer for Augusta.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes.

This is such a poignant, sweet novel written in two timelines. The switch between the timelines is smooth and intuitive.

I enjoyed the touch of mysticism combined with the sharp scientific mind that make up the two sides of Augusta. The historical aspects of the story are written in such a way that make it easy to picture the time and events.

The tension between the characters is well managed and keeps the level of interest engaged.

While not my usual sort of read I absolutely loved this book! A reflective account that firmly showed that age is but a number. The blending of past and present was well done and always in a way to help further the development of the present. Characters were lovable with some absolutely stealing my heart. The metaphors and imagery was flawless. Groaning and laughing out loud this book was a delight

Thank you St Martin’s Free Press via NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

wonderful read! loigman doesn't disappoint ! love the characters. fun read and interesting. felt like i was right there with them!!! great book club selection. lots to discuss here. a must read!!!

I am so glad I got to read this novel by Lynda Cohen Loigman thru NetGalley. It’s a wonderful dual timeline story of a strong young woman growing up in Brooklyn along with her as she begins hers retired life at 80. Loved all the characters, the timeline and the writing,

I really loved this book! Lynda Cohen Loigman has a knack for infusing just the right amount of magic into the everyday. Both the worlds created in the 1920s and the 1980s felt real, grounded, and whole. I especially appreciated the thoughtful treatment of romance in our sunset years. Fabulous! 4 Stars.

What an extraordinary, beautiful piece of work.

In this book, we follow Augusta Stern through dual timelines—one in the 1920s in Brooklyn, and one in the 1980s in Florida. Tying together themes from both eras, we watch a tale unfold that involves family, love, second chances, female empowerment, and so much more.

The author is immensely talented at weaving compelling characters with a poignant storyline. And there were several scenes where I had to stop and take a moment to appreciate her absolutely beautiful writing. With this book, she has created a world that's enchanting and full of heart and humor.

Augusta and her story will stay with me for a long time.

This book was, plain and simple, a gift.

It was a wonderful story of resilience, second chances at love, mistakes, and finding peace with those mistakes.

Anytime I read a book where the main character is much older than I am, I always worry I won't be able to connect or resonate with the character and their struggles and goals, since I haven't reached where they are in life yet. With this book, however, all I could think of was how important it was to never give up and to always remember that as long as you're alive, it's never too late. To make new friends, find new love, to be happy. It's never too late. Live your life. And you can start over again at any time.

This book was beautiful and heart wrenching and touching and hopeful and I love every character.

"You can't give up something that brings you joy just because it is difficult."
What a wonderful, magical, touching story that is told via dual timelines about second chances no matter how old one is.
I loved Augusta Stern and I especially adored her mysterious Aunt Esther who taught about life and living during the 1920's when things were not easy.
The life lessons are never forgotten even as Augusta herself ages and finds herself in a senior retirement community.
Will Augusta find her niche here? Can she be happy?

The characters are people I would love to know and now I do!
I highly recommend that everyone should get to meet these folks.

Thank you to @Netgalley and to @St, Martin's Press for this ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

What a wonderful story of love, loss and miscommunication. I enjoyed that this was a romance between older characters as the story flips between the 1920s and 1980s. The characters were well written and the idea of how tough it has always been for women to choose between career and love resonated with me. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of modern medicine and a holistic natural approach. I really enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity to have read it. I will for sure suggest this one!

Lynda Cohen Loigman has done it again!

This is truly a book about 2nd chances on love and friendship! Reminds us that open communication is often the best way to prevent years of hurt, misunderstanding and often years of love, happiness and joy.

Augusta's story is told through flashbacks throughout the book. Augusta is now 80, forced into retirement as a pharmacist. Her love for healing started many years prior working as a teen alongside her father. She witnessed the power of medicine and the importance of privacy. Her aunt Esther shares her ways of healing too, which makes Augusta an absolute delight!

Pre-order your copy today as this book is set to be released later this year! In the meantime, go back and pick up her 3 previous titles, all different and all magical in their own way!

I think this was one of my favorite reads of 2024 so far.

If you like UpLit you will absolutely love this story of the old pharmacist, Augusta, who moves into an elderly home where she ends up seeing two people from her childhood, one of whom is her teenage boyfriend (love of her life) who left her and married someone else.

This story has so much heart, so much love, so much pain. The characters are layered, funny, sweet, and so real. The way the story slowly unfolds builds your empathy, love and connection to the characters and before you know it, you are rooting for them and aching for them.

I loved the magical realism. Usually in stories like this I tend to like one character's storytelling more than the other one. Or I like one timeline more. In this case, I loved all of it. Every moment.

Wonderful story, a perfect balm for these tough days.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

What a sweet story that straddles historical fiction and modern day, late in life romance…. With a little bit of magic mixed in. A fun second-chance-at love that will tug at your heart strings. For lovers of Don’t Forget to Write or Cohen Loigman’s other books.

This is a sweet story about second chances. I really enjoyed the magical realism aspect. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun cute book with some mystery and misunderstanding. I liked the back and forth between past and present, it allowed the book to flow very well. I am excited to talk about this book with other readers.

I love dual times in books so this worked well for me. I also really liked Lynda Cohen Loigmen`s other books. The love story was sweet. I loved all the characters so much. No matter how old you are you still have life to live.

I loved this one! im seriously so sad I finished it because I didn’t want it to end. The dual timeline was done perfect and the characters were all amazing. The love between Irving and Goldie was the sweetest, most tender love. It’s heartbreaking but at the same time so beautiful. I will definitely be recommending this one to all my friends!

A duel timeline romance that keeps you on your feet.
The main character who learned medicine from her Pharmacist father and her Apothecary Aunt must decide which path is right for her. She learns a lot along the way and faces many tough decisions that cause a big misunderstanding and regret later in life. Make sure to save this to your TBR! It'll be a great Autumn read.

This is the most charming, most wholesome book I have read in a very long time. This book is pure magic and I am still thinking about it weeks after finishing it up. Lynda Cohen Loigman did an amazing job navigating the timelines and the complexity of the characters in this book. This book is so well written, it just sucks you right in. I felt ALL of the emotions reading this book, and I cannot recommend it enough! Everyone should experience the magic that is The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern!

What a surprise is the best of ways! Is this a sappy romance where that I would never admit to enjoying? Yes Is this an engaging historical anthropology lesson of Brooklyn, NY in the 1920s and 30s? Also, yes. Is this an engaging story of friendship, family, loss, acceptance, patience and living a full life? Yes Yes Yes.
Maybe because my eyes are still watering or maybe it really is a well written book, but this story stole my heart. It's fluffier than my usual reading and I loved every page of it. There's something enjoyable about this story for a wide range of audiences. I appreciated the depth of the characters especially in their senior years. Lying about your age at 80 so you can work longer as a pharmacist?! How cool is that.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Set in two different time periods, the 1920s and the 1980s, we see Augusta’s life unfold as a teen and young woman and then again at her 80th birthday. I loved Aunt Esther’s story and her natural healing potions The book shows how we assume things happen, or don’t happen, due to circumstances we have no idea about or control over. What a fabulous cast of characters! Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

::Sigh:: This was such a wonderful book. It had all the things. Magic, romance, elderly people bickering in hilarious fashion. What’s not to love? My favorite part was the message of how important your life is at any age. That it’s never too late for anything. 18 or 80, you are worth it. My heart is full. I loved it!

This was a beautifully crafted novel! I was immediately drawn into the story and enjoyed the likeable characters. I had to force myself to slow down and savor it. I cannot wait to read more books from this author!

This warm hug of a book is like a steaming bowl of chicken soup for your cold dead heart.

There’s nothing I love so much as a second-chance romance (unless it’s a second-chance-romance with a dash of magical realism), and this one delivers in spades. The book alternates between two timelines, Augusta’s childhood in the 1920s, and the 1980s, as Augusta is about to turn 80. When Augusta is forced to retire from her career as a pharmacist, she follows her niece’s advice and makes the move from Brooklyn to a South Florida retirement community, as one does. To her unpleasant surprise, she finds Irvin Rifkin living at Rallentando Springs. Irving - her first love. Irving - the boy who broke her heart. Irving - the boy she hoped never to see again. But here he is.

As a girl, Augusta plans to follow in the footsteps of her father, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, August is drawn to Esther’s unconventional healing remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a variety of powders and potions. Caught between her father and aunt and the worlds of science and magic, Augusta attempts one of her aunt’s strongest elixirs with disastrous consequences and turns her back on the world of enchantment. But not forever.

This is a book about the magic of second chances and the fact that it’s never too late to find love. When past misunderstandings are cleared up and egos can be put aside, it is truly a thing of beauty. I loved Augusta Stern and I know you will too. This book was one of my favorites of the year and a book that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

BRILLIANT!!! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, I never imagined I'd love this book as much as I do!!! It's a delightful, heartwarming and beautifully written historical fiction with a perfect touch of magical realism and romance. Featuring both a tender first love and a beautiful second chance, it reminds us that it's never too late for new beginnings. The Love Exilir of Augusta Stern is a poignant tale of family, loss, and sacrifice, woven with themes of mistakes, and the power of forgiveness-yet, above all, it is a story about love.

The narrative unfolds between dual timelines, following Augusta Stern as a teenager growing up in 1920s Brooklyn, New York, and sixty years later as she settles into a retirement community in Rallentando Springs, Florida, in the 1980s. I often struggle with dual timelines, as I tend to be more interested in one over the other. However, that wasn't the case with this story. I could not put it down-I was completely captivated with Augusta and had to know how the two timelines would ultimately come together. As soon as I finished the last page, I found myself already missing Augusta.

This was my first book by Lynda Cohen Loigman, and I'm already a huge fan. I can't wait to dive into her previous works. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book-it's an absolute must-read!! I will defintely be purchasing the physical copy to add to my personal collection. I wholeheartedly recommend it and it deserves infinite stars! It's easily one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read!!💫💫💫💫💫💜💜💜💜💜

4.8 stars rounded up to 5
You will not be disappointed if you've read Loigman's The Matchmaker's Gift, this author delivers history, romance and charm in one fell swoop! Do not miss this one. Characters who live an active living community will make you laugh, cry and always inspire you. Life is not done for these aging, comical and wise individuals.
Told in back and forth chapters, you will get to know these characters and become a part of their families. A beautiful story of living a worthwhile life.
Perhaps because I am closer to these characters ages (and not their 20 year old selves), I immensely enjoyed their adventures and sensibilities. Love at any age is wonderful, but as it ages with time, matures with experience, and becomes oh so realistic, it is funny and amazing. Thanks for letting us share this with you, Ms Loigman.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress for this early copy for my honest review. #LyndaCohenLoigman you’re an author to follow!

I don’t know what elixir Lynda Cohen Loigman conjured up to create The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern but whatever it was, it certainly worked! This story of romance, love lost, and magical potions just took my breath away. The story was rich, the writing was sumptuous, and the characters came alive. Loigman painted a beautiful and tender story of romance, hope, and second chances with this book.

Synopsis: At eighty, Augusta Stern moves to a senior community and reconnects with Irving, who broke her heart decades ago. Reflecting on her youth in 1920s Brooklyn, where she was torn between her father’s pharmacy and her aunt’s unconventional remedies, Augusta is haunted by a past mistake. Now, she must confront her regrets and seek closure before it’s too late.

Pro Tip: Be sure to have a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup ready when reading because you’ll be craving it!

An incredible book for any collection. I would definitely buy this for my library and recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Such a sweet - and bittersweet - love story! Mix in a touch of herbalism and you have a delightful read that will bring lots of feelings - happy, sad, frustrated, intrigued…

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Augusta Stern is eighty and freshly (although against her will) retired. She has moved to Rallentando Spring, a senior living facility, in Florida. There she runs into another retiree, Irving Rivkin, the man who broke her heart sixty years ago. As she learns to be around him again, she looks back on her life as a pharmacist's daughter, the niece of a healer, and the love and ultimate heartbreak she suffered with Irving. Facing the hurt, Augusta must learn to forgive but can she forget?

I love the way Lynda Cohen Loigman writes. She tells heartwarming stories of love and forgiveness. August and Irving are characters you can't help but love and root for throughout the story. This is told in a dual timeline between Augusta's past and present. We learn what Augusta has been through, her love for Irving, and her sadness at the death of her Aunt Esther, the neighborhood healer. The story makes you smile and laugh and at the end, you will be so happy that you read it.

A story that spans over sixty years and two different timelines, we get to meet Augusta both as an 80 year old woman living in a retirement community in Florida, and as a young teen living in 1920’s Brooklyn where she works at her dad’s pharmacy.

It was such a beautiful story that pulled me in easily. The characters had so much depth and I really enjoyed seeing where they started and what led them to their current situation sixty years later. I loved getting lost in this book.

Also, this book made me crave my grandma’s chicken soup like crazy.

WOW! What an amazing book and an amazing story. Augusta may be one of my all-time favorite book characters now.

At 80 years old Augusta is forced into retirement when she can no longer keep her age a secret at her job. They thought she was much younger but a new software update thwarted those plans!!!

Augusta moves to a retirement community in Florida where the first person she sees at the pool is her long lost love Irving. Is she happy to see him or not???

The story is told in dual timeline and we meet all of the wonderful characters that make this book so special!

This book is funny and heartwarming and at times sad but it is also uplifting and SO much fun!!!

Five HUGE stars!!!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the honor to read and review this book!!!