My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Magical Realism, Romance, Historical Fiction
Spice Level: No sex on the page
Format: Two time periods, the 20s & 80s
Representation: Jewish characters
Tropes: Second-chance romance, nerdy girl
Themes: Love, Family, Forgiveness, Sacrifice, Work, Living your best life

THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN is such a breath of fresh air!

Augusta is turning 80! This is the story of her life—love, heartbreak, disappointment, work, ambition, loss, and possibly love again.

How many books have you read about octogenarians? I'm guessing not too many. Augusta is feisty in all the best ways, and I absolutely adored her. Then there's Irving . . . there is so much to unpack with him. He is literally so kind (cinnamon roll variety), which leads to his choices for work, school, marriage, and even retirement, that all affect Augusta. But there's so much more, and I just can't spoil it for you! Nathaniel is another cohort from the past—he's got a full head of hair and is suave and sophisticated. The path of life is never easy.

We also must touch on Esther—she is old country (embarrassing and incompressible to a teen). Her ways are mysterious, and she wears all black, shapeless gowns until . . . night comes. I loved her babushka-like comments, thinking, and ways. And I want a bowl of her soup! She is a deep-rooted influence on Augusta, and I loved her. Her character adds such greater complexity to the story.

When I read a book I love, I think everyone should adore it! Realistically, I'm going to guess above 40-year-old are going to relate to this book more than most people in their 20s and 30s, BUT if someone loves the 20s, this book will catch them because of the insight to the time period.

Yes, the answer is yes—you should read this book. It's literally so much fun and full of so much angst about the train wreck you'll see on the horizon, to which the characters are oblivious.

Pick this up and read with a bowl of soup.

Happy reading!

Lynda is a master storyteller. I loved the alternating timelines from the early 1900s to the 1980s. Augusta was an incredible narrator; I felt I lived in her world. The food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering, and I wanted to eat Aunt Esther's soup myself. I thought the pharmacy setting in New York was so well done, and I loved watching Augusta and Irving's relationship develop. There was a slight magical element here, which I thought was very well done. The timelines blended together seamlessly. It was easy to root for these characters. Lynda pulls me into her books every single time. From the Jewish comfort to the ease of friends and family, there was so much to enjoy from this story. I couldn't put it down. Another absolute knockout from Lynda, and I'll always be excited to see what she does next. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC to read and review!

It’s never too late for second chances or new beginnings. Augusta Stern is a newly retired pharmacist and turning 80 when she decides to move to an active senior community in Florida where she crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the boy who broke her heart 60 years ago.

Augusta’s story is such a sweet, beautifully written story with a little bit of intrigue, a little bit of magic and a little bit of jealousy. Set in an active retirement community where everyone knows everyone’s business, this books captures the environment perfectly. Loigman has welded the two timelines together perfectly releasing their secrets with perfect timing. I loved the character development of Aunt Ester and Augusta, breaking down the walls and ceiling and doing what needs to be done. A great feel good read to spend a the day with.

This book is absolutely charming! Part history lesson with a look at 1920s Brooklyn and 1980s Florida, and part love story . I love a book with dual timelines and this one had stories that were equally engaging during both time periods. I also love mature protagonists and at 80 years old, Augusta is just starting her second act as she relocates to a retirement community in Florida. A chance encounter with the boy that broke her heart sixty years ago, we get their story from both perspectives. There’s just a touch of magic with Augusta’s Great Aunt Esther, an apothecary.

I love Lynda Cohen Loigman’s books and this one is no exception!

Is it ever too late for love? Have you ever been hurt and given up on love? Augusta Stern retires from her job as a pharmacist in New York and moves to Florida. What are the chances that she will end up in the same town as the man who captured her heart as a teenager?

Highlights |
•a touch of magic
•family relationships
•Second chance romance
•strong women/mentors
•secrets
•funny moments!

4.25/5 stars

One of the things I loved most about this book was that I kept wanting to return to it. The nature of Augusta’s relationship with her great-aunt Esther was so special. I’d highly recommend picking this book up!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

CW | Contains a bit of profanity, not frequent.

This dual time period historical novel starts in 1987, when newly retired pharmacist Augusta moves to a retirement community in Florida and to her surprise runs into Irving, who broke her heart 60 years before. The book alternates with Augusta’s life in the 1920s where she is a teenager working in her dad’s pharmacy. In that time period, in addition to meeting Irving when he begins work there as a delivery boy, she also gets to know her great aunt Esther, who comes to live with them after Augusta’s mom dies, and eventually teaches Augusta about her own apothecary remedies. With chapters from Irving’s perspective as well in both the past and present, we slowly learn about what happened to them back in the 1920s, and whether Augusta can forgive Irving all these years later.

This was such a lovely and charming book, with engaging characters, lots of wonderful Jewish representation, a very late in life second chance romance, a little magical realism, and more. The Matchmaker’s Gift remains my most favorite of Lynda Cohen Loigman’s four books, but I highly recommend this one as well.

What a magical heartwarming novel. I was transported to another time and loved getting to know Augusta in the 1920's and the 1980's. I fell in love with the writing. It hooks you right away and the ride is wonderful. I'm a big fan of the author and her ability to weave wonderful stories.

A character driven novel that has two timelines (1920's and 1987) about the life of 80 yr old Augusta Stern. I would say misunderstandings and mysteries are ribboned into the novel. I've seen it marketed as a magical realism book (which I love) but I wouldn't classify this as that. I would say it's more light embellished type of fantasy (aka medicine wise) but it's definitely more of a lit fiction book than any other.

Short synopsis is: a young woman who is hurt by her only love 60 yrs ago and given a second chance at 80. I would say you could even have some popular tropes describing this one: second chance romance, miscommunication and curmudgeon characters. But while I LOVED The Matchamker's Gift by the same author, this was just a like. Which there is nothing wrong with that; perhaps it is me, maybe I have been reading just too many character lit fiction books lately for arcs.

On a separate note, that audio narrator was amazing.

3.5 for the story
5/5 for that narrator in the audio version (I was lucky to be gifted both!)

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman was a wonderful story set partly during Prohibition and partly in the 1980s. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Augusta! The story alternates between the 1920s, when Augusta was young and living in New York, and the 1980s, when she was in her eighties and retired in Florida. Augusta’s father owns a pharmacy, while Augusta’s aunt, who lives with the family, practices some alternative medical treatments that she learned while growing up in Russia. Augusta desires to follow in her father’s footsteps but is also curious about her aunt’s methods, which eventually leads her to make a decision that impacts her future. Once she’s retired as a pharmacist, she moves to Florida and finds familiar faces living at the same retirement home, leading her to confront her past and maybe finally find the love she’s been missing.
I enjoyed the setting of this book, in part because I haven’t read too many books set during Prohibition, so this was unique. I also liked reading about Aunt Esther and her remedies for different illnesses. The two timelines kept the story flowing, and I loved seeing Augusta in her younger and older years. And the love story just tied it all together. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Cindy Burnett's Thoughts From a Page Early Reads Program for the advanced copy of this book!

“A woman of science like her father, an old world healer like her aunt. She believed in medicine and in miracles. She believed in family and in love.”

In this atmospheric story of second chances, Loigman’s signature style is on full display. How she transports readers to another time and weaves in a hint of magic is exactly what I loved about her 2022 novel The Matchmaker’s Gift.

In the 1920s Augusta Stern grows up in her family’s Brooklyn, New York pharmacy guided by her father, a beloved member of the community. After her mother passes, a great aunt comes into the Sterns’ lives with very different and unconventional methods of healing.

We jump ahead to the late 1980s and Augusta has retired to a Florida condo complex where she crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the pharmacy delivery boy from the old neighborhood. Decades of hurt and miscommunication suddenly come back to the surface leading all the characters to question the heartbreak and the magic in their own lives.

The settings of the New York pharmacy and the southern retirement community were delightful additions to a lovely story, certain to be a big hit with readers everywhere.

Many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was super sweet and funny. Some of the storyline I didn’t see coming and it made for a surprisingly entertaining read. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman is an easy 5⭐️ read for me on two levels.

First, when was the last time you read a romance novel where the love interests are septuagenarians and octogenarians? That alone should get your attention. How encouraging that the author portrays senior citizens as vibrant, thriving beings still capable of living life to its fullest. Bravo! Augusta Stern is a trailblazer; pursuing a science based career and running a business at a time when women were doing neither. She is determined, successful, and ahead of her time. Her story is the ultimate second chance romance with dual timelines in the 1920s and 1987. Augusta (Goldie) and Irving fell in love as teenagers and were destined to be together until life got in the way. Is love still possible when they reunite (many) decades later?

The second reason this book earned all the stars is because it brought me back to the Brooklyn of my youth. Though I am not Jewish, I was raised in a neighborhood populated by Italian and Jewish immigrants. I grew up surrounded by the traditions, celebrations, and culture of both these joyous groups and my childhood was richer as a result. I recall my mother taking me to the druggist at Rite Drugs on 65th Street for him to diagnose, treat, and minister to bug bites, strange rashes, and minor illnesses. That was the first stop before seeing a doctor. Medicine, in the easily recognizable blue and white paper bag, was often brought to our door by the teenage delivery boy who arrived on his bicycle. Ms. Cohen Loigman has perfectly captured a time when my neighborhood was the entire world and we relied on and trusted local shopkeepers like family. I love it when an author gets things right and she most certainly did. Her impeccable research shines through the entire book.

I loved this book. It spoke to my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

“A kind word can fix a person’s spirit. A cruel one can break a person’s heart. Wicked words have caused wars, and honest words have made peace. Why shouldn’t they be able to heal?”

I love a good octogenarian story and this one with its deep backstory and heartfelt reunions was a true joy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment from life’s heartbreaking experiences to the dramatic revelations and everything in between.

The dual timelines worked really well and as it flashed back from the late 1970s to 1922 what hit me so hard was that a diagnosis of Type I Diabetes was fatal before insulin. It made me, yet again, appreciate the advances in modern medicine.

I did a combo of digital and audio, both are excellent option so if you’re looking for a sweet second chance romance with a little magical realism thrown in, look no further!

Rating: 4/5⭐️
Pub day: October 8

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the arc and Macmillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley.

This was a heartwarming second chance romance story! I enjoyed the dual timeline, especially since the second one was in the 1980s rather than modern day. It was enjoyable to read about South Florida during that time, and I also appreciated Augusta's perspective as a female pharmacist, and the biases she had to overcome. The family relationships and touch of magical realism were other aspects that I liked.

Overall, I didn't love this story quite as much as Matchmaker's Gift, but it was still a worthwhile read that I will recommend!

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

This is a beautiful story about young love, balancing home and career as a woman, and second chances. Agustus grew up in the 1920's working in her father's pharmacy and knew right away that she wanted to be a pharmacist especially after her mother died and her Aunt Esther moved in. Her aunt was gifted in healing with food and herbs in ways her father's medicines couldn't. Irving worked as a delivery boy in the pharmacy and they became very close until one day he suddenly moved away and married into a known organized crime family leaving Agustus with a broken heart. She worked for years and years doing what she loved until she was forced to retire and her niece suggested she move to a retirement community in Florida. Low and behold who lives in this community but Irving AND her friend Nathaniel from the old days!

I loved, loved these characters and their story of love, regret, lack of communication (probably not uncommon in those days), family and the battle of career vs family for women. Highly recommend this one!

After being forced into retirement at almost 80, August finally gives in to moving to a retirement home. what she doesn’t expect, is to run into Irving Rivkin from her childhood on her first day there. In her teen years, she lived in Brooklyn with her father, sister, and great aunt, and helped her father run Stern pharmacy as she prepared to go to pharmacy college herself. Her aunt Esther had a different take on medicine, and while her father didn’t love it, Augusta began to learn her technique from both of them. Irving was the delivery boy, and their relationship blossomed quickly until he suddenly just left. Augusta was heartbroken and confused as to why Irving did what he did. Can he manage to mend the past hurt in their older age?

First of all, if you don’t know Lynda Loigman, you are missing out! She will be at @ThunderRoadBooks in Spring Lake with me on October 7th, and I highly recommend you join us! That said, there is always a small amount of fear when picking up a book by an author you love, especially if you have built a friendship with them! I am here to tell you that fear was unfounded! I ADORED this book! Lynda’s books always contain just a tiny amount of magical realism. I mean, I guess it’s not totally magical realism here, there are certainly people that believe in the power of holistic medicine, but it felt slightly magic-y to me! Augusta was one of the most interesting, insightful, and sometimes quirky characters I have ever read, and I loved her relationship with Irving during her childhood, and the tense relationship of adulthood. I don’t want to give too much away but I think as readers we all know the feeling of reading the right book at the right time, and I definitely felt that way about this one. after losing my favorite person, I felt so hard for Augusta and the loss of her mother, and the way she described the way she felt just hit so close to home for me. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, I highly recommend it, and if you missed adding it to your @bookofthemonth box last month, great news-October starts soon and you can add it on this month!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @lloigman for my gifted copy of this book!

Such a beautifully written story about it's never too late to find love. It also reflects on how misconceptions and miscommunication can impact one's life's direction. I enjoyed the focus on seniors still being vital, the reflection back to when they were younger to tell the back story, and the growth of the characters that it's never too late to change. The recognition of what mattered then no longer matters as a life will lived puts that into perspective. Just an enjoyable love story with a sprinkle of magic tossed in. Many thanks to @netgalley #st.martinspress #lyndacohenlogmna #theloveelixirofaugustastern for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

This is a sweet story which follows narrator Augusta “Goldie” Stern from girlhood through retirement. Augusta’s father is a chemist who runs a drug store, but it’s Aunt Esther who enchants Goldie. Esther seems to cure any ailment with herbs from her kitchen and magic words.

Many neighbors come knocking at the Stern’s door asking for Esther. They beg for help. Esther goes to the kitchen and fixes an elixir that can fix any problem it seems. Young Augusta is interested in Irving Rivkin, a delivery boy for the drug store. Can Aunt Esther move this romance along?

Goldie, now a retired pharmacist, reunites with Irving 60+ years later and their infatuation is rekindled. The reader is taken through the clarification of many years of misunderstanding between Augusta and Irving. Elixirs are once again stirred up in the kitchen and you can be assured of a predictable ending.

*The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern* is a heartwarming story that captivated me from the first page. I didn’t want to leave the world of this beautiful tale, filled with humor, heart, and hope, all wrapped up in the charming, late-in-life love between Augusta Stern and Irving Rivkin. These two unforgettable characters, with their rich histories and undeniable chemistry, stayed with me long after I finished reading.

I adored Augusta in both timelines of the story—whether as the sharp-witted, slightly acerbic 80-year-old retiree in present-day Florida, or as the curious, grieving teenager navigating life in 1920s Brooklyn after losing her mother. Augusta’s desire to live a full life in an era that offered little space for women’s ambitions made her a character I rooted for. Her journey—from a conflicted young woman torn between her father’s pharmacy and her Aunt Esther's unconventional remedies, to a reflective woman seeking closure in her later years—was one of profound depth and discovery.

As much as I loved Augusta, Irving Rivkin, her love interest, became my favorite. His sweetness, thoughtfulness, and determination to overcome the poverty of his upbringing made him impossible not to love. The sacrifices he made were heartbreaking, and his presence—both in the past and in Augusta’s present—was the grounding force of the story. Their reunion after sixty years apart raised so many unresolved questions and emotions, and watching them work through their shared history was deeply rewarding.

I challenge you not to fall in love with Augusta Stern and Irving Rivkin and the wonderful cast of characters in this story. Uplifting, charming, and life-affirming, *The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern* left me filled with hope and joy and gave me some of the happiest moments I’ve ever experienced between the pages of a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book.

This is a sweet story of a young women who was deeply hurt by her first and only love more than sixty years ago but she is given a second chance in her golden years. There is a dual time line that alternates between the young and the older Augusta and it worked very well as the story unfolded. The love Elixir of Augusta Stern was a delightful easy read.