THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman

What I thought was going to be a cozy, lighthearted read turned out to be so much more!

When a story utilizes a dual timeline, I often prefer the past/flashback scenes. Here, I loved both equally. Augusta’s life in 1920s Brooklyn was so vivid, heartbreaking and complicated. Sixty-ish years later, 1987, Augusta’s runs into her old boyfriend in her new retirement community and the zany hijinks ensue.

There were a few scenes that tugged at my little black heart. I hardly ever highlight or annotate books, but I did this time. I loved the inclusion of apothecary medicine and homeopathic remedies. It’s also refreshing to read a story with older characters. I had a good laugh at the name of the retirement community; Rallentando is so cheeky and well, perfect.

In conclusion, this is another wonderfully written, heartfelt, magical and memorable book by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Highly recommend!


Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

Pub Date: October 8, 2025

**ARC courtesy of Netgalley & StMartinsPress - thank you!

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!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a sweet, cozy story about love and timing with a sprinkle of magic thrown in. After a long career as a pharmacist in Brooklyn, Augusta Stern retires to Florida. Once there, she reunites with her long-lost boyfriend Irving Rifkin, who broke her heart when he left her to marry another woman 60 years earlier.

The story is told in two parts, switching back and forth between 1920s Brooklyn Augusta and 1987 Florida Augusta. Bit by bit we get the whole story of what happened between Augusta and Irving and we see if even octogenarians have a shot at a second-chance romance.

I enjoyed this book. It's not too heavy on drama or tragedy - it's a nice, cozy read that's well-written and satisfying.

This book has a dual timeline—the early 1920s set in Brooklyn, NY and 1987 set in a senior living community in Florida. In the 1920's we read about young Augusta Stern, living with her sister Bess, her Great Aunt Esther, and her father Solomon who was a pharmacist. Yet it's Esther who captures Augusta's heart and mind. Esther isa "healer" who uses herbal potions, words and advice to those who come to her with their ailments. Going forward, in 1987 Augusta retires at the age of 80 to a senior living complex in Florida. It is there that she surprisingly meets Irving Rivkin who worked as a delivery boy for her father's pharmacy 62 years earlier. As a couple Irving broke her heart when he married another girl, but Augusta remained single throughout her life. Meeting Irving brings back memories, as we read the chapters set in the 20's and then back to 1987. This novel as a fantasy or "magic realism" was a wonderful, heartwarming story. As for love elixirs, do they work? For me reading this book was a joy as I happen to live in one of these communities in Florida!! My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Augusta is about to turn 80 she agrees to finally retire from her lifelong role of being a pharmacist. She moves to a retirement village in Florida and realizes that Irving, the only man she has ever been in love with, and who broke her heart 60 years ago, lives in the same village. Now, seeing Irving daily brings Augusta’s memories of her teens to the surface (and the reader learns about them in the dual timeline), when she lost her mother, when her magical great aunt moved in, and when Irving began working for her father. Slowly Augusta begins to revive her friendship with Irving and as she does so, and as she gets to know the elderly Irving, she learns that what she thought she knew about him 60 years ago, and the reason he left, may not be true.

This was an addictive joyful read. I loved both the flashbacks to Augusta and Irving’s past as well as the slow burn of their new revived friendship. Augusta’s strong character was refreshing and I appreciated the Jewish elements that were scattered throughout. As a bonus for me, there was also a small dash of magical realism and alchemy. This novel gives you both a youthful coming of age romance and a late in life second chance romance - it’s such a wonderful read.

4.25 stars

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC to review

A dual timeline--which I like.

Augusta Stern, teenager, 1920s Brooklyn. Augusta's mother has died from diabetes--too early for insulin to help. Her great aunt Esther moves in to help her father. A relic from the old country, Esther makes chicken soup and potions with various herbs, using a mortar and pestle, and chants a particular verse while mixing the ingredients--counter to the pills and formulas dispenced by her late niece's husband, Solomon Stern [the pharmacist]. Some called Esther a witch--and disrespected her because she was a woman [although she was revered by her women clients].

Fast forward to 1987 when Augusta, now 80 and a newly-retired pharmacist, moves to a retirement community in Rallentando Springs, Florida. She unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy at her father's pharmacy, and the love of her teenage life.

The timeline moves slowly forward to Florida and the narrative goes back and forth--filling in the blanks. What happened to Augusta and Irving? Why did he all of a sudden end up marrying someone else and moving to Chicago? And so on.

What did i like? Not that much. I knew where this was headed [points off for a neat and tidy and predictable ending]. I was bored, Although a fast read, I was not engaged, It was simplistic and pedestrian, IMHO. I could have walked away at any time but I do admit the very beginning captured my attention--soon enough, however, I lost interest.

Two phrases elicted a chuckle:
'"...he held up a towel like some kind of geriatic matador."
"Vera's lashes were like windsheld wipers doing double time in a downpour."

What did iI learn? In the 1920s, arsenic was used to help one's complexion.

IN THE DISTINCT MINORITY of readers.

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.

3.5 stars
Told over two timelines, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is the story of an elderly woman who gets a second chance at happiness.

In 1987, 79 year-old Augusta is a recently retired pharmacist who leaves New York City to move into a retirement residence in South Florida and discovers that one of the other residents is Irving Rivkin who was a delivery boy at her father's pharmacy in 1920s Brooklyn. In the '20s timeline, Augusta is a young teenager who has recently lost her mother and her great-aunt Esther moves in to the family home above the pharmacy to help out. Aunt Esther is a healer and the women in the neighbourhood are soon coming to her for her unconventional remedies and potions. Augusta is fascinated by Esther and wants to learn how to make her aunt's elixirs but also wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a pharmacist.

When her father hires Irving, the two become friends and later romantically involved but something happened to tear them apart leaving Augusta heartbroken and confused about what went wrong. Augusta never married as she was busy with her career and never truly got over Irving but when it becomes clear that Irving also still has feelings for her after all these years, Augusta must decide if she can forgive him for what happened 60 years earlier and take a chance on love.

A charming and delightful story about second chances that also touches on the roles and expectations of women in the 1920s and beyond. Both amusing and touching at times, this is a feel good story with a message that it's never too late for love and happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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.

Unique and sweet story with a bit of magic thrown in. This is the second book I’ve read by the author. Having enjoyed The Matchmaker’s Gift, I was excited to read this. I did see some parallels between the two books.
Told in two timelines, this is a story of love and unfortunate circumstances that keep two people from being together. Augusta is a young girl/woman in the 1920’s. Working for her father who runs his own pharmacy, she grows to love the work. Irving Rivkin is a young man hired by her father to make deliveries to customers. He and Augusta become friends, but could they be more? Augusta’s Aunt Ethel enters into their lives. Ethel has an “unconventional” (what we now consider homeopathic ) way of healing and helping people. Augusta is enthralled by this. In time, she realizes things can awry, not always working the way we want them to. Secrets arise and complications cause Augusta from having the life she anticipated. Fast forward 60 years to the late 1980’s. Augusta is 80 years old and moves to Florida. This second timeline explains what has happened since the first and brings people back into her life. Secrets are revealed and we find out what happened and what changes can or can’t be made.
I enjoyed this charming story and the relationships within. I only wish that Augusta and Irving were about 20 years younger when they reconnect. I feel like it would be very doable and make for a slightly better story.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

To ease the pain of those who suffer
To repair the bodies of those who are ill
To restore the minds of those in need

"You can't give up something that brings you joy just because it is difficult."

I don't even know where to start. I loved this beautiful, and delightful story. Magical, witty book that made me laugh and cry. It was a book that I was unable to put down.
This story is set between two timelines, 1920's Brooklyn, NY and 1980's Florida.
Brownsville, Brooklyn in the 1920's as Augusta was growing up. Her mother has passed away. She works in her father's pharmacy during her teenage years, and falling in love with the delivery boy who works for her father.
Mysterious Aunt Esther has arrived to help the family. Her holistic medical practices or should I say magical practices are unconventional.
1980's and Augusta a pharmacist finally at 80 years old has retired. She moves to a retirement community in Florida. She discovers two childhood friends living there and life gets interesting.
Aunt Esther's chicken soup and other foods from my childhood had me remember ing my grandmothers cooking. How I miss all those wonderful meals.
A truly unforgettable and heartwarming story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this delightful book.

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!!!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern was one of the best love stories I've read in a long time. This was such a charming and well written story I loved that it alternated between the 1980's and the 20's this added so much to book. I loved all the characters in the novel and couldn't wait to see how all their stories would come together. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I will absolutely be recommending this book 4 stars.

Lynda Cohen Loigman's books keep getting better and better. The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is absolutely delightful and I can't wait for you all to get your hands on a copy in October! Be sure to enjoy a bowl of chicken soup (preferably with kreplach) while reading this wonderful gem.

There's a nice blend of magical realism with actual reality throughout the story. I loved Esther and all her elixirs for fixing everyone's problems. It frustrated me that Augusta's father wasn't more supportive of Esther's methods and I wished he could find a way for them to work together to make his pharmacy even more successful. It was nice to have Irving's perspective in the story to see everything from his side and learn that the situation wasn't always the way Augusta saw it. I also liked going back and forth in time, even though it sometimes took me a moment to realize what timeline I was reading about.

It's funny that I read this close in time to The Goldie Standard, as there were some little similarities, such as Augusta's nickname being Goldie and a majority of the novel revolving around senior citizens. There's also the Jewish Joy factor. And both are a mix of humor and bittersweet.

I love this novel and highly recommend it!

(Trigger warning below.)

Movie casting suggestions:
Augusta (past): Sofia Rosinsky
Augusta (80): Leslie Ann Warren
Irving (past): Lucas Jade Zumann
Irving (82): Scott Glenn
Esther (past): Jeannie Berlin
Lois: Ella Rubin
Mitzi: Shoshannah Stern

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TW: death of parent (mentioned a lot)

Lynda Cohen Loigman’s touching tale is of late-in-life second chances. Turning eighty and forced to retire from her pharmaceutical career, Augusta Stem is lost in what to do next until her niece, Jackie, recommends leaving New York and moving to a senior community in southern Florida. August has lived a life of too many losses early in life and of heartbreak including one with the young man Irving Rivkin whom she fell in love with when she was in her teens in the 1920’s and who up and left one day - and who now lives in the same senior community. The story alternates from the current time (late 1980’s) to her childhood shortly after her mother’s death from diabetes in Brooklyn where her grieving father owns a pharmacy and where Augusta is determined to learn the science of medicines. Aunt Esther, a firm great aunt, comes to live with them and brings her vast knowledge of healing with compounds and words through the old ways.

The dual timeline between the two settings, the one of young Augusta with her hopes and beliefs in a bit of magic in life and the other of 80-year-old Augusta with the protective walls up about her, effectively reveal why those walls exist – the losses and disappointments and the resulting determination. The alternating timeframes also allow for Irving’s perspective and tells bit by bit what happened so long ago – and since then and his steadfast love for Augusta.

This is a tale of love, sacrifices, family, grief, determination, the power of words, accepting losses and finding a way to move on, and secrets – both keeping others’ secrets and the burden of anchoring in one’s own. It is an engaging story with moments of humor and perhaps a predictable ending. The most interesting character, Aunt Esther, is an intelligent woman held back during her time when women were blocked from careers and opportunities in the sciences. I wish there had been more about this seemingly rigid and caring character whom Augusta loves. The author does a fine job of limiting what could have been a wide net of characters. The second-chance love story is interesting, and I wanted to know more about Irving’s missing years. The beautiful passage at the end about Augusta sensitively singing the song Aunt Esther would sing while making the compounds, of Augusta very late in life breaking down the walls and believing there is a “bit of magic” left in the world – are memorable. I am five years younger than eighty-year-old Augusta. That passage was perfect and magical to me.

I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Lynda Cohen Loigman for early access to this book. This opinion is all my own.

Lynda Cohen Loigman won my readership with The Two Family House. I will read anything that she writes and The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern keeps my allegiance alive.

What can I say? I loved Augusta. She is a bit brusk. Life has not always been easy for her. But she is not going down without a fight.

Do yourself a favor and read the book. I don't think you will be sorry. Irving and Augusta will live in my heart for a long time to come.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Can that really be Irving living in the same retirement complex as Augusta?

Irving was Augusta’s first love, but he broke her heart and married another.

Augusta worked in her father‘s pharmacy, and Irving was the delivery boy.

Sixty years later even though they loved each other for that long, they never had contacted each other.

Can they rekindle their love?

We follow Irving and Augusta in two timelines. The 1920s and then the 1980s.

When Augusta knew she wanted to be with Irving after all these years, she decided to try the love elixir she and her aunt made years ago to see if it would work again.

Can she do it?

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a book that will have you missing the heartwarming characters because of Ms. Loigman’s fabulous storytelling skills.

It is not a romance but a story of decisions made, family, and the regrets of poor communication.

It is another gem you won’t want to miss, and is a “do your heart good”​ read. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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!