Like any life, Augusta Stern's is filled with tragedy and joy. Her mother dies of diabetes a year before insulin becomes available. Her boyfriend suddenly disappears and then Augusta hears he's married someone else.

Like any life, new people enter and maybe don't even seem that likable at first, but then become so dear and make our lives so different from what they would have been. This was the case with Augusta's great-aunt Esther. Born before girls could become pharmacists, it became clear that Esther was a healer nonetheless. Augusta learned from her great-aunt but also became a pharmacist.

This story is told with a dual timeline. In 1987 Augusta is just getting ready to retire, although she'd really rather not. Then we start to learn of Augusta's young life, in 1922.

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" moves quickly. Bit by bit questions are answered and the mysteries become clear.

I highly recommend this latest book by Lynda Cohen Loigman and her three previous books. I especially liked "The Two-Family House."

I received an advance reader's copy and am leaving an honest review.

I finished reading the last page and said Wow!!! I absolutely loved this book!! It is a book about love, family, second chances, magic, secrets and so much more!!! I was sad when it was over!!

Dual timeline of 1920s NY and 1987 in FL. Augusta and her sister Bess grow up above the pharmacy where her father is the pharmacist. Augusta loves watching her father make the medicine and the care he gives to all his customers. Irving is the deliver boy and Augusta spends a lot of time with him until one day he disappears. Why did he leave??

Augusta retires to Fl just short of hey 80th birthday and this is where lots of stuff begins to happen!!!

Readers will be treated to very funny moments and very touching moments!! I loved this book and highly recommend!!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is historical fiction with a hint of magical realism. The story is a dual timeline set in the early 1920's Brooklyn, New York and 1987 Florida retirement community. The main character Augusta is the daughter of a pharmacist and is grieving the death of her mother who died of complications due to diabetes just before the invention of insulin.

Augusta is the smart one in her family and wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a pharmacist. ( A great feat back in this time period for a woman to accomplish.) After the death of her mother, Great Aunt Esther comes to stay with the family. She brings with her an apothecary chest which she uses to create mixtures with mysterious ingredients. The story combines the use of modern medicine and folk remedy healing.

In 1987 we see Augusta approaching 80 and forced to retire. She never married nor had any children. With the help of her niece Jackie, Augusta relocates to Rellentando Springs a retirement community in Florida. It is here that Augusta meets Irving Rivken, an old flame from Augusta's past. The story commences in dual narrative fashion as Augusta's story unfolds and we learn more of what happened in Augusta's past to get her to this moment.

I loved learning the story of Augusta. She was a woman before her time and had great chutzpah. I had a personal connection to the story as my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and lived first hand to see the marvels of Insulin. I am sorry for anyone that tried to manage this disease before the invention of Insulin.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this great novel.

This book was a little gem to read! I was hooked from the beginning and even though i knew how it would end i enjoyed it immensely.

Augusta Stern is about to turn 80, was forced to retire from her job, is moving to a retirement community in Florida and has no idea what to do with the rest of her life. This was a lovely story about a woman coming into her own late in life, after rediscovering people she knew in her youth, recalling the passion she had to heal and help others using both science and unorthodox practices and remembering how sweet love is.

This was my first time reading the author and I very much enjoyed her writing. The style kept the story flowing, even with the transitions between present day and the past. I enjoyed the characters as well, Aunt Esther was such an interesting character, it was someone I would have wanted to know, the relationship of the sisters and between the sisters and father was heartfelt. As a reader, I wanted to know this family, I could visualize the setting of the story, the times, people and locations. Overall, this was a sweet story, one that brings a smile to your face, a warmth to your soul and makes reading it a pleasure to enjoy.

Meet Augusta Stern, an eighty year old retired pharmacist. Also meet Augusta Stern, a young woman falling in love for the first time and beginning her adult journey in life.

This book takes us through Augusta’s past and present lives and tells her story of love, family, heartbreak,hard work and regrets. I usually don’t like time lines that jump back and forth, but this one is done so well and I was hooked on Augusta’s search for herself. Well written and engrossing.

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern", by Lynda Cohen Loigman is her fourth book, though it is the first I have read. I fell in love with Augusta's poignant life-story. She dealt with so much discrimination on her journey to become a pharmacist like her father, and she struggled with the "magical" healing methods of her great aunt, knowing that her father did not approve. When Augusta mixes a "love elixir" that goes horribly awry her life changes dramatically. Sixty years later circumstances conspire to offer her a second chance at love---if she is brave enough to try again.

The duo timeline gives the reader an understanding of her past, while the present day (1980s) allows us to see where those past decisions led her.
The magical realism drew me into the story, the historical facts greatly added to my enjoyment, and the love interest --both tragic and sweet-- presented a satisfying ending.

This is a wonderful story with all the 'feels'. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a historical time period, magical realism, romance, and family dynamics.

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an opportunity to read a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#TheLoveElixirofAugustaStern #LyndaCohenLoigman #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" is a heartwarming tale of second chances and rediscovery. Augusta Stern, on the brink of turning eighty, finds herself at a crossroads in life. Retired and adrift, she relocates to Rallentando Springs, where she unexpectedly encounters Irving Rivkin, a blast from her past who shattered her heart sixty years earlier.

Marie Sizemore's narrative beautifully intertwines Augusta's past and present, transporting readers to 1920s Brooklyn, where Augusta grapples with family loyalty, budding romance, and the allure of her unconventional great aunt Esther's healing methods. Sizemore skillfully captures the essence of Augusta's internal conflict as she navigates between her father's traditional pharmacy and Esther's mystical remedies.

As Augusta reflects on her youthful indiscretions and the love she lost, Sizemore weaves a poignant story of forgiveness and self-discovery. The novel's seamless blend of nostalgia and hope, coupled with its richly drawn characters, makes it a captivating read that lingers long after the final page.

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" is a testament to the enduring power of love, resilience, and the belief that it's never too late to embark on a new journey. Sizemore's poignant prose and compelling storytelling make this novel a must-read for anyone seeking a tale of redemption and the magic of second chances.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a delightful exploration of love, family, and the passage of time, steeped in the tender sentimentality that characterizes the best of storytelling. Loigman's narrative, filled with charm and heart, invites readers into the world of Augusta Stern, an endearing protagonist on the cusp of her 80th birthday and the precipice of retirement. Set against the backdrop of Rallentando Springs, a vibrant senior community in Florida, the novel unfolds with a rhythm that captures the essence of both the present and the past.

At the heart of the story lies Augusta's encounter with her old flame, Irving Rivkin, a reunion that stirs long-buried emotions and unresolved questions. Their history, fraught with youthful passion and betrayal, forms the crux of the narrative, weaving seamlessly between the present-day struggles of aging and the poignant memories of their teenage years.

What sets this novel apart is its embrace of sentimentality, infusing each page with a richness that transcends mere nostalgia. Here, the term "schmaltz" finds a home, not as a derogatory label, but as a celebration of the emotional depth that permeates the story. Loigman skillfully navigates the complexities of love and loss, presenting characters who are flawed yet profoundly human in their desires and vulnerabilities.

Central to the narrative is the theme of love in its myriad forms, from romantic entanglements to familial bonds. Augusta's grandmother, a figure of wisdom and mystery, introduces her to the transformative power of elixirs, symbolic of the enduring magic found within the heart. As secrets unravel and mysteries are laid bare, the novel culminates in a deeply satisfying conclusion, leaving readers with a sense of hope and warmth that lingers long after the final page is turned.

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring nature of love, even in the twilight years. With its deftly crafted dual timelines and endearing characters, it offers a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the beauty found in second chances. Readers are sure to be captivated by Loigman's heartfelt prose and the timeless charm of Augusta's story—a tale that reminds us of the power of love to transcend the boundaries of age and circumstance.

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".

A sweet and compelling read about love, loss, regret, and second chances.

Augusta and Irving were in love until Irving leaves without any explanation. Six decades later, Augusta is stunned and upset to find Irving is a resident at the senior community she just moved to. Can they risk their hearts once more and get to the bottom of what went so wrong 62 years ago?

Chapters alternate back and forth from the “present” (1980s) and the 1920s when August and Irving first meet. A sense of mystery and magic permeates the novel and I was captivated by Augusta’s and Irving’s story. Heartwarming without being maudlin, it was a lot of fun to read about people finding new friendship and love in their 80s!

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an opportunity to read a copy.

5 stars

I was very excited to receive a widget of this book. Lynda Cohen Loigman has been a favorite of mine ever since I read her first novel, “The Two-Family House,” in 2016. It was that book along with Kristin Hannah’s “Nightingale” that prompted me to dive into the wonderful world of historical fiction. I have now read all of Ms. Loigman’s novels, and all four have earned 5 stars from me.

This book has a dual timeline—the early 1920s set in Brooklyn, NY and 1987 set in a senior living community in Florida. I’m not always a fan of dual timelines, but this one worked well. I love books with elderly characters, especially when the protagonist is an oldster. Augusta is 80 years old in the 1987 timeline. Augusta grew up with a pharmacist father and great aunt Esther who was a healer. Augusta was very interested in both traditional medicine and Esther’s potions and studied both. After a disastrous misfire with the latter early on, she dropped the holistic side of things and went on to a successful career as a pharmacist. She was pushed out for “old age” in 1987. Boo on that, I say.

There are plenty of characters to love—Augusta, of course, and her old beau Irving who disappointed her back in Brooklyn, Esther, Jackie, and Shirley to name a few. Some good laughs are sprinkled along the way along with touches of magical realism. There is mystery (what the hell happened with Irving?), there is the power of friendship, the pining of long-lost love, the beauty of second chances, the blessing of family (blood or not), and the staying power of true love. The tale is told in a beautifully lyrical fashion and captivated me from beginning to end. Lastly, this book was very different from most of the books I have read, which made me love it even more!

Whenever I see “fantasy” or “magic realism” (fancy way of saying fantasy) in a book blurb, I usually run. So normally I would have skipped this one. But it is written by Ms. Loigman who has yet to let me down. So I grabbed it and was rewards in spades. Thanks, Ms. Loigman. I recommend “The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern” to all readers with a heart, even if you think you don’t like any “magic realism” invading your books.

I would like to thank Ms. Rivka Holler of St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley, and Ms. Lynda Loigman for the ARC. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

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.

I went back and forth on my opinion of this book. It’s probably between 3 and 4 stars for me. I have enjoyed her prior books a bit more than I enjoyed this one. I do think the author did an amazing job going back and forth between the two story times. Both were compelling whereas often I find one story a waste of time!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A lovely dual timeline tale of second chances involving delightful Augusta Stern, 80, in a Florida retirement home. Endearing!

The premise of the book is it’s never too late for new beginnings. Even when you are 80 years old. The story was told in 2 different time periods but it was very easy to follow and each section helped explain the next. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

I have read other books by this author and have always enjoyed them. The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is no different- very enjoyable. . The main character, Augusta, has recently retired and moved to a retirement community in Florida. Once there she finds she knows two men from her days in Brooklyn, one she was once in love with. The novel alternates between 1987 in Florida and 1922 Brooklyn. One learns of Augusta early days, living above her father’s pharmacy and how she wants to follow in her father’s footsteps. She learned what now would be considered holistic medicine from an elderly aunt that came to live with them. Augusta and Irving both worked at her father’s store and had a relationship that was suddenly over when Irving left for Chicago. Augusta never knew why and she never really got over the relationship. The mystery is finally revealed at the end of the story. There are some very humorous parts in this novel. A very quick and fun read.

Lynda Cohen Loigman has written another moving lovely read.Ive read each of her previous novels and loved and recommended each of them.Augusta and Irving the dual timeline the antics at the Florida retirement community stole my heart. Will be recommending her latest novel to all my friends.#netgalley #st.Martins

This is my first novel by Lynda Cohen Loigman, but it won't be my last. It reminded me of the old joke about the Jewish funeral service where an old lady in the back keeps calling out, "Give him chicken soup!". Finally, the Rabbi says, " This man is dead. Chicken soup won't help" and the old lady responds: "It wouldn't hurt."

There are magical properties to chicken soup in this book, with or without the addition of "Kreplach", meat filled dumplings. Augusta Stern, about to turn 80, is retired from her job as a hospital pharmacist when her real age is discovered. With the help of her niece Jackie, she moves to a retirement community in Florida. There she re-connects with the one-time love of her life, Irving.

The story continues in alternating chapters of 1987 and the 1920's. You might not expect it, but this story is a mystery. Why did Augusta, then known as Goldie, and Irving wait for 62 years to meet again? What happened? All will be revealed before the ending. Meanwhile, you will meet the Great Aunt Esther who comes to live with the Stern family after Mrs. Stern's death., she, of the miraculous chicken soup cures.

In the Brownsville of the 20's, there is prohibition and a Jewish Mafia. There are close sisters, Augusta and Bess, and their heartbroken Pharmacy owner father. In the Florida retirement community, there is another friend from Goldie's past. There is also prejudice against women. They, when healers, are called witches while men are either doctors or pharmacists.

This is both a historical novel and a love story. And when was the last time you read about romance between " old-olds"? Funny and charming, I so enjoyed this book. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for an ARC copy to read and review.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman is a beautifully crafted novel.
I really enjoyed reading this book! It is beautiful written, I was invested in the story within the first chapters.
The story was incredibly laid out and hooked me from the beginning.
Loigman weaves a story that needs read, rich characters that reveal deep cultural history and immerse the reader into a world they want to be a part of.
I loved every single page of this book.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!