I was initially drawn to this book because the main character is 80 years old and I haven't read many books with elderly protagonists. And not only is she 80, but there is a romance between two 80 year olds!

This is a story about how a lack of communication can lead to heartache. I think the best part of the story was the 1920s setting. I really enjoyed that timeline more than the 1980s. We meet Augusta as a young teen, grieving the loss of her mother and throwing herself into learning how to become a pharmacist, just like her father. When her great aunt Esther comes to live with them, she learns that there is a sort of magic in traditional healing methods. She falls in love with Irving, who works for her father as an errand boy, but something goes wrong, and he marries someone else.

We meet Agusta again when she's about to turn 80, just retired, and is moving into an active retirnment community. That's when she runs into Irving for the first time in 60 years.

While the idea of reading about an 80 year old protagonist is what drew me in intially, I would have rather this just focused on the 1920s timeline - I think that was, by far, the most interesting part of the story. I thought Esther was the best character - she has an air of mystery and enigma about her that really draws you to her character. I could almost smell her chicken soup cooking!

If you are looking for a story that his heavy on the history and light of the romance, you might enjoy this book!

This was such a beautiful book to read. I really wasn’t expecting to fall into the story when I started reading. This book grabbed me and didn’t let go until the end.

I felt a range of emotions while reading. I felt happiness, sadness, anger and everything in between. The message that this book had is truly so beautiful.

I definitely look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Another wonderful read from Lynda Cohen Loigman. After loving The Matchmaker's Gift, I was excited to dive into this book and was not disappointed. This was a heartwarming story about finding second chances no matter what your age. The story was interesting and the characters were real, complex and well written, a gem from start to finish. Definitely would recommend this one!

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a warm, charming story that blends love, family, and a little bit of magic. Augusta is such a fun, quirky character—flawed but lovable—and her journey feels both unique and relatable. The “love elixir” concept adds a playful layer to the story while also digging into deeper themes of connection and fate.

The writing is rich and vivid, making it easy to get lost in Augusta’s world. It’s the kind of book that feels comforting, like sitting down with a good friend. While some parts of the story are predictable, it doesn’t really take away from the overall experience. It’s more about the characters and their relationships than shocking twists, and that’s what makes it feel so genuine.

If you’re into stories that mix a little magic with heartfelt relationships, this one is worth picking up. It’s an easy, enjoyable read with a lot of heart.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Lynda Cohen Loigmen for the eARC!

I loved this book! Such a delightful story and my first book by Lynda Cohen Loigman. I can’t wait to read her others after finishing this one. This book is set in the 1920’s and 1980’s. Following Augusta’s life between the dual timelines is very enjoyable. There’s so much to learn about Augusta in the earlier years. In the later years I found it a little fun. I highly recommend this magical read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with a arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A sweet story of how it's never too late to find your happiness, I enjoyed the story of Augusta, especially how it bounced between her as a young woman, and as an elderly woman forced to retire. There's just enough magic in the story to charm you, and the cast of characters is quite an amusing crew, especially those in the retirement community when Augusta moves to Florida.

I do think that the book had a bit too much padding, and some mysteries were drawn out longer than necessary. I think if you like a bit of magical realism along with funny characters, love, and the idea that you're never too old to live the life you desire, you'll enjoy this one.

There is something so sweet about a lost love that is found in old age. When Augusta Stern is forced to retire she relocates to the same community of her long ago love, Irving Rivkin. She has nursed a broken heart for over sixty years and is not about to get involved again. Told in two timelines, Lynda Cohen Loigman slowly builds a sweet love story that has the reader rooting for Augusta and Irving to reconnect. There is a mystery involved, which makes any story richer. A lovely read.

I'm gonna be honest with you - I had a lot going on this week and I was literally hit by a bus so it's possible that my brain was just in a different space when I was trying to read this story. Her "Matchmaker's Gift" was my favorite read of that year so I had high hopes for this going in.

I was getting a bit confused with the back and forth timeline and it was a little difficult to tell some characters apart. I really did like the overall story but I found myself getting lost often in the details and I personally get annoyed with so many miscommunications throughout a story.

I did listen to the audiobook, so again, it's possible I was just not in the space to process this story. I really do want to try again in the future with the physical book when I haven't actually been hit by a bus.

I finished this book a few days ago, but I'm having trouble putting my feelings into words. I absolutely loved this book. The characters, especially Augusta, were well developed and real. I loved the dual timelines, so we really get beneath the facade that Augusta shows and learn about her history and what led to her being who she is. The retirement community where Augusta moves is full of fun and surprises. I really loved that this dealt with so many topics so well, such as love, loss, second chances, and more. This was a great story that made me realize that not everything is what it seems. This was definitely one of my most surprising reads of the year.

Augusta Stern grew up in Brooklyn with her pharmacist father. Shortly after her mother died, Augusta's Great Aunt Esther moved into their house. Ester had her own cures for women's problems that were overlooked by male doctors and pharmacists. August is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her Aunt.

The book follows Augusta in two timelines—one in the 20s and the other sixty years later. At 80, Augusta is forced into retirement after lying about her age for the last 20 years. Her niece helps her find a nice active senior community in Florida so she can retire in nice weather. Shortly after her arrival, she bumps into the man who broke her heart more than 60 years ago.

Now she will have to address the mistakes of her past if she wants to move forward.

Why Jackie loves it

I loved this book and Augusta's fiery personality. She takes no crap from anyone. A lot of that stems from old wounds, but even at 80 years old, she is not so stuck and set in her ways that she cannot change. Some of the parts of this book had me laughing out loud.

Oh I just adored this book! I actually chose it for my Book of the Month club pick after I accidentally let the download expire after it was archived. And now it occupies a prominent place on my shelf so I can lend it out to friends and family. This is just full of charm and whimsy and characters that will make you giggle and then cry all within one chapter. It demonstrates how long life can be, and how gone does not actually mean forgotten in many cases. Just beautiful! And a GREAT holiday gift.

I have a thing for curmudgeons - and Augusta is that. She's had to turn her back on a number of promising interests and that has been done with self-punishing flare. Yep. She's one of those, the martyr / spartan / sacrifice who offers herself up in order to please the group at large. Father has a pharmacy, and Augusta mans that post for decades, abandoning chances at love (too trivial) and to bring home comestibles for family. To uphold and defend family reputation broadcasting to the world: No Witchy Behavior Here, No Potions Either, Not a Healer, Never Ever. Not at all like interesting Aunt Esther who embodied and eagerly shared all of that at every opportunity (hand over that recipe book!). . . that's all in Brooklyn, New York, where the family grew up and aged out.

Time passes, and Augusta's forced into retirement, and flies as so many others do to Florida at one of those party palaces for the over 60s set, and that's when this book gets very interesting.

As a woman of a certain age, this story amused and entertained me in a big way. Go Augusta, Go!

*A sincere thank you to Lynda Cohen Loigman, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

Beautiful book! Lynda Cohen Longman has crafted a wonderful love story but also a story about the importance of family culture and traditions and friendship. She also includes just the right amount of mystery and magic. This was a very enjoyable book! Thanks #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Such a wonderful story!! I absolutely loved the dual timeline and getting to know Augusta in both times of her life. The side characters, especially those in the latter timeline, were so great. This book delivers on family, friendship and first love. Highly recommend!

This is one of my favorite books released this year! I immediately fell in love with Augusta and I am always looking for a second chance story! I also enjoyed the dual timelines - both were compelling and interesting and took some rather unique turns! 4.5⭐️

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The relationship between Augusta and Irving had a sweet genuine quality to it and I loved the idea that you are never too old to fall in love. I also loved the character of Augusta in both timelines, she is smart, and bold and curious and it was interesting to see how she had evolved over the decades. My one complaint about this novel was the magic/witchy component. What was there was enjoyable, but there was too little of it . I wanted MORE. Still I do recommend this sweet tale of love rediscovered. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc.

In The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern we get to meet Augusta in her earlier life as she worked for her father in his pharmacy back in the 1920's. Then we are lucky enough that we get dual timelines in this novel and follow Augusta in her retirement life as she moves to a Florida retirement village and just happens to come across the boy she loved all those years ago.

Oh how I love a second chance romance story.

And I really enjoyed how the story was told by the author with tidbits from each timeline to find out why things ended the way they did and why Augusta is the way she is now with a lot of reflection in-between. Some parts may have been a bit predictable, but it was almost a comfort because you grow to really love and root for the main characters in both timelines.

I listened to this one on audio and the narrator does a fantastic job bringing Augusta to life. I would definitely recommend the audio for audiobook fans.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres! This was engaging, and the characters are relatable, with Augusta’s journey being both entertaining and heartwarming. While the plot may feel familiar to fans of romantic comedies, the inclusion of magical realism adds a fresh twist. Overall, it’s a fun and sweet read, perfect for those looking for a feel-good story with a touch of magic and exactly what I needed it.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. This duel timeline love story follows Augusta from her youth in Brooklyn to her old age in retirement in Florida. In Brooklyn a young Augusta lives with her father and aunt. Her father is a pharmacist and the aunt is a healer. The aunt teaches Augusta all she knows about making potions while Augusta also goes to school to follow in her fathers footsteps to become a pharmacist. Young Augusta is in love with Irving who one days mysteriously marries the daughter it mitzy diamond. The story is well interwoven between time lines and ends happily ever after. Four stars.

This book was just plain beautiful. I loved the back and forth from the present and the past and getting to see exactly how Augusta came to be who she is. But this story also made me laugh in so many places and gave me hope that I'll be that spry when I am elderly. This story took ahold of my heart and still hasn't let go. I loved it so much!