Augusta Stern grew up in Brooklyn working at her father’s local pharmacy. When her mother dies of diabetes (just a couple years before insulin being introduced), her aunt Ester moves in. Augusta learns from her father’s medicine as well as Aunt Esther’s— chicken soup, time and attention, and herbs and spices that create elixirs to improve the health and well being of the community. Augusta falls for Irving, her father’s delivery boy, the one that got away.

The book goes between 1920’s Brooklyn and 1980’s Florida, after Augusta finally stops working as a pharmacist. She reconnects with Irving and her niece Jackie.

This is a heartwarming tale of miscommunication, love of community, and easy vs west medicine. I really loved the setting of local pharmacy and seeing how the pharmacist was part therapist, part parent, part medical practicioner. The romance was sweet, it’s about old people after all. I am a big fan of the heartwarming genre, the “lost time” of the main characters was a bit too heartbreaking.

Audiobook review- I didn’t love the narrator on this one, I feel as though she read it with too stern of a tone, without much change between characters. I recommend digital or hardback as opposed to audio on this one.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ARC. Book to be published October 8, 2024.

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The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is the first book I've read by Lynda Cohen Loigman. I listened to the audiobook format, and it was a quick evenly-paced novel. It didn't slow down, and kept me guessing until the very end.

This novel has a dual-timeline in both the 1920s and the 1980s. In the 1920s, the main character, Augusta, grew up in a Jewish community in Brooklyn. Her father was a pharmacist and her father's delivery boy, Irving, soon becomes her best friend and love interest. Just as soon as Augusta believes Irving will ask her to marry him, everything goes south, leaving her confused and wondering if he really loved her at all. Fast forward to the 1980s, when Augusta moves to a senior community in Florida, and finds out that Irving lives there too. Through a series of events involving the love potion created by Augusta's aunt, they discover what really happened all those decades ago and they fight for another chance at love.

The overarching theme was love: both familial and a sweet second-chance romance after six decades of separation. I wouldn't classify it as a romance novel -- it was more of a women's fiction or literary fiction with a thread of romance. The best part of the story was reading the author's note at the end -- do not skip that part! It was amazing to witness Lynda's real life experiences and relationships that shaped this book. Additionally, the amount of research she put in to this book to represent the 1920s Jewish culture and history of women in pharmacy was astounding.

My bottom line impression: I enjoyed it! It was like a warm hug. What a unique story, with endearing characters, and a satisfying ending!

Content Notes: No romantic scenes except for a few chaste kisses. Moderate language used sparingly. There was a bit of magical realism to the book, with an incantation used and some implied lights flickering afterward, but no explicit references to witchcraft in other ways.

Notes about the audiobook narration: Narrator Gabra Zackman did an excellent job in this dual-timeline novel recording, representing the voices of Augusta's younger (18 year old) and older (80 year old) self. Gabra created distinct voices for the many characters to keep them all audibly distinguishable. Her voice was believable for both the younger and older versions of Augusta, sounding neither too immature or too old when appropriate. Gabra's voice was pleasant and easy to listen to.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this audiobook. My review is my own opinion and in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

On the cusp of turning eighty, newly retired pharmacist Augusta Stern is adrift. When she relocates to Rallentando Springs—an active senior community in southern Florida—she unexpectedly crosses paths with Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy from her father’s old pharmacy—and the man who broke her heart sixty years earlier.

I loved every single thing about this book. I absolutely adored Augusta and her crankiness, Irving the lovable putz, Esther and her magical chicken soup, the subtle Jewish representation and so much more. I could seriously go on and on but I'll stop there, just know that this book often had me laughing out loud ! I loved that Augusta's story was told by switching back and forth between present day and 1920s Brooklyn, in her Jewish neighborhood where her father ran a successful pharmacy. We really got to know these characters and I found Augusta to be so strong and resilient. I loved that she followed her passion in a time when women typically didn't do such things and grew into a woman who continued to speak her mind. The way everything came together was perfect (lol good job Jackie!) and I was so happy with the ending. This book was a delight from start to finish and I can't recommend it enough!

I haven't loved an audiobook this much in so long! I thought the narration was perfect and loved her voices for the different characters. She really brought Augusta to life! I also loved her voice for Esther and thought the subtle accent was well done! There were some parts where you could tell the narrator re-recorded over the prior recording because the voice will change significantly for a sentence or two, it was noticeable but not a big deal. I understand this has to be done but thought I'd mention it since I noticed it. Loved!!

This title felt less “magical” to me than The Matchmaker’s Daughter, in that the actually storyline honestly seemed to drag and the element of magical realism just simply didn’t seem as alive.
Thankful to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read this book.
I would still recommend the title, because overall the content was clean for an adult modern book.
Excellent palate cleanser.

I really enjoyed The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. I listen to the audiobook version and it was so engaging.

A sweeping novel of second chances, a life well lived, and everyday magic. Augusta Stern has followed in her father's footsteps as a pharmacist and is finally retiring after an illustrious career. When she moves to a Floridian retirement community, she is confronted with her past and has to face her memories- the good and the bad. At 80, Augusta isn't sure if she wants to dredge up all those old feelings, but it seems that they are coming whether she likes it or not. As she encounters old friends, relives her memories, and wrestles with what to do now- she can't help but ask the age old questions- Are we ever too old for a happily ever after?

Loigman weaves multiple decades together with lovable, timeless characters and evocative imagery. I could feel the cool waters of the swimming pool in Boca Raton as clearly as I could smell the spices in Esther's chicken soup. This novel is wonderfully captivating, enticing, and heartfelt.
.

So much depth of character. Both timelines were intriguing with powerful relationships. Loved this one.

This book is not only a gem.. it’s a diamond. I am writing this through tears — such a beautiful story that wrapped up so well.

Augusta is an ass but I laughed out loud at her multiple times, she’s very relatable. I feel like most readers will find something in this story they can relate to, whether it be the representation of mistakes and how they shape the way our lives turn out, or a hint of magical realism that makes things a bit more interesting. This book is funny, wholesome, cozy, mysterious, sad, happy and suspenseful all at the same time and I will not be able to recommend this enough but I predict this is going to be one of the best books of the year.

5 stars ✨

Thanks NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the audiobook arc!
The audiobook was wonderful and I can’t wait to get a physical copy as soon as possible.

This lovely story demonstrates that you’re never to old for a second chance. Love truly an conquer all

Absolutely loved this story & pacing/voice of the narrator.

I previously read this eARC and listened to this later but the audio really adds something to the story.

A seventy nine year old pharmacist is finally forced to retire. She moves to a retirement community in Florida and is stunned to realize that her estranged childhood sweetheart also lives there. Told via duel timelines in the 1920s and 1980s, we slowly piece together the story of their heartbreak while alternating with their reunification 60 years later.

This book was so lovely and I enjoyed every moment of it. There was never a point where I felt bored or disengaged; it captured my attention early and kept me invested throughout. The secondary characters - an aunt whose homeopathic remedies seem magical to a child, mobsters during prohibition, charming seniors in the retirement community - add to the richness of the story. Although Augusta and Irving's relationship is at the heart of the story, it also probes at larger questions including the difficulty of a woman who wanted to have both a career and a relationship at a time when this was unusual. There's a touch of magic in this story of second chances!

I thought the narrator did an excellent job.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.