I loved this book with my whole dumb heart.

First off, I love that the MCs are ‘of an age’. As much as I love Romantasy, I’m over 24-year-old characters, whose brains aren’t fully cooked, yet are tasked with saving the world.

I loved the reverse Grumpy Sunshine trope, ‘though Augusta is less Grump and more ZERO NONSENSE.

The dual timelines was lovely. Some books require you to make a detailed red-thread board, but this author filled in knowledge gaps clearly and concisely.

The two settings were fantastic. 1920s Jewish Brooklyn and 1980s Seniors’ Florida were both vibrant in a way my brain translated into music.

The interplay between ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ medicine was super-interesting. I loved how the author didn’t land on one or the other as ‘better’ but sat firmly on the fence.

The only thing I didn’t like, was all the non-communication (The Miscommunication Trope’s bastard cousin). Y’all need to read some Brene Brown and TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I had thought The Matchmaker’s Gift was this author’s only other book. Can’t wait to track the other two previous works down.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this fantastic ARC.

Using two timelines, the 1920s and the 1980s, author Lynda Cohen Loigman tells a compelling tale of starting over and second chances.

At the novel's open in 1987, Augusta at a spry 80-years-old is forced to retire from her job at a hospital. Feeling upset and at loose ends, she decides to move to a condo in a small retirement community that her niece Jackie found for her in Florida. Augusta is a woman who likes her routines and plans, and has no desire to change once she moves to her new apartment. She is horrified and experiences a rush of emotions when she discovers that her old flame Irving is living in the same condo. Despite doing her best to avoid him, she is forced to begin to confront memories of her adolescence.

Teenaged Augusta and her sister Bess and their father Solomon lived in together in Brooklyn in the 1920s. Augusta looked up to her pharmacist father, Solomon Stern, who was a respected and trusted figure in their neighbourhood, and Augusta yearned to learn how to be a pharmacist, just like him.

After Augusta's mother died from diabetes, and Solomon was unable to do anything to prevent it, he fell into a depression. Then, Augusta's great aunt Esther moved in with them. Esther, though not a pharmacist, had her own cures for situations, and Augusta was drawn to the woman, even while Solomon fumed that his authority was being undermined every time someone asked Esther for one of her treatments, such as something as seemingly benign as soup, or an order to wear boots instead of high heels.

Though Solomon was mired in grief, he reluctantly allowed Augusta to learn a little from him, and she chose to learn from Esther. Augusta also became fascinated, and later fell for, her father's delivery boy Irving, a kind person who was equally enamoured with her. Their lives together seemed a given, but something sent them off in separate directions. Augusta was convinced it was her misuse of one of Esther's concoctions, and consequently refused to countenance anything but medically-approved drugs, rather than Esther's homemade cures. Augusta also never found anyone to spend her life with, but had a wonderful relationship with her beloved niece Jackie.

The author does a great job of bringing the two timelines and their many characters to life, though I will confess to enjoying the 1987 period a little more, probably because we see the professionally successful and personally lonely Augusta get a chance to change her life.

I loved the way Augusta and Irving did eventually find their way back into each other's lives, and Augusta finally began to open herself up to new relationships and friendships. There is plenty of sadness and humour throughout the story, and much as I liked Augusta and enjoyed her gradual transformation, proving that it's never too late to embrace new things in life, I loved some of the side characters, particularly Esther, whose homespun treatments could have been just sensible, or could have been a touch magical? Either way, this was an enjoyable story, and I'm interested in checking out other works by this author.

I went back and forth between the text and the audio, and greatly enjoyed the talented voice work of Gabra Zackman, who injects emotion into every character, bringing each alive with humour and compassion.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

I enjoyed this cozy little romance story. I enjoyed the dual timelines going back and forth between the 1920's and 1980's.
I didn't love how the "misunderstanding/ miscommunication" trope of this played out fully. You really had to suspend belief with the story, but overall I thought it was well done.
The narrator did a wonderful job. I really enjoyed listening to this story.
Overall, I thought this was a heartwarming, cute little love story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is one of my favorite books of the year, if not my favorite. It deserves all the stars!

Of all the retirement communities in all the world, you walk into mine… What a beautiful story! Told in duel timelines, we learn about Augusta Stern in 1987 as an almost 80 year old woman and as a young woman coming into her own in 1922. This book has it all, humor, sorrow, family dynamics, misunderstandings, first loves reunited, gangsters, and homeopathic remedies. This story warmed my heart and reminded me it’s never too late to reclaim your youth.

Thank you Lynda Cohen Loigman, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this audiobook! The sound quality was great, and the narrator, Gabra Zackman, did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. I like how she differentiated between young Augusta and older Augusta. Lynda Cohen Loigman did a nice job narrating the author’s note and acknowledgments at the end. I enjoy hearing about the real life inspiration for stories and characters!

In The Love Elixier of Augusta Stern, in the late 1980s, an 80 year old woman, Augusta, is forced into retirement and relocates to a Florida. In her community, she is reunited with her first love as a teenager so the story flips back and forth between the 1920s in Brooklyn and the 1980s. And the 1920s was Augusta’s life with her dad, sister and her aunt who had homemade remedies to heal all the ailments of their neighbors. I loved every second of this book. I loved the magical realism. I loved the back and forth with the timelines. I loved the retirement community folks. I loved seeing Augusta mature and stand up for herself. I laughed out loud so many times. A true delight to read.

I had no idea what to expect with this book, but it's a beautiful story. Dual timeline between the 1920s and the 1980s - an incredible atmospheric read with lovable characters who get a second chance at love and companionship 60 years after their original ill-fated love story. The different aspects of 1920s pharmacy, old-world healing, and later in life retirement communities is unique but also works very well in this story. The authors note was incredible and shed a lot of light on the thought process and inspirations that brought this story to life.

Overall, this is a very heartwarming tale - it traces the mistakes that we make and the redemption and second chances/new beginnings that can happen later in life. The dual timelines were well paced and brought the story to life in both 1920s NYC and 1980s Florida. I loved that they all ended up at the same retirement community - and the shenanigans that they got into were amusing and humorous to imagine. While there is a great deal of imagination that brought this story to life, you can feel the underpinnings of real people and historically accurate context that anchors the story to make it believable.

I loved the characters in this book - they were so well rounded and defined. Even the supporting characters all made sense and helped to give the story extra depth. I enjoyed the audio version of this book - the narrator did a great job bringing the story and the characters to life while injecting some energy and dynamics into her voice. This book definitely gave me all the cozy, fall vibes and is perfect for this time of year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillain Audio for the ALC of this book to read.

I wanted to read this because I thought the cover was really pretty. Honestly, I thought it would be similar to The Lost Apothecary or something along those lines. I was very wrong. This was its own work of art. I never thought I would be cheering on a romance among 80 year olds- I prefer a younger crowd, but here I was hanging on every word. This was a spellbinding, wonderfully written tale. I got caught up in both the past and present aspects of this read and could not put it down. If you are looking for a captivating historical fiction story, look no further.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook!

This audiobook was full of whimsy and packed full of emotions, and I didn’t want to stop! I was hooked in right away and didn’t want to put it down.

Augusta has lived a long life, and now with her retirement from working as a pharmacist, and her upcoming 80th birthday, she moves to a retirement community where she encounters faces from her past.

I don’t think I can put into words how delighted I felt while reading this story. Told in alternating timelines between young Augusta of the 1920s and grown Augusta in 1987, I felt I really got to know her and her life story. There were so many pieces of the story that I loved, including Augusta and Aunt Esther’s relationship. I love how it grew over their time together, and how it all started over soup. I also loved learning about Augusta and Irving’s young love, and I enjoyed how they were able to meet back up 62 years later. The audiobook was fabulous. The narrator was great at differentiating young and older Augusta, and she made the story come to life. This book was like a warm hug, and I encourage you to pick it up!✨

A moving dual timeline historical fiction story that features an 80 year old Jewish woman with regrets who moves to Florida only to be reunited with her first love. Full of second chances, magic and moving family dynamics, this was great on audio and another standout book from a favorite author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: death of a parent from diabetes

This was my first by this author and now her others are on my wishlist. The story is told in a dual timeline format and allows us to get to know who Augusta is and why she is who and how she is. When forced to retire at 80, though she was so not ready, everything changed. She’s a stern. emotionally closed off woman who likes order and retirement was never on her list of things to do. She moves to a retirement community in Florida and reconnects with Irving, a man from her past who left her with a broken heart. The smart story toggles back to her youth, when her mother passed away and great aunt moved in and everything in her world changed to current times, learning to wonder "what if" and can she let go and take a new path. Truly wonderful listen that is enlightening, sweet, a little sad and redemptive. The narration was wonderful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. I thought this was an interesting story. I did enjoy listening to it. Augusta is a wonderful character. It's never too late to fulfill your dreams.

Contemporary • Apothecary • Love Story
Published • 8 October 2024

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free digital copy and audiobook.

This book was a warm hug: funny, wise, magical, and slightly witchy. All the things you would want in a cozy, heartwarming story.

Did I mention it’s set in a south Florida retirement community and has curmudgeonly old people protagonists? Including a mensch or two!

🍵 Read if you love ✨
• Apothecaries and pharmacies
• Second chance romance
• Crotchety banter of the elderly
• Brooklyn, New York City
• Feminism in the 1920s

The timelines flip between 1920 Brooklyn and late 80s Florida retirement community, where Goldie settles after a forced retirement.

The audiobook was easy to listen to, although I enjoyed physical book more.

I loved this book as a woman of science *and* a believer in magic, miracles, and old-world healers.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

“Words can do anything… 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?”

Oh my heart, this beautiful book! I absolutely adore Augusta and her journey.

Set in dual timelines as a teen in 1920s Brooklyn, growing up admiring her pharmacist father, and as a retired pharmacist approaching her 80th birthday, we follow Augusta and her interactions with her first love, Irving.

A beautiful and moving story about the power of women, words, and the magic of love. I highly recommend this magical story.

The narrators were phenomenal and truly brought the characters to life. The pacing and the dual timeline adventures. I highly recommend the audio.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for this ALC! My opinions are my own.

This book was a refreshing light-hearted read with unusual characters and a bit of magical realism. The format of two timelines was not only entertaining but really went a long way to develop the characters of Augusta and Irving. The miscommunication and tension between the main characters was typical of romantic comedy but the couple being 80 years old and the dispute going back 62 years created a different aspect to the story. I found the dialogue to be witty and humorous and the book was an enjoyable and quick read. I also really enjoyed Esther, the wise great aunt who tried to guide Augusta without being overbearing. Her sage advice was a nice addition to the story. The senior living community was a great setting and the pros and cons of residing in this type of community seemed realistic. I would recommend this book for readers looking for an uplifting read to get out of a rut.
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was narrated very well with appropriate differences between the characters when they were young vs. old.

I really enjoyed The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern! Augusta’s character is so relatable—she’s almost 80, freshly retired, and still dealing with unresolved issues from her past. When she moves to a senior community, she unexpectedly bumps into Irving, an old flame who she hasn’t seen in decades. That’s when things really get interesting!

What I loved most was how the story flips between Augusta’s present-day life and her younger years growing up in Brooklyn. You really get to see her struggle with balancing the practical side of life, like learning the ropes of pharmacy from her dad, with the more mystical, unconventional remedies her quirky aunt introduced her to. It was fascinating to watch her try to figure out where she fit in all that, especially when her choices as a young woman had such lasting consequences.

The audiobook really brought Augusta’s emotions to life—her sense of regret, hope, and everything in between. It’s a story about second chances, figuring out who you are, and whether you can reclaim the magic of your past.

If you like stories with strong women dealing with life’s twists and turns, with a good mix of heart and humor, this book is for you. It’s a great, engaging listen that had me hooked the whole way through!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy to review.

"The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern: A Novel" by Lynda Cohen Loigman and brilliantly narrated by Gabra Zackman is a wonderful dual time-lined book taking place in the 1920s and 1980s. I usually don't like stories that move back and forth, but this narrative device works really well. When Augusta finally retires from her pharmacist at nearly eighty, she moves to a retirement community in Florida. To her surprise, she runs into Irving, the man who had broken her heart when she was a teenager, the only man she had ever loved. As the story progresses, we learn what had happened to tear these young lovers apart, and we can't help but root for the senior citizens, hoping that they will finally be together.

I loved this book. Many thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for an advanced audio copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Augusta Stern is a formidable character; she’s smart, strong, and knows who she is and her place in this world. Except when it comes to Irving Rivkin. I enjoyed getting to know Goldie, both in the present day, trying to find her footing in a new location, and the past, where she was learning about both the scientific and the natural healing sides of the pharmaceutical business. Both timelines swept me up into their worlds and had me entranced.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This book was a delightful historical fiction. It is told in two timelines with the more current one being in the 1980's. Augusta Stern is forced into retirement at 80 after years as a pharmacist. As we flashback through her life, we learn that she also learned healing arts from her grandmother's sister that incorporate a hint of magic.

At first, I was much more interested in the earlier timeline. But the more I learned about Augusta's life and the turns it took, the more I was invested in the modern timeline and what would happen next.

This is a book that really demonstrates the foibles of human nature and how things can turn out. It made me think so deeply. I think it would be excellent for a book club, and I would love to chat if you have read it.

I especially appreciated the Jewish representation. And listening to the author's note helped to cement how well the story was researched and told. I am again so impressed with Loigman's writing.