The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a rom-com featuring second-chance romance and some well-seasoned characters.

The Love Elixer of Augusta Stern by Claudia Cohen Loigman

Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Well-seasoned Characters, Second Chance Romance, Florida (1980s) and Brooklyn, New York (1920s)

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My Summary of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern:

Thanks #NetGalley @StMartinsPress for a complimentary e ARC of #TheLoveElixirOfAugustaStern upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Pharmacist Augusta Stern is turning eighty and has recently retired to a senior community in southern Florida where she crosses paths unexpectedly with an old flame, Irving Rivkin. Irving was the delivery boy for her father’s pharmacy and after a serious courtship, broke her heart. August was close to her aunt Esther and was curious about her unconventional and traditional healing methods which conflicted with modern (1920s) medicine. August follows in her father’s footsteps and takes over as the neighborhood pharmacist. Sixty years pass and after a successful career, she sees Irving again and wonders where her relationship with him went wrong. Will she and Irving have a second chance at love?

My Thoughts:

Dual Timelines

A 1920s timeline fills in the history between Augusta and Irving, and eventually, we find out what broke them apart. In addition, I enjoyed hearing about a woman’s interest in science and the pursuit of a career in 1920. (based on a woman from the author’s family)

Tropes

Fans of second-chance romance, later-in-life romance, and childhood sweethearts might enjoy the angsty reunion of these two. A rom-com, senior citizen style.

Magical Realism or Powerful Herbs?

Some readers might wonder if magical realism is at play in the story…or is it the powerful effect of well-chosen herbs? I think either interpretation will work. If you enjoy hints of magical realism, this story delivers. If you don’t enjoy magical realism, you can attribute these elements to the herbs!

A Personal Preference

I don’t enjoy profanity in general, although I can see occasions for its usefulness. However, I don’t appreciate religious profanity, and I took off a half-star for this reason.

Content Consideration: religious profanity

Recommending The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

If you enjoy seniors finding romance, a mature rom-com, a bit of magical realism, dual timelines, and don’t mind religious profanity, I think you will enjoy The Love Elixir of August Stern. Gentle sides of humor add to this entertaining read.

Related: You might enjoy my review of The Matchmaker’s Gift and The Wartime Sisters by the same author.

My Rating:  3.5  Stars (rounded to 4)

Meet the Author of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, Claudia Cohen Loigman

Lynda Cohen Loigman grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She received a B.A. in English and American Literature from Harvard College and a law degree from Columbia Law School. Her debut novel, The Two-Family House, was a USA Today bestseller and a nominee for the Goodreads 2016 Choice Awards in Historical Fiction. Her second novel, The Wartime Sisters, was selected as a Woman’s World Book Club pick and a Best Book of 2019 by Real Simple Magazine. The Matchmaker’s Gift, her third novel, will be published by St. Martin’s Press in the fall of 2022.

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QOTD:

Is this new release on your TBR or have you read it?

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