“Sixty years later, Augusta is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. What happened all those years ago and how did her plan go so spectacularly wrong? Did Irving ever truly love her or was he simply playing a part? And can Augusta reclaim the magic of her youth before it’s too late?”
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, Lynda Cohen Loigman
If you like to start your fall with some cozy, witchy reads, this is a perfect addition! We follow Augusta in two different parts of her life, in the 1920s as a teenager, and in the 1980s as a new retiree. As a teenager, Augusta’s life revolves around helping her father at his pharmacy, spending time with the shop boy Irving, and observing her great-aunt Esther, a healer from Russia. As a retiree, Augusta has found herself in the same place as Irving, after spending the 60 years in between trying to mend her heart from his abrupt departure.
I loved Augusta’s teenage storyline. As a teenager, I worked at an old-fashioned soda fountain that was in the front of our local pharmacy, with most of its features still original versions. Cohen Loigman painted such a similar, comforting environment that it was impossible not to love it. Add in Aunt Esther’s miraculous lotions, potions, and soups, and I was fully hooked.
Unfortunately, Augusta’s adult life was more stressful than anything. Instead of having any semblance of mature conversations, Augusta and her childhood friends acted even worse than they had as teenagers. Shirley and Jackie were fun reprieves, but the majority of this timeline was agonizingly slow.
Overall, this is the fall version of a beach read. It’s a quick enough read, very cozy, and has a few touches of magic.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Read with Fern 
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