About This Book:
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.
As a teenager growing up in 1920’s Brooklyn, Augusta’s role model was her father, Solomon Stern, the trusted owner of the local pharmacy and the neighborhood expert on every ailment. But when Augusta’s mother dies and Great Aunt Esther moves in, Augusta can’t help but be drawn to Esther’s curious methods. As a healer herself, Esther offers Solomon’s customers her own advice—unconventional remedies ranging from homemade chicken soup to a mysterious array of powders and potions.
As Augusta prepares for pharmacy college, she is torn between loyalty to her father and fascination with her great aunt, all while navigating a budding but complicated relationship with Irving. Desperate for clarity, she impulsively uses Esther’s most potent elixir with disastrous consequences. Disillusioned and alone, Augusta vows to reject Esther’s enchantments forever.
Sixty years later, confronted with Irving, 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?
My Thoughts After Reading:
So many adjectives can describe this gem of a book: engaging, charming, captivating and more!
The dual timeline narration is executed flawlessly – moving between the 1980s and 1920s. Being transported back forth between a retired living community where the residents still like teenagers (1980s) and a family-owned pharmacy with a homeopathic, no nonsense aunt living upstairs and a gangster living down the street (1920s) was an absolute delight. With incredibly likeable and witty characters, this story was satisfying from start to finish.
While it is a light read, Loigman sneaks in powerful messages and underlining themes. How women are overlooked in the medical field – both as providers and patients. How life at 80 can be just as beautiful and fulfilling as life at 20. How our past shapes our future. I wanted to annotate numerous lines in this one! I imagine every reader will be inspired by Augusta in different ways.
One thing to note: this book is marketed as magical realism. Don’t let that sway your decision to read or not read. As someone who loves magical realism, it is not the focus here. Nevertheless, it is a magical book!
– Michelle
