The Elixir

by Charlotte Jean

Denise Fallon is tired. Not a unique feeling for a 24-year-old surviving late-stage capitalism. Only thing is, she’s been 24 for 67 years. At 91, she should be playing bingo in a nursing home in Florida, taking long naps, and bitching about her children not calling. Instead, she’s still navigating how to function with her dysfunctional friends, managing decades of shared grief, and then there’s the love she’s avoided for over half a century. Honestly, it’s a bit much.

But when faced with the prospect of letting go of the immortality she and her friends stumbled into, Fallon has to decide if she’s tired enough to quit or if she’s only just getting started.

Addie LaRue meets Grey Gardens in this New England gothic that asks, do you have what it takes to live forever?

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Charlotte Jean is a fat, queer, neurodiverse author with an obsession for uplifting voices and perspectives that are often left to the supportive side character, if they're included at all. Forged in the Bible Belt, she now lives in New England with her two perfect felines and nesting partner.

You can find her across social media @charliebrazen

To stay up to date on her upcoming projects subscribe to her substack: https://charlottejean.substack.com/

Reviews

[Harmony Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

OVERALL ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PERFORMANCE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STORY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gripping and highly intriguing!

The unusual story premise hooked me right away, and the delivery did not disappoint.
This is a quick listen at about 2.5 hours and manages funny with serious. Loved it. This audiobook gets a solid five stars from me.

Many thanks to Heather Daniel fora free ARC copy of this great audiobook.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.


5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the author gifted me a copy of this adorably short novel, I had the general expectations I do around novellas and short stories. Lower emotional buy-in, less complicated dynamics, and a light arc that gives us a little taste of the world. But oh how wrong I was. The author has unabashedly ruined all other novellas for me in one fell swoop.

This is delightful and twisted and the voice is so clear that you immediately fall into the story and are captivated by the characters. Within 70 pages we had deep relationship dynamics spanning decades. Feuds and trauma, loves lost and unresolved, it was rich and full and encapsulating with an undercurrent of morbidity that creeped along the borders of your mind. There was a taste of world building that gave me everything I needed to know I wanted to know so much more more. I need Suzanne's past and the spouse she hated, I need to see Kevin loved so deeply and lost, I want Adrian's pining over a woman who wouldn't let herself love, Billy's great fight for immortality without fruition, and Eric, well... Eric can go fuck himself.

This was fantastic. Phenomenal. Obsession-worthy. Everyone needs to read it, if only so the author is motivated to continue to give us these characters stories that have life waiting to be breathed into them.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Just Wow

I was totally pulled into this story. This is a short story that is difficult to put down. Wow, just Wow!! The narrator does a good job with the story. This writer does such a good job with this storyline!!.

[Elle Lavendelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a haunting and beautiful tale of death,life & the place between

this story gripped me from the start to the end. each character is nuanced. it’s a dark tale with a hint of a happy ending, and transformation through the short story. with tears down my face, i found myself hoping for more.

[Heather Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great debut novella! The characters and story were very compelling and I found myself wishing for more. I really think this could be expanded into a longer novel, with some interesting perspectives to explore through the other characters as well. I easily connected with Fallon, wept for her and her friends, and am still thinking about them weeks later. If you enjoy a grim, thought provoking, gothic tale with a poignant ending, you should give this book a shot!

[Whitney L · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read The Elixir you can’t help but wish it was a TV show, because (1) the author paints such captivating scenes with her words and (2) you want the story to keep going. This novella made me want to spend so much more time in Fallon’s world.

I look forward to seeing what’s next from this new voice.

[Kelsey Schmitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an incredible story! The compelling characters have layers that I truly enjoyed pealing back through multiple reads. The setting and the flashbacks brought me to the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what other stories this author has for us in the future!

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didnt really get into this, only the synopsis made me understand what was going on.

The narrator however was excellent.

I found it better at 1.2 x speed in the second half, as it fit the tempo of the story better.

[Emmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really loved this, for only 73 pages the author manages to flesh out the characters really well and explore lots of themes such as domestic abuse, power, immortality vs mortality. it was excellent and i will be watching out for this author in the future

[Lauren Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good novella! Loved the characters, the setting and the twist!!! Can’t wait to see what else Charlotte will write!

[Karie Fugett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be back for a full review!

[TiffanysBookCult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is a shorter story the author finds a way to sew these characters under your skin.
I can hear the sharp and cruelness of Suzannah. I can feel the warmth and love from Hughes. I want to punch Eric in the balls and high-five Denise for being a baddie.

My only critique is I wish it was longer so I could have gotten to really dig into these characters and their lives. Bravo Charlotte Jean. I loved this story.
It will stay with me forever, even though forever is a long time.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

- One emotional hangover
- 2 hours (approx.) of staring into the void after finishing
- Five stars!!

I would love to see this cast of characters in a full length novel someday if the author is so inclined ❤️