4.75 stars
I have a hard time writing this review. My grandma had alzheimers and it took a toll on the fam, especially my mom. This book is scaringly, tears-rolling accurate. The only reason I cant give it a 5 stars is it made me cry too much. Love wasn’t the problem, it’s logistics. Sam is spread too thin, over every aspect of her lives. Xander, is stuck on his roots, he can’t leave Minnesota. It’s a very heartbreaking and realistic love story.

The question that was ringing in my head, “If you put in enough time and effort, would love work?” I would imagine if i had a long distance relationship, this book would wreck me. Their emotions were real, heavy, but full of hope. It’s so realistic that I did not know how the next chapter would go. It felt like modern Romeo and Juliet. Breaking up feels less painful.

Overall, this book is an absolute tear-jerker. I love you , Abby Jimenez <3

Many thanks to NetGalley and Abby Jimenez for the ARC (I didn’t expect at all to be approved as she is a very famous author, and I’ve been a fan of her work from the beginning of my reading journey). Once again, I want to say thank you for making this book a reality. All opinions are of my own.

This book a was exactly what I needed. It deals with some tough topics (check trigger warnings), but does so with a deft and skilled nuance I have come to know as a hallmark of Jimenez’s work. Both the FMC and MMC were rooted well in what I would consider to be the kinds of problems many of us face, and seeing love flourish in a challenging environment was just *chef’s kiss*

I cannot thank Forever and NetGalley enough for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Abby Jimenez has been one of my favorite authors since I read Part of Your World a few years ago. I always say the latest book I've read of hers is my favorite, but I genuinely don't know how she'll be able to top Say You'll Remember Me.

This is her saddest, most gut-wrenching novel to date, but it makes the Happily Ever After we get even MORE special because boy, do we earn it. Samantha and Xavier are put through the ringer time and time again...but their love does not waver. It's a testament to what true love looks like, what it feels like, what you're willing to endure and sacrifice just to have it. Xavier is the definition of 'if he wanted to, he would.' Like, no book boyfriend will ever come close to him, I fear.

This story was about so much more than two people falling in love when the timing wasn't right. It was about grief, loss, sacrifices, failures, depression, burnout, and how we continue living even when it feels like the world has stopped spinning. It was about learning to find color in a world of gray, learning how to ask for help, and learning how to let go of things, people, and feelings that do not serve you.

I know this must've been a difficult book to write given the heavy subject matter, and I love that Abby never shies away from getting deep in her books. It makes the characters feel more real, more relatable than if their problems were surface-level. Sometimes in a relationship, you endure some of the hardest things when you're just dating the other person, and that's when you get to see how they show up for you. The way Samantha and Xavier showed up for each other in the little ways they could reminded me of my own relationship and all of the hardships we've been through. Love is showing up when it's hard, when it isn't pretty, when things feel mundane, and knowing you'd rather be there with your person than doing anything else anywhere else.

I just...really appreciated seeing a couple go through some of the hardest shit life can throw at you and navigating it in very human ways, which doesn't mean it was always the best course of action — but that's life.

I think I'm still gathering my thoughts but I just...this is a book I will remember for the rest of my life.

This was my first book I’ve read by Abby and it did not disappoint. I will definitely be letting my customers know about this book when it comes out. #indigoemployee

I’ll also be reading her backlist.
I loved how Abby took the hard subject of Alzheimer’s and captured it perfectly on how it effects everyone involved.

Abby's books are just so consuming. I finished this one within 24 hours. It leans more heavily into contemporary fiction as opposed to romance, which I wasn't against in the least. What struck me most about this book is the toll that dementia can have on a family-- the caretaking require, the grief of losing the person you knew, and the grappling of "what's right" for someone who can no longer advocate for themselves.

The reason this isn't a 5 star for me is because of the pacing-- insta love is hard for me (though Xavier being compared to Rhys was incredible). Also, while I ended Xavier's backstory, I felt like there was more that could have been done there. Still, I adore Abby's works and know others will enjoy this one.

2/5

Abby Jimenez knows how to craft a romance that tugs right at the heartstrings. Say You'll Remember Me, her latest, charts the ill-fated love story of Samantha and Xavier, two individuals separated by distance and their familial and professional responsibilities. Despite my conflicting opinions on this book, it's no surprise that its strength lies in the family bonds and the exploration into grief and trauma. The disconnect with Say You'll Remember Me is in its premise, which promises a romance caught up in a family crisis. The slivers of romance present in this novel are quickly overshadowed by the latter. This is a book about a family in crisis, about grief, abuse, and finding a way forward to the life you want. All things I love, and yet the romance took more of a back seat than I expected. The rushed set up between our two leads meant the chemistry fell flat and lacked a strong foundation to warrant everything that followed. I loved Samantha and Xavier as individuals but was missing the "why" behind their attraction and chemistry. Despite this being a romance they really are on singular journeys for most of this novel and I wanted more of them together. That being said the storyline surrounding Samantha's family was incredibly moving and I appreciated the attention and care Jimenez took in telling it. Xavier's conflict with his family and creating a life for himself separate from his abusive, narcissistic family struck an emotional cord as well. Say You'll Remember Me is an emotional novel but hits none of the right beats to constitute it being billed as a romance. I know this will find its audience and I'll keep reading more books from Jimenez in the future.

Reading an Abby Jimenez book always feels like receiving a big, warm hug. Say You’ll Remember Me is no exception. If you like your romances with large amounts of insta-love and MMCs that perform grand romantic gestures, this should be your next read. Very strong love conquers all vibes.

I found myself confused by a lot of the main characters choices and personally wouldn’t have made them, but hey, that’s what makes reading fiction interesting. There are also a lot of pop culture/ social media references that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so bare that in mind.

Bonus points for the complicated family dynamics in this one.

Big thank you to Forever and NetGalley for my copy of this book.

Say You'll Remember Me has been by far my favorite Abby Jimenez book. This was a such a beautiful story. I absolutely loved Xaiver and Samantha's story. Their devotion to be together, but also to overcome their trials was believable and heart-wrenching at times. I love how Abby Jimenez writes her Rom-Coms to encompass humor, love, a bit of spice, but also realistic aspects of trauma, grief, and just the hardships of everyday life.

Oh how I loved this book. Beautiful like every other book of Abby Jimenez. Loved the family dynamic. Loved the romance. Loved every absolute part of this book.

PHENOMENAL. Say You'll Remember Me is one of those books I stayed up way too late for, shirked responsibilities to get a few more chapters in, and couldn't stop thinking about when I wasn't reading it. This book was so moving, tender, funny, and heartfelt! I absolutely adored Xavier and Samantha's love story! Their love was felt so beautifully off the page. The entire way through the book I didn't know how it was going to work out, but man did she bring everything together exactly how it was supposed to be! Abby did an incredible job and I already can't wait to re-read this book!

Mixed bag for me on this one — Xavier is the perfect man and I wish he was real. But I couldn’t get past the dad cheating on his wife with dementia and the children being okay with it, and it’s also hard for me to look at what Samantha and Xavier had as romantic seeing as how Xavier was practically working himself to death the whole time and had to give up what was important to him (volunteering, his best friends who had been there for him since childhood) to make it work. I feel like if the genders were reversed we would all be in an uproar about it (that being said, it is nice that it’s the man making the sacrifices in this instance!) And it makes me sad that Sam has to give up her career that’s she’s so good at.

But oh, to be protected and taken care of by an Xavier.

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
(I can only think of Taylor Swift when I read the title)

Another beautiful story by Abby Jimenez. Once again, the writing was amazing and compelling. Such a nice flow. Objectively, this was a beautiful well writing story with the incorporation of many real life realities. In addition, Samantha and Xavier are so adorable. They are meant for each other 100%.

Subjectively, I was not a fan of the instant love trope. I am a slow burn girly, so this aspect threw me off. In addition, I do think that even if yes, it is always great to have realities in novels we read, I think there was a lot going on, especially towards the end to the point where I felt overwhelmed. Escaping reality was not really possible in this book in terms of the presented real life issues, because there were so many thrown at you.

It was overall a beautiful story.

Exactly what to expect from Abby Jimenez! Great characters, instant chemistry, and plenty of emotional baggage to unpack.

Insta-love aside, this book was phenomenal. Abby Jimenez has a rare gift of taking you on a journey through every emotion in the span of one novel, walking a delicate balance between swoon-worthy romance and devastating heartbreak. It is impossible not to root for these two from the beginning, both as individuals and as a couple who so deeply cares about each other despite everything life throws at them. I can't recommend this book enough.

“𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙤.”

If I could give this book 6 stars, I would alllllll day! Every single time I pick up an Abby Jimenez book, it’s the best book I’ve ever read. I can’t believe the rollercoaster of emotions this book was. I was laughing, sob crying, grinning, and jaw was on the ground all within the span of 5 minutes. Xavier and Samantha were a couple I never knew I needed but WOW WOW WOW. A book about a long distance couple with a FMC that carries the weight of the world on her shoulders and a MMC who lets down his “black cat” facade around her!! Literally could not be more perfect of a storyline. I am so excited for you all to read this book, wow.

Thank you so much Abby Jimenez and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early! Can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy!

Like all Abby Jimenez books, Say You'll Remember Me will have you laughing out loud, shedding a tear, and swooning over the MMC. In this story, Samantha, who we briefly met in Just for the Summer, and her siblings decide to move home to take care of their mother who has early onset dementia. In the beginning of the story we meet Xavier, a handsome vet who Samantha meets days before moving back to her childhood home in California. With 3 generations living in the home, Samantha has to navigate familial relationships, a long distance romantic relationship, and cope with watching her mother loose pieces of herself.
This book held lightheartedness and sadness in a way that is so real for people going through times of illness in their families. Jimenez shows that even when we are in the darkest and hardest of times we can still find happiness and love.

Another beautiful book by Abby Jimenez!!! If you haven’t read all of her work, this is your sign to.

Say You’ll Remember Me is poignant, funny, and lovely. Both of the main characters were well-explored and I loved both the male and female main character. Like all Abby Jimenez books, there were beautiful quotes that made me cry about life and love. Somehow she captures both the tragedy and wonder of life so well.

5 stars and I can’t wait for others to read this!!!

Thank you for Forever for free digital copy!

This wasn't my favorite out of the books that I read from Jimenez. I think this has more to do with personal preference, but I had a good time reading it for the most part. Xavier and Samantha were very cute together and the chemistry between them was strong from the jump. Sometimes the connection is so strong early that all you want to do is spend time together, but they had a lot of barriers between them that made it hard. When it comes to my preferences, I'm not a really a insta-love girl and that's what this book felt like for me. I will say that even though I'm not a fan of the trope, I still think that Abby Jimenez executed in a way that I still didn't mind. I think the first half of this book was strong for that reason, but in the second half it kind of fell flat. Everything happening was believable but at certain points I was like dang this couple can't win for losing. I think because they fell so hard for each other initially it just became kind of boring for me.

This story’s other focus was on dementia and the struggles of being a care taker for someone with the disease. I think Abby Jimenez handled this topic well. She didn't simplify it and painted a picture of it that was realistic. I really felt for Samantha and her family. They often had to make hard decision and make sacrifices that affected their way of life as well. This had a major impact on Samantha and Xavier's relationship from the jump, but when they were able to spend time together it was nice to see how understanding Xavier was of the situation and how easily he jumped in to help.

I do think this a good book that a lot of people will enjoy.

My first read of 2025!

The representation of what it is like to live with a family member with an illness that has no cure and the financial and emotional struggles of being in a long distance relationship were so well-portrayed by Abby Jimenez that they felt too real. My heart ached for both Samantha and Xavier, I also empathized with Xavier’s family dynamics.

The fact that this book held my interest till the end and helped me get out of a reading slump is a testament to Abby’s engaging writing style.

Also, the title of the book is very apt given the circumstances!

Abby Jimenez doesn't disappoint with her new title Say You'll Remember Me. If you aren't reading Abby Jimenez, you should be! Fans of Katherine Center will enjoy.