Say You’ll Remember Me
Abby Jimenez
5☆

There is truly not much else that excites me like the anticipation of a new Abby Jimenez novel. And once again, she did not disappoint!

All the freaking stars for this one. Abby truly is the queen of writing rom-coms that pack an emotional wallop. Never one to sugarcoat the heavier topics, however she handles them with a tender and genuine hand. This one… oh my lord, this one tugged on each and every heartstrings and I was here for ALL of it. This might just be my new favorite.

I adored Xavier and Samantha with my whole heart. He’s grumpy on the outside, but inside he’s a gooey cinnamon roll and the epitome of a book boyfriend. She’s smart, loyal to a fault, and has a sense of humor I instantly connected to. Their story hit on every single one of my feels and as with every Abby book I’ve read, I was fully invested and rooting so hard for these two every single step of the way. And the “way” was rocky, complicated by family dynamics, and distance. But in the end, so worth it.

The way in which my jaw dropped and my heart full on melted at the full circle moment of this story. Well done Abby. Well done! This story and these unforgettable characters will stick with me for the long haul.

What I loved;
🎡 Insta Love (Surprisingly)
🎡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎡 That Meet Cute
🎡 Pooter/Jake From State Farm
🎡 Dual POV
🎡 Family Dynamics
🎡 Long Distance Relationship
🎡 ALL the feels

A huge thank you to my friends @forever for allowing me be an early reader. I will be gushing about this one non-stop. I’m already counting down the days not only until all of my gorgeous pre-orders arrive, but also for the audio release so I can dive in for a reread with Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter!

Abby Jimenez has done it again. This book is raw and emotional and takes yearning to the nth level.
As someone who has had a love one who had dementia, the realness of that plotline really stands out to me in this book. Then adding in the strain of a long distance dating relationship, and this book was fairly heavy to read. Luckily there was some levity and humor as well. Overall Abby does a great job in creating relatable characters and bringing the reader along for their journey.

Tropes
* Insta-love
* Family dynamics
* Long first date
* Long distance relationship

5 stars

As someone who lost a parent to dementia, this book really hit hard for me.

Say You'll Remember Me finds Sam and Xavier having the worlds most perfect date on the day before she leaves Minnesota for good. She's moving back to California to help care for her mother with dementia who does not remember her. She tells Xavier to forget her, but neither of them can - their pull is so strong. Their relationship grows through weekend trips across the country (mostly by Xavier running himself into the ground working overtime) and of course the other traditional long distance ways. I loved watching their romance unfurl and I kept rooting for them to figure out a way to be together.

I felt like Abby Jimenez really handled the aspects of caretaking well. It's hard and it's a full time job.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

A classic Abby Jimenez book where you get the cute moments with the hard parts of life mixed in. Not my favorite Abby book—“Just for the Summer” is going to be hard to beat—but still worth reading!!

Xavier and Samantha are just so perfect for each other and you knew they were meant to be together after their first date. They are obsessed with each other, would do anything for the other person, and support each other in every part of life. He’s a grumpy vet with a heart of a gold and she’s the sunshine in every room she walks into. Sparks fly on their first date and their love story from then on is beautiful.

While I only cried once reading this book, I would still have to agree that it’s Abby’s most emotional work so far. There is a LOT of trauma woven throughout “Say You’ll Remember Me,” but she handles it with such care and sensitivity. I had to take multiple breaks from reading after reading some of the hard parts to get through. The part that made me sob wasn’t even part of the romance plot line, but I want to cry again just thinking about it.

This is one of those books that will stick with you.

This book destroyed and devastated me—I loved it.

Xavier is the biggest green flag, and I couldn’t get enough of him. Samantha was such a fun character, and I loved both their complexities and quirks. Their story is beautiful, and there’s no doubt that these two are made for each other.

In typical Abby Jimenez fashion, the side characters and family plots are done so well that I could read an entire book on just that.

This was a devastatingly beautiful story, and I hope everyone finds the color in the gray.

I know everyone and their mother is going to hate me for rating this 3 stars.

Was it a good story? Yes.
Was it emotional? Yes.
Did I binge read this and was excited to pick it up? Yes.
This for me felt exhausting. It was really exciting in the beginning and I loved the premise, the connection, the characters. But by the middle of the story it was repeatative and everyone of the characters was miserable.

Spoilers ahead:

I just don’t understand a few things from this book.

First. The beginning felt so childish. We literally are talking about a cats butthole for the first few chapters. Like. It was crass? Then we’re comparing the male main character, Xavier, to the fictional character Rhysand several times in the first few chapters. It was too much and unless you’re a fan of fantasy books or read SJM, you won’t know who that is at all. It felt like it was a mom trying to be young and hip, using pop culture references to be cool. The language felt young and out of place. The humor felt forced. We mention instagram and TikTok a few times throughout the story and it just felt like it’s trying to be with the times while not giving a story of this magnitude its due justice.

I think it’s amazing to write a story about Alzheimer’s and its affect on a family unit. The caregiving aspect of this story was so relatable to me because I am currently on that journey myself with my own mother and her battle with Multiple Sclerosis and in due time will be taking on the tasks Samantha’s family were doing in this story. I also think that with every single member of this family being so miserable with their lives while doing it but continuing to because they promised their mother when she was healthier that they would made no sense. She would not have wanted them to sacrifice so much of their lives and happiness when she was so far gone. It bothered me that even when discussing it multiple times in the book that they decided to stick it out to care for her at home despite their crumbling mental health and her quality of life.

Poor Xavier who spent the entire story sacrificing his health, his practice, and endless amounts of money he didn’t have just to travel back and forth to Samantha. He literally was going to fold his business and destroy his reputation, his financial stability, his credit and all of his hard work to overcome his past for Samantha. Just didn’t seem completely healthy. He was perfect and literally killing himself to make the relationship work. I’m all for exploring the long distance romance idea and putting in the work for a relationship with someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, but this felt so one sided and unfair. They both know the relationship was too painful and wouldn’t give each other up. It felt like suffering was the main theme of this one for everyone involved.

The romance was beautiful don’t get me wrong. But Samantha literally says on their one year anniversary that she got to see him 12 days a year. And the subplot of the dad, who has been married to his wife for over 30 years, just has a secret hook up or relationship he sneaks off to because he cannot handle the stress of his sick wife. Vile. No thank you. That was not necessary and his kids were right to be mad about that. The brother Tristan offered a lot of comedic relief and I love that. Her sister Jeneva and her two sons felt like an after thought. And the comment about her ex-husband fucking off to his “motherland” and not paying child support. What are we doing? In the year of 2025? Stop it. The grandmother was phenomenal. Xavier sacrificed his entire life and his friends didn’t exist except for the beginning and mentioning them in the middle and end. It just felt jumbled. The viral TikTok moment was not as uplifting as they thought it was and felt out of place. Idk. Just a lot of it didn’t feel like the classic hard hitting romance of Abby from previous works.

Relationships are hard. Long distance is hard. Caretaking for a sick parent is hard. While I love Abby and her books, this was not her best work and coming off A Part of Your World and Yours Truly, you just don’t get that same feeling. Those two books literally changed my life. This one isn’t the one I’m going to hold on to for years to come.

Thank you forever for this highly anticipated ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a 5 star plus read for me. Abby Jimenez has quickly become one of my favourite authors and I was absolutely delighted when I got the chance to read an early copy of Say You'll Remember Me. This book was emotional, romantic, charming, and funny. Xavier and Samantha were wonderful characters and their relationship was so beautiful. You could really feel the love they had for each other and I was cheering for them the whole time. This book had some moments that had me laughing out loud and in true Abby Jimenez fashion it handled difficult topics like childhood abuse, death, and being a caregiver for a loved one with a terminal illness in a sensitive, real way. Definitely my favourite read of hers so far and one I will be recommending to everyone I know.

I know I’m not the first to say this but Abby’s writing is really special 🩷 it’s pure magic ✨ I was completely sucked in and heavily invested in these characters and their story. That was an adorable meet cute and the perfect first date! Xavier and Samantha’s love story was so real and raw. The hurdles they had to go through to be together were rough. But when they were together it was just so sweet 🥹 there were so many things I loved: navigating complex/toxic family dynamics, sibling relationships, navigating a long distance relationship, the early dementia representation (written with care), the ROMANCE. Truly an amazing story. I cried, I laughed and I swooned. I’ve been going through some tough things personally. Without getting too emotional, this story helped me put things into perspective and I couldn’t ask for more from a book. It helped me escape my own problems for a while and the ending was beautiful I cried so much 🥹 I’m happy I preordered a physical copy because I am definitely re-reading this one 🩷

It is C R I M I N A L that this is my first Abby Jiminez book!! I don't know why I haven't read her sooner, but now I'm obsessed.

Emotionally mature, masculine and vulnerable, men who love loud?? Xavier checks off all those boxes and more #VILF

Hilarious, badass, beautiful girl who loves fiercely? Samantha is everything I want to be.

Getting to witness their relationship bloom has me yearning to feel the connection that only seems to be in romance novels.

<i>(now please no one need me while I cry over all the feels this book made me feel...</i>

This packed more of a punch than I expected and wrapped up in a way that I found disappointingly unrealistic and oversimplified, but you can't beat Abby Jimienez for excellent banter and steamy sex scenes.

This is a book written for those women that in that "sandwich" generation of their families. Those women that have aging parents on one end and young families on the other. I loved the way she explores the challenges of this with care and humor and how despite Samantha's family being very "full" there was a hole where Xavier slotted into it perfectly. There's great inclusion of retirement aged people stepping in and helping the younger generation instead of checking out. And while there are kids as tertiary characters I appreciate that they aren't adorable, unrealistic scene stealers. Maybe that's just me.
My only issue, and maybe it is just me, but I've read all Abby Jimenez's books and I have followed her on socials for a while, so Samantha's voice in my head is the same as Abby's. Why is this important? Well, sometimes I just don't quite get Samantha's humor, which is a key part of her personality in this book. So it's a little tricky when her "charms' don't work for me the way that they worked for Xavier. He often says she "gets people' but really I think Xavier is the one that truly understands people, which is evident when he steps in to help Samantha's family.
Top notch 'hero,' semi-relatable 'heroine,' relatable issues with family and distance, and a reasonable conclusion.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

A big thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! After absolutely falling in love with Abby's "Part of Your World" series, I was so ready and anxiously waiting for this one and wondering how Abby can keep creating so many great book boyfriends for us?! I mean, XAVIER RUSH? The answer is.... there can never be too many!

Say You'll Remember Me is another emotional tearjerker! We meet Samantha who is a social media marketer for a mustard company and Xavier, a veterinarian who greatly resembles Rhysand from ACOTAR. Clearly, Abby understands the lore of all things Rhysand!! Similar to Abby's other books, there is some insta-love, banter, and spark from the start between the two main characters. What I love about this book and her many others is just because there is some instant attraction from the start, doesn't mean it's cheesy and unbelievable. Abby's characters are always very well developed, especially through the circumstances and situations they are placed in.

Dealing with long distance, financial struggles, and complex family dynamics (trigger warning: advanced dementia), Xavier and Samantha are put to the test throughout the story. At times, it can be heartbreaking, and I thought Abby did a good job navigating these topics. Samantha's family members and both of their support and friend groups in their lives really brought the whole story together. I found this book to be incredibly touching in that regard. Overall, I am just very excited about this one and can't wait for everyone to read it next month!

When I tell you that I DEVOURED this book, I mean it. From start to finish, I could not put “Say You’ll Remember Me” down. It’s witty and lighthearted at the same time that it’s heartbreaking and so incredibly real.

If you not only love found family, but feel comforted by close knit families, this one’s for you. It’s hands down my favorite Abby Jimenez book thus far (and with a Taylor Swift reference in the title, how could it not be?).

Abby Jimenez books always make me feel something, and this was no different. She really knows how to create complex characters with intense romantic reactions, and pair it with some light spice.

Say You’ll Remember Me is yet another masterpiece by Abby Jimenez. Full of humor, romance, challenging topics, and animals. In this long distance and emotional romance we follow Samantha (the hilarious social media manager of an organic mustard brand) and Xavier (a gorgeous veterinarian who loves animals and barely tolerates people) as they go from arguing about taking care of a kitten to navigating the challenges of falling in love while living 2,000 miles apart.

I highly recommend grabbing this book!

I have never read an Abby Jimenez book and did not immediately love it; nothing has changed. I really enjoyed this book. It was super addicting and fast-paced. I liked the romance in this one, even if it was a little more insta lovey than I would have liked, but it made sense for the plot. This book wasn't just about romance, as it also deals with very serious family drama and I appreciated how it was written into the story. It didn't feel like a side plot and was never sugar-coated. Overall, I had a fun time reading this and will always look forward to a new Abby Jimenez book. Anything she writes is always good and worth a read!

I always enjoy Abby’s books, and this one is no different! Samantha shares a fantastic night with veterinarian Xavier, but her family obligations make a relationship nearly impossible. I really appreciated how the story highlighted the challenges of caring for a parent with dementia—it felt like a realistic and heartfelt depiction of family dynamics. The chemistry between Xavier and Samantha was so good, and I truly wondered how they would overcome the obstacles in their way to find their HEA. With Abby’s signature humor and emotional storytelling, this is another great read from her.

I love that Abby Jimenez always combines humor with more difficult, emotional topics giving her rom-coms more depth. Say You’ll Remember Me made me laugh and cry for a good beach read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-arc of Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez.
Say You'll Remember Me is a romantic comedy that achieves the desired results. This is my first Abby Jimenez book and I understand why she is a fan favorite. Jimenez creates characters that it is easy to root for!

"Love is the brightest color in a gray world."

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early!

Oh..Abby Jimenez. I had no idea what I was missing out on and I finally understand the hype. I will be filling my shelves with her books, and loving her is now my personality trait.

Say You'll Remember Me is a beautiful representation of long distance that makes my heart ache. This was one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read, and such a beautiful representation of such niche careers that I never see in media. I have never fallen in love with characters quite as much as I did Xavier (My new #1 book boyfriend), and Samantha.
Say You'll Remember Me never failed to make me laugh out loud, burst into tears, or quite literally kick my feet and giggle. I read most of this book in one sitting, and I think it will live rent free in my mind for the rest of my life.

Thank you Abby Jimenez for blessing us <3