Everything Abby Jimenez writes is absolute magic! It amazes me that her books just keep getting better and better. Say You'll Remember me had that 5-star feeling from the start. Xavier and Samantha meet and realize they have a strong connection the day before Samantha moves across the country. They try to forget each other because the relationship would be so inconvenient but they can't. Both of the characters have difficult family situations that are so heartbreaking. I don't even know how to put into words how much I loved Samantha and Xavier's relationship & chemistry. This book made me laugh, gave me butterflies, and also had me crying. Perfection!

If you've read this author before, some of the things you've come to expect are here: excellent characterizations, found family and swoony hero. I've said before that Jimenez is in league with Nora Roberts when it comes to bringing characters to life and having them leap off the page. So I was a little bummed when the heroine Samantha was kind of underdeveloped. She was never fleshed out and wasn't anything more than her issues to me. The hero Xavier was to die for but almost too perfect? Like sometimes flawless characters can be a little snoozy. I wanted something from him other than absolute simping. Still he was pretty darn adorable but I just like my heroes with some edge. Also, the constant comparisons of Xavier to Rhysand from ACOTAR were cringe af. And that's from someone who liked Rhys, I can imagine how it will go for those readers who didn't or those who have no idea what a Rhysand is

That being said I was still unable to put it down even though nothing about this book really worked for me on the whole . It's not really a romance. It definitely falls more on the women's fiction with a strong romance sub plot side in my opinion. The romance is pretty bland and insta love-y and the only conflict was their long distance relationship. I felt like that wasn't enough to keep my interest in their romance and it was dragged out for too long. In the end, weirdly enough I liked the women's fiction aspect of the novel more. I was more invested in Samantha's family trying to make things work and hold things together in the face of enormous challenges and heartbreak.
Check the CWs before reading. I generally don't have many triggers but the grief aspect of this came out of left field and I struggled for a bit so take care, friends. This is not in any way an easy read.

3.75/5
Kissing only/ one vaguely detailed love scene.

Tropes:
Grumpy/sunshine

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by the NetGalley the editors and the author, in exchange pf an honest review, thank you ✨

10000000/5⭐️

Is no secret that I LOVE every single book Abby Jimenez has written, I literally would read her grocery list and in sure I’ll love it too, so when I saw this new book I was just craving to read it but oh my god I couldn’t imagine how much it would broke me and healed me at the same time 🥹❤️‍🩹

This book means so much to me, the story of Xavier and Samantha spoke to me in a way that no other book has, almost four years ago mental illness took my boyfriend from me, he was The One for me, he was the person I had plans with, the person I went to live in parallel with, and Xavier reminded me of him so much, our relationship was like Samantha and Xavier’s so I can relate to what were they feeling, how they struggle with the situation and how valuable was their time together, and there was this specific scene where she was going to his work to surprise him, that really hit me because it was so accurate to my life but the outcome was so different, that I literally felt like I could live what I would give anything to live with my boyfriend through Xavier and Samantha’s story❤️‍🩹🤍

Also, I was so moved about Samantha’s mom situation and how her whole family was trying to figure it out what’s best for everyone and still being a team, I cried so much and so bad and I was just so happy by the end of the book, everything just felt right and beautiful, and I know for sure this book will be my forever favorite book of my life, because I had the chance to remember my boyfriend in a way I didn’t knew I could, and healed me in a war I didn’t knew I needed it

Thank you Abby Jimenez for writing this beauty I story, because I felt like it was meant for me to read it and it give me a new core memory to treasure 🤍❤️‍🩹

Another hit for Abby!

Abby just knows how to write them. This book follows Xavier, a hot vet, and Samantha a marketing manager from a mustard company, when Samantha bring in a kitten she rescued only to have Xavier tell her that its better for her to put he kitten down since it was medically complex. She decided to keep the kitten and raise the funds for the kittens much needed surgery.They of course have this incredible attraction to each other and the chemistry is there. When they go on the most amazing first date… what happens next its the most agonizing love story.

The MMC is the most adorable golden retriever type boyfriend, like most of Abbys MMC he is the epitome of “if he wanted to he would” love him so much. The FMC is just so caring and witty, you can’t help but root for them.

The love story is more than just a romance, it’s a love story about family and the bonds that are tested with time. In an away the romance takes second place to make way to a family story of love. I highly recommend this beautifully written story.

“I’d like to look back on my life and remember every single thing. But if I don’t, I hope I remember that it was a love story. And that the love story was about you.”

Abby Jimenez just crushed another out of the park! Unputdownable, one sitting read!

My heart was crushed a million times over with this read! Samantha and Xavier fall for each other so hard and love each other so much, that they are just about killing themselves trying to live parallel in a long distance relationship. For him to move, he’d lose his veterinarian business and go into financial ruin; for her to move, she’d lose precious time with her mom, who is suffering with Alzheimer’s. While they have very little time together, that time is special, and they fill it with heartfelt core memories.

I loved the MMC, but the FMC, while likeable and a perfect complement to him, felt a bit selfish to me…. He’s so incredibly thoughtful and does so much for her but she does very little for him which was sad as the book goes on and builds to a crescendo. But you still root for them and hope they can survive. Actually, there is a lot of sadness in this book, lots of trauma from all angles. I did cry, and was heartbroken. Characters are all miserable. There is humor, mostly in the beginning, but less than I expected. It’s less rom-com, more romance and drama. But that’s ok!

One thing that stands out in this read is the overall theme of memory… The beautiful way memory is woven throughout, both good and bad, is really special.

I hope we get another book with Tristan in it… he’s my favorite side character… he deserves his own story!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow wow wow. Ugh there is something so special about Abby’s writing and this was no different. I truly loved this one and I cannot wait for the audio to re-listen and have it come to life. My heart is so full and happy!!

“everything starts with you and ends with you”

this man, xavier. he is perfection. this story flowed like a movie playing out in my head. a very real, eye opening movie. samantha’s mom is living with dementia and her family all pitches in to help take care of her. xavier is a veterinarian who has a heard of gold who happens to meet samantha and falls in love which you see through their long distance journey. i’m not gonna lie, towards the end, i was tearing up and getting extremely emotional. it hurt (check tw). i honestly really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to get my physical copy in.

Okay this is a tough one to rate!! Honestly I really enjoyed reading it. I love how something about Abby’s writing just pulls me in. All of her books have been so hard for me to put down and this one was no different.

It definitely feels less like a romance than any of her other books have. I think because of the distance aspect and so we do get way more focus on their lives outside of the relationship with each other. I loved Xavier and I also wish that he’d been given more depth(?). With Samantha we knew she missed Xavier but we also saw her existing and still having her life. I get that Xavier has more of a financial strain in this, but we saw him with his friends I think once and otherwise he was being miserable at work and miserable missing Samantha. I wanted more balance for him!

I loved the relationship between Xavier and Samantha though. I found them so sweet and endearing and silly. I always eat up an opposites attract and it was done really well. I also really appreciated that they were both very direct and honest and mature in their communication. I feel like that could’ve easily been the basis for conflict but I’m glad Abby didn’t use it to drive them apart.

Overall I did really like this. I love Xavier and I will not be settling for a man who doesn’t treat me the way he treats Samantha.

Thank you to Forever for sending me an early copy through NetGalley!

Per usual Abby fashion this book pulled on my heart strings. The cute first date that they didn’t want to end had me kicking my feet and giggling lol! Xavier was the definition of a man that is an example of the saying “If they wanted to they would”… I love a man that goes over and beyond for love ❤️ . They meshed so well but family issues, jobs, medical conditions and distance kept them from being together full time which actually made me sad to read because you could see how the characters really liked eachother. As they navigated their obstacles they proved that love is wherever your loved one is and did whatever possible to be present for eachother. I love how Abby writes these love stories but also hits on serious issues. Reading this book was a treat. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

As if I had any other choice but to give this one five stars...

NOW LISTEN, before I get started, I know A LOT of people will DNF this in the first 3-4 chapters because of how lame it is that multiple times ACOTAR and Rhysand are mentioned BUT please get over it... it happens, we cringe, we move on and forget it. Seriously it never comes up again after that.

ANYWAY, if Abby writes it, you know it will make you laugh and it will make you cry. This book was definitely her saddest book overall. The two main characters are long distance and spend the majority of the book apart and pining for one another and the main plot of the book is Samantha being a care giver for her mother with dementia.

The romance aspect is great and Xavier and Samantha are the MAIN focus of this book, however, this book read a little more litfic to me and less romcom because it dealt with SO much more. Family dynamics, trauma responses, dealing with sick loved ones, death of a family member etc. There was so much character growth from even the side characters by the end the romance just added another cherry on top.

And speaking of the romance, Xavier is the perfect man. Like hands down not one single flaw.

BEWARE OF THE TROPES: I saw someone say forced proximity is a trope in this book and that couldn't be further from the truth. Samantha and Xavier meet, they have a bit of a bad first encounter at the vet's office (he's the vet), its love at first site though, they meet again and he asks her out and the date is going SO well they manifest it lasting all night (this is the only bout of forced prox that happens and it lasts about 6 hours) THEN the very next day Samantha moves from Minnesota to California and they spend the rest of the book navigating their long distance relationship going MONTHS without seeing each other while he deals with owning and running his own vet clinic and shes taking care of her mom.

I loved how once these two were together though they were COMMITTED - they did everything in their power to be with each other even when it made them miserable and almost killed them. Samantha is dealing with her mother's dementia while living in a house with her mom, grandma, brother, dad, sister, and two nephews and Xavier is dealing with childhood trauma from abuse he endured and how that has shaped his adult life while owning a business and working himself into an early grave to afford his trips to see Samantha.

They dealt with very real issues in a very real manner. This book felt SO real to me, real issues, real relationships, real problems couples go through, etc. The ending was perfect and for everyone who hates that Abby writes a 3rd act break up into all her books, you'll be happy to know that is NOT the case here.

Lastly, the dementia representation, I feel, was done amazingly. Ever case is different and there are many different forms of dementia but I think Abby did a great job navigating the diagnosis and writing it in a realistic manner that also honored families who are dealing with or have dealt with something similar.

I just finished Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, my fourth Abby book and absolutely loved it.

Hooked from the first chapter, this book was fast paced and definitely a page turner. There were complex real life issues which I absolutely love about Abby’s books, humor, and so much more packed into this story.

I loved our main character, and her amazing love interest who was described as Rhysand if he were human 🫠

I was amazing to see so much adversity and conflict resolved in order to make the relationships and dynamics work. I definitely recommend this terrific book, everything in the end wrapped up perfectly. This was a 5⭐️ read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and forever books for the arc. Pub date is 04.01.25 add this one to your TBR.

This book is another hit from Abby Jimenez. She is able to write a romance that is not all fluff and cliche. Like all her books, this book addresses a specific issue in the area of health/mental health. In this case, it's early onset dementia (not a spoiler - she explains this before the book begins). I appreciate that the author provides trigger warnings before the book begins because several tough topics arise in the story. The story arc is realistic, addressing real life issues, but not predictable. It was very enjoyable.

This was definitely Abby Jimenez in all her glory! While it was a love story, it was also story of familial love and hope in a rough situation. She discusses not only the reality of seeing a loved one go through dementia but also how it impacts the rest of the family. Very beautifully written.

This book was so beautifully written and I read it in two sittings. This was my first book by Abby and I WILL be reading more by her 100%. This book follows our closed-off veterinarian MMC (Xavier) and our Mustard loving FMC (Samantha)

Their meet-cute was hilarious as Samantha finds and rescues a kitten that doesn't have a butthole and after a long day, Xavier is quick to tell her that its best to put the kitten down and that the surgery to maybe fix the kitten costs 10k$. Samantha doesn't have this kind of money and says that the goodness of people will help. Xavier tells her good luck. Well, let's just say he is wrong.

They meet again after the kitten is fixed and share an unforgettable date. Like no its literally the perfect date.

•Meet-cute
•Forced proximity
•Long distance relationship
•Dual point of view
•Cinnamon roll MMC
•Complicated family dynamics (x2)

Favorite Quote:
"None of the fear and worry I had was because I didn’t think it would work. The fear and worry was because I knew it would. I was going to fall in love with this man."

Has there ever been a cuter meet cute? I think not. I mean, come on - a brooding, hot vet and a rescue kitten? My heart melted immediately. Abby Jimenez has once again done what she does best - pulling at my heartstrings and making me laugh while gut wrenching tears stream down my face.

I’m not usually a fan of insta-love, but this is the rare occasion where it feels genuine. If the attraction is still there after being called an “asshole”, it’s got to be real, right? Xavier and Samantha are entirely believable as a couple. Their first date might be the best first date of all time and it only gets better from there … and worse.

Because it’s not an easy path for Xavier and Samantha. Their relationship is tested by distance and trauma. There’s no shortage of heartbreak. Sometimes it feels impossible. The hits keep coming and coming and coming. The choices feel impossible. And Ms. Jimenez makes the reader feel all of it. The pain. The exhaustion. The hopelessness. But you also feel the resilience. The courage. The strength. And the belief that love is worth it. After finishing this book, I sat with my feelings for quite a while and that cemented this as a 5⭐️ read for me.

As someone who loves and cares for a person with dementia, I appreciate the sensitive way this awful disease is presented. SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME is another unforgettable story from the queen of shattering hearts and reassembling them to be stronger than ever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh. This story broke me and put my heart back together. In my opinion this story was wrote beautifully and perfectly. I literally wouldn’t have changed a single thing. Abby has a gift and she really put it to work with this one! If you are thinking of reading this book then this is your sign. This isn’t a five star read for me, it’s a 6!

✨ SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME ✨
Rating: 5 ⭐️ - I LOVED it

Abby is out with her newest novel and let me tell you, it packs a PUNCH! This is by far her most EMOTIONAL novel & touches on some pretty tough topics (abuse, dementia are the main two).

❤️ for my LOVERS of love at first sight, love stories that feel like real life, against ALL odds love, the BEST main & side characters, life lessons

❤️ this CAST of CHARACTERS won me over BIG! Samantha & Xavier, Hank, Samantha’s family, assistants, Caviers friends - all these side characters made the book!

💔 read those TRIGGER warnings! Abby notes all of them at the beginning of the book but mental and physical abuse, animal abuse, deep trauma, a parent with dimentia - LOTS of triggers in this one!

❤️ Samantha and Xavier’s story is just 🥺 by the end I was sobbing for them

❤️ I read this one but Abby always had the best dual-narration so I’m positive either format will be incredible!

Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite authors, and I usually love books that balance romance, comedy, and deeper themes. But this one felt like a bit too much for me.

The cover is bright, colorful, and screams rom-com, but honestly, whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” was probably talking about this book. The content is much heavier than I expected. While I’m all for emotional depth, the amount of heartbreak here was devastating—and without giving too much away, it felt like a “kick them while they’re down” situation multiple times. It just wasn’t enjoyable in the way I wanted.

That said, I really loved the chemistry between Samantha and Xavier. Their interactions were sweet, and Xavier was a steady, solid rock for her. I definitely teared up at how much he supported her. But despite the emotional moments, I was craving more. It felt like the trauma took center stage, and I couldn’t fully enjoy the story because of it.

If you’re a fan of deeper emotional reads with a lot of heavy themes, this could be for you. But for me, it just didn’t hit the right balance. Definitely check the content warnings before diving in.

This is a story of epic love and a world hell-bent on keeping them apart. It’s funny, romantic, heartwarming and entirely relatable. Abby Jimenez is an incredible storyteller and she has done it again. Say You’ll Remember Me is the most perfect title because this is one of those books that I will never stop thinking about.
Thank you to Forever Publishing for gifting me an advance e-book copy. I loved it so much that I ordered every exclusive edition I could find.

Heartbreakingly beautiful. Samantha is a marketing guru with a glass half full mentality and Xavier is a careful counterpoint, being jaded by his own demons. The two go on one unlikely long first date that sears memories into them that make each other irresisstible, but Sam is moving 2,000 miles away to caretake her ailing mother and he has too much to lose back where they started. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't believe how much I felt.