As a long time fan of Jimenez's books, I have to say that this one kind of blew me away. All of her books center around characters going through hard times in their lives, but Samantha's story absolutely wrecked me. My grandmother also has dementia so I could relate to her on a whole other level. I would also say that this wasn't like a traditional romance novel. While it is dual pov, the story centers more around the lives of these two characters, separate from each other.

That's not say I wasn't grinning at my iPad like an idiot at times. In a novel with such heavy themes, there was a surprising amount of joyous moments. From the beginning of the book, I questioned how in the world these two would end up together, but all I had to do was trust Jimenez.

One hundred percent her most serious book (the cover doesn't match the vibe at all).

You can’t go wrong with Abby Jimenez, and Say You’ll Remember Me is another strong, character-driven story from her. However, this one is more stressful and carries a heavier tone compared to some of her other books. Xavier and Samantha are navigating long-distance love while dealing with heavy personal struggles—Xavier’s traumatic past with terrible parents and Samantha’s family crisis caring for her mom with Alzheimer’s. The financial strain and fight to find time together make this book less of a rom-com and more of an emotional, weighty read. While not as light as her usual stories, it’s still a compelling and heartfelt journey. The supporting characters are well written and add to the depth of this story. If someone is new to Abby Jimenez, I would not start them on this one. I would recommend to those that enjoy women's fiction with a love story that includes a strong family dynamic. I look forward to what is next from Abby Jimenez.

Another great title from Abby Jimenez! Social media manager Samantha meets veterinarian Xavier when she brings in her adopted kitten for vet care. There is an immediate attraction, and a very funny, very lengthy first date where the two are truly falling in love. Unfortunately, Samantha is scheduled to leave her home in Minneapolis to move back to California to help her family care for her beloved mother, who is suffering from dementia. Neither Samantha or Xavier wants a long distance relationship, but they make it work -- until they can't. But there is always hope, and it is not giving too much away to say they figure out a way to make it work. I really enjoyed this and look forward to recommending it.

A couple goes on a perfect first date right before Samantha moves across the country to take care of her mother. Is one perfect impression enough to weather a long distance relationship? (Spoiler alert: it is!).

This contemporary romance was the mushy, gooey, heart-wrenching book I needed. It got me right in the feels, equal parts so sad and so charming. Serious topics are handled well here and there are plenty of laughs, rescue animals, and tons of love. I'll never stop reading Abby Jimenez books.

This meet-cute, long distance relationship with difficult family dynamics was so hard to put down. What I love most about Abby’s writing is how she can write a book that is laugh out loud funny but still manages to cover heavy subject matter, and she does it in such a beautiful way. Also 6⭐️ for writing a character that is basically human Rhysand. I devoured this in one sitting.

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC

4.25 stars

We follow Sam and Xavier as they meet when Sam finds a stray kitten and Xavier is the veterinarian she takes the kitten to. Xavier is standoffish and they don't start out on the right foot, but Sam eventually agrees to go on one date with him. The date is perfect and they end up falling for each other fast, but Sam is on her way to another state and their budding relationship is put to the test.

I thought the instalove worked very well here. Both Sam and Xavier had external issues but were still able to be honest with each other about what they wanted and how strongly they felt about each other. I think their respective traumas probably made them latch on to each other much faster than normal, but their relationship was as healthy as it could be, all things considered.

This story is so full of angst! That's why I'm taking off .75 stars. Each chapter ended with the same internal freakout about how they couldn't be together in the same place and how painful it was. I would've liked to see some solutions present themselves sooner than we did. My ereader was at around 90% when some real problem-solving came into play.

There were also a ton of family issues: Xavier's parents, Sam's mom, sibling drama. I found these storylines just as interesting, but the whole thing with Sam's dad felt strange and unresolved. I think the main strength of Jimenez's writing is incorporating deep issues into a love story, and as always, she succeeded here.

I will read anything by Abby Jimenez. Her stories are never a disappointment. There is always humor in them as well as a serious message. This is my new favorite book by her. Thanks Ms. Abby for all the great stories.

I adore Abby Jimenez and her other books. And also I really did not enjoy this book. I hated the main conflict that kicks off immediately that FMC moves away and they're in a long distance relationship. The conflict lasts the whole book and I was just deeply irritated with the MMC.

I have loved everything else I've read so far by Abby Jimenez, and this is sadly the only exception. The biggest issue I had while reading was that the main characters and their connection felt so unconvincing. Almost every chapter felt like an overview telling us how they felt, rather than actually showing it and making their love story feel real; and it just felt like complete insta-love between the main characters. I didn't connect with either of the characters, and neither really felt fleshed out or original; they were missing that bit where a fictional character feels like a real person. The pop culture references/dialogue throughout really took me out of the story, and felt out of place, as well. I felt no emotional connection to pretty much anything that happened, and the book just felt very far removed from what had the potential to be a promising storyline, characters, etc.

This book couldn’t have hit me at a better time in my life! I absolutely loved this story and will be buying myself a special edition! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The romance was top notch, chefs kiss even for a long distance relationship. I appreciated the main characters commitment to how difficult a long distance relationship can be but their commitment to each other had me swooning! This book made me laugh out loud and made my eyes mist up at times. I even highlighted parts, not something I do normally! The dementia hit me hard and the subject of trying to keep loved ones home, but also having hard discussions. These topics are tough and hard on families and I so appreciated the realness of it. Putting a loved one in a home is never easy, while that wasn’t the outcome in this book I appreciate that it was explored and discussed by the family. This book really had all the feels and I can’t say enough great things about it. This was my first book by Abby Jimenez and I will be reading her backlist immediately!

This is my first time reading a book by Abbey and I was not disappointed. I was first drawn to the book because of the title and the premise. The book took no time diving into the story and it’s easy to fall in love with these characters. While the storyline about the main characters mother was hard to read about a times, it was real, honest and still provided you with hope.

Abby Jimenez has done it again!! The character depth, the humor, the unrelenting love that the two main characters have for each other is chef’s kiss! I picked this book up and did not want to put it down! You will laugh, you will cry, you will cheer! This is some of her best work yet!!!

thank you so much netgalley & the publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy!

this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and it definitely didn’t disappoint!

our story centers Samantha, and Xavier- a social media manager for a mustard company and a veterinarian. The two have sparks fly immediately and after spending a perfect and hilarious first date together spend the rest of the book finding a way to be together despite all odds.

I don’t think that this is Abby Jimenez’ best book but it was still so entertaining and romantic. If there’s one thing Abby is better at writing about than romance- it’s toxic relationships with patents. Truly I’ve never felt such unrelenting hatred for parents.

This boom starts off so strong and in my opinion it holds up the whole book! I’ve seen other reviews complain about the insta love but it didn’t feel that way for me. It felt so genuine and wholesome that these two immediately knew they were meant to be together. I thought Justin was the perfect MMC, but Xavier definitely gives him a run for his money. Samantha and Xavier were so perfect and healthy together, I really loved every moment of their romance.

As someone who had done long distance before, this book put so much of the emotions into words. I think it’ll be easy for readers to relate because it’s described with such beautiful writing.

The plot line ine with Samantha’s family and her mom was at times so heartbreaking. Dementia runs in my family and I know countless others have also been affected by it and it’s truly such a gut wrenching disease. I appreciated the families efforts in the short and although it takes up a large part of the plot it never felt like too much.

Genuinely my only critiques of this book are the title, and the references to Rhysand from ACOTAR. I think we has a reader community NEED to move on from taylor swift. There is no reason for her to play such an adamant role in so many books, covers, and book titles. The comparisons of Xavier to Rhysand were so cringe. Everytime they brought it up (like 5x within the first 50 pages) I was so annoyed. Let’s find some other comparison or use our words to describe what he looks like instead of “our dark high lord”

Overall I really loved this book, and found it to be so easy to read. I don’t think this will be as well loved or received as just for the summer but I think it will still be loved! Abby Jimenez is an amazing author and I can’t wait for everyone to read this and see where so goes on from here!!

heartbreakingly beautiful & everything i wanted in a book!!!!!! romantic 💘 emotional 😭 & yet also hilarious 😅

i honestly don't even know how to formulate my thoughts on this one.... one moment i was giggling & kicking my feet, the next i was SOBBING. this book punches you in the gut in the best way possible. it reminds you how beautiful life is & how we shouldn't take a single moment for granted. it makes you want to grab your loved ones and hold them close, to call up that friend you haven't talked to in forever, to jump headfirst into love, to live life to the fullest!!!! i cannot wrap my mind around how abby took me on this journey of instant love and connection with SO MANY obstacles while also hitting on one of the hardest moments of life, slowly losing a parent. the way she described the heartaches and hard moments of dementia just made me ache. i cannot imagine how stressful and discouraging that life can be. but i love love love how through all the difficulties, samantha never stops seeing the beauty and. the color in every single moment. & when xavier comes into that moment??? when he sweeps in & loves her unconditionally, supporting her and caring for her ??? i actually would die for that man.

i also love love love how abby captured finding YOUR person. the person who gets you on a completely different level. the person whose presence makes everything better. the person who sees you & loves you. and i LOVED tristan. he had me cracking up !!!!

thank you Read Forever & Netgalley for the arc! this is my honest review.

Couldn’t put this one down!! I’ve enjoyed all of Abby,s books but this is my favorite. What worked so well for me was the really likable characters that you are rooting for all the way. And there was no crazy drama to roll my eyes at. It was simply about two people meant for each other trying to figure out how to make it work. The other story lines regarding their back stories and families added to the story and characters themselves without getting bitten way of the romance . Just a really enjoyable romance.

Abby Jimenez has a wonderful way of grabbing reader's by the heart! Samantha and Xavier just fit together.. despite their circumstances reader's will be cheering them on the whole way through while clutching a whole box of tissues. The title is so fitting in so many ways.

Abby Jimenez knows how to write true love and I was down bad for these two. This book got pretty darn dark, deep and depressing and punched me hard in the feels. So be prepared that this isn't all light and fluffy even though it did make me giggle and smile like an idiot at times.

Honestly, had this book been written by anyone else, I probably wouldn't have even read it. The synopsis didn't sound exciting and I'm not one for my romances to get so serious, but Abby Jimenez made me love these characters and this book, and managed to make me cry.

Oof. Jimenez titles always have real issues in them, but this one packs a heck of a gut punch of dementia, familial abuse, loss, and more. For that reason I wouldn't say this is a light read.
Normally not a fan of insta-love, but it worked here. The chemistry was fantastic. This one wasn't spicy, but some very, very memorable moments including Pooter the cat, ufo escape rooms, and a mummified mouse, more than made up for that.

3.5 ★

It was a cute read, I enjoyed it. I felt all the emotional moments—I was happy, then sad, then sad all over again… and then happy in the end.
Thank you for this ARC!

Abby Jimenez is so good at dialogue and at creating lovable characters (and pets!).

Xavier and Samantha meet at his veterinary office and they have a fantastic first date. But she doesn't tell him that she is moving back to California to help her family through a crisis. Can they figure out how to be together despite living two thousand miles apart?

It's Abby Jimenez, and her books get better and better. I laughed, I cried, and I read it in a day. I highly recommend to contemporary romance fans who like a lot of com in their rom-coms.