Read This If You Like:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Slow Burn Romance
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Complicated Family Dynamics
- Dual Point of View
- Long-Distance Relationships
- Deeply Emotional Storylines
- Meet-Cute Scenarios

Abby Jimenez does it again with Say You'll Remember Me ! This book truly is a love letter to those of us with complicated family dynamics or those that have had to take on a caretaker role for someone you love with significant health challenges.

The story of Xavier and Samantha masterfully blends humor and heartache throughout the entire story and gives moments of light with emotions and darkness that comes from challenging circumstances you don’t know how to navigate because life is hard, and harder when you can’t figure out how to work past all the barriers and roadblocks that life throws at you when all you want is to be with someone you love, yet the rational side and life barriers make having that happiness feel impossible, especially with the vibes of right person, wrong time weaved throughout the story. .

Jimenez excels in character development; Samantha's resilience and Xavier's unwavering support create a realtionship that you can’t help but to root for, even with the reality of life, work, finances, distance, and timing all impacting their relationship.

The exploration of complex family issues for both Samantha with being a caregiver for her mother, and Xavier’s no contact with his abusive parents adds depth, making their journey toward love both believable and emotionally driven. The instant connection between the two, while not my favorite trope, is one that makes sense because when you click with someone sometimes it just happens, for me who fell in love with my husband who was my first true safe space, I also see how their connection hit the ground running, because sometimes your body just knows it found its home with someone else.

Also, as someone who is no contact with their parents, Abby wrote Xavier and his hold ups so well! I truly felt so immersed within Xavier’s pov as I have been there and felt all the feels that he expressed from loneliness, anger, and needing to not let your parents feel like they were right, when all they have done is tear you down.

The novel's emotional depth is balanced with lighthearted moments truly was part of why I loved it so much. Are the cat butthole jokes immature, sure… but who of us isn’t a little immature when we need lightness to balance the darkness and I thought was so important as someone married to a Samantha type who brings lightness to my grump.

Thank you so much to Forever for my gifted ARC!

When you meet your perfect match only for them to move away right away - lots of angst in this one as the couple in question takes on a long distance relationship after the perfect first date.

Abby Jimenez books are always amazing! This book is lighthearted, kind, and gives you all of the feels. Her books are always my favorites to read and I look forward to new releases from her.

This book was absolutely incredible. From my first Abby Jimenez book I knew she would become one of my favorite authors, and some how I become more obsessed with her work every single time. This book had me enamored with the characters and their lives in the best way. Yes, it’s a romance story, but it’s also a story of remembering loved ones, family grief and families working together to overcome it, surviving child abuse and becoming stronger because of it. These characters show what it’s like to love and how we should be loved, in the best and loudest way possible.

Thank you net galley for the advanced copy of this book!

While this wasn't my favorite Abby Jimenez book, it has all the feelings you get from reading her stories. I literally teared up multiple times over the rawness of what both Xavier and Samantha deal with. It felt as if you were part of the journey!

Thank you so much to Abby Jimenez, Forever, and NetGalley for an early copy!!!

The incessant amount of references to Rhysand from Sarah J. Maas' series instead of just leaning on her own character description was really bothersome to me. I honestly couldn't get past it. Not just because of the series/author she's referencing being problematic in its own right, but because the third use of it was really lazy and created continuity flaw. Abby Jimenez has been writing a long time and I'd generally consider her a great storyteller, but this one is not it.

I have to be very particular about when I start a book by Abby Jimenez because I know it will pull me in immediately and I won't be able to do anything else until I've finished it. That was certainly the case with Say You'll Remember Me, a romance centered around two incredibly likable, instantly relatable, and absolutely wonderful characters. And like every book by Jimenez, it's so much more than a romance. There's depth of feeling and authenticity, real life struggles and trauma, witty dialogue, and a perfect balance of heartbreak and hope. Highly recommended. I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5⭐️

I enjoyed this but it wasn’t my favourite Abby book. That doesn’t mean that this book didn’t still have an effect on me because that last 25% was so beautiful and I felt really emotional. I felt like this was more than a romance book between two characters but also love for family.

There’s a large portion of this book that is surrounding the fmc’s family and dealing with the changes around this. I typically love seeing family aspect in books but this was less for me. Again though, there was lots of moments where I felt touched. The romance between the fmc and mc was also cute, more insta love which I usually lose interest in but this was done differently.

Overall, this is probably my least favourite of hers but I do think it’s worth reading anyway because it’s very touching and has a great message.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and the author for a free advanced reader copy of this book.

Well, Abby Jimenez has done it. Making believe in the romance genre all over again. I'll even forgive the ACOTAR references and the lies about In-n-Out and give it 5 stars.

Abby Jimenez has this amazing ability to write love stories that seem realistic and perfect at the same time. I'm not even a fan of insta-love but she just makes it work. The characters in this book have full lives happening and fight to make their love happen.

This was utterly delightful.

when i think about xavier and samantha as characters outside of this story— i think they’re the ideal main characters. i love who they are at their core— they’re both such selfless, genuinely caring individuals. they’d lend a helping hand, immediately and without hesitation to any animal or person in need! the way they handled themselves and the sacrifices they were willing to make were truly admirable! i did really love their meet-cute and most of their interactions were actually so sweet and swoonworthy! i just didn’t like the way their story played out.
i couldn’t connect with these characters at all and i felt like there was no real build up to their romance. this was just two people telling each other how much they liked each other off the bat, saying yes to doing all these things together when they’re still basically strangers to each other. there were so many instances where i felt things were just written for shock value and it kept taking me out of the story. xavier and samantha just kept getting kicked when they were down and it hurt to read. i was starting to doubt there would even be a happy ending. i needed to know how/if they were going to make it and that’s truly what kept me reading.

i do always appreciate that abby’s books explore heavier themes and her stories shed light on real struggles that people deal with in everyday life. i feel like i learned so much about the illnesses and hardships written in this book and as always abby handled them with the utmost care.

overall, this story just wasn’t for me but i think a lot of people might enjoy it especially if samantha and xavier’s experiences resonate with them.


thank you so much to forever and netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

I’m having conflicting feelings about this book because it sounds and looks like a romance book but it doesn’t read like a romance book. It might be because insta love and separation are two of my least favorite tropes in books and this was a double whammy. I liked this more as just a regular fiction book? The main focus seemed to be about life and family and not just a story about two people falling in love like most romances. I guess I was expecting not as heavy of a book as this ended up being. Which at the end of the day is completely fine. In a way it was a more realistic look at the struggles that come with life that are ugly and painful and sad and how you need people in your corner. But the insta love and the separation I personally felt like it was lacking a lot of the building of the relationship that I love. I like seeing the relationship grow over time and this just jumped right in and then we didn’t get to see them together and it was hard for me to believe they were meant to be after only a few days together. So I think a lot of people will like this but it was a miss for myself.

YUP. I’M CRYING.

Why do Abby Jimenez books hit so hard every time????? I am an emotional wreck after this one.

As someone who did long distance for a year, I felt the roller coaster of emotions and situations that come up when you can’t be physically present. It’s tough and seeing Samantha and Xavier work through that was really something. They wanted their relationship so deeply that they almost sacrificed too much and I loved seeing them communicate the hard things and find balance and peace.

The care giving aspects (to Samantha’s mom who has dementia) hit on so many levels. The raw and often desolate waves of situations and feelings that come out you when every day feels one step closer to permanently cracking. It’s trauma heavy but I think worked well in the story (I don’t qualify this as a rom-com, there’s some humor but it is settled around heavy themes).

AND HANK??? BLESS THAT MAN.

I binged this faster than I could blink and you could catch me crying in my reading chair waiting for those final moments to come together at last.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: mild
Romance: 1-2 brief open door
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: taking care of a loved one with advanced dementia, abusive parents (recounted and some on page depiction), mentions of animal abuse and neglect

I am a big fan of Abby Jimenez's books and have read everything she's published. Say You'll Remember Me has moments of Abby's trademark humor, banter, thoughtfulness, and bingeability. I legit laughed out loud several times, and had tears in my eyes during one particular scene. Five stars for all of that! However, the plot and the romance itself was more like three stars. The insta-love and long-distance relationship didn't work for me as it hindered the relationship development. There's a big focus on life's struggles, and many of the difficulties Samantha and Xavier faced felt as though they were added for drama rather than because they moved the plot or relationship forward. The pacing was also strange, most of it stemming from the long distance nature of this relationship, but the ending resolution also felt rushed and forced. Ultimately I want a romance book that makes me believe that the couple is endgame and will live happily ever after, and this book left me convinced that they're happy for now but are unlikely to be together forever. I suspect I will be in the minority for feeling this way since the book is getting so many rave reviews, and I'm glad that it's resonating with so many readers. I still love Abby and will be excited to read whatever she writes next.

You can’t go wrong with an Abby Jimenez book. From the very beginning, I was fully invested in the characters, and every supporting character felt purposeful and well-developed. While it has the heart and humor you’d expect, this is much more than a rom-com—it delves into heavier themes that make the story even more compelling and ensures you feel every emotion. I tore through it in a day because I just couldn’t put it down.

Easily 5 stars. Abby did a spectacular job depicting dementia and the pains that come with a long distance relationship. Refreshing read and nice to see a good old fashioned love at first sight kind of story. This fed into my romantic side but kept me grounded in reality with the horrors of dementia and childhood trauma. Perfect blend of life.

When I read a book by Abby Jimenez, I know I will experience a whirlwind of emotions. I'll swoon, laugh, and cry. This particular novel had me cycling through those feelings repeatedly! Also, I felt a personal connection to this one, making it an even more impactful read for me.

There's a definite spark between Xavier and Samantha, even though their first meeting gets off on the wrong foot, embodying the grumpy/sunshine trope. However, their connection is instant, and their chemistry is sizzling with a genuine sweetness. Jimenez writes some wonderful male characters, and Xavier is one of my favorites, which says a lot. He is a swoon-worthy, broody veterinarian with a heart of gold. Samantha is witty, smart, and loyal. They faced significant obstacles in their relationship, which made me root for them even harder.

Although the story pulls at the heartstrings, and some scenes are pretty heavy, a lot of humor is woven in. The MCs are well-developed, layered, flawed, and feel real. Even the side characters are vividly depicted. When I finished the book, I did not want to say goodbye to them. I really loved this read!

*Since there are content warnings available for this book, I want to share a personal experience related to a topic it addresses, which may be considered a spoiler. If you prefer to avoid all spoilers, please skip the rest of my review.*

This book explores the theme of caring for someone with Alzheimer's dementia. I help care for my mother, who has Alzheimer's, and I appreciated how Jimenez approached this subject with honesty and respect. She handled that storyline beautifully, and as a caregiver, I felt acknowledged and seen.

Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted ARC

“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 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”

I need advice: I just finished one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I’ve been in pieces - where do I go from here?

As with all of her books, Abby Jimenez handles difficult and triggering topics with the most tender approach. Say You’ll Remember Me touches on dementia, the importance of memories and time with loved ones, and being present in the moment - and while Samantha was figuring out how to live her life in parallel, Xavier was the first to drop everything and give her every ounce of himself that he could. Their long distance romance and the toll that it started to have on not only their relationship but each of them individually, hit me harder than I was expecting. I was whole heartedly rooting for them the whole way through as they both deserve the world.

We still got the same Abby humor and banter throughout the book, especially in the beginning, but I’ll tell you right now that this book is special. The family dynamics and the reignition of these relationships was unlike any other. You’re going to want to take your time and savor this one… it is worth it I promise 💛

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an eARC of this beauty!

⭐️: 4.5/5

🐕 veterinarian x social media coordinator
📞 long distance relationship
🐈 meet-cute
🛸 forced proximity
🥂 dual POV
🍪 cinnamon roll MMC
💕 parent with dementia
🎧 complicated family dynamics

In Abby Jimenez’s latest release, Say You’ll Remember Me, Samantha Diaz meets Xavier Rush when he is having a really bad day. A second encounter goes a little better, and they decide to go on a date. What follows is an epic adventure as they go on a sunset cruise, play miniature golf, and get locked in an escape room overnight. The next day, Samantha drops the bomb that she is moving across the country to help care for her mother, who has dementia. She asks Xavier to forget about her because there is no way it can work. Samantha and Xavier both try to do just that, but sometimes love can’t be denied.

I always look forward to reading Abby Jimenez’s new releases; I also love the short stories she releases on Kindle. Her books are well-written, thoughtful, funny, and honest with themes about love, family, and connection. Say You’ll Remember Me is no different. I’ll be honest, when I read the synopsis, I didn’t think it sounded good. I was wrong. It is a page turner, and the relationship between Xavier and Samantha was electric. They have great chemistry and banter, and you can really see why they can’t seem to let each other go, even when it is so hard to stay together. Samantha’s family are great side characters, especially Tristan, who offers so much needed comic relief at times. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book about finding love and figuring out how to keep it against the odds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Just when I think “surely not every Abby Jimenez book I read will be 5 stars” … I’m proven wrong.

First of all, BIG THANK YOU to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Say You’ll Remember Me.

Abby Jimenez knows how to write a romance book that is so much deeper than the relationship of the two main characters. Say You’ll Remember Me touches on heavier topics like dementia, abusive parents, and long distance relationships between two people living through the reality of being an adult trying to build a career (and live in an expensive world).

This book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with every character. Reading this felt so realistic and the ending truly warmed my heart.

Abby Jimenez is truly one of the best authors and I will forever read anything she writes.

any book that makes me cry the way i just did deserves the 5⭐️

this was such a fun read 🥹 i struggled to put this book down every time i had to.

sam and xavier are two characters that cannot stay away from each other no matter how hard they try. it’s sort of a damned if they do, damned if they don’t sort of thing because of their circumstances. sam’s mom has dementia and her condition has deteriorated so sam needs to go back to california to help the rest of her family. sam is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from opening his own veterinary clinic in minnesota and he can’t afford to move to california with sam. they’re two thousand miles apart, yet they can’t seem to forget each other. they just clicked, right from the start.

i never thought that pooter’s missing butthole would lead to the story it did. sam and xavier’s first interaction gave off the impression that they’d be at each other’s throats all the time but that wasn’t the case. they’re so disgustingly in love and i fucking loved it. xavier always seemed to know what sam and the rest of her family needed, kind of in the same way maggie and tina are always feeding xavier.

and shout out to hank because he broke me. that cute little grandpa made me cry.