ended 2024 on a five star abby jimenez read which is similar to how i started the year!

this book and these characters were so genuine. it also felt unlike any other book i read this year. samantha and xavier had an instant connection but it never felt like they were moving too fast or that it was forced. it read like two people who genuinely enjoyed being in one another’s company and the writing made you want to bear witness to the formation of their relationship and the proof of their love.

samanthas mom has early on-set dementia which hit incredibly close to home. the way her and her family supported her mom and came together to ensure she could stay in the house and wouldn’t be forgotten even when she’d forgotten them, was touching. i loved the way xavier continued to show up for samantha and how samantha brought out the best in xavier. i will be thinking about this book and these characters for a long time.

so grateful to Netgalley and forever publishing for an e-arc of this book!

“You know how when someone dies, all anyone cares about is how? Somehow the moment that takes them out is more interesting than decades worth of life and accomplishments and living. I hated it.”

"That there is nothing more beautiful than being a witness to someone's life. To know them inside and out and be with them through everything, share the same memories. Memories are everything. I want that."

Jimenez’s ability to weave in real-world struggles, like dementia and family turmoil without losing the heart of the story is what elevates this novel from just a typical romance to something that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s not just about finding love, it’s about choosing to fight for it, even when life throws its hardest punches. I’m in love with this book.

Filled with wit, charm and true, old fashioned romance, the newest by Abby Jimenez offers readers everything they want from her books. The usual witty banter and fun antics are there but what I particularly liked about this was the absence of the (in my opinion played out) big fight / temporary break up. This is a story of the power of family and true love without relying on the usual tropes.

Boy was I thankful for the new NetGalley emotion options because this book is all the things. Jimenez does such a good job at rolling in real-life hardships to her romantic comedies, proving that life is not just a fairy tale all the time, and this book is no exception and may actually be the hardest of all. The meet-cute of Samantha and Xavier is the cutest and the eventual first date is perfection - and then real life hits as Samantha moves to California to help her family deal with their mother's quickly deteriorating dementia. I enjoyed following the budding relationship in the midst of the medical drama as well as Xavier's own life story slowly unreeling. This book can be a lot to handle, but I do look forward to recommending it, especially for the summer when you can read the traumas someplace sunny. Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

I requested the ARC for this book, never thinking I'd be approved. But I love everything Abby Jimenez writes so I had to at least try. I immediately dropped everything as soon as I was approved and started reading this book. And let me tell you, it was everything I thought it would be and more.

Abby has a way of writing characters that feel like friends. I was invested in Sam and Xavier's lives, and their relationship. I wanted them to find their way to happiness. I wanted them to have the happy ending, even though at times it seemed impossible. I loved the way they care for and supported each other through everything. The banter between them was top-tier. If you've seen Abby on social media, you know how funny she is. And it carries over to her characters. But she also knows how to write the most heart-breakingly beautiful romance. Put this one on your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

My dearest Abby Jimenez, please never ever stop writing books that make me feel every human emotion possible.

Abby is one of the wittiest, most romantic, and beautiful story tellers of the current generation of authors. No author makes me feel and experience so many beautiful, heartbreaking, healing, and real moments the way she does. Say You’ll Remember me is no exception.

This book felt different than all her others, it was still very Abby, the research, time and dedication she put in to make sure stories were told accurately was there as always. Her MMC is the dreamiest of dream men as they always are. And her FMC is a powerhouse, relatable, and strong woman as all of us hope to be.

The love at first sight, genuine connection, ability to make a long distance relationship work in a book with no third act break up is just the cherry on top of one of the most magnificent love stories I have ever read. Love for a partner, love for family, love for animals, friends, coworkers, neighbors, strangers, and love for yourself.

I leave every book Abby has written a completely changed person with a new perspective on life and how to live it to the fullest once again.

Ugh I wanted to pull my hair out at points. Abby does such a great job of making you feeeel the agony! Enjoyed the current lingo and book references. Funny banter. Tristan needs a book next.

You know you’ve arrived as a romance novelist when they release your next book in hardcover, not trade paperback. Congrats to Abby Jimenez for joining the ranks of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren. And what a gorgeous cover it is, too, a beautiful sunset at the Santa Monica pier (presumably)–although the red hair of the protagist gets a little lost against her red hoodie.

Dr. Xavier Rush, a handsome but dryly professional veterinarian, is still incensed from his last patient–someone who wanted to euthanize a healthy dog instead of care for it–when gorgeous Samantha Diaz walks into his exam room with an adorable stray kitten. During the kitten’s exam, Dr. Rush discovers a rectum that appears to be just for show, and suggests euthanizing to not prolong any suffering; the procedure to correct the issue isn’t guaranteed to be successful and will cost $5,000-10,000. Sam calls him an asshole and huffs out at his insinuation that she doesn’t understand responsible pet ownership. An experienced social media manager and extrovert, Sam’s Pooter Needs a Poop Shute fundraising campaign is effective–and Dr. Rush donates $500 to the cause. When she returns six weeks later with a to pick up a certificate of health to travel with her-now healthy cat, he asks her out.

Their magical date ends with accidentally getting locked into an escape room for most of the night (after they solve the the room by the deadline). When drops her off, he knows she’s got a flight to catch but her empty apartment is the final clue that she’s moving away from Minnesota. Permanently. To California. Her beautiful, brilliant mother is suffering from early onset dementia, and Sam’s family members have promised to keep her at home. Her caregiving obligations may tie her up for a decade or more, so she advises him to forget her entirely. Only, he can’t. And neither can she forget him.

They embark on a long-distance relationship over the course of nearly a year. Sam, who works from home as the social media manager for a local-to-Minnesota Murkle’s mustard company, doesn’t expect to eventually become the full time caregiver. She and her siblings take unexpected abuse from their fragile and unstable mother. She’s fights with her career-hopping brother and divorced single-mother sister; watching her dad sneak out for booty calls with someone else in the middle of the night, and appreciating how her grandmother tries to hold it all together. A renovation to update the large house they are sharing is a money sink and additional source of stress and debt.

Meanwhile, Xavier is working himself to death to afford airfare every six weeks or so and maintain his volunteer rescue efforts. His owns his business and owes a lot on the loans that secured his practice. It will be a decade before it’s paid off, and he can’t afford to hire help. He’s still recovering from a traumatic childhood with abusive parents, and the need to prove them wrong and be a success is compulsive. He’s equally compulsive at meeting needs, not asking much for himself, and taking care of everyone else, which is endearing when he visits CA and terrifying when he’s alone back in Minnesota. Nearing the end of a year, between changes in plans, illnesses, and missed connections, Sam and Xavier have averaged seeing one another only 12 times, which amounts to a day out of every month. How can you build a relationship on that?

While it’s crazy to embark on a long-distance romance with no end to the time apart in sight, I have to say, I was all in right with Sam and Xavier. Their chemistry, connection, the way they were a help and support for one another, their communication and banter, all combine to tell a compelling and heartstring-tugging story about two people who seem to belong together. The medical details, both about veterinary medicine, dementia, and memory care are deftly woven into the story, with information delivered in a way that grows plot and character. Mental health, parental abuse, and trauma response are equally authenthic/real/well-researched.

Overall, the writing is beautiful, insightful, and symbolic; in one scene when Sam is pointing out a riptide from the top of the ferris wheel at the pier, she explains you can’t fight it or you’ll die. I’m not sure if she’s talking about her co-caregiving, giving in to the relationship, or both. Either way, this is an unputdownable read, and Jimenez’s best book yet. The Murkle’s mustard marketing posts have a Wendy’s vibe, the reference to Nadia Cakes cupcake is a IRL reference (Jimenez owns it) and A Court of Thorns and Roses fans will appreciate the allusions; Xavier’s personality is slightly modeled after Rhysand, and holy moly, if someone had mentioned ACOTAR was a Tamlin story, I’ve have read it by now (I think this is the fourth? book I’ve read this year that mentions it?). Don’t come at me, I’m making that my first read of 2025, for sure.

I received a free, advance reader’s review copy of #SayYoullRememberMe via #NetGalley courtesy of #Forever. Review will post 3/31/2025

I was so excited for this book, because I loved Just For the Summer and Yours Truly. There was buildup, conflict that made sense, and she deals with heavy topics so well. Because of that, I wanted to love this book, but I really didn't. I think insta-love is just not my thing. Both of them are dealing with such big things in their family and work life, it was all too inconvenient to make sense.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This book had me from page 1! I was already laughing and instantly fell in love with this book. I enjoyed Jimenez's previous book but this is 5 stars! The chemistry between the two is instant but it isn't all rainbows and butterflies because they are both dealing which real life issues and it makes them even more relatable.

Xavier is a veterinarian in Minnesota that looks like a Greek god. He meets his match the day Samantha brings in a kitten that she has found for a checkup. Xavier delivers bad news with terrible bedside manners, which Samantha has no problems letting him know that he's an ass. She comes back later and he apologizes and ask her on a date and she says yes. After a wonderful first date, she has to tell Xavier that she is leaving to deal with a family matter and won't be returning. She asks him to forget her and to only remember their perfect date. That's the problem though neither one can stop thinking about the other and how impossible it would be to have a relationship 2000 miles apart.


They both realize that the only thing better than one single perfect date is to make a life worth remembering.

Abby Jimenez has yet to disappoint me. And when I think she can't give anything better, she does!
A 5* read for me.

I laughed, I cried, I didn't want the story to end. And when it did, I found the playlist from the end and uploaded it.

Xavier and Samantha are the two most relatable people and they captured my heart. What an amazing story between these two characters.

I can not wait to buy the book and add it to my shelf.

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

God, there are very few authors that I automatically add to my TBR list, and Abby Jimenez is one of them. The chemistry was impeccable. The disability rep was appreciated. I was shocked at how invested I was in their story from the very start. Love love love!

Abby FUCKING Jimenez,Queen of cupcakes & a server breaking Rom-Com writer cult leader, strikes again. 🤣

Now back to our regularly scheduled fucking program…

“Yours Truly” has been my favorite of hers since she introduced Jacob to the scene with her completely accurate, felt seen writing depiction of anxiety. However, this one is neck and neck.

I truly cannot decide. Xavier is my new Abby book boyfriend, but I would NEVER put baby <Jacob> in a corner. (Also, Abby’s writing style has altered and changed with this book IMO. It has matured with her increasingly heavy and guttural topics. )

I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone but I am TRULY thankful for the communication between the main characters. Lack of communication tropes have been killing me lately. I dearly appreciated how this story ebbed and flowed.

Xavier’s internal struggle with his undeserving parents paralleled that of my own. Being estranged by choice away from toxicity her telling truly sheds light to what it is to have narcissistic parents.

Samantha’s character was strong and well written. You see her character in many different stages. I loved that she was set in what was important to her, she waivered but held ground on being true to herself and setting boundaries.

Please be sure to read the trigger warning before entering into this book. The main plot is a character with dementia. The guttural realistic interpretation of disease may stir up some feelings for some that aren’t ready to yet face them.

I also have a new favorite quote out of this book but alas since it’s an ARC review and the book is not released yet I shall not reveal that until Pub day.

OH and only Abby would write an animal character sans a butthole. 🤣
Pub Date: 4/1/25

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One of the most romantic and insightful stories I have read in a while! Even the most sensitive subjects are handles beautifully and with the most sensitivity! Hope for more books by this amazing author!

A Vet who looks like Rhysand and loves animals but hates people?! SOLD! Samantha and Xavier’s story had me hooked from the start. This is a story of two people trying their hardest to show up for the people they love, even when life doesn’t cooperate.

Just like with all other Abby Jimenez books, their love story is not easy. There’s so many complex things happening in this book: a family member that needs caregiving, debt, estranged family members, career choices, etc. All of these themes are written with such empathy and depth - I truly think this is Abby Jimenez superpower! She gives us stories that are raw and real, stories that show us the struggles of life and how love is never a straight path but it always finds a way.

Also - Samantha is so lovely and hilarious! I’d want her as my bff :)

6 ⭐️’s

I laughed, I cried - like SOBBED, I got mad. Ugh, I loved this book the family dynamics, the real world relationships, adulting, disability representation. Every single aspect of this book I loved. It felt so real at times a little too close to home. Abby did it again.

Thank you NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC 🩷

Well. First and foremost, Jafar is back. And that is GREAT news because while I love everyone in all of her books, Jafar is definitely my favorite character. Plus, he’s learned about no-no spots. Immediate 5 stars

Abby is a genius at writing couples who actually have hurdles and conflicts to work through. I do think it was a bit insta-love, but I do appreciate that we quickly get into the thick of the relationship. Overall the book was incredibly emotional, but also uplifting and fun.

This a sweet romance. Samantha is a young woman who is about to move home to help take care of her mom who has dementia. Before she leaves, she finds this sweet kitten than needs medical attention. Enter handsome veterinarian, Xavier. They have one unforgettable date before Samantha moves across the country to California.
This story deals with real life problems such as aging parents, sickness and abusive relationships. The author manages to tell a tender story about how love can conquer all, it just has to overcome some obstacles. :)

I will read anything Abby writes but I was sucked into this book quicker than ever. This is a love story, it’s a story of hope, it’s a story of family and heartbreak. I laughed, I cried. And to top it off… the male main character is a VETERINARIAN who looks like Rhysand from ACOTAR??? No notes!