Heartbreaking and funny all in one novel. It is only a book Abby Jimenez can write. The premise is easy. Two people in Minnesota find the perfect person for them and have the perfect first date. But the next morning she flies home to southern California over 1900 miles away. Xavier is the handsome, grumpy veterinarian who has only had his practice for two years. I love the description of him as an airport dad. The kind of person that sees to everyone’s needs before his own. Samantha is warm and smart but she is home because her mother has dementia. When mom was diagnosed the family promised they would do all they could do to keep and care for her at home. Even if that means putting your own life on hold.

The dementia is depicted realistically. My aunt had early onset dementia in her 50s and her care, like Samatha’s mother, was handled by family. The love story is there. You get a meet cute, longing, learning about each other and dealing with long distance. The side characters are Samantha’s family and Xavier’s friends and office staff. They add their part but Samantha and Xaviar carry the story. And this wouldn’t be an Abby book without cats and dogs. Intimacy is kept closed door

I also love that Abby’s books take place in the same world. Of course Xavier would be the Veterinarian to a foul mouthed parrot that is from, Yours Truly (April 2023). I laughed and cried and truly cared for these characters. I’ve already put it in my pile of books to read again when the mood strikes.

I always love Abby Jimenez and look forward to her new release every year! This wasn’t my favorite, but I still enjoyed it! I didn’t know that this was going to be insta-love going in and that’s not something I personally really enjoy so that contributed to my rating. As always, Abby created such depth in her romances and that’s something that I do really love!! This wasn’t tender, vulnerable & so sweet! I really ended up enjoying how the story played out and to see how much our two main characters were committed was joyful!

I really did love this book and had an amazing time reading it. I would rate it somewhere between a 4 and a 5 stars-- maybe a 4.75. The relationship was so endearing and I loved so many quotes from the book. Abby has such a unique way of writing where it makes you feel nostalgic and then sad, and then you are laughing all within a chapter. She keeps you at the edge of your seat with what you feel for her characters. I really liked the family aspect of this book and what each character was going through and how they worked through it throughout the story. The long distance and pining added a much-needed tension throughout the book. Of course, there was the signature Abby Jimenez banter. There was just something missing for me to go to a complete 5 stars and I can't put my finger on it, but I would recommend this book to everyone to read! I think I didn't connect with it as much as Just for the Summer and maybe that's it! I could also see this book growing to a 5 star read for me over time, so I will update you as I sit on my rating and think about these characters. As a side note, I love the vet aspect of this story.

I feel like Abby always has a way of dealing with some heavy issues in her books but bringing humor. Sadly, this one felt way less Rom-Com and more Women's Fiction. It wasn't that I didn't love it, I just wish I would've maybe understood that more-- the cover made me feel like it'd be more rom-com.

Xavier is a saint and truly I was feeling for him. I sorta felt like Samantha didn't really sacrifice anything for him in return and that was sorta a hard pill to swallow.

It wasn't my favorite Abby but I can appreciate those that go through the trigger warnings at the beginning.

4.25 stars

"They say that you won't remember what someone said, but you'll always remember how they made you feel. I don't think this moment would be the same if it wasn't for how it felt. Ocean or no."

"The best moments don't have to be big to be forever."

"The universe doesn't just hand out true love. So if you have that, if you're one of the lucky ones, why in God's green earth would you give it up?"

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

Oof. Abby did it again.

I head into every Abby Jimenez book knowing that my heart will be put through the wringer, but this one ABSOLUTELY wrecked me.

Abby is a master at the emotional rollercoaster. Like Samantha, she just "gets people." Her banter is addictive and hilarious, and thank goodness it was there in spades because it acted as the comedic relief I so desperately needed as my heart was broken into pieces. From laughing one page to crying the next, Say You'll Remember Me was an emotional workout. This upcoming novel, which releases Tuesday (April 1), sensitively and graciously explores some very heavy topics, including dementia, child abuse, animal cruelty, infidelity, and the utter exhaustion that being a caretaker can entail.

While most of Abby's books place a romantic love story at their centers, Say You'll Remember Me focused more on the familial love, drama, pressure, and stress that can accompany a life-changing medical diagnosis. Samantha and Xavier's love story was more of a secondary plotline, and while that didn't bother me at all, it did make this book a heavier and more emotional read for me.

The focus on memories - the good, the bad, the ugly, the core experiences that make up a person and their life - truly resonated with me and was an incredible reminder to treasure the time you have with those you love, to tell your loved ones every day how much they mean to you, and to remember that the little things add up to make a fulfilling life, not just the big events.

I am not ashamed to say I spent the last 25 percent of this book crying (I actually had to walk away from my Kindle and take a break before I could finish it). Abby definitely had me giving this a full 5 stars for emotion, but in terms of pacing, it began to feel a little like Groundhog's Day in the middle. Anything bad that could happen to Samantha and Xavier did, and I think Abby could have edited a bit of that out while still making her point. There was also some secrecy and lack of communication pertaining to a side character that bothered me, but overall, it was still a very strong book with so many important things to say.

This may not have been my favorite Abby book, but it was by no means a bad one and I am still shouting from the rooftops that you need to read it because it will touch your heart and taught me so much about dementia. When Abby researches something, she truly does a remarkable job and makes you feel like you're experiencing the hardships these characters endure right along side them, and Say You'll Remember Me was no exception.

This book hits shelves on Tuesday, so don't hesitate! Get that Kindle or store pre-order in, submit a hold request at your local library, and be prepared to binge this one because once you're in it, you're immersed! Love you, Abby!! I can't wait to listen to this one soon because I'm a glutton for punishment and need my heart ripped out again, lol!

5/5 - Oh my aching HEART! I loved this book more than I can say. The way I smiled ear-to-ear, laughed out loud and was overcome with emotion the ENTIRE time - I opened this book and never put it down. This story burst with thoughtful feeling. In true Jimenez fashion, the characters are so relatable, their feelings palpable, their conflicts meaningful. Yes, this is a love story (a BIG one) but it’s so much more than that. It’s about family, how we shape and are shaped by relationships past and present, it’s about caregiving and the multifaceted ways we support ourselves and those we love. It’s about memories. It’s about living. I really can’t get into the nitty gritty because I just need everyone to read the book and feel the all of the feels. You will probably cry, but it will be worth it. I know I did, and I will be thinking about these characters and this story for a very long time.

Thank you to @netgalley, Piatkus and Abby Jimenez for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! Out 4-1!

I laughed, I cried, I rated it 5 stars. I’m so happy (and very much not surprised) that it exceeded my expectations. The way I flew through this book is a testament to Abby’s writing style & how easily she’s able to get you hooked on these characters!

The love between Samantha & Xavier felt so palpable and even though their journey was screaming “right person, wrong time” it was incredible to see the lengths they’d go for each other and all the sacrifices you make for your soulmate when life can’t help but get in the way.

I wholeheartedly LOVED this book but I will say, if modern references & insta-love throw you off, you might have some mixed feelings about this one.

From the moment Samantha and Xavier meet they are both instantly attracted to one another. After a magical, seemingly never ending, first date, a second date is a no brainer in Xavier’s mind. The problem is, Samantha is moving across the country the next day to care for her Mother who has dementia.Try as they might, Samantha and Xavier can’t forget one another. Is their love strong enough to keep them together, or will the time and distance between them ultimately prove to be too much?

There is something so magical and comforting about reading an Abby Jimenez book, and Say You’ll Remember Me was certainly no exception! Samantha and Xavier are both going through so much in their personal lives that it seemed nearly impossible that the two of them would be able to make a relationship work. However, the pockets of time that Samantha and Xavier carved out for one another were my absolute favorite parts of the book. These dates and moments spent together had me simultaneously laughing and tearing up. It is so clear that these two characters are perfect for one another, but time and circumstance are in their way.

Say You’ll Remember Me is the definition of the “Right Person, Wrong Time” trope. There are endless obstacles standing in the way of Samantha and Xavier being together, and we see as the book goes on the two of them face roadblock after roadblock. While I fully anticipated that there would be barriers thrown up between Samantha and Xavier, I did find myself becoming frustrated about how it seemed like these two characters couldn’t seem to ever catch a break. It got to a point where the book started to make me feel a bit hopeless, and the magical, joy filled parts of the book were very few and far between. While I would consider Abby’s other books to be romcoms, I would not place this book in that category.

Overall I did enjoy my time reading this book. As alway, Abby did a fantastic job researching and handling the difficult topics present within the book. I always leave an Abby Jimenez book with a deeper understanding and compassion for the world and people around me, and that was certainly the case with Say You’ll Remember Me.

Thank you SO MUCH to Forever and Netgalley for this ARC!!!

I finished this in a day. Cried five times. My only complaint is the cat’s name! This was a beautiful story and I’m sad it’s over, just like every other book I’ve read by her

Title: Say You’ll Remember Me
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance
Tropes: Meet cute, Cinnamon bun roll MMC, Complicated family dynamics
Format: eARC
Rating: 5 Stars

“Love is the brightest color in a gray world”

Summary:
Xavier is a veterinarian. He is great with animals, but tends to keep people at arm’s length. Due to a traumatic past, Xavier is closed off, driven, and determined to prove his parents wrong. He owns his own practice and fills his days with working long hours and volunteering in his free time for “fun”.

Samantha is determined, witty, loves animals and mustard, believes in the goodness of people, and isn’t afraid to call Xavier out for his rudeness during their first encounter. Samantha finds an abandoned kitten who needs her help to survive. When Xavier recommends that the cat be euthanized, Samantha is determined to prove him wrong and save her kitten.

Samantha loves being underestimated and proving people wrong. She returns to the vet clinic to get her kitten cleared for travel. There is an instant, undeniable connection between her and Xavier. They agree on a date, that neither of them wants to end. It is a perfect first date. However, Samantha's family is in crisis, and she is leaving in the morning. Samantha asks Xavier to forget her. But is distance and time enough to make them forget all they felt in that one night?

Thoughts:
This book was an instant 5 star read. I was hooked from page one. Abby Jimenez writes such relatable characters who face real-life hardships. This is a story about life, the bond of family, making sacrifices, and fighting for what and who you love. It is funny and beautifully emotional. The chemistry between the main characters and the dynamic of the family unit was carefully crafted to make you fall in love with each one. Over a week later and I am still thinking about this book! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book! Highly recommend!

Favorite Quotes:
“They say that you won’t remember what someone said, but you’ll always remember how they made you feel”

“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 memories. Memories are everything”

Thank you to the Abby Jimenez and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Reviews posted to NetGalley, Amazon, Instagram, and GoodReads.

Only Abby Jimenez could have me crying over worms and proper worm care.

I pretty much go into every Abby Jimenez book with the same expectation - I'm going to giggle and swoon throughout, and about halfway through mourn the fact that men like this don't exist in real life and sob hysterically over the intentional and sometimes small moments and conversations she crafts between the main characters. Say You'll Remember Me was no different.

Heavier than the rest of her books, Say You'll Remember Me packed an emotional punch from multiple angles - the romance, the family situation, childhood trauma and the way that life sometimes just never gives you a break. This one ripped my heart out multiple times and left me staring at the ceiling and ugly crying at 3am after reading it in one sitting.

🎡Meet-cute
🎡He's a hot vet
🎡She's a social media managaer
🎡Animal Sidekicks
🎡Found Family
🎡Complicated family dynamics (x2)
🎡Forced proximity
🎡Long distance relationship
🎡Cinnamon roll MMC
🎡Rom-Com/more-Dram

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮."

I was in a major reading slump so I DNFed my first book of 2025 and moved on to 𝗦𝗔𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗘 which was exactly what I needed - I devoured it in a day!

Abby Jimenez delivers another emotional and heartwarming romance that had me laughing on one page and tearing up the next. With cute animals, a fabulously sarcastic younger brother (can Tristan please get his own book?) and sassy social media posts, I was all in. Bonus points for the Taylor lyric in the title and no third act break up. I have no doubt you'll see this in a lot of beach bags this summer!

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the copy to review.

3.5/5
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 & am so thankful to have received this as an e-arc from the publisher. I love all of Abby's books because of the ability to balance happiness, romance and harder life issues. Unfortunately, Say You'll Remember Me was heavier on the harder issues than expected. Definitely read the authors note before getting into this one.

4.25
"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.
The way Samantha and Rhysand, I mean Xavier meet is so
funny. You have to experience it. Although I felt like it was a bit too insta lovey, it worked and I fell in love with their characters. Unfortunately, they had a situation of right person wrong time.
This book felt a bit more heavier on the emotional trauma and current dementia situation of Samantha's mom rather than on the romance. Don't get me wrong, it emotionally pulled on my heartstrings and I felt for her family. Xavier could do no wrong, he was perfect, the way he stepped up the plate when things went south! He also makes her playlists which is the best gift
The end it really got me and I even shed some tears. The emotional rollercoaster at the end I never saw coming. If you love Abby Jimenez books you'll love this book.
Thank you net galley and readforeverpub for gifting me this e-ARC. I can't wait to read more of this series.

I loved the connection between Samantha and Xavier-- lots of chemistry and adoration. Samantha's job cracked me to, and Xavier seemed like an amazing vet. The romance was secondary to the bigger things happening in Samantha's life, namely the care of her mother with early onset dementia. It was pretty heavy content, not gonna lie. I would have liked it to be spicier-- everything was off-scene, so it really wasn't spicy at all. With that being said, I still gobbled it up because the writing is so consumable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts!

3.5 star, 1 spice


<I>Say You’ll Remember Me</I> follows Xavier, a veterinarian, and Samantha, a social media manager, who meet in Minnesota thanks to a kitten born without a butthole. (Seriously, it’s funny but also sad!) Their instant connection leads to a hilarious first date, only for them to realize it's also their last, as Samantha is moving to LA the next day to help care for her mom, who has early-onset (advanced) dementia.

This may be the first Long-distance trope I have read? It is also insta-love, which normally isn’t my favorite, but in this case I think it was necessary since the romance needs to still happen while real-life obstacles keep them apart. Samantha is adjusting to a full house with her family while navigating the emotional toll of caregiving. Xavier, struggling financially after opening his own vet practice, can’t just pick up and leave. Their relationship is strained by their distance, but the small and big ways they show up for each other are beautiful.

Their contrasting family dynamics play a huge role. Samantha grew up in a loving household, now bound even tighter by the demands of caregiving. In contrast, Xavier is estranged from his narcissistic, abusive parents. His emotional journey includes learning to differentiate between proving himself to toxic people vs. supporting those who truly care. He’s the king of ‘acts-of-service’ (where can I find one in real life?!?), always stepping up in ways that made me love him even more. That said, the book also highlights the emotional and physical toll of constantly putting others first.

There is a good amount of humor in the beginning which I loved, but missed a bit in the middle and end - the book actually becomes quite heavy. I think the romance does become more of a subplot to the caregiving, family dynamics and individual growth, so don’t go in expecting a romcom.

This book was well written and emotionally rich. The romance was lovely, though somewhat minimal, and the depiction of long-term caregiving was powerful. Just please review the triggers to make sure this is right for you.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the E-arc


The triggers are spoilery, see below
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Triggers:
- Dementia
- Narcissistic/abusive parents
- Child neglect & estrangement
- Animal abuse (mention of past puppy drowning)
- Death of a grandparent
- Parent with early-onset dementia
- Alcoholism (Xavier’s father)
- Cheating (main character’s parent)

For me, Abby Jimenez peaked at Part of Your World, started sliding with Yours Truly, and now, with her latest, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, has dropped to her lowest.

There has been something rather… low-effort about Jimenez’s last few books, and SYRM is no different. Little to no energy has been spent on building up the setting: readers are supposed to simply fill in the gaps with their own assumptions about Minnesota and Los Angeles, as if that is knowledge that all readers have.

Secondary characters receive little to no development or fleshing out: even secondary characters that carry the bulk of the emotional weight of the main conflict in SYRM receive little more than passing mention on the pages.

Worst of all, the two main characters themselves are developed very little, or not at all. Jimenez’s male romantic leads all tend to be perfect Book Boyfriends, and Xavier the Hot Vet is no different… except it’s worse, because his greatest characterizations are comparisons with other fictional characters (apparently he looks like some Sarah J Maas faerie dude? I dunno) and inspired by viral social media ideas. Yawn.

The lack of effort with Samantha is even more cringe. She is your generic Gen X/Millennial woman with a quippy social media manager job, and there are only two things I remember about the way in which Jimenez characterizes her: first, that she is Latina (I think???), and second, that she is curvy. Which, ick. I am all for bestselling white romance authors adding more diversity to their romantic leads, but not like this, when there is absolutely nothing that indicates that Samantha is Latina except that her grandmother occasionally makes some tamales for the family. There is a difference between writing a character of color, and writing an essentially white character but giving them a few stereotypical descriptors and calling that “diverse,” and I’m afraid Jimenez has fallen on the wrong side of this.

Okay, I lied. This is the worst thing about SYRM: the fact that there is absolutely no conflict worthy of sustaining a book of this length. The challenges that Xavier and Samantha face in their relationship is entirely external, the result of them living far apart. When they’re together, their lives are apparently perfect; even if some troubles occur, notably with Samantha’s family, Xavier comes to the heroic rescue and everything works out. When they’re apart, they’re just working until the next time they can be together. There are some awkward attempts on Samantha’s behalf to go all “romantic drama TV show” on Xavier, telling him it’s for his own good that he stops contacting her, but these protests are half-hearted and quickly go away.

There is an eleventh-hour “realization” on Xavier’s part about the way in which his terrible parents have influenced the way in which he operates, but this feels very much shoehorned in at the last minute, and I am not totally convinced it’s authentic, because it doesn’t show up anywhere else in the book.

In short, neither Xavier nor Samantha are forced to undergo much, if any, growth in order to end up together… and it’s boring.

I can’t believe it has gotten to the point where I might be taking Abby Jimenez off my list of romance authors that I love… but if SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME is a sign of where she wants to take her writing career (ie nowhere)... then I think I’ll need to get off the AJ fan train now.

Abby Jimenez just knows how to get to your heart. This book is about 2 characters trying to make a couple of impossible things work. I was giggling, crying, sad, and happy throughout this book. I loved these 2 characters and connected to them and their struggles through.

I really did enjoy the book and cannot wait to get the physical copy to add to my book collection.

The chemistry between Xavier and Sam was so sweet and realistic. The plot felt real and not cheesy at all. The addition of other issues and themes in the book was perfectly balanced with the romance in the book.

Xavier Rush is a charming vet with a heart of gold, seems perfect, that’s until his words reveal he's not quite the flawless guy Samantha imagined. After a wild night together, Samantha pushes him away due to her family’s crisis, only to realize that their connection is too strong to forget, and now she’s determined to make something lasting out of it.

Absolutely swoon worthy! No one writes contemporary romance better than Abby Jimenez!

You will root for the long distance romance between Samantha and Xavier all while falling in love with Samantha’s tight knit family. You’ll laugh one minute and cry the next. I can’t imagine a better beach read! I loved it!