OH MY GOD!?

This book? I laughed I cried, it was so deeply emotional in a way I wasn’t expecting.

I haven’t read a good long distance romance in a really long time and this impacted me in a way I can’t describe. This book is more than a romcom and I could not put this down. The Diaz family was so emotional and raw that they felt real and I was hooked from moment one.

“The universe doesn’t just hand out true love.”

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! This book was everything. Pure perfection. Chefs kiss! One of the best romance novels I’ve ever read. It is the most beautiful love story ever!

It was genuine love, it wasn’t corny and didn’t make you cringe. The story was just perfect, it wasn’t trying too hard to throw in every topic under the sun throughout the book. It was real. Real love, real family situations, real pain, real loss. This book made me so emotional, it’s been a while since a book has made me feel like this.

I absolutely adored the characters, the family dynamics was not all smooth sailing but in a family crisis I loved how they all pitched in. This is a difficult situation that is faced by many families and was written exceptionally well, my heart hurt for them.

I could talk about this book all day, I loved every page. So many beautiful moments as well as some difficult ones too. I must read more Abby Jimenez, I forgot how good her books were!

I will be recommending this book to EVERYONE! It’s a must read, do not leave it on the TBR for too long, read it asap!

Thanks a million @hachetteaus and @netgalley for sending me this early copy. So grateful.

Let's get straight to the point: When the MMC is described as a human version of Rhysand, you know you're going to get my attention.
This was my first Abby Jimenez book and I thought it was a cute romance with some really nice moments. What I liked about this book was that you have the main romantic plotline going on, but there were also the subplots of different family dynamics which really brought a lot more depth to the story. My only complaint was I felt like there was a lot of getting-to-know-you chat, it seemed to drag on...but...as a former Vet Nurse I really respected how much research had gone into Veterinary life (MMC is a Vet) and I hadn't read a book with a Veterinary setting before so that was interesting.
What to expect:
Forced proximity
Veterinarian
Cute Escape Room Date
Long Distance Relationship
Complicated Family Dynamics (on both sides)
Parent with Dementia.
Dual POV

Thank you so much to Hachette and Netgalley for my EARC.

yet another enjoyable book by abby! i feel like this book is perfect for the acts of services girlies!

2.5/5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️

I just want to preface this review by saying that this book wasn’t horrible, I just didn’t LOVE it. and in comparison to Abby’s other books, I feel like it fell short.

On that note, let’s start with what I didn’t love:

Insta love.
If you like the insta love trope, you may just love this book. The MCs start off on rocky footing but once they sort themselves out, they fall quick and they fall hard. Not necessarily an issue but I found it frustratingly unrealistic.

Xavier, the high-lord of cats and dogs.
Abby repeatedly makes a reference to Xavier having an eerily similar appearance to Rhysand from ACOTAR. I’m not saying this book is just one big AU ACOTAR fan fic… but I’m not, NOT saying it. She also relies on this reference to do the heavy lifting when it comes to describing Xavier’s appearance, so good luck if you haven’t read ACOTAR.

Long Distance.
Anyone who’s ever been through a long distance relationship knows just how challenging it is, what a toll it can take on a relationship, how much effort it takes to maintain something healthy, how easy it is for miscommunication to occur etc. but Xavier and Sam’s only challenges seem to be the financial burden the visits create and that they miss each other. That’s it. They never argue, they are always available to answer the phone (which is highly unrealistic) and they never get upset over their miscommunication/noncommunications, of which there were many. It’s just so shallow which is sad because I think this kind of relationship isn’t often represented in romance, and this could’ve been the perfect opportunity to explore it.

Chemistry.
In that, it’s virtually non existent. There is so much happening in the plot that the romance feels a bit like an afterthought. Granted, there’s some cute moments, but I didn’t feel that tension us romance readers know and love. There was just no fire.

Show DON’T tell.
I really don’t understand this one because Abby has historically written books sticking to this rule. She is usually careful to show her readers what the characters are doing and feeling, but this book is heavy on the tell. As a result I consistently felt distant to the story, and really struggled to get into it a lot of the time.

It wasn’t all bad though.
Here are some of the things that I really loved:

- I loved Sam as a character. I loved her feisty, witty, and loyal personality as well as her creative protectiveness over the people and creatures she loves.
- I felt that the discussion around early onset dementia & the representation was pretty spot on.
- I giggled at all the witty Instagram captions
- And lastly, I adored Xavier’s general kindness and gentleness towards Sam and her family.

Overall, I don’t think this book was necessarily bad, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hatchet AUS & NZ for supplying me with this eARC.

Spoiler free review of Say You’ll Remember me by Abby Jimenez! Thank you @hachettenz for the early e-arc to review.

As you guys know, I started my Abby Jimenez journey late 2024 and since then, I have been determined to read her entire backlist and I was so excited for this release so when I was approved for an e-arc I was so excited!!

The thing with Abby’s books, is each time I read one of her books I think that her next book can’t top it, but it always does! All of her books are so much more than just romance books. There’s always some very important underlying topics that Abby researches and tells so respectfully. Say You’ll Remember me is no different as it follows our FMC as her and her family navigate life with their mother who has dementia. Meanwhile we have our MMC Xavier who is a vet on the opposite site of the country.

I don’t want to say too much more because it isn’t out yet! But just know that I loved it, it was my first 5 ⭐️ read of the year and I’ll be rushing to buy a physical copy once it’s out in April!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC read for this book and it definitely did not disappoint! This book is close to Insta-love which isn’t usually my favourite but I ate this up! Xavier and Samantha meet in his veterinary office where she doesn’t get an answer she wants to hear and puts him firmly in the “hot asshole” category, upon their second meeting and first date there is an instant connection but it was almost as if it was two souls meeting again in another lifetime.

Sam has to move home to help care for her mother and Xavier must stay in Minnesota to handle is clinic, the absolutely yearning in this book is insane. Their worlds are black and white between each visit when they are once again filled with colour. It’s heartbreaking to see them a part and each dealing with such hardship.

This book made me laugh and even tear up, it was absolutely so beautifully written, it deals with a few tough subjects but worth it in the end. Definitely recommend this one!

Okay, let me preface this by saying that I ended up really loving the story. The way Abby wrote about memory care and the impact on family was so raw and really resonated with me. The desperate reality of distance relationships felt so emotional too, it was extremely well crafted.

However, the first 45% of this book felt really hard to get into or connect with for some reason?! I didn’t feel like the characters has chemistry or more that it felt forced. I usually love Abbys intro to a couple but I only really started to FEEL their relationship one the tension and pining came into the story.

But again, the last 50-55% was CLASSIC Abby Jimenez. A beautiful romance with a gut punch of emotional drama he (and healing).

She gazed at me." 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.''

'A witness to your life?'

'Yeah;' ............

This was everything I hoped for and more-an emotional, heartfelt journey that completely *wrecked* me in the best way. From the moment I opened this book, I was utterly captivated. It pulled me in so completely that I lost track of time, unable to stop reading. It had a magnetic pull-one that made me *laugh out loud* in some moments and left me absolutely *sobbing* in others.

As someone who has survived a long-distance relationship, this book felt *personal*. It captured the emotional rollercoaster of love, distance, and sacrifice so perfectly. At its heart, this is a story about love in all its forms-romantic, familial, and the kind of love that teaches us forgiveness and healing. Through its pages, we see the struggles of keeping a relationship alive across the miles, the heartache of fractured family ties, and the bittersweet pain of loving someone who no longer remembers you.

And then there’s Xavier Rush, the *definition* of perfection. A veterinarian with Greek god vibes? Say no more. The sparks between him and Samantha are *instant*, but their first meeting doesn’t go as planned. Thanks to her rescue kitten playing matchmaker, she gives him a second chance, leading to one of the most swoon-worthy first dates ever. But will it be their last? 👀 I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say their journey is one of longing, sacrifice, and the extraordinary lengths we go to for the ones we love.

Abby Jimenez has an *incredible* gift for storytelling, and she used it to perfection here. Every character-main and side-felt so real, like people I *knew* and cared about. Xavier and Sam’s emotions, struggles, and personalities were vividly brought to life, making me feel *everything* right along with them. Also, can we talk about the *SJM references*? Because Abby really said, *"Here’s a hero who gives Rhysand energy,"* and I couldn’t agree more!

This book was raw, emotional, and *so* beautifully written. It left me thinking about it long after I turned the last page. If you love stories that make you *feel*-that make you *laugh, cry, and ache* in the best way-this one is an absolute *must-read*. 💙

PS: Abby, I saw Chris is a Pharmacist, are we going to get a Pharmacist book soon?? Pretty please??

This is the first book I’ve read by Abby Jimenez, and I must say, I sort of enjoyed it. The writing style and the flow of the story were captivating, making it easy to immerse myself in the characters and the world setting.

The dual POV added an interesting dimension, although it did jump around a bit too much with time, progressing the story without enough details at times. Despite my usual annoyance with insta-love, Xavier and Samantha's relationship felt different in the beginning. However, their continued attempts to be together or apart made it challenging to read and accept.

There are a few trigger warnings to be aware of: animal cruelty is described, dementia in a parent is a major catalyst, cheating is alluded to, and child abuse is revisited. The book started off quickly but slowed down for me due to the repetitiveness of themes and issues. While I wanted to really enjoy this book, I found myself eager to finish it just to move on.

Overall, I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis- There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes-all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there's nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong...
. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date-possibly the best in living history-Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.
Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life-and even a love-worth remembering.

"Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez is a beautifully crafted contemporary romance that centers around the lives of Xavier Rush and Sam. The story begins with a chance encounter that leads to an unexpected connection between the two characters, who come from vastly different backgrounds.

Xavier is a charming and determined young man with an attitude of an asshole, while Sam is a girl trying to navigate her own challenges. Their relationship develops as they confront their pasts and the pressures of life, Jimenez skillfully explores themes of redemption, love, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

The chemistry between Xavier and Sam is electric, and their banter is both humorous and heartfelt. As they face obstacles, including family expectations and personal insecurities, readers are drawn into their emotional journey. Jimenez's writing is both witty and poignant, making the reader invested in the characters' growth and the evolution of their relationship.

Overall, "Say You'll Remember Me" is a touching story that balances romance with deeper themes of forgiveness and self-discovery. It’s a compelling read that resonates with anyone who believes in the power of love to change lives. The character development is rich, and the plot twists keep you engaged until the very end. This book is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance!

big thanks to @hachette & @netgally for the arc 💗

One of my most anticipated reads this year and it delivered! I think this one will be a new favourite amongst Abby Jimenez fans!
Couldn’t put this one down, it was such a heart wrenching story, delving in heavy topics so check trigger warnings. It’s full of love and loss with a touch of humour, hope and hardship, found family, family dramas and true love in multiple aspects.
I’m finding it hard to write a review for this one, just that I think it’s wonderful and you all should read it. It’s a book you’ll think about for many months after reading it.

I adored this book, to the point where I know I’m going to be thinking (and crying) about this book for weeks. It was so beautifully honest and truely heartbreaking in the best way possible.

There is something so vulnerable about both Xavier and Samatha that I loved so much, they were always so honest and willing to lay their heart out in the open even with the chance it could get hurt.
And don’t even start me on how dedicated he was to doing absolutely anything to be there for Sam, whether it was working every second to save up or giving her every free second he had, he is the definition of selfless.

As someone who has worked in vet clinics this is so accurate! Especially down to the simple fact of lunches not being taken because it’s so ridiculously busy most days and the Vets never remember what taking a break (let alone a day off) looks like.

The way Sam’s family functions is just so human and that was just to refreshing, no sugar coating just real people trying to function to as close as normal as they can make. The whole journey with her mum was beautiful and sad but I loved it.

I have to mention Hank, you sweet sweet soul you made me bawl my eyes out💗

I’ve been listening to the anniversary playlist from the moment I finished the book and it’s perfect 🙌🏻 Lastly big love for Jake from State Farm & Poota

I will always read anything with Abby Jimenez’s name on it! She never disappoints and this is another case where she’s written a slam dunk!!! Characters are likeable and the story flows well. Thank you

Thank you so much to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this title!

What a lovely, brilliant romance once again from Abby Jimenez. I’ve never been a big fan of the “Insta-love” trend in some romance books, but the way these first 100 pages hooks you with a connection so wonderful between Sam & Xavier, then instantly rips it away, I was hooked!

One thing Jimenez does beautifully is the balance of the domestic in her stories. Outside of these beautiful, yearn-worthy, swoony romantic protagonists are people who feel real, who are facing delicate and complicated issues within their families, jobs, finances and studies. It feels refreshing to recognise yourself in characters and Jimenez always writes beautiful protagonists and side characters, and not only is the primary romance something you end up rooting for, but the friendships and families relationships feel very real and can be filled with as much dread and excitement as the romance can. I wish we got a bit more of a conclusion about Xavier & his family’s issues, it felt as if after that final phone call the book hardly touched on it again unless in a passing manner, and when Sam was facing so many complicated issues within her family it felt the balance was a little off in what the story was focusing on. But then again, when Xavier became really unwell, it also felt like it caught me, like Sam, off guard since we only read from his perspective slowly growing more and more unwell. This was really effectively done and I loved it!!

I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can reccomend it to both friends, families and customers in store!

“It was so natural being with her, I wondered if loving her was a contract that I signed in a former life. Because it had never been like this for me with anyone else”

From reading the first few pages of the book, I thought I had a clear idea of why the book was named the way that it was. After finishing it, now I know why the book is named "say you'll remember me" and now I'm in an endless puddle of tears. This is my first Abby Jiminez book and now know for sure that I’ll be exploring her other novels for a cute, light-hearted romance 🤍

“Say You’ll Remember Me” is a heartwarming novel that is a homage to all types of love, from animal love, to romance to, most importantly, familial love. This book emphasised the importance of love in different shapes and forms, how it’s something so small that lingers, that could make a huge change—love was there all along. Love conquers all.

“Love is the brightest colour in a gray world”

Xavier and Samantha's love story was so sweet and flitting, swoon-worthy and awfully realistic, refreshing as it showed the accurate hardships and obstacles that comes with long distance relationships. I could never listen to “Come on, Eileen” without thinking of these two lovebirds, because that song was SIMPLY made for them! And also their Perfect First Date 😭 a UFO escape room where they get trapped with “Come On, Eileen” playing on loop? There’s so many little things that are so special to them, and these minuscule details touch the reader’s hearts.

Both characters dealt with their own demons that they had to overcome first. They leaned on one another but also came to terms with the fact that they can’t neglect their demons, that the only person that could help themselves was themselves. Their loyalty to one another was so heart-warming, and while there were times of uncertainty, it was clear that their love for one another never gave up.

"I want to stop living one flight to California at a time. I want to wake up every day and be alone in a room with you. I want to witness your life and have you witness mine. I want a parallel line and the fantasy world we talked about to be real. I want us to make memories”

The theme of family was strongly prominent and I loved it so much. I always adore novels that focus on the family, that are just engaging with familial dynamics as much as romance. It was so endearing and I fell in love with the dynamic and strength of Samantha's family. I don't know all that much about dementia, but I had a family member who suffered from it, and I know how difficult and consuming it can be, both for the individual and the family. I loved how this represented the hardships of dementia, but also the positive side of it—the love that can stem from it

"I know. I've always loved you," he said simply. "I think I couldn't forget vou because I remember vou from a different life-time. And I loved vou then too."

Four stars 🌸

Thank you to Hachette AUS & NZ and NetGalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez is a heart warming story that follows soul mates Samantha and Xavier as they develop their relationship while two thousand miles apart. This is a heartfelt novel that made me laugh and cry. I could not put this book down and finished it all in one sitting. It was beautifully written and pulled at the heart strings. I cannot recommend it enough! Thank you to the author, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I just adore Abby Jimenez's storytelling as her stories are always so well balanced with humour, tenderness, heartbreak, love and say you'll remember me was no different.

This one jumps straight into a not so fantastic but funny first encounter and I feel like Abby navigated this so perfectly. Samantha & Xavier's connection was undeniable and there were so many laugh out loud moments between them. Everything about these characters felt so real which hurt as they are faced with an impossible situation.

If you've read AJ's works before you know that her books always go way beyond just romance. This truly was an emotional story about family, sacrifice, having the patience that love often demands, making new memories and never letting your person slip away. This was an extremely thought provoking book about memories.

Thankyou so much to NetGalley and Hachetteaus for this e-arc. I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity to read and review this early. I am so excited for everyone to have this in their hands on April 1st 🎡

Say You'll remember me by Abby Jimenez Netgalley ARC Review

Release Date: 1st April 2025


I'm calling it, this is Abby Jimenez's best work yet! I fell in love with this book right from the start and it only grew as the story continued and we got to know more of the characters.

Although this is classified as a romance, it is SO much more than that! This book touches on so many deep topics in both of the main characters lives. Our FMC Samantha is dealing with a family member being ill which is a topic I am familiar with as a family member of mine also went through that same illness. The way she describes certain scenes was so heartbreaking for me to read but truly makes you appreciate the small memories you have in your life and how that illness takes that away slowly but in such a devastating way.

Our MMC Xavier is now officially one of my favourite book boyfriends. He is the biggest sweetheart to Samantha and shows that with his love language which is definitely acts of service!!! HE IS AN ACTS OF SERVICE KING 👑 He is perfection and the fact he is also a sweet veterinarian savings all the animals ughhhh 😩 my heart! I also love we get to see more deeper topics within his story line dealing with his rough childhood growing up and how that shaped him as an adult into the man he now is.

I devoured this book from start to finish! Both of the main characters were so loveable in their own way and one thing I can always count on Abby Jimenez for is incorporating the light, funny, heartfelt moments with the deeper more serious moments in a way where you feel so connected and drawn to the characters as if they are your own friends! 🥲 I’ve felt like this with every one of her books so far and this is definitely the same.

Will be immediately purchasing this to add to the shelves once it’s released! Highly recommend 🫶🏻🫶🏻

Thank you to @netgalley and @hachetteaus for this early E-Arc copy in exchange for my honest review 📖

all. of. the. stars. 🌟 👏🏼
oh lordy, what a book. i actually could go on and on about how much i loved it but ill keep it short. as per, abby had me giggling one minute and then ugly sobbing the next.

if the taylor swift lyrics “this is falling in love in the cruelest way, this is falling for you and you are worlds away” were a book, this would be it.

“i never felt like i belonged to anywhere or to anyone. but i belonged to her. it was so natural being with her, i wondered if loving her was a contract that i signed in a former life. because it had never been like this for me with anyone else”

first of all let’s talk about xavier - in every abby book i read i find myself relating so heavily to her mmc’s. xavier in particular has quite complex trauma from his childhood, and the way he speaks about it and the way that it has effected his whole life, was like abby completely picked my brain while writing this. it made me feel so seen. he is the definition of if he wanted to he would. i loved him so much. he is the definition of if he wanted to he would. he is an acts of service king.

the relationship between him and sam, they truly could not have been more perfect for eachother.

and sam, my girl - she really goes through it in this one, and having recently just gone through part of this story line myself i was crying my eyes out feeling like i was living it with her. again, sam has her own trauma that she is navigating throughout this but the way that she and xavier are there for eachother throughout it all, and support eachother it’s truly so beautiful.

be warned, this is an insta-attraction moment. however the way that it all plays out is so well done. it’s just so beautifully written and i could not applaud abby more for the way she handled such sensitive topics. i really appreciate the research that went into this, especially from sam’s POV to truly portray what it’s like to live through her circumstances.

i enjoyed every second of say you’ll remember me, and i fell even more in love with the side characters. xavier’s friends had me cracking up and i fell so hard for sam’s entire family. special shout out to my guy HANK 😭

i fear i may never move on from this and i can assure you it has taken over yours truly as my top abby jimenez book.

thank you to netgalley and hachette for the e-arc.