I love Abby. I think we would be best friends. Everything she writes is poignant, tragic, layered, and lovely. The grump-sunshine dynamic in this book is just perfect to me. The characters and situations she writes about feel so real (aside from the very predictable moment where they surprise each other in a way that feels straight out of the story about the woman who sells her hair to buy a gift and the husband buys a hair comb).

It’s a bit like magic. Magic to see these feelings and thoughts I have so well articulated on the page. And damn, can she write some narcissists. But please please beware of the triggers because they be triggering. Like, a lot. Especially the animal one.

Read if you like Emily Henry. Read if you like complex family dynamics, intense, fast-forming connections between love interests, and stories about moving through the grief of illness, separation, and terrible parents.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley—thank you to them! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love all Jimenez books and this one is no different. This book is perfect for those that like a humorous romance but also like a little depth and emotions with it. I loved the main characters and going through the emotions of their long distance romance and the attachments they gave to their “homes”. Bonus: MMC is a caring and handsome veterinarian. ❤️❤️❤️

Well nobody does trauma and romance like Abby Jimenez. I do fear this one swung too far into the trauma for me but I know that many people will love it! The early on-set dementia of it all is EXTREMELY heavy and while Jimenez treats it with care, it makes for a tough read. Not every book is for every person though and that's ok!

I usually love Abby Jimenez but this book missed the mark.

I didn’t like the insta lovey and how the MMC just gave up everything for the FMC.

Not to mention the trauma dumping towards the end. I didn’t think there was a happy ending at all.

This had the classic Abby Jimenez charm for me - the banter between the characters, some giggly cute moments that have you kicking your feet (the song Come on Eileen will always make me think of this couple) and remembering what it feels like to fall in love.

But it wasn't my favorite style romance. They have 1 date and it rocks, but she's moving states away the next day. They can't forget about each other, despite (sort of) trying, so they start a long distance relationship, and the whole story is basically about how hard a long distance relationship is.

Each character has their own hardships going on adding additional strain to the already trying experience of working to maintain a new relationship immediately in a long distance situation. The FMC's mom is dealing with early onset dementia which takes us a significant portion of the story and can be difficult to read.

Because this story deals with such heavy themes, and the relationship feels more doomed for the start from these circumstances, it's not a fun light rom-com read. Jimenez tends to write romances with heavier, real-life issues, but this one in particular stood out as feeling more doom & gloom because of the trials going on in this relationship instead of it being able to be a reprieve from the difficulties of life.

I like the characters, and I think the book does a good job portraying realistic struggles, but I think it would've worked better for me as a romance if their connection was more of a slow burn developed throughout the story despite the hardships instead of being more of an instalove connection that's getting challenged throughout the story.

Either way, still looking forward to the next book from Jimenez!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Abby’s humor is so relatable and consistently funny that you can help but find enjoyment from her books.

I usually don’t like the insta-love trope, but for the overall plot of this I think it worked. Both POV chapters, whether it be Samantha or Xavier were interesting, and I feel like it’s not easy to make them both compelling narrators. I also liked the complexity of the family dynamics, it felt authentic.

I loved Xavier and his backstory, and Samantha’s personality was great. I do wish we got more from his friend group since we get so much of Samantha’s family, but to be honest, at a certain point it felt like everything was about Samantha? By the end of this book I was like what really did Xavier get from this deal? I know it eventually worked out, but the fact that he was to be willing to go bankrupt and destroy his health to be with her? I don’t know, it really rubbed me the wrong way and the whole relationship felt one-sided. There aren’t many times I don’t like the ending of a romance book but 😅 It just a seemed like Samantha’s unwillingness to budge made everything a million times harder.

But overall, I laughed, I teared up, and I was very into the book.

Five Stars — A Love Story That Respects the Heart and the Hard Stuff

Abby Jimenez has done it again. Say You’ll Remember Me is a smart romance and deeply human novel that tackles heavy topics like abuse, dementia, and animal cruelty, but never in a way that feels sensationalized or exploitative. Jimenez approaches these realities with dignity and compassion, honoring both those who suffer and the loved ones walking alongside them.

At its core, this is still a love story, and a beautiful one at that. The main characters are flawed but incredibly likeable—real people you want to root for. And as always with Jimenez, there’s humor, heart, a little bit of music, and some seriously adorable animals woven throughout.

If you love stories that make you think, feel, and fall in love all at once, this one belongs at the top of your reading list.

Immediately after reading: The last 1/3 of this ATE
I don't have any idea how I'm rating this. 🙃

Weeks later: I still don't know.
From being majorly disappointed with the problematic line on the e-arc, that was changed 2 more times before finally find a non problematic sentence to use in the final ebook...
Too the MANY Rhysand and night court references
Then the MASSIVE insta lust

BUT loving the last 1/3 so so much ... I'm lost. I've been an Abby Stan for ages and have LOVED everything she's written. But this was a let down for me. If it wasn't Abby I probably would have DNF'd in that middle chunk.

If you loved it, I'm honestly jealous 🤣 because this one hurts to not love.

Thank you Forever pub for this earc

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

There’s a UFO escape room, an unfortunate cat named Pooter, a cascade of mustard puns, and a VILF you won’t soon forget. It’s peak Abby Jimenez chaos, and I was all in. But as always, she doesn’t stop at the laughs—this story goes deep. From the beginning, I could tell this one was going to hit hard, and it absolutely did. Abby tackles topics like dementia and the weight of family responsibility with such grace and empathy. You can feel how much thought and research went into every layer of this story. It never felt heavy for the sake of being heavy—it felt true. Samantha and Xavier were so good together. They’re imperfect, vulnerable, stubborn, and so full of heart. I loved watching their relationship unfold in the middle of everything else they were carrying. Abby has such a gift for creating characters you root for in every sense, and that extended to the entire supporting cast. Each person mattered. Each connection had purpose.This is the kind of rom-com that sneaks up on you. It’s hilarious and sharp, but also deeply emotional and sincere. Everything came together in a way that felt completely earned. I closed the book feeling cracked open in the best way.

I definitely recommend the audio! The narrators, Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter are truly perfect for these characters. The audio is true duet and it just brought the story and these characters to life.

Abby Jimenez is always a winner in my book. While this book wasn't my favorite of her titles, it was still very good. I know our book club will really like it, so we will be purchasing it for the collection.

I'm not going to lie this was not my favorite book by Abby Jimenez. I felt like it was really forced and the instant love was a little much for me. As someone who has dealt with a family member dementia, there were definitely some parallels with my own life but I didn't feel like this book was particularly realistic and while I understand that there are people who go through these things, flying halfway across the country on a tight budget doesn't seem like something that is realistic by any means especially when you are running a small business and running yourself into the ground trying to pay for it. While I love Abby Jimenez, this one just wasn't it for me.

As a big Jimenez fan, this book was a weird disappointment. The love story was overshadowed by the constant parade of tragedy. The chronically online dialogue felt uncomfortable and immature, as well.

While I deeply love so many of Abby Jimenez books I feel like this one just wasn't meant for me. I’m not a huge fan of insta love and separation so I wasn’t as invested in the couple as I wanted to be. There were also so many instances where there was just too many pop culture references and cliches that were so modern it drew me out of the book. Comparing the male character to the lead of a fantasy series that’s popular but also not even completed yet instead of describing the male characters just jerked me out of the book. I wanted to like this so much but sadly just couldn’t get through it! I’m still an Abby fan but sometimes some books just don’t hit like others and that’s okay.

Absolutely brilliant. Abby always knows how to make her readers laugh, cry… just feel emotions while reading her books and this one is no different. Xavier was the definition of “if he wanted to, he would,” and that made me fall for yet another fictional character. And Samantha… my Samantha… she was such a wonderful daughter, and sister. I can’t imagine how she felt knowing her mother doesn’t remember her, yet she continues to take charge and take care of her every single day. This book really made me cry, and I don’t think another book has ever made me feel the way I did reading this one. Thank you Abby, NetGalley and Forever pub…

I adored this book!!! And the characters!!! Another one that Jimenez knocks out of the park! Her characters are always so relatable and this story was no different, I was hooked from the very first page!!

Oh Abby, you never ever let me down. I loved Xavier and all the silly moments. I didn’t love the family drama but we all have family drama, so it made the story more relatable I suppose.

This was an unrealistic romance. I would not classsify it as a romance but as a family drama with an unrealistic romance within it. The strong parts of the story were the protagonists’ relationships with their family, and the representation of dementia- but it was absolutely ridiculous that the family would remodel a home while caring for a dementia patient and wholly unrealistic. I usually like this author but this one did not do it for me. I am sorry.

2.75 ⭐️

Unfortunately, this book was not a favorite of Abby’s.

It felt different from her previous work, and the modern writing style and terminology was just a bit too much at times. I actually really liked Xavier and Samantha as characters. I could relate at numerous times to both of them and could see how loving and caring they were. Xavier was such a kindhearted and thoughtful person and Samantha was absolutely hilarious.

Insta-love isn’t my favorite trope, but it wasn’t too bad for me in this book (I think mostly since the book spans the course of a year, essentially). But my goodness.. I cannot get over how much stuff happens to this poor couple 😭 it was non-stop!! Especially in the second half of the book! Also one thing occurs that I simply cannot personally condone or justify… no matter the circumstances. It’s a bit fat no from me!!!!

The ending also felt a touch rushed, considering how much chaos had just occurred 😫

Anyway, it unfortunately wasn’t a personal favorite for me, but I did love the audio version!

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez is an impactful and heartfelt read about two people, who despite all odds, do everything they can to stay together.

Say You’ll Remember Me is great. The romantic leads are complex, and layered. And while they are a great match, outside circumstances are forcing them apart. I found the discussion of real-life issues and topics to be quite impactful.

The success of romance books obviously lie in how well the romance is executed. And sometimes it doesn’t quite gel, or is too forced. If I just heard the recap of Say You’ll Remember Me—two people with only one date do everything they can to stay together despite long distance, and family struggles—I would say no one would force that in any circumstance in real life.

But it shows how Abby’s strength as a writer and developing characters because it works in this story. While yes, the easy way would have been for Xavier and Samantha to stop talking, I also saw why they couldn’t. It was an interesting choice to have them be a perfect match, but outside forces are in the way.

Great novel all around.

I love me a good Abby Jimenez book and, although this isn’t my favorite of hers, I still really enjoyed my time reading it!

Yes, the dialogue was a bit cheesy, but overall I didn’t mind it. My favorite part of this book was how real the romance felt—no miscommunication or third act breakup, just two people trying to make it work. I also really appreciate how Abby Jimenez develops her characters as individuals navigating life circumstances in addition to building their connection as a couple. Overall, I enjoyed and can’t wait for Abby’s next book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy!*