I am an Abby Jimenez fan, Just for the Summer and Yours Truly are in my top 10 books of all time. This book was good, however, the constant referral to popular culture kept pulling me out of the book and the lingo that felt more like social media lingo was a miss for me. It was a very cute contemporary romance, but fell flat for many of the expectations I hold for books to receive 4 stars, especially as I felt that it was dragging at a lot of parts.

A heavy and sad story, with sweet and endearing moments. Character-driven - not a lot of movement in the plot.

I like that "Say You'll Remember Me" is so readable, but I found myself annoyed by the constant social media trends. Especially with TikTok, trends age so fast and date the story very quickly. In general, I found the focus on social media distracted from the story.

An element I appreciated was how painfully realistic Xavier's parents were. The focus on how he continued to struggle with strained parental relationships and isolation as an adult was very well done and incredibly sad. On the other hand, I don't think the challenges in Samantha's family were handled nearly as well. I struggle with the idea that full-time memory care wasn't at all an option; it wasn't even considered as a potentially better option for Mom's care or the health of the family.

I was not satisfied with the ending and found it frustrating that Xavier was making all the sacrifices. The epilogue was especially too perfect for the story.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favorite Abby Jiminez book. It covers a lot of sad topics (like normal) but the connection wasn't quite there for me. I wanted something more.

I really enjoyed how different this storyline was. Jimenez added the perfect mix of fun and humor with emotion and vulnerability. Being brought into the world of being a caregiver for a parent was a different angle and it was sweet how much of an impact that had on both characters. My main flaw with the book is that it did move a little slow and it felt like a lot of back and forth with each character grappling with the distance, despite that being known on almost day one. Xavier was a strong character but I think Jimenez pushed it a little far with also trying to make him into the grumpy trope. That didn't feel needed with as much back story she gave him.
I always enjoy Jimenez's books and will happily read the next one!

I think this may be my new favorite book by Abby Jimenez- and that’s a high bar. It had me feeling all the feels, laughing a lot, and of course, swooning over Xavier. If you’re looking for your next beach read but craving something with a bit more depth, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Thank you Abby Jimenez, Forever, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

There are 5 star romances and there are 5 STAR romances. This falls into the latter category. Samantha meets Xavier as she brings a stray kitten to the vet. He’s grumpy and gives her an answer she isn’t expecting and next thing you know-they go on a date. The problem is, this is Samantha’s last night in town. The next day she is moving 2000 miles away to California to take care of her mom with dementia. She must leave and Xavier must stay because of his burgeoning practice. As far-fetched as this love story may seem it was not. It was clever and sensitive and, like most good romances, has a dreamy male lead. The audio read by two narrators is a huge bonus too. I loved this book. Here’s to another book hangover.

{Book Review} Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

I’ve loved Abby Jimenez since The Friend Zone and every one of her books since has found a way to hit a part of my soul in the best way. SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME is no exception, thank you @readforeverpub for the review copy!

While there will be zero spoilers here, this book had token Jimenez components but also feels a little different from her others. I think that the way she developed and did the romance was unique and also a breath of fresh air compared to the more traditional storylines in romances. While my single heart felt like it was definitely in the realm of wish-fulfillment unrealistic for the single male goblins that exist in the real world, I still loved it. Honestly, I more than loved it I absolutely inhaled this book in a day and couldn’t put it down.

Samantha’s family dynamics were complicated at best, heart-breaking at worst. There were moments I disagreed with characters actions but at the same time loved how they communicated and worked through all the different facets of what it really means to take care of each other in a close knit family.

I read this book during a really difficult time in my personal life and a few things hit a little too close to home but it was also beautiful in that we all struggle with different things at different times and having family and friends and partners to lean on and support you is what matters most at the end of the day…and having people there to witness life alongside you.

So, so good! Abby's books just keep getting better. I loved both Samantha and Xavier's characters. Also the cat!

This is so much more than a rom=com. The story deals with love in spite of personal hardships and sacrifices and the realities of life and long distance love. When you find "the one" you do whatever is necessary to keep them. It's just the summer diversion we all need. Highly recommended.

One thing Abby Jimenez does really well is create complex and emotional stories that still look for the little joys in life. And Say You'll Remember Me is equally devastating and goofy. I do think this story relied a bit too much on some pop culture references at times that might make the book feel dated in a few years, but I still enjoyed the overall story and feel like it fits in well with her other books.

Thank you Forever for the ARC!

I went into this with some trepidation because of the dementia storyline and how personal that is to my family. However, I absolutely loved this book. Abby Jimenez is so good at writing romance AND plot. Xavier is a dream MMC, and I loved the strong family ties. I also felt this was a realistic romance which I'm personally a big fan of. I love to see couples actually going through real life "stuff" and trying to figure out how to make it work. The ending felt a little rushed, but otherwise, I absolutely loved this.

4.25 ⭐️ This book took me on a ride of emotions, from laughing out loud to wanting to clutch my chest from everything that these characters went through. Xavier is another wonderful mmc. I love how Abby always adds this care-giving quality to her mmc’s, and Xavier is no exception.

I loved Samantha’s family so much and how present and pivotal they were to the plot. They all had distinct qualities that added to the story. They also made me feel different emotions. I will say, the book drained me. The dementia portrayal felt so real, which made me feel like I was right there dealing with it all. That only attests to how great of a story-teller Abby Jimenez is.

While this book will make you laugh and it has light-hearted moments, it also has the gripping moments that choke you with emotions. It’s raw, it’s ugly, but honestly, I loved it.

Like all of her books the banter and conversations were spot on and the characters were perfect for a romance book. I liked that they dealt with such a tough topic as memory loss but the book got too repetitive after a certain point with what was keeping them apart.

Abby never disappoints! I always adore her books! I loved xavier and samantha's story from the start! They both had amazing chemistry! I admired Samantha's strength with everything going on with her family. The way these two fought for each other was so sweet! Even with long distance, they cared so much for each other that they made it work! I definitely recommend!

I loved the dynamics in this book. I love the romance and the relationships in her family. How they rally together to take care of her mother

What a lovely book, the main characters connection was charming, right off the bat. I found them relatable and exciting. Their banter back and forth was sweet and funny at times. I loved the cat's name being "Pooter", hilarious. I cried, I laughed, I had a great time with this book.

I devoured this book in record time, but I needed to let my thoughts simmer before writing this review. What started as a potential five-star read ultimately left me with mixed feelings - deeply satisfied by the emotional journey but frustrated by an ending that felt too convenient to be believable.

The setup is incredibly compelling. As someone who experienced long-distance in college, the circumstances surrounding Samantha and Xavier's separation felt painfully realistic and believable. Abby captures that specific heartbreak of loving someone you can't be with due to circumstances beyond your control. The pain, the longing, the practical challenges - it all felt real and relatable.

Xavier slowly became my favorite Abby Jimenez mmc. His devotion to Samantha is swoon-worthy, and their chemistry leaps off the page. The way Abby writes their connection - from the initial attraction to the deep emotional bond - had me completely invested in their relationship. Both characters are likable and their love story genuinely touching.

Unfortunately, the ending completely undermined everything that came before it. After building up such believable obstacles to their relationship, the solution was frustratingly convenient and unrealistic. Xavier's decision to abandon his veterinary clinic was something I simply couldn't buy - it felt like a plot device rather than something an actual person would do. The retired vets swooping in to take over his practice was the cherry on top of an already unbelievable resolution.

Xavier's perfection also became a problem. While I adored him for most of the book, he became almost too flawless, lacking the realistic flaws that make characters feel human. This made his ultimate sacrifice feel even more unbelievable because it required a level of selflessness that felt unrealistic.

Say You'll Remember Me is a book that does so many things right - the emotional setup, the chemistry, the realistic portrayal of long-distance love - but stumbles at the finish line with a resolution that feels more convenient than earned. I wanted to love this book completely, but the ending left me feeling disappointed rather than satisfied. Despite its flaws, I'd still recommend it to fans of Abby Jimenez and contemporary romance.

ladies and gentlemen. the book that took me out of my reading slump.

I listened to the audiobook and let me just say I LOVED it. I love this book sooo much.

Xavier & Samantha have my heart. They are literally perfect for each other. Xavier is definitely the type of if he wanted to he would!! Every single thing he did for Samantha was everything. Literally made it to my top book bf’s list!

There were moments in this story that had me laughing, blushing & crying. This story was so beautiful. I know it’s one I won’t forget.

Make sure to check trigger warnings before reading.

This was such a cute book. Like all of Abby’s books I enjoy them even though the relationships always hit a point of being temporarily unhealthy for one of the characters. I do appreciate the inclusion of Xavier’s backstory with his parents. Growing up very similarly it felt like I could have written some of the descriptions of his past. A lot of his feelings and processing of those relationships, including the no contact was so relatable on a deep level that made me feel like less of an outlier.

3.5 ⭐️! I love Abby Jimenez’s writing. You still get the rom com vibes but with heart still.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read & enjoyable… but was not my favorite of hers. It somehow moved so fast, but still kind of slow at the same time? I also couldn’t relate how either character reacted to their situation.

I was still very invested in the story and the characters though, which is why I still recommend and enjoyed it!