3.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @readforeverpub and Abby Jimenez for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this, I wanted to love it so bad, but sadly I just didn’t. That’s not to say it’s a bad book, I still enjoyed parts of it, but overall it wasn’t my favorite.

So here’s the thing, the book started strong. I love the first quarter - the meet-cute, the first date, etc. But after that, the romance kind of fell flat. There were a few cute moments through the rest of the book and honestly, I liked both Xavier and Samantha, but after a bit, their relationship just felt redundant. It felt like their entire romance was complaining and whining about being long-distance so you never really got to know them as a couple. It felt very insta-love which is not a favorite trope of mine.

Samantha’s family life was heartbreaking and is what made this feel like an Abby Jimenez book. Her family trying to navigate her mom’s dementia felt very real. It was heavy and hard to read at times but exceptionally well done. I warn those going through something similar that this aspect of the book may be hard to read.

The way the romance wrapped up felt a bit forced and unrealistic, which pulled me out of the story and made it harder to connect with the characters. Unfortunately between the lackluster romance and the forced pop culture references, this wasn’t my favorite Abby book. The redeeming part and what made this a 3.5 was Samantha’s family struggles. This sadly wouldn’t be the first Abby Jimenez book I would recommend if you are new to her books.

A hopeful romance, that talks about how you can still find love even when other problems feel like they get in the way.

Jimenez creates a world that feels relatable.

I love Abby's books and her stories, I love how she has real-life problems in her romance books because it's showing realistic characters. I think this book wasn't particularly for me and it could've been various factors from insta-love to ongoing trauma where I felt the characters didn't catch a break. Xavier also almost felt too fictional, which I never thought I'd say was a thing. But I love a vet! Really appreciated all the conversations on early-onset Alzheimer's too. I'm happy to see so many others loving this too!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. This was such a good one!! I loved that he fell so hard for her and the story with his parents were tough to read...I hate them! I appreciated the time line of their love story because it felt very real. Overall, Abby can do no wrong in my eyes!

Another winner by Jimenez. The main characters were well done and I loved the siblings. I hope this is another start to a series, I'd like to see the siblings show up with their own stories. I will be recommending this book when offering reader's advisory services.

5/5

I loved this one. Abby Jimenez never misses, and Say You’ll Remember Me might be one of her best yet (or tied for 1st with Part of Your World). It’s emotional, romantic, and had me fully in my feelings. I laughed, cried, and fell completely in love with these characters. It’s raw and real, but also full of warmth and hope. Abby’s writing just gets it. Xavier and Samantha felt like real people.

Utterly BINGEABLE.

Read if you love:
insta-love but slow burn
dual POV
LOL moments
right person, wrong time

Heads up—this book does touch on mental health, trauma, and grief, but there’s a great content warning at the front for anyone who needs it.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Say You’ll Remember Me hit shelves on April 1st—don’t miss it!

Abby knocked this book out of the park!! The alzheimers rep was done so well. It was informative and heartbreaking.

Xavier is a grumpy vet who finds happiness in helping animals and hating their owners. But when Samantha comes in with her rescue kitten, he is instantly smitten by her. She is beautiful and fascinating and called him an asshole. Her spark instantly made him want to know her better. When he runs into her again, he takes the chance to ask her out on a date, a date that they both don't want to end...especially since Samantha is moving to California the next day. Her mother has alzheimers and Samantha's siblings and dad need her help with their mom. There is no way this budding relationship would last long distance.

But Xavier can't stop thinking about Samantha. Booking a flight, he surprises her in California for the weekend. While together, they decide to give this long distance a shot, but they have no idea how difficult it will be. Though their mundane days, the highlight of their lives are the stolen moments they manage on various weekends they are able to meet up. But as life gets more difficult for Samantha as her mom continually digresses, and as Xavier's vet practice is still newly established, things don't seem to be in their favor. They will both have to make difficult decisions in order to either make their relationship worth or flip their lives upside down.

Abby does it again! Xavier and Samantha are the very definition of right person, wrong time. The meet-cute turned into an all night-er, and could have been something special, if Samantha wasn't packed to move across the country. As they delve into the deeply vulnerable and hilarious trials of long distance, I felt like I knew these characters and couldn't help but cheer them on!

How do you start a long distance relationship knowing neither one of you can change your situation? With an active veterinarian practice and a mother with dementia, Samantha and Xavier try anyway. But when the distance becomes too much, will they be able to withstand the obstacles, especially with their family trying to "help" them?

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This was my first Abby Jimenez book, and I feel like I’ve been hiding under a rock! Say You’ll Remember Me was such a breath of fresh air. I loved the characters, the plot was realistic but also interesting, and the entire book was heart-wrenching and emotional. I cared as much about the two leads as I did about every character included in the book, and that’s a huge talent of this author. Abby Jimenez did so much more than write a romance: she wrote a whole world, and she wrote all of their core memories. Beautiful stuff!

This is the second Abby Jimenez book I've read, and the first I've finished, and overall it was decent enough. I think one of my main things here is that despite being billed as a romance novel it really leans more towards women's fiction. Which is fine, I just feel like that's not really how it's marketed. Now, first things first, Jimenez does a FABULOUS job getting the experience of being a caretaker correct. So much so that if I hadn't have listened to her speak, I would have sworn up and down she herself was a caretaker. It's honestly the single best part of this book. If you yourself are a caretaker for a medically complicated adult you will see yourself in this story, and if you are not and you want to understand this is an excellent book to read. Jimenez nailed it on that aspect, and seeing as it's something that is so easy to romanticize or brush aside I think it's very important that it was done well, and I'm thrilled that it will get so much light shed on it because of how popular her books are. That all being said, I'm slightly less enthusiastic about the romance. It wasn't bad by any means, but (and I noticed this with the other book of hers I tired as well) it developed INSANELY fast. Like...insta-love fast. These two people spend roughly 12 hours with each other and then become borderline obsessed. Perhaps I've just never had a date that went quite that well, but it was honestly a little irritating. How on earth can you know that someone would be your "one that got away" after one date with them? There's also the fact that out FMC specifically asks our MMC to not contact her again because it would be too hard for both of them since they just can't be together (insert eye roll here) and then he proceeds to not only ignore her on that, but FAKES A RESON TO TRAVEL ALMOST ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE HER AND LIES ABOUT IT! Sure, there wouldn't have been a book if he didn't, but I can't get over the fact that that's honestly VERY stalkerish. I spoke with a friend about this book, and hilariously she didn't even remember that part, but what she was frustrated with was the whole small business thing that the MMC deals with. Considering the author actually had a small business I find it strange that she would write a plotline that so many who also own small businesses find completely outlandish. The more I sit with it, the more I think the romance in this book was kind of a miss for me. I honestly don't think this is one I will be hand selling, although with how well it's doing at my store it really doesn't seem to need it. I do have a few of Jimenez's other titles, so I'll probably give those a try, but so far I'm underwhelmed by what I've read from her, and don't understand why she seems to be quite as popular as she is. Fingers crossed the next read by her goes a little better.

I was THRILLED to get the ARC of this gem, BUT I am so sad to rate this one so low! Like…so, so sad. It breaks my own heart TBH. This book was HEAVY and covered some major trauma, unfortunately a lot of PTSD for me. There was a lovely trigger warning page highlighting these prior to starting the actual book, but I felt that the trigger warning barely scratched the surface of the actual things that happened in this one. The characters were also miserable for about 80% of the book. I was expecting more of a rom com and what I usually read by Abby J. Nothing against her expanding her vision and exploring new territory, but it just really felt like this would pursue the same vibes of Just for The Summer. Especially since she mentioned that Samantha appeared in Just for The Summer as well. Although there were still some giddy and hilarious Abby J moments, it still was just not what I expected. I was sad and dreadful throughout this one after Samantha and Xavier’s first date. The first 3 chapters and the last 3 chapters might have been my favorite, albeit things felt really rushed and a bit overlooked. I felt like things didn’t really make sense and were super random and unnecessary. Again: I am super bummed! However, I always aim to give my honest opinion, which is also a little uncomfy to do when given an advanced reader’s copy. Nonetheless, I am super appreciative to have been given this ARC and I still will confidently state that I am an Abby J fan. But not all books are for everyone, and this one was just not for me.

I love Abby‘s writing… This one was definitely hard with dementia, family issues, long distance, and depression, but it was very real and very good. As usual, the characters are so likable and relatable, the banter is great, and so is the storyline. The ending on this one seemed rushed and I did not like how the book would skip ahead three months at a time or 11 months at a time. It just seemed incomplete that way. It was still a great read though.

This has all the sweetness and love of characters that I've come to love with Abby Jimenez's books. I was concerned with the mention of the trigger warnings and the way the book begins, but don't let that stop you from reading this! The book did leave me wanting a bit more, as the same conflict is rehashed over and over throughout and becomes a bit tiresome. However, the main characters' relationship and determination to make it through make me love this.

Another real story from Jimenez, one of love and heartache. This novel covers a range of love found in a life fully lived. It's not just a romantic love but also family. The story of 2 people who learn what it means to be there for each other and the others they love. It also discusses the care of aging parents who have a serious illness and how exhausting this can be on those who love and care for them. I would highly recommend this book. Just know that it's going to have your emotions on a roller-coaster. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy.
#SayYou'llRememberMe #NetGalley

It was incredibly refreshing to read a romance where the main obstacle between the characters isn’t something that could be resolved with a single conversation. Sam and Xavier had valid reasons for not being able to be together in person, and I loved reading about Sam’s family dynamic. It was a great depiction of the realities of caretaking for a loved one, woven naturally into the romance. That said, the amount of TikTok lingo completely took me out of the story. At times, it felt like lines were included solely to appease a BookTok audience that already reads Jimenez, so the purpose of adding them didn’t really make sense to me. The book would’ve been much stronger if it hadn’t tried so hard to cater to social media.

🎡arc review: Say You’ll Remember Me🎡

“Some things are worth remembering, Samantha. No matter how much they hurt.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️

Thank you to Forever publishing for an early copy of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez.


Say You’ll Remember Me is definitely a different book than what most are use to from Abby. This is less focused on the romance and more focused on the MCs trials and tribulations navigating relationships with their parents and balancing falling in love while living miles apart.

I honestly truly enjoyed the last 60% of the book. Yes, the ACOTAR references were odd af and a bit overkill. But honestly, overall, this was an amazing depiction of caring for a parent with dementia while also finding the person you love.

I fell for Xavier our MMCs airport dad energy right away! His love language of acts of service was absolutely perfect for our FMC. And honestly made me swoon super hard for him. He quickly became of my favorite Abby Jimenez men 🤷🏽‍♀️ we love a man who will treat our FMC like she’s a queen 👏🏾

Watching Samantha become a full time caretaker for her mother was extremely difficult and at times was hard to read. But I genuinely think that was the point of this novel. To sit in the grief and struggle of our FMC and to fully understand and appreciate the sacrifices that caretakers give in order to care for their loved ones.

Although this wasn’t my favorite Abby jiminez book it definitely hit the spot for a women’s fiction with a romance subplot 🫶🏽


🎡 women’s fiction
🎡 long distance relationship
🎡 caretaker for parent
🎡 grumpy x sunshine
🎡 funny meet cute
🎡 no third act break up
🎡 romcom


Thank you again, Forever for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love Abby Jimenez's books and Say You'll Remember Me was no exception. I love her books so much because there is always a great storyline with real-life problems to go along with the romance . The characters were authentic and witty. The book has themes of advanced dementia, childhood abuse, animal abuse, and long distance romance.

Synopsis:
There might be no such 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.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishers for the advanced digital copy of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This book was heartbreaking. But not so much in a crying every chapter way - though that certainly in a possibility as well - but in a real life struggle way. This book was raw and very relatable. It feels weird to say I loved reading about their distance relationship. I sympathized with their struggles. But seeing them grow stronger and the love flourish was heartwarming. All the small mercies and support each other had is what helped push the book even further.
Very grateful for this advance copy from NetGalley and Forever Publishing. Thank you!

Another beautifully written and romantic tale by Abby Jimenez! She expertly weaves stories with relatable characters and situations. I haven’t stopped thinking of Xavier and Samantha since finishing the book.