I went a little bit out on a limb in reading “Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez. Romance isn’t usually a genre I wade into, but I’ve heard so many great things about Jimenez and her writing, and I love her on social media.

Well, consider me a convert.

“Say You’ll Remember Me” is well-paced. The characters are thoughtful and relatable. Their arcs are very real, very honest and very sweet. I appreciated the carefulness with which Jimenez handled the issue of dementia. But I particularly appreciated how she brought the very real issue of family caretaking into the story. I’ve taken care of family members since I was little. There were so many moments where I was absolutely swept away by her depictions of the emotions that play out while caring for a loved one.

I finished this in just a few hours. I’ll be tired at work tomorrow, but it’s totally worth it. Im glad I stayed up past my bedtime to read this love story of Samantha and Xavier.

Abby Jimenez does not disappoint. I adore the heart and wholesomeness in her writing so much. I really enjoyed the exploration of caretaking and family and how that weighs on individuals. This felt like it went against the grain of most romcom formulas. Loved the emotionality and depth of the characters. A beautiful love story.

This story blends humor, heartbreak, and a touch of fate into a romance that feels deeply personal and unexpectedly powerful. The chemistry between the two leads sparks right away, he’s a near-perfect veterinarian with a talent for saying the worst possible thing, and she’s sharp, guarded, and dealing with more than anyone realizes. What starts as an unforgettable first date quickly shifts into something more complicated, as real-life struggles, family responsibilities, and emotional wounds threaten to keep them apart. But even with all the barriers, there’s something magnetic between them that neither time nor distance can erase.

What makes this story stand out is its emotional honesty. The characters aren’t just falling in love, they’re navigating grief, guilt, and hard choices that feel grounded in reality. The depiction of dementia, family pain, and personal sacrifice is handled with care, giving the romance real weight without dragging it down. It’s not just about finding the right person, it’s about figuring out if love can survive when life isn’t simple. With moments that made me laugh, ache, and hope, this is a heartfelt, beautifully layered story about love that’s worth remembering.

Say You'll Remember Me fell incredibly flat to me. There was little, if any, character depth and the love story felt more insta-love than what is realistically explainable. I also did not like the myriad of TikTok references.

I am absolutely obsessed with Abby Jimenez. She can do no wrong in my eyes. Abby Jimenez has done it again for me. Well this book was INCREDIBLE. And when I say incredible...I MEAN INCREDIBLE. I'm simultaneously so glad I read it in one sitting—because that means it was amazing—but I'm also mad at myself for reading it so fast and not savoring it. I am unwell.

Also the title. Say You'll Remember Me because it's giving Wildest Dreams and Say You'll Remember Me because her mom has dementia. Pass the tissues please omg.

I just can't get over how good this was. My heartstrings were YANKED. It felt different than her other books, but also similar in the sense that the characters are well-developed and have emotional backstories. Plus the way all of her characters feel distinct from one another...love it.

I loved how Xavier and Samantha's relationship started right away, and it followed the ups and downs of a long distance relationship + balancing it with work and life. It's a refreshing concept after reading so many romance books that follow the same relationship development formula. You don't see their relationship type represented much in books, but it's a type of relationship that's common in real life (i.e. fighting for love + trying to make long distance work, when each person has their own struggles and life challenges). It truly captured the essence of Wildest Dreams.

And the way they found pockets of happiness with each other through hard times? Screaming crying throwing up. They just need a year of uninterrupted together time and sleep. Also Xavier was the ideal yet realistic book boyfriend. There was a part of his plot that was giving invisible string theory and I was reeling in a good way. This might be my new favorite Abby Jimenez book, dethroning Yours Truly.

There is a reason that Abby is so many people's auto buy author. Say You'll Remember Me did an amazing job at showing what being a care taker can really be like. Sam and Xavier were both some of the most relatable characters I have read in a very long time. This story was about love in so many ways and not just romantic. Abby really knows how to bring real topics to the forefront in her writing without losing the elements we look for in romance and that is something I am very thankful for as a reader. It has been a pleasure to be able to talk about Say You'll Remember Me at the bookstore I work at and I cant wait to continue to do so.

Say You'll Remember Me is another fantastic read from Abby Jimenez. True to form, this book tackles difficult, real life situations, and does it with true heart. Samantha and Xavier are wonderful together, and the cast of side characters is delightful as usual. I could read a whole book about Tristan's antics! lol

This was my second Abby Jimenez novel, and I loved it! Jimenez perfectly intertwines real-life issues and situations with classic, fluffy romance vibes. Despite their somewhat insta-lovey beginnings, Xavier and Samantha are a believable, real-life couple. I appreciated the element of Samantha's family reckoning with her mother's memory issues. This lent a realistic, and surely relatable to many, aspect to the story. I loved the ongoing idea of love being made up of witnessing each other's lives and building a shared experience. This was a unique aspect I don't think I've seen in a romance novel before. This book was easy to love, and I sped through it in just a couple of afternoons, rooting for Samantha and Xavier from the very first pages. I would recommend this for lovers of Emily Henry, Christina Lauren, and, of course, the Abby Jimenez universe. This would also be a great pick for romance readers who like a low spice level.

This started out strong. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for the first 45%. But then it got predictable, and the stakes just weren’t high enough. I guess that’s what I get for reading romance when I know I don’t actually enjoy it. That said, it was a solid performance by Jimenez, and I’ll probably end up reading another one eventually.

Abby Jimenez is the queen. This book is wonderful - heartbreaking, hopeful and full of longing. A lovely examination of what it means to be remembered and forgotten. Lovely from start to finish. A must read.

This is my second book I have read by Abby Jimenez. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Just For The Summer, but it is a good beach read.
The dementia actions was over the top with the mother character and the whole love at first sight was kinda weak.

I really enjoyed this book

It broke my heart for all the distance they had away from each other and what they did to get back together. The determination was definitely there

This is a cute endearing couple and this book I would totally recommend

I love all of Abby Jimenez’s books — she always writes the best sweet boyfriends and wonderful friendships. It’s common for her to explore anxiety and health issues in her stories, but this one goes even deeper.

I related to this book from the very first chapter, and that connection stayed strong the whole way through. Having veterinarians in my immediate family, I can say the scenarios and dilemmas were incredibly accurate — I’ve heard so many similar stories over the years.

Samantha meets handsome veterinarian Xavier when she brings in her new kitten under very unfortunate circumstances, and let’s just say, they get off to a very rough start. But when Samantha proves him wrong, a sweet romance begins. Sadly, a long-distance relationship quickly follows, as Samantha’s mom is battling dementia and needs her care.

This part of the story hit especially hard for me after recently losing my mom to dementia. Abby’s portrayal of the disease and everything that comes with it was heartbreakingly honest and incredibly emotional. I also felt the pain both Samantha and Xavier experienced being apart — it was so real and raw.

I can imagine this might not be the lighthearted romance some readers expect from Abby’s books, and I get why it might not be for everyone. But for me, it was beautifully done. It deserves a high rating for the authenticity, the research, and the way Abby captured such a difficult experience with so much heart.

That said, I’m definitely looking forward to a more lighthearted story from her next!

There are books you enjoy, and then there are books that make you pause your life so you can fully live in theirs—and Say You’ll Remember Me was that book for me.

Abby Jimenez isn’t just my favorite author—she’s a master at writing love stories that feel like they were written specifically for your heart. Her male characters always ruin me in the best way, and Xavier? He’s not just book boyfriend material—he’s the blueprint. Quiet, steady, loyal, and head-over-heels from the very beginning, he’s the ultimate "if he wanted to, he would" man, and watching him show up again and again for Sam was everything.

What made this book stand out was how easy it felt. Not easy in the sense of low stakes—both Sam and Xavier are carrying heavy things—but easy in how their love unfolded. No unnecessary drama. No frustrating miscommunication. Just two people finding something extraordinary in the middle of chaos, and choosing each other over and over again.

Sam was such a refreshing main character—confident, witty, and full of heart. She never shrinks herself to make room for anyone else, and I loved how she encouraged Xavier to step into his own light without ever pushing too hard. Their dynamic felt real and deeply earned.

This story reminded me how powerful love can be when it’s rooted in kindness and action. It made me laugh, ache, and swoon—sometimes all in the same chapter. I was so grateful to read this early, and I already know I’ll be coming back to it whenever I need to believe in soft, steady, true love again.

Do yourself a favor: read this book, fall in love with Xavier, and thank me later.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. And the buzz behind it was so big! I just KNEW it was going to hit. And unfortunately, it did hit…. Just the wrong nerve. And it really made me sad because there was a lot that could be learned or taken from this one.

Ok so what I didn’t like was the ACOTAR references that this held. Normally I don’t care about the pop culture references. I think of it as this is realistic fiction or contemporary fiction. This is what they would be talking about in real life. But the problem comes up when that person is problematic. Why use ACOTAR? We just got people to finally stop using (CW/TW) HP in everything. Now we have to ask for people to stop using this too? Like come on it’s not hard to know that was a controversial series. You could have easily picked another yt woman.

The only reason I didn’t DNF this at the beginning was the dementia care rep. I currently have an aunt in law going through this very thing and the family is thinking the very same way as the family in this book. I felt like I was living through them. I cried a lot of this book because I noticed some of the same things we were currently witnessing. Jimenez really handled this book with care and I appreciated that aspect of this.

The other part of this I enjoyed was the long distance part. As a former long distance girlie I thought this was cute. Granted we were only a few miles up the highway, but it was still a bother to not be around the other every day. I think Abby also did well with this aspect of it too. The longing in between days, the times when you’re surprised etc. I thought this was done well as well.

But even still, I just couldn’t get over the blatant use of this whole ACOTAR thing. There was no reason. And I couldn’t ignore that. I really hope this isn’t going to become a thing with her. This really did effect my love of this book. No matter how the care was or the long distance yearning, it wasn’t enough for me to ignore the terrible that came before it.

If you can’t imaging reading a novel that is simultaneously hearth breaking and humorous, you have not read any books by Abby Jimenez. Say You’ll Remember Me will have you laughing out loud while weeping silently, it’s that good of a story.

Some of the scenes will stay with me for a long time, and I will never listen to “Come on Eileen” the same way ever again! My daughter is constantly losing her AirPods, so I will be sharing Samantha’s experience with her - LOL! I want to know what happens next to Samantha and Xavier, Pooter and Jake, and Jeneva and Tristan - not all romantic couples, by the way.

This novel shows you that sometimes love is not enough, but it definitely a life changing reason to make what matters to you the most a part of your daily life. It’s never too late to start making happy memories.

Apparently I love pain and suffering because this made my heart ache the entire time but I loved it so much!!!!!

I found Xavier so charming and wholesome and lovely. Samantha and her family were relatable, messy, and felt like people I’d meet in real life.

The hard topics of this were extremely well handled. You can tell a lot of knowledge and research went into dementia and caring for a person with memory loss.

This was a rollercoaster of emotions but let’s be honest, I knew it would be a 5 star read because 1. It’s Abby freakin Jimenez, duh and 2. Come on Eileen is my favorite song of all time so I just really feel like this was made for me!!!!

Thank you Forever for the e-arc!!

I loved reading this book and looked forward to reading about Samantha and Xavier. I enjoyed how Abby Jimenez switched chapters from Samantha and then to Xavier. From their date at the Escape Room to traveling between California and Minnesota and never giving up on true love I was hoping that they would finally stay together! Xavier became part of the family quickly and still kept his veterinary practice in Minnesota! Great read!

Thank you, Forever Publishing, for the early digital copy of SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez in exchange for my honest review!

Abby Jimenez's previous book, Just for the Summer, is one of my all-time favorite contemporary romance books, so I couldn't wait for her newest release! SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME is about the "right person, wrong time" and doing whatever it takes for the people you love even as you endure the toughest of circumstances. It's also about recognizing that love often grows its roots deep not in the big moments or grand gestures, but in the small, ordinary, every day moments. There were a lot of really resonate moments and a handful of quotes that impacted me, which is true Abby Jimenez fashion.

Unfortunately, where I think this book often struggled for me was a balance between the heavy and the happy. Not that I expected this to be a light-hearted romcom, and I think Abby gives readers a heads up about that with this book in particular, but part of the charm that I've enjoyed with Abby's previous books is more hope-filled moments amid the hurting ones. Also, some of the moments of levity or comedic relief felt tonally off to me in the scope of the whole book. I am not a huge fan of current pop culture references in my contemporaries. And comparing the MMC to a very popular fantasy book character just made me cringe so hard. That's just a personal "absolutely not" in my book.

I also felt like a lot of the relationship development between Samantha and Xavier happened off-page. Initially, it started off very strong. I loved their first date. But later there were conversations and moments they shared that the reader was told about but didn't get to experience along with them. While Xavier is an absolute perfect gem of a man, I was not all that invested in his and Samantha's relationship at all.

I don't really have much to say about Samantha. I think I would have loved more moments between her and her mom (even if those were flashbacks). I wanted to better connect to their relationship since the underlying plot is Samantha helping her mom who has dementia.

Finally, there was a choice that was made with a particular character that I was not, and will never be, okay with. Even though I understand where it's coming from, that doesn't mean I agree with it. And I will just leave it at that.

I am bummed that this one didn't work for me, and I think everyone who reads this review should take it with a grain of salt (as with any of my reviews). If this is one you're looking forward to reading, then give it a go and let your own opinions and preference influence your experience.

Rating: 2.75/5

The main trope was insta love which is totally not for me. I really can't help but not like insta-love. It feels too unreal.
I liked both these characters separately but the romance didn't sell me on them together.
That being said, I still enjoyed the rest of the book. It dealt with some super serious topics from grief, to sickness, to compromise when somebody's sick and you need to be their caretaker.
I also really enjoyed the rawness of the story and the struggles both our main characters live through.