As someone who has adored Abby Jimenez's previous works, I was eagerly anticipating Say You’ll Remember Me. Her knack for creating heartfelt, emotionally charged stories had me excited, but unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.

The premise—a romance between a charming young man with a troubled past and a woman struggling to overcome her own challenges—had all the ingredients for something special. And yet, despite the intriguing setup, the story felt a bit lackluster. The chemistry between the leads was there, but it didn’t ignite in the way I had come to expect from Jimenez's previous books. The emotional stakes seemed a little more surface-level than I’m used to, and while the characters had potential, they didn't feel as fully fleshed out or as compelling as some of Jimenez’s earlier creations.

One major disappointment for me was the lack of spice in the romance. If you’ve read Jimenez’s earlier books, you’ll know she has a talent for mixing humor, heart, and heat. But in Say You’ll Remember Me, the romance felt more like a PG version of what could have been a more passionate and intense connection. I found myself wondering if I had somehow missed a more mature, steamy edition—where was the fire, the chemistry that made the other books so memorable?

Ultimately, while Say You’ll Remember Me still had its heartwarming moments and some relatable themes, it didn't live up to the emotional depth or intensity that I’ve come to love in Jimenez’s writing. For fans of her earlier work, this might feel like a bit of a letdown. Still, for readers new to Jimenez, it may serve as a decent introduction to her style, just without the usual spark that makes her novels stand out.

God, I love Abby Jimenez. I was so excited to get this book as an ARC and it definitely didn't disappoint. It has the same addicting banter as her other books, with great romance and chemistry, and of course the emotional back stories that always make me cry. I read it in two days, and the only reason it took that long was because I forced myself to go to bed instead of binging it all night.

5/5 stars, no notes. Highly recommend.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley, Abby Jimenez, and her publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♾️⭐️.

Abby's books are EVERYTHING. Not a single one of her books has failed to make me smile, laugh and cry. Her books leave you feeling empty and full at the same time. I always want to savour every moment of her books.

This one had me from the first few pages. Also, there are several ACOTAR references and the MMC is consistently referred to as a real life Rhysand so if that doesn't convince you to read it...

This book deals with some heavy topics, it portrays the complexities of life and the sacrifices that come with love. It focuses heavily on dementia and the importance of savouring memories with your loved ones.

The FMC Samantha is ray of sunshine. She is hillaious and witty and has the kindest soul.

The MMC Xavier is going straight onto my top book boyfriends list. He is a gorgeous, moody, but gold-hearted vet. His love for animals is so extremely endearing.

Samantha and Xavier are one of my favourite Abby couples. The commitment they put in to making their relationship work, even though they only got to see eachother 12 days a year, it was absolutely beautiful. The longing they felt when they were apart was so real and raw, and had such an emotional impact.

For me, I want to feel something when I read a book, whether it be heartbreak or happiness, and Abby Jimenez book's always have that impact on me. If you haven't read an Abby Jimenez book yet then please do, I promise you will love it and it might even change your life❤️.

This book is so much more than a collection of tropes however, the ones in this book include-

❤️ Insta-love (not my favourite but this hits differently).
❤️ Long distance
❤️ Grumpy vs Sunshine
❤️ ACOTAR references
❤️ Right person, wrong time
❤️ Complex family relationships

Full review closer to the publication date but wow, another incredible Abbey Jimenez book.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

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.

4.25 ⭐

Once again, Abby succeeded in making my heart do triple flips on every single page.

This book feels like a warm mug of hot chocolate on a cozy winter day. It makes you want to snuggle up, believe in love again, and just savor each moment.

The portrayal of loyalty, friendship, trust, open communication, and growth truly tugs at my heart. Not because it’s painful, but because it’s so healthy and real that it makes me want to be part of that world—and to be a better person.

I loved how different topics were addressed, like mental health and animal cruelty. The little details and everyday struggles, which often go unnoticed, are exactly what affect us the most.

Sam’s mum’s early-onset dementia made me appreciate and fully embrace the present moment. It brought color to life, even on the grayest days (just like those I've had while reading this book). It reminded me of This is Us and Rebecca’s story. I didn’t cry, but I came close—not out of sadness, but from seeing how beautiful and united this family was. Love is what held them together. After all, love is the color of life.

As for the character development, I have to say I didn’t fall in love with Samantha right away. She came off a bit bratty at first, and I didn’t love her family focus when she moved to California. But I loved her growth and how mature she became after caring for her mum, shifting from "I had to give up my life for my mum" to "I choose to take care of her."

And Xavier? Abby, please! How can you keep raising the bar for green flags? These fictional men are making it harder and harder for me to stay grounded. Even though I couldn’t picture him as Rhysand from ACOTAR, he was very much a Patrick Dempsey in my mind, and I couldn't be happier about it. 😍😮‍💨

Now, I need Patrick Dempsey cast for this role if this ever makes it to the screen.

1 - Plot Creativity: 3/5
2 - Enjoyment: 5/5
3 - Character Development: 4/5
4 - Narrative: 5/5

Abby Jimenez has done it again!! Truly the master of romance books. Abby know's how to write a realistic and healthy romance, while still keeping it funny, emotional, and relatable. Abby perfectly captured the difficulties of financial limitations, complex family relationships, and long distance relationships. I loved that this book did not follow the typical whirlwind romance, dramatic breakup, and then they get back together. The realities of losing a grandparent hit so close to home for me, and Abby really knew how to describe the importance of grandparents in families. The way that Alzheimer's was represented in this book was very well done and at times emotional to read. I loved this book and can't wait to read more books by Abby.

Sweet and heartwarming yet heartbreaking at the same time. Samantha and Xavier were a gorgeous couple and I loved their interactions so much. It was also so lovely to see side characters pop up too (and I'm hopeful there will be future novels of their stories too).

The book dealt with difficult themes and I felt they were handled sensitively. If I'm being pedantic, I felt the ending was a little tooooo wrapped up and perfect (but who am I to second guess a HEA in a romance book).

Wow, as you’ve come to expect with Abby Jimenez she’s written a book that packs an emotional punch. Both with a beautiful romantic story and one about loss and sacrifice.

Xavier is the ultimate book boyfriend. Both physically (we all love a Rhysand lookalike) and emotionally. Though he may be grumpy and unlikeable (who wouldn’t chose animals over humans everyday?!) he’s the ultimate care giver. Abby always manages to write characters that create a real impact, they have real flaws and personalities complete with meaningful back stories. Xavier’s abusive history was touched on delicately but also realistically. I kept thinking we would get a full blow out moment with his parents but having him come to terms on his own with his desire to succeed to prove them wrong being less important than the happiness of the rest of his life was done beautifully. Hank was the perfect accompaniment to this moment in the story and a perfect example of how Abby brings things full circle.

The lighter moments with how Xavier and Sam meet, (I won’t be able to hear “Come on Eileen” again without thinking of them) and the comedic touch of Sam’s marketing puns about mustard as well as the four legged characters made me smile and read with pure joy.

This was a gentle love story with no third act breakup. The adoration and determination of the characters to be together even when they couldn’t be physically together was so sweetly written. The longing from both main characters to have their person with them at their most difficult moments felt so real and raw.

Whilst the focus of this ultimately is the romance between Samantha and Xavier. The families (both Samantha’s loving family and Xavier’s found family - work and friends) make this such a powerful and emotional read. Abby doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects and this book is no exception. She broke my heart with this story, the sacrifices all of Samantha’s family had to endure to look after Lisa through her dementia and the positivity of knowing that life isn’t always going to go the way we expect it to and the message that love and happiness really is the important thing in life.

“But the small memories are the fabric of your life, the ones so inconsequential that you don’t even remember them. You just know how you felt when you were making them.” This quote really resonated with me and there were many other poignant messages weaved throughout the story that for me there really is no other better romantic story teller than Abby Jimenez.

I tend to read romance books for something lighthearted but in contrast what I love about Abby’s stories (Say You’ll Remember me in particular) is that she fully immerses you into her characters world and you go through all the emotions. For me I want to truly feel something when I read - be it love, happiness or heartbreak. The nitty gritty of life as well the happy ever after.

Thank you Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and Abby Jimenez for granting my wish and providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. I feel privileged that I got to meet Samantha and Xavier early and read their wonderful love story.

I don’t give 5⭐️ often. This year, up to now, I have given none. Last year there were 2 books. One of which was Yours Truly by Abby. I couldn’t give Say You’ll Remember Me anything less than 5⭐️ Xavier is the perfect mmc and this book is just truly heartwarming.

‘Say You’ll Remember Me’ by Abby Jimenez is an emotional, beautiful, devastating and heartwarming love story which addresses sensitive topics (content warning: dementia) in a respectful, realistic and informative way while also including a sprinkling of joy and hope. The main characters are veterinarian Xavier, who runs a small clinic in Minnesota, and marketing professional Samantha, whose family all live in California where she is compelled to join them. The course of true love never did run smooth, and never has that been more true than in this novel…

Abby Jimenez always creates wonderful characters who feel like your closest friends, and she really did so again with Xavier and Sam. The dual POV narrative allows us to get in both of their heads, and understand the pureness of their hearts. Sam’s story especially resonated with me, since my grandma is living with dementia and my mother who provides some of her care has confided many similar challenges and decisions. Both characters’ love of animals endeared me to them. Xavier’s relationship with his parents was an important part of his motivation, so I was glad to see that explored, and even more pleased when we got to witness his true support network of his best friends and his vet clinic staff.

On a lighter note, I loved:
- The animal characters - especially Pooter as I’m a cat person
- The escape room, and the way “Come On Eileen” might now be stuck in my head forever
- The lack of miscommunication / third-act conflict tropes - challenges were very realistic, grounded in circumstance
- The quote “Love is the brightest color in a gray world.”

OF COURSE this gets five stars from me, and may just be the best book I have read this year. I definitely recommend to Jimenez lovers, and all romance fans, but have your tissues ready. I cried so many times at the bittersweetness of the story which will forever have a place in my heart.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book feels less like the Part Of Your World series than the others with just a few mentions of previous characters, however, it is an amazing book. It made me laugh and cry multiple times, I could not put this down. Beautifully written as I have come to expect from Abby Jimenez and tackles Alzheimer's very well in a way that really makes the characters and their stuggles come alive.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC - I already have the physical book on order for release day.

Xavier and Samantha, what can I say. Miss Abby has done it again, the depth of the characters, with each having some form of underlying trauma creates such amazing plot points. Abby’s books will never not captivate my attention from the first page, and Say You’ll Remember Me is no exception. I want to give a HUGE thank you for allowing me the pleasure to read this book early and i can’t wait to read it again in April with my physical copy🫶🏻

(Spoiler free)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have yet to read an Abby Jimenez book I didn't enjoy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, too. I was a little thrown off at first because I'm not used to the main characters connecting so quickly, but, without giving away anything about the plot, there's a perfectly good reason why the plot unfolds this way.

The romance in this book was so lovely, but torture at the same time. One thing Abby always seems to do well is making her characters so human. The characters are so well developed. They have flaws that feel genuine and well thought out, and they make mistakes and sacrifices.

This book had me in floods of tears at points. It also had me kicking my feet, smiling, and giggling to myself. It was a whole roller coaster of emotions.

The only reason I couldn't give it 5 stars was because of a slight lull in the story at around 60-70%. The narrative and POVs got a little bit repetitive due to what was happening in the plot.

Other than that, I loved this book. I love how Abby's romance books aren't silly or juvenile. They're gritty and real, frustrating and lovely, with enough twists in the plot to keep it engaging. They're packed with raw human emotions and explore really meaningful themes. I particularly enjoyed the focus on the importance of making memories, being present in peoples' lives, and the sacrifices we make for people we love.

I'm incredibly grateful to have been lucky enough to read an ARC of this book, so thank you to Little, Brown Book Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

😭😭😭 It was so good.

I was lucky enough to receive the arc and it derailed my entire Saturday bc I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for everyone else to read it.

Abby Jimenez has done it again! I finished this morning and will be thinking about the book and the characters for a while.
I think this is her most emotional book to date (or at least for me) but still interspersed with laugh out loud moments.
Abby has a way of writing relatable characters with a lot of emotional depth. Even if you can’t relate to exactly what they went through you connect with them and experience the roller coaster of emotions with them.
I loved the relationship between the two main characters. The side characters added additional hilarity and emotions and I hope we get to see more of Xavier’s friendship group!
The only downside to getting this early is having to wait longer for her next release!

“I think I couldn’t forget you because I remember you from a different lifetime . And I loved you then too.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Abby Jimenez’ writing stuns me once again. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Xavier and Samantha were just perfectly written characters . The way that Abby writes about sensitive subjects in her books is truly heartbreaking yet uplifting , and despite the mundane moments her humorous, beautiful writing brings you joy. I enjoyed seeing how Xavier and Samantha adapt to each others lives and overcome so many differences, and show how love really can conquer all.

-Arc review

“Love is the brightest colour in a grey world.”

I’ve never read an Abby Jimenez book that I didn’t love. Her newest book, Say You’ll Remember Me, was no different. I loved this book!!

Abby Jimenez can do no wrong. Did I receive the ARC yesterday? Yes. Did I stay up all night reading the ARC, ALSO YES. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. Every time I think, she can’t possibly write something better, SHE DOES. I can’t wait to add the physical copy of this book to my shelf. This book deals with a lot of HEAVY themes, animal abuse, cruelty, death, etc. I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before starting the book. That being said, Xavier is just the most perfect human being to ever walk this planet. It’s the little things. This man is SO thoughtful. He notices everything and goes out of his way to make Samantha feel extra special. This man is the definition of if he wanted to, he WOULD. I think Xavier and Samantha are my new favourite couple (though I say that every time Abby comes out with a new book). I wish I could insert quotes from the book because there are so many beautiful ones I would love to share with you all. Unfortunately the book isn’t out yet, but once it comes out, I can’t wait to gush about Xavier with all of you. Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC!! 💕