ARC Review: Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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.

Title: Say You'll Remember Me

Author: Abby Jimenez

Publisher: Forever

Expected Publication Date: April 1, 2025

Review:

Thank you to Forever Publishing, Abby Jimenez, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will never pass up the opportunity to read an Abby book. She writes such great stories. Not only are the romances realistic, but she always weaves such real life situations into her stories. They are easily relatable. She doesn't put the characters in situations that are so far out there you'd never believe they could happen. I love her real life.

And her covers. I'm sorry but this is the best one yet. It is just utterly gorgeous and truly captures the story right there in one shot.

This book really hit me hard because I'm a nurse and work with many Dementia patients. I have seen first hand people diminish quickly and I've watched their families struggle. It was so great to see how Abby handled this story line. You can see she's done her research for the most part to learn about the disease, it's consequences, and how it affects family and friends who surround the person going through the decline. Early onset Dementia is the hardest thing to deal with because you watch someone so young slowly decline and lose everything they once knew. Abby handled this all with grace and kindness. I can see she cared to make sure she was true to real life and the impact the disease can make. This topic is very heavy but it's an important disease to bring to light and Abby did a really great job with it.

Of course an Abby book would not be an Abby book without some great romance. Is there a bit of insta-love in this one, I would say yes. But it works to the advantage of the story. I loved how Sam and Xavier progressed in their relationship. Samantha knows it can't go anywhere because of her current family crisis and the fact that she's moving clear across the country. But she can hope. And it's this hope that really caries the story. It's this hope that makes you cheer for Sam and Xavier and to wish with all your might they will find a solution to being apart. Add to the dynamic Xavier's past and his parents who always said he would amount to nothing and you have a story teaming with tension and a few secrets. Of course, as with any type of romance story, there are areas where the characters just needed to talk in order to resolve things, but that didn't quite happen. Miscommunication is a trope that many don't love but I think for this story, the two main characters didn't want to reveal those truths for fear of it making the other feel sympathy for them. Both characters are developed well and are strong.

As with all the books I've read by Abby, this one sucked me in right away and I didn't want to put it down. I read it in one day because I lost myself in the story and didn't want to put it down.

I have to say once i finished this one, I kind of wanted to go back and re-read it. I feel like the nuances Abby puts in her books really require more than one read. I love my first reads but it's the second and third reads that really make her books impactful. Plus I love how she buries Easter eggs in her titles. 

And the nod to Come On Eileen (I'm an 80s girl) was fantastic. I cannot tell you how many times I've danced and sang my heart out to this song. If it comes on the radio in the car, you better bet that dial goes all the way up while I sing along!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Fans of Abby are going to be obsessed with Xavier and Sam and their friends and families. This one is definitely an emotional rollercoaster ride so have those tissues ready and be prepared to love what you read.

Author:

Abby Jimenez is a Food Network winner, New York Times best selling author, and recipient of the 2022 Minnesota Book Award for her novel Life's Too Short. Abby founded Nadia Cakes out of her home kitchen back in 2007. The bakery has since gone on to win numerous Food Network competitions and, like her books, has amassed an international following.

Abby loves a good romance, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.