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

 

Pages: 386

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: April 1, 2025

Publisher: Grand Central

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Just for the Summer,

Part of Your World, and Yours Truly

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "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."

 

 

Samantha Diaz brings her rescue cat to her vet and things do not go smoothly. Surly veterinarian, Xavier, tells her that the cat has a genetic defect and should be put down. Samantha doesn't listen to him and fundraises for her cat's care. After her cat has life-saving surgery, she returns to the vet and Xavier tries to smooth things over as they do have some chemistry. He appreciates that she cares about animals and challenges him, so he asks her out on a date. She agrees and what ensues is a fantastic first date complete with an alien-themed escape room. Things don't go well on the date (not their fault!) but the challenging situations only amplify their undeniable connection. Things are too good to be true, because the very next day, Samantha is moving 2,000 miles across the country to deal with family issues. Her family issues are getting difficult for Samantha and she encourages Xavier to just forget about her. But as time goes on, they both realize they can't simply forget what they share. Can they make a long-distance relationship work? It will require sacrifice on both ends and readers wonder if they are ready for this. Abby Jimenez's Say You'll Remember Me is a heartfelt romance that touches on many heavy issues, but overall, is a satisfying romance.
 
I really enjoyed the character of Samantha from the start of Say You'll Remember Me. She is well-developed, complex, and not one-dimensional in the least. Jimenez did a good job bringing her to life and sharing some of her baggage and challenges with her family. She is moving home to take care of her mother who has early-onset dementia. Jimenez illustrates how this health issue can impact the entire family and how complex it can be. Despite all of her family issues, she tries to forget about Xavier, but she can't and it's the same on his end.
 
Xavier is a grumpy veterinarian that readers can't help but love in Say You'll Remember Me. Like Samantha, he is also a well-written and a complex character who is dealing with his own childhood trauma. Both Samantha and Xavier have to tackle their issues as their relationship progresses and I enjoyed their blossoming love story despite the distance between the two.
 
While this isn't my favorite of Jimenez's novels, I still appreciated the romance even though it felt heavy at times. Dementia, elder care, and childhood trauma are all heavy topics that at times felt a bit too melancholy for me, but by the end, Jimenez does a good job balancing it all. This novel is perfect for readers who want a beach read that will tug on your heartstrings. So, in the comments let me know if you are a fan of Jimenez and if you have read Say You'll Remember Me.