Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez was… yeah, kind of a letdown. 😕
It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was so excited to get my hands on it. But sadly, it just didn’t live up to the hype I had built in my head. Abby is starting to feel a bit hit or miss for me lately, I’ve had two books from her that were solid 2-star reads, and others that I absolutely loved (like 4.5 or even 5 stars).
So I’m definitely not giving up on her, I’ll keep reading what she puts out! But I think from now on, I’ll try to go in with lower expectations so I don’t get burned again. Still holding out hope her next book will be one of the hits 🤞.
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.
Review of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
One of the biggest reasons Say You’ll Remember Me didn’t work for me is that I’m really not a fan of insta-love in books. I love a good slow burn, give me the yearning, the tension, the gradual build-up! But this book just jumped straight into the romance, and it felt way too rushed for my taste.
Also, the central conflict was all about the struggles of long-distance relationships… but I honestly didn’t understand why it was such a big deal for the characters? It didn’t feel like a strong enough reason to carry the entire story. That disconnect made it really hard for me to get invested in their relationship, which is probably why this book ended up being such a miss for me.
Plot Analysis of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Xavier and Samantha’s story begins in the most unexpected (and honestly kind of hilarious) way, all because of a kitten who needs surgery… and doesn’t have a butthole. Yep, you read that right. From the start, there’s some tension between them, they don’t exactly hit it off right away, but underneath all the sarcasm and side-eyes, there’s a spark that’s hard to ignore. They end up sharing one perfect, unforgettable night together… just before Samantha has to move back across the country.
Say You’ll Remember Me is really a story about what happens when two people meet at the wrong time. It dives into the messiness of long-distance relationships, chasing your dreams, and figuring out who you are, all while trying to hold onto something real. It’s tender, frustrating, emotional, and honest in the way love can be when life refuses to make it easy. You’ll find yourself rooting for them, even when everything seems stacked against them. Because sometimes love shows up when you least expect it, and the question becomes: is it enough?
Characters of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Samantha Diaz : Samantha definitely fits the mold of the classic quirky FMC, and to be fair, her sense of humor really worked for me. She had some genuinely funny moments that made me smile. But beyond that, she felt kind of one-note. Her personality didn’t go much deeper than the jokes, and I struggled to connect with her or feel invested in what she was going through emotionally. I wanted more layers to her character, something to really root for, but it just wasn’t quite there for me.
Xavier Rush : Don’t even get me started on Xavier. His entire personality seemed to be based on the fact that he looked like Rhysand, and honestly, that just annoyed me. I really don’t like when books rely on references to other fictional characters, especially from authors I don’t even read. It totally pulled me out of the story and left me wondering, why am I reading about someone else’s characters here? 😤 Beyond that, Xavier didn’t feel very developed. His character revolved so much around his looks that there wasn’t much else to hold onto. The only thing I genuinely liked about him was that he was a vet, and even that didn’t get explored as much as I hoped. He just felt… flat.
Samantha & Xavier :The romance… oh wow. Where do I even begin? 😤 Every time I think about it, I just get frustrated. It left such a bitter taste in my mouth. Everything between the characters happened so fast in the beginning, they connected, they clicked, and then… that was basically it. No real build-up, no slow burn, no tension or yearning to keep me hooked. I felt kind of cheated, like, wait, that’s it?
And the whole conflict around their long-distance relationship? I just didn’t buy it. It felt really weak and forced. I kept thinking, If you both care this much, then what’s actually stopping you? There wasn’t enough weight behind the emotional stakes, so the drama just didn’t land for me. Honestly, it made me question the point of the book at times. I know long-distance can be hard, but it just didn’t feel like enough of a barrier here to drive an entire story.
Pacing & writing style
The last two books I read by Abby Jimenez really made me appreciate her writing style, she has a way of blending emotion with humor that usually hits the right spot for me. So when I picked up Say You’ll Remember Me, I was honestly excited. And to be fair, I really enjoyed the first 100 pages or so. The setup was cute, the banter was fun, and I was intrigued by where things could go.
But then… it all started to unravel. The Rhysand reference, the TikTok mentions, and the overuse of Gen Z slang completely pulled me out of the story. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once, and it got to the point where I had to keep putting the book down. I genuinely had to push myself to finish it, and that’s never a great sign.
The central conflict of the long-distance relationship just didn’t feel strong enough to carry the whole book, and it seemed like Abby tried to fill the gaps with excessive, unnecessary drama. And when I say drama, I mean s**uffocating levels of drama.** It was overwhelming.
Potential spoiler here!
What really got to me though was the way the book handled the cheating subplot. I was honestly furious. The way Samantha and her sister completely normalized their father’s infidelity just because their mom was sick? I was like, excuse me, what?! That doesn’t make it okay, not even close. And the way they got mad at their brother for being upset about it? No. Just no. He was the only one reacting like a decent human being in that situation, and it left me with such a sour taste.
The pacing in Say You’ll Remember Me was honestly all over the place. The romance felt rushed and totally unearned, mostly because of the insta-love that was used to fast-track the whole long-distance relationship conflict. After that, it was just non-stop drama, like, truly no breaks. It felt like Abby was throwing one thing after another at us, BAM BAM BAM, without giving the story (or the reader) a moment to breathe. I felt so overwhelmed at times, and it really pulled me out of the experience. It was just too much, too fast, and didn’t give the emotional beats enough time to settle.
Tropes and Trigger warnings of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Tropes of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Tropes :
Long distance relationship
Insta love
Right person wrong time
Grumpy x sunshine
Family Drama
Dual POV
Trigger warnings of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Animal abuse
Child abuse
Cheating
Dementia
Death of a loved one
Grief
Some quotes I enjoyed
“I did like dogs, though. I liked all animals, but especially dogs. We didn’t deserve them—and some people deserved them less than others.”
“You know how when someone dies, all anyone cares about is how? Somehow the moment that takes them out is more interesting than decades worth of life and accomplishments and living. I hated it.”
“They say that you won’t remember what someone said, but you’ll always remember how they made you fell.”
“You didn’t remember to forget me,” I said, quietly.
“No,” he said. “I did not.”
“That there is nothing more beautiful than being a witness to someone’s life. To know them inside and out and be with them through everything, share the same memories. Memories are everything. I want that.”
“I want someone who knows everything there is to know about me, and I want to know everything about them. I want to be able to say one out-of-context comment to someone and they get what it means and they laugh and it’s just some stupid joke from like eleven years ago that means nothing to anyone else.”
“There was a tiny glimmer of a chance. And I felt instant peace.”
“The gnawing discontent of the last two months was finally quiet, and all I could think in this moment of relief was that I was kissing my wife.”
“This was what they meant when they talked about the one who got away. She’s the women you never stop remembering, the one who haunts you. The one who stays at the front of your mind even when decades pass.”
“I thought about you every minute,” I said. “Even when I wasn’t thinking about you.”
“Something about her just felt right. She’s felt right from the very beginning I realized.”
“Only the logistics were wrong.”
“The best moments don’t have to be big to be forever.”
“Because if you were my wife you would be my world. Everything starts with you and ends with you. Anything else is just the stuff that happens in the middle.”
“You think that it’s the big memories you should be chasing—and it is in a way. Birthdays and vacations and special occasions. But the small memories are the fabric of your life, the ones so inconsequential that you don’t even remember them. You just remember how you felt when you were making them.”
Final Thought
Say You’ll Remember Me was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it really hurts to say that it just didn’t work for me. While Abby Jimenez has written books I’ve absolutely loved before, this one fell flat in so many ways. The romance felt rushed and lacked the emotional build-up I crave, there was no slow burn, no real tension, just insta-love and then boom, we’re supposed to believe in this deep connection. The pacing was all over the place, and instead of letting the story breathe, it was one dramatic plot point after another. I felt more exhausted than emotionally invested.
One thing that really pulled me out of the story was the reference to Rhysand, a character from a completely different author and series that I don’t read (and frankly, don’t want to). It felt like fan service that had no place in the book, and I was genuinely annoyed to be forced into a crossover moment I didn’t sign up for. Why am I reading a book by Abby Jimenez and suddenly knee-deep in ACOTAR energy? I don’t want to read that author, and I didn’t want those characters in this one, it totally broke my immersion and left a sour taste.
⚠️ Spoiler warning. But the real tipping point for me was how the book handled the cheating subplot. I couldn’t believe how casually Samantha and her sister excused their dad’s infidelity just because their mom was sick. Like, what?? That doesn’t make it okay. At all. And then they had the nerve to get mad at their brother for being upset about it? No. Absolutely not. He was the only one reacting like a normal, decent human being. It made me so angry and honestly soured the entire story for me. I hate feeling like I have to push myself to finish a book, but that’s exactly what happened here. I’m not done with Abby Jimenez, he has written stories I love, but this one? This was a miss.
About the author
Abby Jimenez is a New York Times bestselling author and Food Network champion living in Minnesota. 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 has amassed an international following. Abby loves a good romance, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.
Practical Information for Readers
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez Book Formats
Say You’ll Remember Me is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
PDF Say You’ll Remember Me : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to find Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez PDF
Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez Age Rating
I recommend this book for readers 17+ due to its emotional depth and sensitive topics like grief, trauma, and cheating. Make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in, this story deals with some heavy themes.
