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beate251's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for this ARC.
Samantha works in marketing for a mustard brand in Minnesota and tall and frowny Xavier is a vet with his own practice. They meet over an impossibly cute stray cat that has an unusual and costly medical problem. They have one perfect date that mainly takes place in a locked escape room and then Sam is forced to move miles away. Their relationship has no future - and yet they both can't forget each other.
The story is told in alternating dual POV, so both Samantha and Xavier get their say. Both have baggage due to their parents. Xavier's parents are abusers, emotionally as well as physically, and Samantha has to move back home to California due to her mother's deteriorating health condition.
This book nearly broke me. There are two big topics that I have personal experience with: dementia and long-distance relationships. Both are described incredibly realistically and both suck. Especially caring for someone with dementia is exhausting and heartbreaking and you can only really appreciate it once you've done it yourself and you realise it's not just about memory loss. For some people, just reading about it will be too much, as well as learning about those caricature villains that are Xavier's parents. The relationships within Samantha's family are a bit more complex and revolve around how to best care for her mother.
Abby Jimenez' books seem to have many similarities to each other. They all deal with difficult topics, there is always a cute pet or two with a ridiculous name, a bearded man, the desire to have children, big feelings that border on obsession, and a couple of mentions of Nadia Cakes, the author's own business. There is always one apparent reason why two people who are incredibly perfect for each other can't be together. This time it is "we live too far from each other and we can't move, at all, ever". I get it, long distance is frustrating, tiring and expensive, but it usually has an end date.
The book is eminently readable and the big feelings will have many readers swoon, although everyone's problems seem to get solved a little too neatly and quickly at the end, but I adored lovely Dr Hank and his selflessness. Abby Jimenez means quality, and even though I would have liked a little less dementia drama I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. Also, the cover is utterly gorgeous.
"Love is the brightest color in a gray world."
Samantha works in marketing for a mustard brand in Minnesota and tall and frowny Xavier is a vet with his own practice. They meet over an impossibly cute stray cat that has an unusual and costly medical problem. They have one perfect date that mainly takes place in a locked escape room and then Sam is forced to move miles away. Their relationship has no future - and yet they both can't forget each other.
The story is told in alternating dual POV, so both Samantha and Xavier get their say. Both have baggage due to their parents. Xavier's parents are abusers, emotionally as well as physically, and Samantha has to move back home to California due to her mother's deteriorating health condition.
This book nearly broke me. There are two big topics that I have personal experience with: dementia and long-distance relationships. Both are described incredibly realistically and both suck. Especially caring for someone with dementia is exhausting and heartbreaking and you can only really appreciate it once you've done it yourself and you realise it's not just about memory loss. For some people, just reading about it will be too much, as well as learning about those caricature villains that are Xavier's parents. The relationships within Samantha's family are a bit more complex and revolve around how to best care for her mother.
Abby Jimenez' books seem to have many similarities to each other. They all deal with difficult topics, there is always a cute pet or two with a ridiculous name, a bearded man, the desire to have children, big feelings that border on obsession, and a couple of mentions of Nadia Cakes, the author's own business. There is always one apparent reason why two people who are incredibly perfect for each other can't be together. This time it is "we live too far from each other and we can't move, at all, ever". I get it, long distance is frustrating, tiring and expensive, but it usually has an end date.
The book is eminently readable and the big feelings will have many readers swoon, although everyone's problems seem to get solved a little too neatly and quickly at the end, but I adored lovely Dr Hank and his selflessness. Abby Jimenez means quality, and even though I would have liked a little less dementia drama I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. Also, the cover is utterly gorgeous.
"Love is the brightest color in a gray world."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Dementia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
laudis98's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I feel so lucky to been given an ARC of Abby Jimenez’s new book #SayYoullRememberMe. I’m at book 104 for this year and this one is one of my favorites. I will admit that I am partial to any of her books. Here is my review:
Abby Jimenez makes us fall in love with another character. Main character Xavier is introduced as a hot vet that looks like Rhysand but also volunteers at animal hospitals. She had me at hot guy that loves animals.
Samantha meets Xavier when she takes a kitten she found to be examined. They both are instantly attracted to each other but Xavier ruins that connection with delivering less than hopeful advice to Samantha. Miraculously, Samantha accepts an invitation for a date. Little did they both know it was going to give “the one” date vibes. Too bad Samantha family circumstances cut that romance short.
I love a strong female character and Samantha is just that with a “Bitch watch me” attitude. 😂 She also is vulnerable showing her softer side.
This book had me laughing out loud and feeding my heart with daydreams. I love Abby’s books because she doesn’t just offer the romance, she also offers substance of real serious issues. In this one, dementia is one of those issues. Say You’ll Remember Me truly delivers an insight on how dementia affects a family. *This book does contain elements of abuse to kids and animals along with mental illness. Please check your triggers.
Though I did enjoy this book, I found Xavier to be too soft. I felt like he worked far more than Samantha to make the relationship work. Perhaps his past trauma contributes to his people pleasing attributes but I honestly felt bad for him.
If you’re looking for a great rom-com with meat & potatoes definitely read this!
Thank you #NetGalley & #Forever for an ARC! #abbyjimenez
Be on the lookout for my year’s favorites!
Abby Jimenez makes us fall in love with another character. Main character Xavier is introduced as a hot vet that looks like Rhysand but also volunteers at animal hospitals. She had me at hot guy that loves animals.
Samantha meets Xavier when she takes a kitten she found to be examined. They both are instantly attracted to each other but Xavier ruins that connection with delivering less than hopeful advice to Samantha. Miraculously, Samantha accepts an invitation for a date. Little did they both know it was going to give “the one” date vibes. Too bad Samantha family circumstances cut that romance short.
I love a strong female character and Samantha is just that with a “Bitch watch me” attitude. 😂 She also is vulnerable showing her softer side.
This book had me laughing out loud and feeding my heart with daydreams. I love Abby’s books because she doesn’t just offer the romance, she also offers substance of real serious issues. In this one, dementia is one of those issues. Say You’ll Remember Me truly delivers an insight on how dementia affects a family. *This book does contain elements of abuse to kids and animals along with mental illness. Please check your triggers.
Though I did enjoy this book, I found Xavier to be too soft. I felt like he worked far more than Samantha to make the relationship work. Perhaps his past trauma contributes to his people pleasing attributes but I honestly felt bad for him.
If you’re looking for a great rom-com with meat & potatoes definitely read this!
Thank you #NetGalley & #Forever for an ARC! #abbyjimenez
Be on the lookout for my year’s favorites!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Dementia, and Gaslighting
txbonnetreads's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I had the honor of receiving an ARC of Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. It came right at the perfect time because I needed a fluffy break from the darker stuff I’ve been reading.
I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way later than I should have to finish reading it. I know way more about butthole-less kittens than I ever thought I would.
Xavier is quite possibly the perfect book man. While Samantha is a vibrant character, her life has turned to shades of gray. Xavier, stone faced but kind hearted, brings color into Samantha’s life. Abby brought me to the point of heartbreak with this book and then stitched my little black soul back up.
I felt like there was a couple of things that could have had more attention to resolution but overall, I loved this book and would absolutely recommend grabbing it as soon as it hits the shelves.
#sayyoullrememberme #abbyjimenez #arcreview #netgalley #mentalhealthrep
I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way later than I should have to finish reading it. I know way more about butthole-less kittens than I ever thought I would.
Xavier is quite possibly the perfect book man. While Samantha is a vibrant character, her life has turned to shades of gray. Xavier, stone faced but kind hearted, brings color into Samantha’s life. Abby brought me to the point of heartbreak with this book and then stitched my little black soul back up.
I felt like there was a couple of things that could have had more attention to resolution but overall, I loved this book and would absolutely recommend grabbing it as soon as it hits the shelves.
#sayyoullrememberme #abbyjimenez #arcreview #netgalley #mentalhealthrep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
sydniesreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Not your “average” romance book, but like in a good way? The story of two people who against all the odds make it work. Two people who meet at the worst time, making it work and showing up for each other. Abby writes in a way that pulls at your heart and makes you feel things so deeply. Don’t expect to come out of this one unscathed, you’ll be in your feelings, you may cry, you’ll probably relate to a plot point or two. No “third act break up” spice level at like a jalapeño, HEA, animals who get rescued and saved. I dare you to not shed a tear for this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting
ekhaskins's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Cheers and applause to Abby Jimenez for her ability to continually knock it out of the park with her storytelling and knack for hooking readers - from the moment I met butthole-less Pooter to the very last page. For anyone who has dealt with a loved one with memory issues, this is a gut-wrenching and beautiful story of the lengths that we will go and sacrifices we'll make to keep the memory of who that person used to be alive. My grandfather battled advanced dementia, and I found myself in tears, both saddened and laughing at times at the familiarity in Abby's words. Ms. Jimenez, your fans look at your books the way Samantha looks at mustard.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting
knkayaktel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I was blessed enough to get an ARC through NetGalley but this review is entirely my own.
so many tears. this book pulled at the heart strings the entire time. laughing, heartbreak, cute moments. Abby writes in a way that makes you feel every single thing the characters do. I had to pause a few times and meditate on it and remind myself to slow down so I actually absorbed everything.
very little spice and very well done. wasn’t hard to read for someone mainly into closed door romances. mostly kissing and very very brief open door scene, that I would have likely forgotten about if I didn’t note it.
finally my favorite trope happened in a book, instead of me just expecting it every book and being disappointed.
I loved all the easter eggs (particularly with POYW series as I’m more familiar with that one).
I loved how everything at the end was tied up in a neat little bow. A lot of times, that annoys me, but this time I was annoyed going to the end thinking things wouldn’t. I know that’s not life and real relationships, but it made me happy. I honestly didn’t know how it was going to end, where they were going to end up, which is rare for a romance book .
I felt it dealt with real issues tastefully, both the dementia and caregiving, and no contact relationships with parents.and I’m glad that Xavier didn’t talk to his parents again but still was able to hold himself up enough to not “prove them right”, that was something I was worried about.
I felt it dealt with real issues tastefully, both the dementia and caregiving, and no contact relationships with parents.
I went with 4.75 stars instead of 5, which it was really close to, cuz a little over the top with current trends, particularly at the beginning. the first few were funny but just a tad too many. and also I’m a super harsh rater and it takes a LOT for me to give a book 5 stars, but honestly may come back and change it later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Gaslighting
hurleyjoanm's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Abby has done it yet again! This book was full of all the emotions for me. Laughing one chapter and sobbing during the next. These characters (and Abby's writing) sucks you right into their universe. I was hooked by the end of the first page and only stopped because it was Halloween and my kids wanted to go trick or treating (ugh kids, am I right? Just kidding...sort of 😂🫣) I promptly finished the next day. Samantha and Xavier are so relatable and their chemistry is off the charts. The banter is perfection and even though he looks broody, Xavier is an ooey gooey cinnamon roll that I can not get enough of. My only complaint is I want to know if the succulent is still alive 😘
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death