Sneak Peek: Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
ON OUR BOOKSHELF
Say You’ll Remember Me
by Abby Jimenez
Grab your tissues; this sneak peek will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Abby Jimenez knows how to tug on heartstrings. She’s the queen of yearning, missed opportunities, and the slow burn with steamy reprieve. I' have yet to be disappointed, and I could not wait to read Say You’ll Remember Me. I’m so grateful to have received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book via NetGalley.
This is going to be the Haus of Hamilton Book Club Pick for April 2025. I hope you’ll read with us!
The Sneak Peek
The opening chapters set the tone for an entirely different book. I thought it was going to be light-hearted and full of witty banter. It was, but it wasn’t.
What would you do if you put forth a plan to upend your life for your family, only to meet the potential love of your life the day before it was set to begin?
Instalove isn’t the right word for this, but I can relate to the feeling of just knowing you’ve met someone important. Someone you’re meant to hold on to that’s going to play a vital role in your life.
Xavier Rush may not be perfect, but to Samantha, he’s mighty close. He’s a gorgeous veterinarian with looks reminiscent of Rhysand (helloooo, ACOTAR fans), and a heart of pure gold. But time and life is not on their side when their meet-cute just happens to coincide with Samantha’s decision to move back home to care for her sick mother.
With every turn of the page, you’ll find yourself laughing or crying or on the brink of falling off the ledge to either. An emotional rollercoaster might be too tame of a description for the whirlwind of emotions this book put me through. Yet as their story unfolds, it becomes clearer and clearer that that’s what Xavier and Samantha are to each other.
What Victoria Loved
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
This wrecked me. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional pendulum that is this love story. Or the framing of memories in the lens of witnessing and living life.
Say You’ll Remember Me weaves in heart-wrenching truths about dementia, loss, and love through fresh, witty banter. Abby Jimenez balances the lightness of humor and laughter against the heaviness of grief and anxiety. It is so real, maybe too real. But she incorporates perfectly timed full-circle moments and comedic breaks to lighten the darkest moments, which only made the characters more relatable and more human.
You could feel the exhaustion, the determination, the desperation, the depth of emotion Xavier felt — what he was willing to do, to put himself through for a little piece of Samantha. He was so steady for everyone who needed him, his calmness the exact counterbalance to the chaos of events throughout the book. In a way, he gave me the peace and stability I needed to get through this emotional rollercoaster of a book. It helped me to trust that everything was going to work out (EVEN THOUGH I WASN’T SURE AT 90%).
Samantha’s unflinching loyalty to her family tore me to threads. I sobbed at her courage to do the right thing even when it was breaking her emotionally and mentally. I felt like I was transported into experiencing life with her mom, seeing the hurt it caused her dad. And my heart broke as Samantha realized the importance of every moment — of core memories, of witnessing and living life with someone — for wanting that life for Xavier when she realized she couldn’t give it to him herself.
The best / worst part? No third-act breakup! Its’s their love against their circumstances. This is real life, it’s not the artificial problems we sometimes read about - there’s no miscommunication trope (in fact it’s so unbelievably refreshing how that isn’t the case at all— in fact, Xavier and Samantha over communicate!) It’s the real ups and downs of a relationship trying its hardest to get off the ground when everything is working against it, and the most responsible option might be to let it go before it can even begin.
This is a wrong time, right person romance. A heart-breaking reminder that time is out of our control, so don’t wait forever to live life for yourself.
Pre-order your copy of Say You’ll Remember Me (Amazon) and read with me!
Favorite Scene
“I want goosebumps. I want to be wanted. All this time and I — I haven’t given up. I guess I’m just waiting for it to find me.”
- SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez
Similar Reads & Recommendations
A VETERINARIAN: The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch #3) by Elsie Silver (Amazon)
The FMC is a veterinarian (based on a ranch) and the MMC (of a competing ranch) has had his sights on her for years. And when she needs help, he uses that moment to negotiate some dates. This age gap fake dating, enemies-to-lovers a sweet palette cleanser to follow Say You’ll Remember Me.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
LONG DISTANCE: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (Amazon)
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to reach into a book, grab characters’ shoulders and shake them more than while I read this book. Don’t get me wrong — it was stupidly cute and I think that was the problem. I just want everyone to find love… screw the list of reasons it’s a bad idea because of being together makes them happy, they should just do it.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
INSTALOVE AT THE WRONG TIME: Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune (Amazon)
I’m not usually a fan of insta-love romances (which is a bit ironic given I claim to have fallen for James the second I laid eyes on him), but I do believe in the lasting impact of a single encounter.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
WRONG TIME, FAMILY FIRST: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club Pick! This is a magical romance that feels like you’re being wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket on a cold, rainy day or a great big hug from your favorite person. You’ll be rooting for the main characters from their meet-cute and eagerly turning the next page to see how it all comes together.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
BY THE AUTHOR: Just for the Summer (Part of Your World #3) by Abby Jimenez (Amazon)
Do you believe in fate? Guard your heart because Abby delivers another cute meet cute. When two people find they’ve been cursed out of love, they make a pact to see if they can break it…. but what if they were always destined to end up together? Justin is one of the best MMCs I’ve read — he’s the epitome of if he wanted to, he would and if I’m being honest, he even goes beyond that. PS: The entire Part of Your World series is adorable and I recommend it - go start from Book #1 and work your way to this gem.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
