Abby Jimenez has done it again. She has crafted a breathtaking, heartwrenching, and deeply moving story that lingers long after the final page. Say You’ll Remember Me is raw, emotional, and devastatingly beautiful, tackling love, grief, and the relentless impact of chronic illness in a way only she can.

From the very first page, I was completely engrossed in Samantha and Xavier’s story. The way Abby writes about loss—about how it doesn’t just affect the person suffering but ripples through the entire family—was painfully real. As someone who has watched loved ones battle dementia and Alzheimer’s, this book hit incredibly close to home. The emotional weight of caregiving, the mental and physical toll, the heartbreak of watching someone slip away and not be the person they once were—it was all portrayed with such authenticity that I found myself sobbing through entire chapters.

And Xavier. Xavier freaking Rush. Talk about the ultimate book boyfriend. If anyone personifies “if he wanted to, he would”, it’s him. The way he supported Samantha, even from a distance, never wavering in his devotion, was so sweet and made me fall more in love with him in every possible way. I was so enamored by him. He was thoughtful, selfless, and the kind of MMC that makes you believe in good men. Tristan, with his sassy attitude (the chorizo part), kept me laughing, and Samantha’s grandmother was an absolute gem. Samantha herself was strong, layered, and complex—I admired her resilience, even when I wanted to shake her for not leaning on Xavier more, and maybe not putting in as much effort as he was—although understandable, given what she was dealing with.

What made this book even more compelling was the depth beyond the romance. Abby doesn’t just tell a love story; she immerses you in the day to day realities of caring for a loved one with dementia, the financial and emotional strain , and the quiet sacrifices that often go unnoticed. She also dives into the struggles of running a small business, something rarely explored in romance but so well done here.

Side character MVP? Hank. That scene? I teared up. I felt like everything came full circle and I was so happy with their connection. 

Abby Jimenez writes books that are just so rich and full of layered emotions. She doesn’t shy away from difficult topics but instead handles them with honesty, grace, and humor. This book was the most tragic of all her stories, but it was also one of the most beautiful. A long distance romance filled with longing, sacrifice, and the kind of love that makes you grateful for every moment you get.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just be prepared for the emotional devastation that comes with it. And maybe, just maybe, Xavier Rush gives Jacob Maddox a run for his money? Something I never thought was possible but am definitely considering!