Review of Say You'll Remember Me (Say You'll Remember Me #1) by Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez layers tough situations and messy complications into her rom-coms, and here, her main protagonists must face and overcome past and present difficulties in order to banter their way through the story and build a sweet life together.

Samantha creates zippy social media posts for a local mustard company (I kept feeling surprise, but also joy, that this job seemed to provide a sustainable salary)--and she doesn't take any attitude from anyone.

Xavier is a young veterinarian who feels grumpy, exhausted, and as though he may be losing faith in humanity--but he loves the animals he cares for.

After one disastrous encounter involving a rescued kitten with a serious congenital disorder, then one magical, extended date, the two are falling for each other. But Xavier's painful past and Samantha's challenging present might make a future for the two impossible.

Jimenez never shies away from including heavy themes and tough situations in her rom-coms. Here, childhood abuse, animal abuse, and dementia are all part of Xavier and Samantha's past and present stories, so nothing is too easy on their path to togetherness. Family and business circumstances add realistic chaos and unpredictability to the couple's plans for a melded life together, and when they must wait and delay their combined life, then break up because it's too difficult to cope with forced distance, their reasoning feels sound, if heartbreaking.

Jimenez writes irresistible characters, and I loved the weight of the difficulties behind this sweet story of love.

I received a prepublication audiobook edition of Say You'll Remember Me courtesy of Hachette Audio and Libro.fm.

More Abby Jimenez love

Jimenez is also the author of Just for the Summer (one of my Favorite Rom-Coms of the Year last year), Part of Your World, Yours Truly, The Friend Zone, and The Happy-Ever-After Playlist.