Welcome back to The Well Read Society, where we love a book that can make you laugh out loud and then quietly wreck you a chapter later.
If that describes your last group pick, you're in exactly the right place, because these Say You'll Remember Me book club questions are built to help your reading group dig into Abby Jimenez's funny, tender, deeply emotional romance.
Jimenez has a knack for pairing quick banter with real, heavy, this-could-be-my-life kind of stuff, and Say You'll Remember Me leans all the way in. There's a grumpy-sunshine romance that starts as an all-out clash, a brutal 2,000-mile long-distance relationship, and a family trying to hold itself together while caring for a mom with early-onset dementia.
Quick, spoiler-free premise: Samantha Diaz is only days away from leaving Minnesota to move home to California and help care for her mother when she meets Xavier Rush, a gorgeous but grumpy veterinarian, over her kitten Pooter. Their first meeting goes about as badly as a first meeting can. But one unforgettable date later, they're both in trouble, right as real life pulls them across the country from each other.
Whether your group laughed at that disaster of a first meeting or cried through the caregiving scenes, these questions will get everyone talking.
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Key Tropes & Themes in Say You'll Remember Me
Before you dive into the questions, here's a quick look at what's driving the story—and why it makes such good book club material.
Starting with a meet-cute gone wrong. Xavier is all business (and a little bristly) with people, even though he's a softie with animals. When he suggests Samantha put Pooter down instead of paying for a risky, expensive surgery, she's furious and sets out to prove him wrong. It's the grumpy-sunshine dynamic at full volume, and the fact that they have to climb out of that first impression is a big part of what makes the payoff work. If this is your favorite flavor of romance, browse my 14 Grumpy-Sunshine Romance Books That Will Melt Your Heart for more grumpy-sunshine reads.
Long-distance love & acts of service. Once Samantha moves to California, the romance turns into a test of endurance: the flights, the time difference, the money, and the sheer exhaustion of loving someone 2,000 miles away. Xavier isn't a big-speech guy, so watch how he shows up instead.
Caregiving & early-onset dementia. This is the heart of the book. Jimenez writes an honest, sometimes heartbreaking portrait of a family caring for their mother as her early-onset dementia progresses, including the guilt, the burnout, and the dreams that get put on hold. It's a lot, and it gives your group plenty to sit with.
15 Discussion Questions for Say You'll Remember Me
The Meet-Cute, Banter & Chemistry
- Samantha and Xavier's first meeting doesn't go well at all. He suggests euthanizing Pooter, she storms out, and she launches a GoFundMe just to prove him wrong. Did starting from that rocky place make their eventual connection more satisfying for you, or did his first impression stick?
- Xavier is wonderful with animals but has a real talent for saying the wrong thing to people. Did you find his foot-in-mouth moments endearing or frustrating?
- In what ways does this book deliver on the classic grumpy-sunshine dynamic? How do Samantha and Xavier bring out softer, better sides in each other?
- Both characters use humor and banter to cope with stress and old wounds. Did that make the heavier moments easier to sit with, or did it sometimes feel like a way of dodging the hard conversations?
- Their epic first date ends with the two of them accidentally locked in an escape room for most of the night. If you were stuck overnight with someone you were just starting to fall for, how do you think you'd handle it?
Family Dynamics & Caregiver Realities
- Jimenez portrays early-onset dementia through Samantha's mother, Lisa. How did the family's day-to-day caregiving shape your emotional experience of the book?
- Samantha, her sister Jeneva, her brother Tristan, and their dad each cope with their mom's decline differently. Whose response did you understand most, and did any of them frustrate you?
- Xavier's childhood was shaped by difficult, abusive parents, and part of why he pours everything into his clinic is to prove them wrong. How did that history shape the way he stepped up for Samantha's family?
- Early on, Samantha begs Xavier to forget her and keep their date as one perfect memory. Was she protecting him, protecting herself, or denying them both something real?
- Which side character added the most warmth or steadiness to the story for you, whether it was Dr. Hank, one of Samantha's siblings, or her grandmother?
Long Distance, Sacrifices & The Ending
- Long-distance relationships are famously hard. Did the book capture the logistical, financial, and emotional strain of being 2,000 miles apart in a way that felt real to you?
- Xavier makes huge sacrifices to keep showing up, including working brutal hours and traveling when he probably shouldn't. Did his effort feel swoon-worthy, or did you find yourself worrying about him instead?
- Without giving away specifics here, how did you feel about the way everything resolved? Did the ending strike the right balance between hard, bittersweet reality and the romance you wanted for these two?
- The title says a lot. What do you think the book is saying about memory and love? Can love hold on even when the details and memories start to fade?
- What rating would you give Say You'll Remember Me, and where does it land among your favorite Abby Jimenez books?
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Cozy Book Club Meeting Ideas
Want to set the mood for your discussion? A few easy touches go a long way with a book this tender.
A warm London Fog or a soothing chamomile-lavender tea to balance out all the feelings.
Cozy blankets, soft lighting, and, if you can swing it, a pet-friendly setup in honor of Pooter and all of Xavier's rescues.
Go around the room and have everyone share a favorite memory with a loved one or a pet before getting into the heavier questions.
Wrap-Up
If your group is anything like ours, this one will spark a real conversation—the kind that wanders from swooning over the banter to getting quiet over the caregiving.
We'd love to hear about it: drop your favorite scene, line, or hot take in the comments.
And if you're already planning your next group read, here's where to go next:
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