Tuesday's Tome: Say You'll Remember Me

 

Tuesday's Tome is "Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez.  I picked this one out on Libby because it was available and many have recommended this author.  And you can guess from the cover, it is a romance. However, it does include some heavy subjects.  The most triggering for me is the mother with dementia.  So if you are also going through a loved one with dementia, just be warned.

The two main characters, Samantha and Xavier, share a perfect first date on the eve of Samantha's big move to California.  Samantha has decided to move back home to help her family care for her mother who has dementia. While Samantha can work from anywhere as part of a social marketing firm for a mustard company, Xavier, a veterinarian who has opened his own practice, is rooted in place in Minnesota.

So the 2 try to navigate a long distance relationship.  In addition to the distance, Samantha and Xavier are also battling some heavy issues like memory loss of a loved one, family dynamics, loneliness and isolation, along with some childhood trauma.  I know this story seems like a total downer, but somehow Jimenez is able to write about such themes with grace and humor.  There are some definite laugh-out-loud moments.  I have a bunch of female students who request a "sad romance" book all the time.  I, however, prefer happy endings.  "Say You'll Remember Me" is, indeed, a happy book dealing with mature themes, and you will like the ending.