Say You'll Remember Me
67 pages • 2-hour read
Abby JimenezSay You'll Remember Me
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Chapters 1-9Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, animal abuse, and child abuse.
At Rush Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Xavier Rush reluctantly agrees when a woman asks him to euthanize her deceased mother’s healthy dog. After she leaves, it’s revealed that Xavier secretly kept the dog alive, even though he charged her extra money for the procedure. His veterinary technicians, Maggie and Tina, admire him for this act of compassion.
Later, a woman called Samantha Diaz arrives with a five-week-old stray kitten tucked in her bra. Xavier examines the kitten and diagnoses it with a congenital condition called atresia ani, where the animal lacks a functional anus.
Xavier coldly recommends euthanasia due to the surgery required, which costs $5,000 to $10,000, but Samantha firmly refuses. When he suggests she’s prolonging the animal’s suffering, Samantha calls him an “asshole” and leaves the clinic. Xavier returns to his office, unmoved by the confrontation yet somehow affected by her reaction to him.
Chapter 2 Summary: “Samantha”
Four days later, Samantha speaks with her sister Jeneva over the phone while admiring the results of her GoFundMe campaign, titled “Pooter Needs a Poop Chute” (9), to raise funds for her kitten Pooter’s surgery. The campaign has raised nearly $10,000, exceeding her expectations. During their conversation, Samantha mentions her upcoming move to California to help care for their mother, who has early-onset dementia at age 54.
While refreshing the donation page, Samantha discovers a $500 anonymous contribution with a note saying, “You were right” (12). She immediately recognizes that it’s from Dr. Rush, the veterinarian who had recommended euthanizing Pooter. Surprised and somewhat validated by his admission, she shares this unexpected development with her sister, who seems equally shocked by the vet’s gesture.
Chapter 3 Summary: “Xavier”
At the clinic, Xavier examines the dog he secretly saved, now sporting a ridiculous haircut to disguise him. Tina and Maggie excitedly inform him that “[t]he butthole cat lady” has returned (15), needing a health certificate and a sedative for air travel. Xavier is uncharacteristically nervous about seeing Samantha again after thinking about their encounter for weeks and secretly donating to her fundraiser as an apology.
During Pooter’s examination, Xavier sees the successful surgical results and learns that Samantha donated the extra money she raised to a cat rescue. Impressed, he spontaneously asks her on a date. She accepts under the condition that their date happens that night, as she has an early flight the next day.
Later, his techs tease him about his attraction to her, noting that she’s different from his typical dates with serious professional women. Uncertain about his intimidating demeanor, Xavier calls his friend’s girlfriend Becca for dating advice, and she suggests he embrace his naturally intense personality rather than trying to change it.
Chapter 4 Summary: “Samantha”
Samantha prepares for her date while talking on the phone to her sister Jeneva about Xavier, her mother’s worsening condition, and her impending move to California. When Xavier arrives at her apartment, he brings her a succulent plant instead of flowers, since she plans on traveling. They head to a sunset cruise on Lake Minnetonka for an animal rescue fundraiser, and Samantha accidentally drops her phone in the lake.
Without hesitation, Xavier removes his shirt and jumps in to retrieve it, revealing his muscular physique. Throughout the cruise, they enjoy appetizers while discussing their past relationships. Xavier mentions breaking up with an attorney who didn’t like dogs, while Samantha jokes about ending a relationship with a baseball player who disliked mustard. They establish a mutual attraction as the cruise ends, with Xavier being attentive and considerate despite his reserved demeanor. Samantha notices everyone on the boat knows and respects Xavier, confirming her sense that his gruff exterior hides a caring nature.
Chapter 5 Summary: “Xavier”
As the sunset cruise ends, Xavier offers Samantha his cherry from his drink and contemplates how strongly he wants to please her. Since neither of them want the date to end, Xavier invites Samantha to play miniature golf. She accepts but suggests that they stop at his apartment first so he can change out of his wet clothes.
At his apartment, Samantha meets his rescued dog, which Xavier has named Jake from State Farm. After Xavier changes, they drive to Mother Putters to play mini-golf. As they enter the establishment, Xavier realizes that all his friends are present at the venue.
Chapter 6 Summary: “Samantha”
At Mother Putters, Xavier turns noticeably tense when he spots his friends Mike, Chris, Jesse, and Jesse’s girlfriend Becca approaching them. He apologizes to Samantha for the unexpected encounter, concerned she might feel uncomfortable meeting his friends on their first date. Xavier pulls her aside to check if she wants to leave.
Samantha reassures Xavier she’s fine with meeting his friends, noting that their presence shows they care about him. She suggests they play a few rounds of mini-golf with the group rather than avoiding them. Before returning to the others, she leans close to Xavier and playfully suggests they “give them something to talk about” (47), hinting at their growing connection despite the interruption.
Chapter 7 Summary: “Xavier”
Xavier finds himself laughing more than he has in years as he, Samantha, and his friends play mini-golf, laser tag, and arcade games together. He observes how effortlessly Samantha fits into his social circle and how everyone is drawn to her outgoing personality. By midnight, his friends depart, but neither Xavier nor Samantha wants the evening to end, so they decide to try the venue’s alien-themed escape room.
They successfully solve the escape room puzzles in 56 minutes, but when they try to leave, they discover they’re locked in with the song “Come On Eileen” playing on a continuous loop. During their hours trapped together, they share deeply personal stories: Xavier reveals his abusive childhood and estrangement from his parents, while Samantha discusses her mother’s dementia and her guilt about not visiting sooner. Their conversation creates an intense emotional connection just before the manager opens the door.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Samantha”
The escape room manager profusely apologizes for the overnight lockup while Xavier calmly but firmly expresses how dangerous the situation could have been. After checking her phone to find numerous missed calls from her sister, Samantha realizes it’s nearly five o’clock in the morning, and her flight departs in two hours. As compensation, Xavier convinces the manager to give them the lava lamp prize Samantha admired earlier.
They rush to Samantha’s apartment. She asks him to deflate her air mattress while she frantically showers and packs. Xavier is bewildered by her nearly empty apartment, and Samantha explains she’s moving to California. The chapter ends with Xavier’s shocked realization that Samantha is permanently relocating to Glendale, not taking a temporary trip as he had assumed.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Samantha”
Xavier processes the revelation that Samantha is permanently moving to California to help care for her mother, expressing disappointment that she wasn’t clear about her plans. Samantha attempts to defend herself, saying she mentioned leaving but never specified it was temporary, though she acknowledges she should have been more forthcoming. Despite having only known each other for 12 hours, both feel a sense of loss over what might have been.
The drive to the airport is tense and mostly silent, with brief exchanges about the lava lamp, which Xavier decides to mail to her. At the departure curb, Xavier helps with her bags and suggests she keep his hoodie for the cold plane. They share an emotional embrace, and when Xavier asks what happens next, Samantha simply tells him to forget her, recognizing their new relationship has no future despite its unexpected intensity.
Chapters 1-9 Analysis
The novel establishes an exploration of emotional isolation and vulnerability through Xavier’s character development. Xavier initially appears abrasive and cynical, declaring that “People are inherently assholes” (8). However, his secret rescue of the dog scheduled for euthanasia reveals his compassionate core beneath a carefully maintained exterior. His professional competence also masks deep personal wounds, as revealed during his and Samatha’s night trapped together, when he explains the effects of his parents’ abuse: “Because when I showed how I felt, that’s how they knew how to hurt me” (63). This confession represents a significant breakthrough, as Xavier rarely “talk[s] about [his] childhood. To anyone. Ever” (63). The contrast between his external coldness and internal sensitivity creates tension that drives his personal development, while Samantha’s direct challenge to his demeanor when she calls out his poor bedside manner establishes her as someone who penetrates his defenses rather than being repelled by them. This early development of Xavier’s character also introduces the theme of Reconciling Idealism With the Complexities of Reality as he is revealed to have a deep well of idealism, masked by outward armor that he will work to shed over the course of the novel.
Animals function as both plot catalysts and symbolic reflections of the characters’ emotional states. Pooter’s medical condition initially brings Xavier and Samantha together, while Jake (the secretly rescued dog) embodies Xavier’s hidden capacity for care. Animals also create spaces for emotional displacement, allowing Xavier to express the feelings he struggles to show toward humans. While they are stuck in the escape room, Samantha observes, “You can tell a lot about someone by how animals react to them,” and Xavier responds, “You can tell a lot about someone by how they treat their pets” (61). This exchange underscores the narrative’s use of animals as emotional barometers. Xavier’s admission that he “wanted to help animals […] to lessen their suffering” reveals his empathy (58), though he avoids discussing the deeper trauma associated with his childhood dog Winnie. Xavier’s acknowledgement that Samantha hasn’t “unlocked” that story yet signals it will be significant to his character development while also highlighting their immediate connection and her capacity to support his emotional growth.
The novel explores the theme of The Interplay of Memory, Identity, and Connection through Samantha’s relationship with her mother’s dementia, highlighting the fragility of selfhood when memories fade. Samantha’s internal struggle reveals her reluctance to reduce her mother to her condition: “I didn’t want Mom’s dementia to be that for her. The summary of everything she’s done and everything she means to me” (38). When Samantha notes that her mother “doesn’t know [her] name anymore and [she] feel[s] like that’s [her] fault” (62), she displays guilt over her absence during the initial stages of her mother’s symptoms. This parallels Xavier’s relationship with his traumatic past, as both characters navigate the power of memory in shaping identity. The narrative juxtaposes memory loss with memory creation, as their night together becomes a significant shared memory precisely because it cannot continue. Their connection becomes both more meaningful and more painful through this temporal compression, culminating in Samantha’s poignant instruction to “forget me” (70)—an impossibility that emphasizes the persistence of emotional memory.
The narrative structure builds intimacy through its pacing, stretching their first date across multiple chapters while emphasizing significant symbolic spaces. The sunset cruise introduces their budding connection in a public setting, while Xavier’s apartment reveals his private self. Later, the escape room creates both literal and metaphorical entrapment. The recurring song “Come On Eileen” serves multiple narrative functions—marking time, creating comedy, and underscoring the repetitive loop of their situation. This compressed timeline intensifies their emotional connection. Their farewell at the airport highlights the novel’s interest in memory and emotional persistence despite physical separation, with Xavier’s question “What happens now?” and Samantha’s answer—“You forget me” (70)—establishing the central conflict that drives the remainder of the narrative.
The theme of Navigating the Burdens and Sacrifices of Caregiving emerges through parallel character responsibilities. Xavier’s veterinary practice and rescue work demonstrate his commitment to vulnerable creatures, while Samantha’s move to help care for her mother represents familial duty. When she tells her sister, “I’ll be there soon and you guys will get a break” (26), the narrative acknowledges caregiving as a shared family burden requiring personal sacrifice. This parallel between animal and human establishes caregiving as a central concern. Xavier’s transition from recommending euthanasia for Pooter to donating to her surgery fund with the note, “You were right,” reflects his capacity for growth (12), while Samantha’s determination to save Pooter despite financial constraints foreshadows her approaching caregiving challenges and how she will address them. Both characters demonstrate how care for others shapes identity and demands sacrifice, creating a thematic foundation that develops throughout the novel.
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