I have always been a fan of Abby Jimenez’s books, but after hearing her speak at Sanibel Public Library’s Author Night, I may officially consider myself a superfan. In this review of The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez, it’s clear she is just as warm and funny in person as she is on the page. Her personal story is fascinating, and her writing process is almost unbelievable. With each new release, her books continue to get better, and this latest series—Say You Will Remember Meand The Night We Met—may be my favorite yet. The characters feel more complex and mature than in some of her earlier novels, making this contemporary romance especially compelling.

Both are stories centered around a group of four guys (Mike, Chris, Xavier, and Jesse) who have been friends since childhood. While they are all very different and were raised with different challenges, they have supported each other through all the life changes and distances adulthood forced them into. Say You Will Remember Me is centered around Xavier, a veterinarian, and deals with a long-distance relationship. It also addresses dementia, which is why the relationship has to remain long distance.

The Night We Met is the story of Mike and Chris. Mike’s lifelong dream to become a professional athlete was thwarted by a career-ending injury during his senior year. While he is a plumber by training, with a chance to take over his uncle’s Toilet King empire once he retires, he spends most of his time working as a personal trainer, hoping to gain enough clients to pay the bills. One night at a concert, Larissa—who works for Mike’s mom—needs a ride home. Both Mike and Chris offer, but she chooses Mike.

Mike continually makes promises to Larissa that he can’t keep, so he pulls Chris in to cover for him. Chris and Larissa quickly realize they have a lot in common, and Chris begins to develop feelings for her, turning this into a compelling love triangle romance. As Mike’s life continues to deteriorate, Chris is faced with difficult decisions that challenge his loyalty and his heart.

What I love about this book:

The characters are so well written. You can feel the angst and guilt Chris experiences as he grows closer to Larissa. He is determined to keep control of his emotions, but you can feel how difficult that is for him. Larissa is also a well-developed character, shaped by her complicated relationship with her mother and the hardships she has faced growing up.

The story moves along at a great pace, and the pacing adds to the tension. Issues are not resolved too quickly, which makes everything feel more realistic and emotionally impactful—something Abby Jimenez does so well in her romance novels.

Characters from the previous book make minor appearances, so you could read the books in either order, although I would personally recommend reading them in sequence if possible.

The book is told in alternating voices between Chris and Larissa, which works perfectly. You get insight into how both characters interpret the same situations, adding even more tension to the storyline.

The dialogue is fantastic. I laughed out loud several times throughout this romance book.

In her talk, Abby mentioned that the hardest part of writing a three-way romance is making the hero truly feel like the hero without turning the other guy into a villain. She handled this perfectly. You genuinely feel for the person who loses out. He is someone you empathize with rather than dislike. At the same time, the hero remains humble and compassionate, never gloating, which adds depth to the story.

What I disliked about the book:

Not one thing! As I said, I am now an Abby Jimenez superfan. If you are looking for an emotional romance with strong characters and engaging dialogue, this is a must-read.

I know this is a genre that people either love or hate, and I have friends in both camps, but this is genuinely a great read with real characters who have believable emotions and experiences—and, of course, a happily ever after.