All the butterflies and stars! Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows was a sweet and swoony STEM romance that did deliciously good things to my heart from start to finish. Millie and Finn’s workplace/ grumpy sunshine romance was full of so much heart, nerdy banter, spicy times, and love that I simply couldn’t get enough of. I adored Millie’s passion and dedication to her job, and newfound desires for Finn. Finn was a dream! I loved his persistence and patience with Millie and his love and commitment to his twin nieces. Plus, the chemistry between Millie and Finn is magnetic from the start. You could feel all their pent-up tension and longing until they finally gave in to what they both truly desired, and it was addictive in all the best ways!

Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of a STEM romance with a hot nerdy astronomer, a hardworking entomologist, new job promotions, coffee mishaps, fender benders, almond croissants, spiteful exes, adorable twin girls, pizza night, games with friends, baking dates, star gazing, family group texts, slow burn spicy times, second interviews, love declarations, and a HEA that was written in the stars, then you will love Millie and Finn’s story. I am looking forward to more from Jillian Meadows.

So. Adorable.

I loved how heartwarming and precious this romance was. Is there a bit of an insta-love, insta-family aspect? Sure. But it was just so damn sweet that none of that even matters. This book had me wanting to hand pluck every star from the sky just for Avery and Eloise. Also, if you can finish this book and not be completely obsessed with the friends and family that Millie has in her corner then your heart must have turned to stone ages ago. There was a little bit of cringe in the beginning section of the book but don't let that sway you away.

Really enjoyed this book especially how it handled some toxic relationships in life and not just romantic ones but family ones. It was refreshing to see a man stand up for the people in his life in a big way.

I also loved that both main characters worked in STEM but in different fields. It was so neat to see their passions in this story and how they shared their passions with each other and his nieces.

This book had some amazing subtropes that made the story even better. I love a good caretaker when sick and this one was amazing.

The romance in this one developed really well but once it developed it moved lightening fast - too fast for me. But it was super sweet and had some really good moments.

I am glad I discovered this book through Bookstagram and got an advanced copy through NetGalley. This is my honest review

This book was so cute and I saved so many quotes. Grumpyxsunshine, single “dad”, work romance. Millie is going for a promotion at her museum job, while Finn is on the board deciding her fate. He tries to keep his distance from her but her bright personality sucks him in and he can’t help but cross the line. There are always trials, with Millie, she’s dealing with her past abusive relationship, while Finn is having to deal with his toxic parents, while having full custody of his twin nieces.
A few favorite quotes: 1. “But if it makes you more comfortable, I could come with you the first time and be your cheerleader. Or your bodyguard. Or your coffee-cup holder while you punch him. I'll be anything you want."
A tear rolls down her cheek, and I brush it away with my thumb.
"I’d like that," she whispers. "Can you be all the above?"
"Always."
2. "We aren't very good at being just friends. I drew a line, and we weren't supposed to cross it."
"Millie.""Pretty sure I was erasing that line as you were making it."
3. He pulls back with a devilish smile. "Look at you, already melting for me."
4. "I'm not here to stifle you or control you or shape you into something else.
I'm here to help you shine."
But honestly, anything Finn says had me melting. Haha.

5 Stars I did not expect my first five star read of the year yet, but oh my goodness, Give Me Butterflies is so sweet and already one of my favorite books of the year!

Anxious but sunshiney Millie is up for her dream job leading the entomology department at the natural science museum she works at. Nothing will distract her from achieving her dream, not even the grumpy but sweet director of astronomy, Finn. After bonding with his nieces at the museum's summer camp, Millie strikes up an unexpected friendship with both Finn and the girls. The more time she spends with them, the more she sees the sweet man that Finn is under his gruff exterior. With Millie up for the promotion and Finn caring for his nieces, can they also balance a burgeoning relationship?

Give Me Butterflies made my heart melt! Both Millie and Finn, plus his nieces Avery and Eloise, were so adorable. I couldn't get enough of this one and flew through the pages, hoping to finally see Millie and Finn give into their feelings and get together. There truly wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this book except that it had to end. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Thank you Jillian Meadows and Avon and Harper for the ARC! Give Me Butterflies releases January 21st!

5 Stars I did not expect my first five star read of the year yet, but oh my goodness, Give Me Butterflies is so sweet and already one of my favorite books of the year!

Anxious but sunshiney Millie is up for her dream job leading the entomology department at the natural science museum she works at. Nothing will distract her from achieving her dream, not even the grumpy but sweet director of astronomy, Finn. After bonding with his nieces at the museum's summer camp, Millie strikes up an unexpected friendship with both Finn and the girls. The more time she spends with them, the more she sees the sweet man that Finn is under his gruff exterior. With Millie up for the promotion and Finn caring for his nieces, can they also balance a burgeoning relationship?

Give Me Butterflies made my heart melt! Both Millie and Finn, plus his nieces Avery and Eloise, were so adorable. I couldn't get enough of this one and flew through the pages, hoping to finally see Millie and Finn give into their feelings and get together. There truly wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this book except that it had to end. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Thank you Jillian Meadows and Avon and Harper for the ARC! Give Me Butterflies releases January 21st!

This book was so stinking cute to start off. It had me kicking my feet and squeezing over every interaction between Finn and Millie. Then as the story progressed, I just fell harder and harder for them. They’re so sweet to one another, and so loving and supportive. Ugh swoon, I adore them.

I fell in love with the author a year ago after reading Wreck My Plans. I hadn’t read the indie version of Give Me Butterflies, so I don’t know how this compares, but I thought it was so well written and well paced. I’ll definitely read more from Jillian Meadows in the future.

Millie has never taken the expected path. Her childhood love for bugs and science led her to entomology, and her role as a curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. It’s her dream to run her own department—so when a rare director position opens, she is determined nothing will distract her from her goal. Especially not Finn, her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, electric blue eyes, and endless supply of astronomy ties. Not that she’s spent time noticing any of those things.

Finn doesn’t mean to glare at everyone, but he’s juggling his role at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and trying not to ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row. He can’t afford to let anything slip, and certainly doesn’t need more to deal with—especially not Millie literally stumbling into him, with her bright smile and sunny optimism. He bugs her. She’s too starry-eyed for him. They want nothing to do with each other. But with Finn on the interview committee, avoidance is impossible. And Millie soon realizes it’s one thing when a job is on the line. It’s quite another when it’s her heart.

I love all the nerdiness and all the bug metaphors. This is a wonderfully sweet read. I loved getting to know Millie and Finn, and watching their relationship blossom was a treat. 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

If green flag was a book, this is it!

Okay wow! I love this book, I never really get to rate a contemporary spicy romance a perfect rating. But I enjoyed reading this so much, every conflict scene was resolved in a proper way. What a healthy relationship the main characters had in this story. I’m out of postive words to describe this book because this was such a warm to the heart.

Also the spice, even though it’s not as intense or dirty but the details in writing those scenes was perfect. No dull moments, love every turn of the page here. I’m curious for Fable and Theo now, looking forward to their story.

I just finished my first @jillianmeadowswrites book, and I’m such a fan! Give Me Butterflies is such a heartwarming story that had me swooning nonstop. Jillian’s writing is so beautifully written that I highlighted and annotated so much! (that constellations part? Perfection)

I’m such a sucker for the workplace romance trope but this isn’t your average workplace romance. It’s set in a Natural Science Museum, a unique setting for romance between Finn, an astronomer, and Millie, an entomologist. It pulled me in from the very beginning! MMC, Finn might seem arrogant at work, but underneath, he’s a total sweetheart especially when it comes to taking care of his twin nieces and, of course, Millie. And our FMC, Millie is fun and free-spirited, who is obsessed with butterflies and almond croissants and loves to read and bake (this is so me lol).

Both of them are still dealing with the baggage of past relationships, but their connection is undeniable, and it sparked way before they realized. Reading their love unfold gave me butterflies 😉
Plus, Millie’s family was such a nice addition to the story. I loved their warm and loving dynamic, especially how they immediately embraced Finn and his girls like they were one of their own. It wasn’t something any of them expected, but it was so natural and exactly what both Finn and the girls needed at that point in their lives. It added so much heart to the story! If you’re looking for a sweet, feel-good romance, I can’t recommend this one enough!

5⭐️s Fueled with all the things you could want in a romance. I loved the not-so-meet-cute moments. Avery and Eloise were just as precious and sassy as I could ever wish for. Read for grumpy/sunshine, past comes back to haunt you, he falls first, nicknames, no third-act breakup, and mental health rep.

Millie is determined to get the new director position in her museum. She won’t let anything or anyone get in her way. Even Finn, her distractingly handsome astronomy nerd of a coworker. He never smiles and comes across very standoffish. But when he’s lost his sister and is now juggling work and being the guardian for his two beautiful nieces, who can blame him. Finn happens to be on the interview committee for the director position. He struggles with being around Millie so much between the interviews and her literally causing bodily harm. Despite this, the more time they spend together seems to hold more than irritation but a pull they both can ignore.

Thanks to @jillianmeadowswrites @avonbooks and @netgalley for the advanced reader copy. #netgalley #jillianmeadowsauthor #givemebutterflies #romance #mentalhealthrep

I love Millie!

Millie Oaks loves her job as an entomology curator so she was very interested in putting in an application when her director announced he was retiring. But she was surprised to find out that her nemesis astronomer Finn Ashford was going to be on the hiring committee especially when they had a fender bender in the parking lot.

Finn was busy working at the museum as an astronomer and raising his nieces but the more he got to know Millie the more he needed her in his life with Avery and Eloise.

I love how the relationship between Millie and Finn grew naturally with a little help of their family and friends.

But most of all we need more STEM romances with characters that love the sciences!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would give this 10 stars if I could. When I tell you this may be a contender for my favorite book of the year 👀. It was so incredible. I received this as an ARC (thank you sooo much Avonbooks and HarperVoygerUS), but pre-ordered a copy like ASAP because I loved it so insanely much. All opinions are my own, and my main opinion is that everyone should read this book when it releases on January 21st.

Give Me Butterflies follows Millie, a museum curator for the entomology department, going after the position of department director. It also follows Finn, the director of the astronomy department, who’s on the interview committee and is completley head over heels for Millie. Like I’m telling you, this man is WHIPPED, DOWN BAD. He’s recently taken custody of 5-year old twin girls after the loss of his sister though, so a romance with Millie is the last thing he needs at the moment. But, the stars align and they do get their HEA.

As a woman in STEM myself, any book that features a FMC in STEM automatically gets points from me, especially if it depects that unique experience accurately. I definitely felt that the depiction of Millie’s career and her feelings toward it were super relatable, and entomology was a really fun career to go through with her. Finn, who is quite possibly my favorite MMC ever, is an astronomer (I’m in the space industry, so I was totally geeking out) which is also awesome. The STEM aspects are really enjoyable, with both main characters making all sorts of nerdy references and jokes, and having some really cool jobs. Both characters are so charming, relatable, humorous, kind, and feel like such real, lovable people. They have their flaws (as people, not characters) but they ultimately fit so well together and are incredible characters that I could read about forever. The twins are adorable, and the little family they all form very much reminds me of The Holiday (major compliment there).

Millie has some anxiety, which is mentioned quite often and does impact the story, but I felt that it was handled really well. There are also mentions and some examples of toxic/abusive relationships, both romantic and parental, but again, they’re handled really well. There are multiple chapters of spice. I didn’t feel that any were necessary to read, but there was a good amount of those scenes (I recommend reading them. They are…very well written.) This book was just so tender, adorable, and emotional (I did cry). I wanted to reread it as soon as I finished it just to spend more time with the characters. You guys will love it!! My reviews went up yesterday on Goodreads and my Bookstagram, and I’ll be posting the author’s playlist as well as book recs that feature a FMC in STEM on release day.

She studies butterflies while he studies the stars, they both work at the same museum and can't seem to get off on the right foot... but after a couple of run ins, two adorable twins, and a whole lot of days spending time together, romance is starting to take flight. Millie loves bugs and science and has been trying her hardest to get the promotion to curator for her museum. She's been wanting to run her own department for so long and definitely doesn't need any more distractions... but the biggest one comes in the form of her grumpy coworker Finn, the guy in charge of the astrology department. Millie and Finn have never seem to have gotten along, she's so sunshiney while he's got a permanent scowl. Finn is dealing with the grief of losing his sister and is now the guardian to his two twin nieces and is just trying to make it day by day. Finn can't help but be drawn by how bright and cheerful Millie is but he isn't exactly the best at expressing himself, so when his nieces end up in Millie's camp they end up spending more time together as she gets to know him and fall for his adorable nieces. Yet Millie's abusive ex can't seem to leave her alone and can Finn be ready to open his heart up to another person after everything he's been through? This was an absolutely charming and sweet romantic story. I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's so so good and one I think will sweep anyone off their feet. The family dynamic, the soft friends to lovers, the spice, this book has it all and I fell in love with the author's writing. I can't get over how heartwarming this story was and it just constantly had me giggling and kicking my feet while reading this. I adored the relationship between Finn and Millie and how they grew from coworkers to partners.

[3.5/5] GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES is a contemporary romance that appears to be the first in a series of standalones. Millie is an entomologist at a museum preparing to interview for her dream position, head of the entomology department. Nothing can distract her from her goal, including the attractive, grumpy curator Finn, the museum's astronomy director. That becomes more difficult when Finn becomes an interview panelist for the job she wants. But a series of awkward incidents lead Millie to learn more about Finn. Try as she might, she likes what she sees despite fighting against it to prove she can get the job on her own merit.

Described as a STEM romance, GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES is really more of a cutesy, heartfelt romance with light STEM elements. The reader doesn't really spend any time with Millie that centers around insects. And time spent including Finn's astronomy interests centers only around stargazing with Millie and in remembrance of a family member. The only reason to call it a STEM romance is because both characters are scientists and that's as deep as it gets. While I hoped for and expected more of the STEM component to come into play, I adjusted my expectations to enjoy this book for what it is.

Millie more or less embodies the sunny disposition trope. But she is not without her own troubles and anxieties, which the author sensitively portrays on the page. She is apparently passionate about bugs, but that passion is more evident when she gushes about her favorite almond croissants and interacts with Finn's nieces. Finn's grumpy exterior is all show and he is definitely a cinnamon bun kind of guy who has his own family pains to work through. Their ease with and adoration of each other is clear. And I appreciated that they communicate well, nixing the disliked miscommunication trope.

However, in addition to the lack of STEM elements, there are a couple other things that didn't quite work for me. There are a lot of interactions between coworkers that I thought would not actually happen in a contemporary work setting. For example, Millie platonically kisses her coworker on the cheek at work. Even though they're best friends, that's not really work appropriate. There's also a scene at work where Finn teases Millie about her choice of nicknames because they sound like stripper names. There are a few other interactions that occur at work that made me raise an eyebrow. These scenes add levity and depict Millie's friendliness, but it's unrealistic.

I also didn't care for the easy resolution of Millie's job interview progression, which is actually more of a background storyline relative to her courtship with Finn. I can't say too much because it's a spoiler. But suffice it to say Millie competes with one other candidate for the job. In the end, the museum panelists had an easy out to choose Millie. I suppose I wanted more conflict here, though it at least leads to a healing confrontation.

My nitpicking aside, GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES is an easy read for anyone who likes a cozy romance and happy endings. Science doesn't feature so much here, but Millie's bubbly personality and Finn's heartfelt confessions and adorable nieces steal the show.

I love Scowly and Smiley. It’s always been a favorite trope of mine and this elevated it by far! There’s just something about the trope and Give Me Butterflies is one of my top couples in this category.

Finn and Millie are so adorable together and the way they become a little family from the very beginning and the way they dance around each other though aggravating because I just want them to smash is also adorable as well.

Two adults able to communicate?!?? What did I do to deserve this pure gold book???

The dates that Finn Ashford creates are top tier, gold level, legendary

And they take care of each other and support each other. Their connection is so BEAUTIFUL.

God Finn loves her so much and she dreams of their life I CANNOT

The emotions omg so many that my stomach felt. It twisted, it turned, it gave me literal butterflies

And on top of it all, she blessed me with an EPILOGUE

Fin (the MMC) was impossible not to love. From the start, I had a soft spot for him—he’s such a devoted guardian to Avery and Eloise, always putting them first, which made my heart melt. Millie (the FMC) was perfect for him. She was relatable, caring, and seamlessly stepped into their little family, loving the girls just as much. The way they clicked together felt so right, and I loved watching their relationship unfold from colleagues to friends to more 🥹

Also, I couldn’t get enough of the group chat with Millie’s family. It had me cracking up every time!

All together, this was a sweet, heartwarming read and I’d high recommend it!

GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES – Jillian Meadows
Oaks Sisters, Book 1
Avon
ISBN: 978-0063416161
January 21, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Washington, DC – Present Day

Millie loves her job as a butterfly curator at a science museum and is hoping for an advancement at the center as the director of her department. Unfortunately, one of the people who will interview her for the position is none other than the man she always seems to run into—literally. Dr. Finn Ashford is a nerd with his head in the stars as he is the director of the astronomy department. He’s always grumpy with Millie and she always seems to do something disastrous around him. Why does he have to be one of the people to decide about her next career opportunity? Yet, while he continues to glare at her, Millie can’t help but fall under the spell of his blue eyes. She soon learns that Finn is carrying a lot on his shoulders. Besides working full-time, he also is the guardian of his late sister’s twin daughters. And Millie soon encounters them and falls in love with the girls—and their uncle.

Millie loved bugs as a child, leading her to pursue a degree in entomology and a job at the Wilhelmina Natural Science Museum where she gets to show visitors her beloved butterfly collection. The job is perfect but becoming the director would be even better. She tries not to run into Finn, but her luck always runs out. She has spilled coffee on him and accidentally ran into the back of his car, and he always glares at her as though she’s a nincompoop. After she learns about what is really going on with him, that he’s raising his nieces, she bends over backward to help him. After all, the girls are wonderful, and they come to adore Millie. Of course, this means spending time with their Uncle Finn…and growing closer to the man who will help decide her future. Is she playing with fire? The truth of the matter is that she has come to like Finn and of course, the girls.

Fans of steamy STEM romances will be in for a treat with GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES. Millie is an endearing character who loves what she does and will do just about anything for people. She recently came out of a bad relationship where her now ex criticized and controlled her. In this tale, her ex-boyfriend, Kyle, starts texting her again wanting to meet up and she tries to ignore him. No more will she let a man sabotage her self-esteem. After getting past Finn’s grumpiness, Mille discovers a different side to the man and comes to admire him. He is doing it alone, even though his parents live nearby. Turns out his parents are really awful people. In the meantime, Millie and Finn are creating a happy unit for the girls. Almost like they are a family. Of course, Finn and Millie’s relationship turns into a romance that lands them in bed. Will they achieve what they want? For Millie, the job of her dreams, and for Finn, peace and happiness after years of upheaval.

GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES is an engaging and entertaining romance that readers will surely love. We see in this tale what both Finn and Millie are thinking and watch them fall in love with each other. If you’re looking for a read that ends happily ever after for everyone, then don’t miss GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Giving me butterflies, indeed! My first full 5 star read of the year is here.

I utterly adored Give Me Butterflies. It was perfect to me. Just perfect.

Millie and Finn are coworkers who initially don't initially get along, yet constantly gravitate towards (even if that means walking into) one another. After some initial misconception and temporary grumpiness from him, Millie soon sees Finn past his grumpy mask into a man who carries the heavy burden of a loved one's loss and his absolute determination to provide the best life for his whole world-- his nieces from whom he is sole guardian. Breaking that initial wall down between is the first true step into wanting to be in each other's orbit. However, as Finn is part of a judging panel that will decide a potential promotion for Millie, she draws a line that seeks nothing past friendship. But gravity is gravity-- and the pull can't be helped. Nor can it be helped how the most beautiful love story can blossom when we just let ourselves fly.

Finn is doing his absolute best to take the best care of and raise his nieces with the love and dedication. After losing his sister (the girls' mother) to illness, Finn has taken the role of parent to his nieces. And he wants to ensure they remain his priority and he never lets them down, the way his cold parents did to him and his sister time and time again. The dedication is heartwarming, although the fear of a misstep in parenting does lead to misstep in his burgeoning romancing with Millie. However, this stumble is one that I believe will have the reader sympathize with Finn rather than be angry at him. He's a green flag man from beginning to ending.

Millie. Lovely Millie. It's no wonder Finn falls so easily in love with. She is empathetic, kind, warm, and a wonderful, contagious dreamer. After seeing the true Finn he slowly but steadily gets to know him better-- and his girls. Those Fridays at his place were the most fun to read. I also adored seeing the burgeoning relationship between Millie and the girls. Oh! how readily she became part of their world, and how welcoming she and her family were of the girls when they met. Finn takes such good care of them, but it's heartening watching those girls experience love from an extended family in a way they hadn't before.

It's also heartening to watch Millie learn to trust again. After surviving a toxic relationship, Millie has many good reasons to not want to cross any lines with Finn, but along the way his words and actions demonstrate to her that she should keep her heart open. That there are hands she can hold that are full of trust, of safety, of love.

And just as she learns to trust, Finn learns to live. To live fully. Millie becomes the sun he orbits, that his girls orbit. She lights their lives up with laughter, music, and some delicious food. She brings home and comfort with her and they fall into her open embrace oh so effortlessly. Like they were always meant to fit. I fell in love with the family they formed. The family they earned for themselves.

I also appreciated that amidst the beautiful love story and the bonding found family narrative, Finn doesn't forget his deceased sister and I loved how the narrative touched upon her character and I loved even more a very special way Millie chooses to honor her memory.

Love is the theme. Love of a good, healthy relationship. Love for self. Love for family. Love for true partners. It's a beautiful theme that teaches us our worth in having love in our lives, and how to always cherish it.

Millie and Finn are so deserving of their love and I'm thrilled to have read their story. It's a book I will be recommending to all!

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

Jillian Meadows writes some of the best romance that covers varying important topics in regards to insecurities, mental health, and relationships. She does this in a way that shows the importance and teaches you acceptance and understanding. This book was no different and add single dad(technically), workplace romance AND grumpy/sunshine. It’s quite literally my perfect romance book. Seeing the way Finn cares for his nieces after grief and grows with Millie is very heartwarming. Seeing Millie accept not only her worries about a relationship but his circumstances and not run away by accepting and loving those girls as her own, chefs kiss. The banter always hits with just the right amount of spice. I cannot wait for her next book.