Book Stats:
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.25/5)
Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️(3/5)
Tropes: STEM, Single parent, found family,
Publisher: Avon
Review:
*thank you to Avon for sending me a copy of this book for free in exchange for a honest review-it means a lot that you trust little old me!!!!*

Fans of Ali Hazelwood, I have a new book for you! Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows is that perfect heartwarming, gooey, feel good, and lets not forget steamy romcom that will quite literally give you butterflies!

As a STEM girlie myself, I really love how there is more and more books written about the STEM lifestyle(not all of us can be cute cafe owners or second grade teachers) and it is really nice to see more and more of that representation in our romance books that aren't.....yah know, "I hooked up with this disease I grew in my lab that has somehow grown a body to have s*x with me" kind.

So the good parts, the humor is written really well and really helps add to the heartwarming feeling in the book. The kids in this book are soooo cute! They have true backstories and are truly active in the plot of the story, and are not just used as plot devices(which is normally my big complaint about the single dad trope- I want to see the FMC and the child interact in the plot and have plot points of their own before you judge her on what she can't handle or doesn't know anything about) There is a ton of representation in this book besides the stem that I really truly appreciate as well, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ and positive therapy. Oh! and there is no major HR violation(besides a minor one used as a plot device) with this book(I am looking at you The Love Hypothesis) I know most people don't really care about that kind of thing, but it always makes me uncomfortable and can really ruin a book, because to me, it doesn't seem very realistic that two people can commit a HR violation that serious and walk away scott free. Another big thing that I really loved that the author used in this book is the fact that THERE IS NO MISCOMMUINCATION. LIKE NONE. All of the MC's problems are real problems and because they are truly able to talk to each other, there is no unnecessary drama to keep the plot going. The last thing I absolutely loved about this book besides all of the butterflies it gave me in my stomach? The use of butterfly symbolism. Seriously, like, I shed a tear at it. It was so cutie!

So the bad things. For as long as this book is, I really wish their was more build-up to the chemistry and the "longing". It felt kinda like we were diving off a cliff directly into the plot and love story without running to jump off said cliff. The only other major thing is there was kind of a massive plot hole left off at the end. I get that finishing it was probably not necessary for our main couple to have their happily ever after, but still. It left me with questions at the end and that the story didn't really and truly end at the end of the book.

I think if you are a typical romance reader who enjoys your rom-coms, this book is a definitely a must, especially if you don't enjoy 3rd act breakups and love the single dad trope. This is just a overall cute, wholesome little romance!

If you are a FAN of Ali Hazelwoods STEM romance series or the writing style of Sarah Adams put this at the TOP of your next read! Thank you NetGalley, Jillian and the best publishers at AVON for the eARC!

What to Expect:
⭐ Grumpy and Sunshine
⭐ Coworkers to lovers
⭐ No Third Act Breakup!! THANK YOU!!!
⭐ There is edge of your seat anticipation and SPICE!

⭐ STEM Career focus
⭐ TW: Verbal abuse/control/gaslighting in past relationship and parents
⭐ TW: Mourning & Grief
⭐ TW: Anxiety + description of attacks

My Thoughts:
First HUGE shoutout to Jillian for the AMAZING readers warning at the beginning!! As someone who has been in a past relationship EXACTLY like Main character Millie had left the warning at the beginning meant a lot. Thank you for highlighting it, discussing the ugliness of it all but also not going so in depth of it happening but instead what the journey of healing from this type of relationship really looks like. It is a scary recovery process of which you second guess yourself in every way you can. SO THANK YOU!

That said I know this has been out for a minute and I am bummed I missed it out in the Indy world! Jillian you write beautifully, descriptive, and fully of love. Every page draws you in to the scene envisioning yourself there as a fly on the wall. The story of main characters Millie + Finn going from colleagues to friends to in a relationship while they both heal in different ways is written beautifully. The sub characters are DELIGHTFUl! I wish I was friends with Micah and Lena! Their board game nights sound like a BLAST!

I am excited this is only book ONE! I'm excited for the journey you're going to have Jillian!

Synopsis:
Millie loves her job as a kickass entomology curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. She even has an interview for the department director position, so she can take on an even bigger role in the museum. She refuses to be distracted by her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, bright blue eyes, and nerdy astronomy ties.

. . . Not that she’s spent much time noticing any of those things.

Finn Ashford doesn’t mean to glare at everyone, but he’s juggling his job at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and not ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row.

When Millie stumbles through the door of her interview, her eyes scan the committee and land on the one man that could derail her promotion, but it just so happens he’s also the one man that could make all her dreams come true.

Give Me Butterflies is a slow burn, single guardian romance. This steamy story features a handsome grump who seems to only smile for his nieces, an anxious curator finding the confidence to believe in herself, and a cast of endearing, meddling side characters. It’s full of swoony moments, nerdy banter, and enough fiery tension to light the museum ablaze.

I definitely enjoyed Finn + Millie's banter and the tension they had with each other

The way Finn spoke to her was swoon worthy
He really wanted to care for her! It was so sweet.
And the way he cared for those little girls 😍

A great slow burn

This was such a heartfelt and lovely romance that featured open communication and no third act breakup!! I really enjoyed this book, the chemistry between the characters was so good, the way their friendship developed was sweet and there were some heavier topics that both characters dealt with that were handled well and with care. The only negative I had was that there were some "villain" type characters that seemed too one dimensional and just seemed unrealistically cold but maybe I just have not met people like that before. Overall though this was a great book, its lovely and the relationship that was portrayed was swoon-worthy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES by Jillian Meadows is a swoon-worthy, steamy STEM romance and perfect for fans of the grumpy/sunshine trope. Meadows is a new to me author but it's safe to say I will be reading all her books from now on! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyage for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to receive this e-arc because of all the tropes that was described for this book but as I read more into it, I highly disagree with the tropes it claimed to be and I was just not into the characters, story and pacing. This did not seem slow burn or enemies to lovers, in fact the opposite. It was insta-lovey and did I miss the enemies part? Because it seemed like the FMC and MMC got along just fine from the beginning lol And although I thought the relationship was too insta-lovey, the story's pacing felt too slow at the same time. I wished there was more to their careers but this book was just fine for me. Not too memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for access to this eARC. Jillian Meadows has written an adorable romance with enough drama to keep you turning pages, but not so much angst that it's painful.

Millie and Finn are two science nerds, and I couldn't love that more. Even though they are occupying separate spaces of interest, the museum setting and descriptions of their jobs was very enjoyable. Both come with some (very different) baggage and watching them learn to open up and trust one another, helped along in no small part by Finn's twin nieces who are under his guardianship, is swoon-worthy.

I loved the supporting cast of characters also, especially Millie's friends and family. Their support and kindness were a welcome balance to the less supportive (and downright toxic) relationships seen from Finn's family and Millie's ex. I was surprised Millie had to be told to block his number...

Seeing her family's group text was enticing enough to make me excited for Oaks Sisters #2 - intrigued to see what comes next!

This book was adorable! I really enjoyed the character development, the found family, Millie’s interactions with her sisters, how everything came together, no third act breakup, and how it all tied up nicely at the end. The one and only downside (and it’s not a deal breaker) is that I felt like I’d read a variation of this before. There wasn’t a huge difference between this and every other workplace arch rivals to lovers story. I did really love Millie, Finn, the girls, and all their crew though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I have been in a bit of a book slump and this one lifted me right out of it. I really loved Millie and Finn together.
I liked that even though they both things in their past that clearly were impacting them instead of shutting each other out they communicated. I feel like a lot of romance books rely on the “miscommunication trope” to draw out the drama but I liked that this one didn’t and it was nice to see healthy resolution to their issues.

I agree with some of the reviews I’ve seen that their relationship (and hers with the girls) moves fast but this is a book and unless you want a 700 page book you have to give the author some grace. I personally loved that Finn and Millie connected early on. While I love a good “enemies to lovers” it gets old when half the book is just them sniping at one another while secretly pining for each other.

4 stars. I think this is going to be one of Januarys best books!

This was a really sweet story. It was an enemies to lovers troupe. I wish the tension was longer and the build up ie enemies for longer. It was sweet he was raising his sisters kids but it seemed like her relationship with the girls was a tiny bit rushed. Overall I still enjoyed it.
3.75 stars for me.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 - Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

As a science girly myself I was hooked by the premise of this book! I thought the idea of two museum employees falling in love sounded very wholesome and sweet, and there was indeed a lot of wholesome moments in this story. I loved the addition of Finn’s nieces and their storyline throughout; I thought they added to a lot of the scenes. It also was nice to see Finn’s true personality brought out more by them, as well as some of Millie’s confidence.

Speaking of Millie’s confidence, I thought the author did a good job of creating a wide range of emotions in our FMC. We saw a lot of what Millie thought and felt and I felt like I got to know her very well throughout (and definitely would want to be her friend in real life). I also didn’t expect the twist about how her abusive ex was going to come back into her life, so it was cool to be surprised by that.

Something I wasn’t personally a massive fan of was how *horny* the MMC was. It kinda felt like all he really thought about upon seeing Millie was doing her, and it got a bit old after a while. It would’ve been nice to see him with a broader range of thoughts and feelings and emotions like Millie had, especially pertaining to his relationship with his parents and with his own inner turmoil about the loss of his sister/the responsibility of the girls. The sex scenes in the book as well kind of cheapened the story for me. Some of the wording choices were a bit much for my personal taste, as well as how many scenes were detailed out (this is coming from someone who usually enjoys closed-door romances, so others will probably enjoy these more than I did).

All in all I enjoyed getting to watch Millie and Finn’s little family flesh out throughout the story, and do recommend it as a cute, quick read!

The setup for this book is such an interesting one. I have never read a book about butterfly scientists and that alone made this a really interesting read!

This is such a sweet and endearing romance! The relationship that Millie and Finn create together is one that is truly enviable with a foundation of trust and mutual respect. One thing that I also appreciated was the fact that Finn was a bit more complex than just a typical grump character. Once Millie got to know him, she learned that it was a cover for how lonely and full of grief he is after losing his sister. I think it's crucial that we talk about these more serious topics in romance and not just rely on the fluffy and smutty bits to carry a whole story.

The story was crafted beautifully and I am looking forward to my next Jillian Meadows read!

I really enjoyed reading this! Millie and Finn were just the cutest couple. I absolutely loved the banter and eventual development into love. I am also a sucker for a good enemies to lovers and this was everything! Also the fact that this is a grumpy X sunshine, where he’s not actually all that grumpy with Millie was too cute!

Finn was a great mmc and counterpart for Millie. His ability to support her in her career aspirations and how he lets her see him struggle with raising his nieces. Not to mention the protective nature he has ( and also his jealous streak), though in real life that would be a red flag!

Millie is a strong independent woman in STEM who is seeking to procure a promotion. She is currently working on herself and the trauma from her last relationship. Her ability to work through her anxiety and show empathy towards Finn was so refreshing to see. Also Millie was so great with Finn’s girls! She fit right in with their little family.

Loved this book! Characters were both kind but real. Left with feelings I'll remember. Will read others by Jillian Meadows.

OMG Finn and Millie were utter perfection.
If you love a muscular, hot, nerdy guy who wears glasses, who pays attention, is considerate, and will make you swoon, but also has guardianship of his two cute nieces, look no further. Finn will blow your mind.
While they get off on the wrong foot, Finn and Millie quickly begin to
each others missing pieces. Their love story is beautiful and emotional. So real and raw it will make you question how are they not real.
If you are a fan of Hannah-Bonam Young, you need to try Jillian Meadows!

This book is a re-release, a sweet story about co-workers who shouldn't fall in love and all the baggage they bring to the relationship. The drama element was controlled and the characters were lovable. Overall, it was a sweet story but one that ultimately seems forgettable. Redeeming quality? - no third act breakup. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read!

I read this as an indie published book so I knew I had to read this one too. I don’t remember the differences but this book is so special to me. Not only do we get Millie Oaks, entomology extraordinaire, and her adorable family. I’m really hoping for Theo and Fable’s book. We also have an adorable grumpy astronomy nerd who is tall, gorgeous, and did I already say nerd? Finn Ashford is literally the cutest character ever and him being a single guardian to his twin nieces is literally ovary exploding. I adore the connection Millie and Finn have. It’s my favorite thing tbh,

I cannot wait for more to come from Ms Jillian Meadows. What a stunning writer in the midst.

This book is so so sweet. It’s a girl who’s only learning now how to trust herself and guy who’s just looking for support. Their banter is quick witted and funny which fuels incredible chemistry. It feels honest and refreshing and honestly just lovely to read. No third act breakup, great steamy romance, not annoyingly written kids. It’s a perfectly mixed book!

𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞. 𝐢’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞. 𝐢’𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞.

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
❥ grumpy x sunshine
❥ heroine in stem
❥ slow burn
❥ found family
❥ nerdy banter

𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
beautiful, compassionate and selfless love is the first thing that comes to mind when i think of finn & millie. two people who are closed off due to their emotional traumas, that find solace and healing in one another.

i absolutely loved the respect and the selflessness they both had for each others boundaries - exemplifying peak emotional maturity and knowing just what type of love your partner needs. and the spice? so much depth behind it… just fantastic.
 
thank you to avon and harper voyager, @netgalley & jillian meadows for sharing an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read for:
- Stem romance (they both are in this field)
- Opposites attracts
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Guardian mmc
- mature characters
- initial dislike vibes

Give Me Butterflies is a sweet and wholesome workplace romance which felt like a breathe of fresh air to me because the storyline, the characters, the kids, the plotline and the underlying message in the book was perfect without any unwanted complications and twist in the story.

Millie is like a walking sunshine and her love and passion for her job is very evident from the very beginning. The way she was suffering because of her past broke my heart a bit but I knew she would come out strong on the other side. I loved watching her growth and learning to truly love herself. 🦋

Finn was such a perfect mmc for me remining me why I love reading soft romances more than the dark or morally grey ones!! He might have been a grump in the story early one but when his character was fully shown, you could easily see the problems he was going through and how it affected him. He was caring and mature caring and so mature and honest and transparent and it's impossible not to fall in love with him. He's the guardian of the two most adorable little girls and to see their relationships was so good.

I loved how mature both characters were in terms of their feelings and how easily they could express it to each other!! I loved how Finn stood up for Millie and all the cute moments between then were amazing!! HE GOT HER BOOKS so that is that!! The nicknames & terms of endearment, oh I was a puddle!!

Oh, Millie. I don't want what friends do. I want much more than that with you

"I love when you say my name."
"I love when you moan mine."

The book was perfect amount of sweet and spicy for me and I enjoyed the character growth of both the mcs in this book!!

I was also in awe of the relationship Millie had built with the girls, it was so endearing to experience that.