Soft DNF @45%. I got bored around 40% but kept trying to half-heartedly read. I imagine I’ll come back to this one in the spring or summer. The couple got together way too quickly for me, and the tension in the first few chapters went away.

Millie is a curator at a science museum. She’s been vying for a promotion, but her least favorite coworker (Finn) is on the committee that decides who gets the job. He’s surely and doesn’t talk much.

Finn also works at the museum. His sister passed away recently, and he’s been tasked with raising his nieces. He secretly adores Millie. The meet cute when the reader gets to see them interact was so good!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

Please read the Trigger Warnings mentions of loss of a sibling due to cancer, past emotional and verbal abuse by Millie's ex, emotionally distant and verbally abusive parents by Finns parents. Episodes of anxiety attack and symptoms.

I loved the main characters Millie and Finn, dual POV. Loved their story, he fell first. Loved how he was their for Millie, knew when she was struggling and would ask her what she needed or wanted at those times. He was totally supported when she was anxious. He was patient and kind. Willing to take his time, even to the point of asking her if what he wanted to do was okay or asked her permission first before doing something. I think it was a great representation of communication between two people wanting a healthy relationship and putting in the work due to past trauma.

I loved the side characters as well, Millie's supportive friends, her parents. LOVED Finn's two nieces. They show how resilient kids can be in the face of such tragedy. That kids will see things we don't and will say just about anything. Leaving us shocked and in awe.

A wonderful story that I would highly recommend.

“Give Me Butterflies” by Jillian Meadows is an absolute gem of a romance novel! The story beautifully captures the excitement, vulnerability, and sweetness of falling in love. The characters are so well-developed and relatable, making it easy to root for them from the very first page. Jillian Meadows has a knack for writing dialogue that feels natural and heartfelt, and the chemistry between the protagonists is electric.

The pacing is perfect, with just the right mix of humor, tension, and emotional moments that pull you in and keep you hooked. It’s one of those feel-good books that leaves you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. If you’re looking for a charming, swoon-worthy romance, “Give Me Butterflies” will not disappoint! Highly recommend!

This was so so so good. Sweet, swoony, spicy. The tension between Finn and Millie was soooo good. I was literally cheesing at my kindle during 95% of this. I laughed many times. And this was such a heartbreaking yet sweet version of the single dad trope🥺 I cannot wait for the next books in this series because I just know they are going to be just as good!

“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.” 🫠

First of all I’m am obsessed with this book cover and I’m a sucker a book about a woman in STEM. Give me all of them!

I had a silly smile on my face this whole book. There was a little bit of a lull in the middle, but it picked right back up and overall I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more books by Jillian Meadows!

Give Me Butterflies is a sweet and spicy(ish) book. I enjoyed the duel POV, and grumpy to sunshine (although I wish there was a tiny bit more grump. Some of the plot points of conflict were a little weird for me, with Finn's parents and Millie's ex, and it did eventually tie up together but I am not sure if the story needed both issues to deal with.

I do appreciate seeing Millie's growth and increased confidence and having a non-toxic MMC is refreshing. I enjoyed the bits with Millie's friends but they sort of fell flat for me.

I also prefer the cover update compared to the one on Good Reads.

Overall, it was a sweet found-family story!

A special thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute romance, Finn, Millie, and the girls make such a sweet and tender little family.

I appreciate the adorable energy that Finn and Millie have for each other. Them together makes since, they're both nerdy and together their nerdiness is heart filling.

The found family dynamic was great, I was always looking forward to seeing the girls, Millie, and Finn interact but anything outside that I found somewhat boring?

I think that the timeline within the book also bothered me, I was never quite sure how far along their relationship had been going on before they hit a couple of bumps along the road.

I think that one of the first conflicts we saw was well addressed, Finn taking a step back and going to therapy was great, communicating his distress made him more confident in his relationship with Millie and I appreciated that.

I also enjoyed the fact that Finn always kept the memory of Clara alive, especially to the girls.

Alas though, this book was simply cute. Not too memorable but it was a good time while it lasted!

If you enjoy a single guardian romance and the found family trope, you are in for a treat!

This book was written for nerds.

As a girl who is obsessed with the stars AND butterflies, I was turning pages quicker than I could breathe.

I love how the author writes about how helpful or harmful families can be, how grief is not linear, and how healing from trauma can show that you are strong - even if no one else knows it.

I ALSO love how both MCs demonstrate that communication is key, but sometimes, you may need time to process your feelings before you can communicate… and that’s perfectly fine!

This book had me shedding tears at multiple points while I was on a flight home from vacation - and I loved every word of it.

Thank you Jillian Meadows for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an adorable medium-burn STEM romance! Meet Millie, a sweet and anxious entomologist, and Finn, a grumpy single guardian astronomer. Their journey felt like watching a cozy romance movie as they slowly unraveled the layers of their lives and discovered just how perfect they were for each other.

Finn is the ultimate protective guardian, devoted to his nieces and always there to support Millie, while Millie’s kind heart and hilarious family make you wish you could join their crew. I absolutely loved every moment of this story and thoroughly enjoyed watching their romance blossom!

Give Me Butterflies is a delightful and heartwarming workplace romance that beautifully weaves themes of found family, the classic grumpy x sunshine dynamic, and a tale of unrequited love. The narrative centers on Millie, an entomologist vying for a promotion at her museum, and Finn, the brooding head of astronomy who sits on the interview panel.

As fate has it, Millie and Finn keep crossing paths, leading her to discover that beneath his gruff exterior, Finn is grappling with the challenges of raising his two young nieces after the tragic loss of his sister. Their unexpected friendship blossoms, revealing Finn's sweet and charming side, which complicates Millie's efforts to maintain a platonic relationship, especially since he holds the key to her career advancement.

This romance is utterly enchanting! The bond that Millie and Finn cultivate is rich with love and mutual support, characterized by a healthy foundation of trust and care. I adore how Finn initially appears grumpy, only for Millie to uncover the layers of loneliness and grief he carries from his sister's passing. The story is masterfully crafted, focusing on their emotional journeys—Finn's transition into fatherhood and Millie's battle with anxiety—making their romance all the more poignant. It was overall a cute book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Such a sweet book about a wholesome workplace. This is my new favorite romance. It was sweet and made me feel warm inside. This was my first book from the author and I cannot wait to read more!

I love the new cover for this book and I think it was a wise choice to update it.

Overall, this is a strong STEM romance that I think a lot of romance readers will adore. For me, the book had moments that just dragged especially after they had sex for the first time. It gets old fast to have sex a bunch after that. Plus the third act almost breakup.

I loved that the MMC was in therapy. I think it’s good to show characters actually working through their crazy. Also, I loved him.

I just wish there had been a little more substance.

I immensely enjoyed this romance and appreciated the struggle the two main characters had with past relationships and the damage it caused. It was fun to read about such an intellectual setting and the academic yet passionate couple who brought creativity and love to their work and home lives.

🌌Grumpy x Sunshine
🦋Workplace Romance
🌌STEM MCs
🥐(⬅️IYKYK) Cinnamon Roll MMC
🦋Single Guardian
🌌He Falls First
🦋Grief and Healing
**TW: Neglectful and Emotional Manipulative Parents
**TW: Gaslighting, Emotional and Verbal Abuse by a Past Partner

I am obsessed and will be singing this book’s praises! I have recently finished a series of OTT, Possessive, obsessed, alpha MMCs and was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this book. But I WAS WRONG!!! I absolutely loved it. It was amazingly beautiful and sweet!

I love Finn, he is seriously perfection. He is an amazing caregiver/parent, loves those girls so hard and wants to be the best he can for them despite the example he was raised with. The way he loves his girls. All of them!! I was swooning over Finn the entire book, the way he thinks and feels about Millie had the biggest smile on my face. He is so supportive, encouraging, protective and respectful. But boy can get down too! He has mouth on him and uses it at just the right time, a gentlemen in the streets and filthy in the sheets.

Millie has my heart! She really want this promotion with out any drama or doubt of her ability and skill. She’s hesitant and scared after her last relationship gaslit, emotionally and verbally abused her. But she cannot resist the connection with Finn. Her bond with his girls is so heartwarming and precious.

This book is the definition of soulmates! 🥰🥰🥰 Literally what dreams are made of. Jillian wrote in a way that is authentic and touching without coming right out and saying or being cheesy. There is fantastic banter and chemistry, and lots of steamy tension. This book is healthy communication and relationship goals. Definitely in my top reads of the year column.

4.5⭐️
If Ali Hazlewood and Abby Jimenez had a book baby, this would be it. You have the STEM badass girl entomologist in Millie and space geek in Finn for fans of Hazelwood. Mixed with the adorable relationship building with complex emotions and mental health awareness for fans of Jimenez. I truly couldn’t put this book down. I was cheering for this grumpy/sunshine, workplace, single father figure, he falls first romance. I honestly cannot believe this is Jillian Meadows’ first book. I’m so serious. I don’t know why her name isn’t up there with top contemporary romance authors. I am a big Abby Jimenez fan. But Jillian has won me over with her debut novel. It has everything fans of Jimenez love. Complex characters overcoming obstacles with the ending you hope for. Jillian Meadows, consider me your newest fan. I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the other Oaks sisters. Thank you for Millie and Finn (and Avery and Eloise); they were some of my favorites.


Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for my copy.

4/5 stars
3/5 spice - Open door

Written in dual first person POV (MMC and FMC)
Tropes: grumpy sunshine, STEM, workplace romance, forbidden romance, slow burn

This story follows Millie an entomologist and Finn an astrologer who both work at a natural science museum. Millie is up for a promotion and Finn is on the selection committee. Millie and Finn must overcome past circumstances to fully give themselves to their relationship.

This book has great character development with just enough spice. I enjoyed rooting for Millie and Finn through their journey. Very cute and it was a very easy read. Strong FMC which is always great in my book!

Where do I start with this book? It was incredible. It was the most cinnamon roll, wholesome, delicious read that I've read in a while. A hug of a book. The love in this book is mature, in the best way. They are both going through a lot, but the communication in this book is top tier. The picture of a healthy relationship that can weather the ups and downs. This book explores loss/grief along with anxiety really well and how the characters navigate that together was beautiful.

Honestly, this romance far exceeded what I anticipated when I picked this book up. I was crying so much throughout the book over how thoughtful Finn was to Millie and just the small little words of "I miss my girls" and his love declaration. If you want a swoon worthy, mature romance with the best amount of spice... This is for you. One of the easiest five stars I can give a read, this year.

This book follows Millie an entomologist, who got out of a verbally abusive relationship and Finn, who just lost his sister and is now the guardian of her two little girls. Millie and Finn start off on rocky footing, but she finds out pretty quickly that Finn's grumpy exterior is due to loss and he is actually a golden retriever of a man underneath. These two quickly develop a friendship that leads to so much more as they navigate through their pasts together.

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Found Family
Workplace Romance
Single Dad

"Give Me Butterflies" is a delightful, feel-good read that will make you swoon and smile in equal measure. Jillian Meadows crafts a charming, STEM-filled romance between Millie, a quirky, sunshine-y entomologist, and Finn, the grumpy-yet-heartwarming astronomer with a soft spot for his nieces. Their banter is witty, the chemistry is electric, and the science museum setting adds a unique twist to the typical workplace romance.

Tropes:
🧸 Single Parent (well, uncle in a parental role)
🌌 He Falls First
😠 Grumpy / Sunshine
🫶 Found Family
🏛️ Workplace Romance
🔥 Semi-Low Spice

This book is the perfect mix of nerdy charm and heartfelt moments. Millie is focused on winning a director position at the museum, but her determined optimism keeps leading her right back to Finn. Their slow-burn romance unfolds with the kind of tension that will give you butterflies. While Finn initially tries to keep his distance, his gentle side surfaces as he lets Millie into his world and his heart, learning to manage life’s challenges with her by his side.

"Give Me Butterflies" is as sweet as it is heartwarming—a must-read for fans of opposites-attract romance with a dash of science, family, and low-key spice. The found family dynamic brings extra depth, especially with Finn’s role as a guardian, and his growth into a soft-hearted partner is swoon-worthy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avonbooks for the opportunity to receive the ARC.
Book to be published Jan 21,2025.

I enjoyed this one so much more than I was expecting to! I loved the characters and the way their connection grew and how they fit together and supported each other, and the supporting cast of side characters was great. I loved the different family dynamics and how they added to the story. It was a unique example and exploration of single parenthood, and those two little girls absolutely stole my heart. There was a great balance of fun and humor with some really tender, emotional moments, and I thought it all came together really well. I’ve had a hard time lately finding books that keep my attention, and this one absolutely did. It was steamier than I tend to prefer, but it felt like it fit with the story and didn’t overwhelm, which I appreciated. I highly recommend this one and .I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author for the opportunity to read Give me Butterflies.

You cannot convince me this is her debut book it was so well done.

A STEM workplace romance
Dual POV
Opposites attract grumpy/sunshine.
Two adorable kids
Found family
No miscommunication ❌
Spice 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pro Therapy- anxiety/grief representation
And no third act breakup?!
Sign me up.

And the cover!!! *chefs kiss*

Also how do I get added to the Oaks Folks group chat. Asking for me.

I cannot wait for more of this series.