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.

Entomologist Millie finds a new side to her grumpy museum coworker Finn in this STEM romcom.

This was cute one. I found that the strength of this book lied in the way loss was approached. It wasn't glossed over and you get a really good sense of how the loss has affected Finn. The way he cared for his nieces was just adorable as well. I loved the intersections with Millie and the girls. That was my favorite part. The romance was cute, but a little fast. This one has some good spice in it as well. At the end of the day, I wanted a little more development of the romance and to see a little slower transition from Finn being the grumpy guy at work to the being so attracted and enamored with Millie.

All in all, a cute STEM spicy romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Full transparency, I skipped over a lot of this book. It’s was very spicy for my taste. From what I did read, the writing was easy to read and she had good prose but I just don’t vibe with spice over plot books.

Sadly it was really hard for me to get a good grasp on this one. I slogged through it because there just wasn't enough plot to propel these characters all the way through the book without me getting bored in the middle and wondering when anything else but plot filler was going to happen. I liked their relationship, but it was just too typical romance with grumpy guy sunshine girl, grumpy guy is jealous/possessive easy over someone who isn't his, and forbidden workplace romance. There wasn't anything that stood out to me from other books I've read with similar or the same tropes. It wasn't bad, just too boring for me.

TLDR: I feel like it was trying a little hard to be deep but it was still pretty surface level. I still enjoyed it and would recommend.

Finn and Millie both work at the museum, and are pretty much workplace “enemies” after a few accidental run ins. Millie thinks he’s hot but not hot enough to counter his grumpy scowl and cold demeanor, until she sees him with his nieces. As the two grow closer, both of their feelings also grow, but Millie holds back because he’s on the committee to interview her for the head curator job of the entomology department. With all this tension, will they, or won’t they be getting together?

They will be. I liked a lot of the romance in this book. I thought it was pretty and cutesy and likable in general. I thought both characters had a little bit of intrigue that kept me reading. I do feel that it was lacking a bit of depth. I wish I had more on Finn’s awful family, more on Claire’s death, more on the friend group and more on Millie’s relationship. It felt almost like things were put in to give characters depth rather than the characters having real living breathing depth.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review

A swoon worthy quick read for fans of grumpy-sunshine pairings.

Finn and Millie are coworkers, but that’s where the connection ends… or is it? A chance meeting of Finn’s twin nieces shows a different side of him, one without scowls and a cold nature. As Millie begins spending time with Finn, Eloise and Avery, it quickly becomes clear there is more to their connection than work.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters, but several times felt we were missing details. I found myself going back a page to make sure I hadn’t skipped anything when the timeline would jump without any real clear transition. It felt a bit disjointed. I also wish Millie’s anxiety had been explained better. It felt very superficial. I absolutely loved Millie’s family! Overall 3.5/5, and I would recommend to friends!

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

This book is very humorous. For example, you will never think about shopping for matching Christmas pajamas the same way again.

I liked that the story alternates between Millie and Finn’s point of view. Reading romantic comedies that are primarily told through the perspective of the female protagonist is enjoyable. However, it was nice to get a more in-depth perspective of both Millie and Finn — their personalities, insecurities, interests, past experiences, and their changing feelings towards each other.

I was surprised at how quickly their relationship progressed. I expected that the story would build towards a committed relationship, there would be the big conflict or misunderstanding that threatened to end the relationship, and then the reconnection (maybe involving a "big gesture" by one of them) and the happily ever after. However, I enjoyed that Millie and Finn's relationship progressed the way it did, especially the connection that developed between Millie and Finn's nieces, Eloise and Avery, for whom he has become the guardian after the death of Clara, Finn's sister and the girls' mother. I loved that Millie, and her friends and family, embraced the girls, making them feel important and valued; in stark contrast to their grandparents, who were judgmental and condescending. Some of the best parts of the story are the time Millie spends with Finn and the girls.

Not that Millie and Finn's relationship is not without its stumbling blocks. Finn, quite understandably, puts his nieces first, and struggles to accept that it is okay for him to have leisure or social activities that don't revolve around or at least include the girls. Millie was badly emotionally burned by a prior boyfriend (Kyle) whose was mentally/emotionally abusive, and her efforts to rebuild her self-confidence take a hit when Kyle repeatedly tries to reinsert himself into her life. Yet with a little trust and understanding, and supportive friends and family (Millie's), Millie and Finn are able to overcome the obstacles.

Millie and Finn tugged at my heart strings in all the right ways. I loved watching them grow in their relationship and work through their individual issues. The girls were adorable. I can't wait to see what is next in this series.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this chance to read this! <3

Give Me Butterflies was a soft, fun, wholesome workplace romance featuring all my favorite things! Found family, opposites attract, nerds in love, he falls first.

This was such a sweet read. The relationship these two form is so supportive and authentic. You can really tell they trust each other at their core and really value that.

Finn's attitude and demeanor at first had me wishy washy but made a lot of sense as I moved through the story. There is just so much kindness and patience in his heart. I really enjoyed that.

As for Millie she is struggling with her anxieties after her relationship ends and feeling like she won't be herself or better yet has lost herself, and I feel that can be relatable for many.


You literally couldn't convince me this was her debut. It was so well done. Such a feel good, comfy slow burn that I needed over the last few days.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC. Unfortunately, this book did not give me butterflies. It was close and almost there. But each trope just felt a little hollow. Enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, instalove. At the end if the day, the two characters felt a little blah to me.
The croissant date was cute, but the mechanics were off page. Needed more swoon for my tsste.

This was such a feel good comfy romance ! The cover is beautiful and made me want to pick up this book and dive right in ! This was a quick read with a good ending. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my gosh, Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows is an absolute delight! This charming workplace romance centers around Millie, an entomologist, and Finn, an astronomer, both working as curators at the same science museum. I loved diving into their world—it was fascinating to read about their daily adventures in the museum, including Millie's promotion and the application process!

The chemistry between Millie and Finn is electric! Their playful banter and growing friendship are so well-crafted, making their journey feel authentic and relatable. I adored how they supported each other through thick and thin, learning to communicate better and growing as individuals along the way.

One of my favorite parts was the sweet dynamic between Millie, Finn, and his adorable twin nieces, who he’s taken under his wing after the loss of his sister. Their little makeshift family is heartwarming, and it was such a joy to see the love and laughter they shared. The friendships and family bonds throughout the story really added to its charm!

I was thrilled that there wasn’t a third-act breakup—thank you, Jillian! Instead, Millie and Finn navigated their moments apart with open communication, which made their connection even stronger.

This book is just so cute and swoony, with the perfect blend of banter and a touch of spice! Jillian Meadows has done a fantastic job balancing Finn's dating life with his responsibilities as a guardian. Plus, the portrayal of grief and anxiety was handled beautifully. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this standalone series!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Avon, Harper Voyager, and Jillian Meadows for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good read, you definitely need to check this one out!

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows is a workplace romance following Millie, an entomologist and Finn, an astronomer both working as curators in the same science museum.

Reading about Millie and Finn’s work days and what’s going on in the museum including the application process and Millie’s promotion was really interesting.

The tension and banter between this two were great, I liked how they built a friendship first and supported each other in so many ways. Through the book they learned how to communicate better, which showed their character growth and the understanding they had for one another.

The moments with Millie, Finn and his nieces, who he became a guardian to after his sister’s death, were really lovely. and I enjoyed reading about the small family they built. The friendships and Millie’s family made the book even better.

I was happy that there wasn’t a third act break up and both communicated with each other when they needed a moment and space.

I‘m looking forward to the next book in this standalone series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Jillian Meadows for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was so cute and swoony. The banter and spice were well done as well! Millie and Finn are coworkers at a museum and Finn is the guardian of his twin nieces. I thought the author did a great job of balancing Finn’s dating life with the responsibilities of having children. The portrayal of grief and anxiety were also well done. I’ll definitely be checking out Jillian Meadows other book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Millie and Finn gave me all the butterflies!! I really loved how Jillian Meadows went about portraying the themes of grief and anxiety. She made these themes realistic and relatable to the reader. I also loved the healthy communication between Millie and Finn. The found family between Millie, her friends and family, Finn and his nieces was one of the best things about this book! I couldn't put this book down!

Okay, this was super cute! ‘Give Me Butterflies’ was originally self-published and is now rereleased by a publisher. I’m so glad they did because this was too great to be kept under the radar!

Perfect if you love:
*** Enemies to lovers
***Workplace romance
*** Single Dad
*** Dual POV
*** Great side characters

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was great, the MMC was swoonworthy, and the longing buildup was real in this one. The premise of the novel was original, and kept my attention the entire time. The whole backstory of Finn losing his sister and raising her daughters was beautiful.
And the steam was steamyyyy, and I loved every second of it.

Will definitely be looking to purchase this one for my collection!

Thank you to Netgalley, and Avon & Harper Voyager for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.