This book was so sweet! Definitely gives all the feels of a Hallmark movie with a dash of spice. The family and friend relationships are perfection (minus Finn’s parents 😒). Also, Theo immediately caught my eye so I’m hoping book two is about him and Fable. I just know it’s going to be good!

I am quite sad that this ended up being a DNF for me. I made it to the halfway point and just couldn't bring myself to continue... This book actually started with a very different vibe. I was convinced I was reading a potential 5 star story early on, but I think things changed in the 2nd quarter.

Let me just say up front that this wasn't awful. I would feel very comfortable recommending this book to others and I think a lot of my issues are fairly subjective. But there certainly are things that I wish the author hadn't done or did differently.

To start, my biggest issue was the pacing. I stopped reading because I didn't feel I had anything to gain from reading a whole other half of the story. What was going to happen that didn't already occur? Millie and Finn established that they had feelings for each other a long time ago and have been basically living a cute domestic life together. They've even hooked up already, although I can't remember much about it because I was so UNinvested I tuned out and skipped a bit. He even already told her that he dropped off the hiring committee so there is nothing standing in their way. The only remaining plot lines are whether Millie will get the job and what she's going to do about her ex - neither of which were strong enough to sustain a whole half a book.

On that note, the plotline of Millie's ex was completely unnecessary. I don't think the author did a good enough job of establishing Millie's trauma from that relationship so it felt unrealistic. We had enough drama going on with Finn's situation and didn't need more. Then I found out from another review that he was going against her for the job and I can't explain how ridiculous that sounds to me. That entire storyline could have and should have been cut.

I think the author tried to do too much. There were too many tropes and elements that didn't need to be there. Things could have been much simpler - grumpy, single "dad" and a work place rivalry. That's all we needed.

All of that said, I liked that this took place in a museum and in the sciences and I liked our characters. I can see myself recommending this to someone someday because I think plenty of people could enjoy it. I wish I had loved it but it just wasn't for me.

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.5/5

Give Me Butterflies was a lighthearted, fun little read. It is by no means intensely emotional or heavy in plot, but it’s cute for what it is: two museum curators learning about themselves and growing in a relationship while navigating challenges such as raising children, work promotions, and toxic family members and exes.

When I started this book, I was hoping it would be similar to an Ali Hazelwood book, one of my all-time fave authors, and it did begin that way. There was witty banter, tension, heated looks, all the things you want in a good office romance. But all of that stuff stayed at the beginning. We’re told that they’re quasi-frenemies, but the characters never behave like that. Almost instantly they go from a few unfortunate mishaps that bring them together to flirting over emails and going on dates. It’s all very insta-love. There’s no burn or longing. Everything happens pretty quickly.

Another issue I had is that almost every single problem in the book worked out perfectly for the main characters. There really wasn’t much conflict to read about, so I was bored often. I would have loved a little more angst for our characters to work through as a couple. All of their problems were outside their relationship. They were essentially a couple the whole time. This isn’t really a book about two office rivals falling in love. It was more like coworkers admit their feelings then tackle typical life challenges until the book ends. Obviously, happily ever after with 3 epilogues.

I wish we had gotten to see more in their workplace. I thought the setting of the museum would have been really cool to see Millie and Finn in and hear more about entomology and astronomy and to get a better idea of their characters. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I also enjoyed all of the references throughout to Star Wars, Catan, Percy Jackson, etc.

This book is great for what it is, but it certainly didn’t give me butterflies. I enjoyed it, but I probably won’t be reading it again. If you’re looking for a short, lighthearted, relational read with a museum backdrop and nerdy elements, then this might be a good book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jillian Meadows, and Avon for the ARC!

Short & Sweet Opinion:
This book was everything I love in a romance—grumpy x sunshine, STEM workplace dynamics, and deep emotional storytelling. Finn and his nieces stole my heart, and the love story felt so natural and real. The slow-burn romance, packed with tension and longing, made every moment worth the wait. It’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling warm and comforted, and I already know I’ll be rereading it.

In-Depth Opinion:
I absolutely adored this book, and it might be one of my favorite romance novels. The emotional depth was beautifully handled, especially in exploring grief and emotional abuse, both in romantic and parental relationships. Finn’s relationship with his nieces was a standout, and seeing how Millie seamlessly became part of their world was heartwarming. The romance was a slower burn, full of tension and pining due to the workplace dynamic, but it made every moment between them even more meaningful. It felt natural for the characters and their situations, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The pacing was slightly slower than a typical romance, but it worked perfectly—nothing felt forced or overly convenient for the sake of the plot. Instead, it unfolded like a real-life love story, making it all the more immersive. If I had one regret, it’s that I didn’t read this sooner. This is a romance that feels like a warm hug, and I know I’ll come back to it again and again.

This was so wholesome & such a great romance. I loved the relationship between Millie & Finn, they were so loving & supportive of each other. I love a good grumpy x sunshine romance & how usually, the grumpy one if just covering up deeper layers they don’t want anyone to see but the other person always see them fully & loves all of them. His nieces were also absolutely adorable and were such a fun addition to the story! Overall a great read & definitely would recommend this!

I liked this book, but I did not love it. I always love a dual POV, and Meadows delivers on that. And I love nerdy romances, as a fellow nerd myself.

What I struggled with was the beginning of the story. I just found it hard to get into, and to get invested in the characters. I still enjoyed it overall, but I felt like I did have to overcome that first part.

However, I still enjoyed this book. I love good banter and some spice, and this absolutely delivered.

I love them together. Finn and Millie are both such multi-layered characters, and seeing them both come together after everything they’ve both been through was so cute UGH. The academic setting was also so good and added the perfect amount of academia to the story.

My only real complaints with this is the writing did a little too much telling for me, as well as the relationship pacing being a little funky in the beginning. Otherwise, I love Millie and Finn and their story so much.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

absolutely loved reading this book!! I've been thinking of reading it for a while and got so excited to see it being traditionally published (congratulations to the author !!)

i love love love the setting of this book and THE FMC!!!! I also am so fond of the single parent trope its crazy. 10/10 would read again

Filled with romance, nerdy banter, and steamy tension, Give Me Butterflies follows Millie, an entomologist with big career ambitions, and Finn, a grumpy astronomer juggling work, grief, and raising his nieces. Millie is determined to land a director position at the museum, and Finn, who’s on the hiring committee, is just another obstacle. Meanwhile, Finn has no time for distractions, especially not from his perpetually cheerful coworker. But as their paths keep crossing, avoiding each other proves impossible, and Millie realizes that she might need to choose between love and career.

I don’t typically go for romance books that involve kids or pregnancy, but this single-dad trope worked for me. Finn was a refreshing love interest (we love a man who goes to therapy!). And the fact that he was already attending for months before the story started was even better.

I adored Millie's big, involved family. Plus, seeing a woman thriving in STEM, as an entomologist, no less, was such a win. On the flip side, Finn’s family? Absolutely not. The sheer audacity of their behavior was infuriating.

I really enjoyed watching Finn and Millie’s relationship develop, with a nice mix of emotional depth and spice.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book!

✨ Review ✨ Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows

Thanks to Avon and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I was hooked when I saw this was about two museum professionals...(like Ali Hazelwood but in a museum!). Millie's an entomology curator, and in the first several chapters, crashes into Finn, a co-worker, REPEATEDLY. There's definite SUNSHINE-GRUMP energy for the first pages of the book.

Millie's opinion about Finn begins to evolve though when she realizes he's caring for his two nieces after his sister died. The kids, who are adorable, come to a camp, and she begins to spend time with them. Millie's getting her life back together after parting from an emotionally abusive boyfriend, and she finds space with Finn and the kids to grow in her confidence.

The book is filled with literal sweetness (almond croissants galore) but also so much sweetness between characters. At the same time, both Finn and Millie were wrestling with grief & trauma in a rich that enriches the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this, but did feel like it dragged a bit for me in places. Definitely would try another of her books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: contemporary f/m romance
Setting: a science museum
Reminds me of: Ali Hazelwood's scientists
Pub Date: Jan 21, 2025 (originally published as an indie book)

Read this if you like:
⭕️ grumpy/sunshine
⭕️ single uncle guardian with adorable kids
⭕️ science museum nerdiness
⭕️ baking

This was my second read of Give Me Butterflies + I loved it just as much this time.
Come for the workplace romance, stay for the nerdy banter, found family, and feelings🥰 Finn is the guardian for his nieces and girls made the story even better. I also want to be looped in on the Oaks family group chats! I love the museum setting and how these two navigate being coworkers. The romance was spot on and I love how all the side characters add to the story. I definitely recommend and can’t wait to read more in this series.

Thank you to Avon for the e-arc.

What’s the Story?

Millie is an entomologist at a museum, gunning for that sweet, sweet promotion to Chief Bug Girl™️. Unfortunately, standing in her way is Grumpy Astronomer™️ Finn, who also happens to be on the hiring committee.

Through a series of not-so-unfortunate events (seriously, the “enemies” part of this enemies-to-lovers is hanging on by a thread), Millie and Finn keep crossing paths outside work. Cue the sparks flying, the reluctant attraction, and the slow realization that they actually don’t hate each other. But of course, there’s baggage.

Millie is not only fighting for her dream career but also dodging a toxic ex-boyfriend who probably spends his weekends twirling his mustache while tying maidens to train tracks. Meanwhile, Finn is deep in grief after losing his sister to cancer and is now trying to figure out how to be a functional stand-in dad for his five-year-old twin nieces.

Will they navigate their personal traumas and find their HEA? Babe, it’s a romance novel—what do you think?

My Thoughts: 3 Stars, Some Notes

After all the rave reviews, I really wanted to love this book. The enemies-to-lovers setup felt forced, but I powered through, thinking it would get better.

Dear reader, it did not get better.

Don’t get me wrong—it has its moments. Once the unnecessary rivalry fades, the romance settles into a sweet, healthy dynamic. The kids are (begrudgingly) cute, and the found-family vibes are strong. The spice? Surprisingly solid—if you can ignore the fact that a nerdy astronomer suddenly develops the dirty-talking skills of a dark romance MMC.

But here’s the problem. Actually, two.

(1) It’s kind of boring. The heavy slice-of-life vibes would be fine if the characters were compelling enough to carry it. They weren’t.

(2) The characters are one-dimensional. The good guys? Perfect. The bad guys? Ridiculous. Finn’s mom and Millie’s ex were so cartoonishly evil, I half-expected them to start monologuing about their master plan.

Then there’s the writing. Look, I can handle some cheesiness, but at one point, Millie spills coffee on Finn’s shirt, and suddenly they’re “two opposing officers waiting for surrender or blood.” Ma’am. It’s coffee. Pay for his dry cleaning and move on.

So yeah, 3 stars. Strong found family, decent spice, a few sweet moments—but also melodrama and mustache-twirling villains.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start with Give Me Butterflies, because it will literarily give you butterflies as you read what Finn tells Millie. I loved these two characters so much and their grumpy sunshine vibes. Alex and Eloise stole my heart and the secondary characters were fascinating and the best friends that are supportive. The family group text gave a perfect summery to the family dynamic. I cant wait to read the next book in the series.

Ok this was adorable. Cutie single uncle father figure to little twins (and one named Eloise like my little daughter such joy) and nerdy scientists !! I mean!! It started a touch slow and wasnt sure in what trope writer was aiming for - but that’s ok, we don’t always need that defined trope but potentially just that coworker to lovers maybe a little forbidden. The slow burn starting to kick in around 30 percent with them starting to admit feeling was cute. Overall enjoyable romcom and about a 3.5-4 star for me.

— 4 stars . ۫ ꣑ৎ

This book felt like such a warm cozy hug. Going into this book I had no idea how comforting of a read it would be. I absolutely loved the scenes of Finn, Millie, Eloise, and Avery. All the characters in this book were extremely lovable 🥹❤️‍🩹. I loved the found family within this book and I was so happy with how the book came to an end. All the scenes in this book were super cute and heartwarming! There’s also no unnecessary drama + our two leads communication with each other is top tier.

I also loved the mental health representation that this book had within it. This book also has no unnecessary third act breakup which I highly appreciated. Also can we appreciate a man who goes to therapy 🙂‍↕️.

I would highly recommend this one if you’re looking for an easy relatively fluffy read (but do look up the triggers as this book deals with heavier topics 🤍).

Thank you to netgalley, for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

Thank you for this special edition! This was very sweet but I think a hair too long. If not too long, maybe just unbalanced. I would have liked a little more time actually spent on the relationship development and less on the ex and less of their date nights. I thought the relationship growing between Millie and the girls was very very sweet I did love that aspect! For all the grumpy/sunshine marketing of it all this really read more like insta-love to me actually. He was only truly grumpy for a very short time! All in all, very cute and wholesome and fairly low conflict. 4/5 stars!

My face hurt from smiling so hard while reading. This book is one I will be reading multiple times. Let me scream that there was NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP! I was a little too giddy while reading enjoying every characters part in this book. Had a great mental health/therapy representation, some triggering topics were discussed and handled properly.

Absolutely delightful! Kicking your heels, clapping your hands fun 🤩 A steamy STEM romance with layer characters who are kind and thoughtful with each other. I‘ll definitely read more from this author!

I liked Finn and I liked Millie in all their nerdy glory. Their chemistry was good enough to keep me inedted throughout. Finn’s nieces were adorable. A few heavy issues covered but still found it to be an enjoyable read. 3 🌟

Ugh I loved everything about this. I’m a science nerd, so the second I saw she was an entomologist I RAN to request the novel.

This is such a sweet grumpy x sunshine workplace romance. The relationship that Finn & Millie build off of trust and true friendship is so endearing. (Also, their names are absolutely phenomenal. Love it!) I absolutely tore through this book and FELT every emotion along with the characters.

The fact that this is a debut novel speaks volumes to the skill Jilllian has! I cannot wait to see what she does next!