Book/Audiobook review!
There’s so much praise I have for this book but I don’t want to spoil it for you because you need to listen and read it for your self to truly understand the beauty in this book.. I loved this book so much I read and listened to it twice. This book was so real and raw. I couldn’t help but swoon and cry. This book had my emotions all over the place. I love a book that can get you in the feels because of how utterly real it is! Now let me get down to the audiobook to say that Jason and Victoria were these would be an understatement because they truly embodied them. As your listening you can feel the tension, the chemistry and the emotion they bring to these characters! Them along with the Jillian’s writing makes this audiobook a masterpiece. Everything from the spicy to the romance was pulled it off beautifully!

I have discovered a new trope... hot, single uncle with custody of his nieces!! Sign me up!

I really enjoyed this book and the academic setting - it gives The Love Hypothesis but at a museum and not Kylo-Ray fanfic - buttt there are Star Wars references so be warned. I loved how much Finn and Millie cared for these little girls (his nieces). The activities they did (Friday night dinners etc.) and the relationship they form with Millie will have you smiling. While the romance did come on strong at first, it settled nicely. The dates Finn took Millie on had me dreaming...buying her books??? the DREAM.

It was such a lovely story and there was no third act break-up!

I wanted him to be grumpier, but otherwise I liked this story of a man dealing with his grief and a woman who really didn't have any issues falling in love. While she had backstory, she wasn't a flawed messy character. It was a nice change.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for access to the ALC. First I will address the audiobook and narration, the production quality was top notch, and Victoria Connolly felt just right to voice Millie. Sadly, Jason Clarke was a miss for me in voicing Finn, not that I didn't enjoy his performance as a voice actor, but that his voice just didn't seem right for Finn. He would be perfect for a suspense or thriller (or the sports or rock star romances he has done), but he just didn't fit what I expected for the voice of this Astronomer and Museum Department Director.

Now for the story. I loved all that the girls and Millie's family added to the story. I can't wait to keep hearing more about them all in the rest of the books in this series. The process of Millie and Finn both overcoming toxic relationships and finding support and love together was great. But, it wasn't my favorite overall. Good and I will catch up with the other members of the Oaks family in the next books, but this was a middle of the road experience for me.

It is a slight disservice to Jillian Meadows and this sweet novel that it is being compared to Ali Hazelwood left and right. There are certainly reasons for that which are valid, but I hate that it has to fight that comparison throughout. Similarities: 1. small woman, big tall man. 2. Both protagonists are scientists at a museum. 3. The MMC is broody (not for very long though).
Other than that, this book stands on its own. The romance is sweet and deep, but I especially loved that Millie, the FMC, understood that she was taking on two little girls in seeking a relationship with Finn. The Friday night cooking dates with Millie, Finn, and the girls were so cute. I also liked seeing Millie come into her own at work while dealing with a truly toxic ex and Finn letting her handle things in her own way. The juxtaposition of Finn's family of origin versus Millie's was also well done. If I have a complaint, its that Meadows might have tried to squeeze in one to many subplots and tropes. It still worked well, but could've been tighter. That being said, I loved the Oaks family and look forward to future books about Millie's sisters.
This is an open door romance, but I would describe it as the door being open just a crack :) You know what's going on, but it's mostly off page.
Dual narration by Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly was pitch perfect!

I loved this book so much. The relationship between the two characters was so well molded and the mention of grief throughout really felt like it was handled with care. The two MC’s really made sure they communicated with each other and worked through their doubts.

I loved everything about this book - from the grumpy and sunshine to second chances at love and learning to stand up for self. It was a delightful read and I look forward to more by this author!

“Give Me Butterflies” by Jillian Meadows is a fantastic women-in-STEM romance. Millie and Finn make an ideal grumpy-sunshine pairing, bringing both humor and heart to the story. While the book is a fun and steamy (towards the middle) read, it is also about personal growth. This story did not have the same miscommunication troupe that most romance stories of this nature seem to have which was a refreshing surprise. Fans of single-parent romances will adore this book. It reminded me of Ali Hazelwood’s “Love Hypothesis”, including all the Star Wars references, making it a must-read for fans of her work. I do wish there were more STEM moments at the museum as most of the story took place at Finn's house. But if you love STEM romances, this one deserves a spot on your TBR! Also, that cover is just gorgeous!
Thank you to NetGallery and HarperAudio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this. Millie finds herself going to Finn's house every Friday to hang out with his girls to bake cooks, make pizza, and general teach Finn how to not burn the kitchen down. There friendship turns from grumpy and sunshine to sunshine and sunshine. But she doesn't want their relationship to be anything more than friends, so it doesn't put her dream job in jeopardy. They just can't seem to stay away from each other. SO CUTE.

I’m mildly obsessed with these two narrators after this book. Their voices were so amazing and brought these characters to life. An audiobook can sometimes make or break a book and this definitely made the book for me! I loved the storyline and the characters. The depth Jillian have to both main characters was amazing and made them more realistic and relatable. Well done everyone! We will be purchasing this for our library for patrons to enjoy!

The narrators were really great and did and awesome job with this book. However, the story itself just wasn't great. I was excited for this book, however, it became clear pretty fast that this just wasn't going give me the same vibes as Ali Hazelwood books, which this is being compared to. I don't know what the author's background is, however, the depiction of working in a museum seemed rather unrealistic which took me out of the story. Then we have Millie who does so many stupid things and claims she just "had" to do them, which is false. I also just didn't care for the over-emphasis of Millie basically becoming a mom as soon as she started dating Finn. This book just totally missed the mark for me.

This was perhaps the most emotionally mature romance I’ve ever read! It has all the single guardian, co-worker, and grumpy goodness but has deeper elements like boundaries and personal growth. Thoroughly enjoyable!

I liked this book, but I think it the grand scheme of books it will wind up being forgettable.

The main characters were likable. I loved seeing Finn with his nieces and the way that Millie was added into their family.

I do appreciate that any of the drama was with outside factors and not between Millie and Finn, but it seemed like a lot of things just kept being wrapped up too easily.

I thought that both narrators did a wonderful job!

Give me butterflies, an adult romance,which deals with death, kids, emotional abuse and the outcome of these

THIS BOOK GAVE ME BUTTERFLIES!!!! I absolutely adored this romance. I always love a grumpy/sunshine trope, and this one was executed perfectly. I loved seeing the progression of the relationship between Millie and Finn, especially the way Finn was TOTALLY GONE over Millie pretty much from the start. The way he cared for her, both in big and little ways, made me swoon. I also loved the way Millie grew as a character throughout the book. As someone with anxiety, it was definitely handled with care. I also adored Avery and Elsie, and I loved the way their family came together as well. And I cannot wait for the next Oak Sister book, because the family group chats made me laugh out loud.

I also really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were great, and really kept the story engaging throughout.

This book was absolutely wonderful and gave me the same warm, comforting feeling I get when I listen to “Invisible String” by Taylor Swift… you know the one, right? If you know, you know.

Millie and Finn were just so precious, and I adored how their relationship unfolded. It felt real and tender in a way that made my heart swell. Honestly, the entire cast of characters was equally lovable, each one adding something special to the story. The little moments of kindness and support they shared with one another were so heartwarming.

I also really appreciated how the book portrayed Millie as a female scientist, showing the challenges she faces in that role—everything from microaggressions to the constant fear of being overlooked or having her success questioned. These aren’t easy topics to address, but they’re so important. Women in the workplace, especially in STEM, often have to work twice as hard to prove themselves, and I loved how the book authentically reflected that struggle. It added a meaningful layer to Millie’s character and to the story overall.

At first, this seems like a straightforward feel-good read, but there’s a beautifully subtle emotional depth that sneaks up on you. It touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect, making me reflect on relationships, love, and the small threads that connect us all.

I truly enjoyed this book, and I think you will too. It’s the perfect mix of sweetness and substance, leaving you with a smile on your face and a full heart.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an early listening copy.

This book centers on Millie, an an entomologist, who is gunning for the department head in her museum department. On the day of her interview, she fender benders into her coworker and head of the astronomy department, Finn, who is on her hiring panel. The events spark an intertwining between the two. Unbeknownst to Millie, Finn has been drawn to her and has used his grumpy demeanor to mask his feelings, while also struggling with his recent guardianship of his nieces, after his sisters passing.

This book is perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine and he-fell-first tropes. Fans of Ali Hazelwood will enjoy, but they may want more from the STEM elements.

Give Me Butterflies is a grumpy/sunshine Rom-Com that folows two coworkers that work at a museum. Finn is into astronomy and Millie is into Entomolgy. When Millie gets distracted while driving into the parking lot she accidently runs into Finn's car causing a dent in his bumper. To top off the horrible morning Finn is one of the people who is conducting the interview for the Head Entomolgy depatment for the museum and the postion that Millie wants. Millie is everything that Finn wants in a partner but he hasn't had the courage to ask her out in all the years that they have been working together. Finn is also the sole person caring for his five year old twin nieces and Millie realizes this when Avery and Eloise are attended one of her programs at the museum. This was a cute book with some steam to it. I loved how Finn made sure his number one priority was Avery and Eloise and always put their needs first. Millie was a strong female lead that wasn't going to let anything get in her way form getting her dream job. I would like to thank both NetGalley and HarperAudio for letting me have an advanced copy of this audio book.

This is such a beautiful story. The characters make you believe in love and longing again. The butterflies - awww!

I'm a complete sucker for hot single guardian romance books and this formerly indie-authored debut by Jillian Meadows was top notch!! Millie and Finn had the perfect forbidden workplace romance that I couldn't help wholeheartedly cheering for from the first page to the last! Huge kudos to the author for writing a highly relatable and important story about a woman in STEM dealing with a toxic relationship, gaslighting and feelings of inadequacy who despite all that still finds a man who thinks she hangs the moon. This dual POV love story gave me all the feels and is perfect for fans of authors like Katie Golightly or Hannah Bonam-Young. It was also great on audio narrated by Jason Clarke and Victoria Connolly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!