4.25 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✨

“We aren’t very good at being just friends. I drew a line, and we weren’t suppose to cross it.”
“Millie…Pretty sure I was erasing that line as you were making it.”

Give Me Butterflies is the first novel in the adult contemporary romance series, Oaks Sisters, which consists of interconnected standalones. Written in first person dual POV, the story follows Millie and Finn, two curators at a science museum that find that, despite being opposites, that may be the exact person the other needs.

Millie is an entomologist with a passion for her job and when her dream job as a director opens up she is determined to prove herself capable...even when her grumpy attractive coworker on the hiring committee stops her heart.

Finn is an astronomer who is struggling with work, grief, and the responsibility of raising his twin nieces. He can't afford to stumble and yet this sunshine co worker threatens the tight control he has been holding onto. And so both try to avoid each other...until they realize that maybe they can help each other in ways they never expected...

This was just so cute!

Millie is a bubbly character who is trying to build herself back up after a traumatic breakup. I found her such an easy character to fall into with her empathy, dedication, and joy. She has a wonderful family that supports her and I feel she is the perfect compliment for Finn.

Finn initially comes across as arrogant and rude but it quickly becomes clear this is a facade. He is trying to do the best for her nieces while also grieving his sister. When supported with love and care this man becomes the sweetest cinnamon role...though he takes some time to accept it.

There are amazing side characters that help this story from the chaotic fun of Millie's parents and siblings to the adorable nieces that help bring these two lovebirds together. Even the one cafe owner adds a special element that just made this book feel so comforting to read.

“I’m not here to stifle you or control you or shape you into something else. I’m here to help you shine.”

In terms of spice I would place this novel at 2 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. Our two lovebirds take some time to find their rhythm as there is a bit of forbidden romance aspect to things with Finn being on the hiring committee as well as fear of the impact on the nieces. I really loved how despite these two falling head over heels in the first half that they consider all factors of their relationship before taking that next step. For a good chunk of the novel they are essentially together without the label (and spice) and I just love seeing characters fall into place that way. For the spice, it is explicit and detail with fun and true connection. Expect 2-3 spicy scenes!

The story itself follows parallel stories that eventually converge with Millie preparing for her interview process for director while also juggling the stress of her ex reaching out to her and then Finn trying to overcompensate to his nieces because of the loss of their mother. I absolutely loved how these two first interacted and how over time these two started to accept help from each other to address their struggles/reach their goals. There is open communication, sweet intimacy, so much banter, and adorable shenanigans with the kids. This is a really light and easy book (though there is reference to loss of a loved one due to illness). I felt there was just an added touch of tension to keep things moving and an ending that was the cherry on top for this happily ever after.

Overall, this was the perfect read for me amongst the fantasies I have been reading. Thank you Avon for this arc!

GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES has the coziest domestic bliss vibes with the perfect amount of angst and drama to keep you up until 3am needing to finish in a single sitting.

Millie and Finn are as opposite as their fields of study. Millie is the sunshine of the museum's entomology department with her focus on butterflies, dirt, and microscopic critters. Finn has the presence of a Dark Lord of the Sith, his eye trained on galaxies far, far away. They've collided and sparked a bit of a loathing for each other, but are they hiding deeper feelings?

Meadows takes time to build a sturdy foundation for Millie and Finn's relationship. There is care in addressing past trauma, current priorities, as well as being mindful of the future. No plot thread was left unraveled. I appreciated too that love/attraction wasn't a fix-all that suddenly made everyone emotional experts. They still made rash decisions informed by their past hurts because they're human. Further, there were support systems in place outside of each other to help bear the emotional weight. It was a joy to see patience and love given to imperfect characters.

And it's hot. Oh my goodness, the attraction between Cookie (Millie) and Grumpy Spock (Finn) is brilliant. But they're coworkers! But she needs time after a toxic relationship! But they're trying to be responsible around his nieces! Oh no! The inevitable burn between them is worth the wait.

Highly recommend GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES for it's sweet and wholesome romance. Lovely modeling of healthy communication, support systems, and trauma processing. Heavy themes to be mindful of include death of a family member (off page), grief, anxiety attacks, and toxic relationships (parent, ex-partner).

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins | Avon Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

『Writing:』5/5
『Spice:』4/5
『Tension:』4/5
『Sad:』2/5
『Funny:』5/5
『Overall:』5/5

'*•.¸♡ read this if you like ♡¸.•*'
❥ stem workplace romance
❥ found family
❥ grumpy / sunshine

｡･ﾟﾟ･Quick Plot･ﾟﾟ･｡
Millie can’t seem to catch a break- especially when she keeps running into the coworker who seems to hate her for no reason. Literally running into him.
As she vies for the new position as a director at the museum she works at, she starts to realize there may be more under his Spock-esque exterior.

*+:｡.｡　Characters　｡.｡:+*
Millie - a gem.
Finn- star daddy
Eloise & Avery - I wanna keep them forever.

All side characters are a+


❣ fave quote❣
• “Yes. I brought you here to show you the stars and kiss you until you forget them.”
•

'*•.¸♡ things I liked ♡¸.•*'
Millie’s family interactions. They’re amazing and I love every single one of them.

→ things I didn't like ←
*sneers* Kyle.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶Summary︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
I would absolutely recommend this book to my friends & followers. It had me tearing up a couple of times & Finns mouth had my jaw dropping sometimes ! I loved it.

I think the book suffered from trying to be too much by throwing in all the tropes instead of focusing on a few and really fleshing them out (there’s workplace romance, grumpy vs. sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, male MC has kids (nieces), toxic ex, toxic parents…). Most had limited page time and I forgot they were a part of the story after they popped up.

This was more of a mushy romance and a little too sugary sweet for my taste, but if you enjoy those stories, then this one will be a great read for you.

Give Me Butterflies is a tender, swoony romance that pairs a grumpy astronomer with a sunshine-y entomologist in a science museum setting. This soft grumpy-versus-sunshine trope is filled with nerdy banter, fiery chemistry, and heartfelt moments.

Millie’s bright optimism and Finn’s guarded nature create a beautiful dynamic as they navigate their budding romance amidst professional ambitions and personal struggles. The story is refreshingly low on unnecessary drama, focusing instead on two people finding love, comfort, and unwavering support in one another.

The supporting characters, especially Finn’s nieces, are sweet and endearing, adding to the warmth of the story. There’s also plenty of spice for readers who enjoy steamy moments paired with emotional depth.

This is a heartwarming, feel-good romance perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey. If you love soft, sweet stories with lovable characters and a touch of STEM nerdiness, you’ll want to pick this one up!

Give Me Butterflies is much like it's title, SUCH a cute read with a little nerd on nerd action sprinkled throughout. While Millie and Finn may not have gotten off on the right foot, don't let that fool you. Finn is one of the biggest teddy bear MMC's. I wouldn't characterize their dynamic as enemies to lovers because their little misunderstanding didn't last much longer than a small portion of the book. BUT if you want a sweet romance where the MMC would do anything for his girl, and his two adorable nieces, then this is for you. I would argue this book is a little more than just a palette cleanser, but still perfect if you're in the mood for a fluffy romance. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover is what stopped me in my tracks! This was a super cute and steamy STEM romance. I love the slight enemies to lovers bit between the main characters. The writing felt organic and the realistic life situations were relatable. I overall enjoyed it and that special surprise recipe just tied it in a bow at the end. This book will make a great cozy spring read when it hits the shelves.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @avonbooks for an early copy of Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: January 21, 2025

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183904913-give-me-butterflies?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=s4EmKZJFHw&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑


Give Me Butterflies is a workplace sunshine x grumpy/ single dad romance between Millie, an entomologist up for a promotion, and Finn, a director at the museum they both work at and is part of Millie’s interviewing committee.

Millie and Finn’s romance was refreshing and heartwarming, especially with Finn’s nieces Avery and Eloise in the mix. Both complement each other, with Millie’s positive personality and Finn’s attentiveness, and their chemistry just feels so natural and not forced. I loved how much they balance their time and “craving” for each other lol haha.

Although there’s nothing really extraordinary about this story, what shines is Millie’s relatable character and how much she grew stronger despite her ex-boyfriend’s presence in the story. This novel is a good palette cleanser for your next read!

4.5 stars and my heart is so FULL of love and my stomach is FULL of butterflies!!!

At its heart, this book is about love- love for yourself, love for your friends, love for those you’ve lost, love for those you’ve gained, love for those who need it, love for romance sake, and love for existing and living in your passions! I walked away from this full of emotions, this is not light per se but I feel lighter having read it!

The way that Millie and Finn communicate healthily and consistently, prioritize his responsibilities as caretaker for his nieces, and are able to take time for themselves to make sure they’re okay as individuals is just so inspiring and so beautiful to read! Little Eloise and Avery deserve the world and finding someone that loves them, not just their uncle, is what they deserve and so much more!!

Thank you so much to Jillian Meadows, Avon, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book! The romance between Finn and Millie was so fun to watch unfold. Not only is this enemies to lovers which I always love but it is also a book about two people who really love their work and are so passionate about it. I really enjoyed the STEM aspects of this. This book was so funny and I found myself not wanting it to end! I have seen people comparing the vibe of this book to Ali Hazelwood and I feel like that is a fair comparison but I also feel like this author brings her own charm to the writing that I love and can't wait to see more! 4.5 stars!!

The cover also captures the cover the novel. You get a touch of Ali Hazelwoods nerdiness with the two main characters talking about STEM and entomology. The authors writing is just addictive. Finn is just green flags all the way!! Romance books you never know what you're walking into because there may be times where you get frustrated with the couple and wishing they took a different approach. Well, all I can say is that you won't with this book. Finn and Millie's relationship had a natural chemistry and I swooned! Finn is patient with Millie and at first it was enemies to lovers but it's a comical one for sure. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy of this!

3.75. This was a cute STEM romance. For my Iowa Stater’s, the setting reminded me of Reiman Gardens! I really enjoyed the overall arch of the book but I think I struggled with the enemies to lovers aspect. Had this had a trope combo more to my taste I think I would have rated this even higher. The side characters (kids, extended family, & friends) were all excellent in this. I see this author has a wintery book out too, definitely going to seeking that out. Would recommend for fans of Ali Hazelwood!

This was amazing!! I stretched out as much as I could reading this because I equally looked forward to it but also didn’t want it to end. This has all the swoony and sweet romance vibes but also a little bit of angst. I loved these characters. Millie and finn are both passionate about the work they do and I loved the museum setting where they got to meet and connect.

If you a romance lover this is a must read. It hits all the beats. Tropes that don’t feel like tropes because the characters are so earnest and the plot so engaging. Some of my favorite microtropes of this are caretaking when sick, meet disasters, hilarious family group chats, and he falls first “I’ll wait for you” vibes. But that doesn’t even encompass all that I loved (as those would truly be spoilers) but it gets even better.

The spice is also top notch.

CW: death of a family member (it is historical but grief is an interwoven factor), abusive ex

Thank you to Avon for the eARC!

"That's all we can offer anyone in our lives-- not perfection, but the promise of doing the best we can."

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for access to this eARC.

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. This book follows a sunshine-y entomologist and a grumpy astronomer. Millie had a childhood full of love for insects and science that led to her career as an entomologist. She works as a curator at a science museum, and when the opportunity to run her own department, she is determined to not let anything distract her. Enter Finn, the grumpy and annoyingly handsome astronomer. Finn seems to have a permanent scowl, but he struggling with his job, his grief about losing his sister, and trying to take care of his nieces. And he can't allow himself to get distracted, especially by Millie. They want nothing to do with each other, but avoidance is impossible. As they get to know each other, Millie learns that not only is her job on the line, so is her heart.

"I don't need the sun when you're here, stella mia. You're the brightest star in my universe, and I've been orbiting around you since you poured coffee all over me. I could spend the rest of my life watching you shine."

"F*ck the stars, baby. All I see is you."

I loved this book! Jillian Meadows is one of my new favorite authors. This is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and is a swoony STEM romance.

4⭐️
This book was so sweet—I loved their little family dynamic and their entire relationship. They were so understanding and loving toward each other, and it made my heart melt.

Millie’s family group chat was chaotic and hilarious, exactly how I imagine a family group chat should be.

<b>This is my favorite quote!<b/>
“I don’t need the sun when you’re here, stella mia. You’re the brightest star in my universe, and I’ve been orbiting around you since you poured coffee all over me. I could spend the rest of my life watching you shine.”
If a man said this to me, I’d simply lose it!

5! I adore a single-parent romance, and from the moment Millie and Finn were introduced, I was completely hooked. While enemies-to-lovers isn’t always my go-to trope, it was executed so well that by the end, I found myself laughing at their interactions. The chemistry between Millie and Finn was undeniable and electric. I love the “he falls harder” dynamic, which made their connection all the more satisfying to watch unfold.

What I really appreciated was the slow-burn nature of their relationship. The author took her time developing the characters before diving into their romantic relationship, and it paid off in a big way. You could feel their emotional growth as individuals, which made their eventual romance feel earned and realistic.

The writing was engaging, the characters were well-rounded, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. And now, I can’t help but wish for a spinoff centered around Millie’s sister and her childhood friends-to-lovers story! I would be all over that without hesitation. I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of slow-burn romances with great character development and undeniable chemistry. I can’t wait to see what Jillian Meadows comes out with next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, Jillian Meadows for providing me with this E-ARC in exchange for my review.

I will now be buying everything Jillian Meadows ever writes. Finn and Millie have a special place in my heart after reading this ARC. The way they fell in love with each other truly gave me butterflies.

First of all, I love love love this concept. The nerd in me was instantly enthralled at a romance featuring the Director of astronomy and a curator of etymology at a museum. And I’m so happy to say Jillian did not disappoint!! I love all the little puns and inside jokes sprinkled in this book.

This story truly was beautiful in its depiction of how the right kind of love, true love, feels like coming home. Your partner is your biggest supporter and your shoulder to lean on when things get tough. You strengthen each other and go out of your way to make the other feel secure. This love story is the perfect pallet cleanser for those looking for a book that feels like a warm hug. Not only will you fall in love with Finn and Millie but their loved ones too! There are some moments where I was tearing up because of how sweet this story is. I hope you add this to your TBR for 2025, I promise you’ll be glad you did!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

My review was posted to Goodreads on 12/20/24.
My Instagram review will be posted on 01/03/25.

"Give Me Butterflies" is a delightful read that captured my heart from the very first page. Jillian Meadows expertly weaves a story that combines romance, healing, and the warmth of family. Finn, the broody science guy, reveals a tender side when he’s with his twin nieces, adding layers to his character that are simply enchanting.

On the other hand, we have Millie, who is navigating the difficult path of rebuilding her life after a toxic relationship. Her determination to find herself and secure a promotion as head director in her department makes her relatable and inspiring. However, things get complicated when she starts to develop feelings for Finn, a member of the hiring board for that very promotion.

The cooking lessons are a charming touch, and it’s here that we really see the connection between Millie and Finn bloom. Their playful back-and-forth is delightful, and watching them dance around their feelings while also prioritizing the happiness of the little girls is a joy. Meadows perfectly captures the essence of family dynamics and budding romance, making it tough to put this book down.

I felt like I was right there with Millie and Finn, navigating both their personal struggles and their growing affection for one another. The writing is engaging and heartfelt, striking a lovely balance with the children's involvement. I'm already excited for the next book in the series and can't wait to dive back into this beautifully crafted world! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a sweet, feel-good romance. 🦋📚

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Grumpy & sunshine + workplace romance + no third act breakup!

Millie is in the process of interviewing for the entomology director position at the museum, & refuses to be distracted by her grumpy coworker.

Finn is juggling being the astronomy director at the museum, navigating his own grief after losing his sister, & raising his twin nieces.

When Millie’s interview process starts with a few accidental run-ins, things go in a direction neither could have predicted.

Read if you love…
- no third act breakup
- grumpy (him) & sunshine (her)
- found family
- single guardian of his twin nieces
- anxiety, grief, & therapy rep
- dual perspective
- workplace romance
- open door
- caretaking
- texts & emails & handwritten notes on page
- nicknames
- cooking lessons
- board games & dance parties
- book shopping
- he falls first

This freaking book. It’s swoony & spicy & hilarious & empowering & wonderful, & I don’t know how I’m supposed to function after finishing it. Please drop everything & put this debut at the top of your TBR!

The mix of tropes absolutely slayed.
The nicknames were perfection.
The banter was top tier.
The healthy communication was excellent.
The way grief was handled was well done.
The friend group & found family was spectacular.
The open door scenes will make you blush.
The family group text is hilarious.

Eloise & Avery were just precious & hilarious.

Millie learning to just be & to trust herself and love herself again, after an emotionally/verbally abuse relationship, was just wonderful & empowering.

I have no comprehensive words for how I feel about Finn. The man has nicknames for Millie and the kids in Italian which made me swoon every damn time. The way he talked to and about Millie will make you melt. But also he was deeply relatable coming from a family with emotionally distant & verbally abusive parents.

And don’t even get me started on the cookie dough scene!

Everything about this book is just perfection, and you need to read it immediately!

Content warnings: grief - loss of a sibling & mentions of cancer; emotional abuse & gaslighting, past; emotionally distant & verbally abusive parents; on page anxiety symptoms & attack

Millie and Finn are hot and sweet and absolutely wonderful! I loved them when they were indie, and I love them more now. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Tarah DeWitt.