Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows is a heartfelt contemporary romance that beautifully intertwines themes of love, personal growth, and the healing power of connection. Set within the engaging environment of a natural science museum, the novel offers readers a delightful blend of emotional depth and lighthearted moments.
The narrative centers on Millie Oaks, an entomologist passionate about her role as a curator at the Wilhelmina Natural Science Museum. With aspirations to lead her department, Millie is determined to secure the director position. However, her focus is challenged by Finn Ashford, the museum's astronomy director, who is known for his gruff demeanor and captivating blue eyes. Unbeknownst to many, Finn is grappling with the recent loss of his sister and the responsibility of caring for his twin five-year-old nieces. As Millie and Finn's paths cross more frequently, they discover shared vulnerabilities and a budding affection that neither anticipated.​
Meadows crafts her characters with authenticity and depth. Millie's journey reflects her struggle with anxiety and the remnants of a past toxic relationship, making her resilience and optimism all the more inspiring. Finn's evolution from a seemingly aloof colleague to a devoted guardian and compassionate partner is both touching and realistic. The inclusion of Finn's nieces adds warmth to the story, showcasing the challenges and joys of unexpected parenthood.​
Jillian Meadows' debut novel, Give Me Butterflies, offers a tender and nuanced exploration of love's capacity to heal and transform. With well-drawn characters and a compelling narrative, it stands as a commendable addition to contemporary romance literature, appealing to readers who appreciate stories of personal growth intertwined with heartfelt romance.

This was such a cute read. I loved that their eventual relationship wasn't made complicated or had any of those miscommunication tropes.

We love a good women in STEM plot mixed with grumpy/sunshine vibes. And while Finn starts off grumpy, he is a big softie by the end. There were a couple of things I wish were covered, like after working together for some time, why now? But I loved Millie and Finn together and the chemistry they had felt natural!

I'm not sure what more I can say about this except loved this story!! These characters are so adorable and love them together.

I read Wreck the Halls by Jillian Meadows back when it was indie published and fell SO deeply in love, and I’m so happy to find that Give Me Butterflies was similarly wonderful!

This struck a really perfect balance for me that I tend to be really picky about in rom-coms: it’s heartfelt, it’s sexy, it’s ACTUALLY funny, the conflicts are reasonable, the crux of the story keeps my attention and the ending was totally satisfying. I really enjoy Meadows’ writing style, it’s engaging and comical and the characters are distinct and lovable across the board. This also has an epilogue AND a bonus epilogue that were so perfectly emotional, satisfying, and spicy, and the couple never loses their tension and spark even though there’s also no big third act breakup (but there IS a plot conflict— this is my favorite approach to romance!)

I’m so excited to have another romance author to reach for that strikes this balance for me, and I think there’s another Oaks sister getting a story soon that already has my full attention!

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for this eArc!

Give Me Butterflies is an utterly charming and heartwarming romance that perfectly captures the giddy, fluttery feeling of falling in love. With relatable characters and sparkling chemistry, this story sweeps you up in its sweet, slow-burn tension and emotional depth. The author does a fantastic job of blending lighthearted, swoon-worthy moments with genuine emotional stakes, making the romance feel authentic and deeply satisfying.

What truly makes this book shine is its endearing characters and witty, heartfelt dialogue. The banter is playful and natural, while the emotional moments hit just the right notes of vulnerability. If you’re looking for a feel-good love story with plenty of heart and a dash of magic, Give Me Butterflies is an absolute must-read.

I love a good grumpy x sunshine. Loved watching their friendship grow & then into more. This book was just warm & cozy (even the harder parts were handled so well). The mental health rep was done well too! I loved their communication, the found family, the email banter, the group chat with her family, and the little family they created.

🦋 grumpy x sunshine
🦋 found family
🦋 email banter
🦋 single parent
🦋 workplace romance

Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for an Arc! Opinions & review are honest and my own

I loved this!! The initial slow burn was there and I love that they were friends for so long before they fell in love and became more. Kids are always a yes from me in a romcom but Ave & El fit so well into the story and really did seem like their own little characters rather than just a side plot. There was a bit of language and spice but I loved the book so much anyway that I'll definitely be reading the rest of them as they come out.

This was one of my most anticipated releases this year so far, and wow did it live up to expectations. I loved watching Millie and Finn grow in their friendship and attraction for each other. And his storyline with his nieces was so heartwarming. I was rooting for them right away

It’s a romcom sexy book. It’s not really smutty, but the characters definitely feel certain things for each other.

The addition of the conversations in the family group chat were a hilarious touch and a great way to tie things together when this becomes a series.

Absolutely adored this! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a sweet and heartwarming read.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Workplace romance
Found family
Grumpy/ sunshine
Museum setting
He falls first
Therapy rep
Dual POV
Single guardian

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
I loved the museum setting- it was so fun!
The girls were so sweet and wholesome I just wanted to wrap them up in a huge hug
I was not expecting that spice but I’m here for it!

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Facing of the romance aspect felt a little off at first
I feel like some of the drama could have been dealt with in a better way but I get that it was needed for the storyline

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Anyone with anxiety knows that someone telling you not to worry is about as helpful as a hangnail.” ★ “Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a quiet power that isn’t so obvious to the world.”
★ “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.”

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for gifting me a copy of Give Me Butterflies.

Give Me Butterflies is a STEM and workplace romance. I always enjoy a grumpy x sunshine trope. And this was no exception. It allowed for good banter between the MCs. And I’m always a sucker for single dad/guardians because they put everything aside for their kids. And Finn knocked the single guardian out of the park.

I think the workplace aspect worked really well. And it showed a lot of the issues females might experience with a lot of dignity. I loved Millie sticking up for herself and not backing down when things got hard. And how much she cared for everything in her life.

You might like Give me Butterflies if you like:
🦋STEM romances
🦋 Workplace romances
🦋 Grumpy x Sunshine
🦋Single Guardian

It was a super cute read! I loved the banter and slow burn. The tension was amazing, and I can't wait for more by the author

DNF at 25%.
This is sadly just not my style of romance. I felt that this one felt too instalove to me. I have had that in other books where I didn’t mind it as much, but this one was just not my style. There was hardly any build up of the relationship, and I found the main characters to be very one-dimensional. While they talked briefly about some backstory of hardships that were dealt with, it didn’t move me or feel believable.
This was also my first stem romance, and I’m not sure it’s for me. I’ll have to try others to know for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really really cute book! 😍
I appreciate the chance to read it and I really enjoy the book
Cute and sweet love story
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the copy

I'm upset with myself that I waited so long to read this, but thankful it wasn't archived before I got the opportunity! I was in the mood for something feel good and sweet, and Give Me Butterflies...gave me butterflies. I know this is cheesy and tacky but that's who I am, so let's accept it and move on. Plus, I think our wonderfully nerdy and sexy main characters, Millie and Finn, would appreciate my humor.

I can honestly say that I did not have anticipate a romance involving and entomologist and an astronomer to be as fun and moving as this story was. I was expecting a little rivalry, maybe some tomfoolery, but I had no idea that I would be falling in love with a family as much as I would be a couple. I truly adore Millie and Finn together, but Eloise and Avery added SO MUCH not only to the plot, their character, but to the depth of their relationship. Throwing children in the mix can be risky because it's an additional character that needs to be developed and developed well, but Jillian did that and more not once, but twice because twins...duh. They each had their place and purpose and it made me love Finn and Millie more than I think I would have if they weren't in the picture.

After I finish this review, I will be doing the following:
- finding the nearest bakery to order an almond croissant
- looking at as many photos of the butterfly star cluster that I can find
- listening to Into the Unknown
- trying to source that adorable butterfly dress that Millie wears

If you are looking for a strong romance with well developed characters that are emotionally mature, love a little cornball nerdiness, and are ready to have your heart melted by two little girls, I can't recommend this enough!

I am a huge fan of STEM romances like the ones Ali Hazelwood writes. I enjoyed the tropes in this book - slow burn, found family and Grumpy x Sunshine. It does have spice so if that’s not your thing then you could skip those parts but I was a fan.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for an opportunity to read this eARC!

4/5 🌟

talk about a debut !!! this ADORABLE STEM romance about Millie and Finn gives me allllll the Ali Hazelwood vibes !!

Millie and Finn both work at a museum together and while he’s trying to navigate his new life of being a guardian for his twin nieces after his sister passes, Millie is just trying to find herself again after a bad relationship. Grumpy Finn and sunshine Millie seem like polar opposites, but maybe that’s what makes them perfect for one another.

everything about their relationship was absolutely adorable and the slow burn, build up was 🥰 the family chat with Millie’s family, and her family in general was so funny ( hello future Oaks sisters, can’t wait to read your love stories !).

this was such a cute fun read and I can’t wait to read future books from this author !! add this one to your TBR !

3.5

Millie is the entomologist at a museum and Finn is the grumpy, closed-off Astronomer. Finn has become the Guardian of his two young nieces and Millie is applying for the newly opened Head of the Entomology department at the museum. They've both butt heads a few times already but now it seems to be developing into more! This book was cute and fairly fluffy! A quick read and I enjoyed my time with it enough that I'll probably read something else from Jillian. This wasn't anything spectacular to me though and I felt a few things were a little flat.

One thing I struggled with was the switch up we see from grumpy-Finn to more-open-Finn. This wasn't something that I felt really had a reasoning behind it and I struggled to get invested in the relationship that Finn and Millie seemed to want to develop and create, especially with the Interview dynamic between them that was also happening.

I also think I would have appreciated more of the Museum setting! We see the brief glimpses of it with the interactions Millie and Finn have at work but I would have loved more scenes along the lines of Finn's trips to the Planetarium! I think Museums are such fun places and it would have been awesome to see the character behind the location that they're both so passionate about!

Ultimately I did have a fun time! I probably won't be purchasing a copy for myself but would definitely recommend it to others as a quick read!

I have no words to describe how much I loved this book.

I had already read the second book in the series and loved it, but I had no idea what I was missing by not reading this one sooner.

Millie and Finn are such captivating characters—they had me hooked from the very beginning.

I related to Millie so many times, and Finn? He’s officially on my book boyfriend list.

But besides the romance, one thing I really loved was how the book tackled more serious themes. They were introduced so well—deep and meaningful without making the story feel too heavy—adding to both the plot and the characters’ growth.

This book instantly became a favorite.

Millie is applying for a job that she desperately wants, so of course a man on the hiring committee is whose car she hits and who she spills coffee on. While initially worried that these early interactions will hurt her chances, the real issue is that they fall for each other. Finn is a man who took custody of his nieces and is trying to figure out how life will move forward. Will they be able to figure out a life together without risking the things that are important to them?

I enjoyed all the side characters in this series. Millie's family and Finn's nieces are awesome. We also love a down bad man, and Finn gives us that in spades.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Oh my gosh this book was totally cute and adorable!! I absolutely loved it! This was my first by this author and definitely won’t be my last!