I recently found a monarch butterfly chrysalis on the underside of one of my zucchini leaves while harvesting in the garden. I stopped everything and just stared at it—this tiny, brilliant green capsule of transformation tucked into the most ordinary place. I called Rebecca over and we stood there for a good ten minutes talking about metamorphosis and how something can completely change from the inside out and still be exactly what it was always meant to be. That little moment of wonder was still fresh in my mind when I picked up Give Me Butterflies, and honestly, it couldn't have been more fitting. This debut novel is full of that same kind of quiet, life-changing magic.
Plot Summary
Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows is the first book in the Oaks Sisters series and a standout debut in contemporary STEM romance. Millie Oaks is a bubbly entomologist who lands a dream job at a science museum—only to discover that the impossibly grumpy astronomer Finn Calloway is on the hiring committee. Finn, who recently became the sole guardian of his two young nieces following his sister's death, is withdrawn, closed-off, and not exactly welcoming to the sunshine Millie brings everywhere she goes. But as their paths keep crossing at work, and Millie begins to connect with Finn's nieces, cracks form in Finn's armor. What starts as a workplace rivalry slowly grows into something tender, healing, and deeply romantic. Give Me Butterflies is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Give Me Butterflies handles grief alongside romance. Finn's pain is real and layered—he's carrying so much loss while trying to be everything his nieces need—and Jillian Meadows doesn't rush past it or use it as a simple plot device. Millie's anxiety is also portrayed with such sensitivity. Their relationship builds slowly, rooted in genuine friendship and mutual support before anything romantic. The found family element is absolutely precious. Finn's nieces are funny, sweet, and steal every scene they're in. And Millie? I adored her immediately. She's the kind of character who makes you want to text your best friend and say, "You would love this person." The nerdy banter between the two leads is clever without being exhausting, and the chemistry is slow, earned, and deeply satisfying.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love grumpy-sunshine romance, workplace slow burns, found family storylines, or STEM-inspired contemporaries, you'll adore Give Me Butterflies. This is a warm, emotionally rich debut that leans into healing and hope. It's not dark or gritty—it's the kind of book that leaves you with a full heart and a smile. Readers who loved The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood or anything by Tessa Bailey will feel right at home here.
⚠️ Trigger warning: grief (death of a sibling), anxiety, brief mentions of past relationship trauma, open-door sexual content.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, Oaks Sisters series, grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, STEM romance, found family, single guardian, entomologist heroine, astronomer hero, slow burn, dual POV, debut novel, Jillian Meadows, HEA, moderate steam
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Moderate
Give Me Butterflies has a few open-door scenes that feel earned rather than gratuitous. The build-up is long and slow, so when things finally heat up, it feels completely right. The overall tone of the book is warm and sweet rather than spicy, so the steam fits naturally without overpowering the story's emotional core.
