Review by Booklist Review
Millie Oaks, an entomologist and natural science curator at the Wilhelmina Natural Science Museum, knows bugs, and Dr. Finn Ashford is definitely an acriculus insecto (grumpy bug). Millie can't figure out why Finn, an astronomer, is so cantankerous. After all, it's Finn's fault that Millie spilled a minuscule amount of coffee on him. Ordinarily, Millie would just ignore Finn and his sexy, cranky ways, but Millie is up for the newly vacated department chair job at the museum, and Finn just happens to be on the hiring committee. What Millie doesn't know is that Finn has lost his sister and is trying anxiously to care for his nieces. As Millie works to smooth things over with Finn before her interview, she discovers that other side to him, the one that could make working with Finn even more challenging! Collectors of perfectly executed grumpy/sunshine love stories will want to snare a copy of Meadows' superbly written romance in their reading nets. With an intriguing STEM-centered storyline, an abundance of steamy sexual chemistry, and plenty of sharp wit, the start of Meadows' Oak Sisters series is a rare specimen indeed.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Meadows (Wreck My Plans) wows with a contemporary that's funny, sexy, sweet, and deliciously nerdy all at the same time. Entomologist Millie Oaks is up for a major promotion at the Wilhelmina Natural Science Museum. She did well in her first interview, despite getting rattled by the grumpy (and gorgeous) director of astronomy, Dr. Finn Ashford. Now she just needs to focus on the next round of interviews without getting too distracted by Finn, who, she learns, only comes off as icy because of the stress of juggling his job and his young twin nieces, Avery and Eloise, whom he is raising following the recent death of his sister. Millie is immediately charmed by the girls during museum camp and, as she and their uncle grow closer, it isn't long before Millie willingly immerses herself in Ashford family life. This sweet found family is a relief from the abusive relationship she escaped only months before. Millie's friends, her family's group chat, and her adorable dog also provide plenty of heartwarming moments that help balance out serious explorations of grief and emotional abuse. Fans of Ali Hazelwood's STEMinist series should snap this up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Folio Literary. (Jan.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Originally self-published, the first book in Meadows's (Wreck My Plans) "Oaks Sisters" series is getting reissued with bonus content and a new cover. A STEM romance set in a science museum begins when entomologist Millie spills her coffee on astronomer Finn. Finn is known to be grumpy but soon shows his softer side to Millie. As the Oaks family weighs in on the relationship through hilarious texts, and Millie and Finn start to build what looks like a future, the past invades Millie's life again when her abusive ex-boyfriend begins a new campaign against her. With a promotion at work, a future with Finn, and her own sense of self on the line, Millie must manage her way through. The tale is told in alternating points of view, so Finn also shares his backstory and, with the help of his therapist, works through the complications of losing his sister to cancer, making a family for his nieces, weathering his parents' icy disapproval, and, of course, falling for Millie. Meadows showcases deft dialogue, strong scene-building, and an ease at creating characters. VERDICT A companionable romance that emphasizes family and friends, support and mental wellbeing, and building a happy life.--Neal Wyatt
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two scientists find love and healing in this steamy, nerdy romance. Entomologist Millie Oaks is a candidate for her dream job as director of the department where she works at the Wilhelmina Natural Science Museum. She's flustered to find out that grumpy but annoyingly handsome astronomer Finn Ashford is on the hiring committee, since he seems to glower every time he sees her. At first, Finn tries to avoid bubbly and friendly Millie, but when they keep running into each other--literally--his barriers begin to come down. He recently became the guardian of his twin 5-year-old nieces after his sister died, and between that adjustment and dealing with his cold, manipulative parents, he seems to have little room for a new relationship. But he's captivated by Millie, and when she starts teaching the girls at the museum's summer camp, she fits seamlessly into their lives. Millie doesn't want to jeopardize her chances at the job and is still working through issues after ending a toxic relationship, so she tries to think of Finn as just a friend--until that boundary becomes impossible to maintain. Some of the conflicts in this series kickoff feel contrived, but the focus is more on the low-angst, feel-good moments, anyway, with some physical passion sprinkled in to turn up the heat. The topics in this story aren't all light--loss, grief, and emotional abuse play important roles--but the predominate takeaway is how wonderful it is to have the support of your loved ones. There are many beautifully tender and heartwarming scenes, especially when Finn's nieces or Millie's friends and family are involved. A delectable blend of sugar and spice. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
