Tessa and Jaxon were so cute in this! Who doesn't love a rock star romance? Well Jaxon isn't an international star, but he's a local star. I liked this one a lot!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Platinum Rose Publishing LLC for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 Stars

This has left me with a mixed sense of feelings. I was hooked from the second I hit play, but have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with this slow-burn romance.

Couldn't have picked better narrators for this book. Done in dual narration by Laura Horowitz and Gregory Salinas, both do a phenomenal job with this story. I don't normally gravitate towards college romances, but how past traumas and forbidden love are addressed has me so glad I had the opportunity to listen to this.

To keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, there were a few elements of the relationship which I didn't enjoy. Tessa and Jax had my absolute heart from the get-go, and the navigation of their feelings for one another whilst both being in relationships felt very well presented, if a little frustrating at times, until they crossed a certain line. I was almost throwing my phone across the room over the 'will they, won't they' anticipation, but cheating plotlines aren't something I can gel with in any scenario.

The further this novel goes, the more I love Tessa, but the less I began to like Jax. And whilst I respected his perspective in regards to the relationship between him and Brooke, I just wanted to shake some sense into him. Evans does a phenomenal job at writing complex characters, and the way in which sensitive topics and triggering pasts are addressed is done in a way that is both respectful, and instils that sense of college drama very well.

Overall this had me in such a rollercoaster of emotions, and holy heck that ending! Fair warning that this does not have a HEA, but the hope that we will eventually get one is keeping a grip on my heart. Book 2 cannot come quickly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Platinum Rose Publishing for being able to listen to this title in exchange for an unbias review <3

**Review posted on Storygraph; also to be posted on BlueSky and Amazon this weekend*

I loved the narrators for this book and hope they are the same for book two... when does it release?! I loved this book so much.

I just hope the love story between Tess and Jaxson isn't over. . . I also fear that Dave is the person Tess encountered at Halloween and I hope I am not correct on that!

My review on Goodreads is below!!

"I love her and could never leave her."

Thank you for the possibility to offer my honest review of this arc on NetGalley.

“My Butterflies follows Tessa Givens, a university senior burdened by guilt from a past tragedy, as she drifts through life, unable to move forward. Jaxon Smith, the charismatic lead singer of a local band, appears perfect to the outside world, but behind his rock star persona, he battles personal demons. As Tessa is drawn to Jax, their shared pain and chemistry brings them closer..”

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I wanted to be wrong and hoped there wouldn't be any infidelity, but sadly, there was. This wasn't the only reason I stopped reading at 70%. The story is marketed as a "friend's lover" trope, and while the two main characters (MCs) are technically "friends," their relationship doesn't start as just friendship. Both of them have an interest in each other, and in every POV, from page one, you can feel the tension and longing between them, even though the male MC is in a relationship. I understand that Brook is awful and treats him terribly, but I think he should have ended things with her before pursuing anything with Tess.

As I read, I felt uncomfortable, as it seemed Tess was constantly hoping Jax would break up with Brook so she could step in and be with him. I was hoping Jax would leave his girlfriend earlier in the story, allowing the friendship between the two main characters to develop more naturally and then turn into love. I also didn’t like that it became almost regular that every single time he was aroused he was thinking of Tessa, but then using his excitement to be intimate with Brook or while he’s intimate with her think of Tessa. Tessa wasn’t any better leading on for months Elliott to be with him just to try and get over her crush on Jax and by doing so, not being nice with him, even though he was nothing but a gentleman for her.

Also, i think it would be important to read the trigger warnings before starting this book. It deals with topics like toxic relationships (domestic abuse), the death of a family member, drug overdose, and infidelity.

Finally, I listened to this book via audiobook. I think both narrators are great, but there were a few things about the female narrator's performance that I didn’t enjoy. I felt she overreacted at times and made too many changes between the inner voice and speaking voice of the FMC. Her voice for the narration and the FMC should have been consistent, but instead, she used a very pining, whiny tone that didn’t seem to fit the character during the dialogue. I also thought the voice she chose to represent the MMC didn’t match the interpretation of Jax by the male narrator.

As for the male narrator, I thought he had a great voice. I preferred his chapters, as they felt smoother to listen to.

Since I DNF the book, I will not be grading it -/⭐️
Audiobook 3/5⭐️

it was so good. so slow. I totally expected something different. but it turned out really good. I enjoyed every part of this story. especially how slow it developed. I'm so waiting for another part

Wow. This book sucked me in, and I couldn't stop until it was over. I'm upset about where it ends and need book 2 now.
This is well written and has interesting characters. The narrators did a fantastic job.
This is the story of Tessa, who transferred to a small college in California to play soccer. She goes to the bar with her friend and sees Jax, the magnetic singer of the live band. She is immediately drawn to him, and he is staring at her. But then his girlfriend comes up on stage and starts making out with him. What ensues is a tale of finding yourself, working through trauma, and finding love.

Book Review: A Rockstar Romance That Delivers!

I went into this one completely blind—drawn in by the cover and my obsession with The Words by A. Jade—and wow, did it deliver! This is a slow burn, but the plot was so engaging that I didn’t even mind Tessa and Jaxon taking their time to figure out their attraction.

Their dynamic is so sweet and enduring, and the character development for both is incredible. I honestly wanted to hate Jax—truly—but as his character unfolded, I couldn’t help but understand him. And that cliffhanger?! I need the next book ASAP! The audiobook had me hooked, and I couldn’t stop listening. If you love rockstar romances with depth, this one’s a must-read!

I do not know what to do with myself now….how the fu&k am I supposed to function as an adult after that ending. It’s safe to say I will absolutely be reading the next book in this series when it’s released.

Tessa is in her senior year at a University she transferred into as a junior. She’s kept to herself and has been very guarded. She’s not participated in parties or social outings until she has a chance meeting with Jaxon. Suddenly, she finds herself wanting to be more social….at least with Jaxon.

Jaxon is the lead singer in a band, a math whiz and unavailable in more ways than one.

I received an Advanced Listener Copy of the audiobook via NetGalley and I could not stop listening.

I received notification of my approval for the audiobook on Tuesday at 10:17am and I am writing this review on Thursday at 12:46am. I likely would have finished this evening sooner but I had plans on both days.

I was SO intrigued by how these 2 very flawed individuals were going to find their way to each other. There are a lot of will they or won’t they moments and half the time you are actually rooting they don’t due to….circumstances.

This felt like a realistic story. Things are messy and people get hurt but there is still a blossoming love story despite….circumstances.

The narration by Laura Horowitz and Gregory Salinas was fantastic. They did a wonderful job of embodying the characters and delivering a performance of a book vs just reading the book.

If it wasn’t obvious from my opening, this is not a standalone and there is a hell of a cliffhanger. So buckle up and join me in post book 1 purgatory 😂

Tessa & Jaxon
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Rockstar
Forbidden Romance
Book 1

I saw this audio on netgalley and I loved the cover, so much so that I signed up for this without really reading the blurb 😂🙈

This book is SO GOOD!

I love the way the friendship between Tessa and Jaxon develops.

Jaxon struggles with his feelings for Tessa and doing what he thinks is right. I'm so glad he decides to finally take that step.... only until a certain thing ruins everything 😭😭😭

I need the next book now because my heart is breaking for Tessa 😭

Anyway, I am obsessed with this!!! The audio narrators are fantastic!! I also purchased the ebook so that I could read along because I love doing this and the book is just amazing 😍

**For mature readers (18+):** *My Butterflies* by B. Evans is an emotional rollercoaster that hits deep. It’s raw, messy, and beautifully heartbreaking—a story about love, trauma, and figuring out if holding on is worth the risk.

Tessa Givens isn’t living—she’s just going through the motions, drowning in guilt over a past she can’t talk about. Jaxon Smith, the lead singer of a local band, is the definition of effortless cool. On stage, he’s magnetic. Off stage, he’s fighting battles no one sees. Their connection is instant, intense, and way too complicated. Falling for Jax could break Tessa all over again, but staying away? That might be even harder.

This book *gets* the college experience—the late-night concerts, the emotional chaos, the feeling of trying to piece yourself together when you’re not sure how. Tessa and Jax’s journey is real and raw, full of chemistry, angst, and moments that will have you holding your breath. But fair warning—this story dives into some heavy topics, including physical abuse and emotional trauma, so keep that in mind.

The audiobook, though? That was next level. It completely set me in a trance, and I couldn’t snap out of it until the very last second. The narration brought so much depth to the characters, making every emotion hit even harder. It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m still thinking about it.

If you love character-driven romances that make you *feel* everything, *My Butterflies* is one you won’t forget. Just be ready for the emotional wreckage.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for the opportunity 💕**

Wow that wasn’t a cliffhanger at the end- it was a dang drop off. I didn’t even realize how invested I was in the story until it stopped so abruptly. I was curious why the author was adding new elements into the story 90% of the way through and I’m glad there’s more yet to come.

Tessa and Jax are both college seniors and when they meet there’s clearly an instant connection. However there’s hurdles (aka a girlfriend) and past trauma that blocks their path to becoming more than friends. This is a slow burn dual pov forbidden college romance story.

I really liked the unique representation of domestic violence specifically towards men. I feel like that is an avenue that not many authors go down but still an important topic to voice since it can happen to anyone. Also the toxic relationship signs and development were woven really well into the story. Same with the drug addiction. All of these aspects were perfectly done without being over the top.

Some parts of the story were a little predictable but the journey the characters are on to find happiness through messy situations made it seem like I was reading about two real life college kids. I’ll definitely need to read the second book to find out what happens with Tessa and Jaxon.

This book was beautifully well written and takes on heavy topics with grace. The FMC is amazing even though she has been through so much already. From the start I could feel for the characters and I love it when a writer can make you feel it straight away.

I am invested and heartbroken at the same time. Book two, please!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Platinum Rose Publishing LLC for this audiobook.

#MyButterflies #NetGalley

Dual narration
Dealing with loss
Emotional
Beautiful cover
Strong relationships/friendships
TW- Attempted SA on FMC not by MMC
Laura Horowitz is FABULOUS! She does the best male by female voice! Really makes a difference for enjoying dual narration
College romance
Singer of band - MMC
Senior college soccer player- FMC
Mutual attraction
Both dealing with trauma in their past

Jax has a gf of many years but he’s unhappy. He feels he owes her and can’t break up with her no matter how miserable he is.

Tessa is single and hasn’t been attracted to anyone for a while. First guy she’s found attractive is taken.
She tries to date someone else but it doesn’t seem to be working despite her efforts.

Slow burn with lots of build up.

I love Tessa and Jax! They build this great friendship all while trying to deny they want each other.

Omg! That ending! I need book two like now!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook but while the story may be great I’m not a fan of the narrator, the way she narrates male the characters sound dull.

Dnf after 5% 😬 maybe it's just not the genre I needed but this feels very long and very predictable. The fmc feels whiny and the mmc already feels like he's a toxic mess. Maybe I'm not giving it enough time but unfortunately this read isn't for me.

What a beautiful roller coaster this book puts you through! I don't typically like college romance but there was something about the book that sucked me right in! Can't wait for book two and 10000 percent would recommend this to anybody!