Between the Elon quote and the insensitive remark left from the MMC about migrant workers and ‘questionable visas’ i cannot in good faith leave a review for this book.

This book needs to be taken down, given a round of editing and sensitivity reading and maybe rereleased again then, the storyline was great. But those remarks and comments are not things I can overlook

I’m having trouble getting into this one, may try again at another time. Also everything going on with this book, I’m not sure I can give a positive review at this very moment.

I'm sorry, but a book that spews racist rhetoric does not deserve a single star. The quotes in question:

"I don't want to sound ignorant," I say to Sadie as we ascend the gentle slope up to the vines, "but shouldn't there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?"
"Sometimes there is." Sadie bites the edge of her lip. "We're a little short on cash this year."

What??? This is such a gross and heartless thing to say, especially coming from a main character and the comment goes unchecked. Grossly undermines the reality of immigration and writes it off as a joke. It's a no from me.

Sparrow and Vine was a massive disappointment. I was so excited for this ARC. Beyond the weak plot and unlikable characters, the book contains blatantly racist and classist remarks. This was an immediate DNF for me. It’s 2025 why are we still seeing harmful stereotypes like this in romance novels? The way this was written felt careless and unnecessary, adding nothing of value to the story. I won’t be reading anything else by this author.

I cannot get behind a book or author that has so much tone-deaf content in one book and it truly makes me so sad because hello, it is 2025 and we’re still making these comments? i come from a line of immigrants in my family, it is so completely disgusting and disheartening to have read a line that the mmc makes about “people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us” (which is an actual quote directly from the book, by the way). it also came across quite odd about the elon musk mention and with the climate of the world we live in today, again, it just sounds so tone-deaf.

This book is so different from the other Sophie Lark romance books I've read. Most have been dark romance but this was contemporary and very low stakes and angst to me. The fmc and the mmc have a marriage of convenience to save the fmc's winery while they navigate the family drama and the marriage that wasn't. It was a cute read but I did want more angst and chemistry with the romance. There is steam and spicy but less than what I expect in a sophie lark book. Overall an okay read. Thank you to the publisher for an arc for an honest review.

Editing to add that the comments from characters with micro aggression and stereotypes were not okay. It’s disappointing that the publisher didn’t utilize sensitivity writers to make sure no harm was done.

I will not be reading or supporting this novel. “But shouldn’t there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?”. This quote is unnecessary and offensive. We cannot continue to marginalize certain communities. I want to uplift readers and seeing how this quote has hurt many people on social media, I won’t be promoting this book on my Instagram.

I am apalled. There was no need for racist remarks, and yet, Sophie Lark decided to write them. How it got past editing is a mystery to me. In this day and age, especially with what’s happening in the world right now? Absolutely disgusting.

DNF- I’m sorry but why is it okay to use racist slurs this day and age.

“but shouldn’t there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?”

Sparrow & Vine:

I feel like this book is for the 1% and only the 1%. Us commoners may have a bit more compassion when it comes to the climate in the world today as we do not live high in the clouds in money and wealth. It’s one thing to be ironic and give the satisfaction to have them right their wrongs or just be insufferable. Or for the author to publicly denounce “they’re horrible that’s the point. But this felt like glorifying all the wrongs, and I can’t get behind that.

I’m the daughter of an immigrant, when you start off a sentence as “I don’t want to sound ignorant” and the finish with, “but shouldn’t there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us” you are ignorant. It’s unnecessary to the plot and just isolates your readers.

The dedication is very ironic for me as “This is for anyone who never had a real home until they made one for themselves” Isn’t this what the American Dream is and why people come to America? To make a home? And we’re just gonna giggle at it because the bagillionaire in the book is cute with it? It doesn’t add to the plot so I’m just confused as to what is the reason.

I hope a statement may be made or a second round of editing may occur before it hits the printers.

I was very excited to get this ARC because it was the first Sophie Lark book that I would have read. However, after learning about lines in the book that are clearly racist, I will not be reading this book, and I will not be reading anything from this author in the future.

Sparrow and Vine Review by Sophie Lark

Funny that own at least 5 Sophie Lark books and have yet to open one and start reading it. After reading Sparrow and Vine my thought is WHY, haven’t I? I ate this book up! Read the first 44% in one sitting, so good.
Modern day Romeo and Juliette(without the death at the end, lol) Enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, slow burn.
The Beaumont’s and the Sparrow’s are rival families with hate and distain for each other spanning generations over a vineyard. In risk of losing the barely profiting vineyard Sadie Sparrow entertains an offer and plan from Monroe Beaumont to save it, get married. Needless to say neither family is happy and there is some feathers that need to be smoothed. Along with figuring out how to rebrand the vineyard, make a profit, family dynamics, living with someone. This is an easy, slow burning story where we see two characters helping each other to grow and find their full potential without even realizing they were doing it. It’s a cute-sy story that I just loved.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom book for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
(My usual platform, Goodreads is limiting reviews at the moment so I can’t upload yet, but plan on checking back later)

I am giving feedback because I feel as though I need to. I did not get very far into this book because I saw some other early readers post some lines from the book that were very alarming and harmful. These remarks are racially motivated by the main charter and very harmful to many marginalized groups, and as of such I cannot in good faith and morals continue reading and supporting this book.

This is the first book I have read by this author after having numerous customers tell me to read her. Her other books just were not interesting me because they seemed a little too dark. This on the other hand had a lighter feel to the story. Sadie and Monroe need to save the vineyard they both love, but there are issues. I had a few issues with some comments the characters made but overall for a sweet romance this hit the points.

I had high hoped for this one. However the comment about people "working in the fields with questionable work visas" and the constantly talking about hockey in a book that had nothing to do with Hockey kind of turned me off.

Overall the plot line was great. The premise was great. I like the 2 main characters and the family side characters where also all likeable.

with the state of the US, and again another book with racism (say you’ll remember me also had this issue), not only am i disappointed in sophie lark, but i am tired of publishers and editors not doing their job. i’m ashamed and disgusted. do not read this book.

I cannot recommend this book to anyone due to the blatant and unnecessary racism included within. Please learn and do better.

I was super excited to finally get approved for a Bloom book and well this was awful on a multitude of levels. I don’t know who the editor is but I can just track her trail of books they’ve “edited”. First Never now this but on a whole other level. I’ve read Sophie’s books and this wasn’t her. This was horribly executed, repeated racist remarks, and downplaying a literal genocide. It was almost like they were trying to be “relevant” which is insane cause THIS TAKES PLACE IN REAL TIME! I’m honestly getting sick of how Bloom just pushes out this stuff without any editing or regard. This is going to put a big black mark on Sophie’s legacy.

I was very excited to read this new adult romance from Sophie Lark. I have read most of her mafia and dark romances and would call myself a fan of her works.

Immediately, this story did not feel like a typical Sophie Lark. While I appreciate authors trying a different feel, this story fell very flat. The MMC and FMC seemed cartoonish and ill conceived. I did appreciate the idea of showing up for the one you love, but I didn’t feel that gradual build until it was shoved in our face.

I finished Sparrow and Vine with the hopes that the characters exhibited growth and maturing following tone deaf comments throughout the story. Unfortunately, they did not.

I will not be recommending this book. Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy.

This is going to be very messy, because honestly I’m too heated and cannot properly word right now. First and foremost thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for listing this book as a read now. I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, this book didn’t meet my expectations.

In the year 2025, there’s just no excuse for blatant racism. I’m sick to my stomach after seeing the comment the MMC made entirely too early into the book for it to remain enjoyable— “I don’t want to sound ignorant, but shouldn’t there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?” IM SORRY, WHAAAAT?!??! Is this supposed to be some sort of sick joke? And what does that say about the author, that they thought this line was appropriate and would go over well. It’s not cute, it’s not funny, it’s dehumanizing and cruel. Especially when none of the other characters called it out or made any move to denounce what was said. Instead it was followed up with a character agreeing that normally there is, but saying that money was tight so they have to do it themselves… this is the most eye rolling inducing trash I’ve ever seen.

I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone. You can try to argue that books aren’t political and are just for entertainment, or even ask what we expected from a morally grey character, but to that I say Bulls#!t. Books show me exactly who an author is at their core. And writing morally grey characters doesn’t mean that we completely throw out human decency or values. I’ve read books where the characters have done a lot more depraved things, and that still didn’t make me as sick as this book. To some, the little quips in this book might seem like tiny throw away statements. But I can’t ignore the people that these lines hurt. I cannot shrug away cruel statements. I refuse.

This is a lesson we learn in kindergarten. But apparently it needs to be said again. Words hurt. And it’s time authors start realizing the weight of their decisions. This book comes across as ugly racist trash wrapped in a sparkly exterior. These comments weren’t intended to teach a lesson, or send a message. This is a privileged author alienating their audience. This is someone who just told us that in their eyes, those who come to this country most likely hoping for a better life, are “less than”. And that is some hot garbage. Shame on the author, and shame on the publisher for allowing these hateful comments to make it this far through the writing process. Any sensitivity reader or editor should have been able to pluck out those lines and say, “Hey, this isn’t acceptable.”

But to each their own. You’re allowed to have your opinion, and I’m allowed to have mine. And mine couldn’t let me finish this book. Instead, I’m left with a sour taste in my mouth and one statement ringing loud and true: We need to do better.