“The Wedding That Never Was.”
This book is definitely on the lighter side compared to the author’s other books. Rival families that each have their own idea with what they want to do with Sparrow & Vine winery. The back and forth between the FMC and MMC had me laughing until tears came. So much taunting and teasing. The both have great personalities and chemistry. This is a true love story with many battles. The way the author painted the picture of a Rhode Island winery has me trying to find a way to visit one. Sounds so magical and ethereal. I really enjoyed this read.

I normally enjoy a Sophie Lark novel and this one did kinda fell flat. I really enjoyed the Romeo and Juliet vibes and I love a good marriage of convenience but there were some parts that were very questionable. Monroe asked if worker with questionable work visas should be picking the grapes in the beginning and I found that inappropriate and racist. June also referenced Elon Musk and how she was “inspired by him” and it did not sit well with me; I prefer books with completely made up characters over characters pulled from real life with questionable beliefs. Needless to say I won’t be reading more of the series.

I was initially so excited and eager to read this book, and when I saw I was approved I ran to read it. Honestly, what the fuck?? Wow. It’s an absolute no from me. I’m incredibly disappointed in Sophie Lark. I’ve loved a few of her books and I’ve enjoyed her writing but the BLATANT racism in this book is astounding. NO.

I have never given a book such a low rating before. I have also never felt so many emotions at once. I can not in good conscience give this any positive review. I’ve loved Bloom books but this has been the first that has gutted me in such a way.

I was wholeheartedly excited for this release. I truly was. I had heard so many wonderful things about Sophie Lark—friends collecting her books, signed editions, special releases from book boxes. I had such high hopes.

But all of that was destroyed with this ARC.

The quotes that have been circulating? I double- and triple-checked them in my copy. I read the excerpts. And I can’t forgive them. They made me feel sick. They made me feel angry.

As a child of an immigrant family, with a partner facing an incredibly difficult situation due to their immigrant status, this hit me on a deeply personal level. I owe my life to a little restaurant run by immigrants. My partner owes his to immigrants on a farm and construction. The world right now. The climate. The community. Our voices. Our fight. This felt like an attack.

And for what? This had nothing to do with the story. It was just there—to be there. To make a negative impact. To attack communities. To make people feel even less than they already felt. To make people feel even more fear. To hurt.

"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?"

That's a no from me dog. Immediate DNF. How did this make it through edits with no one clocking how problematic and racist that line is? Do better.

Unfortunately I will not be reading this due to the racism and inspirations used. I’m gutted as I was really looking forward to it but I just can’t look past that and I don’t think it’s appropriate to read this and review it.

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

This sentence alone is incredibly harmful to migrant communities and blatantly rascist. Insinuating that migrant workers and the jobs they do are lesser than is disgusting. As the daughter of an immigrant I will not be reading any further. Extremely disappointed that this made it past so many hands and was still approved .

ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ netgalley review

I was initially excited to read a new release from such a well-beloved author as Sophie Lark. Still, after reading this book and analyzing the language used, I am extremely disappointed in Sophie Lark's behavior and her belief that writing these things was acceptable. The female main character asks, “Shouldn’t there be some people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?” Additionally, a character finds herself inspired by Elon Musk—despite his deplorable history—and I just can't support or overlook this.

We stand with immigrants. If you don't understand what the problem is, read the book or take to social media and do a little searching.

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.