⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sparrow and Vine
Author: Sophie Lark
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: April 2025
 
A little reminder, my sweet book peeps…Romance 5-star ratings can include books I enjoy reading but will never be Pulitzer Prize winners. If I like it, the book gets five stars
 
Sparrow and Vine was a pleasant surprise and a delightful love story between Sadie Sparrow and Monroe Beaumont. Their two families have been joint owners of a vineyard for many years. Still, their long history is contentious, with neither family wanting the other to succeed due to a broken wedding engagement years ago. Both families are very dysfunctional. But Sadie and her sisters have been struggling to keep the vineyard in business and have almost given up when Monroe, retired from being a professional hockey player, returns home from Sweden. Monroe loves the vineyard nearly as much as Sadie, and former rivals find a trust loophole that could save their sweet, young dreams if they marry.
 
It’s a different kind of romance, and it does go into full bloom with Sadie and Monroe when they marry and begin to live together (platonically at first) to make their wine business turn a profit. I loved the encouragement two young 20-year-olds give to each other. I liked the story’s pacing, and while there is some closed-door romance (a little) later in the book, their blooming relationship is so utterly charming. The dedication for this story is “This is for anyone who never had a real home until they made one for themselves.” This is the spirit of true love and of two young kids determined to make a home for themselves. @BloomBooks @sourcebooks @Netgalley @SophieLark #SparrowandVine #romance #hea #dsyfunctionalfamily #wine #comingofage #optimism #joy #love #future #business #wedding

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you for allowing me to read Sophie Lark's newest book 'Sparrow and Vine'. It was a nice easy read that I found myself enjoying at certain parts. I believe there are some parts in it that could have been left out - and probably should have been picked up by the editor. However, if you take those out of the equation the book is an enjoyable read and I would probably read the rest of the series.

I heard some not so nice content in this book and so I decided not to even finish it. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy for read and review

This was a lovely little romance read. It’s based on a winery/vineyard estate with lots of family history.
However, this book does just seem mashed together? The chapters and story line don’t flow nicely. I also couldn’t really connect with Sadie (FMC) or Monroe (MMC). There’s some questionable things said in the book that I don’t vibe with at all (example; one sister is inspired by El*n.. and the MMC talks about how there should be more people working with visas…)
This book could have had a lot more potential because the actual story line is cool, but something just isn’t right with it.

(3 star rating for spice)

Book vibes:
Rival families
Arranged marriage
One bed in a big house
Slight enemies to lovers vibes
Slow burn romance

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom books for the ARC.

I am sure glad this a free, ARC book to read. The characters were great BUT the topics and themes in this are very much triggering for many (racism, pro-Nazi, pro-slavery, bigotry, and more). I never shy away from reading controversial books but to have so many sensitive topics in book is a lot, and this is going to be a series?!

I do not think this book was intended a for a reader like me. It was hard to tell if there was a book before this one that builds into this one. Again, I liked the characters but I was reading other better books at the same time as this book and lost interest.

Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Source Books Bloom Books, Sohie Lark and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 4/22/25

I have read many Sophie Lark books and I will say this one is among my favorites. I loved that the spice wasn't so smutty. I loved the characters, the Romeo & Juliet vibes, I loved the family dynamic. The communication between Monroe and Sadie was top tier. I really feel this is a good book and I hope the series continues. Not knowing everything in the first book has me very excited to continue to read how it all unfolds.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Whilst I was initially excited to receive this arc, with everything that has come out about this book recently I feel that my excitement dwindled.

I've read her books before and devoured them, however, this one didn't sit right with me. I didn't like the relationship between the two mains, and how a woman of colour is asking to be seen as a slave for a white man. It's rather rude and disrespectful to people of colour. to glamourise such things, even for fiction. It was a hard no.

The characters and story were not relatable to me, and my opinion soured the further I read into the book.

I absolutely loved this book. The romance and characters were so real. Sophie Lark has not written a book I haven't liked so far and this one is top of my list of favorites! I hope this will be recorded for audiobook as well!

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Was this book entertaining? Will I read more of the series? Was it a mess and chaotic? Yes, yes, and sadly yes. I thought this book was going to be good, but the characters felt flat and the whole plot felt rushed. We skipped from one mess to the next never really finishing out a scene or reading many details on how it got resolved. Monroe's and Sadie's love felt pushed and awkward, not really any connection other than lust. He and the brothers only describe her sisters as beautiful and hot, but Sadie is only simple. Doesn't make their marriage of convenience seem believable. Both the families are a mess and kinda annoying. The Sparrows are weird and the Beaumonts are all jerks. There's alot of unanswered questions. Like why do both grandfathers not talk anymore? What's going on with Heath and Hazel? Why is Sabine so obsessed with the vineyard if she doesn't want it? Did Monroe win the bet against Jack and Coralina? This book was all over the place but left me with enough questions that I would read the rest of the series to figure it out.

Sparrow and Vine is a sultry, sharp-edged romance that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Sophie Lark brings her signature blend of grit, glamour, and deep emotional stakes to a story that simmers with tension and desire. The chemistry crackles, the characters are unforgettable, and every page feels electric. A must-read for dark romance fans.

Due to the current controversy surrounding this book/author, I do not think it is fair to post a review at this time

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rival families? Check. A high-stakes inheritance mess? Check. A marriage of convenience that’s equal parts strategic and chaotic? Big check. Sparrow and Vine has all the drama, tension, and intrigue you’d expect from Sophie Lark, with Monroe and Sadie at the center of it all.

With both of their families on the brink of some serious upheaval, Monroe and Sadie decide that the best way to keep things from spiraling (while also stirring the pot just enough) is to get married. Naturally, nothing is ever that simple, and their arrangement quickly becomes more than just a business move. The tension, the chemistry, the family drama—it’s all so good.

I had a blast reading this and cannot wait for the rest of the series. From the looks of it, we’re getting another interconnected world like Lark’s mafia books, which makes me even more excited. If you’re a fan of her writing, love a well-executed marriage of convenience, or just want to dive into a fun, drama-filled romance, this one is definitely for you. Sophie Lark is back in my obsession rotation, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
4.5 Stars!
#NetGalley, #BloomBooks, #SourceBooks, #SophieLark, #SparrowandVine

I will not be giving feedback on this book. It has come to my attention that it has themes that I am not comfortable with and can not go forward with it.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I have decided not to review this book as unfortunately the book has been pulled to make some writing adjustments. I only think it’s fair that I don’t read and review this version of the book.

Hopefully once the rewrites are done I can read and review then.

Unfortunately due to a couple comments made in the book that caused the controversy that lead to the publisher pulling the book, I no longer feel comfortable reading and reviewing this.

I got approved for this book and got a little bit into it before the controversy happened and since I heard the book is being pulled and not published, I don't see the need to finish and give a full review. I just hope the next book is well thought out and written better.

I received this ARC before all the controversy surrounding two quotes from this book. I will begin by saying that I hope the author learns from this moment and becomes a better, more inclusive author. I know it's easy to "cancel" someone, but I do hope we realize we are human and make mistakes and the best way to be better is to understand and do better going forward.

That aside, if we remove the two quotes and focus on the rest of the story/book - I thought it was decent overall. It gave me a little bit of Romeo/Juliet vibes with two fueding families. We have a marriage of convenience and a he-falls-first MMC. There were a lot of family dynamics which kept me intrigued. Sometimes though I wondered where the book was heading (3rd act) and once I got there I wasn't super excited about it and the subsequent ending. There's also still a lot of unanswered questions - which I get there will be stories for some of the other siblings but it maybe felt too unanswered.

3⭐

A super cute romance with wine? Yes, please. Sparrow and Vine was a sweet and easy read. The book follows Sophie & Monroe, who were born as enemies and grow to become lovers. The vineyard Sparrow & Vine is failing and the only chance they may have to save it is by teaming up & getting married. The book follows them and their journey to love & a bit of self-appreciation. I really enjoyed the Winery storyline and the interactions with the family. Some of the inner monologues were a bit lengthy and unnecessary but it didn't take away from the book. There is no 3rd act breakup and there are some open-door scenes, albeit mild (but wordy) descriptions & a HEA. Looks like Sophie is setting up the series to have the brothers fall in love with the sisters. I will definitely continue with the series because I need to know what is going on between a certain sister & brother.... not to mention the evil mother!

This book had SO much potential, the characters backstory and banter had me HOOKED. That was until certain comments made throughout the book and the MMC- I just really disliked him- I normally love Sophie Lark’s books and I really enjoyed about 20% of this.


I saw the opportunity to become an ARC for Sparrow and Vine, I couldn’t resist! Especially when I saw the synopsis and the beautiful cover.

Monroe and Sadie’s chemistry is out the roof and the way the book starts instantly hooks you in and leaves you wanting to know more! The friendly banter even though they’re ‘enemies’ just made it more interesting.

Sadie is a very unique character who I immediately fell in love with, her crazy personality and determined ways just made her more realistic. Monroe is confident and he’s just as determined as Sadie to get what he wants.

Monroe is not my favourite MMC at all, but it’s tolerable as the FMC is a really likeable character.

Sadie and Monroe’s grandfathers were bestfriends and business partners who made a profit in selling wine from the vineyard decades ago.

And when the vineyard is up for sale, that’s supposed to be inherited by the grandparents children but due to The Wedding That Never Was, the inheritance is messed up. And now, there’s only one thing they can do to save it…Marriage. Forcing two rival families together in order to save the business.