Books
A Full Breakdown of Romance Author Sophie Lark’s ‘Sparrow & Vine’ Controversy
Romance author Sophie Lark is under scrutiny after lines from her upcoming book Sparrow and Vine have surfaced online. Readers have called out the author for “hurtful” lines in her novel, which was initially set to be released on April 22.
Lark, best known for her Kingmakers, Brutal Birthright, and Underworld series, has now spoken out publicly about the controversy surrounding her book, which was supposed to be a new series from the author. Swooon is breaking down the latest on the Sparrow and Vine scandal.
What is the Sparrow and Vine scandal about?
Readers who received an advanced copy of the book pointed out some questionable lines from Sparrow and Vine, including “but shouldn’t there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us?” and “I know how small our social circles are and how incestuously linked.” Another line that upset readers was, “I was inspired by Elon Musk. I use his five-step design process.”
What has Sophie Lark said about the controversy?
Lark issued a statement via Instagram on March 2 amid the scandal. “I want to start by saying how much I appreciate this community. Your passion, support, and willingness to engage in meaningful conversations have always meant the world to me. That’s why it’s so important for me to address something I got wrong,” she began.
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“It has been brought to my attention that certain lines in Sparrow and Vine were hurtful. Reading your messages and hearing your perspectives over the past twenty-four hours has been humbling, and I want to acknowledge the pain my words have caused. I am truly sorry. My intention was to craft and demonstrate a flawed main character, but instead, I wrote dialogue that read as attacking a community that I care about very much.”
She revealed that “during the editing process, Bloom recommended removing these lines, and I made the wrong choice in keeping them. I now understand that impact matters more than intent, and I regret that my words caused harm. Please don’t blame Bloom for my mistakes.”
Lark continued, “I wrote this back in the summer of 2024, and a lot has changed in the world since then, particularly in regard to the fate of immigrants worldwide and certain public figures. Some things I would write differently now, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Is Sparrow and Vine still being released?
Sparrow and Vine’s original release date of April 22 has been put on hold. In her statement, Lark said, “Words mean nothing without action, so I am pausing this book and this series for some re-writes to ensure that my work doesn’t contribute to harm.”
She added, “I will also be listening more closely to our sensitivity readers and taking additional steps to educate myself on responsible storytelling. And to those who took the time to share their feedback, thank you. To those I have hurt, I am very sorry. I hope I can earn your trust back in the future.”
Barnes & Noble has removed Sparrow and Vine Deluxe Edition pre-order page from its website now that Lark is doing rewrites. Amazon no longer lists the Deluxe Edition of Sparrow and Vine. A new release date for the book has not been announced.
What is Sparrow and Vine about?
Sparrow and Vine is a “new family saga series” that “promises all the messy drama and hidden secrets between the Sparrows and the Beaumonts.”
