A new romance novel set for release in April has been canceled after a few lines in the book were deemed too controversial—one of them for being pro-Elon Musk.
The book, Sparrow and Vine, written by Sophie Lark and published by Bloom Books, was pulled from publication after early readers on social media began sharing excerpts they found problematic. Among the lines causing outrage was a brief mention of Musk’s five-step design process, with a character saying, “I was inspired by Elon Musk. I use his five-step design process.”
That single mention of Musk was enough to set off an online firestorm. The billionaire has been a major target of left-wing activists ever since he acquired X (formerly Twitter), refused to bow to progressive censorship demands, and later voiced support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. His involvement in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has only added fuel to the fire, making him a symbol of everything the left despises.
But that wasn’t the only line in Sparrow and Vine to generate controversy. Another section that drew criticism featured a character making a comment about undocumented workers in the context of vineyard labor: “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?”
It didn’t take long for social media backlash to snowball. One TikTok user labeled the book “MAGA coded,” and the outrage machine kicked into full gear.
Faced with the growing storm, Lark released an apology on Instagram. She began by thanking her readers and acknowledging their concerns, stating, “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.”
Lark explained that her intention had been to craft a flawed character but admitted that the execution came off differently. She also revealed that her publisher, Bloom Books, had recommended that she remove the controversial lines, but she initially chose to keep them—something she now calls “the wrong choice.”
Perhaps most tellingly, she promised to “listen more closely to sensitivity readers” for future works, signaling a commitment to ensuring her books align with the expectations of the most vocal segments of online discourse.
The cancellation of Sparrow and Vine raises larger questions about the state of publishing and creative freedom. A simple reference to Elon Musk—without praise or condemnation—was enough to trigger widespread backlash. A single character’s flawed remark about undocumented labor was enough to end the book’s release altogether.