This book had a very interesting plot, 2 rivals in pop groups getting back together to launch a separate career. But the middle dragged a little bit and almost made me lose my interest. Otherwise I enjoyed it.

For the Record has the charm and heart Emma Lord is known for, but this one didn’t quite hit the same high notes. While the premise had potential and some moments were genuinely sweet or fun, the backstories felt disjointed and often disrupted the flow of the narrative. The characters had their likable moments, but the pacing dragged at times, making it a bit of a slog. Overall, it was an okay read—enjoyable enough. Thank you to NetGallery for the advanced copy

For the Record

"Maybe you just believe the best in people. Nothing wrong with that.":

Oh my (Emma) LORD, she's outdone herself! I absolutely adore Emma Lord, so it's no surprise that I was excited about this one, but she took it to another level. Easily my favorite of her books!

The banter! The wit! The chemistry!!! It is PHENOMENAL. As Mackenzie says, "The first thing you need to know about Samuel Blaze is that it's damn near impossible not to fall in love with him." And BOY did she come correct on that one. Mackenzie and Sam were in competing bands that toured together - constantly playing up their chemistry on stage with a "will they, won't they" rivals heat. A few years later, they are both looking at launching themselves with solo careers when the label decides they need to bring back the chemistry as a duo. This means time together as they write songs to sing, and the feelings they uncover about their past as they relive times together.

It is IMPOSSIBLE not to root for them. Their banter, and the cast of side characters will have you laughing out loud. Their chemistry had me GIGGLING and squealing. My immediate thoughts upon finishing were just "SQUEEEEE". And I stand by that one word review.

Check this one out for:
Rivals to lovers adult romance (open door)
Musician / celebrity romance
FMC who is a "Shiny ball of chaos"
MMC who is a dad
Incredible banter and sassy side characters

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC! For the Record is on shelves August 12, 2025. My opinions are my own.

This was a fun and flirty read, perfect for a plane ride or day at the beach. Sam and Mackenzie have always had a thing for each other, starting back when their bands were on tour. Fast forward two years, and they've changed, but their chemistry and attraction hasn't. Will they finally acknowledge the love that's been there all along, or keep sabotaging their chance at happiness?

A thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

Punk rocker Sam and pop princess Mackenzie are old rivals in the music industry. What started as a fun publicity stunt, ended in both bands breaking up and a two-year-long hiatus from both musicians. What could cause such a riff and what will launch these stars back into the sky? A joint comeback, of course!

This is a rom-com, second-chance romance, and redemption story with a musical twist. I wanted to love this book, but it missed the mark for me. I loved the concept of opposites attract, the sprinkling of drama from the music industry, and a good rivalry. Unfortunately, this was incredibly messy.

Simply put, there are way too many subplots going on that we do not need. Family drama from both sides added very little to the main story. A shaky friendship that got a little confusing and felt forced. The drama over a music app was also underdeveloped and out of place. Music industry drama that could have been interesting, but felt like an afterthought. The rivalry was criminally neglected and more of a tease. Then the biggest of all letdowns is the fact that Mack & Sam spent most of the book writing an album for it to get thrown into the trash with no true resolution.

While the banter was funny, the characters were painfully underdeveloped. This felt like an insta-love romance. I think a full-on dual timeline would have done Mackenzie and Sam more justice. Their history was confusing, with very little feeling. There is a lot of telling the reader about the characters instead of showing us their development. I didn't feel any connection with them at all. The spice had very little build-up and felt shoved into a YA romance.

The pacing of the book is just odd. I had to flip back multiple times to understand what was present and what was past. The main conflict was lost in all of the side character drama. The climax was rushed and then we get this huge time jump to a wrap-up epilogue. I hate saying it, but the entire book read like a half-baked Taylor Swift fan-fiction.

I loved that this was based on music. That made it so unique and original! I don’t know if I truly felt their relationship or who they were as characters, but the atmosphere of this one was fun

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I feel like a celeb/popstar romance book can easily go cringey, but I didn't feel that way with this one at all.

I love the second-chance romance, and the found family aspect of this story.

This was my first read of Emma Lord's, but definitely won't be my last!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of For the Record, and it was such a sweet, refreshing read! I absolutely loved the storyline—it had all the charm of a feel-good romance but stood out from the typical Hallmark-style books with its unique twist and vibrant voice. Emma Lord’s writing had me laughing out loud more than once, and I quickly became attached to the characters—they felt real, lovable, and full of heart.

This book was the perfect mix of fun, emotional, and completely engaging. Definitely one to add to your TBR if you’re looking for something cozy, clever, and delightfully different!

I love second chance romances and this one is no different. Emma Lord has written as story so well that I was sad when it was over.

Absolutely loved this book! It was so cute and a breath of fresh air that was much needed! I originally picked up the book because I fell in love with the cover but it turns out the story line is just as cute!

Ki has never let me down and I love her so much for that. Hudson and Ella are everything!!!!!! Couples that are basically a couple but refuse to call themselves that are my favorite. He was literally about to finally get free time and he gave it up to help her win a cheer competition. They were actually so in love way before they could ever admit it and I'm obsessed.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was such a good second chance romance. Though I couldn't relate much to the lifestyle, I was able to understand MacKenzie and Sam and why they made the choices they did. I read a 1 star review about this book before reading it, and I kept waiting to feel disappointed, but I never was. I really enjoyed it. Emma Lord has become a must read author for me.

This book...y'all...I think it might actually have my heart! What a cute rom com. It doesn't disappoint when it says it's perfect for fans of Emily Henry and "Daisy Jones and the Six". It's everything I wanted it to be. Friendship, love, passion, hardship, rivalry. Do yourself a favor and check it out once it's released...it's one you will NOT be disappointed over. I'm already ready for it to come out so I can get it for my shelf.

It's a solid 4.5 for me!

3.25! This was a super cute second-chance romance with great vibes, fun band drama, and really sweet friendships, but it didn’t totally wow me. I loved Mackenzie’s journey and how real the friendships felt, and even the peek into the messy music world was fun, but the writing style felt a little too much sometimes—like trying too hard to be quirky. Still, if you love dual POVs, musicians falling in love, and stories about finding yourself, it’s a charming, quick read that might be exactly what you need to get out of a slump.

3.5/5

One thing about Emma Lord is that she will always, without a fail, deliver a book that is so easy-going and delicious that you will simply not what to put it down. and FOR THE RECORD is no different.

Emma Lord always delivers fun romance novels with cool settings, and this one did not disappoint. Sam and Mackenzie are former lead singers of rival bands who used to tour together, and while they claimed to hate each other, the tension between them would make listeners think there was more between them. After their bands dissolved, both of them turned to more private careers, but now their label wants them to reignite the rock and roll magic by making an album together...and maybe more than just an album.

I definitely enjoyed reading this, and especially seeing Sam as a dad in the new life he had built for himself. At times, the secrecy inherent in the story aggravated me, and Mackenzie and Sam seemed a little dense about each other, but it was still a fun read, and I am always a sucker for a book set in New York.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the advance reader's copy.

I had high expectations for this book, and it did not deliver. It tells the story of Mac and Sam, both former famous musicians who during the peak of their fame had a will-they-wont-they PR stunt going on. Now, two years later, they reconnect and their feelings grow and grow.
Here are my issues with this book:
1. The break is 2 years long, which is not enough time for someone to go from biggest musician on the planet to a nobody
2. It had too many distracting stories - family drama, criticism of the music industry, friend drama, cancer scare - which were too superficial

I need to preface this by saying that I read this on my extremely long travel day back from Japan, so I was jet-lagged, exhausted, and over being on a plane. This is not my favorite Emma Lord book. Unfortunately, something was lacking for me. I found myself wishing this had taken place back when Sam and Mackenzie first met, rather than years later. I think the spark and banter would've been so much better. Lord often nails those aspects of her romances, so I was disappointed to not instantly fall in love with these two through their back and forth.

It was still a fun read, but it was a bit of a letdown because I had higher hopes.

I had so much fun reading For the Record! Emma Lord perfectly mixes music, romance, and second chances in this story about former rivals Mackenzie and Sam. Their chemistry jumps off the page as they reunite to make a comeback album, all while dealing with the messiness of their past and the changes in their lives. I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the music world and how real both characters felt, especially as they figured out who they are outside of fame. It’s the perfect pick if you love stories full of heart, humor, and a little bit of drama.