I'm not gonna lie, I was really worried I would not like this book. I thought it may just be something I was not really into. I took a break from it, but finally picked it back up and I am very happy to say that I did really enjoy it!!

I like that they did not do a duel timeline, even though a lot of their drama and important situations happened at that time. I feel like it was good that we got the basis on why they feel this way now because of what happened back then, and then we get deeper information on situations and feelings as their present day relationship grows.

I also loved that she had that hidden secret identity, it just made the stakes get a bit higher, which made me want to read more to see how it played out!

tropes
-rivals to lovers
-second chance
-found family

thank you to St Martin's Griffin, NetGalley, and Emma Lord for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

For the record is a dual POV contemporary romance about two rivals musicians. Mackenzie Waters is a pop princess and Sam Blaze is punk rockstar. They had previously toured together, but had lost touch for a couple of years. Sam took a step back to raise his son and Mackenzie was dealing with a change in her voice. After reuniting, their record labels decide that the best way to create buzz and revive their careers is to do a joint comeback album.

Mackenzie and Sam both grew up a lot since the last time they were together. I really loved that the characters were able to communicate and act mature about their messy pasts. I also really enjoyed the banter they had with one another. However, the only part that I wished would have been different was that it would have been nice for them to have gone on dates and get to know this version of themselves, a bit more, before getting so serious so fast. I felt like it was a bit rushed.

Overall, this book was an easy and enjoyable read! Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

🎤 This was a super cute, rock-star centered romance! Thank you to @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy. This is out now!

🎤 I ended up listening to this in one day while doing chores around the house. It kept me entertained, distracted, and made me smile. I’d recommend it when you’re in the mood for a super easy, cute and fun romance.

🎤 What you can expect:
- music industry BTS
- (fake) enemies to lovers
- Taylor Swift coded with musicians owning their music
- good character development and growth

I absolutely loved it. Apologies, it was so late, though. Thank you for the opportunity. I loved the characters so much, though Serena was definitely my favorite character of the bunch.

3.5⭐️ First book I’ve ever read by this author, it was decent. I did enjoy how this book showed people’s journey with dealing with grief and how to overcome it. I really liked Sam and Mackenzie and their story. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book about music until this book. My favorite quote from this book was “Life is changing colors, but what we have is golden.” I would recommend this book if you’re into music!

This is a great book by Emma Lord, who has become one of my go-to authors for sweet but shockingly deep stories that give you a 1-2 punch in the feelings. I really enjoyed this second chance romance and found it really engaging and fun!

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I have enjoyed Lord's work before and enjoyed this one as well. Seeing rock stars try to stage a comeback while dealing with their issues and long simmering tensions was lovely, Mackenzie was a very interesting character trying to be so many things and not lose herself in remembering what she can no longer have. The characters had growth and while some bits were contrived, it was still a good way to pass the time. 3.75 stars,

For The Record was a fun book! I loved the premise of former teen-idols reconnecting later in life. I loved the friendships and Sam's single-dad-ness. Unfortunately not much else was very interesting to me - I did not feel chemistry between Mack and Sam, there were so many subplots going on I lost track, and the third act breakup was really unnecessary.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC via NetGalley.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Vibes: 🎤🎶🌟❤️☕🎧
Rating: 3⭐
Tropes: teen fame / rivals-to-lovers / found family / friendship drama / second chance romance / slow burn / single dad / dual pov
Spice Level: 🌶️

I'm giving this book three stars and honestly, I think that is generous. I picked up this ARC because of the cover giving Taylor Swift vibes, but honestly, the story just felt a little all over the place. There were a lot of little subplots going on (friendship drama, family drama, social media scandals, exes, thyroid issues, record label drama, Sam's kid, etc.) that I couldn't really follow a solid storyline.

I didn't feel emotionally invested into Sam and Mackenzie's relationship. Certain chapters had me rolling my eyes or zoning out because it just didn't grab my attention.

I liked parts of this book, but disliked more of it. I couldn’t see a relationship between Mackenzie and Sam and a lot of the banter didn’t flow well and felt forced which didn’t make me root for them as a couple. I also didn’t love the tick tune plot. I understand why it was included and the discussion on artists music ownership, but it felt like it was only there to create trouble for Mackenzie (I also don’t understand why her singing on it anonymously was such big deal).

While I much preferred the audio over the print text, I struggled to really get into the story line. This will be a great option for readers who like plot driven more than character driven stories, but unfortunately for me, I would've wanted to see a bit more of an emotional depth that I didn't get.

I love that the characters remain true to themselves throughout the story and Emma Lord clearly spent a long time defining them but there was just a little something missing.

Would highly recommend for lovers of cosy musician romances as the story is extremely heartwarming!

So fun to read. Great story and characters. Really miles this as a fun lil springtime read.3/5 stars not god tier but fun nonetheless

3.75 ⭐️ For the Record was such a fun listen. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and secret pining. The dynamic between the characters felt heartfelt and engaging and I loved watching their history playback as they found their way back to each other.
Plus having Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton) narrate just elevates everything. He can only ever make a book better never worse. His voice brought so much depth and emotion to the story.
It was an entertaining read with narration that made the experience even better.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. Emma Lord did not disappoint! This was a great book and I read it in one day. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought they had great gowth. I would definitly recommend this book.

This was swoony right from the very start. I loved the couple and flew this book enjoying every second. Music romances aren't my usual thing but I'll have to find some more from this author but this was fabulous. The chemistry between the characters was so fun and had me kicking my heels. The big thing for me in any good romance is a really strong character arc and this did not disappoint. Both of the leads had a lot to deal with and work through and I felt like they went on an amazing journey. I definitely recommend this book and author.

While I do love a single dad romance, For the Record fell flat for me. I loved Lord's debut Tweet Cute, but since then, her books have really not worked for me, but I hope she finds her audience.

For the Record was a pretty decent read. I enjoyed the chemistry between Mack and Sam, and the music-industry backdrop added a nice touch. There were a few too many side plots that made the story feel a bit crowded at times, and the pacing slowed down here and there. The romance was sweet, though it didn’t quite stand out for me. Overall, it’s a solid, light read that’s enjoyable but not particularly memorable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
For the Record is a fun, heartfelt, and nostalgic read. Emma Lord perfectly captures the whirlwind of self-discovery, friendship, and first love—all set against the exciting backdrop of a summer music tour. Chelsea is a relatable, witty protagonist you’ll root for from page one. With its sharp dialogue, emotional depth, and feel-good vibes, this is a must-read for fans of contemporary YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hmmm

This book read like a YA novel. I cringed through most of the dialogue because it didn't feel like adults would speak so immaturely-- especially someone with a kid.

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain mild spoilers.

This was a 3-star read for me.

I really enjoyed that the story started in the present and that we got to read snippets of the backstory throughout the book.  This really built up the story and added depth to the storyline. Some of the story was a bit disorganized, but it eventually all came together.  We had a few storylines going on in the book, so it kept things interesting, and I felt the author did a good job of tying up all the loose ends.   I love a dual POV so we can hear the story from both sides, and this did not disappoint!

I loved the tension between Mackenzie and Sam.  I am always a sucker for he falls first, it really builds that longing for me! I appreciated that Mackenzie was working on her own problems and was not waiting around for Sam to fix them for her.  

I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good second chance, as there were a few instances of that in this book! This was slow burn rock star romance with a hint of spice. So if that is what you are looking for, then read this! 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.  #NetGalley.