4.5 ⭐️

🎵Backfire – Wild Rivers

This was unexpected—in a good way. I went into it thinking it’d be a silly, goofy rom-com, but it ended up being much more than that. It was sweet and sincere, and it went deeper into the characters and their relationships than I anticipated, which I really enjoyed.

Mackenzie has always felt overlooked and misunderstood—first by her parents, who never really took an interest in her life, and then, as she rose to fame, by the rest of the world, who felt a false sense of closeness with her, enough to brand her as naïve and reckless in love. So I loved that Sam made her feel not just seen, but seen in a positive light in a way the public never has. What she sees as her weaknesses, he makes her feel as if they’re strengths.

I really liked the flashbacks to Mackenzie and Sam teasing each other as part of their “role” in their bands, and honestly, I would have liked to see more of their relationship from the past. It would have helped sell me on their connection beyond a superficial crush from back in the day.

As much as I loved Mackenzie and Same together, I did feel that the tension between them was pretty much broken after their first kiss. They somewhat abruptly became very casual about kissing and touching each other after, even though they made it a hard and fast rule at the start of their partnership not to let things become romantic while working together. I would’ve liked to see a more gradual shift in their relationship beyond that initial kiss—more tension, more hesitance, more internal conflict surrounding their interactions in the latter half of the book.

I liked the bit of found family we got between Mackenzie and her bandmates. The conflict she works through with them is made all the more impactful by the fact that they’re the family she chose, and it would be devastating to lose them when, for most of her life, they were the only place she felt like she belonged.

That all said, I thought their band names were a bit cheesy, and maybe it’s just me, but Candy Shard kept sounding like something else in my head, so it was hard to take seriously, lol. I also found it a little hard to believe Sam never figured out Mackenzie’s Tick Tune (that app name—ick) persona—even after hearing her sing!

Alas, this was still a beautifully crafted and heartfelt love story with interesting, complex characters. And Mackenzie and Sam’s duo was most definitely the band Wild Rivers in my head, which really added to my reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book for review consideration.

For The Record by Emma Lord
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
336 pages
Published August 12th, 2025

Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more — until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too. Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn’t know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album. With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up the old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated - one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written.

When the synopsis says “perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & the Six & Emily Henry” I knew I had to request an ARC of this book ASAP! I am a big fan of music industry romances, especially when the main characters are rivals. Sam and Mackenzie’s story showed a second chance at working together after years of being seperate. I loved the side characters, the chemistry/tension between the two MC, and the banter that filled the pages. I just felt there was a little missing and it fell a little flat for me. Overall, I did enjoy this quick read!

Read if you like:
🎤Music Industry Romances
🎤Forced Proximity
🎤Dual POV
🎤Rivals to Lovers
🎤Second Chance Romance

#rivalstolovers #secondchanceromance #SMP #stmartinspress #emmalord #romance

For the record, For the Record was one of my favorite romance reads this summer! It was a fun mix of Josie and the Pussy Cats meets Cinderella Story, and a Splash of Notting Hill for me I loved the flash backs to the past in their fun tour life to modern times where you can see the after effects of fame. It really scratched an itch that Taylor Jenkins Reid has only filled so far. This is a glitter gel pen book that matches vibes with heart and an addictive plot. I always am skeptical about a music book, but it really made me wish there was an album that was released alongside it. I want to read so much more from Emma Lord and I can wait for her next book!

4.25 stars for me, please let give me a Mack and Sam album asap!

Big thank you St. Martin’s press and netgalley for an e-arc!!

Everything Emma Lord writes is a master class in romance and For The Record was no different! Between the banter and tension between Mack and Sam to the real world issues about music artists and their rights, Lord masterfully blends romance with current events and topped off with copious amounts of (not so) sweet treats making For The Record a romance for the ages!

This book was joyful and full of love in every relationship. Sam and Mackenzie’s chemistry was electric, and the music element made their world feel so real. More “when will they admit they’re in love?” than enemies-to-lovers, and I loved every second.

The hate to love romance arc of this book had my head reeling. They flip flopped so quickly I didn't know what was going on. I enjoyed the music industry aspect of the story. Did not enjoy the love child spin. I'm not sure how I felt about her friends. The one was great, the other had a really flimsy excuse for losing touch with her besties. This is the same rating I gave to The Break-Up Pact. Maybe Emma Lord just isn't the romance author for me?

I loved this! Such a fun spin on a rockstar romance. I really enjoyed the second chance-ish premise mixed with the former rivalry; I felt like it lent itself well to the building of tension and banter. I found the secondary (non-romance) conflicts really compelling, which I love in a romance. I always look forward to reading an Emma Lord book!!

I thought this book was a really fun time! I loved the deep dive into the music industry. I loved the second chance vibes without it really being second chance. I loved that they both had an unrequited love for the other while thinking that their love hated them. The tension and chemistry were on point and made the spice that much better. Overall, this was just a fun little good time!

What a sweet love story in For the Record. I so appreciate the way Lord has put herself out there in pieces in this book, while crafting a novel that leaves the reader feeling good. The arc of Sam and Mackenzie's relationship is realistic and though not always solid, they come back to it time and time again. The side characters feel like the reader's friend, and it was just a delight in all.

Did I want to read this book first because the FMC on the cover reminded me of Taylor Swift? Yes. Moving on.

This was ADORABLE. This is sunshine in book form but it still felt like the characters and story had great depth.
The writing and story telling were beautiful.
You will really find yourself rooting for the main characters in this one.

I will definitely be checking out more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Pop star princess Mackenzie and a punk star baddie Sam had a heated rivalry, which they turned into a hit song. But they went their separate ways. Now, they come back into each other's lives and both realize that real life happens even to rock stars.

This is a fantastic second-chance romance between two music stars that hits all the right notes. I loved Mack and Sam, and I especially loved that it brought them down to earth a bit. It’s filled with great banter, tension, and spice. But it has funny moments and very tender scenes, which will tug at your heart.


Thank you @stmartinspress for the #gifted ebook via #netgalley.

✨ The Vibes ✨
Former recording rivals reunite to relaunch their music careers

📖 Read if…
✨ You love stories about musicians
✨ Second chance romance and single dad are two of your favorite tropes
✨ You like dual POV (with dual narration on audio!)

Books about musicians are almost always a must-read for me, so when one of my favorite authors tackles the trope, it’s a true gift.

In short, I adored For the Record. It’s a really beautiful story about two people growing up and putting aside past differences to work together. Mackenzie and Sam were once members of rival bands, and spent years tormenting each other on the road. Now, they haven’t spoken in two years and are reuniting as a duo to revive their music careers.

I loved the rivalry between the two of them, as it added natural and believable tension to the story. Outside of their music careers, they both dealt with some significant issues, like parenthood and health scares, and seeing them help each other through those moments was really sweet and balanced out the pair’s more sarcastic and prickly moments. Even with all of the emotion, there’s still plenty of humor (the fashion show was a standout scene) and drama (with a TikTok like app), which makes for a well-rounded story.

For the Record is out now. Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is about 2 musicians: Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze. They have been rivals for years, and when both are looking to re-vamp their career- they decide to partner up.
This was cute and enjoyable.
There were times I felt like this was book 2. They kept referencing the past, without really telling us about it- as if the reader was supposed to know about it. I wanted more details about their careers prior to this, and specifically Mackenzies relationships with Sam, her bandmates and her previous boyfriends.
There were certain aspects that reminded me alot of Under Your Spell by Laura Wood (which is one of my FAV books). The musicians, the FMC as part of a strong female trio (sisters vs bandmates), and Mackenzie and Sam reminded me of Theo and Clemmie at times- but just not as good.

Overall- these are small criticisms as it was an enjoyable read, and think will appease a large reader group!

4 stars from me

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the ARC. This title is out now.

I typically love Emma Lord and will always read what she writes. This one just didn’t quite hit as well for me. This one took me so long to read that I almost forgot what it was about. Sorry! This is described as perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six so maybe this one just wasn’t for me because I didn’t enjoy that either.

Sam Blaze and Mackenzie Waters were band rivals that turned lovers and enemies again? I honestly didn’t find either of them likeable and don’t care about the fake celebrity romance.

an easily-binged second chance, angsty romance with a rivals-to-lovers musician vibes!!

I gobbled this one up. Sam Blaze was so perfect. His dynamic with Mackenzie was full of banter and had me giggling so much. There was also a surprising amount of emotional depth that I really appreciated!! The romance was really the highlight for me.

Emma knows how to write a man down bad and I’ll never move on from Sam!!!

🎧 the audio was SO well done. Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton!!) and Jesse Vilinsky acted out these characters perfectly. I really enjoyed listening to this one and recommend reading this with your ears!!

Thank you Macmillan audio & St. Martin’s Griffin/SMP for the arc and alc!

For the Record is a fun, feel-good romp through the world of high school journalism and romance, but it doesn't quite break new ground. Emma Lord delivers a story that is as comforting and familiar as your favorite pop song, even if it lacks the surprising depth of her previous works.

The novel follows seventeen-year-old Josie, a high school radio host who's just been offered an internship at a major public radio station. Her dream is within reach, but it’s complicated by the return of her childhood best friend, now a rival podcaster, and a surprisingly messy personal life. Lord’s signature witty dialogue is on full display here, and the banter between the characters is a consistent highlight. The pop culture references are plentiful, serving as a charming and relatable backdrop for the teenage drama.

The central romance is sweet, built on a foundation of long-lost friendship and shared passions. The slow burn is well-paced, and the chemistry between Josie and her love interest feels genuine. Secondary characters, from her quirky best friend to her supportive parents, are well-developed and add a layer of warmth to the narrative.

Where the book falls a little short is in its predictability. The plot follows a fairly standard romantic comedy formula, and you can see the big reveals and romantic climaxes coming from a mile away. While the journey is enjoyable, there are few moments that truly surprise or challenge the reader. Additionally, some of the subplots feel a bit underdeveloped, especially a late-game conflict that seems to resolve a little too quickly and easily.

Overall, For the Record is a delightful read, perfect for a lazy afternoon. It's a charming, lighthearted story about following your dreams, mending old friendships, and falling in love. It's a solid four-star rating—it delivers exactly what it promises, but don't expect it to reinvent the genre.

Two vulnerable and fairly young pop stars, Sam and Mckenzie have a bond that they created on stage. But life throws the lemons and what could have become something real morphs into nothingness. But a second chance comes around and this time it's just the two of them working together which gives them the opportunity to look behind the public facade and create a wonderful story.


The audiobook was well done, the pacing was great and the characters showed growth. Overall this was an enjoyable read.

Pop princess Mackenzie Waters stopped touring with her group right around the time that punk rockstar Sam Blaze did. They were the most electrifying rivals on stage as their bands toured together, playing up their chemistry, until they stopped for personal reasons that had them not knowing anything about each other for 2 years. Now, a joint comeback album is the only way they're getting their careers back on track, but can Sam focus on anything other than raising the kid he didn't know about and can Mackenzie get over how different her voice has become after an operation? And will they be able to keep the old sparks without falling into new emotions?

Sam and Mackenzie live lives that are very hard to relate to on the surface, but everything from their insecurities to the issues they sometimes have communicating with loved ones are things that anyone can empathize with. The fact that they're rock stars and spend their days going from one fancy party to another is the least of their stories. In fact, what I enjoyed most about this book is the small, personal moments and how they relate to their fame and the impact it has on their personal lives.

I love Emma Lord and how fun she makes her characters, even when they're facing things that are decidedly not fun. Her way of writing makes reading a pleasure as you flow from one moment to another in a way that feels like hearing a story from a close friend. Sam and Mackenzie's industry story is not particularly original because it rings true to what many artists have expressed, but it's in the little details and the way that Lord tells the story that it shines.

Another hit from one of my favorite contemporary authors.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the excellent romance read!

For the record, if you're into rival musicians with a strum of second chance romance, then this'll play the right tune for you.

Mackenzie Waters, pop princess extraordinaire, and Sam Blaze, punk rocker frontman, are known by audiences for their epic onstage clashes as well as their electric behind-the-scenes animosity toward one another. After a surgery alters her voice, Mackenzie is navigating her return to music while Sam, having traded in his rockstar life for unexpected fatherhood, is trying to get back into the industry.

The catch? The label decides the only way to resuscitate their careers is for them to join forces. On a collaborative album. The bigger catch? When old sparks fly, new feelings are bound to take off--maybe even catch fire.

This was cute! The alternating dual perspective was a boon, in that it helped to preserve the delicious will-they, won't-they tension between Mackenzie and Sam, who had lovely chemistry. I also enjoyed getting to peek behind their public personas. Part of the fun was watching them learn to write together, while also giving them time to learn and love who the other was at their core. A good blend of humor, romance, friendship, and entertainment industry kerfuffle.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3.5 stars

CW: Sexual content; Language;

This book was great. The way it revolves around these two people, their past, the backdrop of what it means to be a musician and performer. It was a great story. It is fun, and their tension was fantastic.

I loved the extra characters, the friendships and the funny situations, the way they are nostalgic for the past was perfect. I loved it.