Pop star Mackenzie (Mack) Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze were once fierce music rivals. But beneath the surface of their rivalry lies a deeper connection that neither of them fully understands. Fast forward a few years, and both are pursuing a comeback. The catch? They have to join forces, reigniting old flames and buried feelings along the way. As they work together, it becomes clear that this journey is about so much more than just music.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest offering from Emma Lord! The witty banter between Mack and Sam is a highlight, as is their tight-knit found family around them. My favorite moments were when Mack and Sam finally stripped away their defenses and revealed their true feelings. It’s heartwarming to see two people who genuinely want the best for each other, even if it means making sacrifices.

Sam’s backstory is particularly compelling. His struggles with his father and his journey as a single dad add depth to his character.

Mack’s journey is equally captivating. Her music serves as a powerful form of self-expression and is intricately woven into the plot. It’s fascinating to watch how her songs reflect her emotions and experiences, adding layers to the story.

As I turned the pages, I found myself rooting for these two to not only find love but also reclaim their former glory in the music industry.

If you enjoy stories about taking risks, embracing vulnerability, and finding love against all odds, then For the Record is a perfect addition to your TBR list.

For the Record is a light, easy read with a fun premise and dual POVs that offer a nice glimpse into both characters’ journeys. I enjoyed the banter, the personalities, and the sweet epilogue that tied things up with a bow.
That said, the story didn’t quite sweep me off my feet. Some parts dragged, and I found myself wishing for more emotional depth and character development. It was a cute story, but totally forgettable.
If you’re in the mood for a low-drama romance with a predictable but satisfying HEA, this one might be worth a shot. Just don’t expect fireworks or deeply emotional moments. It’s more of a cozy afternoon read than a heart-stealer.

MacKenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are at the top of the music world with their respective bands when they head out on tour together. During the tour everything falls apart and they are both left picking up the pieces, MacKenzie with vocal changes, Sam with a newly discovered child, and the tension between that might have lead to something more. A couple years later, their labels approach them about making a joint comeback and which could reignite their careers and their mutual attraction. A slow burn, single dad, second chance romance.

Such an interesting premise but was too confusing to follow and certainly didn’t make me want to wade through it and try to figure it out. Mackenzie was incredibly immature and difficult to root for and Sam wasn’t much better. Everything about this story, from what I got through, rubbed me the wrong way, particularly the onstage banter that all their fans loved but was painful to read. There’s no character development; we’re just told everything we should know about them and that made it difficult to connect. This was definitely not for me.

*Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin for E-ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review*

I adored this book; there are so many things I like about it that I don't know where to begin. This story was beautifully written, and I loved that it was about music; I enjoy reading books that incorporate music in some way. For The Record was my third book by Emma Lord, and it will not be my last. I love Emma's ability to make you fall in love with the story and the characters. I adored both Mackenzie and Sam, but most of all I adored their relationship. Every chapter left me wondering what would happen next between the two of them, and if they would finally realize how they felt about each other. Throughout the story, I rooted for both.

I adored Mackenzie. I admired how determined she was. Despite what she had to go through and how afraid she was, she continued to pursue her dreams. She expressed her emotions beautifully through music. I love how Sam and Mackenzie shared their connection through music. I loved how the music brought them together. I sensed it would transform Sam and Mackenzie from the first day they began working together. I liked that the book had music in every section. Everything was so vividly described that I was transported there and could hear the music. I still cannot get the story out of my head.

I adored Sam's relationship with his son. I loved how, when he found out he had a son, he did everything he could to be there for him. It was obvious how much his son adored him. My favorite part of the entire story was the ending; I'm still smiling as I think about it. I'm so glad I got to read Sam and Mackenzie's story. Among Emma’s books I've read, For The Record is my favorite. I am already excited to see what <b>Emma Lord</b> has in store for us next.

Mackenzie and Sam were musical rivals back in the day, so of course their labels made their bands tour together. They played up their rivalry on stage until they wrote a perfect song together. Soon after, when Sam found out he was a father and Mackenzie had a medical scare, they fell out of touch. Until now. Now, the label wants them together as a duo, but will their rivalry continue or will old feelings return to the surface? This dual-narrative novel about heartbreak, found family, and finding yourself is a must read for romance readers. The musical backdrop with insights into the legal side of publishing songs is interesting as well. This was heartfelt and fun.

I typically love Emma Lord, and while this book was still good and an enjoyable read, it definitely felt different than her other books. Would still recommend though!

Rivals-to-lovers + second chance romance. My only complaint about this one is I never wanted it to end 🥹. Thank you @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the ALC, eARC, and physical copy!
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@dilemmalord ‘s books always make me smile so hard ☺️. This is my sixth book by her, and second 5⭐️ adult romance! Major Taylor Swift vibes here imho 🫶🎤.
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Mackenzie and Sam were the ultimate “will-they-won’t-they” duo in the music world. Sam’s edgy punk rock energy played off of Mackenzie’s pop princess persona in a way that captivated audiences. Until it all fell apart.
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After time away from the music scene for personal reasons, both are looking for a way to jumpstart their careers. Mackenzie wants nothing to do with Sam after his betrayal, but a joint comeback album may be their only way back into their careers. Will Mackenzie be able to set hurt feelings and old flames aside to keep things professional? Or will she let herself fall, and learn to trust her heart again?
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Lord’s dialogue always hits and her character development is second to none. She has the magical ability to make me fall in love with her characters almost immediately. I was all-in before the 10% mark!
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I flew through this one and finished in a day 💜. A big part of that was due to the phenomenal narration by @andreweiden and @jsvilinsky . Don’t sleep on this one y’all!
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For the Record - Emma Lord
5/5⭐️
🎉Out Now!🎉

I love music centered romances but I especially love when they do something a little different. These are 2 musicians on the same playing field instead of being a “regular person” and a famous person. That sold me right away. I loved all the drama around them too. I liked that this story was much more than friends to lovers. It got into their history with each other and the drama with all the people around them. There were real stakes but it was still deeply romantic. I really really enjoyed this!

I found the banter between the main characters was entertaining. The layered intrigue of the music group drama intertwined with the rekindling romance of the lead characters created a truly charming storyline. One thing that stood out to me was how the single dad trope was executed so brightly. I loved that the mother was part of the narrative too and had a good relationship with the male main character.

This book was so engaging and the pacing kept me hooked the entire time. With multiple other plot points weaving through the main romance, I was never left feeling bored, and the characters were very well-developed. It delivers a bit more depth than your typical cutesy romance making it a perfect cozy read!

So this book is basically what happens when Behind the Music collides with a Hallmark romance and someone says, “You know what would make this better? A secret baby.” Because obviously, the only thing more rock ’n’ roll than eyeliner and guitar riffs is suddenly finding out you’re a dad.

We’ve got Mackenzie, the pop princess with a surgically altered voice who’s now moonlighting as a discount Hannah Montana. And Sam, once a punk rock heartthrob, now the reluctant poster boy for Single Dads Who Garden. Their big record label idea to fix their careers? Lock them in a recording studio together and hope they don’t kill each other with microphone stands.

The banter was fun at times—think: “we hate each other but secretly don’t”—and yes, the sexual tension could power an entire stadium tour. But let’s be honest, the “rivals to lovers” thing went from “I loathe you” to “your hair smells nice” faster than a three-year old’s ice cream melts in the summer.

There are some fun moments: the banter is sharp, the tension is high, and the will-they-won’t-they feels are there (spoiler: they will, this isn’t Tolstoy). But the pacing? Sometimes it felt less like a comeback tour and more like waiting for a band to finally start after three opening acts you didn’t ask for.

Honestly, I’m a sucker for a “forced proximity in the studio” storyline. Not a chart-topper, but catchy enough that you’ll hum along before promptly forgetting the lyrics.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)

For the Record was a fun, light read, but it didn’t totally click for me. The writing is engaging and the premise is cute, but I never really felt that connected to the characters. I found myself not all that invested in whether or not they ended up together, which made the romance feel a little flat. I think that’s more of a “me” thing than the book itself—I’ve realized celebrity romances just aren’t my favorite trope. Still, Emma Lord’s voice is charming, and if you do love stories about fame, gossip, and behind-the-scenes drama, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The year of music romances continues! Emma Lord‘s For the Record is a second-chance, enemies to friends to lovers romance between two former rivals, pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rock frontman Sam Blaze. After two years away from the industry, they’re each ready to make a solo comeback… until their label decides to make them team up as a new duo. They get over their differences and get to work writing new songs. But they’re also rewriting what their relationship can look like, and maybe it turns out they never hated each other as much as they pretended.

What I Liked:
- Punk rocker and pop star… but now they’re going in a new direction. Sam built his career as the frontman of a punk band; Mackenzie was the singer in a pop group. Despite being public rivals, their styles were compatible enough that they collaborated on a song that ended up being the biggest in each of their careers. But now, two years after they each stepped away from the spotlight for their own reasons, Sam and Mackenzie are each trying to go solo and with a new, more stripped down sound. Their label has other plans, though, and pushes them to make an album together as a duo.
- Writing songs together. Once they agree to record an album as Mack and Sam, they get to work writing new music together. As a music nerd myself, I loved these portions of the book.
- Music industry drama. Throughout the novel, the characters come up against some of the worst parts of the music industry: controlling labels, tech companies stealing rights to users’ songs, and the like. Ohh it’s infuriating, but it adds an extra dimension to Mack and Sam’s evolving relationship.
- Family dynamics. Sam never knew who his father was until recently. And two years ago, Sam found out he himself was a father to Ben, now six. He’s experiencing parallel feelings of what it means to be a father who is famous, but he’s chosen to be present in all aspects of his son’s life rather than completely absent like his own father was.
- Friendship dynamics. Mackenzie and one of her bandmates, Serena, have been going through a rough patch for months now. How can they finally see eye to eye again? Will they ever be close friends again, or is their relationship over?
- Health issues and changes to Mackenzie’s voice. During her hiatus, Mackenzie found out she has a thyroid issue and had surgery to remove a suspicious lump. It’s completely changed her voice, the instrument she’s built her career on. She has a lot of self-consciousness around it, and she’s afraid to perform again with her new voice… especially as herself, not her secret alter ego.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Mackenzie’s ongoing fight with Serena felt a bit too dragged out. It took up more of the book than it needed to.

Final Thoughts
For the Record is a fun, musical romance with plenty of added dimension and emotion. This was my first time reading Emma Lord, but I’d be happy to read more of her books soon.

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of For the Record from the author and St. Martin’s Press! 🫶

For The Record is such a cute story and made me feel the happiness I feel whenever I listen to a Taylor Swift song! 🥹💕 I am a huge Swiftie and I can’t even count the number of Taylor Swift references there were in this story! 😍 Music is one of my biggest loves in the whole world wide world! 🎵🎤 I’ve been singing my whole life so whenever a story is set in the music world it’s an immediate add to the TBR and I really enjoyed this! 🫶

I love Mackenzie and thought she was a truly wonderful FMC! ❤️ She has Hashimoto’s Disease and I truly learned a lot about it through reading this and I think it’s wonderful that Emma Lord is bringing awareness to this. Mackenzie has to go through vocal surgery and is so worried about her singing voice not being the same as it was when she was in the band and what others would think but that doesn’t stop her from singing. She instead decides to create a secret identity Seven and post her songs without anyone knowing who she is really is. Sam on the other hand found out that he is a dad! 😱🙊 However, once finding out that he is a dad he does everything he can to be there for his kid. I truly love with this book how much Emma Lord truly dives deep with both of these characters and what they are going through and seeing them both grow! 🫶

If you love romance, music, Taylor Swift references, second chances, Hashimoto’s Disease representation, then this is the book for you! 🫶

Thank you Emma Lord, MacMillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC/ALC of For the Record. All opinions are my own.
For the Record is a dual POV romance that follows Sam, the former front man of a punk band, and McKenzie, a former pop group singer. Their staged rivalry once fueled endless “will-they-won’t-they” rumors, and after sharing a single kiss, Sam vanished. Two years later, both are struggling to relaunch their solo careers and discover that they may need each other to succeed.
I really enjoyed this story and gave it 4 stars. Sam was a deeply layered character—haunted by demons and self-doubt—but I loved seeing the man he was trying to become for his son. McKenzie was equally compelling, as she battled with a new voice and coming to terms with a chronic illness. The best parts of the novel for me were the moments between Sam and McKenzie; their chemistry felt real and earned. While there were several side plots added for extra drama, I often found myself wishing for even more time with their romance.
Overall, this was a sweet, engaging book that also highlights the challenges of the music industry and how record labels often control more than the artists themselves. A heartfelt, fun, and emotional read worth picking up.

4.75⭐️!

This is easily my new favorite Emma Lord book! The way she writes literally sucks me into the story. I absolutely loved the characters, and that there were a lot of strong bonds between all of them. Sam and Mackenzie falling back in love while writing together was actually so adorable, I now need 1000 more books with this trope. There was so much emotion behind the writing, and I think that’s what also made me really love the story. As an avid music lover, I just really loved this book, and would highly recommend it (and all of Emma Lord’s other books, they are all so good!)

Thank you to St Martins and Netgalley for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review 🤍

2,5/5 - There was something very underwhelming about this book. I requested it because I read almost every celeb romance I can get my hands on, but the conflict was just very…contrived? I found almost everything about this book to be unconvincing. The characters were fine, but nothing very special or memorable.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mackenzie and Sam are old band rivals and create quite the stir when on stage together but when their respective bands break up so does their relationship. A chance meeting a couple of years later reignites their relationship and music careers. Difficult situations involve impossible decisions for Mackenzie. How can she and Sam survive it all!
Good adult romance read. The relationship is flirty and fun. The situations Mac and Sam deal with are down to earth real. Former band member side characters really distracted from the story in my opinion.

3.5/5 stars 🌟

First off I would like to thank Netgalley and St.Martin for a galley in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly rushed to read this because I heard it was similar to Daisy Jones and honestly it scratched that itch for me.

I really enjoyed this book Sam and Mack's story reminded me a lot of the peak band era and made me feel like fifth harmony and one direction was touring together (just cus it was a girl group and a boy group)

I love the music industry background and how it was a second chance romance ... which lately has becoming one of my favorite tropes to read about.

This book flowed really well and there was a lot of chemistry between the characters and I really loved the five second rule in the beginning. This is my first book by Emma Lord and I really can't wait to read more she's amazing!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable and I loved that they were both working on their own issues. I listened to this on audio and personally didn't love the male narrators voice.