I liked the dual narrative of this book. It was helpful for extra context into their history. They were a little too afraid of commitment for 2 people with good chemistry but I understand the external factors like his son. I liked seeing the healthy parenting dynamic.

I just finished reading “For the Record” by Emma Lord.

Mackenzie and Sam have a history. This book is a second chance romance and although I found it slow at first, it picked up towards the end.

The banter was great. I found the rest of the book slow. There was always confusion between the two characters.

I give it 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first time reading a book by Emma Lord, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. When I first read the description of the book, I was immediately interested in its premise. Second-chance romances and enemies-to-lovers are some of my favorite romance tropes to read, and I was excited to see both included in this book.

Former music rivals Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze once ignited fan frenzy through their bands’ intense onstage showdowns, while off-stage, their tension grew into something more until their bands broke up. Now, two years later, Sam is a single dad living a quiet life, and Mackenzie hides behind a stage name after a surgery altered her voice. A joint comeback album offers them both a second chance at fame — and maybe love. As they try to set aside their past, old feelings reignite and unexpected revelations threaten everything, proving that their greatest story may still be ahead of them.

This was an easy read told through dual points of view. I liked that the author provided background into both Mackenzie and Sam's journeys, giving some depth to the story. I especially enjoyed the Epilogue. While this was an easy (and short read at 283 pages), there were times I felt the book really dragged, and I just wanted to get to the end. I felt that more emphasis should have been spent on Mackenzie and Sam's personal growth to provide more depth to the story, and less emphasis should have been placed on Tick Tunes and some of the other sub-plot elements.

Overall, the book had some nice moments and provided a satisfying happily ever after. If you enjoy second-chance romances, enemies-to-lovers, musicians (pop stars and punk rock band), and found family tropes, this might be a book for you!

This book made me realize how much I adore a celebrity/singer romance book with 90's vibes. For me I grew up loving and possibly too invested into pop culture so this to me was a way to feed into that haha. If was a truly fun book to read and loved the story of what happens when a group breaks up? There were parts to me that we a bit too quirky and made me cringe a bit mostly from the flashbacks but overall I really enjoyed the book and thing if you love a light hearted read you will enjoy this one!

Rating: 3.5

Tropes:
- Second Change Romance
- "Rivals" to "Lovers"
- Sunshine x Grumpy
- "Its Always Been You"
- dual POV

Thank you so much to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an arc of this read in exchange for an honest review!

"For the Record" by Emma Lord is my first title I have read from here and will NOT be the last. 5 stars for this incredible second chance rivals to lovers romance. It had great banter and the perfect level of spice for me. If you love a good dual POV this is the one for you.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are former front persons from their rival bands. Throughout their careers were always placed together and their lives intertwined whether is be because of their record label, having twin sisters as managers or their insane attraction to each other they have been followed with a "will they won't they" the whole time. After Sam disappears form their last tour it's been two years since they have spoken or seen each other but it's all about to change. Being forced to team up for a duet record in order to make a comeback in the industry they finally get the second chance they have always deserved.

This book was a great fast paced uplifting and fun read that I can not wait to gush about to everyone who will listen. This book will be my entire personality for a while. There were many scenes that caused me to laugh out loud and I found myself smiling through out. Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's press for the digital advanced readers copy for my honest review now lets giddy up jingle horse to publication date of 8/12/2025 so the rest of the world can experience this fantastic story.

A sparkling, fast-paced romance that feels fresh and fun. Mackenzie and Sam’s journey—from fierce stage rivals to reluctant collaborators—brims with sharp humor and genuine heart. Their struggles with fatherhood and finding their true voices give the story real emotional weight, while the music-industry backdrop keeps the stakes high. A breezy, satisfying read for anyone who loves a second-chance love story. Give it a try!

Huge fan of Emma Lord so how could I not read this one? She includes her usual quirk, humor, and overall fun personality into every book she writes and I love it! Super cute book! Would recommend!

This was such a cute book!! Omg I’m so in love with Sam. The relationship, the story, the second chance. Everything was chef’s kiss. I definitely want to read more books from this author.

for the record was an incredibly fun read! it was super cute and enjoyable.

i am not a huge fan of second chance romance usually, but it worked so well for this story. i loved the dual pov and the chemistry between mackenzie and sam! they had crazy great banter which i enjoyed so much!

i really loved the intimacy of the scenes when they write together. it was so well written and vulnerable. the close proximity! ah! it was everything!

i did love mackenzie’s story and her journey back into the music scene post-surgery. her struggle was intense and heart breaking but i loved her perseverance. i could almost read just a book of this!

For The Record was a fun and easy read. I found the overall premise of the book a bit interesting. However, the book felt a bit flat for me during certain parts. While the book was enjoyable, some parts felt entirely too long and slow. I had a bit of a hard time connecting with the characters of the book. I felt that their personal growth could’ve been explored more and given more complexity?

Overall, this book is good for a quick and easy read. The story is actually very beautiful. If you enjoy rom-com with a music aspects this is the one for you!

This was a such a super cute second chance story! This book delivered all the music vibes I was hoping for and I absolutely adored Sam and Mackenzie. Without giving too much away, Sam and Mackenzie are former bandmates from rival groups who haven’t crossed paths in over two years… until Mackenzie quite literally falls into Sam’s arms. Talk about a meet cute!

Told in dual POV, I loved getting to experience both sides of their story and watching the secrets unravel across the pages.

If you’re a fan of romance with witty, music-loving main characters and a second-chance twist, you’ll love this one! Reminds me of Emily Henry’s work a bit!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I enjoyed Emma Lord’s other books so I jumped at the chance to get this ARC. This was a cute and interesting book about romance and the music industry. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. Overall a great book.

This was a fun typical romance. There was nothing surprising in it but it was a fun to read with a predictable plot. It was exactly what I needed during this time of my life.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you are looking for a low stakes, light read this is a good option. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it while I was reading it. Mac and Sam were sweet together though I felt at times like Mac needed to get out of her own way. I definitely think this would make a great beach read.

I loved this. It was a great second chance romance. It was a very fun read. This was my first book by this author but I will definitely be picking up another of her books

If you’re in the mood for a fun, breezy romantic comedy that offers a dose of charm and light humor, this book delivers. While it might not have been a groundbreaking read, it has plenty to appreciate and leaves you with a smile.

+ This is such a fun, quick read especially if you like musician celebrity romance which I do! Mackenzie used to be the front-woman for a pop girl band, and Sam used to be in a punk rock band. When they were blowing it up big in the past their agents made them put on a show for fans – give them a teaser of maybe them being in a relationship, even if they weren’t. Now the band days are behind them but they still want to put out their own music.

+ I loved all the characters in this book from Mackenzie and Sam to his son, Ben, and Mackenzie’s old bandmates who are like sisters to her. There is a big found family and family vibes to this story which I adored. Even if Mackenzie was in a rocky relationship with her friend, Serena, I love that this story explored friendships going through tough times.

+ This is a “what-if”, “bad timing” kind of romance which actually took me on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s a second chance romance and this time Sam doesn’t want to lose her. Because Mack and Sam were pushed together for the media and fans, their chemistry was normal but behind the scenes they never dated. Secretly though, they both yearned for one another. Sam is crazy for Mack. I really did love both of them together. I loved their moments together and I was rooting for them hard because they both deserved a happy ending!

~ So Taylor Swift is mentioned in this book, and yes the cover totally looks like her. I kind of wish that wasn’t the case because I felt like Mackenzie is her own character without needing that comparison. And also, why was Sam’s punk rock band called Candy Shard? It sounds so awkward.


Final Thoughts:

This one is a light-hearted second chance romance with some emotional moments. It’s also a quick read. I loved the characters. I also liked how the story explored friendship and a love relationship that maybe was bad timing in the past. It left me with all the happy feelings!

For The Record
4.25 ⭐️

I think this is my favorite Emma Lord book yet! Spunky characters who show so much tremendous growth in the story? Yes please!

Mackenzie’s past life as a pop star is over after a surgery changes her voice. When she slowly gets back into the music industry she’s pushed towards a duet with her long time punk rock rival.

I loved the song writing scenes between these two. Both showed growth in their relationships outside of each other and I really loved that too. Also 😍 dual perspective!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

I read second chance romance.
I don't normally enjoy books by musicians but I am trying to broaden my reading tropes and this book did not disappoint.
Emma Lord definitely did her big one on building the characters of Sam and McKenzie and I loved that we got to enjoy both of the POV's
This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed every bit of it

For the Record is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance set in the music world. Pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze—once fierce rivals turned almost-lovers—are reunited for a joint comeback album years after their bands ended. With their careers on the line and unresolved feelings resurfacing, they must navigate fame, fatherhood, and forgiveness in this emotional and witty rom-com perfect for Emily Henry fans.

Mackenzie and Sam’s playful banter and chemistry made this read enjoyable! The dual POV showed just how much they had both been pining for each other over the years. Sam’s genuine care and devotion to Ben truly shows the kind of man he is, and I found it incredibly endearing. I wish we had gotten more depth into their backstories, something that would’ve made them feel more real and relatable. Overall, it was a fun and emotionally charged read. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a solid performance and it was nice to read something a little different from Emma Lord. I hope she continues to write more books outside of YA.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!