I hate when I have to DNF books. I greatly appreciate the opportunity from the publisher in sending this book my way.

The plot of this book felt like a rip off of For One Night Only. But right from the start this book lacked depth in the charcters for me. The dialogue fell absolutely flat for me. I hated the slang that was used. Im not sure what I expected with this one but I couldn't get into it.

This book was so cute!!! I loved the premise and this was such a good first read for me by this author.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay wait, I love a celebrity romance. This one is about two former rockers who had a sizzling rivalry that generated electric chemistry on stage. Off stage? The chemistry was still there but the intentions weren’t as clear.
Fast forward a bit, Sam finds out he has a surprise kid, Mackenzie is dealing with her voice changing after surgery — and publishing new songs anonymously with her new voice. It’s a lot of redemption and second chances. These are different lives than they led in their bands’ heydays, but they can still connect with the passion.
Mackenzie is still making it big under her anonymous pseudonym, which I think just speaks to her writing talent. The duo of Sam and Mackenzie writing songs together added a layer of forced proximity that allowed them to work through past issues, misconceptions, etc. It was really a matter of right person, wrong time and this was the universe giving them a second chance. It had some fun moments, drama, and the normal ups and downs of a rom-com that I overall really enjoyed!

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the listen!

I adored For the Record by Emma Lord. For my second chance romance lovers out there you will be in for a treat with this one, especially if you crave a dual POV and a charming story like me.
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You'll meet Sam Blaze & MacKenzie Waters who have been music industry "rivals" that now need each other to launch their post band careers (notice intentional - or unintentional - play on words with their last names... I'm digging it). Amongst it all we delve into the past and what is happening in their current lives that stoke the fires of this love story.
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Their chemistry, banter, and inner dialogue regarding their yearning for one another are the top reasons you will enjoy this book. Sam & Mackenzie are both great main characters, and some of the things Sam said to Mac made my heart melt. I also REALLY appreciated that the length was near perfect: I only wished I had a little more time with these two gems 🤭, and that hasn't happened recently.
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You can enjoy this read tomorrow August 12, 2025... in probably one sitting 💜. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me this ARC through netgalley.
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Page & Pour Rating: 4✨️

I only got about 40% of the way through this. I don't know if this was just where I was in my reading this summer - but I really couldn't get myself to care about this. The call back to all of the previous scenes and backstory without showing it was hard to care about. I felt there was too much backstory that all felt like too many threads to follow.

As always, I remain a huge fan of Emma Lord. For the Record, her new adult romance, is my favorite book by her in a while. A music-based, celebrity romance, For the Record follows ex-girl group star Mackenzie Waters and former punk rock singer Sam Blaze, who were forced to play up a "will they or won't they" relationship on stage for years while driving each other crazy offstage. Of course, they had feelings for each other, which neither addressed before their bands broke up and they both went off grid for personal reasons. Two years later, now both are trying to launch comebacks with new sounds, and end up pairing up to write and release music together, while facing how they feel about each other, unresolved personal issues, and the challenges of fame and the music industry.

For the Record retains Lord's signature sunniness, lighthearted and silly humor, and fun, supportive friend groups/found families, while also feeling like her most mature romance. It was a quick, fun read but carried depth through its look at their careers and larger world, Sam as a father and son, Mackenzie dealing with her voice and friendships, and more. Their relationship had a strong emotional arc and following their journey was satisfying and compelling.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC!

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 both bands fell apart, as did their relationship.

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. This leads to a super cute second-chance romance with a very 2000s rom com vibe!

Overall, it was a fun romance and I really enjoyed listening to it.

Leave it up to this author to never disappoint. I have a few of her books, and they all have made me cry so much, this is the reason why I love romance novels…

The second chance romance was exactly what I needed. McKenzie and Sam used to have their own separate bands years ago, and then there was some drama, and then years later, they were asked to come together to create an album. And of course these two are mortal “enemies” now lol…. There is so much history between them, and it’s so cute to see them bicker with each other, and set these little rules before working & while working together, which, of course we know NEVER WORKED! The tension between these two was intense, they were a ticking time bomb, and I was not disappoint, Sam is just 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍…. And the end??!! I CRIED! That should tell you how darn sweet it was….

Unfortunately, this was a bit of a miss for me and I can't quite pinpoint why. It very much felt like "and now it's time for an interesting scene where Sam and Mack have to interact" without the substance backing it up. Like there would be little to no setup and then they're on a boat and it's only explained once they're and for some reason, that bugged me. Also, all the references to their names, Waters and Blaze, irked me after a while.
With an enemies to lovers story I also expect banter and tension but there just wasn't any that was convincing to me.
Idk. Maybe if I read this when I was in a different mood I'd feel different, and clearly other people like it, so maybe I'm the one missing out on something here.

“I am dizzy with happiness, more in my body and outside of it than I've ever been, like I am feeling not just the joy of this moment but the promise of all the joy yet to come”

As my first Emma Lord read, I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and music theme, and while it didn’t completely blow me away, I found myself genuinely invested in Mackenzie and Sam’s story😍The banter between these two was absolutely amazing and their chemistry leaped off the page whether they were bickering or flirting. I also really enjoyed the fresh take on a second chance romance since they never actually had their first chance, just years of what-ifs and secret pining that made my heart ache in the best way. Sam completely surprised me too; I expected typical rockstar drama but got this sweet, devoted dad instead.

Kate’s rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice level: 🌶️.5

Read if you like:
🤘Rockstar romance
🥊Rivals-to-lovers
💞Second chance romance
🏡Found family
🗣️Dual POV

While it’s a bit predictable and slower paced at times, I genuinely enjoyed watching these two finally get their timing right!! Add this one to your TBRs besties—this one releases August 12th!

Thanks to NetGalley, Emma Lord, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC✨

3.5⭐️ This was a sweet, fun, & easy read! I had a fun time and it was a nice change of pace!

I think that this book had all the makings for something epic but I found it to just be mediocre. Part of this book moved a little slow for me, and I’m realizing that maybe I’m not a celebrity romance girlie? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I didn’t get that butterfly feeling I want in a romance. I also am coming off reading what may be my favorite book of the summer so that’s hard to top!

This was an advanced read copy I received through Netgalley so it’s not going to be officially published until August 12, 2025! But this is my honest review!

Add this book to your to read list, I promise you won’t regret it! & then let me know what you thought! & of course a big thank you to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the ARC! #fortherecord #emmalord

#books #bookstagram #booktok #bookrating #library #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecs#bookcommunity #booklovers #booksofinstagram #bookish #fivestarbooks #romancebook #kindlebooks
#kindleunlimited

I really enjoy Emma Lord's writing style. She isn't afraid to throw sarcastic humor in and that always makes me giggle when I'm reading it. This book was such a fun read. Second chance romance between two music rivals is a type of reading catnip for me. Mackenzie and Sam were such a fun couple to follow and you couldn't help but pull for their relationship to be a success. However, it seems like fate is against them at many turns. So many times during their relationship, timing was an issue.

I thought the author did a nice job of handling some of the stresses that can present themselves in the music industry. Many of the issues that were discussed are things that occur in real life - - such as contract issues with record labels, publicity and paparazzi challenges and more. Likewise, she explored the insecurities that plague people and make them doubt whether or not they are good enough for another person. These two had so many misunderstandings to overcome and you had to feel sorry for both of them because of the doubts they each carried about their own self worth.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I loved the audiobook and thought the narration was spot on. I was really pulled into the story and connected with the characters more through this audio version. 5stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin´s Griffin for this ARC.
I usually don´t read much celebrity/rock star romance, but this one was a very enjoyable enemies to lovers story with beautiful and complex characters, each one searching for redemption. Mackenzie Waters, a former pop singer is struggling with her voice and she will have to join forces with her old nemesis Sam Blaze, a former punk rock singer (and bad boy) in order to revive their careers. So we have a sweet love story with a lot of pinning, forced proximity and witty banter. I really loved the “secret identity” element and the fact that we had both POV, and I loved the early 2000’s vibes.
It was a very easy going read.

For the Record is the love story of Mackenzie and Sam. Both singers in rival bands, the studio capitalized on the tension between them. When Sam abruptly exited the music scene, neither of them found closure. Mackenzie and Sam reconnect years later, both having gone through major life events. Can Mackenzie and Sam help each other reignite their music careers or are they better apart?

For the Record was such a sweet and engaging romance! Emma Lord writes such memorable characters, who feel incredibly realistic. I loved Mackenzie’s journey with her voice change and appreciated her vulnerability in choosing to sing again. Mackenzie and Sam are very cute and I enjoyed the flashbacks! Both of them have caring friends and family, which I enjoyed seeing. Sam’s son is adorable! I wish I could hear Mackenzie’s songs! Her journey of using the music to process her emotions was beautiful.

Readers who love Daisy Jones & the Six, the Taylor Swift Eras tour, and musician romance will love For the Record!

Thank you to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦
Mackenzie Waters was one third of pop super group, Thunder Hearts. With a wild streak and a powerful voice, she and bandmates Hannah and Serena had their fans eating out of their hands.

Storming the stage during their shows - in a manufactured rivalry - is Sam Blaze, lead singer of Candy Shard, a punk band rising to fame at the same time.

Behind the electricity, the tension, something else is simmering, but before it can take hold, everything falls apart.

Two years later, both bands broken up, Mack is recovering from a career changing surgery and Sam has traded sneering for domesticity.

But then.

But then - a comeback album. A second chance for these rivals to revive their careers - together.

Sparks fly and secrets are shared and maybe, just maybe, this will be their biggest hit yet.

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
This was a fun ride!

Mackenzie is refreshing in her independence, and Sam is delightful in his second chance role as father to precocious Ben.

The co-living situation, Moms’ side and Dad’s side, is maybe the most adorable thing I’ve ever read.

I loved how the story focused on reinvention, with characters showing each other real vulnerability. The found family, heartache, and redemption arcs are all hard fought and well deserved. The banter is fun, tinged by his bad boy swagger, and they are both down bad.

There was a minor subplot with Serena, the former bandmate, that I didn’t quite understand, but overall it didn’t detract from the story.

𝗩𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞
Let’s Make a Scene with a little bit of The Break Up Pact and some High Fidelity (the TV show)

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗
If you love second chance romance between rivals, you will eat this up.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦
@stmartins and @netgalley shared an ARC with me. Out 8/12/25.

For the Record is a second chance/missed opportunity romance. Mackenzie and Sam were once part of rivals bands who toured together but due to misunderstandings and miscommunication they both assumed there was hatred from the other. Now, years later, they must collaborate again. Will they finally get on the same page. If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six or Better Than the Movies, you will enjoy this.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

I've not so wholly and fully enjoyed a book from start to finish, like I did with this one, in a long time.

I'm a sucker for a music-themed, celebrity romance, especially one where the two main characters are former rivals. This story was so fun because the two main characters are being forced to walk down memory lane to write some songs together. I loved getting flashbacks or hearing the characters discuss something that happened in the two years previous while they were still part of their respective bands. Traveling around different parts of New York and surrounding areas kept me on my toes and excited to see where the songwriting would take me next.

The chemistry between Mack and Sam was spot on. Where Sam wasn't ready to jump into a relationship with Mack previously, he is now, and it's so cute how he tries to prove it to her. It's nothing flashy or crazy, but he's consistently there for her. And where Mack used to jump into relationships headfirst, she's now more cautious, especially with this man who broke her heart, perhaps the worst of her ex-boyfriends. Their slow build to being cordial with each other, and then finally accepting their feelings, felt so natural and had me rooting for them the whole way through.

I thought Mack's bandmates were a great addition to the story. They were both so different and had unique focuses in their lives, but added new perspectives, and challenges, and support to Mackenzie's life. I also loved Sam's son, Ben. He wasn't in loads of the book, but popped up and made an impression when he was around. He's so cute and brought a lively touch to the story.

I now feel it's my civic duty to recommend this book to everyone I know. If Mack and Sam were real, you'd find me front row at their concert, sobbing anytime they harmonized. Thank you for this gem of a book, Emma Lord!

Ahhh, this was wonderful! Musician romance is one of my favorite tropes, and Emma Lord knocked this out of the park! I loved the rivals to lovers of a boy band and girl group. There was so much tension here that was so worth the wait. I liked Mackenzie’s vulnerability and and grappling here. It felt authentic and tough. Sam was such a great dad. I liked how they both treated and respected that relationship with such reverence. There’s a great balance here between the potential relationship and their personal lives. She’s one of my favorites for a reason, and this story is why.

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up! This book felt like the romcoms music and lyrics and the rocker. I adored those movies and the way romance is explored through music.

I related so much to McKenzie, the FMC, who is loud and can be seen sometimes as “messy,” but truly just cares so much about other people. We’re big emotional softies!

I also loved Sam and how we explored his relationship with his son in comparison to the relationship he had with his dad.

My main issues with the book were related to my personal taste - so take that for what you will! I was in a rock band for a few years and I think I’m so close to the subject that I can’t be unbiased.

This was a cute read!

I am a big fan of novels set in the music industry, so when I saw that this book said that it was perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & The Six, I knew that I had to read it.

At the high point of their careers, Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were belting out songs for their respective bands. Mackenzie was in a pop band; Sam was in a punk band. The two of them shared a stage, a tour, and on-stage antics that would lead the public to believe that they were rivals in every sense of the word. But of course, mixed in with the rivalry was an attraction that both of them fought off every step of the way. He was a non-committal bad boy; she was the pop star who wanted to find love.

Two years later, and a lot has changed for both of them, career-wise and personally. When they are brought back together with the chance of writing and performing new music together, it brings back a lot of feelings for both of them.

I was looking forward to reading For the Record, and it was my first time reading a book by this author. I wanted to love it, I really did, but not all books are for every reader. As I mentioned right off the top, I am a big fan of books set in the music industry, so this book should have hit the mark for me. Unfortunately, I just had a very difficult time getting into it. I didn’t connect with the characters at all, and when that happens, my interest in the story tends to wane.

I’m sure that many readers will fall in love with Mackenzie and Sam’s story, but for me, it didn’t hit the right chords.

*3 Stars