Thank you to St. Martin's for my copy of FOR THE RECORD.

This book was so sickly sweet and brainless. Perfect beach read or escape book. Not my usual type but still a good time.

3.75 stars. Emma lord never disappoints! The character development was amazing! I loved how the characters continued doing what they love. The only down side was the slow burn and then the hook up. I didn’t like there wasn’t as big of a build up

This a cute story of two people working on a comeback. There are many storylines coming together in this book that take away from the main plot It felt a little scattered for parts of the story. The secret recordings on the app and some of the situations were melodramatic. I like the second chance romance trope but this wasn’t structured well enough for the story to work.

This was a cute rom com! If you like music (especially the ins & outs of record labels), you will really like it.

For the Record gives you the best of both worlds: slow burn and quick read.

Great characters (Ben ❤️), including two famous musicians with a messy past that set aside their differences to meet each other where they are now. Super sweet.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had such a fun time with this book. I think this book was such a sweet second chance romance I really loved the characters and loved the musucans and rock star look at this book. I had a really fun time with this book another book that i loved by this author. i did feel a tad discounted from the characters for the first half but i really did love the second chance and and also found family vibes!!

Another Emma Lord hit. I loved the time line hops, the different points of view. It was a much more fun version of Daisy Jones. I don't usually like second chance romance tropes but Emma Lord always gets them right. I hope to continue reading more of her adult romances!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Overall this book is very cute. Sam Blaze is a hot bad boy rockstar. Mackenzie was part of a pop punk rock trio. Their bands used to tour together, often ending up inches apart on stage every night. The two of them would tease each other, being rivals and kind of hating each other on stage. Fast forward a few years, and Mackenzie's voice has changed, and she hasn't seen Sam in years. Then they end up back in each other's lives, writing songs together again, and realizing maybe that rivalry was a bit more of love feelings, not hatred.

If you like stories in the music industry, second chance romance, a little bit of spice but not a ton, and relationships that grow with communication, this would be good for you.

The TickTune part of the story was probably not necessary but kind of interesting. I didn't like the nickname Sparkles, and I also don't really like single dads, but Sam was a good guy. Mackenzie is kind of blah as a main character, but also I thought her thyroid issue was well done. Overall I enjoyed this and it's pretty solid.

Once upon a time, the bands Thunder Hearts and Candy Shard toured together. Their lead singers pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze played up a (mostly) manufactured rivalry to engage publicity. But those days are over and Mackenzie and Sam haven’t spoken in years. They both want solo careers now, but the music label wants a duet—Mack & Sam. For the sake of their careers they are forced to write songs together. But without an audience, how much of that rivalry remains? Or would they rather be something else? And will the secrets they are both keeping tear them apart?

The characters! Not just Mackenzie and Sam, but also their agents, Mackenzie’s bandmates, Sam’s son and best friends. All of them were interesting and colorful, unique and well executed. I really felt like I was in their world. There were layers of emotion and trauma and backstory. It’s dual POV with alternating chapters for each perspective. The plot device of writing songs at various locations where they had memories together was a perfect tool for growing close. Some good chemistry and physical tension. (There’s a closet scene!) And the ending! So much emotion was packed into the last few chapters.

I really enjoyed this one and hope the author gives us some interconnected standalones about the other bandmates!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the chance to review this ARC.

3.5/5 - It's still a mental adjustment for me to consume Emma Lord's adult novels sometimes, but when they are as precious and delightful as this one, it is easy. Mackenzie and Sam are the quintessential "why didn't you get over yourselves earlier?" trope in my opinion, though I suppose that Sam's surprise kid threw off their rhythm. I wish there had been a bit more Sam background built in to the story, but otherwise it was a solid read.

wasn't for me, i didn't like it at all. The writing was off, the characters were unlikable and i hate that every book with a celebrity fmc is so very taylor swift coded (and i love taylor swift! but it's too much!)

Cute novel about two former singers who meet up 10 years later to work on a project. Former rivals, this novel has lots of romantic trope - enemies to lovers, the need to be secretive and, of course, a giant reveal that works against them.

3.5⭐️ rounded up

Mackenzie is a rockstar! Or she was until her trio ventured out to try their own things - hers being a surgery that would change her career forever. Sam is also a rockstar! Or he was until his touring abruptly stopped when he found out about his son and left the spotlight to be part of his life.

But after a few years of their own paths, Mackenzie and Sam are both ready to try music again… and their agents think it would be best to do that together. Only downside? Sam broke Mackenzie’s heart back then, and Mackenzie never knew how Sam really felt about her.

Will Mackenzie and Sam find a way to work together again? Will their old feelings stay tamped down or bubble to the surface? Can they pull this comeback off?!

This story started slow for me, I honestly felt like it was pretty cheesy at first, but once I got about 30% in I didn’t want to put it down and couldn’t wait to pick it up again even if it was just for a chapter!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Emma Lord for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

For the Record was my first read from Emma Lord and it was really enjoyable! Full of wit and heart, the connection between Mackenzie and Sam felt very real and I love how the author intertwined their past and present.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This was a sweet book that shows youth and how young love grows up, as well as the power of friendship.

Unfortunately, I just cannot get into this book and had to DNF it! I will try again in the future and see if it is a better fit at that time for me

Thank you #NetGalley, Emma Lord, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Once intense competitors on the music scene, pop sensation Mackenzie and punk rocker Sam Blaze lit up the stage with their high-intensity rivalry. But behind the flashy performances, a stronger romance was growing. That is until both their bands suddenly imploded, which ends their potential romance.
Now, two years later, Sam has stepped away from music as he has learned about a son he never had. Mackenzie, recovering from vocal surgery, hides behind a new name and appearance to sing again. Their careers seem stuck. Stuck until an unexpected opportunity comes their way: a joint comeback album.

With fans eager for a reunion and everything to lose or gain, Mackenzie and Sam must deal with their past and figure out how to make music together again. But as long ago feelings resurface and new truths come out, will they be able to do it? Sometimes, the most unforgettable songs come from second chances.

Such a fun and swoon worthy YA read! Emma Lord never disappoints! I loved both characters and how they were written. Especially Sam being willing to raise his child. Awesome read!

I became a fan of Emma Lord when I read "You Have a Match" and was so excited to see this one pop up on the NetGalley page.

"For the Record" is such a fun second-chance romance with an enemies to lovers vibe and I was here for it. I really enjoyed the story and know that this book deserves all the hype it will surely get.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for selecting me for this ARC.

I read Emma Lord's first adult romance last year, and thought it still needed some work. This one was a great step forward!

Mack and Sam were once rivals as they lead their respective bands and toured together. But neither band is together anymore, and both of them have changed. Sam has a young son he didn't initially know about, and Mack is recovering from a surgery that has changed her voice. Neither of them are sure how to continue their careers until their managers encourage them to become a duo and write songs together. And after all that time apart, sparks are still flying between them.

This was a fun second chances, enemies-to-lovers romance with some emotional depth to it. I loved the banter, and the rekindling wasn't hurried. I'm looking forward to seeing Emma Lord find her adult romance groove!

This started out strong but it lost some of its footing along the way for me somewhere about 1/3 of the way in. I wanted to love it based on the premise and author but it didn't do it for me unfortunately.