Former Pop-star Mack Waters and rival former Rock Star Sam Blaze are forced together to relaunch their careers 2 years after leaving the stage for different reasons. Their rivalry had created a tour and fed the rumor mills on their so called “relationship”. Both have moved on from all of that, yet deep down there might have been a spark. Now they have to write an album and confront the past. Drama, secrets and feelings unravel in For the Record. Will Mack and Sam make this work or will they let their rivalry get in the way?

I’m always excited to read a novel where “enemies” have to work together, especially when they are music idols. I liked getting to see what became of their lives after leaving the spotlight. Mack and Sam go through major life changing events that led them to end it all. This comeback is what they need to prove to themselves this is really their passion. I enjoyed For the Record, yet I would have LOVED for more flashbacks of their early days on tour. There are little bits of information on the past, but I wanted all the wild details! If you like rivals who might fall in love & anything/everything music related, you NEED to read this novel.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Emma Lord for an advanced copy of For the Record.

Two former teen music rivals, now adults with complicated pasts and unresolved chemistry, are thrown back together to collaborate on a new project in this second chance romance.

This one, unfortunately, fell flat for me. The premise had so much potential, especially with the backdrop of fame, nostalgia, and creative tension, but I just didn’t feel the spark between Sam and Mackenzie. The stakes never felt high enough, the pacing dragged, and I wasn’t emotionally invested in their journey. I don’t mind a predictable romance if there’s heart and tension, but this just felt… boring. I kept waiting for the moment that would pull me in, and it never came.

Sadly, I had to DNF.
I read the first 5 chapters, like I do in every book and unfortunately within the 5 chapters it didn't grip me or make me feel anything other than slight annoyance.
I just didn't find it interesting. Like they clearly liked eachother but neither one of them talked about it so they just ignored it for.. why? Idk.
This just wasn't for me, but thank you to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me access anyway.

Content warnings: the aftermath of bad breakups, parental abandonment, life-threatening illness

Mackenzie Waters is a former girl group pop star (think Britney Spears or one of the Spice Girls) who is stalled. One of her former bandmates is a lifestyle influencer with successful fashion and home businesses and the other has a hugely successful solo career. But Mackenzie is hiding a secret -- a life-saving procedure altered her voice, and she's not ready to share the change with the world. She's been posting songs anonymously as singer/songwriter Seven, but she's still not ready to share the secret with her friends.

Enter Sam Blaze, a member of the band that toured with Mackenzie's girl group. He's got his own
issues with his life and the spotlight. He and Mackenzie had a moment way back when before his life fell apart, and their fans are ecstatic when they announce a joint songwriting venture.

Filled with the drama of both the music business and life under a microscope, the novel follows both Mackenzie and Sam as they deal with their complicated pasts and see what's left for the future. Recommended for fans of contemporary romance, especially if they're fans of celebrity stories.

Such a cute read. This might be my favorite second chance book ever and I am so lucky I got to read it early. Thank you so much to the publishers for letting me read this and thank you to Emma Lord for writing such an amazing novel!

Emma Lord - please write more adult fiction, but also please never stop writing YA too! :)

The Details:
For the Record by Emma Lord

Quick Summary:
Former pop and rock stars, Mackenzie and Sam are thrown together again to revive their music careers on their own terms. Back in the day, they fought in the spotlight but definitely crushed on each other behind the scenes. Now, they're navigating this new journey and relationship - with some twists of course.

My Take:
I really enjoyed this! It was first of all, such great insight into the music industry and celebrity - good and bad - especially now with all kind of platforms. And then of course the romcom of it all - very cute and swoony. Emma Lord can really lean into the cheese and make it sweet. I loved their relationships in this book - the romance and the friendships. 4 stars - would recommend!

I will always be an Emma Lord fan and continue to read her books! This wasn’t my favorite; it just kind of dragged on and I didn’t love either MC. I feel like the dueling musicians plot is overdone too. I think she really shines more in the YA genre. I always recommend her YA to my students.

When I picked this up I was reading a different book that centered around musicians that was dragging- I read this in 3 days!

It is a light popstar second chance/frenemies to lovers romance, but what I connected with most is the MFC’s journey to self-acceptance (a truly limited portion of the story, but resonated). I also really loved the author’s portrayal of complex female friendships in this one.

This book features dual points of view (love) and the author does a great job of connecting current events to main characters’ history so that the reader can know the backstory. I was never confused about where we were in the timeline or who’s POV I was reading.

Are there things I (with my almost nonexistent writing ability) would change? Sure. But overall l enjoyed it! 4⭐️’s!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Get your copy on August 12, 2025!

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookreview #booknerd #booklovemama #momswhoread #netgalley #secondchanceromance #romancereaders

The story features Sam and Mackenzie as a second-chance romance with strong chemistry. It includes deep emotions and personal challenges that make the characters relatable and human.

I loved that the plot moved really quickly! The secret of Seven gave a deep emotional weight to the relationship between Sam and Mackenzie. I really liked the relationships between Mackenzie and the rest of her band, Hannah and Serena. They were important to the plot! Not just side characters!

This was my first Emma Lord book and it won't be my last!! I was intrigued by the story, it was light but a little over played. I think comparing it to Daisy Jones & the Six is very generous. Still enjoyable enough that I would recommend it! Would've loved a bit more backstory and info to make it feel more complete. 3.5 stars

Emma hits it out with this cute pop star romance! Mackenzie and Sam, Emma puts their chemistry into full force and helps us feel it off the page.
This book was a hit for me shockingly, so I am not a huge pop star romance fan or second chances. This was my second second chances book of the year and well I love a book when I can escape into the plot, Emma did this with For The Record. I didn't yearn for more her recipe in this book was perfection, enough to escape and pretend I was there with Mac and Sam. The light banter/quirks and the deep feeling pieces. It's a great summer beach read romance.
Bonus Points for
+ Dual POV
+ Found family <3

For the Record is a heartfelt enemies-to-lovers romance that blends music, rivalry, and emotional growth into an engaging story. The novel follows two former music rivals who, after years apart, find themselves collaborating on a joint comeback album. As they work through their complicated history, they must also confront the undeniable attraction .

The immersive music industry backdrop added to the story. Told through dual points of view, the novel allows readers to see both characters' true feelings, enhancing the emotional stakes. While there are moments of angst, the well-crafted subplots add layers to the narrative without overshadowing the romance. The themes of healing and perseverance, combined with an underdog storyline, create a touching and rewarding read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC but this Emma Lord book didn’t do it for me. I wasn’t a fan of either main character and didn’t get the chemistry I wanted from them.

Let me start by saying, this gave such Taylor Swift vibes and I was so here for it. The storyline was so fun to read, and the character development was really well done. The ending? SO satisfying.

Honestly, I don’t have much feedback other than it was just so good and so cute. The comparison to Daisy Jones & The Six was spot on, except I didn’t want to throw my Kindle when I finished this one!

Definitely recommend if you love music-themed stories, fun characters, and an ending that leaves you smiling.

For the Record was a cutie, quick read with all the right ingredients: ex-bandmates (tour mates?), second-chance romance, and a “once emotionally unavailable now down-bad” rockstar MMC. Mackenzie and Sam are thrown back together to make music and maybe, possibly, catch feelings again.

There were definite highs and lows. The TickTune/Serena/Seven subplot didn’t really grab me — same with the Ben storyline. In theory, I appreciated that it was a non-toxic take on the surprise-kid trope, but I didn’t feel super connected to or invested in his son. Both arcs (plus Sam’s dad stuff!) had potential, but they ended up feeling like too much and too little at the same time — ambitious, but underdeveloped.

That said, I lived for the scenes where Sam couldn’t keep his hands off Mackenzie (and not even in a spicy way — just in a “physical touch is my love language” kind of way). I was giggling. I was kicking my feet. And the flashbacks? LOVED. I honestly wish we spent more time with past them — the drama, the tension, the angst of touring while secretly pining and constantly bickering? Hot.

Not a new fave, but definitely had its sweet and swoony moments. If you’re into banter, musical settings, and a different kind of third act conflict, this might be your vibe! 💿💫

Enemies-to-lovers and rockstar tropes? I’m already all in. Throw in a second-chance romance? Say no more—I’m sold.

Once upon a time, Mackenzie and Sam were rival musicians, battling it out on stage with sparks flying and guitars wailing. Offstage, their rivalry slowly turned into something deeper... until both their bands (and their budding relationship) hit the final chord and fell apart.

Fast forward: Sam’s swapped his rockstar status for a new role—dad. Mackenzie, recovering from surgery that changed her voice, now only sings under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers—and maybe settle unfinished business? A joint comeback album. What could possibly go wrong, right? (Besides, you know, every emotion ever.)

I loved getting both Mackenzie and Sam’s perspectives. Their growth felt real, the banter was top-tier, and the emotional beats hit just right. There were plenty of swoony moments, clever callbacks, and the kind of chemistry that makes you root for them from the first page.

This was my first Emma Lord book, but definitely not my last. Her writing is fun, heartfelt, and easy to sink into. Perfect if you're in the mood for music, messy feelings, and a love story that earns its encore.

Bonus if you’re looking for a fun plot and easy to read writing, this may be the perfect book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Emma Lord for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Second-chance love blooms as old bandmates reunite and rediscover their rhythm and each other.A sweet, music-filled romance about second chances, personal growth, and rewriting your story.

ARC review

4,25 stars

As I enjoyed Emma Lord's YA books I was looking forward to reading this book.

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:
- second chance romance
- musicians (pop star and rock band member)
- dual POV
- slow burn
- forced proximity
- female friendships
- found family
- secret identity

I like romances with musicians and the fact that they are both singers is a bonus.
Mackenzie and Sam were part of rival bands (but also in a secret relationship).
After a few years they are asked to write an album together.
They both went through some things during the time they were apart, Sam becoming a father and Mackenzie having issues with her voice (and recording song under an alias).

The fact that they still had feelings for each other was clear, even if they tried to deny it.
I found their story emotional and liked that they had a growth as characters.

The fact that there is a dual perspective was a plus for the story and development of the romance.

If you liked other books by Emma Lord, I also recomend this one.

Emma Lord takes the delicious premise of former musical rivals forced into collaboration. Mackenzie and Sam's transition from stage enemies to reluctant partners crackles with the kind of chemistry that makes you forget you've read this exact dynamic before—at least until the third time they have the same charged argument.

What keeps this from being just another celebrity romance is how Lord grounds the glitter in genuine stakes. Sam discovering fatherhood while Mackenzie grapples with vocal changes gives both characters real weight beyond their Wikipedia entries. The therapy-positive approach and messy family dynamics feel refreshingly honest rather than manufactured for conflict.

The book straddles an interesting line—emotionally accessible enough to feel like YA but with enough adult complications (and heat) to remind you these are grown-ups with mortgages and trust issues. Lord's supporting characters actually support rather than just fill space, creating a world that extends beyond the central will-they-won't-they.

It follows the enemies-to-lovers playbook faithfully, but sometimes the greatest hits exist for a reason. When the chemistry works this well and the characters feel this real, you don't mind hearing a familiar tune played with genuine skill.