Mackenzie and Sam used to be singers for two rival bands 🎶 They played up an on-stage will-they-won’t-they that had fans on the edge of their seats ❤️‍🔥 They had fun getting under each other’s skin off stage as well, but when real feelings started to emerge and their bands went separate ways, things got complicated.

Two years later and they’re both trying to restart careers with new music 🎼 Their managers throw them together as a duo and challenge them to reignite that chemistry for an epic comeback. They’ve had time to grow apart, and it was sweet to watch them come back together and get a second chance in their careers and at love 💕

They had fun, flirty banter and they’re in tune with each other through their lyrics and in the bedroom by the second half of the book that features several short open door scenes. They’re pacing of their relationship felt a bit off to me as it was a slower burn that then seemed to go zero to one hundred real quick! I get that there’s history, but it felt like whiplash all of a sudden and I had a hard time reorienting myself with their relationship status.

Overall, it’s cute! It didn’t quite have anything that took it up a level beyond a three star read for me, but if you like romances around music artists and singer/songwriters, it’s a good one 🌟

I have been an Emma Lord fan since I read her first book, Tweet Cute, so naturally this one was added to my list of books to read, even though I haven’t been reading much romance lately. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I liked the idea of a second-chance romance, and I liked both Mackenzie and Sam, but their relationship just fell flat for me. I think it was the angst that didn’t feel real. The reasons they both “didn’t like each other,” or pretended not to, felt extremely forced and unnatural.⁣
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As for the side characters, I didn’t like the majority of them. Serena was terrible, and her secret was boring. Hannah was fine. However, Ben was adorable and was really the reason I enjoyed Sam. Their relationship, along with Lizzie and Kara’s, was a lovely portrayal of healthy co-parenting.⁣
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Overall, this wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t bad either. It just is

4.5 stars

This was a really fun read! I really enjoyed them both being ex music stars but in different bands and that a pairing of a pop group and a punk group on tour would honestly be my vibe. I found both characters to be understandably flawed but in a way that showed growth in the 2 years they were apart. Also encountering something so tragic for a singer like a throat surgery that leaves your voice forever changed yet still finding a way to do what you love. And the MMC’s commitment to being a good father was incredibly sweet. All around I had a good time. I think maybe the 3rd act conflict could’ve been more of a conversation than each deciding something for the other person but I also think it did make some sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I enjoyed this book - definitely one you could read in one sitting if you wanted to. I wish a few of the characters were fleshed out or developed a little more, but overall I have no complaints! The MCs were lovable and I enjoyed their growth and journey!

2.5 rounded down. I think some will genuinely eat this up and love it! However, it was not for me. This is the second music romance that I’ve read this summer and they both were total let downs. It was over the top, poor plot development, and one dimensional characters. Sam had a bit more depth to him, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. I did enjoy the dual POV though.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the second ARC I have gotten the chance to read for Emma Lord and I loved it! I was a little skeptical at the beginning because it started out pretty cheesy. Those band names were so out-there and didn’t make any sense to me. I still couldn’t tell you which band was whose - Mack or Sam. But the story line really caught me!

The miscommunication wasn’t terrible and I felt like they actually gave each other a chance instead of just being 100% closed off the entire time. I loved the vulnerability that they were able to show each other while writing their songs. Mackenzie was authentic and was learning to fight for herself. Sam was vulnerable and so stinking golden retriever, I can’t even. They were perfect.

I wanted a bigger revelation moment for them but I was still satisfied with how it turned out. The epilogue was so cute, too!

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Griffin, and Macmillan for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Content warnings from Storygraph readers: Moderate: Abandonment, Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy

Once in a while, I need a palate cleanser to my reading. I’m a big non-fiction/biography kind of lady, but after finishing a 900-page book, sometimes you want a much shorter, lighter read. For the Record by Emma Lord hit the spot! You’ve got your enemies-to-lovers and second chance romance, which are familiar and satisfying.

The music industry setting was an added bonus. The glamorized industry backdrop was refreshing to read. And I loved the give-and-take between Mackenzie and Sam. The sparks really flew between the two, and as noted above, there’s open door sexual content.

This breezy contemporary romance was narrated by Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky, two adept actors! Their voices complemented each other and added a special something to the novel. I had just listened to a book narrated by Vilinsky not too long ago, and Eden, though new to me, was very good. I’d definitely listen to something these narrators worked on again.

I really enjoyed this book. Sam and Mackenzie had great banter and chemistry throughout. I wish there had been more development between some of the characters or learning more about their time as a band, but overall it was a fun and easy read.

This was a really sweet book with some excellent main character growth and a lot of fun watching them create something new together. Definitely recommend!

Mackenzie is a pop princess, Sam is a punk rocker. Their chemistry on and off the stage was undeniable. They lose touch for 2 years but they both need the other to get their career back on track. Sam has been raising a kid he never knew about, while Mackenzie is struggling with a surgery that altered her vocal chords. Teaming up, will they make sweet music again?

It was cute. I wasn't fully convinced on their chemistry, I just didn't feel connected to either one of them and that always makes it harder for me to love the love story. It just isn't a story I will remember forever. It had some moments, but it all kind of just felt forced.

This was SO cute and so well done - I feel like former pop star trying to break back into music is a trope that's becoming kinda common recently, but this felt different to other ones I've read with similar themes. I really liked Sam and Mackenzie's dynamic together, and they genuinely seem like they would actually end up together. I also think them finding each other as adults rather than when they first knew each other makes a lot of sense based on everything that's told about both of them during that time.

I do think the transition from them being just friends to a relationship was kinda sudden. It almost seemed like I missed a chapter where they made the jump from "we're just friends and ignoring the really obvious spark" to "we're making out casually now", but otherwise the pacing felt really good. This also addressed some of the issues that exist in the music industry, which I thought was a good addition to book that centers around it so heavily.

The narrators for this were AMAZING. Highly highly recommend the audiobook simply for them alone - they made this already enjoyable story feel even more enjoyable.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

4.25!!!

I loved this book! It was so cute and refreshing and hooked me right from the beginning. I love the take on the “post-rockstar” life and them coming to terms with still loving music in a new and different way. It was re freshens to see the female friendships remain strong, even through issues, and have that be their own emphasis in the book besides the romance. And the romance—I loved Sam and Mack. They were so sweet together and the banter!!!! Although I do have to say Ben is my favourite!

Definitely need to read more from Emma Lord ASAP!!!

For the record: I absolutely loved it! Thanks to St. Martins and Mac Audio for the gifted copies!

4.5 stars

Sometimes the books you love most are the hardest to review, but I’m gonna try because you should definitely read For the Record. Starting with the tropes:

💜 rivals to lovers
💜 music industry romance (so hot right now)
💜 forced proximity
💜 single dad
💜 dual pov

Woven seamlessly into the story are strong statements about artists’ rights to ownership of their work and what it really means to be a good father. It sounds like a lot to tackle but Emma executes it flawlessly.

The friendships, the romance, the dialogue, and the setting all just *clicked* for me. I was completely pulled in, and more than little sad when it ended. Definitely one of my favorites of the year and one I know I’ll reread time and again!

🎧: The dual POVs are narrated by Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky. Both performances are solid, bringing the right energy to let the story itself shine. Eyes or ears are both great here — can’t go wrong!

3.5/5 Stars

For The Record was a fun, easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Sam and Mackenzie were adorable and I couldn’t help but root for them. I liked the behind the scenes look into the music industry as well as the premise of the Sam and Mackenzie reuniting to write an album together based on their history. The concept of them revisiting their old haunts was such a creative way to structure the story.

I will say that I found it to be a little slow in the beginning. It took about 1/4 of the book until I really got into the story, but after that, I was hooked. The emotional elements between Mackenzie and Serena as well as between Sam and his dad had me feeling all the feels! There was a lot going on in this book, but I felt that it only enhanced the overall story instead of detracting from it. It just showed how messy and complicated life can really be.

For The Record is definitely a book I would recommend if you’re in the market for a romance about music, chosen family, and the importance of persevering in life and in love.

Biggest thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me this eGalley in exchange for an honest review! ❤️

This story had great banter, I loved the characters and their relationship. My only issue was the backstory, it confused me so i mostly ignored it.

This was such a cute read!! This had such a great blend of emotion and story twists, and it was just a really fun time! I loved Mackenzie's drive to heal and find herself amid all of the changes that hit her life all at once! It was just so great to see her confidence re-bloom as she got to know Sam and they go to write and connect so deeply! And Sam was just a really sweet MMC and I loved how he found the balance with his career and his family in such a perfect way! And I loved how he was so steadily supportive of Mackenzie and her needs! And the side characters were so much fun, and I loved how they were woven into the story so perfectly! These two were just so sweet to watch come together and I loved how they were able to unravel their past and find the future they wanted together! This book had a great story line blended in with such wonderful heart! 4.5 stars; 3 chili peppers

Tropes:
- Celebrity Romance
- Hate to Love
- Forced Proximity
- Slow Burn
- Second Chance Romance
- No Third Act Breakup

This is my favorite Emma Lord book to date!!

What I loved about the book:
1. I loved that when Sam found out he was a dad (several years after his son was born), he did everything he could to be with his son, Ben. He had such a lousy hand in the dad department, that he definitely stepped up and was a fantastic dad even without having a role model in that area. I loved how he was still best friends with Ben’s mom, Lizzy and her wife Kara, even having an adjoining apartment that had a “moms’ side” and “dad’s side”. I loved that in an area there could have been so much drama, there wasn’t. It allowed Ben to truly shine as the fun and unique six-year-old who he was. Speaking of which, I loved how Ben was a big fan of Mackenzie’s band, as that was just a little bit of extra salt on the feud wound for Sam 🤣

2. I loved the Hashimoto’s rep in our FMC. I had never heard of this before, and I’m so glad I was able to learn about it and have light shed on it for more people to learn about with me.

I also loved that Mackenzie was so worried about her singing voice after her throat surgery that she didn’t want to sing anymore as herself, BUT SHE STILL WANTED TO SING! Hence creating her secret identity, Seven. Nothing was stopping our girl from singing!! I loved what Seven was built on and I loved how that seventh song changed with time (IYKYK). Furthermore, I loved how Mackenzie ultimately became comfortable owning up to being Seven AND WHY! DAMN THE MAN!!

3. I loved these two together so much. Their back and forth was fantastic, but Sam also trying to prove he could be the man she needed now was fantastic to watch. This man rearranged all her old songs so she could sing them in her new vocal range!!! That’s book boyfriend energy to the max!!!

4. I loved the added fun fact that their separate managers were twin sisters who were quirky but knew their stuff! It made the connection and the communication between their groups make sense to a whole other level, and it really made their “rivalry” work from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP, and Emma Lord for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions above are honest and my own.

For me, Emma Lord’s work is an immediate buy, and she might have just written my favorite story. For the Record is an irresistible, high-energy rom-com that blends rivalry, redemption, and rock 'n' roll into a story that’s as heartfelt as it is electrifying. If you're a fan of Emily Henry’s emotional depth or the behind-the-scenes drama of Daisy Jones and the Six, this book is your next obsession.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were once music’s most talked-about rivals — pop vs. punk, stage battles, and off-stage sparks. Their chemistry was undeniable, until it all came crashing down. Now, two years later, life has humbled them both in deeply personal ways: Mackenzie is hiding behind a pseudonym after surgery altered her voice, and Sam is navigating single fatherhood, having stepped away from the spotlight entirely. But fate (and the music industry) has other plans — a joint comeback album neither of them can afford to say no to.

What follows is a beautifully messy reunion filled with crackling tension, emotional growth, and just the right amount of rockstar drama. Lord writes with a warmth and authenticity that makes every interaction between Mackenzie and Sam feel raw, real, and impossible to look away from. Their banter is electric, their history palpable, and their chemistry? Off the charts.

Beyond the romance, this book is a love letter to second chances — in careers, relationships, and self-acceptance. It's a reminder that the best harmonies come when we stop competing and start listening.

Funny, emotional, and completely unputdownable, this book is a standing ovation in novel form. I laughed, I cried, and I immediately wanted to reread it to fall in love with these characters all over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review!

My First Emma Lord Book—And I Loved It!

For the Record is a charming romantic comedy that follows two former lead singers from rival bands who are unexpectedly reunited to collaborate—two years after their music careers hit a standstill. Mackenzie, once the frontwoman of a pop girl group, is grappling with the aftermath of thyroid surgery that changed her voice and shook her confidence. Sam, a punk heartthrob, has stepped back from the spotlight to focus on raising his young son. Both characters are incredibly talented, yet they struggle with the weight of their shared past and the pressure of their individual insecurities. As they work together, sparks inevitably fly, setting the stage for a heartfelt and swoon-worthy love story.

The pacing of the book was spot-on, and the last 25% completely hooked me—I couldn’t put it down! What I appreciated most is that this isn’t just a romance; it’s also a meaningful story about friendship, family, and finding your voice again. This was my first read from Emma Lord, but it definitely won’t be my last. If you’re a fan of rom-coms with just a hint of spice, I would recommend For the Record!

This was sweet and lovely. A bit more drama than necessary but, in the end, a true love story and I liked how it ended. It was fun, too. I loved both Mackenzie and Sam and wanted them together so, so much. I could definitely see this as a movie and would enjoy that immensely. Give this a try!

For the Record comes out next week on August 12, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

If you think your love life is a disaster, I'm here to make you feel a whole lot better about yourself. Mine wasn't just a disaster, but an international one. As in, anyone on the planet with an internet connection can read up about me and the parade of cliché bad boys, cheating nepo babies, and textbook narcissists I dated while I was touring the world with Thunder Hearts in my early twenties.
Tonight was supposed to be the night I turned the story around. I was already crafting the imaginary headline as I made my way to the bar: MACKENZIE WATERS ON FIRST DATE WITH NICE, SECURE, 401(K)-OWNING MAN WHO TEXTS BACK IN A TIMELY MANNER! I was the kind of proud that bordered on smug.
And now I'm propped up on a magenta barstool in the middle of happy hour at Lightning Strike, panic sweating through my pink satin tank top, and shouting, "Can I borrow literally anybody's phone?"