For the Record by Emma Lord absolutely stole my heart! As a huge music fan, this book hit all the right notes. I was completely hooked from the start and devoured it in a single sitting — it’s easily one of my favorite reads of the month.

Sam and Mackenzie’s story was perfection — from their rivalry, to the tension, to the incredible comeback, every beat was written so well. Emma Lord created such lovable, layered characters that you can’t help but root for. And as someone who just witnessed the Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers reunion (!!!), the music-world drama in this book felt even more electric.

If I had one tiny wish, it would be for more flashback scenes. Some of the big moments from their past are told rather than shown, and I would’ve loved to feel those memories unfold on the page. But honestly, that’s just me being greedy because I didn’t want it to end.

Fast-paced, heartfelt, and brimming with passion, For the Record is the kind of book you’ll want to binge — and then immediately talk about with every fellow music lover you know.

I adore Emma Lord’s writing—her voice is always sharp, funny, and full of heart—and while For the Record wasn’t exactly my favorite trope combo, I still had such a good time with it. The rivalry-to-romance between Mackenzie and Sam is fiery, complicated, and full of messy history. I loved how their shared passion for music bleeds into every scene, giving the story that raw, Daisy Jones-style energy.

Sam’s quieter, more grounded life as a dad added a sweet and unexpected layer, and Mackenzie’s struggles with her voice and identity brought real depth. Watching them navigate old wounds while trying to rebuild something new—both musically and romantically—was compelling, even if I didn’t always love the tropes at play.

Emma’s talent for blending humor, vulnerability, and big emotional payoffs shines here, and even when the story wasn’t perfectly in my wheelhouse, I was hooked by her sparkling writing.

3.5/4ish

I’ve read some of Emma Lord’s books before, so I knew I would like this book, but I didn’t expect how much the emotional aspects would hit me. Mack and Sam are both such interesting, fleshed out characters. I loved them separately, but even more together - whether they were bickering or bantering or trying not to admit they were falling for each other. I don’t always love celebrity romances, but maybe because they were both musical superstars, it worked so well here. Even the glimpses of the industry and conversations with their agents were so good at moving the plot forward.

Sam’s son Ben is literally the most interesting, weirdest, coolest kid character I’ve read in a book in ages. And that bodes well for how great all the side characters are. They’re diverse and intriguing and add so much to the story.

My one complaint was that I thought Mack’s issues with her friend Serena wrapped up a little quickly at the end of the book. Serena was the one character I couldn’t always wrap my head around, though, so maybe that’s why that resolution felt odd to me. But overall, this is such a good book.

I haven't read that many music related books in the last few years, so I was really curious to see where this book would take me. I mean, we get second chance romance between a pop princess and punk rockstar? 

I have to say, I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but I honestly ended devouring it. I think the mix of the tension between Mack and Sam, as well as the external conflict made it interesting enough that I could easily read it in one sitting. It was interesting to get both Mack and Sam's POV, and to see what lead to them going from what was meant to be a fake rivalry to something more real and with more depth. I liked that it wasn't just petty reasons that led to them not talking, but it did feel like some of the external conflicts weren't dived into as much as I would have liked, or seems to be fixed really quickly.

Still, it was cute second chance romance between Mack and Sam, and I had a great time reading it. I had a fun time reading it and, and I'm probably going to look into getting my hands on Emma Lord's previous book, since this was my first read from her. Overall, it was worth a read for me, and if you are looking for a quick contemporary romance with a 'music industry' ish background, you might enjoy it as well.

I have read several Emma Lord books and when I read the description for this one, I was intrigued by the music industry storyline.

This story, told from dual POVs, follows Mackenzie and Sam who are rivals from two different bands as they team up as a duo to revamp their careers. 2 years prior they went there separate ways and haven’t spoken since and now are forced to face the secrets that lay between them.

I admit I struggled with this book at first. I felt the story just started and didn’t provide any context or background building to help connect with the characters and I even considered not finishing the story at one point. I am glad I continued to read on because around 60% of the way through, the story really started to pick up and I absolutely fell in love with the characters by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.25⭐️

I didn’t have high expectations, but I loved this book! It was the perfect enemies-to-lovers romance mixed with themes of friendship and family mixed with information about the music industry. I truly enjoyed both the male and female main characters and learning about their pasts and presents. There were similarities and differences, but they all weaved together in the best way! I will definitely check out other books by Emma Lord in the future!

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the advanced copy!

Sometimes you just want a good, romantic will they won’t they, and For the Record delivers exactly that. This contemporary romance beautifully blends second chance romance with just the right amount of enemies to lovers tension.

The characters feel authentic and layered, each facing big, life changing moments when they find their way back to each other. It’s one of those stories that proves the whole “right person, wrong time” idea can feel very real. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and you can’t help but root for them the whole way through.

I especially loved that the characters were a bit older. It added a level of maturity and realism that made their journey feel even more grounded. And yes, it gave me all the Taylor Swift vibes in the best way.

This is the kind of story that makes for a perfect summer read…sweet, swoony, and sure to leave you smiling.

Emma Lord you’ve got a new fan in me! I normally find books about pop stars or bands extremely cringe. They never seem to not make me roll my eyes or just find the lead characters exhausting. But For The Record had two main characters I actually enjoyed. Their backstory was captivating and I found myself not wanting to put this one down. Mackenzie and Sam were two great characters with off the chart chemistry! 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was real cute, a little too cutesy for my taste but to each their own. It seemed to try to want to fit in as many tropes as it could and it leaned a little too heavy on the cheese and trying to hit some emotions without actually taking us to the emotions?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze bands toured together back in the day. The tension between Mackenzie and Sam grew until one day they went their separate ways. A few years later, they finally meet again and their managers convince them to create an album together. Can they put their feud behind them to create this album?

This was so cute and probably my favorite Emma Lord book to date! I loved how Mackenzie and Sam's story started and ended!

Mackenzie Waters was once a part of the hottest girl group going. Thunder Hearts took the music world by storm when they toured with punk band Candy Shard. But that was two years ago. And while Mack is still friends with bandmates Hannah and Serena, she’s had secrets since they toured together. After the band broke up, Hannah created an empire of beautiful clothing designs, cookware, cookbooks, and a bar called Lightning Strike. Serena started a successful solo career. And Mack, well, Mack has been spending time online.

Specifically, Mack has been putting some new music up on Tick Tune, a music app where artists can upload music anonymously, to try to get some buzz before they try to get a music deal. Tick Tune has some quirks, like a user can only stream a song once in 24 hours. The hottest star on Tick Tune is Seven, whose addictive songs bring a flurry of fans each time one drops. But no one knows who she is. Except Mack, who is trying to start a new career with a new voice. And she has written seven new songs for this project, one for each of her broken but remarkably well-publicized relationships. And she’s saving her last song for the guy who devastated her.

Samuel Blaze was the lead singer of Candy Shards, and his time on tour with Thunder Hearts was abruptly ended when he learned about the existence of a son he didn’t know he had. Now he’s a happy father, sharing custody of Ben, and thinking about giving a solo career a shot. There’s just one problem. The label doesn’t want just him. The label wants Sam to write and perform duets with Mack, after their one hit, “Play You by Heart” was a monster summer hit. As the tour was ending, the two of them had great chemistry as artists, and there was something stirring personally as well. But then Sam had learned about Ben, and his life completely changed.

Sam and Mack both want to jumpstart solo careers, and if the duets are the only way to sell it to the label, they are reluctantly willing to give it a try. But as they revisit old haunts and write new songs together, they find themselves dropping their guards. Feelings develop. Intimacy grows. But still, the past looms large. Will they be able to put aside the heartbreaks of the past and make new music together?

For the Record is a sweet romance between talented musicians that is smart, steamy, and pure entertainment. I have been a fan of Emma Lord since her first book, and she always writes strong characters, witty dialogue, and sweet treats, although this novel’s Doritos muffins were new. The challenges her characters face feel real and weighted, and the sparks are genuine. Her books are a joy to read.

For For the Record, I listened to the audio book, narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Andrew Eiden. Both narrators bring the characters to life with intelligence and perfectly timed snark. I had so much fin with these narrators. I felt like I was watching this story as a movie instead of just listening to a book. Anyone looking for a strong music love story with compelling characters can lose themselves in For the Record and leave happy. Just like I did.

Egalleys for For the Record were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin, and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

Okay, let me gush about this cute book!!

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are two amazing musicians who used to be at each other’s throats in the spotlight, but you could always feel there was something deeper simmering beneath the surface. Now Mackenzie is facing a huge vocal change that’s turned her career upside down, while Sam has swapped his wild rockstar life for fatherhood (which honestly melted my heart).

The best part? Their record labels basically force them to make an album together. Cue the awkwardness! Watching them battle their old grudges while trying to create music together felt like watching fireworks—fiery, chaotic, and completely mesmerizing. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and Emma Lord’s descriptions of the creative process had me hooked.

I also loved getting both perspectives—it gave so much insight into the public vs. private sides of these characters. At times, the tone felt a little on the young side for an adult romance, and there were a few slower stretches in the middle, but the heartfelt epilogue, the dynamic side characters, and the emotional depth made it so worthwhile. Emma Lord’s writing is beautiful, emotional, and raw—For the Record is heartfelt, enchanting, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once. Musical romances are one of my favorite tropes, and this one hit every note. The cover alone is gorgeous—bright, bold, and totally swoon-worthy—but the story inside is even better.

I laughed, I cried, I smiled, and I cheered for these characters. This book is truly for every music junkie who can’t imagine life without songs to carry them through. Emma Lord has never once disappointed me, and I’ll happily read anything she writes.

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the sheer joy and heart it left me with.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Sam Blaze and Mackenzie Waters were musical stars and even toured together. He with his punk band and she with her pop group. But for the last two years Sam has taken a break from music when he learned he had a four year old son. Mackenzie also took a break as she needed surgery on her vocal cords that had changed her voice. They both are ready to get back out there writing and performing music, but the labels are hesitant to back them. Until they agree to collaborate, and write and perform songs together.

At the heart of the story is the old rivalry and romance. The pair seem more like friends than a pair who are longing to be together. Their initial attraction and provoking each other is part of the past. But they are likable. There are a lot of side plots going on with a streaming service, managers, old bandmates and who is mystery singer Seven. Some of it is important and some I didn’t really care about.

I like Emma Lord’s books, especially her YA novels. I think for me this was fine but I am not a big music person. It is more open door than I remember her writing before and I liked that. If you like celebrity or music romances you’ll enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC opportunity! This was a cute read, my first by Emma Lord. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the characters and the story was very easy to follow. I love a good second chance romance AND dual POV. Great vibes all throughout, I couldn’t put it down!

DNF--I adore Emma Lord's YA romances, but this and The Break-up Pact are making it clear to me that I'm not into her adult work. The tone doesn't fit for people who are presumably in their late 20s/early 30s, and the MMC's voice in his chapters also didn't feel very authentic to me. It's hard for me to read a dual-POV novel I actually like, and this unfortunately wasn't one of them.

For the Record was my first adult romance by Emma Lord and it was a cute one! This book features Mackenzie and Sam who are dealing with life changes and taking a break in their singing careers. As they look to get their careers going again, they must work together on a joint album. I enjoyed the music, singing, labels and the recording backdrop of this book and liked both of the main characters. I did find that the story was a little slow for me in the middle as I was waiting for a few secrets to be let out, but I enjoyed how the story wrapped up.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 3.5 to 4 stars. If you are looking for a dual POV celebrity romances (pop princess x punk-rock star) that centers around rivalry and redemption with the second chance romance and single parent tropes, check out For the Record! Begin Again still remains as my favourite by the author and I am looking forward to reading more of her work as I enjoy Lord's style.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute (and spicy) read. I enjoyed the love story between Mack and Sam. I appreciated the depth of the friendship between Mack and her bandmates. Sam's story was interesting, and I felt like Emma Lord did a great job giving everyone character depth. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy of this book!

Emma Lord’s books are always auto-reaches for me when I see them on the shelf, and For the Record was no different. While this seemed to be geared towards younger audiences, it is impossible to pass up a rivals to lovers trope. This is a great summer read or a chance to unplug - definitely will recommend to others.

Can two famous rivals learn how to work together? Two years after their rivalry launched them into superstardom and their two bands suddenly fell apart they are thrown back together. Mackenzie and Sam are doing it on their terms this time. Sam has a son he didn't know about and Mackenzie had a thyroid surgery that changed her voice. Can they give up their rivalry and work together even as sparks fly in their attraction for each other? Are their greatest hits yet to come? Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this interesting rom com.

I want to thank st. Martins press for sending me a copy of this one! Unfortunately, I don't think it was meant for me. It is definitely cute & would be perfect for a younger crowd I just could not engage with these characters and for me, it was just a touch too cheesy for my liking.

This is definitely a great read for someone, but it missed the mark for me.