For me this was just ok. I didn’t really like the musical side of things in this book. It’s not that it wasn’t good but it wasn’t my favourite. I’ve since stayed away from books that have characters who are musicians because that’s my preference.

I really enjoyed this book! The pacing was great and I loved the dual POV style it was written in. I did find the band names and Tick Tune to be a little cringey, but I get what the author was going for.

I would definitely recommend this book and more than likely will buy a physical copy for myself!

Enemies to Lovers but make it between a pop superstar and a punk bad boy rockstar. Although for that to be true, Sam, the bad boy probably shouldn’t admit to being hooked since the moment he saw Mackenzie. However, what starts off as a rivalry for publicity and full of tension, now needs to evolve to friends that write music as a duo.
Was it cute? yeah. I would just say I wasn’t hooked. I wasn’t bored either. I just think all the surrounding stories and the baggage of the two main characters get dumpster dumped the very beginning of the book. I thought that Sam’s baggage was acceptable. Mack’s on the other hand was to much between the career, voice, dating, ect. Also her whole argument with Serena seemed pointless.

thank you netgalley for the arc !!!!

this book was sooo fun ! it was giving daisy jones and the six vibes but dual pov and more rom commy/second chance

i do fear im in a SLUMP tho bc while this book was a cute, fun and fast read. i feel like it didn’t stick out to me.

i think the idea of the mackenzie writing and releasing songs through this persona of “seven” was so interesting to read about bc it leads up to the anticipation of the final song written about sam the mmc

while i understand this is a second chance romance sort of playing off the daisy jones vibes, i just felt like the story fell flat for me. there was so much going on and so much leading up to this seventh song and the fall out of the band and sam and mackenzie falling in love etc etc etc

but again i feel like i was waiting for it to pick up the pace and it didn’t.

3 stars bc im in a SLUMP ACKDYDHXHSHSDH

it was a cute rivals to lovers, second chance romance with some pop punk feels. the banter was lacking imo (compared to what I was expecting) but it was a nice read!

if you like musically-relevant romance reads then this may work for you!

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read/listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoy Lord's writing and her stories. I love that she can write adult and young adult. Her stories are always authentic and make me feel good. I was excited to jump into this one.
When I saw the audio was Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky were the narrators for this story, I was super excited. Jesse narrates most if not all of Lord's young adults books as well and Lynn Painter's young adult books. And I adore Eiden. And, while I really loved his voice for Sam, the MMC, I wasn't thrilled with Jesse for the FMC, Mackenzie. I just felt her voice was a bit too young for the age of the character. I'm not sure if it's because I know her to voice younger characters or if it just didn't fit for me, but it detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
Despite me not loving Jesse's voice for the FMC, I really connected with Mackenzie. She was very relatable and well developed. Her background and back story of her relationship with Sam really impacted how she went into her future. But Sam, he was so sweet. And you can see he's come into himself having become a dad and realizing he needed to change his bad boys ways.
The second chance romance of this book was top notch. I loved the build in the chemistry between Sam and Mack. But also, their past heavily influenced them as a couple. Both working on trying to believe they were worthy of one another. Both finding they had similar feelings that neither of them wanted to act on or couldn't act on due to their contracts with the recording company.
There's a bit of spice in this book but not much. It was more the slow burn that endeared me to the characters. Plus the side characters were fun.
The pacing was well done with lots of scenes building to reach the tipping point; side stories that gave insight into the relationships between all the characters. I liked that there was no real third act break up.
Overall it was a fun read but definitely not my favorite by this author. While I loved the music industry side of the story, I felt it was lacking in romance in many parts. There was just something in the execution that didn't sit right with me and thus lowered my rating. I won't rule out reading this author in the future and I'm hoping I'll like whatever she brings to the table next more than this one.

did not expect to start and finish this book in one day, but I was completely hooked from the first page.

I didn’t expect to love every single character, but Emma... you made each one feel so real and lovable. The tension between Mackenzie and Sam practically jumped off the page, and their slow burn romance was pure perfection. I loved how the story balanced the music world with the very personal struggles both characters were facing. Their chemistry, growth, and the nostalgia of their shared past made this story... ugh just so sweet.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's press for my ebook arc!

For the Record is an angsty Rockstar Romance between former rivals/writing partners Mackeznie Waters and Sam Blaze. We get their history in little snippets throughout the book. Sometimes it’s a little hard to follow, and maybe a dual timeline would’ve worked better. They were both members of rival bands that toured together. After that tour ended, they did not keep in touch. Fast forward 2 years later, they are tasked to create an album together to revitalize their respective careers. There were times the conflict felt forced, but I went with it. I also felt at times that Sabrina (Mackenzie’s bandmate, she is at odds) had more main character energy than Mackenzie. Mackenzie is the more likable character, so it still works. Sam is a softie with a rockstar personality, which helps entertain us.

Jesse Vilinsky does an amazing job bringing Mackenzie to life through her narration. I love her narration in Better Than the Movies and appreciate it even more in this book. Andrew Eiden sounds so much like Teddy Hamilton in this book, because newsflash (for me), he is Teddy Hamilton. He makes the whole experience as Sam so much more enjoyable. If you have the option, definitely listen to the audiobook version of this book. The only thing that would make it better is music!

This is the 3rd Emma Lord book I’ve read (the others being The Break Up Pact & The Rivals). I enjoyed this one the most out of the 3.

Thank you, MacMillion Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced ALC/ARC of this book.

Are you kidding me?! It took a second to get into, but once I did, forget about it. This whole ride was a DREAM and I loved every second. Legitimately had me crying in the passenger seat of my car (my husband, god love him, wholly unconcerned) for what has to be one of the most heartwrenching endings of an Emma Lord story ever.

This was a fun, second-chance rockstar romance - they’re both musicians, they go on a road trip, Samnis a single dad (and is still friendly with his bm) and there’s a lot of drama between the women friend group. (some of that annoyed me, but it was still entertaining)
Narration was great! I liked both narrators.
In between 3.75-4 ⭐️’s
Thank you St Martin’s Griffen for the ebook arc. All opinions are my own.

A short and sweet book that a lot of romance readers will like. For me, it felt very cookie cutter in terms of writing and nothing something I loved and adored. I wanted to like this was more than I did, but I feel like this was a little too pop culture-y for me.

There are definitely people out there who'll love this book, that's just not me.


Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an earc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mackenzie Waters is a former girl band member trying to put her past behind her. She’s got a new voice and a new alias called ‘Seven’ to sing behind. It was time for her to get her heartbreaks behind her and this seemed to be the way. Her former musical rival and tourmate, Sam Blaze comes back into her life in a, well, ‘blaze’ of glory.

Sam’s time out of the spotlight changed him, just like it did to Mackenzie. Now their agents are trying to get them to team up to set the pop world on fire, but will their storied past get in the way?

This was a cute novel, but a bit of a convoluted premise. Probably because I don’t know the music industry, like, at all. I felt like the point of the app ‘tock tune’ wasn’t fleshed out enough for it to be a central plotline in the book. I feel the same way about this one that I did the previous Emma Lord novel I read - I liked it but didn’t love it.

This is exactly the kind of romance I love! It has celebrities, second chance romance, and amazing tension. The characters are all multifaceted, even the supporting characters. I loved that the author was able to balance so many side stories with the romance- it makes it so much more realistic.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC. Opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I just never quite connected with this book. I’m not sure if it’s my age or what. We were introduced to too many characters right off the bat and I also felt as if I missed background information. We jump right in and I felt like I missed several chapters or something. I was a bit lost and so I think it contributed to me not connecting with the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Tropes:

-Rockstars (both)
-Enemies to lovers
-Second Chance

I was enthralled by this book immediately! I really enjoy the authors writing style. The banter between our two main characters, Mack and Sam, was hilarious. Literally laugh out loud funny at many points.
I love when enemies are forced to work together and end up falling for eachother. Also, Sam is such a cinnamon roll 😍😍😍
Very entertaining and I highly recommend!!!

2.5🌟
I would like to start out by saying thank you to NetGalley and publishers for giving me the honor of reading.
These are my opinions and mine alone.
I believe that the author was trying to give the characters their own lives and deep personalities throughout the storyline. But, personally I felt as though it was a little flat. Only because I find the main character development is from them talking about the past and not the present. For me, this just wasn’t the best read. Although, for others this could be amazing!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC. Unfortunately I could not get into this book. This is the second Emma Lord book in the last few months that has really let me down but I really loved The Match by her. Maybe my reading tastes have just changed since I read that one. A few things led to my DNF. The characters were insufferable to me. The Mackenzie Waters was clearly supposed to be a Taylor Swift clone. Samuel Blaze was obsessed with her and why? I’m not sure. There was no chemistry. No connection. I found it strange to be reading about adults who interacted the way Mackenzie and Serena did. It was so immature. And the one thing that usually turns me off from books immediately is pop culture references of which this book has a TON. This was not the book for me.

This book was my very first introduction to Emma Lord’s writing—and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. There’s something about the way she tells stories that makes me want to pick up more of her books, even though this one didn’t completely hit the mark for me.

For the Record follows the story of two famous figures in the music world: Mackenzie, the pop princess, and Sam, the punk rockstar. They’ve long been positioned as rivals—two artists from different genres with a complicated past and a shared history the public can't get enough of. For years, the media and their fans have loved to pit them against each other. But when everything in their careers takes a turn for the worse and starts falling apart, the unthinkable happens.

After two years away from the spotlight, both Mack and Sam are desperate for a comeback. And the only way to do that? Create a new album—together. It’s a wild idea, honestly. Who would’ve thought two enemies would be forced to collaborate on something as intimate and personal as music? Working with someone you’ve had a public rivalry with isn’t exactly ideal. But with their careers hanging by a thread, they have no choice but to put their past behind them and figure out how to make it work. What unfolds from there is a chaotic, emotional, and sometimes unpredictable journey as both characters confront unresolved feelings, buried truths, and a connection that refuses to stay in the past.

As old sparks begin to fly and secrets that were never meant to surface slowly come to light, they set off a chain reaction of events that neither Mack nor Sam could have anticipated. The more time they spend together, the more they realize that perhaps the best songs—and the best chapters of their lives—are the ones they haven’t written yet.

When it comes to how I feel about this book, I’m honestly a little torn. It falls somewhere in the middle—not amazing, but definitely not bad either. I still plan to read more of Emma Lord’s work because I see a lot of potential in her storytelling. However, I can’t deny that this particular book didn’t quite meet my expectations. From the start, it felt a bit slow and underwhelming. The tension that was promised in the synopsis—that electric rivalry and chemistry—wasn’t something I felt right away. It was hard to believe in their supposed friction when it wasn’t being shown in a way that made me feel it. Their dynamic didn’t draw me in initially, and it even made me question why fans from both sides were so obsessed with them.

As the story progressed and their relationship evolved, I expected more emotional intensity. I wanted to feel their struggles and breakthroughs, but it often felt like I was searching for those moments rather than being naturally pulled into them. It lacked the kind of emotional pull that would’ve made the story more memorable for me—and that’s something I think could have been developed further.

That said, the overall storyline had a lot of strong points. I actually really enjoyed the premise. I don’t usually read books that center around celebrity characters or people in the spotlight, mainly because they can feel repetitive or fall into cliché territory. But in this case, I appreciated that For the Record avoided most of those traps. While it didn’t start with a bang, it slowly gained momentum, and eventually, I found myself more invested in where the story was going.

Beyond the romance, what really stood out to me was the book’s take on found family. That theme was beautifully explored. Mackenzie’s relationships with Hannah and Serena felt authentic, deep, and unshakable. There was a warmth in their interactions that made me root for them. Their connection added a layer of heart to the book that balanced out the slower emotional development in the romance.

Another highlight for me was the FMC’s personal journey. Her growth over the course of the story—learning not just to live with change, but to embrace it and make peace with who she’s becoming—was written in such a relatable way. Watching her come into her own, on her own terms, added a thoughtful and empowering element to the story that I really appreciated. It made me care more about her character and kept me engaged through the latter half of the book.

In the end, while For the Record may not have completely lived up to my expectations, it offered moments of insight, warmth, and growth that I did enjoy. It wasn’t perfect, but it had something meaningful to say—and that’s enough for me to keep reading more from Emma Lord.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I’m a longtime fan of Emma Lord—both her YA novels and her adult romance debut—because she has a knack for exploring deeper themes without ever letting things get too heavy.

This book leans more toward her YA work in tone, and reads a little young for an adult contemporary romance—though that youthful energy isn’t entirely a bad thing. Musician romances can get cheesy fast; For the Record doesn’t avoid that entirely, but leans right into the over-the-top moments with band names like Thunder Hearts and Candy Shard, a fashion show in a bar, and some truly corny lyrics. But somehow, it works. The story stays fun and upbeat, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it.

At its heart, this is a second-chance romance for something that never quite happened. Mac and Sam’s enemies-to-lovers image was a publicity stunt, but behind the scenes, their relationship was beginning to shift—until life pulled them apart.

Two years later, both are trying to relaunch their solo careers. Their managers push them to record and perform as a duo, banking on their old rivalry to bring in listeners. Thrown back into each other’s orbit, their chemistry returns with full force—sharp banter, unresolved tension, and just enough tenderness to hint at what might have been. Both have grown—Mac after a health scare, and Sam after finding out he’s a dad—but Mac is keeping a secret that could derail their renewed connection.

If you’ve liked Emma Lord’s previous work—or if you enjoy romances that balance emotional depth with a light, playful tone—you’ll probably enjoy this one too.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you like banter, this is the book for you. I’m usually not a huge fan of romances between two celebrities but this one just worked for me. I loved the exploration of fame and family as well as the delicate balance between them. I also found the romance so compelling and all of the characters yers super layered. While I respect the end, the main conflict seemed like it could have been more easily dealt with by the characters so that the ending could have seemed less abrupt. All in all, this was a really enjoyable romance that is definitely worth picking up!