📚ARC Review 📚

For the Record ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have read several of Emma Lord’s YA books and I liked them so I was excited to try her adult version of romance books. However, this one fell a little flat for me. I couldn’t really connect with the characters and storyline didn’t really flow smoothly with the beginning and then the reconnection with the characters and their relationship. It was a little to insta love for me. I also couldn’t get over the name of the app, TikTune, and how it was always mentioned. Something about it felt cringe to me and that was very distracting. I also felt like there were too many characters/ storylines to keep track of and none were really talked about in depth to really get a feel of what happened. I did like the concept of the book though. I read a mix of the e-arc and listened to the audio. I thought the narrators fit Mack and Sam’s characters well and I enjoyed that it was a dual POV. Overall, it wasn’t bad but it just wasn’t for me.


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced readers copy and to Macmillan audio for the audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I love a good enemies to lovers and this one was decent. I thought the dueling bands motif was a nice element and I liked the depth that the characters had. I was a little bored at times, and everything wrapped up pretty quickly without too much conflict but overall the book was an easy read.

What to expect:
- rockstar romance: pop princess x punk rockstar
- single dad
- second chance (in and out of the music realm)
- amazing chemistry and tension!
- flashbacks to their past rival storyline
- found family vibes (love the strong female friendships)
- a touch of self-discovery

3.5⭐️ This was a cute read! It was my first venture into Emma Lord’s more adult romances, I have read several of her YA novels. Good characters, good character growth, and plenty of romance, but easy enough to skip spice.

Mackenzie and Sam, who were music and band rivals a few years back, dipped their toes into the possibility of being together, but the timing wasn’t right. They’re back together trying to make a comeback in their careers as they try to make an album together—will their love make a comeback, too?

The first half of the book was honestly slower for me than I would like, but once I hit the second half (or really once I hit Part Three) the story went much smoother! Regardless, I always love reading a second chance romance story and having them both be singer/songwriter/musicians was such a fun angle and I liked the music and lyrics spread throughout. It was a creative way to show how to relationship was growing and their feelings were changing.

-Recommended for fans of second chance romance and music lovers!

*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early ARC!*

3.5 stars rounded up.

Emma Lord is a YA author who recently started writing adult romance. For The Record reads like a spicy YA novel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn't my favorite. Despite this, Lord does a good job writing female and male protagonists with more depth than the typical romance, and this book was no exception, which is why I decided to round up.

Recommended particularly for those who enjoy:
*Famous characters
*Enemies to lovers
*His and her POVs
*Second chance romance
*Books about musicians

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun read!
I liked the different plots. I like the banter. I liked the side characters.
I don't feel that the story drug on, it consistently gave a new place or event to follow.

This is my first "adult" book by Emma Lord. I loved her YA book The Rival, but this one didn't quite catch me in the same way.

I really liked the first half of the book, where we meet Mackenzie and Sam. They toured together in their separate bands and loved to tease the audience with their will-they-won't-they. But at the time, Mackenzie was looking for a long-term thing and Sam just a fling ... right?

This book has them reconnected two years later, and sparks fly hard. We see both of them struggling to launch new careers. Could they do that together? And maybe finally let their romance happen?

For me, something about the pacing between when they first kiss and are sort of in a relationship felt a little off. I really liked all the characters, but I wanted slower burn.

All in all, a fun romance with a lot of music, and good for those of us who like a little open door but not TOO spicy for our romances.

In For the Record by Emma Lord, former music rivals Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are thrown back together for a high-stakes comeback album. Once on the verge of something more, their connection was cut short by career drama, vocal injury, and Sam stepping away from the spotlight to raise his daughter. Now, Mackenzie performs under a new name and Sam is a full-time single dad. Forced into collaboration by their record label, the two must confront their past, reignite their creative spark, and decide whether they’re ready to make music—and maybe something more—together again.

This was such a cute book! I love second chance romance, because I'm just a hopeless romantic who loves to see the "right love, wrong time" couples eventually get their "right time". Reading about the chemistry between these two characters made me swoon, especially because they were both musicians. As a musician myself, I know the power of writing and listening to sentimental songs and how they can hurt or heal us and the people around us. I loved that each character also showed depth and growth outside of their relationship, with Mackenzie dealing with tension in her friendship with Serena (who annoyed the CRAP out of me btw), and Sam stepping up to raise his son Ben and working on his relationship with his own father.

If you enjoy cute, sentimental romance novels with a little bit of something extra, pick up For the Record when it's released!

I read Tweet Cute a few years ago and absolutely loved it. I'm not such a YA girlie, but the story was so sweet and well-written and the premise was hilarious that I was hooked. So I've been excited to read one of Emma Lord's adult novels for a while.

For the Record is about Mackenzie and Sam, two singer-songwriters whose bands rose to fame around the same time. Mackenzie and Sam played up a rivalry/enemies to lovers vibe that never moved to lovers. But they've both been hung up on each other, especially for the last couple of years that their bands have not been making music together. Because of some record label shenanigans, Mackenzie and Sam are forced to make some new music together. Meanwhile, Mackenzie has been secretly recording songs on an app called TickTune (think TikTok meets Spotify meets Snapchat) as Seven, who is blowing up the Internet anonymously.

The story is told from Mackenzie's and Sam's points of view, with cameos from Mackenzie's (former) band mates and Sam's son and his moms. They work through their feelings about each other, as well as some things on their own -- Mackenzie's new voice post-surgery, Sam's relatively new relationship with his son, Mackenzie trying to figure out how to have a good relationship with her band mates. While Mackenzie and Sam are writing songs together, they rehash their past and figure out why they're so drawn to each other.

I really liked their perspectives. It's clear from the writing that they've both matured and are pretty self-aware and reflective but worried about falling into old patterns. And they just feel so strongly and intensely for each other. As expected, I could have done without the third act break-up, which wasn't really a third act break-up but was Sam actively not listening to Mackenzie. I did really like the TickTune subplot. It was creative and different and an interesting critical look at the music industry and rights to songs.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

This book has a lot of things I like, but it ended up being just okay for me! Not bad but not great.

✌️Dual POV
🎤Musicians
😠Rivalry
🔁Second chance
✍️Forced proximity (forced to write songs together)
🧑‍🧒Single dad
🏙️NYC setting

I thought the Tik Tune app (I think that’s what it was called) kind of took me out of the story but it was a big component of the conflict so I couldn’t ignore it.

I love a couple with history! Second chance is one of my favorite tropes. Seeing Mack and Sam visit old haunts was a super fun component of the book. I just wish I became more invested in their story and felt more tension!

I did a mix of ebook and audio. I thought the narrators fit Mack and Sam’s characters well.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my eARC! For the Record is out 8/12.

3.5/5 stars
For the Record is a lighthearted rivals to lovers, “workplace” romance that focuses on Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze, the former lead singers for a girl pop band and a punk band respectively. The two used to tour together and embarked on a will-they-or-won’t-they publicity stunt. Their bands had a rivalry and the lead singers even more so, but there was a lot more to the rivalry than met the press’s eyes. Two years later, Mack and Sam are each trying to launch solo careers in very different styles than their former bands’ signatures. Coincidentally, their new styles line up quite nicely, and their labels aren’t willing to take risks on them as individuals, but will back them a duo. Forced to work together after not talking for two years, they find out that there were just as many positive feelings as there were negative during their rivalry days, and those feelings didn’t go away with time.

I really enjoyed a lot about For the Record, but I found that there were just too many different storylines that didn’t each get as much time as I felt they needed. The romance certainly got its due, but the plot lines with Sam’s son, Sam’s estranged father, Mack’s estranged parents, Mack’s stilted relationship with former bandmate Serena, and the Tick Tune drama all felt quite rushed and/or unfinished to me. I wish there had been fewer of these side stories accompanying the romance so they could have each been a bit more fleshed out. Particularly the Serena/Mack tension needed a bit more time and explanation, I thought. I also felt like the Tick Tune drama and resolution were very rushed and had very little attention considering how important they were to Mackenzie’s overall story arc. I did really love Sam as a character. A top tier book boyfriend (and an amazing dad), Sam was really the heart of the book.

Overall, I had a lot of fun reading For the Record and really liked it, but wish there had been more in certain aspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This is my first Emma Lord book, and won’t be my last.

I read almost exclusively romantic comedies and romantasy,(nothing dark), and I’ll finish an ok book and give it three stars bc I didn’t hate it. I’m giving this four stars because I enjoyed the romance - it was a tad less cliché than most. There was a lot more depth to the subplot than many have. It gave some Abby Jimenez (but not as funny) and Emily Henry vibes at times in the way that it talked through “real issues” but nothing as intense as Abby’s stuff.

I was pleased with how the third act “break up” (which often happens in rom come) went, less predictable than I expected.

There was one thing that I had a hard time suspending disbelief about, which was how/why a punk band was on the same label as a sparkle pop band??? And they tour together??? The rivals part was a big part they played up but I cannot imagine two bands so different touring together - makes very little sense to me.

For the Record 🎤🎙️🎶🎸
2.5 ⭐️
3🌶️

Thank you so much to SMP for the chance to read and listen to these advanced copies!

This book is like if a Taylor Swift fan and an AO3 writer had a baby, and I think that can say a lot about who would enjoy this book. It’s pretty clear that the FMC has a Taylor Swift vibe, and the MMC was giving Harry Styles at certain points. This entire book reads like fan fiction, except I read better fan fiction in middle school on my Chromebook.

The characters felt very two-dimensional despite their personal struggles and character development arcs, and I didn’t really feel a connection to either. I felt like they didn’t really work together, and that there wasn’t really any real chemistry between their characters. The spice in this book felt performative in the sense that it needed to be “added to be an adult romance” versus just following a natural relationship progression.

I really liked the premise of this book, and it is what initially drew me in. I saw it being compared to Daisy Jones & The Six, and that it was “for fans of Emily Henry” but it fell completely flat up against those skyscraper level of expectations. I am a fan of Emma Lord’s previous works, and For the Record won’t keep me from continuing to read her books, but it definitely is at the bottom of my list when it comes to favorites by her.

I did a dynamic read of partial e-book and partial audio, and I really enjoyed the chapters narrated by the female voice. The male voice kind of threw me off, and it felt like it didn’t fit. I know that these are split POV chapters, so a duet makes the most sense, but it felt disjointed to listen to and didn’t allow for a fully-encompassing experience.

Emma Lord delivers a sweet, summery story that hums with heart and humor. For the Record follows a teenage songwriter who’s suddenly thrust into the spotlight as the lead singer of a buzzy band. Between tour bus drama, swoony moments, and the search for creative identity, this story blends the thrill of fame with the ache of figuring out who you are.

The writing is fast-paced and snappy, with just enough emotional depth to balance out the glitter of the music world. The banter between characters felt sharp and believable, and the romantic tension had just the right slow build. What stood out most was the exploration of ambition: how it collides with relationships, how it evolves, and what happens when it starts to outpace you.

One place I wanted a little more was the band dynamic—there were glimpses of deeper tension and camaraderie, but a few moments felt rushed. A little more time with the group would’ve made those high-stakes decisions land even harder.

This is a great pick for readers who love books about music, found family, and a dash of romance. If you enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six but want a lighter, teen‑centered take, this one’s for you.

I LOVE Emma Lord's YA books. So much that I have written a whole post about the interconnections in all of them.

For some reason, her adult romances don't quite land the same way for me. While I really enjoyed Mack's whole secret identity aspect in For the Record, and I'm all for a second chance at love story, the writing in her adult books feel so different than in her YA books, which spend so much time developing their settings. I wasn't even sure where this took place? New York? I was missing that sense of where I was. It's a lot of conversations and a lot of drama, and I know that many rom coms are written that way now, but I want to feel transported!!

In any case, if the premise of this appeals to you, do not let me discourage you from reading it because a lot of reviewers whose taste I trust have really enjoyed it!

This is the second Emma Lord book I have read, and I must admit, I struggled to get through it. I attempted to read it, and DNF'ed at 30%. Then, I listened to the audiobook and was able to get through it, but couldn't wait for it to be over so I could move on to another book that was more interesting. I am usually a positive reviewer, but I just had a hard time with this title...

The book is well-written. I think my personal issue was I didn't find the characters very interesting and I felt like the plot moved very slowly. One of the most interesting plot details to me was Sam's relationship with his father. I didn't entirely understand the Tic Tunes plotline or the fight between Mackenzie and Sabrina.

Despite enjoying the other Lord title I've read, "The Break Up Pact", and having all of her other titles on my TBR, she might just not be the author for me. I won't give up on her other titles, but I don't think I will return to "For the Record."

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for sending me this earc for review.

For the Record is a book about pop star Mackenzie and her rival Sam Blaze, they have a complicated past but now are forced to work together. We follow along as they learn how to trust one another again, to writing their first co-written album. But a whirlwind of events come in between and try to tear apart what is just coming together.

What I did like about this book was that there was more to it than just the main relationship. We did get to see other aspects of Mackenzie's life including her friendships with other singers, her former bandmates, and other friends.

Unfortunately, this one did fall a bit flat for me, I felt as though this book was trying to push the relationship too hard and too fast. While it felt like everything was moving at a fast pace, it took me over a week to read because I found myself not being super interested in the main plot. While I do love Emma Lord's writing and hope to read more from her in the future, this one was not for me.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely fell in love with this book and the MFC AND MMC. While both flawed, both of their stories were deep and the more that was revealed about them, the more I loved them. I was rooting for both of these characters through the whole story and the minor conflicts added a real layer of depth to the story. I was sad for this story to end and am would love a sequel!

Two rival singers end up stumbling into a duet deal that will put there "will they, won't they" past to the test. A second chance romance trope you can not miss! This story reminded me of Music & Lyrics and any Taylor Swift love song!

A simple cute romcom with the rivals to lovers trope, with secret identity, and second chance vibes for the taking.

The romance was swoony, the slowburn was sizzling, and the whole music aspect of it helped bring everything together.