"For the Record" by Emma Lord is a charming and heartwarming YA romance. It follows Natalie, a high school journalist with big dreams, as she navigates first love, demanding editors, and the complexities of staying true to herself. Lord's writing is witty and engaging, and the characters are relatable and endearing. It's a delightful read perfect for anyone who enjoys a sweet and funny story with a touch of journalistic flair.

This book was a total winner. Mackenzie and Sam's chemistry is undeniable, and their emotional journey together is beautifully written. The supporting characters, especially Ben, add humor and heart, with moments like the hilarious Christmas underwear scene standing out. The growth of both their personal and musical lives is wonderfully done, and the music element brings an extra layer of depth to the story. The banter is spot-on, keeping the tone light while still diving into the heavier themes. No third-act breakup here—just a realistic, satisfying resolution. A perfect 5-star romance with humor, heart, and some seriously touching moments.

For the Record is a fun romance with a clever premise of two successful musicians rekindling a spark from several years earlier. Mackenzie and Sam made a sweet couple, with plenty of clever banter, and the book had enough character development (including addressing some serious topics) to make it a satisfying read. There was a delightful array of side characters, with their own charms and quirks. I appreciated that while the book had plenty of ups and downs, there was no formulaic third act breakup. While I felt this was an enjoyable read, I'm not sure it had the "wow" factor for me personally.

This book was EVERYTHING. 5 stars from start to finish.

The story picks up with Mackenzie and Sam two years after their band careers, and watching their personal and musical growth is simply beautiful. The way they navigate their past hurts, misunderstandings, traumas, and fears is so raw and real. Their rivalry evolves into something more, and the dual POV makes the mutual pining absolutely delicious.

Music plays a central role in this book, which enhances the emotional impact. They write songs together at their old haunts and seeing how they view each other through the lens of their music is beautiful. I really enjoyed that there wasn't a third act breakup - there’s a hiccup, but it feels realistic and manageable, leaving you confident that they can work through it.

And finally - the BANTER in this book? Epic. It kept moments lighthearted and genuinely funny at times (like the christmas underwear experiment). Sam and Ben’s relationship is so heartwarming, and Ben’s wild food creations/abominations were the best. How could you not love this book?

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced review copy.

What a pleasure this was to read! This was my first book by Emma Lord and definitely will not be my last.

Must read if you enjoy:
***Second chance romance
*** Rockstar romance
*** Miscommunication trope
*** Music industry
*** Dual POV

Mack and Sam have a chance at a second chance romance, and the chemistry is off the charts. I loved this novel! The premise, the swoon worthy moments, the backstory. Just loved it.

Definitely a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

This was a very heartfelt romance, but the comedic part didn't shine as much. While entertaining and humorous, it's a bit heavier with themes of health problems, parental abandonment, and some exploitative business practices pushing this more toward the romance than rom-com space. I loved the dynamic between Sam and Mackenzie, but I also really loved the relationship Mackenzie has with Hannah and that Sam has with Lizzie and Ben.

The history between Mackenzie and Sam is well fleshed out and sprinkled in over the course of the book rather than a big information dump to start the book.

The conflict made sense and was believable and the relationship that unfolded between Mackenzie and Sam was just so, so tender. Read this if you want a swoony musical celebrity romance.

This is a story about Mackenzie and Sam. They are former pop and rock stars who want to make a comeback after two years. They were in “rival” music groups when younger, but their managers want them to make a duet, to play their rivalry. The thing is, Mackenzie and Sam once caused each other heartbreak. Working through this while trying to maintain a professionnal façade might be harder than they think.

I liked the pop/rock stars aspects of the book, how popularity was not romanticized, the drama behind music groups breaking apart and the friendships. However, I did not like that Mackenzie and Sam’s attraction was so much noticeable at the beginning because it made the love story seem too easy. Not that it was not cute, it was just too insta-lovey which I did not like. I would have liked their story to be slower, making the characters realize their attraction is still there after a while, not the first time they see each other.

I would recommend this book to people who like fast-paced love stories mixed with celebrity drama.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I adored this book. I’m a sucker for former band enemies to lovers. Mackenzie and Sam’s past relationship was a bit formulated but rooted in real feelings. Watching them over the course of the book realize they both felt the same way was a fun story to see. I loved that Sam put Ben first and would do anything to protect him. The side characters in books can often feel like forgotten characters but in this book, they added so much to the story. I loved Serena’s storyline (I’d LOVE a whole book about her). I wish we got to see Sam’s former band mates like we did with Mackenzie’s.
Sam and Mack going back to all their old haunts to write new music together and work through their past issues was a beautiful part to the story.

Tropes:
dual POVs
"rivals" to lovers
Second chance
HE YEARNSSS

5 stars - no notes. This was a beautiful book - it has it all: love, music, found family and relationships. It was so heartwarming and will have you laughing and crying tears of sadness and of joy. I loved Sam and Mackenzie as a couple and individually. I thought Mack was so strong, despite everything she has been through with her heartbreaks and her family; I really empathized with Sam's emotions towards what he was struggling with as a teen with his dad and his relationship with Mackenzie (definitely teared up reading his POV a few times). When they were together, even though I couldn't hear the songs they were singing, I could still feel the magic of their relationship and how their feelings for each other translated into their songs.

My favorite part of this book was Sam's relationship with his son, Ben, and how he strived to do better than his own father by making Ben his number one priority. And I loved Ben - he's sweet, a little troublemaker (but in a good way for the main characters), and Mack and Sam's number one fan. I also really loved the side characters, especially Hannah and Serena, Mack's former band members but forever family, and their dynamics: even when they were fighting with each other, they still loved and were there for each other.

This was definitely already one of my favorite reads of the year.

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

“Life is always changing colors but what we have is golden.”

I DEVOURED this. This story follows Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze, two former rockstars whose lives collided during their rise to fame as “rival” band members — and whose tension imploded along with their careers. Two years later, Mackenzie is hiding behind a pseudonym to deal with her changed voice, and Sam is navigating fatherhood after discovering he has a son. When a joint comeback album becomes their only shot at redemption, they’re forced to confront old wounds and the undeniable sparks that never faded.

From the moment I got approved for this ARC, it jumped to the top of my TBR and let me tell you — it did NOT disappoint. This book was so cute. Second chance romance, witty banter and a music theme that immerses you so deeply, it feels like you’re touring with the banks? Sign me up.

The chemistry between Mackenzie and Sam. CHEFS KISS. Their dynamic is equal parts fiery and tender with just the right amount of spice. The way Emma handles their individual growth as well as their journey back to each other is beautifully done. Add in an adorable cover design and this is a book I can’t wait to proudly display on my shelf.

Emma Lord’s For the Record is a heartfelt and fun exploration of second chances, both in love and in life. Mackenzie and Sam’s chemistry is undeniable, and their complicated history adds emotional depth to their journey as they reunite to create music together. Lord perfectly captures the magic of nostalgia, the tension of unresolved feelings, and the joy of rediscovering passion. With its mix of romance, wit, and personal growth, this is a compelling read and a strong 5 star addition to Lord's collection.

When I say I devoured this book, I’m not even exaggerating. It had the same wit and charm that I’ve come to associate with Emma Lord’s books, but this one is now definitely one of my favorites of hers.

Mack and Sam were both such great characters and I loved how head over heels they both were. I’m also such a sucker for a second chance romance (even if the first chance was barely there) that I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down.

I am such a huge Emma Lord fan. She singlehandedly revived my faith in YA romance. So I was excited and intrigued when I found this adult romance.

I am happy to say that I absolutely loved this book as well. Full review to come.

This book had me hooked immediately from the first page all the way to the end. Sam and Mackenzie's story was so fun to follow and each character was incredibly well developed. If you love great banter and second chance romance, you'll love this book!

The book is a fun and engaging read with a music theme that adds a unique vibe to the story. It’s not just a backdrop—it really ties into the emotions and relationships, making everything feel more alive.

The characters are lively and full of personality, and their banter is one of the best parts. It’s sharp, funny, and keeps the story moving at a great pace. You can feel the chemistry between them, which makes their interactions so entertaining.

There’s also this underlying layer of broken rules, agreements, and a shared past that brings in some drama and depth. The mix of longing and tension gives the story just the right amount of heart without making it too heavy. It’s an enjoyable, well-rounded read that’s easy to get lost in.

Emma Lord writes romances between characters with a history better than anyone else. I got such a good sense for how Sam and Mackenzie were with each other in the past, and the way they balanced their on-stage rivalry and developed an intimacy required by the rules of the game! And their own pasts with romantic relationships and how they've changed (and know that) but still have those lingering insecurities and impressions of each other. I also love that most of the conflict between Emma Lord's romantic pairs are often more heavily external that they face together, rather than something that breaks them up (even when they have a conflict about it).

I also want to highlight Sam's family! It's refreshing to read a unique parenting situation like his - living with his ex (his best friend who he loves) and her wife and the child he had with his ex - and the platonic bonds between Sam and Lizzie. I was also invested in Mackenzie's relationships with Hannah and Serena.

Oh my god. I had such high expectations for this book and somehow they were surpassed (it’s Emma Lord so of course they were, how could I have ever doubted her). This was a great book, start to finish and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

I absolutely loved all the characters (especially Mackenzie and Sam, and of course Ben). They all had such great depth and complexity that I could never quite predict what was going to happen, but it always felt in character.

The spice was a little higher than the Break Up Pact, but I’d still say it’s only a 2 or 2.5 out of five. There were a couple scenes, but they were not extremely explicit, and just felt like a natural part of the romance. Speaking of the romance, I don’t think I’ll ever get over Sam and Mackenzie. They were absolutely adorable and the fluff was so cute and just so them and *screams*.

Another thing I really liked was the conflict near the end didn’t feel so much like a usually frustrating third act break up, but more like a little hiccup that even the characters knew would be resolved soon.

The music aspect of this book (especially as it tied into the romance) was soooo good. I felt that the daisy jones comparison in the synopsis was fair, but I’d say it’s more like if they had another season of that continued after the interviews at the end of the show, which I loved (This coming from someone who has watched Daisy Jones and the Six an ungodly amount of times.)

Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be plotting how to get to the launch of this book.

If you get emotional from books, “For the Record” will definitely have you tearing up. The evolution of the relationship between Mackenzie and Sam is wonderful, as they open up to each other and uncover the hurt, misunderstandings and fears from their past and realize why the chemistry between them worked so well when they and their bands were “rivals.”

The story has a great cast of characters. I particularly liked Ben and his crazy food creations. There are also some very humorous moments, most notably the Christmas underwear experiment.

I jumped right past my TBR to read this, and it didn’t disappoint! The plot and chemistry are on point. Definitely recommend!