Unfortunately I couldn’t find myself caring about the love story in this. The only redeemable part was the subplots/relationships. There’s also far too many books about life after being a child popstar out these days.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun and relatively lighthearted romance based in the music world. Mack is a pop princess, but with a bit of edge in comparison to her two former band mates. Sam is a punk rocker and their bands had built up a tension/teasing vibe while touring before both brands broke up. Sam went to take care of his son he had just learned about and Mack later had to get vocal surgery, changing her singing voice. I really loved seeing the parenting vibe with Sam and how the co-parenting arrangement was set up. Hearing about his party days felt like it was throwing him into a major stereotype and his personality could’ve been a bit more nuanced. Mack is interesting seeing how she’s really close with one former bandmate but somewhat distant from the other. Sam and Mack definitely have chemistry and I enjoyed seeing that come to the front of the story as it balanced their pasts and presents. The Tick Tune side of the story didn’t feel necessary and the Serena (I think?) storyline really took away from time that could’ve been spent developing Sam and Mack a bit more. Overall, it was still an enjoyable romance, even while being predictable. 4⭐️, 2🌶

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’m gonna have a good time reading any book by Emma Lord. I really love her writing and every one of her characters. For the Record was a super fun read, once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. The tension between them was palpable from the beginning and I loved the little snippets of their past that explained Mackenzie and Sam’s relationship and their whole enemies shtick. I almost wish there would have been more, a dual timeline could have been really fun here. It was a great take on the second chance romance, but the story was also so much more. Between Sam relationship with his dad and Mackenzie’s evolving one with her two best friends, there was a lot of growth from both of them.

Read for:

❤️‍🔥Rivals to lovers
💕Second chance
🤫Secret identity
👩‍❤️‍👨Forced proximity

Emma Lord is a great writer, and I really enjoyed this! The tension was high, and the rockstar and pop star rivalry was very fun. I really enjoyed the characters, and seeing the sparks and chemistry between them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up because I like Emma Lord.

This was a solid and sweet rockstar romance. I loved the friendship between Mackenzie and Hannah. Sam and his son were adorable. I was also so happy that this book didn’t fall into the same structure so many second chance novels fall into – endless flashbacks leading up to the big secret why they are estranged. To me, it messes with the present-day pace and takes away time to show us how it will be different for that happy ever after. However, I felt that the plot and character developments were flimsy in parts, and as such I wasn’t quite sold on Sam and Mackenzie even though I loved their ending.

The writing jumped around sometimes, especially chapter one which was written as if we had assumed knowledge. For instance, Mackenzie’s throat surgery is dropped, but we don’t get an explainer until a chapter later. The Tick Tune and Seven stuff was also lacking, as were the songwriting sessions (e.g. the whole reason for them to be forced together after two years of no contact). I was surprised to read the author tried to make it as a songwriter in Nashville because at no time did I feel like we were in the room with Mack and Sam trying to co-write, it was a lot of telling. It was such a missed opportunity to really sell what it’s like to be a musician. Instead we’re treated to wasted nonsensical stuff like the masked ball and taking publicity photos (BEFORE A SONG WAS EVEN WRITTEN!) on a boat. There were so many better ways to force them together (e.g. inside a rehearsal and jam space writing songs).

Also, did we really have to have Mackenzie be based on Taylor Swift? Could romance authors get a bit more creative and stop mentioning or fan fic-ing her in every romance novel? Also, Candy Shard as a punk band name ? More like a reality show’s idea of a contrived punk band. And while both bands had twin sister managers, the idea of them being on tour together performing at a pretend romance? Let alone a punk band touring with a pop band? I’m so thankful we weren’t treated to flashbacks of that cringe.

I know I sound like I’m slagging this book off, but honestly, I was just disappointed. The basic ingredients were there for a thoughtful second chance romance that expounds on the impact of throat surgery on a singer known for belting songs, and the ways the recording industry exploits songwriters and musicians. But, sadly this book left me wanting.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was absolutely adorable! It’s giving 5 Seconds of Summer fanfiction in the best possible way. I love a rockstar romance, and this one definitely hit the mark!

for the record by emma lord? five stars and a standing ovation. it’s fun, fast-paced, and full of heart—with just the right amount of backstage drama and self-discovery. emma lord nails the voice of a teen caught between chasing fame and finding herself, and the music industry setting is chef’s kiss without feeling overdone. sharp dialogue, lovable characters, and a main character you actually root for? yeah, this one’s worth the hype. total encore energy.

Did I pick up this book for because the main character's name is Mackenzie? 100%. As a Mackenzie, I don't feel like there are a lot of characters that share my name in books, so when I see them, I grab them right away. (It is always interesting to me how they all go by Mack though and no one uses Kenzie). I may have picked it up for the name, but I stayed for the cutest second chance romance. This was a 5 star read for me, and I definitely recommend checking out "For the Record".
During one of my updates when I was tracking my progress, I said Mackenzie gave me a little bit of TSwift vibes. And while that's still true, Mackenzie is a strong character that stands on her own.
Serena and Hannah were Mackenzie's bandmates, and they toured with Ben's emo/pop punk band. As is often seen with young, female stars in the media, everyone was obsessed with Mackenzie's dating life and her "enemies to lovers" vibe she has going on with Sam. Before anything can really take off between the two, they both get hit with some news that sends them reeling and having to make adjustments fast. Two years go by before the pair have occasion to cross paths again. Which is when we meet them.
The entire group of characters were memorable. Obviously Mackenzie and Sam stood out, and Hannah and Serena. Even some of the more minor/side characters were great--I want to be Isla and Twyla when I grow up (also every time I read their names together I giggled). The characters are well written and you feel like you understand their personalities and know them as you're reading. There was strong character development for Mackenzie and Sam of course, but also the characters around them. The descriptions throughout the book were so great. I'd LOVE to be invited to an Isla/Twyla party, they sound so fancy and lavish and fun.
I liked the modern references to things/apps that exist now, and the apps that are made up for the novel feel like something that could be real. I liked that every thing and everyone felt so real and like it could really happen, that's not something you get in every book, even other ones that take place in modern times and are supposed to be realistic. Does that matter in a book? It depends right? I like both--I do a lot of reading to escape reality--but it was nice to be able to sit there and go "yes I could definitely see this happening, I bet if I was opening TikTok right now I'd see it there", just as its nice to read something and go "that could never happen but I love reading it all the same."
The ending was satisfying, and the book felt like the perfect length. Everything resolved well, and there wasn't any point where I thought it was dragging on too long. The scenes are really well described and make it easy for readers to imagine what it would look like.

Thank you Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book! I had SO much fun reading this. Every time I picked it up, I had a smile on my face. I loved getting to see Mackenzie and Sam grow into themselves in this book. I loved even more getting to see them finally put down all their defenses, and be together in the end. How strongly they felt for each other shined through onto the page from the very beginning, and it was a joy to read.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze, are both former successful pop/rock musicians. Both are a couple of years past their last hit and both are dealing with struggles keeping them from producing new music. While the novel is centered on their current lives and their personal feelings for one another, Lord incorporates lots of tangential storylines. This serves to keep the drama interpersonal and less focused on the business side of the music industry. This was a reliable rom-com from a proven author.

I enjoyed this book! It was hard to read about the friendship struggles Mac had, but Mac and Sam's renewed relationship was adorable!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
For the Record is giving main character energy—with a backstage pass. 🎤

This book was like stepping into a glittery, chaotic, emotionally-charged tour bus and I loved the ride. It’s all about self-discovery, second chances, and figuring out who you are when the spotlight fades.

The music world setting? So fun. The emotional arcs? Surprisingly deep. And the drama?? Petty and personal in the best way. The main character, this ex-band lead turned maybe-kinda-solo artist, is going through it™—heartbreak, fame whiplash, and that terrifying “what if I already peaked?” energy. Relatable much?

Emma Lord’s writing is as charming and punchy as ever. She knows how to bring humor, heart, and a lil ✨angst✨ without ever losing the fun.

Read if you like:
🎶 pop-punk girlies + tour life vibes
💫 finding your voice (literally + emotionally)
💔 breakups, makeups, & messy glow-ups
🌈 YA that actually feels real

BRB starting a band and spiraling romantically.

Firstly, I want to state that I've been a fan of Emma Lord since Tweet Cute! I would definitely continue reading any future books by her ! There's something about her writing that so engaging and fun. I normally rate Emma's books pretty high, but this just wasn't my favourite compared to her other books. By the end, I didn't feel the usual fangirling squealing feeling I'd usually get from Emma's books. Overall, I did mostly like it and thought it was fun.

It was okay? I found myself skimming it for a long bit because not a lot what happening. Sam felt like a bad guy who wasn’t really a bad guy? I was excited because I love a famous person trope but this one fell flat for me.

Emma Lord’s For the Record really pulls at the heartstrings! Band rivals Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze have had a simmering tension for years, but as they both want to restart their music careers, they find the best solution for them is to put the past behind them and collab together, but as old sparks emerge and new secrets come clean, it seems there’s a more behind the lyrics they’ve written and they can’t deny their feelings much longer. This was romantic and sweet. It had a lot of second chance vibes, and what I love is how much these two work to know each other in the present rather than only live in their past. Although, I also loved hearing about their past. I will say, there was something about this book that took me a longer time to finish, and I think a lot of that is my own preferences, I have a tricky time with celebrity type romances. These characters, however, are complex and I thought all the music industry things going on in the background was so interesting. Sam and Mackenzie are both so strong and passionate and they have such well fleshed out insecurities and growth. And I loved having both POVs. There’s so much love in these pages! It is romantic and heartwarming, and I was just really rooting for these characters!

It was pretty good! I enjoy Emma Lord's writing and this was an interesting concept, but would have loved it to be a bit more fleshed out and have some more depth.

4 stars – For the Record by Emma Lord was a good read. I enjoy Emma Lord's YA books and expected this one to be good too.

Mackenzie Waters is the former frontwoman of a girl pop band. After the band went their separate ways, she had throat surgery that impacted her voice. Went she felt that she was able to sing a little, her sound changed quite a bit, so she anonymously released some songs as a solo artist with a different sound on an app that allows artists to create a following.

Sam Blaze is the former frontman of a punk rock band that was with the same label as Mackenzie’s band. The two singers were used by their record label to hype up audiences and sales with a “will they or won’t they, do they or don’t they” theme. After his band’s dissolution, he decides to start a solo career but with a different sound.

Their label says that they want to support their efforts but think that they need to relaunch their careers as a duo first before going solo. Both Sam and Mac have changed though they still have chemistry with each other. For the Record is about them meeting again and learning about each other and dealing with the good and bad in their past.

This second chance romance was good. The beginning was a bit slow, and I really loved how Sam is portrayed as a famous dad to Ben and his relationship with Ben’s mothers.

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Books for allowing me to receive a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this book so much! You can tell that the FMC Mackenzie is very influenced by a certain big popstar, but as a fellow Swiftie, I didn't mind it at all and found it kinda fun. The connection between her and Sam was very cute but I really loved the growth between her connections with her friends and herself. This book was light and fun and I have no notes, would totally recommend to a friend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

This definitely has Daisy Jones vibes, and although well written, it didn’t grab my attention as much as I hoped it would. It was entertaining and I liked the characters, but somehow, it felt a little flat. Not enough angst or tension.

suuuuch a fun read!! it took me no time at all to read it because i didnt want to out it down! i love dual pov and truly it makes me love any book more, so so good