Yes yes yes! I loved this second chance, enemies to lovers romance. This was such an enjoyable read that left me happy for all the characters.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were once rivals. Mackenzie was the singer of pop band Thunder Hearts, while Sam was a rocker in Candy Shard. Years later, after both have gone through some serious life changes (Sam with a secret found son and Mackenzie with some serious medical issues that has caused her voice to sound different), the label is bringing them together as a musical duo.

I enjoyed almost every aspect to this book. The characters were fun and really meshed well, the supporting characters even were a nice touch, the kid wasn’t annoying (which happens way too much in books), and the plot flowed very smoothly. I felt like I was right beside Mackenzie and Sam throughout this and enjoyed seeing their story develop. The only thing I didn’t like were the band names (a bit cringe for me), but I can get over that.

4.5 stars rounded down

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

Even though I'm not normally a fan of rom coms involving music, pop stars or rockstars. I did pick this one up because it was described as perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the six. I have to say though that I loved the music rivalry and the music comeback more than I did the romance. But it was still a good read.

I'm sad to say For the Record did not do it for me. I was really looking forward to it because I love reading about famous people. So a romance between two singers, sign me up esp when it's being compared to Daisy Jones and the Six. I'm sad to say it really didn't compare and I honestly don't remember what happened in the story. I never felt any pull towards these characters. I want to be rooting for them and I didn't feel myself doing that. I didn't feel the chemistry that they were supposed to be having. I do have to say I think my favorite character was Sam's son. He would make these horrible baked good creations. I have to admit, I wanted to try some of these. That was really all I took from the book. It's a shame because I've been looking to find more romance books I enjoy. Sadly, this just didn't end up working for me.

This is my first Emma Lord book and I absolutely ate this up. The MMC Sam was perfection. All of her characters were likable and the storyline had me hooked from page one. This was the perfect palette cleanser for the other books I usually read. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Emma Lord for giving me the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review that has basically surmounted to me screaming about Sam and Mackenzie on the internet and crying like a banshee. Sam and Mackenzie’s chemistry is ELECTRIC from literally the first chapter, and I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout this entire story as they navigate some, admittedly, heavy shit. A very honorable and special shout out to the light of my life, dessert hating inventor of the pizza muffin, Ben.

The premise behind this had so much promise, Taylor swift coded but kinda fell flat and wont really be memorable for me long term.

Definitely wouldn’t compare this to daisy jones and the six or even an Emily Henry book if I’m being honest but overall a short cutesy second chance rom com that you can probably finish in one sitting.

I have read a couple of Emma Lord’s books before and they are always a fun, easy read. I love a good second chance romance and this one gave just that! The premise was two musicians from different bands who had a will they/won’t they relationship on stage that ended abruptly. It was cute.

I think the one trait that made this read so good was all the characters. The MC’s were easily lovable and had great banter and the side characters added just a tad more depth to the romance plot line.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. I loved absolutely everything about it. I always love a dual POV romance and this one was amazing. I loved getting the backstory of Sam and Mackenzie while also looking at their present. Their chemistry is beyond words and I fell in love with them both.

A fun novel about formal rivals. Mackenzie and Sam are each dealing with pressures of their careers and lives. They used to be rival musicians before it all crashed. Their tension added to charm which added to their onstage performances.
A few years later they are both leading very different lives. Sam is raising a son and Mackenzie is still singing, but not as her former self. Can they work together on an album?
Sparks, rivalry, spice and tension made this one a fun read.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and then some. The writing is heartfelt and vibrant, full of sharp humor and soft heartbreak. I loved how the story captured the messy beauty of reinvention, of navigating grief and identity and ambition in a world that’s quick to forget and even quicker to judge. Their banter had me grinning and their slow-burn reconnection felt hot and so satisfying. Easily one of my favorite romance reads this year.

An absolute hit—equal parts swoony, sharp, and emotionally satisfying. Emma Lord delivers a pitch-perfect romance full of backstage tension, second chances, and the kind of slow-burn chemistry that makes you want to cheer (and maybe start a band yourself).

Hi I am once again standing before you, with an Emma Lord book in my hands, prepared to tell you all the reasons you need to read this when it comes out in August <3

FOR THE RECORD is Lord's sophomore adult novel, following singers Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze as they attempt to revive their careers with a joint comeback album. Mack and Sam have to give up their years-long rivalry and learn to play nice--but not too nice--in order to get the attention from their label that they've both been seeking.

I was lucky to receive an ARC of Lord's newest adult novel, and I had a wonderful time with it! Her Young Adult novels are superb, but her Adult novels are truly where her writing shines.

This book has everything:

Enemies to lovers
The main characters are musicians
Found family
Second-chance romance
Strong friendships
Unconventional family dynamics
...need I go on?

One of my favorite components to this book was the found family element. Mack is estranged from her biological family, but something I appreciated about that was that it wasn't something she dwelled on. It was stated as a fact, but she knew that she had something so much more special in her found family. I absolutely loved that.

The tension between Mack and Sam was OFF THE CHARTS (...pun intended). There's rich history between these two characters, with old secrets they're both holding close, and each reveal makes you root for them individually but also as a couple even more.

Throughout the story, Mack is navigating tension with one of her best friends and former bandmate, Serena, and I appreciated how that story was told as well. Everything about Emma Lord's writing feels very authentic and genuine, which makes me enjoy it all the more.

Mack's thyroid surgery added another compelling element to her story and her singing, and I enjoyed the anonymity she was seeking with the Tick Tune app and her alter ego, Seven. (I was a Hannah Montana girlie as a child, so if you give me a musician with an alter ego, I am contractually obligated to eat that shit up).

As usual with Lord's writing, the ending was once again wonderfully paced and executed--no notes from me.

I would read about these characters forever (fingers crossed for a spin-off novel being in our future)!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Former Pop-star Mack Waters and rival former Rock Star Sam Blaze are forced together to relaunch their careers 2 years after leaving the stage for different reasons. Their rivalry had created a tour and fed the rumor mills on their so called “relationship”. Both have moved on from all of that, yet deep down there might have been a spark. Now they have to write an album and confront the past. Drama, secrets and feelings unravel in For the Record. Will Mack and Sam make this work or will they let their rivalry get in the way?

I’m always excited to read a novel where “enemies” have to work together, especially when they are music idols. I liked getting to see what became of their lives after leaving the spotlight. Mack and Sam go through major life changing events that led them to end it all. This comeback is what they need to prove to themselves this is really their passion. I enjoyed For the Record, yet I would have LOVED for more flashbacks of their early days on tour. There are little bits of information on the past, but I wanted all the wild details! If you like rivals who might fall in love & anything/everything music related, you NEED to read this novel.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Emma Lord for an advanced copy of For the Record.

Two former teen music rivals, now adults with complicated pasts and unresolved chemistry, are thrown back together to collaborate on a new project in this second chance romance.

This one, unfortunately, fell flat for me. The premise had so much potential, especially with the backdrop of fame, nostalgia, and creative tension, but I just didn’t feel the spark between Sam and Mackenzie. The stakes never felt high enough, the pacing dragged, and I wasn’t emotionally invested in their journey. I don’t mind a predictable romance if there’s heart and tension, but this just felt… boring. I kept waiting for the moment that would pull me in, and it never came.

Sadly, I had to DNF.
I read the first 5 chapters, like I do in every book and unfortunately within the 5 chapters it didn't grip me or make me feel anything other than slight annoyance.
I just didn't find it interesting. Like they clearly liked eachother but neither one of them talked about it so they just ignored it for.. why? Idk.
This just wasn't for me, but thank you to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me access anyway.

Content warnings: the aftermath of bad breakups, parental abandonment, life-threatening illness

Mackenzie Waters is a former girl group pop star (think Britney Spears or one of the Spice Girls) who is stalled. One of her former bandmates is a lifestyle influencer with successful fashion and home businesses and the other has a hugely successful solo career. But Mackenzie is hiding a secret -- a life-saving procedure altered her voice, and she's not ready to share the change with the world. She's been posting songs anonymously as singer/songwriter Seven, but she's still not ready to share the secret with her friends.

Enter Sam Blaze, a member of the band that toured with Mackenzie's girl group. He's got his own
issues with his life and the spotlight. He and Mackenzie had a moment way back when before his life fell apart, and their fans are ecstatic when they announce a joint songwriting venture.

Filled with the drama of both the music business and life under a microscope, the novel follows both Mackenzie and Sam as they deal with their complicated pasts and see what's left for the future. Recommended for fans of contemporary romance, especially if they're fans of celebrity stories.

Such a cute read. This might be my favorite second chance book ever and I am so lucky I got to read it early. Thank you so much to the publishers for letting me read this and thank you to Emma Lord for writing such an amazing novel!

Emma Lord - please write more adult fiction, but also please never stop writing YA too! :)

The Details:
For the Record by Emma Lord

Quick Summary:
Former pop and rock stars, Mackenzie and Sam are thrown together again to revive their music careers on their own terms. Back in the day, they fought in the spotlight but definitely crushed on each other behind the scenes. Now, they're navigating this new journey and relationship - with some twists of course.

My Take:
I really enjoyed this! It was first of all, such great insight into the music industry and celebrity - good and bad - especially now with all kind of platforms. And then of course the romcom of it all - very cute and swoony. Emma Lord can really lean into the cheese and make it sweet. I loved their relationships in this book - the romance and the friendships. 4 stars - would recommend!

I will always be an Emma Lord fan and continue to read her books! This wasn’t my favorite; it just kind of dragged on and I didn’t love either MC. I feel like the dueling musicians plot is overdone too. I think she really shines more in the YA genre. I always recommend her YA to my students.

When I picked this up I was reading a different book that centered around musicians that was dragging- I read this in 3 days!

It is a light popstar second chance/frenemies to lovers romance, but what I connected with most is the MFC’s journey to self-acceptance (a truly limited portion of the story, but resonated). I also really loved the author’s portrayal of complex female friendships in this one.

This book features dual points of view (love) and the author does a great job of connecting current events to main characters’ history so that the reader can know the backstory. I was never confused about where we were in the timeline or who’s POV I was reading.

Are there things I (with my almost nonexistent writing ability) would change? Sure. But overall l enjoyed it! 4⭐️’s!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Get your copy on August 12, 2025!

#booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bookreview #booknerd #booklovemama #momswhoread #netgalley #secondchanceromance #romancereaders