I have loved Emma Lord's books in the past, but this one was disappointing for me unfortunately. It felt like a lot of the conversation between the main characters crossed a line from cliche into cringeworthy territory. There was so much drama and relationship mess in this book but none of it felt very fleshed out or real, it all felt very fake and I just wanted it to be over. So much of this book was just the characters cycling through what felt like the same thoughts and emotions in their own heads which felt like no plot and didn't make the story very propulsive.
I had high hopes for this one but it really fell flat.

From the beginning I was hooked something about pop and rockstars falling in love hooks me. I loved Mackenzie’s character because she had growth she was writing songs about her exs to rid herself of that pain but she also realized that Sam didn’t directly hurt her as much as she thought, it was herself that really inflicted it. Sam is a classic rockstar bad boy, he himself has grown from the last time they interacted because of his kid and trying to be the best dad. I think the time apart for them although seen as bad by them is actually good because they became a version of themselves that click locked for the future.

So so so cute! Mack and Sam together again just seems like it could be on t-shirts. Mack is such a powerful FMC, she took her previous relationship and family trauma and when she found that it was affecting her life, what did my girl do? She went to THERAPY. Love it when characters recognize negative patterns and exhibit positive mental health growth (although for real, Serena needed a bit of self-reflection too, poor oldest daughter syndrome at its peak). There was so much healthy in this story line, and no big misunderstandings (there was a bit of lie by omission but it wasn’t a huge 3rd act breakup blowup which I always appreciate). Sam breaking the cycle of absent fathers and being the most Big Ben father he could be, with his super supportive coparenting team of his two moms. Gave what Ross should have been like in Friends vibes (even had the name of Ben, like come on the jump is right there). Mack and her band mates had such a good girl power found family dynamic once they worked through their issues, although I would have liked to see more of Sam’s time with his band mates since they were all close at one time. There were a few small flashbacks mainly to showcase the MC’s relationship timeline but I honestly wish there were more for the band mates’ dynamics on both sides. That being said, this is a fairly short story and likely could have dragged a bit if we dug too deep into the past I just wanted more of them to be honest. If you want a nice rom com that feels like a warm hug while listening to your favorite indie playlist, this is the one for you!

Thank you St Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I love Emma Lord's romance novels, and For The Record is no exception. The banter was cute ans made me smile, and Ingot the ending I was hoping for. Readers will root for Mack to get her happily ever after! Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to preview #fortherecord - I am already hoping for a spin-off!!

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were once fiery rivals in the music world, but life took them in different directions. Now, with Sam focusing on his young son and Mackenzie adjusting to singing with a new voice, the two have a chance to team up for a comeback album. As they work together, old feelings bring them closer than before…

I picked up this book after seeing comparisons to Daisy Jones—while both involve music, that's where the similarity ends. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly; the story is heartfelt, emotional, and inspiring, with engaging POVs from both Mackenzie and Sam.

Thank you to St.Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for a review!

I was lucky to get and ARC from Netgalley! I really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to like and the story was so fun to follow! It was a comeback story, and I have a soft spot for comebacks! I would definitely recommend this book for those looking for an easy read with like-able characters.

For the Record is a contemporary romance about two musicians brought back together after years of an onstage rivalry.

Sam Blaze and Mackenzie Waters once toured together and performed duets with their respective bands, but both abruptly left the music scene two years ago to handle personal matters. Sam unexpectedly became a father when a former girlfriend revealed he had a son, while Mackenzie stepped away to face a serious health battle. Now, when their record label proposes a duet album, the two find themselves singing and writing together again.

I struggled with this one because it felt much longer than its 330+ pages. Since the couple had already met but never dated, it didn’t quite fit the “second-chance romance” trope, yet it also wasn’t two people meeting and falling in love. The story referenced their wild touring days, but Mackenzie never really came across as a pop wild child, and Sam didn’t feel like a punk-band bad boy. On the page, they were both surprisingly bland. I also couldn’t wrap my head around why these two completely different bands would have toured together—or why anyone would be invested in their pseudo-romantic rivalry.

There were too many extra storylines: Mackenzie’s secret identity on a music app, Sam meeting his rock-star father for the first time, and an assortment of side characters with their own dramas. On top of that, Mackenzie was holding on to secrets for reasons that never made sense and there was a tacked-on epilogue that didn’t feel realistic or necessary.

I wanted to enjoy this because I’ve read some fantastic novels about musicians, but this one felt flat. I had hoped for humor and banter, but it never felt like a rom-com.

Loved the will they/wont they back story. I fell in love with both of MCs and was rooting for them. I wish they included some lyrics from the songs they wrote especially Golden.

Books about musicians are super popular right now, and after reading several, I wasn't sure how this one would measure up. It was great! I thought it had the perfect amount of angst and romance with a heavy side plot of music/label drama.

MacKenzie Waters and Sam Blaze have always been each other's kryptonite. They spent time touring together with each of their bands, but since those bands broke up and Sam found out he had a son, they haven't seen or spoken to the other in 2 years. When they meet back up, Sam is ready for forever, but MacKenzie has been hurt and doesn't trust him to stay. She's also hiding a big secret about her career future that could affect their partnership and families.

I've read quite a few books about musicians and second chances this year. This is probably my favorite so far. I liked that this book was only in one timeline, and their past was not riddled with addiction. They had individual issues that they were going through and once they worked on themselves, they were able to be together. There were still things to face, but it didn't ever feel heavy. I liked MacKenzie's friend group drama and the music label storylines. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and another solid hit from Emma Lord!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

The setup here is fantastic — rival musicians forced into a comeback album years after their messy almost-romance? I was all in for the drama, the songwriting tension, and the second-chance sparks. Sam as a single dad was sweet and grounded, and I liked Mackenzie’s friendship dynamics more than I expected. On paper, all the ingredients were there.

But the execution didn’t quite hit. The music-industry details felt surface-level, the subplot detours (apps, exec drama, photo shoots) dragged, and I never fully bought into Sam and Mack as a couple. It’s a quick, light read that scratches the rockstar-romance itch, but it left me wishing it dug deeper into both the romance and the music.

If you’re looking for a fun, second chance romance between two pop stars, this is such a cute read. I really enjoyed Sam and Mack’s well-crafted character dynamics that felt authentic and engaging. There are definitely some moments that feel a like YA, but there’s a little spice that evens it out.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this popstar romance by Emma Lord. I loved the second chance romance that Mackenzie and Sam had and I thought that there was a nice blend of romance and banter and angst throughout the story.

2.5 rounded up to 3. Cute storyline and premise. I just felt no connection to the characters, and I didn't quite feel like Mack and Sam fit. Maybe more should have been done on their backstory, such a dual timeline narrative. Something was missing for me!

For The Record is a story of figuring out what you want and how to get yourself there while juggling friendships, fame, parenthood, and love.
The best parts for me were that Sam was so upfront about his feelings for her in his POV chapters from the very beginning. Usually we have to sit and watch as the characters puzzle out their feelings or deny or ignore them. But nope, he knew from the start that Mackenzie was it for him and he let the reader know. This was fresh and fun to read.
I loved their chemistry during the songwriting sequences. And Sam’s son added some quirky fun – I loved that he was a huge fan of Mackenzie instead of his dad.
I was frustrated with the drama in the third act, however. It seemed like their words were saying one thing but their actions said another. It also felt like all the problems could have been solved by making different decisions, but it wasn’t really acknowledged. (If that makes sense? Trying to stay spoiler-free)
Recommend for those who love dual POV, second-chance, and celebrity romance looking for something lighthearted and sweet.

4.5 stars

I loved both main characters in this so much – and a lot of the side characters! The whole premise was just really fun. I enjoyed the band drama, the music industry mayhem, the family drama, the friendships, and of course the romance – this book really had it all! It was super cute, and the forced proximity and sort of second chance romance really had me in my feels! I was very invested in this story pretty quickly, and would highly recommend to fans of enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!

This is a sweet story about two rival musicians who secretly love each other (of course!). I have really been enjoying music-industry based romance novels lately. It just makes me want to be able to hear their songs as well. I haven't read any of Emma Lord's books in the past, but this won't be my last. I really enjoyed the character development and blasts to the past (it reminded me of watching pop stars on MTV music awards many years ago). I got teary eyed at the end at how it all comes together. Overall a wonderful read!

This book had me hooked from page one ,give me rivals to lovers and forced proximity and I will devour it every single time. What I especially loved was how it explored second chances in more ways than one. It wasn’t just about rekindling chemistry it was about rebuilding their musical careers, rediscovering passion, and seeing where that undeniable spark could take them this time around.

Th

This one was a really enjoyable read and I'd recommend it for people who like tropes such as:
> Single Dad
> Pop star x Rock star
> Second chance romance
> Hidden identity
> Rivals to lovers
> Comeback musicians

I liked this adult novel from Emma Lord, I've read some of her YA work and this one was a great adult romance novel. The rivals to almost lovers to nothing to reluctant collaborators to lovers loop was pretty well executed overall - these characters definitely had some baggage on their own as well as with each other. I think I missed a little bit of why her heart was ultimately so broken by him as to be the ultimate inspiration for her seventh song, but there was definitely some history that needed to be unpacked.

I liked the comeback musician angle - not the first round of stardom, but what happens after that first climb to fame fizzles out and looking at what's really important in life and how to balance that. I'm always a sucker for a single dad and this was a great portrayal of single fatherhood (while still in a supportive co-parenting relationship). Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

4.5 ⭐

I loved this book! It was such a fun read, with emotional depth, spice and a captivating story that really highlights how predatory the music label industry is and how much scrutiny bands are under, especially when you’re a famous woman artist.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC! I will definitely read more by Emma.

This was super cute! We love a little bit of rivalry and this definitely delivered. If you enjoy Emily Henry, this book has similar vibes to some of her books. I loved the characters and any contemporary romance fan will enjoy this!