I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I feel like a celeb/popstar romance book can easily go cringey, but I didn't feel that way with this one at all.

I love the second-chance romance, and the found family aspect of this story.

This was my first read of Emma Lord's, but definitely won't be my last!

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of For the Record, and it was such a sweet, refreshing read! I absolutely loved the storyline—it had all the charm of a feel-good romance but stood out from the typical Hallmark-style books with its unique twist and vibrant voice. Emma Lord’s writing had me laughing out loud more than once, and I quickly became attached to the characters—they felt real, lovable, and full of heart.

This book was the perfect mix of fun, emotional, and completely engaging. Definitely one to add to your TBR if you’re looking for something cozy, clever, and delightfully different!

I love second chance romances and this one is no different. Emma Lord has written as story so well that I was sad when it was over.

Absolutely loved this book! It was so cute and a breath of fresh air that was much needed! I originally picked up the book because I fell in love with the cover but it turns out the story line is just as cute!

This was such a good second chance romance. Though I couldn't relate much to the lifestyle, I was able to understand MacKenzie and Sam and why they made the choices they did. I read a 1 star review about this book before reading it, and I kept waiting to feel disappointed, but I never was. I really enjoyed it. Emma Lord has become a must read author for me.

This book...y'all...I think it might actually have my heart! What a cute rom com. It doesn't disappoint when it says it's perfect for fans of Emily Henry and "Daisy Jones and the Six". It's everything I wanted it to be. Friendship, love, passion, hardship, rivalry. Do yourself a favor and check it out once it's released...it's one you will NOT be disappointed over. I'm already ready for it to come out so I can get it for my shelf.

It's a solid 4.5 for me!

3.25! This was a super cute second-chance romance with great vibes, fun band drama, and really sweet friendships, but it didn’t totally wow me. I loved Mackenzie’s journey and how real the friendships felt, and even the peek into the messy music world was fun, but the writing style felt a little too much sometimes—like trying too hard to be quirky. Still, if you love dual POVs, musicians falling in love, and stories about finding yourself, it’s a charming, quick read that might be exactly what you need to get out of a slump.

3.5/5

One thing about Emma Lord is that she will always, without a fail, deliver a book that is so easy-going and delicious that you will simply not what to put it down. and FOR THE RECORD is no different.

Emma Lord always delivers fun romance novels with cool settings, and this one did not disappoint. Sam and Mackenzie are former lead singers of rival bands who used to tour together, and while they claimed to hate each other, the tension between them would make listeners think there was more between them. After their bands dissolved, both of them turned to more private careers, but now their label wants them to reignite the rock and roll magic by making an album together...and maybe more than just an album.

I definitely enjoyed reading this, and especially seeing Sam as a dad in the new life he had built for himself. At times, the secrecy inherent in the story aggravated me, and Mackenzie and Sam seemed a little dense about each other, but it was still a fun read, and I am always a sucker for a book set in New York.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the advance reader's copy.

I had high expectations for this book, and it did not deliver. It tells the story of Mac and Sam, both former famous musicians who during the peak of their fame had a will-they-wont-they PR stunt going on. Now, two years later, they reconnect and their feelings grow and grow.
Here are my issues with this book:
1. The break is 2 years long, which is not enough time for someone to go from biggest musician on the planet to a nobody
2. It had too many distracting stories - family drama, criticism of the music industry, friend drama, cancer scare - which were too superficial

I need to preface this by saying that I read this on my extremely long travel day back from Japan, so I was jet-lagged, exhausted, and over being on a plane. This is not my favorite Emma Lord book. Unfortunately, something was lacking for me. I found myself wishing this had taken place back when Sam and Mackenzie first met, rather than years later. I think the spark and banter would've been so much better. Lord often nails those aspects of her romances, so I was disappointed to not instantly fall in love with these two through their back and forth.

It was still a fun read, but it was a bit of a letdown because I had higher hopes.

I had so much fun reading For the Record! Emma Lord perfectly mixes music, romance, and second chances in this story about former rivals Mackenzie and Sam. Their chemistry jumps off the page as they reunite to make a comeback album, all while dealing with the messiness of their past and the changes in their lives. I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the music world and how real both characters felt, especially as they figured out who they are outside of fame. It’s the perfect pick if you love stories full of heart, humor, and a little bit of drama.

Emma Lord is a noted author of many enjoyable romance novels, so I was excited to discover that she has a new book coming out! "For the Record" is centered around Sam and Mackenzie, famous musicians who had people all over the country shipping them and rooting for a potential romance to bloom. However, as both bands fell apart, the possibility of a relationship between them fell apart as well. Now, years later, they run into each other and discover that the sparks between them have never gone away. Not only are they trying to negotiate the feelings between them, but also the likelihood of reigniting their musical careers as well.

As much as I wanted to like this book, I found myself skimming a lot and having a hard time deciding if I wanted to root for Sam and Mackenzie or not. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book caught my eye since I am a musician myself. This romance by Emma Lord is very satisfying, checking all the boxes of a good one. There were a few details regarding the main characters that are different from the typical romance story, which made it even better. I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters as well as their character development as they have aged since first meeting and touring together. The side characters provide some mystery to the situation as well. Thank you to Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Sam and Mack know each other from a few years ago. But then it was a right person, wrong time situation. Now they are thrown together to work as a vocal duet, and sparks fly. This book is a dual POV romance and getting the thoughts of both characters really helps with their development and making them more relatable. Mckenzie as a character feels a bit like a swifties attempt to give Taylor a happily ever after that she deserves after many heartbreaks... not complaining, just letting the reader know what they are in for. I honestly loved this story and these characters. They wanted to be better for the people around them and do good things. For me as a reader I only like romance if I like the characters and the were good ones.

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all. read it today you will not be disappointed.

This was my first Emma Lord book and I absolutely loved it. The characters were great and their growth through out the story were amazing. the heartbreak and longing were done perfectly.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
This story is one with a premise that feels like it should be very dynamic. They are both lead singers of bands with chemistry from their past so they should have interesting personalities and a lot of past to draw from. Sadly this book fell flat in that department. The characters did not have much in the area of growth and the story is very dialogue driven instead of plot driven so it feels very slow.

I've read most of Emma Lord's books and While I've enjoyed them all, I think I like her YA better. This took me weeks to finish, which is probably indicative my lack of attention span more than anything, but I just wasn't drawn in until the final 25% or so. I'm glad the big secret wasn't a big, dramatic wrench in their relationship - that was refreshing - but...ehhh. Maybe just not for me.

Emma Lord does it again! As an avid romance reader, there's just something about the flow of her writing that just drags me in. Add in a little music here and some second chance romance there and you have a hit!