It was fun to have a dual pov and understand both Mackenzie and Sam’s perspectives as their record label forced them to record together and watch them fall for each other.

When their sparkly pop and punk rock bands toured together, Mackenzie and Sam were onstage “rivals” with snappy banter and crackling chemistry. All of the fans were desperate for them to finally get together… and secretly, maybe they were too. However, touring comes to an end and circumstances push them apart - until two years later, when they grudgingly team up to create a new sort of music.

SWOON. I sort of felt like this was written for teenage me. Even though mentions of TikTok and other social media set this story firmly in the 2020s, it made me feel nostalgic about being a kid in the early 2000s. The pop/ punk romance was like a love letter to all the girls who wore their Abercrombie mini skirts and checkered Vans to Warped Tour every summer. And let me tell you - I would have been OBSESSED with the “will they won’t they” of Mackenzie and Sam. Adult me would also be obsessed.

I really loved the cozy found family between the two bands and the people they work with. Their friendships and the ways they support each other was really heartwarming and sweet. I also adored Sam’s real family, especially his wise beyond his years, desert hating son, Ben.

For the Record, this book is absolutely adorable (not sorry). I had so much fun reading it, and I know it’ll be a comfort read I’ll go back to more than once.

If you enjoy:
- rockstar romance
- rivals to lovers (but they were never REALLY rivals, you know?)
- second chance romance
- books that are emotional but not THAT emotional
- excellent banter
- some seriously swoony declarations
- when you think you see a third act break up coming a mile away and then you were totally wrong

… then you are going to have a great time with this one! It’s out on August 12, 2025!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Emma Lord for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were once the frontmen of their respective bands, and notorious rivals. While their rivalry may have felt real to their audiences, there was always an underlying tension on the verge of becoming something more. Until, everything fell apart. Two years later, both Mackenzie and Sam are itching to make their comebacks and launch their respective solo careers. It seems to be going well until they learn that their record label doesn't want them as solo artists, but as a duo called Mack & Sam. Will Mackenzie and Sam be able to get over their old rivalry

After reading and loving The Break-Up Pact last year by Emma Lord, For The Record was one of my most anticipated books of 2025. It certainty didn't disappoint. The relationship between Sam and Mackenzie felt so real and relatable, both in how it all went wrong and in how they were able to move forward in their relationship two years later. Every character felt well fleshed out, with their backgrounds and motivations all clear. The subplots, like what happened between the women in Thunder Hearts after the band broke up or the mysterious singer Seven threatening to dominate the music scene on an anonymous app, were so well written and kept me engaged from the very beginning of the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed For The Record, and couldn't put it down. If you love a second-chance romance with good banter and great character development, I would definitely recommend For The Record for a fun summer read. I can't wait to check out Emma Lord's next work. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

More review to come later. I am not capable of writing one right now because I am in complete and utter shock. This one had no right to be as good as it was. If you can get your hands on it, run, don’t walk. I promise it’s worth it.

I fully was not expecting to love this one as much as I did but I was delightfully surprised. Sam and Mackenzie were great together. Whether they were flirting or fighting or avoiding one another you could feel the tension and the chemistry coming off the page. The musicians tripe is one that is tricky and has to be written well for it to not be cheesy and this one definitely was. It felt fun and authentic and even the flashback were written great. They didn’t take you out of the story but added much needed information and background and some fun moments with the whole band. Their banter was great and I was rooting for them to be together the whole. When they finally were it was satisfying and this was just such a fun book to read. All the side characters were great too. Definitely recommend.

3.75 stars.

I am on a wild string of reading second-chance romances so far this summer, and I'm happy to report, this was another fun one!
The timeline was done a little different in this one, and I kinda liked that style. Instead of getting full chapters "in the past", we more got to learn about the characters' past through them thinking about or discussing it in the present. It made it feel more like their growth from the moments had some real impact, which I liked. TBH I don't know I am explaining that very well, but I mean, that's why I am a reader, not a writer LOL.

The presence of music in the story was really cool. I'm kind of just a sucker for music in any way I can get it, just like a book. I loved the plot point of Mackenzie and Sam having to recreate moments from their previous touring life together for inspiration to write new songs.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this to read ahead of publication in August <3

Definitely recommend checking this out when it's released if you like any of the following: slightly cheesy but lots of fun second chance romance, humorous banter, music, secretive things, lots of different family and friend dynamics, and my fav part? Pretty good personal growth for both FMC and MMC.
PS there are several spicy chapters, I think it's 19 and 24, so if you'd prefer to modify your reading to fit what fancies you, you'll still get all the good story bypassing those bits.

Emma Lord does it again! This book started out a bit slow and/or confusing for me. Once I got the characters straight, I really enjoyed this rivals to friends storyline, set in the music industry. Emma Lord does an incredible job building a fun storyline with sweet, fun details that make the narrative “sing” (pun intended). I loved the subtle, deeper plot lines as well. All in all, a great read!

Mackenzie and Sam used to be in competing rock bands. They used to love to hate each other and played up the tumultous nature of their will they/won't they relationship for the public audience. Now they are washed up and out of the spotlight. In an attempt to promote new music, they are forced to work together again, and old sparks are reignited.

This book was fine. I liked it. It was fairly cute and entertaining and easy to read. It really didn't stick with me though after I finished it, and I even had to refresh my memory on what happened before writing this review. I think this book fit exactly what I would expect in this genre: quick read, some fun moments, a little romance, not overly memorable.

Like a light-hearted more romantic version of Daisy Jones and the Six! I loved the tension and the story and was thankful it didn’t have too much miscommunication. You could really tell these characters grew up and matured and were in the perfect place to be together. Loved it!

★★★ A Catchy Second‑Chance Romance with Musical Spark, Yet Slightly Uneven

Emma Lord’s adult romance reunites former musical rivals—pop icon Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze—for a comeback album, combining heartfelt themes with behind‐the‐scenes industry energy.

For the Record is a breezy, emotionally attuned rom‑com with musical charm and earnest emotional stakes. Read it for the soundtrack‑driven romance, single‑dad dynamics, and musical ambition but note that pacing and character development might feel uneven.

You're in for music fueled chemistry and a slow burn payoff with decent emotional depth.

Where it doesn't hit for me was a bit of midsection drag that loses momentum and a supporting cast that is under utilized.

Overall: ★★★☆☆
A pleasant, character‑centered read packed with musical nostalgia and emotional honesty—though it occasionally skids in momentum and leans on genre formulas.

Thanks to Net Galley and the author for this eARC.

4.5 Stars

For the Record is a great adult debut from one of my favorite YA authors, Emma Lord! This enemies-to-lovers trope is the perfect vibe if you wished Matty Healy wasn't such a mess and Taylor was, well, Taylor! Set in the world of the music industry, two formal rival artists are set to make a comeback, together...reluctantly and almost against their will (and their better judgment). Their former tension starts to come back to the surface, and that hate, well, it might just be love. Emma has such a way of sucking you in quickly and having you rooting for the messy yet totally human characters she has crafted. I absolutely devoured this book and can't wait for everyone to read it. Maybe Netflix should hit Emma up for the rights to make a movie? JUST SAYING.

For the Record is a sweet second chance romance. Mackenzie and Sam have each been through a lot since their bands toured together. The last thing they expect is to be thrown back together when they are asked to make a joint comeback album. Highly recommended for fans of music-themed romance with a dash of drama and undeniable chemistry

For the Record is the newest adult fiction title from Emma Lord. Some brief mature scenes and language contribute to this being marketed for more mature readers. I really enjoyed this plot and the main characters Mackenzie and Sam. As a music lover and a fangirl, I enjoyed those aspects of the storyline. Mackenzie and Sam could have been burning up the pages even more if Lord's witty banter had been woven into the dialogue more. Overall, this was a satisfying read, and I'll continue to hype Lord's novels to anyone who asks me for recommendations. 3.5 stars

This story was so cute. The tension was top tier . I also loved how it delved into the complexity of copyright and artists’ ability to own their own work in spite of executives.

This book had potential but it fell short for me. It dragged on quite a bit and I never really felt connected to the characters. I was bummed! I wish I liked it more.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book :)

It’s good!! There are a few crickety parts, but overall a very heartfelt and fun read.

Both characters have been in love with each other for years but have been heartbroken, so it’s very angsty to hear their thoughts. The cast of characters apart from the mains makes this a delight! Sam’s family, Mackenzie’s old bandmates, Isla and Twyla etc. were fun enough to balance out the mains’ angst.


Not sure how realistic the portrayals of the music industry and songwriting were, but whatevs this is all imaginary.

“Thunder Hearts” and “Candy Shard” as their band names ew kill me now.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

Little did I know when I was offered this galley, just how closely it would hit.
I am a huge fan of Emma Lord's writing, so I immediately said, "Yes!" to this one. The cover was adorable, and that, mixed with the author, was all I needed to know.
Emma Lord has such a beautiful way of writing characters, providing each with their own struggles and backstory. I loved every character in this book, even when several made me want to shake them.
The rivalry between the main characters is adorable, even before we get to "the good stuff." The history between them is enough to make you go crazy with anticipation.
One of my favorite parts of this whole book was the way that Sam created his little family. The whole idea of building that close-knit village to provide for someone you love was absolutely beautiful.
All that said, it was Mackenzie's story that has stuck with me. I didn't know when I first received the offer, but the surgery that the FMC had was one I would have between the time I accepted the offer and the time I started the book. In fact, the day I started the book was the same day I started meditation for the condition that caused my surgery. Mackenzie's story aligned so directly with mine that it had me in tears. From the first scary test results, to the news of needing surgery, to the fear of losing my voice, and even how she describes the feeling after her final results; I felt like the author was portraying my own experience. I've learned through the experience of having my own "Joyce" (in fact, several) that this is more common than people realize, and it's nice to feel seen in this way. I'm so thankful that this story exists for anyone who has gone through this and felt completely invalidated in their feelings.

for the record, this had the potential to be interesting—fun, even—but it simply wasn’t. initially, i considered giving it two stars, but then i realized that was me being unnecessarily generous, considering how little i enjoyed any aspect of this book. a textbook case of me reading romance (most of the time)!! the rom-com didn’t rom-com. the banter didn’t banter. the “swoon-worthy” moments were nonexistent. but the cringeworthy moments were indisputably and aggressively prevalent!

my first emma lord book was a flop. not exactly shocking, frankly. every time i try to find a new comfort romance author, this happens!!

this was 283 pages, and while i would normally consider that a short read, it felt LONG. ARDUOUS. GRUELING. LACKLUSTER. i found myself asking when this was over. it just kept on dragging on and on.

this felt like reading fanfiction—the kind with thinly veiled celebrity insertions and forced references. my favourite!! taylor swift was name-dropped on what felt like every four lines (i don't hate taylor swift, i used to be a swiftie, but it gets to a point)!! twyla (tyla)!! and ticktune!! every mention of ticktune shaved a year off my life!!

i’m also not sure what she thought she was doing with the incessant use of full names and unfunny uses of them. i'm probably just being overly fussy because i found no redeeming aspects that would make me blissfully ignore it, but i was IRRITATED (an understatement). mackenzie waters. sam blaze. we get it?? sam’s chapters were rough work. when he kept saying corny stuff like “i’m drowning in mackenzie waters.” “i’m in too deep with mackenzie waters.” and “i don't want to get out”. GET OUT. i half-expected mackenzie to say something like, “my soul is blazing hot because of sam blaze since he's so hot and sexy.” thankfully, she refrained. had she gone there, i would’ve hauled myself off a cliff.

though, for that matter, her inner monologue wasn't much better. she kept saying stuff like “sam blaze is mine.” “sam blaze is a bad boy.” “sam blaze is sexy.” sam blaze sam blaze sam blaze. girl, i’m about to set myself ablaze.

and i’m sorry but i cannot take a man seriously if he’s in a rock band called candy shard. that sounds like a fragrance from claires.

anyway, essentially i'm a victorian. i'm not big on spice. so perhaps you may think i'm being unreasonable, but to me the spice felt awkward and forced. one second they’re talking about their exes and family trauma, and the next he's shoving a finger into her?? it felt as if it was implemented just so it could be categorized as an adult romance. sometimes i even forgot i was reading about grown adults. i got flashbacks from the cheat sheet.

admittedly, there were many objectively “emotional” scenes, yet i had no reaction whatsoever other than physically cringing from their dialogue and every time he called her sparkles. ABOLISH IT. i'm tired.

i did appreciate the intent behind the emotional arcs—the themes of family, friendship, identity—but it fell flat for me. i also didn’t care enough about anyone to be impacted.

maybe i just had a bad day. maybe i should just go reread you deserve each other before i spontaneously combust. maybe i will rate it higher in the future? (probably not)

Loved this! The beginning felt a bit rushed (we truly are just dropped RIGHT IN) but otherwise this was just really enjoyable. Felt a little bit like fanfic of Taylor Swift and Matty Healy if he wasn't a scumbag. So it was fun to see the turnaround there.

As always Emma Lord is just really fun to read.

This was a cute rom-com. The single dad trope is one I'll always adore. This was my first Emma Lord read, but I love rom-coms, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. Thank you for this ARC!

This was overall a super fun read! I love music and dance related stories and I enjoyed the songs they wrote about each other. This was my first book from the author and I look forward to reading more of her books! A second chance trope has to be done well for me to enjoy and I felt like they picked up right where they left off - I loved how they still knew each other so well after years apart!