This was adorable. I love Emma Lord's take on romance. she always has the right amount of spice and cute.

Emma Lord is the queen of romcom and this time she returns with an entertainment-industry themed love story. It's a fun romp with her signature quirky characters that makes for a great summer read.

Emma Lord delivers an engaging and heartfelt story with For the Record, blending music industry drama with a second-chance romance that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Mackenzie’s struggle to reclaim her voice—literally and figuratively—after vocal surgery is deeply relatable, and her reunion with former bandmate Sam is filled with the perfect mix of tension, banter, and slow-burning chemistry. Watching these two navigate their past, their present collaboration, and their unresolved feelings kept me hooked from start to finish. The behind-the-scenes look at the music world, the songwriting process, and the emotional weight of their history added an extra layer of depth that made the story feel even more immersive.

Beyond the romance, what really stood out to me was the strong cast of side characters and the themes of personal growth, forgiveness, and redefining success. Sam’s role as a devoted father made him even more lovable, and the dynamic between Mackenzie, Hannah, and Serena added layers of friendship and personal evolution. There were moments when the pacing felt a little uneven, but overall, this book had me laughing, swooning, and rooting for Mackenzie to find both her voice and her place in the world. If you love music-centered stories with emotional depth, witty dialogue, and a romance that feels like an old song you never stopped loving, For the Record is a must-read.

Review

I've heard of this author before but have never read any of her books! This is my first one. The concept is very up my alley so I was hooked from the idea! The characters are interesting and Sam with Ben! I love the idea of them coming together when they both need it! The duet and everything leading up to it happening. I also love how each section is separated I wonder how it looks in the finished copy of this book! The origin of him finding out about Ben and Lizzie finding out about Ben. Serena def has beef! The fashion show! The duet being posted about. That's so messed up!! The two boys, who is she gonna choose, sam obviously!! That song writing! Woah what a small world for sure!! Them both crushing on each other hard and the fact that both are kind of trying not to but can't help it! I will say that even though I rated it 3 stars, it is a good book, I just got disconnected from it for some reason, it didn't fit well with me and that's why I rated it the way that I did. The whole seven thing and the whole app thing! I wonder what's going to happen with all these plot lines! The whole dad thing was very interesting. That scene and her singing! The rocket thing. The dad and son moment as well as the moment with Serena about seven! The last song and him figuring out she was seven and having to deal with Ben after? The world learning about seven! The heartbreaking conversation and Omg Hannah and Grayson? The whole show and them at the end! The prologue! This was a good book, don't mistake my 3 stars for a bad one!!!

Quote: "'id rather chance fucking up a great thing with you than settle for a good one on my own.'"

Rated it three stars out of five!

I loved Mackenzie and Sam! I’m typically not into rockstar stories but this one was great. Their chemistry was perfect and their characters had great depth. Would totally recommend!

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up! Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! I went into this with no expectations, just excited because I’ve heard good things about this author’s young adult books and the premise sounded very interesting. A second chance romance between two lead singers of separate bands that toured the world together? Sign me up!

I made it about halfway through when I realized this was not a YA book, which is my fault for not looking it up more. There were parts of this book I couldn’t tell if it was trying to be more adult or more young adult - the themes were more mature, but often the behaviors of a lot of the side characters felt very juvenile. I’m not a big fan of “Gen Z” language in books, so the whole “TikTune” storyline took me out of the story several times. I think I would’ve preferred if the app was just not named at all. Or named something completely different than alluding something that already exists in real life. I personally think this book would’ve been better if it was written and marketed as a young adult book.

Overall, this wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t very memorable for me. I did enjoy the themes of redemption between the main female character and her previous bandmates, and I liked seeing the main male character’s relationship with his son. I do look forward to reading more of Emma Lord’s YA books in the future!

I have read a few of Emma Lord's other books and they never fail to disappoint. I enjoyed this fun second chance romance.
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

I would say more of a 2.5 for me. This one started really strong and I was into them being in "rival" bands but I felt somewhere along the way too many things were happening. By the end it felt like there was 4 different story lines happening and they all sort of got lost. I think the whole Tick Tune thing could have been scrapped and just have her keeping the Seven secret their 3rd act break-up. Side note I thought the band names were silly and I never could remember which band was which. I liked the idea of them writing their album but I felt like we barely got any of it.

Cover design and title is 10/10. Cover is so adorable.

I adore Emma Lord. She continues to deliver time and time again. I am so grateful that I got early access to this one! Thank you.

This book really just was not for me and it was apparent from the beginning. The characters were not relatable and felt childish. Even the details were cringey… “spicy lemongrass popcorn” and “fuzzy neon-pink cow print bucket hat she is rocking outside in the eight-five degree early August heat.” I really, really couldn’t get past it. I would argue that this would be more appropriate as a YA book with the appropriate cuts to the explicit scenes. I’m sure there are people who will enjoy this book but I was not one of them. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Books have always been my “happy place.” The genre that I can never get enough of is romance. Although my preferred genre is romantic suspense books, at my core I am still a fan of traditional romance. I also enjoy books where the setting is the music industry. Because of this, I was extremely excited to get a chance read this book.

I tend to be loyal to certain authors, which makes me hesitant to read books from a new author. That is because it can sometimes take me a while to get used to their writing style. I didn’t have any problems with this book at all. I liked that it was told in first person, with alternating perspectives. This is starting to become my favorite style.

I can honestly say that this book hooked me from the very beginning. I liked both of the main characters equally, which is not always something that is the case with me. I also really liked the supporting characters…also something that is not always the case.

All in all, this book was one that I truly enjoyed. I was very satisfied with the ending!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This book was so cozy and lovely, I cherished every second of it! I love the way Lord writes and this will not be my last from her

The book is very well put together. I enjoyed the book. The character development is chef’s kiss. I really enjoyed reading the story. The storyline was easy to follow and the supporting characters were well integrated. I would’ve liked to see more lyrics included. It would’ve definitely added to the allure of the book.

Loved Emma Lord’s ya books and I’m so glad she’s branching into the adult romance space! Mackenzie & Sam’s story gave Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez vibes and I devoured it!

I have loved all of Emma's previous books so I'm not surprised that I also loved For the Record.

I adored Mackenzie and Sam - everything about them was just the best and being able to see both of their perspectives really opened up a deeper connection with them as characters as they grow individually as well as with one another.

Second chance romance isn't normally my favorite romance trope but Emma does it so beautifully that I found myself questioning whether I dislike the trope or if I just hadn't found the right book yet. The romantic relationship was amazing, but it was also really refreshing to see female friendships portrayed this way. Mackenzie's journey with friends and romance was so sweet to be able to be a part of.

There were parts that felt a bit slow but honestly it still felt right, sometimes slowing down the pace of the story allows us to sit and ruminate a bit and I feel like I really enjoyed that this time.

While The Break-Up Pact is still my top Emma book, this one is definitely in my Top 3 and I can't wait to be able to get a physical copy to add to my shelves

For the Record by Emma Lord is a heartfelt and engaging story about Mackenzie, a former pop star who’s trying to rebuild her career after a vocal surgery and a very public falling out with her former bandmate, Sam. The tension between Mackenzie and Sam is electric from the very beginning, and their journey from resentment to reconnection is both emotional and satisfying. I loved how relatable Mackenzie’s struggles felt—trying to reclaim her identity, navigate her insecurities, and figure out what she truly wants in life and love.

The chemistry between Mackenzie and Sam is undeniable, and their banter is sharp, witty, and full of emotional depth. The slow-burn romance is perfectly paced, and I found myself rooting for them to work through their past and find their way back to each other. The music industry backdrop adds a unique and immersive layer to the story, and it’s clear Emma Lord did her research to make the setting feel authentic.

That said, while I adored the central romance and Mackenzie’s personal growth, there were moments where the pacing felt a little uneven, and I wished some of the side characters had been given more depth. But honestly, those are minor quibbles in an otherwise captivating and emotionally resonant story.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romances with a side of music industry drama, this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s a story about forgiveness, self-discovery, and the power of love—both for others and for yourself. Emma Lord has delivered another winner with this one!

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the arc.

This was such a cute second-chance celebrity romance. Mackenzie and Sam have been flirting around each other for basically their entire careers but got stuck in a bit of a "right person wrong time" scenario.

When their label forces them to work together they grow closer over songwriting, and everything feels like it progresses so naturally from there.

I basically read the entire book in one sitting because I was having such a fun time.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had all of Emma Lord’s signature sparkle and fun and is a great addition to her adult romcom repitoire.

I thought our main love interests were fun, interesting and had a compelling chemistry but I found the friendship storylines to be even more interesting. Tbh I wish Lord had dig deeper into developing these secondary relationships, it would have been nice to see some greater depth.

I also felt the plot dragged a bit after the halfway point. The main conflict also felt really disconnected from the rest of the plot so that’s why I took a star away.

For my closed door girlies, there is an open door scene in the second half of the novel and a few suggestive scenes throughout. Take that as you will.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

For the Record is a well-written, charming rom-com that had me hooked from start to finish. With great characters, a second chance, will they-won't they romance, and more than a dash of celebrity world, I can't wait to recommend this to everyone.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its fantastic cast of characters. Sam and Mackenzie are both complex, well-developed characters with clear arcs. As former rivals in the music scene, their initial antagonism is palpable, but it’s also clear that there’s more to their story than meets the eye. Over the course of the book, I loved seeing both characters evolve—Mackenzie dealing with the aftermath of a vocal surgery and hiding behind a pseudonym, and Sam adjusting to his quiet life as a single father after stepping away from the spotlight. Their personal growth adds so much depth to the story.

The plot and romance between Sam and Mackenzie is well-paced with their will they-won't they dance creating tension and excitement throughout the book. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I was finding myself getting excited as they ventured to write each new song. I absolutely loved how the author tied their first romance to this second chance romance, without it feeling too messy. Yes, there was some level of betrayal, but it wasn't something SO huge that the characters couldn't get over it. This was beautifully done and I'm so glad I was able to get an early copy.

I loved it so much I wanted MORE!!

The angst and emotion, mixed with the nitty gritty of the life of musicians. I can’t even put into words the emotion I felt during the rooftop scene. “Please don’t do this. Please don’t go.” Someone get me a mop.