This was such a sweet love story! It felt like a Taylor Swift song in book form, which made it so fun to read! The weaving timelines sometimes made it hard to keep track of what was going on, but it was easy to overlook that when Mack and Sam took center stage, learning each other for the first time all over again, in an entirely new way. It was particularly exciting to see how lyrics about their relationship formed in various points in time -- I loved the scene where they exchanged tidbits of lyrics that were based on each other. The overarching Tick Tune story sometimes lost its way, for me, but I did love getting to see the Thunder Hearts girls find their way back to each other. Oh, and I loved Ben so much. So, so much.

This was a really fun read! The characters developed nicely and were very sweet. I enjoyed it so much and will recommend to others.

this gave what needed to be given!! my first emma lord and certainly not my last!! If you love music, entertaining characters, second chance, angst, fun plot, easy-to-read writing – this book is for you. i literally binged this so hard that i didn’t even realize time was passing. I was relly entertaining, loved all about the story, it was unique!

Emma Lord is one of my very favorites. I've loved all her YA and now I've loved her adult stories as well.

This was such a fun popstar/punk rock romance. It wasn't as gritty (ie, there's not really a crazy rock and roll lifestyle happening) but I liked that it was a continuation of their past relationship. I loved that they had both matured now. It was a perfect rom com with a sweet ending.

Thank you so much to Emma Lord and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC. This one was a bit hard for me to get through. Im not the biggest second chance romance trope person. But if you love them give this book a chance. It is a great story but just not my cup of tea.

Emma Lord’s For The Record is a charming, cheesy romance that blends humor, emotion, and just the right amount of spice. While it took a little time to find its rhythm, the story quickly pulled me in with its irresistible enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the magnetic chemistry between its leads.

The novel centers on Mackenzie Waters, a former pop sensation navigating a career crisis after vocal surgery forces her to sing under a pseudonym, and Sam Blaze, an ex-punk rockstar who’s traded the spotlight for a quieter life raising his young son. Once fierce rivals in the music world, their explosive on-stage clashes hid a deeper connection that never fully materialized. When they’re brought together for a joint comeback album, old tensions resurface, but so do the sparks they thought they’d left behind.

What makes this story stand out is its balance of wit, warmth, and emotional depth. The banter between Mackenzie and Sam is sharp and entertaining, making their transition from rivals to collaborators to something more utterly satisfying. Their journey is filled with moments of vulnerability, growth, and undeniable chemistry, and the dual POV allows readers to connect deeply with both characters.

Mackenzie’s character is a highlight—she’s quirky and relatable, with a journey of self-discovery that feels authentic and inspiring. Her struggles with identity and self-worth, paired with her determination to reclaim her voice, make her a compelling heroine. Sam, on the other hand, is the perfect grumpy-yet-tender counterpart. His dedication to his son and his internal conflict as he reconnects with Mack add layers to his character that make him impossible not to love.

The supporting cast, particularly the strong female friendships, adds warmth to the story. These relationships highlight themes of found family and the importance of having a solid support system, making the narrative feel even more grounded and heartfelt.

The emotional payoff is well worth the wait, with moments that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear or two. The spice is subtle but effective, adding just enough heat to complement the story’s sweetness.

For The Record is a celebration of second chances, personal growth, and the transformative power of music. It’s a story about finding your voice, embracing vulnerability, and discovering that the greatest hits in life are often the ones you never saw coming.

The only negative to this book was the very cringey band names! I couldn't take them seriously and had to ignore them throughout the book.

Shared review at Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7397445057

Timing is everything & bad timing for a relationship can either break it or put a pause on it until the timing to truly meant to be. That's the synopsis of MacKenzie & Sam's relationship in For The Record by the talented writer Emma Lord. Told from both main characters points of view, this is a lovely story with plenty of swoon for the romantics at heart.
There are lots of great characters in this story & some really interesting perspectives into the music industry. Thank you, #NetGalley! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book with all thoughts and opinions being my own. If you enjoy romance, a bit of drama, plenty of self reflection, & a little passion, then you'll enjoy For The Record by Emma Lord.

I have read and loved just everything Emma Lord has published until now. 'For the Record' was hard for me because I just could not get into it. This started off slow and there were so many characters that I just did not care about. I may have to give this one another chance in the future, but it just didn't work for me right now. This may be for you if you love: books about musicians, multiple POVs, second chance romance.

This was a really cute book. I love romances where the main pairing are in the music industry. Mackenzie and Sam were rivals as they toured together with the respective bands, and years later they’re put together as a duo to relaunch their careers. Of course the chemistry is there as we revisit their past as well.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! That being said, I finished it in less than 2 hours – it is such a quick read. I am just now starting to read more contemporary romance books thanks to one of my best friends, so I am still swept up in the cute details of a fun romance. However, this book feels tropey as all get out. But there were still moments that had me grinning and kicking my feet. The subplots felt pointless as if the author only truly cared about the two main characters and felt like extra needed to be thrown in (it didn’t). I am a book trash panda who will read and enjoy anything though - so I really loved this quick easy read. It's super fun, perfect for a light summer read and definitely made my day! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book! This review is my own thoughts and opinions and feelings and shout out to whoever reads this review for letting me share my thoughts on this book with you!

This musical rom com has a mix of pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Same Blaze in a battle of music and love. They have to learn to work together when faced with adversity but then things get complicated when love gets mixed in.

I really enjoyed seeing the characters progress in this story. The story was well paced and well written. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured it in just a few sittings.

For The Record is my first Emma Lord book and it has all the feels I've wanted from a romance book. There's a lot of tropes (I love to see them!) and they're all done really well: the bad boy, the enemies-to-lovers, the slow-burn, the he fell first (and harder!), the one racecar bed!, found family, second chances, and so much more..

Emma Lord's writing style comes across as effortlessly vibrant, which just shows how masterful she is at her craft. For The Record is sweet, witty, sentimental, warm, and tugs at all the heartstrings in an endearing laugh-crying manner. Mackenzie (the FMC) and Sam (the MMC) also had enough going on in their own lives other than the romance that it seemed realistic.

The character arcs of both these characters went a significant development in terms of maturity and just adulting over the course of this book and it didn't seem overly dependent on circumstances. There were also just enough hints dropped about another love story that may be coming. Kudos to Emma Lord for putting this love story out, and I definitely will be jumping into all of her other books.

For The Record is an essential read for all fans of romance and HEAs.

Another big hit from Emma Lord. This is her second adult romance and she takes on the world of former pop stars fighting to get back to the top of the charts. I love the angle of former stage rivals turned enemies turned friends turned lovers. It's layered and nuanced, with plenty of heart and heat, just like the best love song. There's a couple things that felt out of place, though. The nickname Sparkles doesn't seem to fit her, or their history. And, I think I've seen the "can't swim" storyline enough for one lifetime. Maybe two. Still, despite these little nitpicky things, it's an adorable book, perfect for a rainy day read, that will leave you humming the sweetest tune.

A fun story for music lovers, this follows Mac and Sam as they reinvent themselves after being big when they were younger. There was always chemistry, and now they are seeing it through. It's a second chance romance, but also a coming of age story where they really grow into themselves as mature adults, with a host of situations that must be navigated. There was a great cast of supporting characters and a variety of fun situations...although at times the pacing felt off, with exciting parts being glossed over and less interesting parts dragging out.

New favorite Emma Lord novel!

I absolutely devoured this book in less than 24 hours on a race weekend while taking care of two toddlers. It was that enjoyable!

The dynamic between Sam and Mackenzie had me in a chokehold. The individual character development and their relationship was so well written. The layers of the story was enriched by their friends and family.


After recently reading Over The Influence by Joanna “JoJo” Levesque I really appreciate the way Emma Lord portrayed the music industry and executives.

Will update links to include videos closer to publication

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of For the Record by Emma Lord.

Two years ago, Mackenzie (Mack) and Sam captivated audiences through their respective bands until both fell apart. In the present, both live separate lives. Sam, learning that he had a son, has pursued a more quiet life as he raises his son. For Mack, she underwent a surgery that changed her singing voice. With the prospect of reuniting for a joint album, Sam and Mack are once again reunited in this rivals to lovers story.

I was sold on Sam and Mack together from the beginning. I would say the highlight for me was these two finding each other again as I wasn’t as drawn into the music aspects of the story. I enjoy stories with rivals who have unspoken feelings for the other and if you also love this as part of a rivals to lovers trope, then this is definitely a book I would recommend checking out.

Emma Lord has done it again! Her books have always brought joy to my life, and For the Record is no exception. The characters are wonderfully well-rounded — though infuriating at times — and their polar-opposite personalities make their dynamic all the more compelling. Even their last names seem to push against each other. The banter crackles with wit, and the songwriting sessions are nothing short of magical. While the pacing threw me off occasionally, the emotional payoff was worth it.

Lord has a gift for creating heartwarming, laugh-out-loud rom-coms, and this one holds its own alongside beloved favorites like Tweet Cute and When You Get the Chance. If you loved those, For the Record will hit all the right notes — and maybe even leave a new song stuck in your heart.

I really enjoyed this next book from Emma Lord! This first leap into adult fiction / romance was really well done and I loved evolution of the characters. The MMC Secretly crushing is a favorite trope for sure and it was well done here!

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

Overall 3.5 stars for me.

This was a quick and easy read with dual POV, which I always appreciate! Unfortunately I felt that it was a bit slow and I found myself wanting to either skim or read something else at times. I felt like the characters could have used more depth and growth.

I did find the characters entertaining and I loved the music aspect! It’s definitely a good binge read, but wasn’t quite a 4 star for me!