So, I initially loved the concept of this novel. It hit all the right notes (pun intended) for me, but fell pretty flat. The chemistry was pretty good between the two, but the plot felt cliche and the back and forth between timelines was too jarring. There was way too much tell and not enough show, and the language was fairly juvenile for an adult romance. It felt very YA. Overall I think this is a fine quick beach read, but I wouldn’t keep it on my bookshelf to re-read.

So, I love romcoms, but it is rare that I’d describe one as unputdownable. I’ll make an exception, however, for Emma Lord’s For the Record. The reader knows the two main characters are made for each other, but the individual challenges and secrets they hold keep the reader wanting to know how they all will be resolved.

Sam and Mackenzie have been successful members of rival rock bands, but for a variety of reasons, have been out of the music business for 2 years. Both want to go back, but find they can only get a record deal if they do a duet album. Technically, this is an enemies to lovers romance, but since the reader gets both points of vies, we know they were never truly enemies.

What I loved about the book is that all the characters are likeable, there is no silly plot device to keep breaking up the characters, and there are examples of triumphing over over dysfunctional family issues and other challenges. I actually had tears over the joyful ending of the book. This is definitely a feel good story.

It’s GOLDEN.

Romance. Two former celebrities stepping back into the spotlight. Single dad. Enemies to lovers. A secret identity. Found family. This book truly had it all—what more could you ask for?

Mackenzie, a former girl band pop star, is working through her past the only way she knows how—through music. Sam, a rival from her past, is facing his own career struggles. When their label pairs them up to reignite their fame, old wounds resurface, and long-buried feelings refuse to stay hidden. But as they navigate the truth about their past, they also uncover something unexpected: a second chance at love, family, and self-acceptance.

This book had me tearing up one moment and grinning like an idiot the next. It was nostalgic, heartfelt, and full of those little moments that make your heart ache in the best way. Finished in 24 hours, could not put it down!

I’m always drawn to stories where the FMC is in the midst of an existential crisis—it makes them feel so real. And when Mackenzie’s struggles included a thyroid condition? I might as well be reading about myself (minus the pop star career, of course).

I absolutely loved everything about this book and can’t wait for it to be out in the world for everyone to experience!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Emma Lord for the ARC!

Love, love, love this story! Very sweet and romantic. I enjoyed the love story as well as the music side plot. It gave the story extra depth. Will definitely check out more by this author!!

For the Record” follows former rival band members Mackenzie Waters and Samuel Blaze as they attempt to navigate a new partnership. Mack has been extremely unlucky in love, always falling for the wrong guys. Worst among them is Sam. She has closed the book on those types of men, ready to live her next chapter on her terms. Sam is a former bad boy who walked away from fame and from whatever he could have had with Mack when he found out he was a dad. Now he’s trying his best to be there for his son while figuring out who he wants to be for himself. Their managers team up and realize there are waves (and money) to be made by bringing these two “enemies” back together for a duet album. But what if Sam wasn’t the wrong guy but the right guy at the wrong time? And what happens when they get another chance at happily ever after as they are now?

Ok I’ll start by saying that as a true Swiftie, I loved that Mackenzie had a sort of Taylor-esque feel about her. America’s sweetheart who has had a lot of bad luck in love. Fans everywhere feel compelled and even entitled to provide their opinions on her entire dating history. Author Emma Lord captures that and the impact it can have on those people in the spotlight well. That was fun for me so I wanted to note it here.

I felt like the story was a little bit rushed and could have been drawn out to create more depth of emotion and more investment from the reader. More detailed flashbacks could have really pulled us into the slow burn of it and who doesn’t love a good slow burn? I loved this book for what it was, I just wanted more of it! That said, for a quick comfort read, this will do the trick. Lord’s writing was too easy for me to absolutely devour and generally flowed very well. I’ll definitely check out her other books. Overall this wasn’t a 5 star book for me but it was a sweet story that kept me invested and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. For fans of second chance or rivals to lovers tropes, this book is for you. Bursting with witty banter and stolen glances, it’s a fun rom-com treat.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it made me smile so damn much.

Thank you to St Martins Press for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Bumping it up to 4.5 ⭐️ bc I gotta say I didn’t expect to love this book! I was hesitant bc I didn’t love “The Break Up Pact” last year but this did what it had to do for me! I love a second chance lovers trope and dual POV. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the musician/rockstar aspect to it worried it’d try to emulate Daisy Jones but no, it stayed true to itself! + a fun read. I can’t wait to see what Emma Lord writes next but deff put this on your TBR this summer 🎶🎤❤️‍🔥

A big thank you to Netgalley & St. Martins Press for the
ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication August 12,2025

Received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and it was honestly my least favorite that I’ve read in a long time. The story wasn’t very compelling, and neither were the characters. It was just overall uninteresting. Disappointing for a book from a promising author.

Oh my stars! You know how you sometimes just know you’re going to love something?

From the moment Mack fell into Sam’s arms, I knew this book was going to tear me apart emotionally before sewing me right back together.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Love at first sight for Sam and Mackenzie, but a rollercoaster of finding their way back to one another. I only put this book down when I absolutely HAD to.

I can’t wait to have a physical copy of my bookshelf.

Finally, I’ve found a book by this author that I completely enjoyed.
I always liked her writing, however, my problem in the past was the long narrative, long chapters, and long ideas between dialogues, lots of inner thought getting lost in the main action. All those things happen in this book, but this time, it works really well. I like the flashbacks to explain the history between the main characters and how they help to develop the story.
Also, I like both FMC and MMC, they complement each other.
Things that didn’t work for me:
-Serena's big secret, which wasn’t really a secret at all, and all the drama around her was over the top.
-Not fond of the coincidence to fix or solve a situation.
-As a lawyer myself, those lawyers are useless, I get that the idea is to show awareness about everything a new artist can face through his career all the unfairness, but c’mon, these lawyers were totally unrealistic.
-I have a weakness for stories with kids, but the one in this story ruined it for me. He wasn’t a six years old, more like a grown-up man with a bad attitude. Not cute, not funny.
Overall: I like that everything happens fast not secrets between the MCs, more like stubbornness but that is another thing.
It’s a good, fun read.
100% recommended.
I received an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. And I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

https://thesecondchapterjm.wixsite.com/blog/blog

I was thrilled to be given the chance to read this as an ARC and wow did it not disappoint. The push and pull of Mack and Sam had me invested immediately! I’m not usually a fan of second chance but this was done in such a way that I am scrambling for more of Emma’s works!

I've said this many times before and I'll say it again, I absolutely love You Have a Match, have read it multiple times, and I'll be rereading it over and over. I didn't enjoy Lord's books to the same level I read after (likely because of my high expectations), until The Rival which was recently released.

This book was such a joy to read. I was hooked from page one and absolutely devoured the story. The characters are so likable, and I could instantly empathize with them. I've read books featuring celebrities and musicians that get very real and though I do appreciate that, it gets quite heavy. I love how in this book, the author manages to strike a great balance between showing the authentic nature of the industry and focusing on the characters themselves.

Like with You Have a Match, the author makes every relationship in this story very meaningful and writes a bunch of memorable conversations. I found myself super intrigued every time Serena appeared on the page just because the tension between her and Mackenzie was so compelling. Then there's also Hannah and Rocket, amazing! I found Sam's relationships with his family and the whole dynamic in itself to be so unique and the way it was penned down kept me turning the pages.

Sam and Mackenzie have a wonderful bond. Reading their banter and the layers of their personality uncover with every conversation was delightful. I will say though, this book is intended for an adult audience and has some steamy scenes which I skipped because that's what I prefer. I don't think doing that took away from my reading experience much but also skipping spicy sequences is something I do regularly. Not a dealbreaker for me but if you're used to Lord's YA romcoms, this one's a little different.
 
I will absolutely be rereading this book, and I hope there's an audio version because I just love audiobooks. Highly recommended!

Sam + Mack 🫶🏼🎸🎤🎶 rockstar romance? Yes please! this book was SO cute. I loved the single dad trope! And guess what?! There’s no third act breakup 🙌🏼 I truly enjoyed this book and ate it up so fast. I love Emma Lord so I knew I would!

Thanks for the arc NetGalley!

i absolutely ADORED the break up pact by emma lord, and was so excited for this one too and OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! this one was perfect to me oh boy!!!!!!!! mackenzie and sam’s chemistry and banter was TOP NOTCH!!! as an emily henry fan, a music girl, and second chance angsty romances, THIS WAS PERFECTION!!!!!!

This is my first Emma Lord book and I was not disappointed. The main characters are celebrities in the music industry. Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are like water and fire. They were members of rival bands and the two of them had a rivalry of their own. Mackenzie is a pop girl and Sam is a bad boy punk rocker.

The two are paired together by their labels to become a music duo. This is their only chance to continue making music. There is tension and banter between Mackenzie and Sam. There are some elements of friendship and found family.

This book is written in dual POVs and the writing felt pretty YA. However, I enjoyed the story and the characters. I would definitely recommend it.

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

This was a very sweet story and is probably closer to a 4 than a 3 star book. I quite enjoyed getting lost in this story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Emma Lord for an advanced reader copy of this book.

I am swooning so hard.

The banter, the chemistry, the mutual pinning, all of it. This was so cute, and I had such a fun time reading this. Although the whole social media bit felt a little cheesey, it was also relatable because of everything going on with tiktok.

Definitely recommend if you love banter.

For The Record by Emma Lord is an electric blend of romance, music, and second chances. Mackenzie and Sam’s story crackles with tension, banter, and undeniable chemistry as they navigate a high-stakes comeback album while confronting their complicated past. With tropes like enemies-to-lovers, rivals-to-lovers, and forced proximity, this book delivers all the emotional depth and swoon-worthy moments I love. If you’re a fan of music, messy relationships, and characters that make you feel everything, this one’s for you!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advance Listener Copy!

Sam and Mackenzie are frenemies, who are hopelessly in love with each other. They toured together in their respective bands and had an act to follow. They were in love with each other, but were afraid to act on it. After their bands part ways and life changes they see each other 2 years later. They get an unexpected opportunity to work together and find their way to each other again. Old feelings are revealed and they are beautiful together. I really enjoyed this story.

This book was giving me Daisy Jones & The Six vibes but with more rom-com energy, and I loved every second of it! The story follows Mackenzie and Sam, former members of rival bands who haven’t seen each other in a while and their reunion is filled with tension, unresolved feelings, and incredible banter!

Tropes found here: enemies to lovers (but music industry type, which I LOVE!), second chance romance, forced proximity, rivals to lovers (which Emma Lord does beautifully as always).

This book is filled with the kind of chemistry that makes you physically feel the tension, plus all the heartwarming, emotional moments. If you love music, messy past relationships, and characters who make you scream at the pages, Emma Lord never misses!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Emma Lord (for her brilliant mind) for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 - Thank you NetGalley for providing me this ARC! This is my second Emma Lord book and I’m really liking her works. I thought this was a very cute romance and I really enjoyed all of the different character relationships throughout. There were a couple of things I wish could’ve been fleshed out more, such as healing conversations between all three of the Thunder Hearts girls and a better introduction of Sam’s mom, who was brought up pretty often to not have been a real character we met. Also I’d give anything to hear all of the songs throughout their careers lol! Overall a very sweet read and one I’ll definitely purchase when it comes out!