Thank you Emma Lord and St Martin's Press for the ARC.

For the Record was a sweet and fun contemporary story that also deals a lot with grief of your past self and taking ownership of your mistakes. I loved how Mackenzie and Sam learned to overcome their past challenges and reflect on themselves to build a relationship that felt well paced and authentic. The music elements throughout the story also kept it fresh and engaging and provided for a lot of great tension and conflict that the FMC and MMC had to deal with to overcome their issues and also come to terms with their feelings for each other.

I did find about 50-70% of the way through it started to drag a bit but I think all that was to set up for a great finish. I truly loved how to story came to an end and felt it fit perfectly the type of characters Mackenzie and Sam were growing to become.

Overall I really enjoyed it!

I absolutely loved this book! I am glad I took the chance to read the excerpt. I was hooked and couldn't wait to read the entire book. Emma Lord makes it very difficult for the readers not to fall in love with Sam and Mackenzie. This book oozes slow burn, charm and romance. Perfect for those who love second-chance romance. This is my first book by Emma Lord & definitely not the last.

I liked the story and the characters but the open door scenes weren’t easy to skip. I skipped but felt like I missed something that was important to the story.
So if you don’t mind or if you enjoy open door romance, you’ll enjoy this. If you are a “skip the open door scenes” reader, this one might be a pass.

For any music lovers, this one is for you! I feel this one went a little deep for Emma Lord and I'm here for it! The struggles of Sam adjusting to life as a father and Mackenzie navigating difficult health conditions that have affected her voice and caused insecurities. The relationship and chemistry between Mackenzie and Sam was real and raw. This was such a good one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Lord does it again! For The Record is like a Taylor Swift, Gen Z, more lighthearted version of Daisy Jones and the Six. Lord's quirky characters have unique dialogue and the multiple tension plot points are neatly woven together to create this cute love story. The overall story structure flowed well, Mack & Sam had great chemistry. The pacing was on point. The only thing I wish we got were some lyrics from the much talked up songs the characters were writing together! Otherwise, a fun and quick read. I also love that Lord always sneaks baked goods into every story. Looking forward to reading more books of hers in the future. I have especially been enjoying the adult romances, though her past YA books are also good.

Sometimes, all you need is a good romance novel to brighten your week, and this one delivered! It hit all the right notes: a sweet love story with a dash of spice, witty banter, and a perfect enemies/friends-to-lovers arc that left me with a good cry. While I wasn't completely captivated, I was invested in the story from beginning to end. The novel also had a fun, Taylor Swift-esque vibe that added to its charm without being over the top.

The story follows Mackenzie, a pop star, and Sam, a punk rocker. After their bands are forced to collaborate, they become rivals, and just as things start to heat up between them, a personal tragedy and a life-changing surprise put their romance on hold. Years later, a new opportunity brings them back together. As they work to achieve a shared goal, they discover their feelings for each other might be more than just a crush.

The characters are what truly make this book special. I especially loved Ben, Sam's son, and his creative baked goods. Both Mackenzie and Sam are incredibly likable, and their chemistry is undeniable. Watching Mackenzie break out of her carefully constructed shell and abandon her "rules" was heartwarming. Similarly, seeing Sam shed his tough-guy persona to reveal his true, kind heart was a delight. This is a quick and enjoyable romance that I highly recommend!

Couldn't really get into it. Got about 40% and not much really happened. Kinda wish it got straight to the point.

This was so well done. I’m not usually a fan of second chance romance but this was superb and I love the journey that the leads went on to unpack their pasts, presents and look toward their futures. I didn’t feel like Sam’s role as a single parent was super believable but also understand that it wasn’t the focus of the story.

I enjoyed the music/recording context for this enemies to lovers relationship. I found myself annoyed with the FMC- she held on to her secrets, dragging out the final act. It made the pace feel a little drawn out to me.

For the Record is a tender second chance romance set in the music world. Mackenzie Waters is a pop star, and Sam Blaze is a pop rocker who were 'rivals' on stage, yet they always had chemistry off stage. They both made sweet music separately, but will they make sweet music together when they meet years later? Two years have gone by, and Sam is helping raise a son he never knew he had while Mackenzie has dealt with a surgery which changed her voice. As a result, she has been singing under a pseudonym. Both are looking to make a comeback and are presented with an opportunity to make a new album together. When they meet up again the chemistry is still there, but there are many secrets to protect, and trust to build as outside forces and label executives try and pull them apart. I really appreciated having both POV, and the journey the author took us on.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley who provided me with an e-arc.

Anytime I see an Emma Lord book, I immediately request it. Without a doubt, her books are always light and easy. Her newest adult romance falls into the enemies to lovers rival musicians trope that has become so popular. There are some heavy handed pop culture references, but I find that to be expected. I thought this was a very cute story, and I enjoyed the secondary characters a lot, as well. Nothing mind blowing, but a solid romance.

"If there is a drug more potent than Mackenzie Waters, I hope to god I never find out."

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was really enjoyable. I enjoyed the ex-pop star and rivals to lovers tropes. I think it was really well-written, and if you like a "famous person" book then you'll probably enjoy this. There were some background plot points that I thought were interesting, and honestly thought it would be more enjoyable if they were bigger parts of the story. It is advertised as an "electric rom-com" but I didn't think it was as tension-filled as the synopsis would make it seem. I feel like the "rivalry" was pretty shallow and pretty easy for the characters to get over, which isn't bad necessarily, but when the story is pitched as being tension filled, I feel like it needs to be a more intense background for the rivalry.

As a fan of Emma Lord's writing, especially The Getaway List, I was so excited to dive into For the Record—and it absolutely delivered! With witty banter and a heartwarming sense of found family, this rock star romance is a sizzling slow burn and packed with emotion and spice.

The dual point-of-view takes you along for the ride, with a strong dose of will they/won't they elements as this rivals-to-lovers and second-chance romance unfolds. The story also explores themes of rediscovering love through music, navigating the rocky challenges of fame, and family issues. It reads just like a rock-infused romance movie, complete with a rollercoaster of emotions.

What I especially loved was the connection and emotion through music. The details are so vivid, you can practically picture the scenes and feel the passion as the characters perform and connect.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, You Had Me at HEA, NetGalley, and Emma Lord for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to read this book!

#ForTheRecord #EmmaLord #StMartinsPress #StMartinsGriffin #NetGalley #YouHadMeAtHEA

For the Record is a vibrantly heartfelt romance that effortlessly hits all the right notes. From the instant I picked it up, I was swept into Mackenzie and Sam’s magnetic world—the push-and-pull of their past rivalry giving way to something tender, fierce, and unforgettable. Sam’s grounded, single-dad authenticity struck all the feels, while Mackenzie’s journey to reclaim her voice (literally and emotionally) pulled me in deep. Their mutual rebuilding—layered with creative collaboration, slow-burn tension, and a music-industry backdrop that feels both glamorous and grounded—makes their reunion feel earned, raw, and so satisfying. Emma Lord infuses scenes with sharp-witted dialogue, emotional depth, and the kind of found-family warmth that stays with you. For the Record is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance dipped in artistry, empowerment, and just the right amount of nostalgia.
- Vanesa Gjolaj, Author Of “The Enchanted Manuscript”

4.25⭐️

this book feels like it was entirely written for the early 2010’s wattpad/tumblr fangirls and i ate it right up!!

i’ve read one book by emma lord before ( begin again ) and it was a sweet, cute young adult romance. i enjoyed it, but it felt slightly juvenile to me. i expected a similar vibe from this one, but i didn’t realize this is actually one of her first adult romances and it was VERY different ( in a good way )

our two main characters are former rival band members — her in a pop girl group and him in a punk band. after a years long public feud, both left the spotlight for various reasons ( i won’t give away the reasons here — to build suspense 😆 but they are pretty crucial to other events in the book ) and now they are both just trying to live their lives in a meaningful way.

with managers that are twin sisters, they concoct a plan to write an album as a duo and use their past history as PR fuel. what we learn along the way is that their history is much more than just an on stage rivalry, and their future might be more promising together than either of them think it could be.

we deal with plenty of personal and professional drama that keeps the story interesting and engaging, all while witnessing this connection spark again and be explored deeper than ever before.

i’m not saying TOO much because i really don’t want to give anything away, but the connection between these characters was palpable and felt really realistic. there are some reveals throughout the book that raise the stakes higher and higher as it goes on. something i really LOVED about this book is that the third act conflict was NOT a third act break up and actually brings the couple closer together 🫶🏻

if you liked the vibe of daisy jones and the six, but longed for a happier ending.. this book is 100% for you

Mackenzie and Sam are former musicians that used to have a heated rivalry on and off the stage. Their bands frequently toured together, and their animosity towards each other became a part of their act. When both bands broke up, the day after the two shared their first kiss, the two are pulled apart for reasons beyond their control. The book picks up two years later, as both are trying to resurrect their careers as independent artists.

The premise is interesting, a rock star romance that really isn't about the height of their careers, but what happens after your big break blows up. My big complaint around the book is about structure, not plot or writing. I don't always love the approach, but I think this is one book that could have benefited from a dual timeline. We see glimpses of what the two were like in the past, but never any extended scenes from that time. That means that their feelings for each other back then are only conveyed in the presence, when you already have an idea of how the relationship is going to proceed.

* Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Emma Lord's books always winners for me. The premise is irresistible: Mackenzie Waters, a former pop princess recovering from a life-altering vocal surgery, and Sam Blaze, her old rival-turned-something-more, are thrown back together after years apart to record a joint comeback album. Once fierce competitors on stage, their rivalry was the stuff of fan legend—until the chemistry between them became undeniable and ultimately combusted, taking both of their bands down with it. Now, with Sam unexpectedly a father and Mackenzie hiding behind a pseudonym, they’re forced to face their past, their fans, and each other.

This book was so good! Loved getting to know the current Mackenzie and Sam and seeing glimpses into their past. I really liked how they came together to write current songs and overcame drama.

This was a classic rom-com which hit all the right notes. I enjoyed the characters and would love to see more of them.

I always really love a good Emma Lord story! Her characters are always fun and the stories are always unique. This one was much the same and did not disappoint. It was fun, fast paced and kept me coming back for more. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.