This was a very quick and easy read that can be completed in one sitting. The romance aspect of this book is very cute, and both of the main characters are pretty likable, which is often rare nowadays!

If you love music, drama, single parent, or second chance, this is a great book to pick up!! I legit read this entire thing in one sitting and felt like time was FLYING by.

This is only a 4 star for me because it didn’t feel as angsty as I was hoping for, and I almost wish there were some chapters in the past because I felt like we needed that little bit more to understand the true depth of the characters feelings.

Thank you so much netgally and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. For The Record by Emma Lord was a perfect second chance/rockstar romance! Although, I loved that it felt way more than the typical rom-com. The side characters were such a huge part of this novel, Sam’s son and his relationship with the “moms” was perfect. I also appreciated Mackenzie’s journey not only with herself but with her friendships. This was my first Emma Lord read, can’t wait to check out more of her work!

“Witty, swoony, and full of heart—this book speaks fluent banter.”

Title Feedback is the kind of romcom that grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn’t let go (but like, in a cute way). With laugh-out-loud dialogue, magnetic chemistry, and a will-they-won’t-they dynamic that had me grinning like a fool, this one is basically a serotonin smoothie.

The main characters? Total opposites. Total perfection. Whether they’re trading sarcastic jabs or sharing vulnerable moments that sneak up on you like a surprise kiss, their connection is electric. And the emotional payoff? Chef’s kiss. 👩‍🍳💋

If you love romantic tension, quirky charm, and characters you want to be besties with, Title Feedback absolutely delivers. It’s the literary equivalent of staying up too late binge-watching a romcom and loving every second of it.

Let me just start by saying this book was absolutely adorable!! I really enjoyed reading it and I thought the characters were well-written, well-developed, and perfect together! I enjoyed the concept of a romance between singers of rival bands and I found myself appreciating the second chance romance trope more than I usually do! The reason this book was a 4 star read for me was because while I stand my everything I said previously - it sort of felt like just another romance novel to me. And I know that no book is unique nowadays, but I found myself guessing/knowing what was going to happen next. Overall, it was a cute and easy read that I would definitely recommend! Thank you for this arc!

Emma did such a good job this with this one! The plot was different and exciting; sometimes when I’m reading a romance, it feels like the same thing over and over again, but this did not feel like that. Sam and Mackenzie‘s relationship lore and the past that they shared made their present relationship so much more special and unique. I also love a single dad and all of the side characters were 10 out of 10. Amazing!

I loved the premise of the story but it just didn’t hit quite right for me. I was never able to fully invest myself in either Mackenzie or Sam’s story. While I appreciated their emotional journey in finding their way back together, I just never connected with the storyline and found myself just wanting to finish it. I also felt that the characters, despite being adults, felt quite childish at times. Mackenzie’s fashion choices were hard to imagine on a full grown adult, especially one in the public eye. The fun rom com vibes were there but fell a bit flat to me; maybe this might sit better if it was a YA novel?

A sweet, cute, quick, second-chance, dual POV, rock star romance.

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

This was an angst filled, emotional second chance romance and I loved it!! For some reason, I don't always love books set in the entertainment industry, but this was really well done. I felt like both Mackenzie and Sam had so much depth, and so much "real world" life happening that their careers almost felt like background at times. There were a few moments that felt like growth could have happened and didn't, but it just added to the flawed characters.
I do love that the secondary characters were a big part of the storyline, too! I read this in less than 24 hours and had trouble putting it down, so I would absolutely recommend!

I love Emma lord audiobooks, I think I would have like this more as an audiobook. Overall, I would rate it 3.75/5. It was cute! I like Mackenzie and Sam and how vulnerable they were, how human and relatable as characters they were.

This book gets a 4/5 stars from me. I enjoyed the chemistry between Mackenzie and Sam, two former "rivals" in the music industry who unexpectedly find themselves forced to collaborate. The romance between them was both steamy and heartfelt, as old tension gave way to new possibilities. The characters were multi-dimensional and kept me engaged, with Mackenzie’s struggle to adapt after her vocal surgery and Sam’s unexpected fatherhood adding depth to their story.

The author did an excellent job depicting the music scene, from the highs of fame to the gritty struggles behind it. However, a few scenes felt a bit shallow and leaned into stereotypes, particularly when it came to the conflict resolution and some of the secondary characters. Despite that, the book had me hooked. It’s a fun, romantic journey with a unique twist in the music industry.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for this ARC. Emma Lord’s For the Record is the perfect fun, quick summer or vacation read. Told through the multiple perspectives of Sam and Mackenzie, two pop singers/ songwriters who met on tour with opposing group bands. Their chemistry is electric - on stage in front of adoring audiences and also behind the scenes. When the bands fell apart, they never quite let go of the hope of one day. As each tries to break though on his or her own, their producers push for a joint comeback album. It’s years later and Mackenzie is hoping to reinvent herself after thyroid surgery that changed her voice and Sam is navigating fatherhood of a son he learned about 4 years late. I really enjoyed watching relationships grow and secrets slowly reveal themselves.

5 ⭐️
ARC // Releases August 12, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy.

———— All thoughts are my own.

This is my first Emma Lord book, but I’ve got a few more on my list.

I devoured this book! I couldn’t put it down, and even when I had to, I couldn’t stop thinking about these two. I’m a fan of rockstar romances; pretty sure it’s my catnip. This book reminded me of 90s/00s rom-coms, and I could see it being adapted into a movie. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever shipped/wished their favorite celebrities would end up together in real life, especially when they’re pitted against each other in front of the cameras.

Sam and Mackenzie’s bands used to tour together back in the day; he’s punk, and she’s pop, classic opposites attract, and thus a rivalry was born to feed the media flames. Years later, Mackenzie and Sam want to try to go solo, but their label says it’s not in the cards, but together they’re worth the risk. With sparks that never quite fizzled and new secrets that could do more harm than good, they must learn to work together, while healing from their past so they could have a future. I loved their banter, I loved Ben, Sam’s son, he kind of stole the show. This was fun and flirty and still had me in my feels.

I’m definitely grabbing a copy for my shelf.

3.5/5⭐️

From the moment they met, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze were destined for a collision course of rivalry and redemption. Years after their bands imploded, these music rival-turned-lovers are forced back together for a joint comeback project, reigniting old sparks and unleashing new secrets they each hold. Can Mackenzie and Sam find harmony in their music and love, or will their past conflicts tear them apart?

This rom-com is perfect for fans of dual- POV, found family and single dad tropes. It was full of witty banter, noticeable yearning (from both characters), and cute heartfelt moments.

Sweet, quick read. Rivals to lovers, second chance romance. Music rivals lose touch for several years until one seeks out the other. The chemistry is still there, and the ride begins. Emma Lord does not disappoint.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC of For the Record by Emma Lord!!

Sometimes these cartoony covers can be a little hit or miss for me, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book!

This second chance romance was absolutely lovely, even though those are not typically my favorite genre. What can I say, I'm one to hold a grudge.

I loved their playful banter and thought the rivals to lovers aspect was done really well. They had history which made their immediate chemistry palpable and I loved how we got to see their character growth. I also loved the focus on found family and making co-parenting work.

If you liked the falling in love while writing beautiful lyrics aspect of Daisy Jones and the Six and are also interested in the record label drama artists like Taylor Swift have had to endure, I'd highly recommend this one!

#Bookstagram #arcreview #fortherecord #secondchanceromance #romance #rivalstolovers

For the Record was a light, easy rom-com with a fun rock star backdrop that made for an enjoyable escape. I appreciated the second-chance romance premise and the glimpses into the music industry, which added an interesting and playful setting.

That said, the romance itself fell a bit flat for me. I never fully felt the emotional buildup or chemistry between the protagonists. The story hinted at a shared past, but their reconnection felt rushed—more told than shown. I wanted more tension, more longing, something to make me root for them as a couple.

Still, Emma Lord’s writing has a lot of charm and heart, and I’d be interested in checking out more from her in the future.

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

Emma Lord sure does know how to make a girl swoon!

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are famous musicians whose bands toured together several years ago, and now both are trying to find their way back to music after a few years off…so naturally their label wants them to pair up again after their years of “will they, won’t they” stage dynamics. The rivalry banter here is absolutely sparkling, and watching their dynamic grow while still maintaining that spark was such a fun time.

Highly recommend for fans of a good rivals-to-lovers, yearning, musician comeback story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars

This was a super cute, yet still tugged so damn hard on your heart strings, kind of romance. I usually don’t like the idea of second chance romances but this one was actually really good.

This story focuses on Mackenzie and Sam, they were both in bands and they were rivals that at one point went on tour together. Years later fate has brought them together and we learn about their “what if” romance and their new relationship together. I don’t want to give away too much but if you enjoy second chance romances, hilarious banter, enemies to lovers, dual POV, and strong fire then this is definitely the book for you.

🌶️/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!*

For the Record by Emma Lord was everything I hoped for and more. I’ve been a fan of Emma’s writing for a while now, and this book just solidified my admiration for her storytelling. She has this incredible ability to create characters that feel like real people—people you want to root for, laugh with, and sometimes even cry for.

In this book, the way Emma weaves humor with heartfelt moments is just perfect. I loved how the story balanced lightheartedness with more serious, emotional beats. It’s not just about the romance (which I adored), but also about finding your voice, learning from your mistakes, and figuring out who you really are—something Emma captures so beautifully in her writing.

The characters felt so real and relatable, and I loved how they grew over the course of the novel. The storyline kept me hooked, and I couldn’t put the book down once I started. Emma has this knack for writing stories that are both comforting and inspiring, and For the Record was no exception.

If you haven’t read Emma Lord’s books yet, you’re missing out. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next because her writing never fails to leave me feeling like I’ve experienced something special.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced E-ARC of this title.

As a huge Swiftie, I loved the singer/songwriter aspect of this book. It was really well done and felt rooted in reality. I appreciated the author making the characters grounded and not over the top or diva-like. Each character is trying to find their own path outside of the limelight and the machine that created them.
This book is so well paced, it's easily a one sit read. I read this so fast and loved every page. The story is simple, but extremely endearing.
Second chances, single dad, and flailing friendships are weaved throughout. Its a sweet and simple romance full of fun banter and colorful characters with low spice.

I would recommend to anyone who loves second chance and the fame trope.