I really enjoyed reading this book. MMC and FMC were interesting (although I did wish they'd communicate more!). The side characters were charming, and it was nice to see interactions that were independent of the main romance. I would definitely read more Emma Lord in the future!

Emma Lord’s For the Record is such a fun and entertaining read! The story follows Mackenzie and Sam, former music rivals who get thrown back together years later. Their chemistry is super engaging, with plenty of witty banter and just the right amount of drama. Set in New York City and the music industry, the book has a really cool vibe that makes it easy to get lost in. The side characters are also hilarious and add so much personality to the story. Overall, For the Record is a light, feel-good read with a great mix of romance, friendship, and personal growth. If you love books with fun characters and a little bit of music world drama, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

Oh man, I loved this book SO MUCH. I’m so happy to have received an arc for it.

This book had the perfect combo of banter, second chance romance, character development, etc. The chemistry between Sam and Mackenzie was truly *chef’s kiss.* I think sometimes reading books that feature big stars as the main characters is hard to relate to, but that was not the case here. I loved the side characters, the examination of familial and friend relationships, and the artistry of it all. I’d HIGHLY recommend this one!

For the Record by Emma Lord is an electrifying and heartwarming rom-com that will have fans of Emily Henry and Daisy Jones and the Six cheering. This novel brings together two former rivals, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze, who once ruled the music scene before their bands imploded and their relationship followed suit. Fast forward two years, and both have gone in very different directions—Sam is now a father raising a son he never knew about, while Mackenzie is hiding behind a pseudonym due to a change in her voice after surgery.

When a joint comeback album becomes their only chance to revive their careers, the tension between Mackenzie and Sam reignites. But as they put aside their rivalry to collaborate, old sparks fly and new secrets surface, taking them on a journey that forces them to confront their pasts, their mistakes, and perhaps even their feelings for each other.

Lord weaves a clever story of redemption, rivalry, and unexpected romance, all set to the backdrop of the music industry. The chemistry between Mackenzie and Sam is electric, and their journey toward understanding, forgiveness, and trust is both captivating and emotionally resonant. For the Record is a delightful exploration of second chances, proving that sometimes the greatest hits are the ones that haven’t been written yet. Perfect for anyone who loves a romance with depth, humor, and a little bit of rock and roll.

For the Record was a fun, cute read! I've read some books by Emma Lord before and loved them, so I was very excited to read For the Record.

Following the lives of Sam and Mackenzie as their relationship develops was so much fun! I loved the backdrop of the music scene and the themes of accepting personal change. The enemies (one-sided) to lovers was very sweet and I was rooting for Sam and Mackenzie the entire time. I felt that the characters had a lot of depth and realistic issues that they worked through together. The themes definitely felt more adult than YA, which I thought was very fitting for the storyline.

Character development was definitely my favorite aspect of this novel and I'll definitely be looking forwards to the next Emma Lord book!

Another music romance to add to your 2025 TBR’s! I binged this in one sitting, it was such a fun and easy read and I really loved the writing style. This follows our two main characters Mackenzie and Sam who both used to be musicians in rival bands up until 2 years ago. I loved their banter and that we were shown some of that relationship dynamic from the past. The one thing that made me rate this higher was the character development. I love when an author can do that well and especially in romance books. I loved the vulnerability and I found it made it more enjoyable. This would make a perfect summer read, so I would recommend to pick it up on release day (Aug 12th!). Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

For the Record by Emma Lord – A Fun, Music-Filled Ride!

First Things First—This Book is a Vibe 🎶

If you've ever dreamed of being in a band, going on tour, or just belting your heart out in the shower, For the Record by Emma Lord is basically your backstage pass to all of it. This book is fun, emotional, and packed with enough musical energy to make you feel like you’re this close to being a rock star yourself.

What’s It About? 🎤

Meet Lucy Green—a former reality show singing competition star who's trying (and struggling) to stay relevant in the music industry. After her solo career flops, she lands a gig as the new lead singer for Nick & the Knacks, a rising indie band with a dedicated fanbase and a lead singer (Nick, duh) who is equal parts talented and frustrating.

Lucy sees this as her shot at redemption, but between trying to prove herself, dealing with the pressure of fame, and navigating her feelings for Nick (hello, slow-burn romance!), things get messy. Add in some on-the-road chaos, band drama, and late-night songwriting sessions, and you’ve got a book that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Why You’ll Love It 🎸

Music, Music, Music! If you love stories that revolve around music and the crazy ups and downs of the industry, this book delivers big time. It makes you feel like you’re right there in the crowd at a live concert.

Lucy’s Journey = So Relatable She’s figuring out who she is outside of her past success, and honestly, who hasn’t questioned if they’re good enough at some point?

Nick & Lucy’s Tension Ugh, the angst is top-tier. Nick is broody, Lucy is stubborn, and their chemistry is chef’s kiss.

Banter & Laughs Emma Lord never disappoints when it comes to witty dialogue and heartwarming moments.


The Vibe 🎧

If you like books that feel like a perfect mix of Daisy Jones & The Six (but lighter) and a fun YA rom-com, this one’s for you. It’s got that dreamy, cinematic quality that makes you wish you were road-tripping with a band and writing songs under the stars.

Final Thoughts 🎶

For the Record is the kind of book that makes you want to turn up your favorite playlist, grab a mic (or a hairbrush), and sing your heart out. It’s fun, emotional, and full of music-filled magic. If you love books about self-discovery, band life, and slow-burn romance, this one’s a must-read.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 – Would 100% join this fictional band.

I highly recommend this book! I love books that center around the lives and relationships of musicians, but I find that they can be hit or miss. This one was definitely a hit!

The main and supporting characters felt very three dimensional. The storyline was perfection. There were multiple threads to the story and they wove together in the most interesting and satisfying way. Definitely read this one.

I loved this book. Read it in less than 24 hours and even kept pushing back my workout so I could finish this book. I loved Sam and Mackenzie and their story. I got teared up at their ending. Well done Emma Lord, well done.

I enjoyed that it was two famous people this time instead of the usual one famous person and one ordinary person. It was a lovely change. Definitely recommend and it’s definitely now my favorite of this author.

Thank you St Martins and NetGalley for allowing me to have this e-ARC. Loved it truly!

This was a great way to spend a weekend. I loved the musical aspects of this story and getting a glimpse into the recording process. There were so many added details and flashbacks to the past throughout this story. It made it impossible to put the book down so make sure you have a good chunk of time to finish this book in one swoop!

I appreciate being one of the first to read this prior to its release - thank you so much for trusting me NetGalley for an authentic honest review.

Let’s start this shall we?

This story starts with us meeting MacKenzie and Sam, both whom played in infamous bands and played the role of “are they dating?”. In true fashion, this goes from understanding the role they played in their past and how they are relevant to eachother in their future. When they both walk away from their bands - and want to go back to music what better way than together (or if you’re MacKenzie NOOOOOOO WHY). The story was interesting, I wouldn’t necessarily claim they’re out of this world - but hey if it’s got a cute dark handsomely dressed and a cute spunky girl like our main characters? There were spots where I felt lost from the over explanation of details I found not to be significant however, its main story was cute - it had everything it should and some things that had me swooning. I enjoyed getting backstories about our FMC and her need to get passed her loses and heartbreak and see her get to the other side. Overall I throughly enjoyed this book 😚

If you’re wanting a cute - easy to read - romance then I suggest reading this! It’s cozy, and made me want to not put it down until it was done. ✅

For what the book is and synopsis explained, it meets the expectations I believe most would have and I believe this is a good read :)

Mackenzie and Sam are two famous musicians that have been out of the game for a little while. In the past, they were rivals and are now forced to work together to make a comeback. I enjoyed this sweet second chance/enemies-to-lovers (ish) book. I especially enjoyed the dual POV, which isn't always the case for me. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Tropes:
*Rockstar Romance
*Second Chance Romance
*Enemies to Lovers

This was my 2nd book by Emma Lord and I gotta say, I really liked the first one but I loved this one! Emma is definitely moving up my watchlist and I am going to have to go through her back log now!

Both Mackenzie and Sam are famous rockstars known for their rivalry on stage. Some of that was played up for the audience and some of it was just the tension between the two of them. A couple of years ago, the bands fell apart and everything that might have been was lost. Now, two years later, Sam and Mackenzie are trying to restart their careers and their best shot is teaming up, despite them trying to avoid each other. After agreeing and starting to spend time together, they start to see they aren't the same people they once were and they can finally start to be honest with each other. But as some of their last secrets start to come out, their plans start to fall apart and they have to decide where that leaves them, both on and off the stage.

First off, I loved Mack and Sam together and each of them separately. Their banter was bantering! Their chemistry was palpable. But you could also tell there was a sense of comfort in being around each other even before they wanted to admit it. They were always drawn to one another. It was just always a case of the wrong time until now. Their personal growth stories and how they were learning to face their past hurts and move toward what they actually wanted for their futures was so good! Making some amends and letting some stuff go. I think we can all relate to that. Sam was a little funny and cocky, in a cute way, but underneath it he was absolutely gone for her. He put himself out there but gave her space to find a place to trust him again. Mack was playful, and strong willed, but slowly allowed herself to be vulnerable again.

I loved this and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a great romcom with real heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emma Lord for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was super cute. It’s the first book I’ve read from this author and I definitely will be looking at her other books. I liked the way the story flowed and that it was a slower burn filled with the right amount of tension. The rivals to lovers trope is one of my favorites and I loved how fun this one was. The banter was more playful filled with mutual pinning vs borderline actual hate. There was a lot of growth for both characters and no third act breakup which is always a plus for me. If the song until I found you was a book it would be this one.

4.5 stars!!

First things first, I was given a copy of this book as an ARC, in exchange for an honest review. A big thank-you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Emma Lord for allowing me to be an early reader.

This book is told in the perspective of Mackenzie and Sam, two singers who used to be rivals.

When I read that this book is perfect for lovers of “Daisy Jones & the Six” then I just knew I needed to read this ASAP!! And the fact that the book is set in New York just made it chef’s kiss.

When Mackenzie’s voice changes and Sam has some life circumstances that are in the way of his career, they are forced to work together to make an album. Now they’ll have to set their differences aside to make the most out of their careers.

The banter between Mackenzie and Sam was so cute. I also loved learning a lot about the other characters in the book.

If you’re looking for a second-chance romance book, and loved “Daisy Jones & the Six”, then I highly recommend checking this out. Releasing in August of this year! x

I couldn’t get into this book no matter how hard I tried ! Just felt like I had read something similar
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review

The angst in this book is to die for!

Mack and Sam were fake enemies on stage before life separates them. After two years of no contact, they are swindled into becoming a duet pair. Their real feelings come to light and outside circumstances try to force their way into their bubble.

Honestly this book had me kicking and screaming in the best way possible!

This is a sweet and slightly spicy second chance romance. I loved the way that the story was told in a two person perspective, giving you not only Mackenzie's point of view but also Sam's.

This is a story about love and friendship and how to find your way back to each other. It is as much about Mack's relationship with her former band mates and herself as it is about her love for Sam.

This is the prefect escape for anyone who want's a romance that is rich and full with plenty of great banter.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for an advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the ARC. This enemies to lovers story of Mack and Sam was charming and fun. It felt like my favorite middle school boy rock bander and the girl from the pop group finally had their moment for a comeback and I was cheering them on. If you’re looking for tension with a hint of nostalgia, this made my millennial heart very happy.

Another fantastic book by Emma Lord! I loved the theme of this book. It was so fun! Lots of cute banter and so much fun ❤️