If you enjoyed Daisy Jones & the Six, (which was one of my five star reads from 2024) you will enjoy this new adult romance by Emma Lord. Branching away from her typical cheesy and lighthearted YA romances to bring you a dual POV, rivals to lovers, second chance romance with found family, drama, bands, and a good dose of character development and emotional depth.

After binging all of Emma Lord's books in the last month (all except The Rival which is at the top of my TBR!), I was expecting another playful, funny, coming-of-age YA book that I could whip through without having to use my brain. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I immediately noticed a difference in her characters between her previous books and this one. Besides the *typical adult romance features (wink, wink)* the major difference was that there was a depth to the characters that made them easy to connect with, which I haven't been able to before. I really enjoyed how they prioritized themselves and became more self aware throughout the story, but at different paces. There was a good measure of vulnerability to the characters that made them easy to fall in love with. Character development is always a win in my books, and immediately makes me rate a book higher based off of the fact that it exceeds the expectations of a stereotypical romance book.

Even all the side characters held significance in the story. They were each vibrant and memorable and I appreciated how each of them had a significant role in the plot. It made for a consistent storyline as there was an end-goal in sight for the characters, together and separately.

All the positives mentioned, now one thing that I did not enjoy was the !SPOILER! *almost* (?) third-act break-up. I never enjoy that trope as I feel that in adult romances, miscommunication should be avoided completely because it is frustrating and unnecessary for most readers who just want a happy ending. I say *almost* because I am not quite sure what even happened... I feel like that part of the plot could have used a little more clarification to give the reader some more understanding as to what the characters were feeling and what they were trying to achieve with the near-third act breakup.

All things considered, I can say that I fully support her transition from the fluffy and somewhat cringy (in a good way) YA romances to the now surprisingly sentimental adult romances. I rated this a 4.5 stars, and look forward to more of Emma Lord's future works!

A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Two rival musicians try to push past their differences to work together on a new project after they both took extended absences from the spotlight. It’s kinda like hate to love, and also a little second chance, with some forced proximity.

Mack & Sam were great together but I didn’t feel the angst and longing from them that we were told was there. Also, I did not feel an emotional connection between Mack and her friends Hannah or Serena. I just wanted more. It could have been great to have some actual flash backs or some articles from when they were on tour. It felt like there was a lot of potential, and it could have been great, but in the end it was ok. Still a good pick if you’re looking for a light romance.

This was a fun and fast read. I loved the behind the scenes look at the music industry. I really enjoyed the rock star/celebrity aspect as well. I really like when books portray celebrities to be just like us with real life problems. I love Emma Lord books and this one did not dissapoint.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

Fun and a little silly (the savory pastry creations had me intrigued)!

Musical rivals/frenemies Mackenzie and Sam find themselves reunited by their agents in an effort to boost their flagging careers. Sam welcomes the opportunity as he has been harboring a crush on Mackenzie. Mackenzie, however, is reluctant to engage. As they get to know the new versions of themselves, Mackenzie and Sam can't help but fall for one another. This had a lot of sweet moments and Mackenzie and Sam have great chemistry. There were so many subplots (e.g., absentee parents coming back, a musical app threatening to keep the rights to all music posted on the app, Hannah's thousand business ventures, Mackenzie's secret singing identity, Mackenzie's relationship with her former bandmates, etc.) and perhaps too many side characters that pulled focus from Mackenzie and Sam at times. Overall, this is a cute romance and fans of second chance, celebrity romance will probably enjoy. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This book was a classic contemporary romance novel, telling the story of two famous musicians as they found their way to each other. It was a quick and easy read.

To be honest, this book wasn't really for me. That isn't to say that others won't enjoy it! It had vibrant characters and a fun setting. I enjoyed seeing the way the author portrayed the music industry- it was interesting and pulled me in.

This will definitely be other people's cup of tea, even if it wasn't mine.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. :)

I enjoyed this book. The characters are developed and likable. I always love a happy ending in a romance book. The flow and pace of the book kept my attention and I kept lookin g forward to the next time I could read a few more chapters.

I devoured this book. It is just the kind of sweet celebrity/rock star romance I adore.
Swoony characters, just the right amount of angst and interesting side characters.

Now I must go read everything else this author has written immediately.

In true Emma Lord fashion, this book is sharp and swoony. This second chance romance of rivals to lovers hits all the right notes (pun absolutely intended). Without ever actually hearing their music, I finished this book feeling empty inside knowing that the musical duo Mack & Sam will never exist beyond these pages. I want that album,

great book was not my cup of tea . didnt like the language . it was okay. it was fine . great job thiugh

Mackenzie y Sam eran los cantantes de sus respectivas bandas, las cuales fingían ser rivales para generar controversia y ganar popularidad. Sin embargo, ambos se gustaban, aunque ella sabía que él era un mujeriego y no quería ser solo otra de sus conquistas. Durante mucho tiempo intentaron ocultar sus sentimientos y mantuvieron su distancia, hasta que ya no pudieron más. Pero las cosas parecían estar en su contra, ya que cuando todo parecía alinearse para que pudieran comenzar una relación, ocurrieron hechos que los alejaron, y no se volvieron a ver durante años.

Dos años después, ambos intentan regresar a la escena musical, cada uno como solista, pero su disquera los quiere como dueto, y esa es la única manera en que podrán cantar juntos, por lo que aceptan. No obstante, antes de hacerlo, ponen reglas para evitar que resurjan viejos sentimientos.


~

Honestamente, disfruté del libro, aunque hubo tres cosas que no me gustaron: 1. Que Mackenzie, a pesar de lo que había pasado anteriormente, no estuviera enojada y cayera tan rápido ante Sam. 2. Que Sam no hiciera nada para ganarse su confianza, o al menos que se notara su arrepentimiento. 3. La razón por la cual él, a pesar de tener sentimientos por ella, no hiciera nada me pareció molesta, ya que prácticamente fue porque no estaba listo para algo serio y quería divertirse, por lo que se alejó de ella para poder acostarse con otras.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really adored this book. It was cute and heartwarming and I found myself genuinely cheering for Mack and for Sam. I loved the dual POV and tension between the characters. This was the first book I read by Emma Lord, but it won’t be my last!

While I didn't find this book as instantly captivating as my last Emma Lord read (the Break-Up Pact) I did find this very fun and easily enjoyable. I think it takes a while for this story to ground itself. I found the first little bit disorganized and clunky, but after a while it felt like the plot found itself and flowed more smoothly. I don't think anything was necessarily outstanding or grabbed my attention, but the character dynamic was really fun. I liked seeing Mackenzie and Sam navigate around each other and they had that classic banter that's easy to love. The character relationship was really what pushed me to enjoy the story.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This was a really light, cute, and entertaining read. I really loved the way the story unfolded and the dynamic between the two main characters. The tension was done well. Parts of the story’s as a little expected, but overall I enjoyed the writing style and story.

For the Record by Emma Lord is a fun, quick read about two musicians, Sam and Mack, who come from rival bands. They’ve got a history, and after years apart, their record label forces them to team up on new music. It’s the classic rivals to lovers story with a second-chance romance twist.

The chemistry between Sam and Mack is great, but the romance moves pretty fast, maybe because of their past. It feels a little rushed at times, but that’s probably because there’s so much history between them that gets packed in quickly. If you like stories where tension turns into love, you’ll probably enjoy it, but if you’re looking for a slower burn, this might feel a bit too speedy.

Overall, it’s a fun, lighthearted romance with a cool music industry backdrop, even if the relationship doesn’t get as much time to build as some might like.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read For the Record.

Allow me to start this review by sharing that I truly honestly don’t believe that Emma Lord is capable of writing a bad book. This book was FANTASTIC. Everything you’d want in a “will they won’t they”, somewhat second chance, celebrity romance. I am now just crossing my fingers and hoping the side characters get their own books because the threads and hints Emma dropped were absolutely delicious.

SO SO SO GOOD! Thank you to Emma’s publishing team and NetGalley for the ARC!

I've been a fan of Emma's books for a while and For the Record was no different. Her romances are always so cute, and have relatable and interesting characters. This book was a little fanfiction-y in the beginning but I really enjoyed where the story went. I would recommend to any contemporary romance readers.

What happens when two former rivals—turned almost-lovers—are forced to make music together again? Sparks fly and secrets refuse to stay buried.

For the Record has all the makings of a swoon-worthy second-chance romance—rival musicians with a messy history, a high-stakes reunion, and enough lingering tension to keep sparks flying. Emma Lord delivers an engaging premise with a strong balance of banter, chemistry, and emotional depth, making this a solid pick for fans of music-driven love stories.

That said, the book takes a little time to find its rhythm. The opening scenes lean heavily into distinct character voices, but in doing so, some clarity gets lost in the mix. The humor, while fun, can feel a bit forced early on. However, once the story settles in, the writing smooths out, and the dynamic between Mackenzie and Sam shines. Their interactions feel layered and natural—not just in dialogue but in the way they move around each other, push each other’s buttons, and slowly let their guards down. Sam, in particular, stands out as a well-rounded character, with his carefully constructed walls contrasting beautifully against his more vulnerable narration.

The novel also does a great job grounding these larger-than-life characters by showing them post music tours, making them feel relatable despite their celebrity status. The female friendships are strong and add a great deal of depth to this contemporary romance. While some plot points feel a little contrived—sometimes for humor, though not always to clear effect—and others are a bit inconsistent, the story keeps moving forward in a way that’s easy to enjoy, and the central romance remains compelling.

For the Record delivers an entertaining, emotionally charged ride with plenty of heart. If you love high-energy romances with music-industry drama and dynamic character interactions, this one is worth the read.

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

I’m a sucker for a musician enemies to lovers. This one did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the side plots, friends and personal issues the characters were going through.

Thank you NetGalley, Rivka Holler from St. Martin's Press, and Emma Lord for the early access copy of For the Record.

For the Record follows the story of Mackenzie and Sam. Mackenzie is a pop princess who was known rivals with Sam, the punk rocker. While their two bands toured together, they showed their rivalry on stage, but behind the scenes they had incredible simmering chemistry. That was until it all fell apart suddenly for both of them. Fast forward to two years later when the story takes place. Sam traded his rockstar lifestyle to raise his son, and Mackenzie after dealing with a surgery that changed her voice is only singing anonymously. When the two are presented with the option to revive their careers, but as a duo, they must learn to work together. With old feelings, new secrets, and new antics, For the Record is must-read.

Sam is a walking green flag of a male lead. His character was flawed and beautifully written to show the growth of time and vulnerability. He falls hard and is open with communication with Mackenzie. Thoroughly enjoyed his character development.

Unsurprisingly, this book was utter perfection. The banter, the chemistry between Mack & Sam, Lord's beautiful prose weaving this gorgeous love story---and story of the ups and downs of friendship---together was magical. Forever an autobuy author for me, and if you love books like Daisy Jones & The Six and The Breakup Tour by #Wibbroka, I think you'll devour this!