The audio narration on this one was great!

This one started out with a lot of yearning and angst, and I was eating up every moment. The song writing, the TENSION, I was white knuckling it with the when will they? Why won't they!?

Thennnn we let a few things drag out a little too long and hit a third act break up. Anddddd not only a third act break up but one wrapped in miscommunication, the worst of all the tropes. While the ending did recover and make my heart full of flutters, that break up really did me in and took it down from five stars. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the read, it was cute, it was fun, it was full of everything you want in a romance.

I got a copy of this audio from NetGalley, and I am so glad it was on audio, these narrators were new to me and I ate them up!

I am curious if reading this would have changed my opinion. I did not enjoy the audio version of this book. Thank you, NetGalley.

ARC and ALC review

Initial rating was 4,25 stars, but I decided to change it to 4,5 after listening to the audiobook.

As I enjoyed Emma Lord's YA books I was looking forward to reading this book.

I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press and an ALC from Macmillan Audio (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:
- second chance romance
- musicians (pop star and rock band member)
- single dad
- dual POV
- slow burn
- forced proximity
- female friendships
- found family
- secret identity

I like romances with musicians and the fact that they are both singers is a bonus.
Mackenzie and Sam were part of rival bands (but also in a secret relationship).
After a few years they are asked to write an album together.
They both went through some things during the time they were apart, Sam becoming a father and Mackenzie having issues with her voice (and recording song under an alias).

The fact that they still had feelings for each other was clear, even if they tried to deny it.
I found their story emotional and liked that they had a growth as characters.

The fact that there is a dual perspective was a plus for the story and development of the romance.

Update:
Even if I already read the book in May, when the audiobook was available for request I decided to do a reread.

The second read of the book through audiobook narrated by Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky made me like the story even more.
This is a dual narration, but both narrators performed great in their chapters.
They manage to bring out the personality of the characters and enhance the experience of the book.
Jesse made me feel Mackenzie's sunshine side, but also her anxiety and she also has does a pretty good male voice.
Aiden was amazing as Sam, flirty but also vulnerable. He does good female voices and great kid voice.

If you liked other books by Emma Lord, I also recommend this one.
And if you have the possibility and you consume books this way, try the audiobook.

A fun, lighthearted romance between two music artists who used to light up the stage with their rivalry. Now, they're teaming together to create music that neither of them have released and find their way to each other.

The chemistry for the couple is there right at the beginning, and we also see them mesh well with the minor characters throughout the novel. There is a great cast of characters who keep the story moving at a swift jaunt, while also allowing the main characters to thrive and sparkle on their own.

I loved the narrators, as they brought the characters to life. I love both of them independently and found that they embodied the characters perfectly.

What a sweet story! While it was a predictable ending, it was satisfying. I did not see any similarities to "Daisy Jones and the Six" except that it involved musicians, saying it is perfect for Emily Henry fans.is accurate. It was a.cute, short beach or Sunday afternoon read. Thanks to Netgalley for the sneak peek!

I have never read an Emma Lord book, but I have always heard people gushing over her romances. When I was allowed to review her new book, For The Record, I figured this was a great time to finally read her. I am very much a music lover, and worked in the music business for several years, so this would be the book for me; however, I had a love-hate relationship with it. I didn't hate it, but I also can't say it was a favorite.

The premise was cute, and honestly, I am drawn to the enemy-to-lover trope. Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are two singers who used to know each other, both in bands, from what I understood, bands similar to the 2000 Boy Bands and girl bands. Of course, they were rivals, and at the time the story is taking place, neither had in some time. Mackenzie had throat surgery that changed the tone of her voice, and she was struggling with her new sound. And somewhere along the way, Sam had an oppsy and found out he was a father.

Fast forward to the present day, where they meet again...and I will stop there, I can't give anything away, that would be just wrong.

So, as I said, I didn't hate this book; I listened to it on Audio, and maybe if I had read it, I might have liked it somewhat better. The story was, of course, told in both Mackenzie and Sam's points of view in individual chapters, as so many romances are, but I had a problem when listening to Mackenzie's POVs and the narrator had to switch over to Sam's voice; there was something about it that just grated on my nerves. Look, I am not in any way knocking the narrator, she was the perfect Mackenzie, and I am in NO way saying I could pull off a man's voice, she did what she could do, but there was something about it that just did not resonate with me.

The story's plot was fine; it kept me listening. Again, the subject of music was heavy in the book, and that is always something that will keep my attention. The characters of Sam and Mackenzie were fine, but like the book, I had no strong feelings for either of them. I didn't feel any of the tension I expected in an enemy-to-lover plot. They had been heavy rivals in the past, and I really would have liked just a bit more tension between the two.

I certainly didn't mind all of the above; I mean, it didn't stop me from listening to the book. If I didn't DNF, there was enough in this book to keep me going; there were some very good moments in here. I think the one thing that got me, and probably lowered my opinion on For The Record the most, was, I am not sure how to say this, but the overly sweet cheesy lines that the two of them used often about each other...
" I am too deep into Mackenzie Waters..." and something to the effect that he can't get out, yada yada. I can't imagine anyone saying things like this to me, I think I would run, or at least, have a heavy eyeroll, they would certainly see. For some reason, I just could not get past this one thing, and I felt like I was reading dialogue from a 12-year-old who had just discovered the opposite sex.

So For The Record was an ok read, I did think I would have enjoyed it much more than I did, and as I have mentioned, I have read way worse books in my lifetime. Will I pick up another Emma Lord book in the future? Maybe I am not dismissing her at all. I believe in second chances, especially if I can finish the book; there was still something there I found enjoyable about it. I also think a lot of people will enjoy this; it has a little bit of spice, just enough to feel the heat on your tongue, but not enough to burn your tongue uncomfortably, and it has many funny parts. So yeah, pick it up, it might be your perfect read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of For the Record in exchange for my honest opinion. For the Record will be released on August 12, 2025.

For the Record is a sweet slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. It’s slightly predictable, but it works and all comes to together for a HEA. 2 retired singers of bands that had a moment, reconnected professionally 2 years later, and then lines get blurred. They realize they’re not enemies as much as they thought. As their relationship progresses (slowly)but then miscommunication about different events got in the way. Miscommunication is a big aggravation of this book, but while it’s annoying it’s manageable.

I loved the duet audio. Sign me up for a duet narration Everytime when listening to a romance book! The narrators were easy to listen to (even at 2.0 speed). This is definitely a fast paced romance that I would recommend to others to listen to!

I went into this book not knowing what to expect, as it was my first time reading this author, but I ended up really enjoying it. As a fan of second-chance romances, I was hooked by how the story unfolded Mackenzie and Sam's past, offering just enough context and intrigue. They were once music rivals: she, a polished pop star; he, a broody punk rocker. Their bands clashed, igniting sparks and creating off-stage drama.

Two years later, their lives had changed. Sam was a full-time dad, and Mackenzie was recovering from vocal surgery, secretly releasing music under a pseudonym. The twist? They had to make a comeback album together to save their careers. The chemistry between them was still there, but so was their history.

I loved how their relationship evolved; it felt authentic and complicated. The story had a lot of heart, with humor and moments that genuinely made me smile.

The narrators for this book were also good.

The banter really did it for me in this one. The dynamic between Sam and Mackenzie was really fun to see play out. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed, both in past and present.

I thought the backstory for Mackenzie was a touch confusing - specifically regarding the relationship between her and her previous band-mate. I never QUITE understood why there was such a huge problem.

Other notes:
• The relationship between Sam, his son, and his son's mother (ex-hookup?) was great and really added to Sam's character.
• Sometimes I felt like the plot was doing too much where it didn't need to.

The narration was top tier, as is usual for anything Andrew Eiden works on. Jesse Vilinsky is new to me, but I enjoyed her narration just as much.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this ALC.

thank you to netgalley and macmillan audio for the ALC! 🫶🏻

I keep saying this, but I loved this one 🥹

We have our two MCs who were stuck touring together when they were in their respective girl/boy bands and marketed as rivals, but in the “will they wont they?” way to draw in public interest. cool. but they actually can’t stand each other. or at least, that’s what mackenzie thought when she heard sam diss her songwriting in an interview before they’d even met. she was already holding that against him but sam? he definitely egged her on and got under her skin, but did he actually dislike her?

the tour ended 2 years ago and since then, a lot has changed. for one, each MC is trying to do a solo career and with a different sound than before. Their labels don’t like it, but decide they’d tolerate it IF they did an album together, first. great! now they’re stuck working together! forced proximity, oh no! 🙈

there’s more to this one than meets the eye, for sure. i think the emotional depth was surprising. i feel like with the sort of rock star/pop star set up it could have stayed very surface level instead of digging in. but there’s themes of forgiveness, some level of loss of self/self discovery, and family dynamic issues. there was a lot of heart and emotional moments for me in this one (second chances just get me!!!!!) overall, i very much enjoyed this one and would recommend! 👌🏻

also, the audio. guys. I didn’t know that teddy hamilton was a pseudonym!! so it’s dual narration and both were fantastic!!! but teddy hamilton does steal the show if i’m honest 😅🙈

It’s almost impossible for a romance novel not to be great when it’s narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Andrew Eiden.

This is my fourth Emma Lord book, and somehow I still haven’t gotten to her biggest hits. I really need to bump Tweet Cute up my TBR.

The romance in For the Record is solid. While it flirts with the rivals-to-lovers trope, most of the tension comes from the MCs working through their own personal baggage. The real charm, though, is in their personalities. Mackenzie and Sam are both ridiculously cool and way too charismatic for their own good.

Needed more Ben though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. For the Record comes out August 12, 2025.

📖 ARC/ALC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for an early copy of For The Record by Emma Lord. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: August 12th, 2025

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

For the Record follows former bandmates and music rivals Mackenzie and Sam, whose on-stage fake romance once captivated fans—despite the off-stage tension that simmered between them. Years after their bands disbanded, Sam is a single dad performing small gigs, while Mackenzie has stepped out of the spotlight, singing anonymously on the book’s version of TikTok after vocal surgery changed her voice. Their shot at a comeback? Teaming up for a joint album. But working together again means facing unresolved feelings and reigniting a chemistry that never really faded.
I enjoyed the premise and loved the behind-the-scenes look into the music industry. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, with some scenes coming off as repetitive or dragging the momentum. I also found the conflict between Serena and Mackenzie a bit too over-the-top for my taste.
That said, the audio narration added a nice spark to the story and made it more engaging overall!

Narrators are excellent. The story was pretty good too. I hope this one pops off because it was an easy listen and enjoyable storyline

I really enjoyed the narrators for this book. I thought they did a great job bringing the characters to life and giving them a voice. I’m rating this a 3 star because it felt little bit clumsy. The 3rd act breakup didn’t really make sense to me. There wasn’t enough of a good reason to break up and then Sam coming to the bar after he was adamant felt odd to me. It was also a little bit cheesy with the names of the bands. I also struggled to understand a power pop glittery girl band teaming up with a punk rock bad boy boy band. Overall I think the audio made it better and I enjoyed it but it wasn’t one of my favorites.

For the Record by Emma Lord hits many of the right notes—fresh concept, dual perspectives, a bit of second-chance tension, and a hidden-identity twist. It’s a feel-good YA romance with a musical backdrop and just enough emotional layering to keep things engaging.

Told from both Mack and Sam’s points of view, the story gives us a front-row seat to their complicated past and even messier present. Mack, once the powerhouse voice of a rising band, is navigating the quiet aftermath of surgery and strained friendships—especially with former bandmate Serena. Meanwhile, Sam’s got some unfinished business of his own. The dual narrative works well here, helping both characters feel fleshed out, even if their arcs don’t always go as deep as they could have.

One of the standout elements is the rekindled chemistry between Mack and Sam. There’s this undeniable undercurrent of “we’ve been here before but we’re different now,” and Emma Lord does a great job teasing that tension throughout the story. Their history is messy in a way that feels real, with unspoken regrets and slow-burn moments that make you root for their reunion.

The inclusion of Mack’s health journey—particularly her thyroid surgery—adds an extra layer to her character, especially when tied to her struggles with her voice and identity as a performer.

The pacing dips in the middle, and some of the emotional beats don’t hit quite as hard as they could have, which kept it from being an all-out favorite. Still, the charm is there. Emma Lord’s writing has an easy, sincere quality to it—nothing feels forced, and the characters all carry an undercurrent of relatability, even when the stakes are low-key.

For readers who like:
-Second chance romance
-Music-centric YA
-Secret identities

Final Verdict
For the Record is a sweet, satisfying YA with just enough heartache, history, and harmony to keep you flipping pages. While it may not sweep you off your feet with high-intensity drama or all-consuming romance, it still strikes a chord—especially if you’ve ever dreamed of disappearing behind a stage name and starting fresh. Not a five-star knockout, but a solid, sing-along kind of read.

Grateful to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Emma Lord for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

ALC Review: For the Record by Emma Lord
Narrated by: Andrew Eiden & Jesse Vilinsky
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mini Review:
For the Record is a sweet, music-infused romance about two former pop stars—Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze—teaming up for a creative comeback years after their infamous PR-fueled “rivalry” made them pop culture icons. Now older, wiser (sort of), and long out of the spotlight, they’re re-entering the music scene together as the duo Mack & Sam—and sparks fly both on and off the stage.

Narration:
Both Andrew Eiden and Jesse Vilinsky fit their characters well, bringing Sam and Mackenzie’s dual POVs to life with energy and emotion. I appreciated that the book didn’t try to include sung lyrics—instead, the story described the vibe and message of each song, which worked much better in audio format. However, I did find the dual narration style (where each narrator performed all voices in their POV chapters) a little jarring. Jesse’s “Sam voice” didn’t quite land for me—it felt a bit forced in certain moments. And this is minor, but I kept mishearing “CandyShard” (Sam’s old band name) as… something less glamorous, which threw me off!

Listening Experience:
The pacing was smooth, the production quality high, and the story easy to follow as an audiobook. I was drawn in by the character names (shoutout to finally hearing my own name in a book!) but stayed for the fresh premise and likeable leads. This is a fun, feel-good romcom that works well in audio—perfect for fans of celebrity romance, strong chemistry, and stories with musical elements.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely—for fans of music-centered romance, second acts, and character-driven stories with a hint of nostalgia.

This was cute but not my favorite. Sam and Mack used to be in rival pop bands with PR-manufactured will they/wont they storyline, which resulted in real feelings on both sides but they never acted on it bc of ~miscommunication~. Now they’re working together on new music but both are keeping secrets from each other.

I thought there was too much going on between the TikTune drama, the friendship break up with Serena, and Sam’s daddy issues. The female narrator emoted a lot but i wasn’t super invested in the conflict so it came across as a little overwrought.

2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early copy of For the Record.

Pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze were once rivals on stage and secretly more off of it, until it all fell apart. Now, years later, they’re teaming up for a comeback album that forces them to confront their past and the feelings that never really went away.

This one was pitched as perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and Emily Henry, so naturally I had high hopes. A second chance, rockstar romance should’ve been an easy win for me, but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat.

I struggled to connect with the romance at the heart of the story. I didn’t quite understand the pull between these characters or feel the kind of tension and yearning I was hoping for. On top of that, there were so many subplots: friendship fallouts, family drama, social media scandals, exes, a child subplot, record label issues, vocal cord injuries… to name a few. None of them felt fully developed. I think the story would’ve been stronger with a tighter focus on the central romance. Also, unrelated but the corny band names in this book really drove me nuts.

I also listened to the audiobook, and while I enjoyed the female narrator’s performance, the male narrator didn’t quite work for me. I felt like his voice or delivery didn’t quite match the character for me.

Overall, this had all the right ingredients, but it didn’t come together in a way that I hoped.

This book was adorable. It was such an easy listen while at work and running errands. I loved all the rom com feels while listening to it. Can’t wait to order a physical copy on release day!

Highly recommend for readers looking for a rom com vibe with rockstars trying to figure life out together.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC

Mackenzie (29) was a pop star in an all-girl group until two years ago, staying out of the spotlight since. A secret surgery has changed her voice, and she’s processing that change while letting go of stuff from her past in her own way.

Sam (31) was her punk rockstar rival, their chemistry explosive on stage when their bands toured together. But two years ago he discovered he had a son, so stepped away to be a devoted dad and protect his kid from the uglier side of fame.

When these two come together again to help one another out by becoming duet partners, writing songs and making music reveals secrets and feelings that make you keep saying “just one more chapter” because you don’t want to step away.

A beautiful love story that explores artistic identity, celebrity and media, vulnerability, ownership of creative works, friendship and secrets, family, and love.

And delicious baked goods.

I think it’s my new favorite book by Emma Lord (and I love her work).

Read if you like:
• Contemporary romance
• Dual POV
• Songwriting partners
• Changing friendships
• Second chance
• Celebrity romance
• Single parent
• Open door spice
• UNDER YOUR SPELL by Laura Wood
• THE BREAKUP TOUR by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka

I was impatient so read an ARC and listed to the audiobook via NetGalley. Publishes 8/12/25.