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

For the Record is a slow-burn romance set in the drama-filled world of pop music. Mackenzie and Sam were in feuding bands for years and entertained their audiences by flirting and feuding on and off stage. All of their conflict hid their true feelings. Since they met years earlier, both Mackenzie and Sam have strong romantic feelings for each other. Their respective bands broke up a few years ago, and both artists have taken some time off. Right before they went their separate ways, they started a fling, but that ended when Sam disappeared. They reunite to make an album together with a new name and a new sound. As they write and record songs together, their spark is quickly rekindled. They spend more time together and as their feelings deepen, old secrets come to light and they face many challenges as their relationship grows. The author, Emma Lord, creates a world where the reader is immersed in the world of music, with conflict between former band members and issues with song rights, agents, and executives. Lord even creates an imaginary app that is a combination of Tik Tok and Spotify, which I found clever and very creative. Artists are able to post their music anonymously, so Mackenzie posts as Seven, but soon her friends find out and the situation gets very complicated. Mackenzie and Sam grow closer and get to know Sam's family and Mackenzie helps him navigate several issues with his family. It doesn't hurt their situation that Sam's son is crazy about Mackenzie.
The book description online states that For the Record is "perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Daisy Jones and the Six", and I couldn't agree more. This book has complex characters who are vulnerable and emotional, and their relationships evolve with the contemporary music industry as their backdrop. This story has a great love story with two characters who have deep feelings for each other set in the drama-filled world of music. I really enjoyed this book and found the subject and setting to be refreshingly different. I will definitely be reading Emma Lord's other work!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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!

Sam and Mack have been performing together for years. Before it was a publicity style feud to gain traction for both their bands. But now things are different. After two years of not speaking, Sam when totally underground after finding out he had a son. Mack has been through a lot too, having major surgery change her voice. The pair come together to start making music together. At first Mack is totally against it, not wanting to fall for Sam’s bad boy charms all over again. But maybe Sam isn’t the bad boy he was portrayed as…

This book was so fun! I usually don’t go for celebrity romances because they feel so unrelatable. But since I love Emma Lord I gave this a shot. The characters are raw real and just all around lovable. If you like enemies to lovers with fun banter this ones for you!

Dual POV
Enemies to friends to lovers
Rockstars

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great characters with the the perfect amount of tension with the rivalry. My only complaint is the story seemed to drag out a little in the middle and then quickly wrap up.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m a total sucker for novels where both main characters are famous so that alone was a major selling point for me when it came to OFF THE RECORD, but to have this book also be written by Emma Lord? I knew instantly I would love it.

Mackenzie and Sam were such relatable characters, ones any reader can see themselves in (except maybe for the insane musical talent!), dealing with struggles with relationships with friends and family members and feelings of self-worth as they both attempt their next chapters years after their respective bands disbanded.

I couldn’t get enough of Mackenzie and Sam’s trips down memory lane as they wrote their songs together. It was so fun to be able to see them create new memories from the places that were significant to them both when they were in “feuding” bands while also getting a glimpse into that past with every location they visited together.

There were a lot of moving parts that kept me invested, like fights with labels/greedy streaming services and a super cute kid, and I selfishly wish I was able to spend even more time with the pair as they fell in love.

I absolutely LOVED this book. 4.5 stars rounded up. As much as I love books like Daisy Jones and the Six, it was nice reading a book about musicians that took place after their crazy years. I was hesitant at first with the Tick Tune plot line, as I usually don't like fictional social media platforms or social media being a major plot device, but it fit into the story seamlessly enough that I didn't end up minding it. I really appreciated the book calling out the modern music industry for its shady practices, and while the conclusion felt a little too easy, it wrapped things up nicely.

I loved the characters, I loved the chemistry, and I was hooked by the plot. The romance was so sweet, and watching the characters come to trust both each other and themselves was lovely. Most of the side plots did well to fill in the gaps throughout the story, and I couldn't help but fly through this book to find out what happens next.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were once part of two hugely popular bands, forever linked by their legendary rivalry. Years after stepping away from the spotlight, their record labels pitch a surprising comeback—this time, not as competitors, but as a duo.

As they collaborate on new songs, Mack and Sam begin to see each other in a completely different light. They never truly knew one another back in the day, but through honesty, vulnerability, and the creative process, they start to form a connection that was always missing. There’s no reason to hold back—the water’s just fine.

Though this isn’t a trope I typically gravitate toward, I continue to be blown away by Emma Lord’s writing. This book had just the right amount of escapism, never feeling overly tense or dramatic. Mack and Sam’s chemistry felt effortless, and once they finally understood each other, their love story unfolded naturally. Lord masterfully balanced their individual growth with their evolution as a couple, making every moment feel earned.

I also adored the New York City setting—it’s the kind of place where ex-band members can own bars and put on runway shows, and it brought a layer of magic to the story. The imagery of city streets, towering buildings, and casual strolls down the block made me nostalgic for urban life.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Rivka Holler at St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Emma Lord, and for an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

I've had to sit with this book for the last two days. First, I want to say I adore the main characters, Mackenzie and Sam, their dynamic, and ultimately I did end up with a favorable outlook on this book. However, I couldn't help, after maybe 45–50% to feel dissatisfied with the way things were going. At times, everything felt slap-bang together. The in-and-out of the past and present was confusing with the weird way it was portrayed in tense. There felt like there was six hundred things happening at once with no real build up (except the for romance, perhaps). You were introduced to a problem, it dragged its feet a bit, and then BANG! It was solved. Or came to a strange conclusion. Some parts of the book were fully fleshed out, others felt tucked into the overall plot for the sake of attempting to keep us on our toes. Which was sad cause I felt like had this been more fleshed out (again, overall) it would've been truly wonderful.

YESSSSS 5 ⭐️ BB

Pleaseeeeee, this was so good!! The banter, the chemistry, the tension between Mack & Sam was perfect! I loved every single bit of this book. This is my first Emma Lord and it most certainly will not be my last! Her writing is beautiful and I felt it on such an emotional level, I can’t even put it into words. I was so blown away by this, what a start to the month.

Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for an ARC of this! Running to pre order to have this on my shelf when it releases in August!