This book is hard to rate, because I'm learning this type of book is not my style. The writing was good and the story was fine, but I felt like the rock band scene as a romance doesn't hit as well as other plots.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

For the record, I am in love with this book. Wholly and completely in love with Mackenzie & Sam’s story. From the very beginning, it drew me in and held me like a warm blanket. Fast forward seven hours and some change later, and I was finishing it without realizing I had barely come up for air. Every thing from the characters to the story line to the banter was utter perfection. Emma Lord has quickly gone from being a new author to me, to being an author whose work I will gladly read again.

The banter and chemistry between the two main characters was masterfully written. Was it a slow burn? Absolutely, it was. I was here for every second of it. Once that spark caught fire though, it was unstoppable. I could feel their connection in the words I was reading and at times, it was intense! Not only were the interactions between the FMC and MMC enthralling, but the supporting characters also had a lot of depth as well. The dialogue was fantastic and entertaining. The plot was well designed and executed. I have absolutely no complaints about For The Record.

Tropes in this book include:
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Slow Burn
Rockstar/Pop Princess

For the Record might just be my favorite Emma Lord book yet. Her characters draw me in so much, and she’s just so good at building a cast of fleshed out characters. Mackenzie and Sam had such good chemistry, and there was so much longing from both of their perspectives, which was just perfect. Their first real kiss… so good.

Additionally, the whole music related storyline was so easy to get invested into. From Sam and Mackenzie’s songwriting together to her antics under her pseudonym, I was hooked.

I can’t wait to read the next one from Emma Lord, as always.

I really enjoy Emma Lord's adult romances. I think her writing is fun and exciting. While this is a story that I have definitely read before, Emma's characterization of Mack and Sam made this book really stand out for me. The rivals to friends to lovers story was everything I wanted. 4.5/5.

I absolutely loved Emma Lord’s second adult novel! For the Record explores themes of friendship, parenting, second chance romance, and embracing change, with the perfect balance of angst, banter, and steamy romance.

I adored both Mackenzie and Sam - they are both extremely well-developed and multilayered characters. I loved how their history was conveyed without the addition of a dual timeline, instead filling in the gaps with their differing POVs. The depth of their relationship is clear from their very first on-page interaction.

In typical Emma Lord fashion, the side characters also play a huge role in the plot, with distinct personalities and relationships. I loved each of them, but Ben, with his “anti-dessert agenda,” was easily my favorite. It was so refreshing to read about such a healthy, blended family!

For the Record is not only a top-notch romance, but also includes important messaging around the intricacies of the music industry. I enjoyed the creativity of Tik Tune and how the former pop icons were using their platform to advocate for younger and unsigned singers. I also appreciated the inclusion of thyroid disease. This story will easily pull you in from the very first page - I highly recommend adding to your TBR!

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

Thanks for the review copy. I’m always excited when I get to read an Emma Lord arc. I love her writing and how diverse her characters are.

5/5 stars. My favorite Emma Lord book yet. I enjoy stories featuring musicians. I absolutely loved all of the characters. They had great depth and complexity everything they did felt on brand for that character. Thank you netgalley and at martins press

Thank you NetGalley and Emma Lord for the chance to read this ARC.

Sam, swoon.

Normally I am not a fan of miscommunication, but there’s something about the relationship between Mack and Sam that makes me not hate it as much. The flash backs and the current relationship growth between them and the banter make this story great. And the spice, while not much, was spicing.

The side characters are also great, I really didn’t line Serena at first but she grew on me. Be with his nasty desserts might have been favorite though.

*chef’s kiss*
This book is filled with a former punk-rock MMC, a pop-princess FMC, sparkly outfits & secret identities, enemies to lovers and second chances, found family, emotionally mature conversations, and a super cute ending. This book gave me everything I wanted without being Daisy Jones & the Six. I love when two people seem like they’re made for each other and you get to watch them figure it out for themselves.

I will read more from Emma Lord, thank you for this ARC!

For the record... this was my first Emma Lord book, but certainly not my last!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It gave all the music vibes I was hoping it would give, and I love Sam and Mackenzie💗

I can't say much without spoiling, but basically, Sam and Mackenzie are ex band members of two rival bands. They haven't seen each other for over 2 years until Mackenzie suddenly ends up falling into Sam's arms.

This is a dual POV book, I loved seeing both sides of everything! And watching the secrets get spilled out all over the pages!

If you are a fan of romance books with hilarious main characters who love music, then when this book comes out on August 12th, 2025, don't hesitate RUNNING to the bookstore to pick it up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing company of this book for giving me an ARC to review! I am hoping to have a blurb on the book when it's published... but I don't know!

My YouTube channel where I will review 'For the Record':
https://www.youtube.com/@liliankay09

My GoodReads where I will review 'For the Record':
www.goodreads.com/liliankay09

I am the biggest sucker for popstar/punk rock boy romances. Like, I will devour it every time. This was no exception. I absolutely loved it. While it kind of started out feeling enemies to lovers, the way it transitioned didn't feel forced or inauthentic or even rushed. I thought it was a quick fun read that had me giggling and kicking my feet and wishing they were real a popstar and punk rock boy.

I am a fairly consistent Emma Lord fan but I think this might be, dare I say, my favorite of hers yet. To be fair, I say that almost every time she puts out a new book but I really think she’s nailed it with this one. Having read both her YA and adult books, it’s been interesting to palpably feel the tonal and linguistic shift between them, but this one, for me, hit all the notes. While not as cozy or baked-goods heavy as some of Lord’s other works, I enjoyed the more serious subject matter and the nuanced side characters who really built up the story so it didn’t feel like just a romance.

Emma Lord is an author I know I can count on for a great book. Her latest, For the Record, was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the ARC of this book! I read the Break-Up Pact last year and I really enjoyed it, so I was really excited to read this one. This book was an easy five star read for me and if you enjoy Celebrity Romance,, Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance, I think that you would love it as well! Mackenzie and Sam have an obvious connection from the very start of the book, despite the fact that they try really hard to ignore it. Both Mackenzie and Sam, were part of successful band that toured together. In the last 2 years, life circumstance have put both of them out of the spotlight. As they try and ramp up their careers again, they are paired together by their label and forced to collaborate on a number of songs. Their past is a little messy and the future is looking messy as well, but as they work together, they realize that maybe they have more in common than they thought. The love story is sweet, the banter is fun, the relationship feels real and I loved it so much! Highly recommend!

OBSESSED. This has literally all of my favorite tropes and I couldn’t put it down. This was so incredibly enjoyable that it’s going on my list of top reads for the year.

Another solid ARC! Where has this author been hiding my whole life (life = these last 4 years I’m been compulsively reading any romance book I can get my grubby hands on).

I really enjoyed this book and would’ve given it five stars if there weren’t so many cringe odes towards Taylor Swift. She is the white womans Jesus Christ.

I really like the pacing of this book, the characters, the storyline, supporting characters and the smut. I really appreciated how there weren’t any time jumps in the story was continuous and progressed. Can’t wait for this author’s next work.

This story follows MacKenzie and Sam (thank you for giving the characters normal names) as they reconnect two years after their respective bands broke up. Chemistry is really good and instant instantaneous and the character growth is good and they both behave like adults which is good.

This book was incredible! The premise, the characters, the writing style. I loved it all. It’s not often you find a book where you genuinely enjoy both main characters AND (most of) the side characters. Mackenzie and Sam were interestingly complex as individuals and their relationship was depicted with such depth and care. Emma Lord did a great job carrying that feeling throughout the whole book. I appreciated how mature Mackenzie and Sam’s relationship was while still getting peeks into the past when they were at a point in their lives when that may not have been the case. The characters were very self aware and reflective on their past selves. It was lovely to have the third act drama not necessarily be a third act break up but more like a bump in the road they knew they would get through together. The ending itself did make it feel like a complete story but I LOVED the epilogue. It really tied everything together with a bow.

Sidebar- I felt like the author took aspects of Taylor Swift and divided them between the three members of the girl group. I loved the way their friendship was shown- both the good and the bad- and I appreciated how that story line got wrapped up in the end as well. I think those relationships were nearly as important as the main couple and I am glad that was never lost in the book.

Thank you NetGalley, Emma Lord, and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this read!

So good I couldn’t put this book down. I love any book that’s based around music. This book had the perfect amount of humor, heartbreak, self growth and friendship!

I have always wanted to read a novel by Emma Lord, and I was fortunate enough to do so through an ARC. The cover of the novel is so cute and the plot so intriguing. The story follows Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze, both famous singers who were once in rival bands that toured together. After two years away from the public eye, each with their personal reasons for retreating, their label suggests they return to the music scene as a duo, a proposition they reluctantly accept. Under a tight deadline, they revisit their old 'haunts' for inspiration, which brings both nostalgia and unresolved emotions to the forefront.

While this novel is primarily a lighthearted romcom, it also delves into heavier themes such as toxic parenting, illness, absentee parents, and the complexities of past friendships and relationships. I found the friendship between Mackenzie and Serena particularly difficult to understand. I felt Serena's actions were extreme and somewhat convoluted. Additionally, some scenes seemed overly lengthy and wordy, but overall, the novel was a fantastic read. I loved the dual POV and reading the stories from their past into the present and how much they have grown. The romance between Mack and Sam was so sweet and seeing Sam with Ben....swoon. I look forward to reading more novels by Emma.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

Obsessed. Emma Lord is an "always immediately yes" for me, she just does not miss!

This will be the perfect beach read this summer! I devoured it in a day and smiled the whole time. I love a used-to-be-famous trope, I love a second chance, and I LOVE a chosen family/girl gang. These characters were so lovable (even when you want to shake them) and the TickTune drama felt quite relevant! My eyes were teary at the end, partly because it was so cute but partly because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters and this story!

I loved every second of it, and I think if you enjoy Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, or books like Honey and Daisy Jones & the Six, you'll really love this one too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!