A fun story for music lovers, this follows Mac and Sam as they reinvent themselves after being big when they were younger. There was always chemistry, and now they are seeing it through. It's a second chance romance, but also a coming of age story where they really grow into themselves as mature adults, with a host of situations that must be navigated. There was a great cast of supporting characters and a variety of fun situations...although at times the pacing felt off, with exciting parts being glossed over and less interesting parts dragging out.

New favorite Emma Lord novel!

I absolutely devoured this book in less than 24 hours on a race weekend while taking care of two toddlers. It was that enjoyable!

The dynamic between Sam and Mackenzie had me in a chokehold. The individual character development and their relationship was so well written. The layers of the story was enriched by their friends and family.


After recently reading Over The Influence by Joanna “JoJo” Levesque I really appreciate the way Emma Lord portrayed the music industry and executives.

Will update links to include videos closer to publication

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of For the Record by Emma Lord.

Two years ago, Mackenzie (Mack) and Sam captivated audiences through their respective bands until both fell apart. In the present, both live separate lives. Sam, learning that he had a son, has pursued a more quiet life as he raises his son. For Mack, she underwent a surgery that changed her singing voice. With the prospect of reuniting for a joint album, Sam and Mack are once again reunited in this rivals to lovers story.

I was sold on Sam and Mack together from the beginning. I would say the highlight for me was these two finding each other again as I wasn’t as drawn into the music aspects of the story. I enjoy stories with rivals who have unspoken feelings for the other and if you also love this as part of a rivals to lovers trope, then this is definitely a book I would recommend checking out.

Emma Lord has done it again! Her books have always brought joy to my life, and For the Record is no exception. The characters are wonderfully well-rounded — though infuriating at times — and their polar-opposite personalities make their dynamic all the more compelling. Even their last names seem to push against each other. The banter crackles with wit, and the songwriting sessions are nothing short of magical. While the pacing threw me off occasionally, the emotional payoff was worth it.

Lord has a gift for creating heartwarming, laugh-out-loud rom-coms, and this one holds its own alongside beloved favorites like Tweet Cute and When You Get the Chance. If you loved those, For the Record will hit all the right notes — and maybe even leave a new song stuck in your heart.

I really enjoyed this next book from Emma Lord! This first leap into adult fiction / romance was really well done and I loved evolution of the characters. The MMC Secretly crushing is a favorite trope for sure and it was well done here!

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

Overall 3.5 stars for me.

This was a quick and easy read with dual POV, which I always appreciate! Unfortunately I felt that it was a bit slow and I found myself wanting to either skim or read something else at times. I felt like the characters could have used more depth and growth.

I did find the characters entertaining and I loved the music aspect! It’s definitely a good binge read, but wasn’t quite a 4 star for me!

I recently finished reading this book and I must say, it was a captivating and refreshing experience. From the moment I started the book, I was hooked by its grounded and relatable portrayal of romance.
The plot is incredibly realistic, which is something I truly appreciated. The love story unfolds at a pace that feels true to life—there are no unrealistic twists or melodramatic moments that often plague romantic novels. Instead, the characters face real-life challenges, personal growth, and emotional struggles that anyone can relate to. The story touches on themes of trust, vulnerability, and the importance of self-discovery before fully opening up to someone else.
What stood out most to me was the character development. The protagonist evolve throughout the book, and their emotional growth is depicted with such care. Their flaws, strengths, and vulnerabilities are portrayed in a way that makes them feel like real people, not just characters on a page. It’s rare to find a romance where the characters' emotional journeys are as important as their romantic connection, and [Book Title] does this beautifully. Their interactions felt authentic, and the relationship built naturally over time, making it all the more rewarding by the end.
This book made me reflect on my own experiences and left me with a sense of hope that love can grow in the most unexpected ways. It's a novel about finding love not just with someone else, but also with yourself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romance that feels real, with characters that are fully realized and a plot that keeps you invested from start to finish.

Emma Lord is one of my auto-buy authors and her newest book For The Record does not disappoint.

This book is perfect for fans of enemies to lovers and second chance romance. The will they-won’t they redemption story was so fun to follow along with and I loved getting a behind the scenes glimpse of the music industry.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord does it again! Loved the Daisy Jones and the six vibes in this one. I absolutely flew though this one and really enjoyed the chemistry between our leads. As with all books about bands I was frustrated that so couldn’t hear the music!

For the Record
Two musicians who had a manufactured will-they-won’t-they slash rivalry finally see each other two years after the dust has settled and the sparks are undeniable. Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze are incredible on their own and dynamite together. This book had me yell “cross the line!” at least three times and boy, did it ever deliver. Mack has a big secret that will leave you at the edge of your seat, wondering when the other shoe will drop & how it will affect their newfound ability to tolerate each other.

This book by Emma Lord is a fun and engaging romance that mixes the enemies-to-lovers and second chance themes. It follows Mackenzie and Sam, former bandmates who have to work together on a new album despite their past rivalry. The music setting adds a cool twist, and the banter between them is entertaining. While it can be a bit cheesy, it's still a light and enjoyable read. The characters grow throughout the story, though I wished some side characters had more depth. Overall, it's a cute romcom that fans of the genre will enjoy, and I'm interested in reading more from Emma Lord.

3.5 ⭐️

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun contemporary romance with themes of enemies to lovers, found family, and second chances, with great banter and tension.

Mackenzie is a former girl band member and Sam is a former boy band member who have made careers out of their hit songs as well as their rivalry. When the two old flames reconnect with a need to help each other, tensions run high. I loved the musical themes. Emma Lord is great at writing internal dialogue and emotional descriptions. This had every ingredient of a good modern romcom, including the cheesiness, which is the reason I didn’t rate it higher. Cheese aside, this was still a fun, cute, easy read. Thank you to Emma Lord and NetGalley for this ARC, and I recommend checking it out when it releases this August!

💜🎸🤘🏼🎶💋

Good! There wasn’t anything wrong with this book! As a frequent contemporary romance reader I enjoyed the playful banter between the characters, the easy to follow and digestible story. I definitely would’ve enjoyed a little more spice but overall a good book:)

This was a cute Rom Com! At first, I thought it was gonna be more of YA story, but I quickly figured out that it was not 🤣. I always look forward to a new Emma Lord book, and this did not disappoint!! Can't wait for her next one! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Thanks a lot, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin, for granting me the ARC of this book!

I just finished reading For the Record by Emma Lord, and I loved it. The author speaks for herself to me, as she has written two of my most beloved books, but this one was on another level.

It’s a second-chance romance, but with a fire to it that feels alive. I had been in a huge reading slump for a month, and the first few pages completely drew me in. The book is set in the music industry, providing a very exciting and creative backdrop. I also noticed a strong resemblance to Taylor Swift’s story in the protagonist’s journey, but that might just be me—someone unfamiliar with her might not see it at all.

Mack and Sam share a love that feels beautiful but also very complicated. The way their story unfolds, blending past and present through memories rather than flashbacks, is something I really enjoyed. I’m not a fan of full chapters set in the past.

Beyond that, every character contributes meaningfully to the narrative. They all play an important role. I especially loved Ben—I honestly think it’s impossible not to!

I really loved the tension between Sam and Mackenzie but I I think the third act moved a bit too fast compared to the slow build of the beginning two thirds of the book

Such a cute, heartwarming read! I laughed. I cried. I yearned right alongside the characters. Emma Lord writes lovable, complex characters so beautifully, you can’t help but root for them throughout the story!

I loved this a lot. Rival bandmates forced to write an album together after both of their bands fell out. Sign me up.

I loved the way this story showed the way that people grow and change. Emma Lord is a great author and knows how to write and relationship and friendship.

This book is full of yearning, honestly the only thing I personally would have liked more of was Mackenzie developing a relationship with Ben. I think that Sam seeing Mack be good with his son would have added the right amount of extra.

I would highly recommend this book if you need a Rivals to Lovers, Forced Proximity novel. It’s a great read.

A sweet second chance romance with a hint of enemies to lovers. Plenty of beautiful heart-wrenching moments and soothing surprises. A fun cast of best friends and secondary characters I hope Lord will bring to life in future novels.

Loved this one! Thought it was such a great second chance romance and tension and banter was done so well. Enjoyed the character development as well without the themes being too heavy. Serena was a little too unlikable I thought without enough insight into what she was dealing with before you finally got to that portion. Overall thought it was another great fun read!