This is my first Emma Lord, and while I don’t think it will be my last, there are a few issues with her writing I suspect are consistent.

First off, however, the good stuff: I love Mackenzie and Sam as both individual characters and as romantic foils. I definitely feel as if I know them, understand their motivations, and get their hang-ups. The flashbacks do excellent work of explaining how they’ve got to this place in their lives, both in relation to work and each other. Plus: they’re charming together.

Now, the not so good. While I completely understand the necessity of the Tick Tune stuff, it was all wildly convoluted and complex, it seriously detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

I also feel that the vast assortment of side and supporting characters kept me from knowing them better — I don’t know Hannah or Lizzie at all, I still don’t get Serena, and I found it odd we never meet Sam’s bandmates or mother, despite being told about them A LOT. Oh, and Twyla and Isla? Are they good people? Good at their jobs? No idea!

And while the settings are seriously cute, they’re also highly unbelievable. Hannah is a MASSIVE star and yet works the bar at her joint everyone knows? Lizzie and her wife have this charming bakery that’s also a speakeasy and also they all live upstairs? This all stretches the boundaries of believability to breaking points.

Overall, the book is sweet escapism, but there are many pieces of it that just don’t fit.

Mackenzie and Sam, both musical artists with former bands that clashed (and both of whom had an attraction to the other), reunite musically together in order to salvage their careers. A few years have passed since their heyday, and they are now in different spots; Sam being a parent, and Mackenzie navigating a change in her voice. When reuniting for their careers, they learn a lot about each other, but also themselves as individuals, and get a second chance at their chemistry.

This was another home run for Emma Lord. I can consistently rely on her writing to be accessible, explore deeper themes that are applicable to every day people, and also have a cute romance that doesn't ever go over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another hit from Emma Lord! This contemporary romance felt very real and had such a fun storyline. I was impressed that the author could write famous pop star characters in such a convincing way. Sam and Mack both felt so real!

4.5 stars -- My favorite Emma Lord book yet! This was damn near perfect.

I was hooked on Sam Blaze and Mackenzie Waters from the first page. They tantalized fans for years with their rivalry and their "will they, won't they" tension --but Mack is notorious for wanting a relationship that will last and Sam purposely stayed away from her knowing he couldn't give that to her.

But two years after their bands broke up and stopped touring together, they are both ready for a restart -- for their careers and for their chance at a relationship. Their record label is interested in them doing an album together, and as the two write songs and reminisce together, they quickly realize they love each other and they have for years. But will they risk their second chance in music for that chance to be together for real?

Chemistry and characters were electric! So enjoyable.

Mackenzie is facing life after her girl band has ended and a health scare. She is posting songs to Tick Tune under a pseudonym in order to heal from a series of bad relationships. Sam's boy band had travelled with Mackenzie's band on the road, and the had enjoyed a will they/won't they with their fans, but he has to suddenly grow up when he finds out he has a son with his lesbian best friend. Sam and Mackenzie's agents think a duet album will be their entrance into the "grown up" music scene. Can they find the magic back that they had before?

I couldn’t put it down! I loved each relationship and the beauty in the happiness and heart ache. I’m a fan!

I picked this because it looks like Taylor Swift on the front and that seemed so fun. I didnt expect to love it so much because the musicians are not always my favorite theme. These characters are really fun and honestly, relatable! The dual POV is everything and Sam was my favorite

Loved this one!! Such a sweet story about music and the music industry with some really sweet sub storylines about female friendship and coming into your own. It was a bit of a slow start for me which is why I knocked it down a star but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Oh wow.

This book was beautiful. I’m kind of at a loss for words after finishing it, and very tempted to just go back to chapter 1 and start over again.

I loved Mackenzie and Sam’s story. It was fun and beautiful and at times downright swoon-worthy. Just a beautiful second chance romance that doesn’t shy away from heartbreak but embraces it and makes it an empowering step forward for both of them. I also deeply loved the friendships explored in it. The riffs and repairs and found families.

This will probably stay at the top of my 2025 reads. I’m looking forward to revisiting this one and I’m sure it’s one that’s going to stick with me for a while.

Thank you so much to Net Galley & St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Once fierce rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze captivated audiences with their onstage clashes, but behind the scenes, their fiery tension turned into something more—until both bands collapsed, taking their relationship down with them. Two years later, Sam has left the rockstar life behind to raise the son he never knew about, while Mackenzie, struggling with a postoperative change in her voice, only sings under a pseudonym. Their only shot at reviving their careers is a joint comeback album, forcing them to set aside their rivalry and learn to work together. As old sparks reignite and new secrets come to light, their reunion triggers a chain of events neither saw coming—proving that sometimes, the greatest hits are still waiting to be written.

Emma Lord’s fun and poppy writing style makes a love story between a rival punk rocker and pop star feel like a perfect match. Sam is a devoted father and a charming love interest for Mackenzie—flawed but never too much of a jerk to root against. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is bubbly and fun, yet also a fierce friend and ally. The story hits all the familiar beats of Emma Lord’s signature style while keeping the emotional moments authentic and heartfelt. This was an entertaining ride, and I can’t wait to read more from her. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Set in New York City, Mackenzie and Sam are musicians and former rivals who work on a new duet project after being out of the industry for two years. Emma Lord is an auto-read for me, and this book delivers! While the Daisy Jones and the Six like tension was in the past, this is so much about where they are now and how they have grown in the past two years. This novel also features her two bandmates Hannah and Serena, and I loved seeing their relationship having such a critical part of this story, rather than one-dimensional side characters. I also loved how the third act drama wasn't a typical break up, especially with how Sam is trying to show Mackenzie through time that he will be there and love her. There's still tension, but more like just needing a moment to regroup and work through it together.

This includes:
🎶 Rivals to lovers
🎶 Second chances
🎶 Found family
🎶 Music industry
🎶 Co-parenting
🎶 Punk rock vs glittery pop
🎶 Dual POV
🎶 The worst dessert combinations that I would still try for Ben
🎶 Mature conversations
🎶 Fantastic epilogue

5 / 5 stars

Open door / spicy

Thanks to NetGalley and Rivka Holler with St. Martin’s Press for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Emma Lord’s writing, and this book didn’t disappoint. I’m pleased that she has ventured into adult romance, and will be happy to share and recommend this book to friends and customers.

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.