Thank you for letting me read this book in advance. I loved it from beginning to end. The story of Mackenzie and Sam was so perfect. I loved their growth as people, their friendship, and their love. I liked that the author didn’t follow the typical, predictable romance book plot line. This was a beautiful book to read. It made me happy and hopeful.

This is a 5 star read for me because of how much I enjoyed it and how quickly I read it! I can’t wait to tell besties about this one. Perfect musician slow burn with so much character and relationship growth. I laughed and cried! Thank you so much to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I can't lie and say I didn't struggle to get through this. This was a close DNF, I just couldn't get into the story for some reason. My attention wasn't captured right away. I don't feel the characters were very memorable and it took forever for anything romantic to happen between the characters I'm all for a slow burn but this wasnt giving that. I didn't have any laugh out loud moments and smiling moments while reading to myself. The plot of music artist isn't something I usually read so I wanted to try it out but this wasn't for me.

I am not normally one who enjoys celebrity type romances but this book proved me wrong! I knew I would love it from the very first chapter. Mack and Sam have the kind of chemistry that just JUMPS off the page and makes you want to giggle and kick your feet. Their journey was an absolute delight to witness!

Listen, if Emma Lord writes a book you better believe that I am going to read it, for better or for worse I am in it till the end. And honestly? This book was just okay. It was something I haven’t seen from her so my hat goes off to her for expanding her universe and her tastes. The idea of two pop stars past their teenage prime trying to save their careers while also balancing the realities that come with adulthood was intriguing!

Personally I love her books best when they are a little more innocent and a little more coming of age. That being said it was still interesting, I finished it really quickly and I will always recommend any Emma Lord book that I see.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"Life is always changing colours but what we have is golden"

Wow

What a great read!

I loved mac and Sam's story, I love a good enemy to friend story and Emma lord knocked it out of the park

This is the first emma lord book I have read and won't be the last

Thanks netgalley and st Martin's press for the early copy. Make sure to check out for the record coming in aug 2025

4.5 stars rounded up! Just WOW! One of the first YA romances I ever read was Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, so I was so absolutely excited to receive the ARC for her new book!

I feel as though recently there have been more and more music-themed romances, and so I was wary of which cliche we’d get with this one, but surprisingly, Emma Lord’s take on this trope felt very fresh and unique. While our two main characters did use to be somewhat rivals at the height of their fame, their characters felt very different than other ex-stars I’ve read and I enjoyed it so much! Their dynamic reminded me a bit of Daisy Jones & the Six, albeit in a less toxic way and with much better communication.

The romance felt very realistic and sweet, and the storyline itself was engaging and entertaining. I flew through it! I loved our entire cast of characters and the relationships throughout the book. I wish we saw a little more of Twyla and Isla, and I also thought Serena’s story was a bit anticlimactic at the end, but I loved how her and Mackenzie’s “drama” wasn’t the cliche we see in most ex-band mates but one full of a lot of love and just simple misunderstandings that weren’t unbearable to read through.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Emma Lord’s writing and story telling and am definitely interested in picking up more of her books!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

If you’re a huge lover of Daisy Jones and the Six, and ever wondered what could’ve happened after their epilogue, this book is definitely for you! I don’t know if I’ve ever read a “fake” enemies to lovers where he falls first but the dynamics of our two leads Mack and Sam is one of a kind.

Mack is a ex pop princess turned secret online singing sensation through her anonymous videos about her exes, which category Sam unfortunately under.

Sam is trying to be a good dad while never knowing his own and attempting to stay away from Mack and all his complicated feelings toward her from their past.

A chance encounter and the two suddenly find themselves writing music again for a new collaboration where they visit old spots where their respective bands and themselves “feuded” throughout their early careers.

Sparks fly and excellent music is written but will it be enough? Mack’s hiding quite a few secrets from Sam and Sam is approached by his unknown father, who is a lot more like Sam than he originally thought. Will these secrets keep our two leads apart again? Or will they finally give in to the feelings they’ve both been hiding for years?

I really liked this book and it was a very easy read but honestly I think a lot of the side characters just as ex band mates, managers, etc needed more exposure in this book. This is what pushed Daisy jones and the six over the top and I want to hear more about Hannah(Mack’s ex band mate) and more about Sam’s actual band in general. It would’ve brought more to the story for sure. The fake TikTok aspect was also very interesting but did unfortunately take away from the whole plot in general. THE COVER ART I SAW NEEDS TO BE REDONE AS WELL! Sam is described as covered in tattoos and Mack is Sabrina-esqe with big heels and bigger blonde hair. The illustration did not do these characters justice!

I got this book as an ARC advance and would definitely recommend as a fun beach read!

I tried very hard to get into this one. I left it once, came back and tried to give it another try but I just couldn’t connect to the characters. For an adult romance it felt a bit juvenile and there were so many times in the story where it was so slow, I lost interest. The idea and concept was good but I just feel like the execution was lacking somewhere and I genuinely cannot pinpoint to what or why because I usually enjoy Emma’s books but this one just was not it for me, 3/5 stars because it very well could have been a me issue and not the book itself because I do love Emma’s writing.

So, I initially loved the concept of this novel. It hit all the right notes (pun intended) for me, but fell pretty flat. The chemistry was pretty good between the two, but the plot felt cliche and the back and forth between timelines was too jarring. There was way too much tell and not enough show, and the language was fairly juvenile for an adult romance. It felt very YA. Overall I think this is a fine quick beach read, but I wouldn’t keep it on my bookshelf to re-read.

So, I love romcoms, but it is rare that I’d describe one as unputdownable. I’ll make an exception, however, for Emma Lord’s For the Record. The reader knows the two main characters are made for each other, but the individual challenges and secrets they hold keep the reader wanting to know how they all will be resolved.

Sam and Mackenzie have been successful members of rival rock bands, but for a variety of reasons, have been out of the music business for 2 years. Both want to go back, but find they can only get a record deal if they do a duet album. Technically, this is an enemies to lovers romance, but since the reader gets both points of vies, we know they were never truly enemies.

What I loved about the book is that all the characters are likeable, there is no silly plot device to keep breaking up the characters, and there are examples of triumphing over over dysfunctional family issues and other challenges. I actually had tears over the joyful ending of the book. This is definitely a feel good story.

It’s GOLDEN.

Romance. Two former celebrities stepping back into the spotlight. Single dad. Enemies to lovers. A secret identity. Found family. This book truly had it all—what more could you ask for?

Mackenzie, a former girl band pop star, is working through her past the only way she knows how—through music. Sam, a rival from her past, is facing his own career struggles. When their label pairs them up to reignite their fame, old wounds resurface, and long-buried feelings refuse to stay hidden. But as they navigate the truth about their past, they also uncover something unexpected: a second chance at love, family, and self-acceptance.

This book had me tearing up one moment and grinning like an idiot the next. It was nostalgic, heartfelt, and full of those little moments that make your heart ache in the best way. Finished in 24 hours, could not put it down!

I’m always drawn to stories where the FMC is in the midst of an existential crisis—it makes them feel so real. And when Mackenzie’s struggles included a thyroid condition? I might as well be reading about myself (minus the pop star career, of course).

I absolutely loved everything about this book and can’t wait for it to be out in the world for everyone to experience!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Emma Lord for the ARC!

Love, love, love this story! Very sweet and romantic. I enjoyed the love story as well as the music side plot. It gave the story extra depth. Will definitely check out more by this author!!

For the Record” follows former rival band members Mackenzie Waters and Samuel Blaze as they attempt to navigate a new partnership. Mack has been extremely unlucky in love, always falling for the wrong guys. Worst among them is Sam. She has closed the book on those types of men, ready to live her next chapter on her terms. Sam is a former bad boy who walked away from fame and from whatever he could have had with Mack when he found out he was a dad. Now he’s trying his best to be there for his son while figuring out who he wants to be for himself. Their managers team up and realize there are waves (and money) to be made by bringing these two “enemies” back together for a duet album. But what if Sam wasn’t the wrong guy but the right guy at the wrong time? And what happens when they get another chance at happily ever after as they are now?

Ok I’ll start by saying that as a true Swiftie, I loved that Mackenzie had a sort of Taylor-esque feel about her. America’s sweetheart who has had a lot of bad luck in love. Fans everywhere feel compelled and even entitled to provide their opinions on her entire dating history. Author Emma Lord captures that and the impact it can have on those people in the spotlight well. That was fun for me so I wanted to note it here.

I felt like the story was a little bit rushed and could have been drawn out to create more depth of emotion and more investment from the reader. More detailed flashbacks could have really pulled us into the slow burn of it and who doesn’t love a good slow burn? I loved this book for what it was, I just wanted more of it! That said, for a quick comfort read, this will do the trick. Lord’s writing was too easy for me to absolutely devour and generally flowed very well. I’ll definitely check out her other books. Overall this wasn’t a 5 star book for me but it was a sweet story that kept me invested and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. For fans of second chance or rivals to lovers tropes, this book is for you. Bursting with witty banter and stolen glances, it’s a fun rom-com treat.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it made me smile so damn much.

Thank you to St Martins Press for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Bumping it up to 4.5 ⭐️ bc I gotta say I didn’t expect to love this book! I was hesitant bc I didn’t love “The Break Up Pact” last year but this did what it had to do for me! I love a second chance lovers trope and dual POV. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the musician/rockstar aspect to it worried it’d try to emulate Daisy Jones but no, it stayed true to itself! + a fun read. I can’t wait to see what Emma Lord writes next but deff put this on your TBR this summer 🎶🎤❤️‍🔥

A big thank you to Netgalley & St. Martins Press for the
ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Expected publication August 12,2025

Received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and it was honestly my least favorite that I’ve read in a long time. The story wasn’t very compelling, and neither were the characters. It was just overall uninteresting. Disappointing for a book from a promising author.

Oh my stars! You know how you sometimes just know you’re going to love something?

From the moment Mack fell into Sam’s arms, I knew this book was going to tear me apart emotionally before sewing me right back together.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Love at first sight for Sam and Mackenzie, but a rollercoaster of finding their way back to one another. I only put this book down when I absolutely HAD to.

I can’t wait to have a physical copy of my bookshelf.

Finally, I’ve found a book by this author that I completely enjoyed.
I always liked her writing, however, my problem in the past was the long narrative, long chapters, and long ideas between dialogues, lots of inner thought getting lost in the main action. All those things happen in this book, but this time, it works really well. I like the flashbacks to explain the history between the main characters and how they help to develop the story.
Also, I like both FMC and MMC, they complement each other.
Things that didn’t work for me:
-Serena's big secret, which wasn’t really a secret at all, and all the drama around her was over the top.
-Not fond of the coincidence to fix or solve a situation.
-As a lawyer myself, those lawyers are useless, I get that the idea is to show awareness about everything a new artist can face through his career all the unfairness, but c’mon, these lawyers were totally unrealistic.
-I have a weakness for stories with kids, but the one in this story ruined it for me. He wasn’t a six years old, more like a grown-up man with a bad attitude. Not cute, not funny.
Overall: I like that everything happens fast not secrets between the MCs, more like stubbornness but that is another thing.
It’s a good, fun read.
100% recommended.
I received an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. And I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

https://thesecondchapterjm.wixsite.com/blog/blog

I was thrilled to be given the chance to read this as an ARC and wow did it not disappoint. The push and pull of Mack and Sam had me invested immediately! I’m not usually a fan of second chance but this was done in such a way that I am scrambling for more of Emma’s works!

I've said this many times before and I'll say it again, I absolutely love You Have a Match, have read it multiple times, and I'll be rereading it over and over. I didn't enjoy Lord's books to the same level I read after (likely because of my high expectations), until The Rival which was recently released.

This book was such a joy to read. I was hooked from page one and absolutely devoured the story. The characters are so likable, and I could instantly empathize with them. I've read books featuring celebrities and musicians that get very real and though I do appreciate that, it gets quite heavy. I love how in this book, the author manages to strike a great balance between showing the authentic nature of the industry and focusing on the characters themselves.

Like with You Have a Match, the author makes every relationship in this story very meaningful and writes a bunch of memorable conversations. I found myself super intrigued every time Serena appeared on the page just because the tension between her and Mackenzie was so compelling. Then there's also Hannah and Rocket, amazing! I found Sam's relationships with his family and the whole dynamic in itself to be so unique and the way it was penned down kept me turning the pages.

Sam and Mackenzie have a wonderful bond. Reading their banter and the layers of their personality uncover with every conversation was delightful. I will say though, this book is intended for an adult audience and has some steamy scenes which I skipped because that's what I prefer. I don't think doing that took away from my reading experience much but also skipping spicy sequences is something I do regularly. Not a dealbreaker for me but if you're used to Lord's YA romcoms, this one's a little different.
 
I will absolutely be rereading this book, and I hope there's an audio version because I just love audiobooks. Highly recommended!