I think I much prefer Emma Lords YA books to her adult novels. This was cute but that’s about it. I wasn’t hooked from the beginning and it just felt very surface level to me. I forced myself to not dnf it.

Yeah this book was so good! Any book where music is driving the plot, I'll eat up. The writing was so easy to follow and it was so fast paced, I ended up reading it in two sittings. The connection between the characters felt just a tad bit underdeveloped, but regardless of that I had to best time reading this book.

I couldn't get into For the Record. I had a hard time connecting with Mackenzie's character. I think the writing style made it difficult for me to connect to the characters and story. The writing was hard to follow at points. The author would bring something up and then explain the situation lines/paragraphs later. There were many times where I found myself wondering if I was missing something. This kind of writing led to a confusing reading experience. I looked back at a review I wrote from another book by this author and I also noted that the writing was chunky. Perhaps this is just the way the author writes. I liked that Mackenzie and Sam had a history together. The "rival" band's plot point was interesting. Since there was a pre-established relationship between Sam and Mackenzie, the author relied on that to create the tension. Unfortunately, the chemistry between them wasn't there for me. I wasn't the biggest fan of the whole Grayson plotline. I found Mackenzie's behavior with him weird. I was confused when she called him her "almost boyfriend" at one point when we saw one scene with them and she never thought/talked about him. There were just a few too many things that were bugging me that led to my DNF. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince or princess. And that's how I felt reading this book. I had read quite a few romances that were just meh before diving into this one; and the last Emma Lord I read was also a bit lacklustre for me. So I was not sure how I would feel about this book. Ultimately, while I didn't give it a 5 star, I really enjoyed it. All of the characters are fun - looking forward to future books in a series I hope although won't die if that doesn't happen - and the story moves well. There was no insta-love either because these two characters had a history and had been dancing around their feelings for each other for years. Sam and Mack are genuinely likeable characters and, despite their fame, come across as fun people who I would probably want to hang out with.

The plot isn't too crazy either. Yes, there are complications to their relationship. But none of those complications feel too contrived or, at least, not in a way that made me cringe.

So, well, written with fun characters and a story that I could get behind. Helps that there is a celebrity element because, well, who doesn't like seeing how the other half lives a little bit.

This is fast, simple read, but I still prefer Emma Lord’s The Break-Up Pact over this one. It’s a good airplane or vacation book. The premise is interesting and should appeal to millennial readers.

This was my first Emma Lord book and I am really excited to read the rest of her books after this one!

This book ticked all the boxes for me:
-dual POV
-enemies to lovers
-second chance romance

Plus the song writing and looking at their past definitely gave some Daisy Jones and the Six vibes for me! The only down sides were that I wish that there was more growth in the emotional depth of the characters, and some of the side characters/plot points fell flat for me. But overall I had a really great time reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC to review.

Thank you St Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review For the Record! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've read almost all of Emma Lord's back log and they've all been hits for the most part.

For the Record is a sweet second-chance romance between two rival band singers, Mackenzie and Sam. Years later after their whirlwind 'will-they-won't-they' romance ends, they meet up again. Mackenzie has a hidden identity as an anonymous singer, songwriter Seven on an app for indie writers Tick Tune and Sam's label is pushing for his next big gig to be a reunion album between him and Mackenzie. They agree to work together with a few rules in place to keep their past relationship from rekindling but it becomes harder than they realize to not fall for the other and harder for Mackenzie to keep her secret identity as Seven from the public and from Sam.

For the Record is written with a quick and easy pace. The story is not very memorable, and the character growth is okay. It's a solid, fast, and simple read. It would be one I would take to the beach and finish it within a few hours. I do plan on reading more from Emma Lord because I do love her concepts and her books are ones I would recommend. I do think For the Record might be a slight miss for me. I think many romance readers will enjoy the simplicity and the second-chance romance between Mackenzie and Sam. They are a sweet and tender kind of couple I would root for. The tension between them is nice but it doesn't last long enough. The book felt too short in some areas because there were a couple of things being touched on but they were not fully developed.

Overall, it's a decent romance worth giving a shot.
Personally, if you're still unsure, I would request it at your local library.

#SMPInfluencer

For the Record was such a heartfelt and charming read! Emma Lord perfectly captures the magic of finding yourself, chasing dreams, and navigating the messy but beautiful parts of growing up. I loved the mix of music, family, and self-discovery, and the characters felt so real and relatable. The story had the perfect balance of humor, emotion, and those big, dreamy moments that make you want to cheer for the characters.

More like 3.5 to 3.75 stars.

I’ve decided that I’ll read anything Emm Lord writes, whether it’s YA or adult, because they are always fun, full of emotions, and characters who have to do some soul searching and learning about themselves as they navigate whatever plot line is in the story. For the Record was no different, and I really enjoyed the complexity of the main characters, Mackenzie and Sam, and the complexity of their feelings for each other.

I had two issues that dropped this from a 4 or 5 star read for me. One was that I wanted more backstory with a few of the storylines. I wanted the behind the music version of the Thunder Hearts, not just the flashback snippets we got. I also felt like the Serena storyline wasn’t fully fleshed out.

The second issue I had was that I felt like the book should’ve been trimmed by about 15-25%. All the back and forth about Seven just went on too long for my attention span.

Even with my issues, I still really enjoyed this story and will continue to be an Emma Lord fan girl. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This book was like if long hair Harry and 1989 era Taylor had done a “will they/wont they” thing that ultimately ended in both of their bands blowing up but then years later them getting back together as a duo. The chemistry, the angst, all the unspoken words that eventually work themselves out into the music made this such a beautifully written book. If you like Daisy Jones & the Six, right person/wrong time trope, and second chance romance this one is for you!

Another hit from Emma Lord! 4.5 stars!
Popstar Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze were at the top of the music game and lauded for their will they/ won’t they flirtations on the stage, but behind the scenes their relationship was antagonistic at best. Two years later, both bands have broken up and Sam and Mack are brought back into each others’ lives when their record label suggests that the duo revive their careers with a joint comeback album. As they learn to work together and forgive past transgressions, Sam and Mack reignite old sparks and discover that their greatest hits are still to come.

Ugh I just adore Emma Lord! Her books are perfection. This one was a true gem. I really enjoyed it! Amazing job.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of For the Record. This was my first book by Emma Lord, and after reading it, I can definitely tell her roots are in YA fiction. While there were a couple of spicy scenes, the writing style still felt very much in the YA vein.

What I liked about the book were the tropes—enemies to lovers and he falls first, which are some of my personal favorites. The chemistry between the two main characters was undeniable, and I loved the banter that unfolded between them. Their interactions often had me giggling, especially with the snarky exchanges.

Additionally, I enjoyed the dynamic between the band members, which added more to the story. Also the book is a short read so not bad. Overall, For the Record is a fun, lighthearted read with plenty of heart and humor

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book.

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

Read this story if you like:
🎵 Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Books with Rockstars/Musicians
🎵 Single Dads
🖤 Female Friendship
🎵 Second Chances
🖤 Saying goodbye to your wild and crazy 20s and welcoming your 30s with open arms.

This book follows past rival lead singers of a girl group and punk rock group. They toured together and had a will-they-won’t-they going on, as requested by the label. *Some stuff happens* and both groups break up. 2 years later, these lead singers (our FMC and MMC) want to restart their careers as solo acts. The labels don’t go for it… but put them together and rekindle the will-they-won’t-they and they’re on board. The story follows as they are forced back together to write songs to showcase to the label in order to get a record deal. They learn a lot about themselves and each other along the way. 🖤 There’s also a who crew of side characters that I’d love to see get their own stories!!

Emma Lord does not disappoint with For the Record, a heartfelt and compelling story about two former musicians navigating their comebacks—together—despite their complicated past.

Mackenzie was once a member of Thunder Hearts, a chart-topping pop trio known for their harmonies and tight-knit friendship. At the height of their fame, they toured alongside Candy Shard, a pop-punk band featuring heartthrob Sam. Mackenzie and Sam shared a fiery love-hate relationship, their will-they-won’t-they tension fueling media speculation and fan frenzy. But when both bands dissolved, they went their separate ways.

Now, Mackenzie is struggling to reclaim her voice—literally—after vocal cord surgery, secretly posting music under the alias Seven to gauge how audiences might react. Meanwhile, Sam has his own reasons for keeping a low profile, balancing his return to music with family obligations. When the platform hosting Mackenzie's anonymous music threatens to expose its artists, she scrambles to keep her identity hidden. But working with Sam under their new duo, Mack & Sam, forces their history—and all its unresolved emotions—back into the spotlight.

As Mackenzie and Sam navigate their careers and rekindle their creative partnership, Mackenzie’s former bandmates have each found success in their own ways, leaving their friendship in a delicate, uncertain place. For the Record is a nostalgic, deeply emotional exploration of fame, reinvention, and second chances, with Emma Lord’s signature blend of humor, heart, and romance.

Excellent book! Fun characters with a sense of nostalgia throughput. You'll find yourself understanding their complex relationships and rooting for all involved. A truly great read!

This books was cute. Some more not PG spice than her others story tend to have, I may have just read another book of hers right before this :). I like second chance kinda romances though this wasn't quite that nor was it quite an enemies to lovers trope either. For those of you who like music and a good book this is solid. Plus I have a thing for blended families so it was just fun overall.

4.25 stars, 1.5 chili peppers (like 1 or 2 explicit scenes). I absolutely ate this true enemies to lovers, slow burn, rock star romance up! It starts out truly so strong, pulling you into the unique story immediately and was fast paced and kept me interested the entire book. It has all the banter that I crave in an enemies to lovers trope, and plenty of LOL moments (the Christmas underwear test lol) and kick your feet up moments too. And Sam Blaze, ILYSM. It was my first book by this author and won't be the last!

"I'd rather chance f*cking up a great thing with you than settle for a good one on my own."

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a 5 star read! I've never read a music themed romance and it was so fresh and new, I loved it. The back and forth banter between Mackenzie and Sam then that delicious slow burn leading up to when they finally accept their feelings for each other? So perfect!
I can't wait for the next book (hopefully!).

I loved Emma Lords new rom-com with a music twist. I could picture this as a movie while I read it. I loved their love hate relationship.