Book Review: For the Record by Emma Lord – A Second-Chance Music Romance That Hits All the Right Notes

For the Record is a heartfelt, music-infused romance that follows two former rivals-turned-lovers as they reunite for a comeback album and a second chance at love.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summary:

Once fierce rivals on stage, pop star Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze shared a hidden chemistry that imploded along with their bands. Two years later, Sam is a devoted single dad living far from the spotlight, while Mackenzie, recovering from vocal surgery, performs anonymously. When the chance for a joint comeback album arises, the former enemies must reunite professionally—rekindling unresolved feelings and confronting long-buried secrets. As tensions flare and sparks fly, they discover that their most powerful performance might just come from facing the music together.

My Thoughts:

If you enjoy stories with a music-scene backdrop, a dash of drama, and a romance worth rooting for, For the Record by Emma Lord absolutely delivers. This second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance brings together pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rocker Sam Blaze—two former rivals turned reluctant collaborators—who must navigate old wounds, fresh secrets, and the tricky path back to each other.

Told over several years, the story begins with Mackenzie and Sam at the height of their musical rivalry—and a budding, behind-the-scenes romance. But just as things between them begin to heat up, both bands fall apart, and so does their relationship. Fast forward two years: Sam is now a single dad, adjusting to a quieter life after discovering he has a son. Mackenzie, recovering from throat surgery that changed her voice, has been hiding behind a pseudonym to continue singing.

Enter the record label with a high-stakes proposition: Mackenzie and Sam must team up for a joint comeback album. With their careers—and reputations—on the line, the two are thrown back into each other’s orbit. What unfolds is a heartfelt journey of rediscovery, creative collaboration, and emotional healing.

I really appreciated how Lord doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of fame. Both Mackenzie and Sam have been shaped by the glare of the spotlight, and their personal growth felt authentic. Mackenzie’s struggle with her voice and identity post-surgery was especially poignant, and Sam’s determination to break the cycle of abandonment in his own family added real depth to his character.

There’s plenty of angst, but it’s the kind that makes the payoff sweeter. I was rooting for these two to get it right the second time around—even when the past loomed large and new secrets threatened their fragile trust. Lord perfectly captures the tension of a creative partnership with a complicated history, and the musical references throughout added a fun, immersive layer to the story.

Final Thoughts:

For the Record hits all the right notes: it’s a charming, emotionally layered romance with characters you’ll want to see succeed—on the stage and in love.

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