For the Record - by Emma Lord (Paperback)

About the Book

"Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more--until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too. Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn't know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album. With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up their old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated--one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written"--

Book Synopsis

An electrifying rom com of rivalry and redemption, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Daisy Jones and the Six, from New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord.

Once the most notorious rivals in the music scene, pop princess Mackenzie Waters and punk rockstar Sam Blaze electrified audiences as their bands clashed on stage. But behind the scenes, their simmering tension grew into something more -- until suddenly both bands fell apart, and the idea of Mackenzie and Sam did, too.

Two years later, Sam has traded the rockstar lifestyle for a quiet life raising the son he didn't know about. Meanwhile, Mackenzie is dealing with a postoperative change in her voice by only singing under a pseudonym. The only way to revive their public careers? A joint comeback album.

With fans over the moon and their futures on the line, Sam and Mackenzie face their biggest challenge yet: giving up their old rivalry and learning to work together. But as old sparks fly and new secrets emerge, they set off a chain reaction neither of them could have anticipated -- one that proves that sometimes, the greatest hits are the ones yet to be written.

Review Quotes

Most Anticipated Romance by Goodreads

Praise for For the Record:

"Musical rivals must find a way to work together in this winning contemporary... There's a lot to love here." --Publishers Weekly

"Readers will be cheering for Mackenzie and Sam in this fun second-chance romance." --Library Journal

"Packed with whip-smart banter, heart-stopping romantic moments, and delectable descriptions of baked goods, For the Record will be a hit with readers who can't resist a love song." --Shelf Awareness

Praise for The Break-Up Pact:

"Emma Lord's adult debut is an absolute homerun! It has the very best of fake-dating (with some delicious meta-commentary on the trope), revenge, second chance, a grumpy hero to die for, and the perfect amount of tea! Emma Lord brings on the steam, and her voice is engaging, hilarious, and an utter pleasure to read. The Break-Up Pact is a fantastic romcom!" --Ali Hazelwood, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"The Break-Up Pact is like your favorite Taylor Swift song on repeat--romantic, heartbreaking, and utterly enchanting. I laughed, I swooned, I sobbed my eyes out. The perfect blend of Emily Henry and Nora Ephron, Emma Lord is your next perfect summer read!" --Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip

"The Break-Up Pact is an emotional, delicious, warm hearted story and I loved it from the very first page. Emma Lord writes so well about love, grief, growing up, and giving people--including yourself--second chances. A perfect book to read on the beach or at a corner table at a cafe, as long as it makes plenty of delicious baked goods!" --Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Drunk on Love and Drop, Cover, and Move On

"A breezy, beachy read filled with lovable characters and a simmering slow burn. With plentiful laughs and Emma Lord's trademark charm, The Break-Up Pact is a new romance favorite. I'm not sure what I'm craving more -- Levi Shaw or one of June's scones." --Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure and The Ex Talk

"An immensely charming adult romance debut from Emma Lord! With its lovable characters, quaint seaside setting, and gorgeously insightful prose, The Break-Up Pact is a joy to read. This estranged-childhood-friends-to-fake-dating-to-lovers story is as delicious and warm as one of June's specialty scones. Humor and heart at its best -- I loved it!" --Sarah Adler, author of Mrs. Nash's Ashes

"At turns sharply funny and deeply affecting, with hope and healing serving as its emotional heartbeat, I blazed through The Break-Up Pact, a story about being brave enough to go after the life--and love--you truly want. Emma Lord's writing is effervescent and poignant, an addictive mix that made it hard to say goodbye when I got to the last page. I absolutely loved this book!" --Jessica Joyce, author of You, With A View.

"The Break-Up Pact combines fun, clever dialogue with the trifecta of romance- sweet, sexy, & sentimental- an excellent read." --Sophie Sullivan, author of A Guide to Being Just Friends and Love, Naturally

"A heartwarming group of childhood friends support the friends-to-lovers couple in a funny yet sentimental story. What starts with an outrageous moment when the heroine "goes viral" for all the wrong reasons quickly gets deeply emotional as the characters rediscover their lifelong love for each other." --Jayne Denker, author of The Rom-Com Agenda

"Drenched in small-town beachside charm, The Break-Up Pact is both a banter-filled fake dating romp and a poignant meditation on what it takes to shake off the expectations, hurt, and mistakes of the past. With chemistry that's as real as it comes, Levi and June are a couple worth falling for." --Ava Wilder, author of Will They or Won't They

"Light, feel-good fare that's perfect for the beach." --Publishers Weekly

"A relatable rollercoaster for anyone who has ever found themself at an impasse in life...a charming story about the power of second chances." --Kirkus (Starred Review)

"The perfect small-town romance for summer...for fans of Sarah Adams and Emily Henry." --Library Journal

Praise for The Getaway List:

"Emma Lord is a rom-com goddess." --In Between Drafts

"Emma Lord knows her way around the romcom space." --B&N Reads

"Lord (Begin Again) enriches a familiar "bucket list" premise with leaps-off-the-page atmosphere...depictions of family, friend, and romantic relationships are riddled with humor and rambunctious energy in this inspired carpe diem romp through the city of dreams." --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"An entertaining friends-to-lovers story that will have readers laughing and reflecting in equal measure." --Kirkus

"Lord continues to break and mend hearts." --Booklist

"Hopeful, inspiring and escapist in the most wonderful way, The Getaway List is the joyous coming-of-age story that is a must-read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope and Taylor Swift's Welcome to New York." --The Nerd Daily

"Filled with unforgettably sweet moments and charming characters." --Woman's World

Praise for Begin Again:

"This grumpy-sunshine rom-com features a grouch with a secret heart of gold, an eternal optimist with plenty of depth beneath the surface, a healthy dose of banter, and a generous helping of Lord's laugh-out-loud wit." --School Library Journal

"If you haven't read a novel by Emma Lord before, you've been missing out on something spectacular." --Paste

Praise for When You Get the Chance:

"A shot of joy in book form." --Marie Claire

"Chock-full of musical theater references and humor, the novel includes high-stakes emotional drama that is balanced by supportive friendships and strong, deep family connections...An entertaining personal journey with plot twists galore." --Kirkus Reviews

" A fully joyful story...Readers who love the theater--musical or not--and anyone craving a happily ever after will want Millie to take a series of curtain calls." --Booklist

"With the perfect mix of a bubbly drama queen protagonist that will steal your heart and a delicious rivals-to-lovers romance with a Broadway twist on top, Lord proves herself to be a necessary staple in the YA contemporary genre with When You Get the Chance--a fresh, uplifting voice that invokes excitement of what's yet to come!" --The Nerd Daily

"Brimming with energy, rapid-fire banter, and affectionate theater references, this memorable Mamma Mia! retelling by Lord (Tweet Cute) explores the meaning of family." --Publishers Weekly, starred

"An exuberant celebration...this gender-bent Mamma Mia! retelling is a touching exploration of what family really looks like, and a powerful reminder that sometimes everything we need is already right in front of us." --BookPage

About the Author

EMMA LORD is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn't writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, a whole lot of love, and copious amounts of grilled cheese.