For The Record by Emma Lord

Andrew Eiden (Teddy Hamilton) and Jesse Vilinsky

Standalone Rock Star Romance

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

“People loved to watch us hate each other. It was the greatest un-love story ever told.”

I’m always up for a good rock star romance, especially when it’s well-researched and avoids the cheesy clichés. As a mom of a professional musician, I’ve seen the real-life struggles of life in the music industry, which can make me more critical of musical romances. For The Record by Emma Lord blends music, rivalry, and second chances with a contemporary setting that, despite its retro-feeling cover, is firmly rooted in the present. The FMC even feels loosely inspired by Taylor Swift.

Mackenzie Waters and Sam Blaze were in bands that toured together—hers was a girl pop group, his was a punk band. I’m not sure why those two acts toured together, but they had a flirtatious rivalry the public loved to speculate about.

Two years later, both bands have broken up and they’ve been out of the spotlight. Sam found out he had a son (now six) and has a healthy co-parenting relationship with his ex and her wife. He wants to get back into recording, but fatherhood has shifted his music to a softer, more mellow sound. Without touring and with this new style, record companies aren’t interested.

Mackenzie also stepped away from fame. After having a node on her thyroid removed, her voice changed. She’s been performing anonymously on an app called TikTunes, singing breakup songs about her exes, and is now ready to launch a solo career—but she doesn’t want her TikTunes identity tied to it.

The only way their record companies are willing to sign them is if they revive their love/hate banter and record an album together. I enjoyed their chemistry, especially in the softer moments involving Sam’s son, but the romance never quite reached that swoonworthy level for me.

“Sam has never been in love enough to stay, and I have never been good at staying loved.”

What pulled me out of the story was the overcomplicated subplot involving the TikTunes app. It overshadowed the romance at times, and the unresolved drama with Mackenzie’s old bandmate—who stopped talking to her for reasons that were never fully clear, only to forgive her later—left me scratching my head. With five distinct parts to the story, it felt like too many threads competing for attention.

Likes:

I loved the single dad/healthy co-parenting.
That their agents were sisters and how that tied them together.
I liked their artistic process of writing songs by traveling to places that inspire them.
They had good chemistry.
The unrequited love between them.

Dislikes:

There was just too much going on, and the whole TikTunes storyline pulled focus from the romance.
If I heard the word “TikTunes” one more time, I was ready to throw my phone.
Mackenzie’s backstory with her bandmates and friends was confusing.
I’m not sure why the author used their first and last names so often.
It felt a little like Taylor Swift fanfic.
Candy Shard may be the worst band name I’ve ever heard.

The Narration:

Andrew Eiden is a pseudonym for Teddy Hamilton, and I always enjoy his narration. Jesse Vilinsky was fabulous as Mackenzie and really captured her emotions. The audio definitely added to my enjoyment.

The Down & Dirty:

For The Record by Emma Lord had potential, but it was bogged down by too many distracting side plots. The romance, songwriting process, and single dad element worked for me, but the confusing backstory and overuse of the TikTunes storyline kept me from loving it. With a tighter edit, I think I would have enjoyed it much more. As it stands, it was just an OK read.