For the Record

Musical rivals must find a way to work together in this winning contemporary from bestseller Lord (The Rival). In the two years since punk rocker Sam Blaze and pop girl group frontwoman Mackenzie Waters last sparred onstage during an ill-conceived joint concert tour, their respective bands have broken up. Mackenzie has been rediscovering her voice after thyroid surgery and Sam has devoted himself to helping raise six-year-old Ben, a son he didn’t know he had. Now the pair reunite, agreeing to their label’s request that they join forces on a comeback album intended to restoke fan fervor surrounding their charged animosity. Collaborative composing sessions lead to personal revelations on both sides and a return of the mutual attraction they never got to explore. Their budding relationship is complicated by the watchful cameras of the paparazzi—and by a secret Mackenzie’s keeping about her career. Lord offers an authentic and highly detailed look at the ups and downs of the music industry while fleshing out Sam and Mackenzie’s past and present desires. There’s a lot to love here. (Aug.)