After her ex writes a song about her that goes viral, publicist Skye Holland has to work with him or get fired, while trying not to fall for his boss...
LA-born Skye Holland comes from a family of artists, musicians, and actors. Unfortunately, she’s the black sheep without a creative bone in her body. Working as a publicist, her life doesn’t get better when her ex-boyfriend (who she thought was going to be a loser in a band forever) makes it big on America’s Got Talent and bad-mouths her for the world to see. As Skye is pushed into the tentative limelight of Hollywood notoriety, she finds herself in over her head.
Meanwhile, record exec Leo Perez has just signed his newest star: Skye’s ex, Ryder. When Leo and Skye meet at an office party, sparks fly. Both burned by past heartbreak, they agree to keep things casual. But will their connection survive tabloid gossip, the ghosts of relationships past, and family drama as they face the music?
Nicole Lam is a romance author who loves nothing more than, well, love. In her books, you’ll find emotional twists, heart-rending drama, and two broken people who find each other and choose happily ever after in spite of their problems. Her books feature heartwarming, relatable characters, swoony kisses, and no explicit scenes.
When she’s not writing, you can find her staying in her house for three-quarters of the year to avoid the Canadian winter, curling up with a good book, or learning yet another language.
“Wait, Leo…” She steps closer, kissing my cheek. The scent of vanilla and orchids tickles my nose. “I’m here for you. You know that?”
“I know.”
Real-life celebrities? Ehhhhh, it just depends (Although, I think most everyone knows about my love for Kpop 👀). Fictional celebrities? Oh. Yessssss. I'm a sucker for movies, TV shows, and BOOKS that feature the "celebrity trope." So, when I found out that Nicole's debut novel was going to be a Hollywood romance...I was READY FOR IT.
However, the fun twist about this book was that neither Skye or Leo were technically celebrities (well, kind of, it's COMPLICATED). I really liked seeing the "rich and famous" world through the eyes of characters who worked/lived in the background (and WANTED to stay in the background); it was such an interesting take that didn't disappoint! 🙌
As far as content goes: Some language. Suggestive material/innuendos. Drinking/getting drunk (a physical fight happens, not between main characters, but it's brief and not overly descriptive). There was no on-page sex, but it was talked about/implied between different characters. Sexual harassment was addressed (regarding side characters). Leo had past/present struggles with his biological father. Skye had past/present struggles with her family, in general (mostly her mom though). Grief, along with sadness, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. None of this was triggering for me, but it possibly could be for other readers. I would describe the book as a mild "PG-13 romance movie."
Okay, let's roll out some IMPORTANT points!
1: I’m obsessed with Naoya...is that wrong? (Seriously, I want him to have his own book.)
2: Gahhhhh I love the “celebrity life” trope, even if Skye isn’t a “technical” celebrity.
3: I keep having mixed feeling about Ryder. (I alsoooo want him to have his own book lolll.)
4: Leo and his family are wholesomeee. (As someone with Cuban background, I really appreciated how the representation was more natural...and didn't feel forced.)
5: Their flirting is adorable.
6: Those kissesssss.
7: The parking garage.
Honestly? This book had a little bit of everything. There was humor, drama, sadness, music, fashion, romance (OBVIOUSLY), foodddddd (I like food, okay?), etc. Oh, and plot twists! There were some definite plot twists. (No spoilers, here...but OH MY GOSH). And can I just say that I loved how similar Skye and Leo were, even though they were so different at the same time? Despite everything, they understood each other SO well, and it was beautifullllll! I know I mentioned loving Leo's family, but I reallyyyyy adored the sibling dynamic between him and Raina! It was so flipping precious. 😭🥺
Also, I don't know if Nicole is planning on turning this into a series (are you, Nicole?? 👀) but I would be ABSOLUTELY fine with that because Poppy also needs her own book...and Raina too!
If you're a fictional celebrity fanatic like me, you need to add this book to your TBR. 👏
PS: Thank you for the acknowledgements shoutout, Nicole! 💕 (Want to know what she said? Now you have ANOTHER reason to read the book. 😏)
This book follows the two characters Skye Holland and Leo Perez who each have a complicated relationship to the image-obsessed music industry in which they meet. They have a very sweet meet-cute, lots of witty banter, and are drawn together by their shared authenticity. In the midst of light-hearted drama these characters are thrown into serious moments where they have to decide where their priorities really lie, and grow beyond contrasting family hurt. Notably along for the ride are Skye’s supportive best friend Poppy who gets let in on all the gossip, and Leo’s strong-willed teenage sister Raina -- who has a realistic and heartwarming relationship with her older brother.
The characters are perceptive, well-rounded, and dynamic; the plot is well-paced and engaging; and the descriptions are sharp and thoughtful. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and wholesome read!
This book follows the two characters Skye Holland and Leo Perez who each have a complicated relationship to the image-obsessed music industry in which they meet. They have a very sweet meet-cute, lots of witty banter, and are drawn together by their shared authenticity. In the midst of light-hearted drama these characters are thrown into serious moments where they have to decide where their priorities really lie, and grow beyond contrasting family hurt. Notably along for the ride are Skye’s supportive best friend Poppy who gets let in on all the gossip, and Leo’s strong-willed teenage sister Raina -- who has a realistic and heartwarming relationship with her older brother.
The characters are perceptive, well-rounded, and dynamic; the plot is well-paced and engaging; and the descriptions are sharp and thoughtful. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and wholesome read!
Before I begin this review, I want to put a disclaimer that I almost never read romance. It's not my preferred genre due to it being so steamy and/or cringey. However, I won this book in a giveaway that I entered to support my friend and consequently read this book to support her.
I actually enjoyed it to an extent. The plot was interested enough to keep me up late trying to find out what would happen next. I liked the romance development (even if it was very fast, but then I'm used to extreme slow burn) and also the other relationships developed throughout the book. I think this book would be the perfect read for a couple friends of mine who love this sort of thing, but it otherwise isn't the book for me.
There were a number of proofreading and formatting errors that made it difficult to follow what was going on, especially during dialogue sequences. I had to reread several times to figure out who was saying what and what was actually happening. I also didn't care for the romance relationships minus the main one, because there didn't seem to be a point to it? But again, I don't usually read this genre for a reason.
Summary: Good story, kept me up late and I couldn't put it down. But it's not the book for me. That said though, the next time I'm in a kick to read romance, I'll probably read something by this author.
Book Review 📜🖋️ For the Record by @nicole_lam_author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Feel train: 😁😂🥹😊😍😜🥰😎😘🥳🤩😏🥺😢🤭🫣🔥
Favorite Quote: “But with her, I know there’s nothing more right.”
No language 🚫 Clean Romance ✅
Tropes: Boss x Employee Clean romance Double POV Music Hollywood workplace
⚠️TW⚠️ Alcoholic beverages Sexual assault (not mentioned on page) Negative/Neglectful parents Death
I really enjoyed this book and binged it! When the characters met i was sold, hooked from page 1 to the last page. The characters liked each other and thought the other was attractive and their thoughts for each other were so cute 🥰
This is great book If you like characters with a hard past but they try to not let it over take their life and not let it become who they are
Ebook gifted by @nicole_lam_author
Thank you so much for this opportunity to read you book Nicole!
I love this take on being in a complicated relationship. It was fun to read, had witty moments which it wouldn’t be life without that. It was enjoyable to follow along in them meeting each other and how they came to be! It was also a quick read.
For the Record was definitely a fun book to read and different from what I'm usually reading (thrillers, and fantasy). Nicole has an amazing ability to write descriptions in a way that makes you drawn to the scene and characters. Without giving any spoilers, certain scenes, like Leo's flashback to his 12th birthday scene and Skye thinking of her family really helped with character development, and made me feel for the two. Some of the dialogue between them was so funny and made me laugh, like when their talking about their ages.
I would have liked to know more about the side characters, like Ryder, Alina and Poppy, but overall the scenes I did read were quite interesting. In the future, Nicole, if you ever decide to write a spin-off for these characters, you bet I'll read the book! Thanks for letting me read early, Nicole!
This was my first experience reading something by this author and it was quite an enjoyable experience. The story caught my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. This was a quick and easy read, but left quite an impression. The book definitely left me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling afterwards. The characters were interesting and well-developed with realistic qualities that gave them an authentic personality and were easily relatable. The story was delightfully cute and I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a fun, quick and light read, then you definitely will want to pick this one up.
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.
It was a slow start and I don't read popstar type of stories but this book was not bad at all. It wasn't what I expected.
I really didn't like Ryder and the way he treats Skye. I am so glad that they are not together anymore.
Leo was a bit rude to her and there were misunderstandings because of the way he acted and also that he doesn't want to add more to his life.
I liked how his character changed for the better and that her made the right choice in the end. Skye was also glad that she could go do anything she wanted and not be shackled like her family.
She decided to do what she wants and I am so proud of her for it. I liked this every moment in this book although the beginning it was really slow paced but I pushed through and I am so happy I did.
This was my first read from this author. I liked it however it was a bit sad that it was so short. This book was 13 pages long. I guess I missed it where it says that it's a really short novella. I received a copy of this book through Storyorigin and I'm leaving an honest voluntary review in exchange.
I hate being negative, and the idea behind this story was really fun, but I’m honestly not sure how I got through this book because the writing was just… not it for me.
To start I did enjoy the story. It wasn’t overly sappy and had a realism that few romances have today. The book was a clean romance with no foul language. It did deal with some heavy topics such as the cancel culture, metoo, child abandonment, and doxing (new term I learned). While I enjoyed the story there were a few times I felt I was missing pieces of the narrative. The story felt original and in line with current events.
Oh, this is going to be good!! Love the vibe and quick wit of the characters! Thank you, Nicole Lam, for allowing me to read this snippet of your book! It was so enjoyable! The characters are relatable (love Raina!) and I can’t wait to read more! Especially about Skye and Ryder and what caused the break-up!
(content warning for abandonment, affairs, broken homes, sexual predation/#metoo):
With Hollywood as a back-drop, it’s clear to see that people really are more alike than we think. Backstabbers, b*ches, the ones with no scruples and those who think they’re better. They’re in every walk of life and we meet a few here (looking at you, Mark, Alina, and Naoya)!
Sweet story about a young woman still trying to find her niche in life amongst a family of overachievers (or are they?) and the man she ends up falling in love with. Skye and Leo’s story is full of surprises and sadness and I love how she is always supportive of her friends (even the ex boyfriend, to a point). Short, fun read and I’m looking forward to book two! Thank you again, Nicole, and StoryOrigin for the opportunity to read “For The Record” (loved the title, iykyk)!
honestly not a huge fan. the writing style was really lacking and I didn't find myself being drawn to the characters... the romance happened WAYYY too fast and the entire story was suuuper fast paced... and also really melodramatic which... sucked. really idk why i picked this up since i dont like famous ppl/pop star romances anyway but yeah. had some nice quotes tho and Raina and Isabelle weren't half bad... Also this was in no way a Christian romance...
For The Record by Nicole Lam. When Skye Holland's ex-boyfriend got famous by writing a diss track about her, she became, somewhat known by the world, at least she doesn't need to see her ex anymore. Wrong. She needs to work with her ex in order to keep her job. She promised to keep it professional... is it just me or is she and her boss seemed close? Leo Perez, Skye's boss, looks like he's attracted to her... but they said they would only be friends. Can they? Would Leo see Skye as everyone else see her, the ex-girlfriend of a superstar? Or could he see her true self that nobody else sees? Would people talk about them? *** My Opinion: I can't get enough of this book! <3 Nicole has this power that makes me believe her books are actually non-fiction! As in-I would not be surprise if I suddenly bumped into Skye and Leo. I love how this book gave me a fuzzy feeling. I just gotta say, Nicole did a little upgrade on the heat! It's still clean and nothing that makes you run and puke everywhere (yes, that's my definition of reading smut). It's just more than her other books, but enough to make you jump and squeal. I know I said "The CEO and The Christian Girl" is my favorite, but this book had me saying otherwise. It's still number my number one fav from the author, but this book is following close behind it. ~ Leo... I'm in a dilemma, do I wan't to be Leo's little sister, or Leo's lover? Both are very good choices! I always wanted an older brother or a younger sister. Guess what? I got a younger brother. smh. Leo was just a good brother, he made me want an older brother very much XD. But then again, he is also a good boyfriend. He is very caring, attentive, hardworking, funny, etc, etc, etc. What's not to love??? But I think I'll settle for being a reader ;) ~ I love how enthusiastic Skye is! She is fun and carefree. She is strong, even when she feels she is unwanted and special. Another icon from the author! She is witty and hilarious. I love how she is still caring for her sister, even when her sister doesn't. It's harder to love our siblings when they hate us rather than our enemies! We don't see our enemies everyday, but we live with our siblings! I might or might not know how Skye feels! I'm so glad she found Leo, who reminds her that she is special! I just need a Leo! ~ I love this book because: It is unique, it is beautifully written, it has interesting characters, it is hilarious, it is sweet, it has rival my number one fav book from the author. *** Highly recommend book and author <3 ^Sweet and Clean Hollywood Romance^ (P.S. I can't wait for the second book!)
The story premise was cute but I found some elements very hard to believe. And the execution was lacking. There were so many inconsistencies (she put the envelope in her pocket...then 3 paragraphs later she's pulling it out of her bag...that's just 1 example) that I wondered if it had been proofread. And I didn't really feel any connection between the hero and heroine. I usually keep 1 stars for my DNF books. I finished this book, but skimmed most of the last third.
Like every other book by Nicole, I found myself swept up in this one, too. I've read the other books in the series before and had wanted to read this one too but got my hands on it just recently. Just loved the book so much, and I'd recommend it to anyone who love clean celebrity romance.
Leo and Skye were meant for each other and they were super easy to connect with. While the romance was great, the MMC Leo's relationship with his little sister was what got my heart at the best--I'm a sucker for older brother & little sister dynamic stories and don't find much in most books I read, so this one really satisfied me, made me 'awwwww' so much, laugh and tear-up at some parts... So yeah, For The Record will have a place in my heart forever because of that.