Here’s the thing: I wanted to like this. I’m a big music fan, loved that it supposedly had similar vibes to Daisy Jones. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past 25% of the book. I wish I hadn’t been bored, but I was. I even put it down for a bit and tried again. I truly hope others have a better experience. I did give it a 2 star rating, though. Giving something 1 star is close to impossible for me, but the writing wasn’t bad. It just didn’t capture my heart or move as fast as I would have liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in return for my honest review.

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me. I had trouble connecting to the characters at first, but, as the book played out, I became heavily invested. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a great read for music lovers and for readers who are interested in character development. The structure of the book is riveting and the way the characters reveal themselves to the narrator will keep you guessing. My favorite thing about this book is the timeliness to current events and the harsh truth that faces us today- the repercussions for black women who stand up for the truth are especially harder than those of anyone else. I recommend you add this book to your TBR list and to stick with it to the end.

An unlikely rockstar duo reminisces about their brief rise to fame during the tumultuous 1970s. Their interviewer? The daughter of their bandmate killed during a riot their band incited.

I wanted to like this novel, I really did. I've heard many great things about it and have seen it compared to <u>Daisy Jones</u> time and time again. Though Daisy Jones was just an okay book for me, so I should have known...While I appreciate the premise of this novel-talking about the racial and gender injustices during the 70s-especially within the music scene, and how these racial stereotypes and prejudices have still festered into the world today-the pacing of this novel was so. so. so. slooowwwww.

From the beginning the reader is thrust into the lives of Opal and Nev as if we are their fans and should know of them and care for them. We get very brief background stories on both as the interview style is conducted in short paragraphs peppered with random side comments sometimes only one sentence long from characters so minor we'll never hear from them again. The constant disruption of the flow of this story with all these different interviewees just made me feel even more disconnected from what was happening.

The "big reveal" about 50% in wasn't that big of a reveal to me, as I never liked or cared for this character we're suddenly supposed to feel betrayed by. Sunny was fine but her random "editor's notes" that were one, way too personal and two, sometimes 15 pages long, just detracted from what the whole interview format was trying to accomplish in the first place. The character I enjoyed the most and felt most attached to was Virgil LaFleur. I honestly would have probably liked a book about his life, with some asides about Opal & Nev, a lot more! Oh and to top everything off, the ending was completely lackluster as well.

This one just wasn't for me.

This was such a wonderfully unique story. I was fortunate enough to also download the audiobook, and was so glad that I chose that platform to read this book.

I felt that the tie in to events that occurred decades prior to the time that the book about Opal and Nev was being written was so important. It really helped to show the lack of progress in racial inequities, and the lack of meaningful response that has occurred over time. While this was a fictional recount, I felt like this was such a realistic portrayal that could most definitely have happened.

I loved the diverse cast of characters and how each added their own personal flair to the story. Virgil was definitely one of my favorites!

There were so many moments that my jaw dropped, and I was simply appalled while simultaneously unsurprised by the actions of those who we thought we could trust - namely Nev Charles.

There was so much to unpack in this book, and I feel like it is such a great conversation starter. I would have loved to have read this as a buddy read to have others to digest and chat with!

Thank you for providing me with this review copy!

Wow! This took me on quite a ride. Opal and Sunny’s stories both are so heartbreaking but uplifting in a sense also. I was expecting a quick read due to the interview style format but in reality I had to read slowly and truly absorb the words I was reading. This is one that will really stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

This novel has a lot going for it....it trails the intertwining lives of Opal and Nev, two young people hoping to "make it" in music during the 70s....we read bit about their lives, their music, their loves...but more importantly we read about their TIME.
Not time, like how successful they become, but the time period they were in. The 60s and 70s were a tumultuous time in this country when everything was questioned from rock and roll to policing to how we dress, spoke and succeeded in life.
By the time you get to the end of this book, you feel as if you are parting with old friends..a little sad, and a bit wistful, and I am sorry to say...a bit disappointed that we have not moved along a little better in the humanity department in this country.
I highly reccomend this novel.

Thank you publishers and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! Daisy Jones was one of my favorites so I was excited to see how this would turn out being in a similar format. There is so much that is different than Daisy. I would say the only thing similar is that it is about music and in interview format. Themes of racism, politics, addiction, and infidelity here but I did like Opal's character. She was a strong woman who knew what she wanted.

I'll start off by saying how much I LOVED this book. I'll admit that I was skeptical at first because of all the Daisy Jones and the Six comparisons. Don't get me wrong. I liked Daisy Jones and the Six. I just don't like reading books that don't stand on their own and are hyped for how much they emulate another book. That being said the only similarity between the two books is that someone is repoorting on a musical group from the past.

Our star Opal is Afro-punk. She puts mein the mindof Grace Jones. That kindof fierceness. That bravada. That kick@ss attitude. Opal definitely has IT. She's also bald as a result of alopeciaand she talks about how important hair is for little black girls. I really felt for her when she was describing how she was teased as a child and her insecurities about her hair. .

Walton takes us through the 70s music scene and the wakeof the Civil Rights movement. Moreover, she talks about revolution in the sense of being free to be who you are. And being free to take up space. As a woman. As a Black person. As a gay person.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev brings us to the current day and shows us how much hasn't changed despite people putting in the work. It exposes the dangers of performative allyship.

This book was fascinating - I was glued to my seat. The characters were well drawn and realistic. The story arc was compelling and thought provoking. I just cannot give it enough praise. All I can say is Brava! Dawnie Walton, Brava! I am just totally WOWED! Definitely picking up Walton's next book.

I found this to be a compelling story and very well written. Here is one that I would definitely love to reread via audiobook.

THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV is set in the seventies. Nev Charles is a British singer and songwriter who has come to New York to find an audience for his music.
Signed by a small time record company Nev has not had any real success. Deciding he needs a partner Nev seeks out a singer while he is on a small tour. During amateur night in a small Detroit bar Nev discovers Opal. Nev is instantly captivated by her charisma. Fiercely independent and wanting more out of life than an office job Opal seizes the opportunity to partner with Nev.
After much hard work the pair do become a success and then a tragic set of events occurs that breaks them apart. Time passes and Opal and Nev pursue their careers as solo artists. Now there is talk of a reunion tour of the once famous duo.
The story is told in an interview style. Sunny Shelton is the journalist who is writing the has a special connection to the duo. Sunny not only interviews Opal and Nev but many other people who knew them when they were starting like record company executives and friends.
I really enjoyed THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL AND NEV. I liked the interview style. I felt it kept the story moving along at a brisk and satisfying pace. The reader was able to see Opal and Nev from other people’s perspective as well as their own.
Being a fictional duo their music doesn’t actually exist. Being fairly well aquatinted with music from the 1970’s I would love to hear their music. Perhaps one day there will be a soundtrack.
I think fans of DAISY JONES AND THE SIX would enjoy this novel.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the chance to read an advanced
e-edition of THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV by Daniel Walton.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is Daisy Jones and the Six meets the Black Lives Matter movement and I am here for it! The Similarities to Daisy Jones is the oral-history format of a fictional band told from the perspective of a daughter of one of the band members, as well as, the forbidden love between two of the bands members. The differences are the racial inequality that not only Opal faces but the entire black community. The author does a good job of weaving true stories of racial inequality into the fictional novel.

The story is narrated by Sunny Curtis. She is the chief editor and daughter of Jimmy Curtis, the drummer of Opal & Nev's band. Sunny is interviewing everyone surrounding Opal & Nev to write a book about their rise to fame before they are set to have a reunion tour.

I am blown away that this is a debut novel. It was an absolutely perfect novel that was emotional, liberating, and moving.

I knew I would enjoy this book as soon as I heard it described as an oral history. People have described it to resemble Daisy Jones & The Six, but I believe it’s only in the format that they stay the same. This novel while addressing drugs, sex and rock-n-roll too goes much further covering topics such as of race and feminism,

Although these characters are fictional, they feel as if they could be real. At first I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep track of them all, but quickly I wasn’t having to even think about who was who. Each plays a distinct role in laying out why Opal & Nev are on their way to their final revival.

I loved that the story came though the eyes of a reporter and especially one with such close ties. I also loved that without saying it, Opal was the beginning of her own Black Loves Matter movement. My only complaint and it’s such a selfish one, is that I do wish I could hear the music they refer to. I know this isn’t possible as it doesn’t exist, but I got so immersed, I expected a soundtrack to listen along with.

Walton’s description of the studio sessions, the music and especially the fashion just popped right off the page. If you love a different kind of historical fiction, “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev” should be your next pick. I also highly recommend the audiobook as it is such a great cast!

This book is a fictional music biography that focuses its lens on Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, particularly with the event in the ‘70s that propelled them to stardom. One of their first big gigs ended up in a riot where the drummer Jimmy died. Turns out the narrator, who is researching for her book is the daughter of Jimmy, who died before she was born. Also, Opal was having an affair with Jimmy.
What caused the riot is racism.

There is much to love in this book, but also places that became a bit tedious, at times. The format of the book is similar to several others, an oral history with multiple voices, while once was unique and exciting, with this book which mimics the format, it becomes a bit stale.

It's hard not to love the strong young woman Opal Jewel!

I enjoyed this "oral" rock and roll history told from so many perspectives. I liked that the narrator documenting the entire story really had a stake in the story and needed to understand what happened. The timeframe seemed appropriate for what was happening in the book. I didn't always understand the motivation but then I think this format leaves some things up in the air whenever it is used. All in all this story of afropunk and the unlikely pairing of Opal and Nev kept me engaged and interested the entire way through.

I really enjoyed The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. I think the author, Dawnie Walton, has a brilliant future. I loved the interview style having Sunny Shelton interview Opal and Nev, a 70’s duo, for a book as the the duo is planning a comeback tour. Sunny’s father, the drummer for this duo, was killed at a concert. And Sunny is looking for connection. To a father she did not know. I had to check to see if this book was really fiction as it sure seemed like it was non-fiction.

I enjoyed the background of the childhood lives of Opal and her sister, Pearl. The book is so much more than a book about the music industry. It deals with racism, feminism, and much more. Highly entertaining and revealing of the 1970s. I will definitely be looking for Walton’s next book. Thank you 37 Ink and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Opal and Nev are the most unlikely of partnerships, and two characters who could not be more different. In terms of personalities, image, background, culture, race and behaviours, they provide such a fascinating contrast in an industry that is always seeking the new outrageous thing. The development of their journey from their family background to music industry fame is fascinating, and it does require a double-take to realise that this is a purely fictional story. Delivered in an epistolary format, the structure works brilliantly in delivering a documentary-style narrative where the sense of information flowing from the most appropriate observer keeps us enthralled.

Neville Charles (Nev) is a very creative songwriter musician from England and manages to impress New York City based, Rivington Records, to sign him and work to promote his unique musical style. While the record label backs him they also feel there is something missing and they embark on a quest to find the missing piece – a perfect duo fit for Nev. One night in Detroit they hear Opal Jewel and her sister Pearl, sing in a bar and Nev knows instantly that Opal is the one. While not a beautiful as her sister, or as good a singer as her sister, Opal has that, je ne sais quoi, that enigmatic something that is riveting, and Nev knows he has found his partner. Nev is white, ginger-haired and very reserved, Opal is black, bald, and fiercely flamboyant.

Dawnie Walton shows great craft in building her characters, especially considering the format of the novel. Opal and Nev are fascinating characters, well developed and intriguing. We can feel a strong belief they have in themselves but also their uncertainty and the precarious nature of the industry. The introduction of the rock and roll lifestyle also has its impact, particularly on Opal who isn't one to hold back. A defining moment happens when the band’s black drummer Jimmy Curtis is killed in a racially motivated attack at a concert and brings to an end the band.

With the talk that Opal and Nev are planning a reunion concert, the newly appointed editor of Aural Magazine, Sunny Shelton/Curtis, wants to cover their story. In a juicy twist, Sunny is the daughter of Jimmy Curtis, a father she never met but who was having an affair with Opal at the time of his death. With Sunny as the novel’s facilitator, this is essentially a story within a story and her editor's notes add a great element to the book.

Amongst other things, this is a powerful story about racism and sexism, and a contemporary look at the societal injustices that pervade our lives so glaringly today. Walton has written a very intelligent story at various levels, from an entertaining glimpse of rock and roll that excites many fans, to an acute social commentary on the challenges facing our world today. There are often issues with the episodic style that introduces disconnects, and I felt that happened here and also slowed the story at times, but that said, this is a wonderful read and hugely impressive as a debut novel.

I would recommend this book and I have Michael David to thank for pointing me in the right direction. I would also like to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded so intriguing and I love books written in interview format. However, the beginning was just too slow. I wasn't drawn to any of the characters and it felt like nothing was really happening. I do love the themes about race and social justice that the book touched on. However, it moved at an overall too slow pace for me.

I was really excited about this book, and I think one day I will really like it. However, I'm giving up at about 30% today. The story is interesting and the characters are well-developed. It is also clearly really well researched. I just don't have the bandwidth for it right now, and I think that's because the author did such a good job of presenting it like research: it's quite dense and takes a long time to really get rolling. Outside of the pandemic I would probably stick with it but I'm just finding myself getting distracted.

Thank you to Netgalley and 37 Ink for a copy in exchange for my review. I also purchased my own copy through Book of the Month for reading as a final copy.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev follows the fictional musical duo, Opal Jewell and Nev Charles, as they get ready to play together for the first time since the 70s. Opal and Nev came to stardom after Opal ripped a Confederate flag on stage that started a brawl with audience members and other musicians resulting in one death of the drummer for Opal and Nev. The interviewer for the story is SarahLena, the daughter of Jimmy Curtis who died that day.

Not surprisingly The Final Revival of Opal and Nev has been compared to Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Both were written in an interview format, but that's where the comparisons should stop. Although both deal with musicians the stories within both books are extremely different. I went into The Final Revival of Opal and Nev expecting to hear about the formation and music of this fictional duo. Instead it was more about how Opal dealt with the societal issues during the 70s that are still relevant today. As a reader you can tell that Dawnie Walton did a lot of research to incorporate real-life people and elements into the story, which I greatly appreciated. The story is broken into three parts: the formation of Opal and Nev, their time together and apart, and finally their reunion at music festival for a performance. I didn't think the three portions always weaved together in the best way but I still enjoyed the ride. The narrator of the story had quite a few of her own portions in the story that broke up the interview. I felt that they stopped the story in its track in times and weren't necessary to help forward the story at times. Honestly sometimes it would take me out of the story and effected the pacing of the novel. From talking to other readers, I know I'm not alone with problems with the pacing of the story as I read it.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is Dawnie Walton's debut novel. I really enjoyed her writing style. I can't wait to see what future works we'll see from her.

Star rating: 3.5 stars

Atmospheric and definitely building upon the interview format that Daisy Jones and the Six accomplished so successfully. This story is more intimate and carried more weight, with its themes of race and the legacy of Black women in the music industry. The core conflict of the plot is serious and hard to forget, and sometimes the narrative was frustrating because so many characters did forget it. Overall, it was engaging and dramatic, but maybe a bit too long.