I am very interested in classic rock history, and very invested in anti-racism work. “The Final Revival of Opal and Nev” is a stunning book, told in an oral history format with plenty of fourth wall-breaking moments. While it will inevitably be compared to “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I found “Opal and Nev” much more engrossing and timely. And the latter’s protagonists are much more believable than the perfect Daisy Jones.

Now that that’s out of the way…

Opal is a misfit Black woman from Detroit. Nev is a misfit redhead from England. Yet somehow as a rock/punk duo, they fit together. Through the oral history format, and Sunny’s first-person editorial notes (she’s writing a book about the duo for reasons that become clear early on), we learn about Opal and Nev’s backgrounds and how they came to know one another. The novel slowly builds up to the concert-slash-protest that changes all of their lives forever, and new allegations come to light in some of Sunny’s subsequent interviews, which forces Sunny to question everything.

Walton doesn’t shy away from race and how moving through the world as Black women affected both Opal and Sunny. Each character has such a distinct voice—I was partial to Opal’s stylist, Virgil—yet the novel flows beautifully. Walton’s prose is lovely, and several passages made me wish I could look up the fictional Opal and Nev duo on YouTube! As a former journalist, she also nails the rock-n-roll history of the late ’60s/early ’70s.

I tend to not love an oral history-type novel because I often feel they violate the “show, don’t tell” rule of writing, but that absolutely wasn’t the case here. Highly recommend!

TL;DR: A fictional rock-n-roll oral history with a fresh lens on systemic racism. Your heart will go out to narrator Sunny as she explores the history of the rock duo that changed her life, and root for Opal as she breaks down barriers and fights for her freedom of expression.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book deserves so much praise! A great reminder of why fiction can be so powerful.

A poignant fictional oral history of the beloved rock ‘n’ roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970’s New York and the dark, fraught secret that lies at the peak of their stardom.

I have seen a lot of people comparing this one to Daisy Jones & The Six, however, I cannot compare the two as I have not read Daisy Jones, although I plan to. The only comparison I will give them right now is that I have heard they are written similarly, in an oral history type format, and that they share a common theme of music/musicians.

This story was not only a story about a man and woman trying to make it big in the music world, but the story of a black woman facing racism and discrimination, while her white band mate was working towards the same goals.

This was the very first book I’ve read that was written as an oral history/interview type format. I found it easy to read (although sometimes hard to digest, regarding the content) and I really enjoyed the written format. It was a big change from what I've been reading recently.

I am not going to lie.. I found myself grabbing my phone to google Opal & Nev (multiple times)while reading this one, I honestly kept forgetting that this was a fictional book. It feels so real!!

I think this is an absolute must read!

Thank you to @netgalley & @simonandschuster for my ARC copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

Opal Jewel was “Nev Charles’s onetime partner-in-strange: the ebony-skinned provocateur, the fashion rebel, the singer/screecher/Afro—punk ancestor, the unapologetically Black feminist resurrected via GIFs and Instagram quotes for these intense political times.”

Opal and Nev were a musical duo for only a few years, and 2 albums, in the 1970s. During a collective showcase for the Rivington recording artists there was a violent clash over a Confederate flag between a motorcycle gang and the performers. The description of the riot and what led up to it was very colorful and intense. Opal’s married lover, the drummer Jimmy Curtis, was killed during the riot. Opal and Nev split up soon after this. Nev overcame addiction to become an extremely successful musical artist. While Opal’s musical career faltered, she became better known for her political activism. In 2016 a reunion is now being contemplated and Jimmy’s daughter S. Sunny Curtis is the writer Opal chooses to tell the story.

This book is written in the form of a series of interviews, and editorial asides, with Opal, Nev, Rivington executives, Opal’s sister Pearl, other recording artists, Opal’s friend and stylist Virgil and others. In format and theme this book is obviously similar to “Daisy Jones and the Six”, however I liked this book much more. I thought Daisy was somewhat trivial, while this book looks at more serious and important issues including sexism and racism in the recording industry and society. It’s also a very entertaining book and the audiobook was particularly enjoyable. There were many narrators and I am not certain who did which character, but the voices of Opal, Nev and Virgil were especially good. This is an excellent first book and I would like to read more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This book completely transported me into a 1970’s NYC, where Opal and Nev first cross paths at a performance by Opal at a bar’s amateur night. Soon after, they are signed on as a rock duo with Rivington Records and their success begins there.

The author introduces you to a cast of characters using an interview-style format which I loved, and it was fun hearing family member’s and friends tell stories and recount memories of Opal and Nev’s lives before they were famous. I was particularly fascinated with Opal from the beginning.

While some major plot points were incredibly dramatic and intense, I still felt the pace of the book was very slow in parts, (for example, some of the interview perspectives really dragged on, but this may be because I listened to the audio for most of it). I did, however, forget at times that this story was fictional, which truly demonstrates how captivating this story was overall.

While I can see why this book is gaining so many rave reviews, my only wish was for more music to be included! However, I definitely recommend it and believe this book would appeal to almost anyone.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic novel, a fictionalized oral history that felt so real I sometimes had to remind myself that Opal & Nev were just characters and not actual people. The oral historian/editor/sometimes narrator is Sunny, whose father was killed before she was born in a riot caused by a performance by the infamous, cult favorite rock duo Opal and Nev. She reveals right away in an editor’s note that her father had an affair with Opal, that she has a personal stake in the story, and that Opal had long had an impact on Sunny’s life by paying for her education. Sunny has just been promoted to editor of Aural, a major music magazine, and she wants to prove herself to her colleagues. She decides to pursue the oral history of Opal and Nev as part of the magazine’s “Aural Histories” series. As she learns more about the events that led to the tragic murder of her father, and all that followed, so does the reader.

Opal and Nev were a small time duo that rose to national attention in the 70s when Opal, during a show that was part of their record label’s showcase, destroys a Confederate flag on stage during the performance. The flag belonged to the leader of a southern rock band that was also on the label and set to perform. Opal, a young, striking, bald black woman from Detroit, tears up the flag, which sets off a chain of events that ended in, among other things, the brutal murder of Opal and Nev’s drummer - Sunny’s father and Opal’s lover, Jimmy,

As the story of the past unfolds, in the present Opal and Nev are preparing for a reunion, which kicks off with them headlining a major music festival. A great mix of history, human drama, music, exploration of the racist history of our society as a whole and the music industry as a microcosm of it, amazing character development, and badass activism. I would recommend it to fans of Daisy Jones & the Six (similar time period and musical focus) and Dana Spiotta’s Eat the Document (similar time period, parallel past and present storylines, activism).

I really enjoy this interview format in books, and believe this one would be even better on audio. It reads like the biography of an actual person, which is always fun - especially when real life actors/musicians/etc are sprinkled throughout. I did feel that the pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but once it really got going, I was invested.

Opal Jewel is a badass - she’s strong and unapologetic and loud, but what I really enjoyed about her character is that she is also flawed. In fact, the author makes no attempt to hide all of the characters’ flaws - Opal, Nev. Sunny, Jimmy. Not only does it make the story more interesting, but also more believable.

But this book is about more than just music and a fictional musical duo in the 70s. It focuses on race, politics, sexuality, sexism, and more. It is poignant and heartbreaking and infuriating and hopeful all in one. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I did not think that Daisy Jones and the Six could be topped. Boy was I wrong. The writing style of this book was very similar to Daisy Jones, but Walton was able to take this story just a little deeper in a way that really worked for me. Opal is nothing like Daisy, but I was transported in time to the 70s for this story just like I was with Daisy's story. I really need to stop referring to Daisy, but man if you loved it, then prepare to love this even more. This oral retelling of Opal & Nev is just amazing. You feel like you are there with the characters living out the story. I wish I could reread it for the first time, but I will just have to reread it knowing what is happening.

In the manner of "Daisy Jones and the Six" this is a novel that reads like a biography of a rock band, It is comprised of "interviews' with the band members, their families, and entourages. The story begins with the implosion the band and the racial tensions that pervade. We are then taken back, interview by interview, to the childhoods and inception of the musicans' connections with each other. Of course, recording issues, personal and romantic involvements, betrayals and forgiveness are all part of the story.

I haven't had a 5-star read in a while and this book quickly shot to the top of my favorite books I've read recently.

Set in the 70's era of glamorous rock and roll Walton gives us two characters, Opal & Nev, who rise to fame with their unlikely pairing, eccentric fashion choices, and bold music. A tragedy strikes at their first industry showcase and their paths begin to diverge – one of them eventually shooting to mega fame and the other struggling to find a place in the industry. Walton highlights just how much the music industry, and our society as a whole, punishes Black women and rewards white men.

Told as a fictional oral history, this story was so immersive and I often found myself forgetting that it was a fictional story. I found myself wanting to be able to google images of Opal & Nev and listen to their music. Even though that's not possible, Walton does a really great job of painting a complete and vivid picture for the reader.

I could go on and on about this book! I urge you to add it to your TBR if you haven't already.

This is an explosive, enveloping debut that explores themes of race, sexuality, and feminism, against the backdrop of music stardom. This is a fun, unputdownable book that reads like an original biography. The narrative flips between the 1970’s and present day carefully weaving characters, times, and places telling the story of Opal and Nev. There are even references and quotes from living legends that aid in selling the story. This novel is crafted so well, I often reminded myself this is a work of fiction. I absolutely enjoyed this raw and emotional story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I spent so much of this book feeling totally confused about whether Opal and Nev were real people (I mean, I knew they weren't, but still. They weren't, right??), and also feeling really confused about whether historical events mentioned in it (and so many of them! And so many supporting characters, even) had really happened. That was distracting 😭 but not the author's fault.

Really only got into it when I got to Part Two, and then after that I was determined to finish it. But I never really liked the characters 😭 Again, not the author's fault. Opal turned into something of an antihero for me.

But, a good long read, and I admire the craft. So, basically, come for the craft, and stay for the craft. Beyond that, I dunno, really.

Plenty of people are comparing this book to "Daisy Jones & The Six" (a book I loved) but I think that this format reminds me of "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk" that I find a seminal book in telling a story using different voices and interviews.
That said I loved this book, engrossing and fascinating, and the well developed characters.
The different POVs make this sorry sound "realistic" and I loved how they described the characters, their story and the background.
An excellent story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Synopsis:

Told in an interview style format, readers learn the rise and fall of the 1970s genre defying duo. Nev comes from England, his mother seeing his talent, pushes him into music lessons at a young age. Opal is from Detroit, learning how to sing at church. Their chance meeting creates an unlikely partnership, pushing both boundaries of race and sexism in the heavily misogynistc music industry. A race driven riot at one of their performances, results in the death of one of their bandmates. Can the duo ever successfully reunite?

The author captures all of the characters so vividly that at times you forget that it is fiction. While the interview format at times feels choppy, the differing perspectives give a more clear explanation of events.

Though The Final Revival of Opal and Nev wasn’t a home-run for me, Opal was a grand slam. She’s the best part of this entire book. She is amazing. And flawed. And quirky. And hilarious. I loved her.

I would be interested in trying an audiobook of this book as I think it would capture the essence of the story better!

Told from different points of view, this story hits all the right notes for me: personal struggles and music and current events and identity and choices one has to make. The novel clips along as each POV has a voice and weaves in and out of the retelling of the story of the musical group Opal and Nev. I’ll continue thinking about this one for a long time as I reflect on decisions I have made that have had a long-term effect on my life. Beautifully written, you need to read this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the copy of this wonderful book. I’m grateful.

At first, I was a little put off by the interview-style way of telling the story, but it quickly grew on me. All the different perspectives on their pasts really helped bring everything together for the present story. Everything was written so well that I found myself forgetting that these were characters and not real people! It's a solid 4 star read!

On the surface, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev seems like a semi-standard "Behind the Music" style look at an unlikely musical duo whose careers went in very different directions in the wake of tragedy. As the oral history of this duo progresses (Opal is a black soul singer from Detroit, Nev a folksy and very white Brit), that goes out the window to follow a surprisingly personal story about race, fame, and the media. Who is allowed to tell the story? Who is believed and valued? Can we ever really know the truth? You think you know what to expect but you don't in this poignant, fiery debut.

In all honesty I wasn't quite sure I wanted to read Opal and Nev simply due to the comparisons with Daisy Jones - which I loved. This story intrigued me yet I was afraid it would be a knock off that would disappoint...

If you have similar literary tastes you may have previously read Daisy Jones and the Six, and initially Opal & Nev is going to feel similar simply due to the interview style narrative - and era. Another similarity is that both narratives are penned by the daughter of a main character who cheated on his wife and the daughter is trying to piece together the past. Daisy and Opal are both young and ooze confidence while on stage yet neither fully feels that same level of confidence at their core. That is where the similarities end though.

Opal has a passion for music and a determination to make her mark as a singer, somehow. Her sister Pearl is very religious and doesn't share in Opal's musical aspirations yet indulges her in performing at open mic events near their home in Detroit. Nev hails from across the pond and sort of stumbled into the music industry while trying to please his mother. One thing leads to another and Nev Charles is signed on with Rivington Records in the US. The record company feels Nev is lacking and needs accompaniment by a partner. He's taken out on a search for the perfect duet partner. When Nev and label exec, Howie, happen upon Opal and her voluptuous sister Pearl they are sure they've found just the woman. Except Howie has his eyes on Pearl whereas Nev has his heart set on the wilder, not classically attractive Opal joining him on stage. He knows that she's the jewel that should be singing alongside him, and Howie reluctantly agrees.

Things between Opal and Nev do not go smoothly from the get go. For all of Opal's big dreams she suddenly realizes that she doesn't have much in the way of actual experience when it comes to singing, performing, or the ability to read music. Opal scrambles to absorb all that she can leading up to their recording sessions, all while being completely MIA where Nev is concerned. Things get into a flow once in studio and Opal ends up forming a relationship with their drummer, Jimmy. Record sales end up being dismal and Rivington is struggling. In a desperate attempt to save the label Howie signs on with a band called the Bond Brothers. They hail from the south and pander to their fellow Bars and Stars touting good ol' boys, who aren't so good, at all. Opal foresees trouble with these prejudice boys signing on to the label, but her words continually fall on deaf ears.

The Bond Brothers sell records and tickets which is all the record company cares about at the end of the day. In their efforts to save the label as a whole the powers that be decide to hold an artist showcase highlighting all of their artists with the Bonds headlining, and Opal and Nev playing just before the main act. Racist, Confederate flag toting boys hopped up on various substances and a highly outspoken, wild Opal all on the same bill, sharing the same backstage area? What could possibly go wrong?Howie assured Opal that the Bonds would not be sporting their Bars and Stars at the showcase yet they arrive with the flag waving. Opal manages to get ahold of it and it seems the problem may be solved. Except the Bonds have invited an unruly biker gang to attend the concert. The bikers quickly turn from obnoxious to downright dangerous and Howie decides to skip over Opal and Nev's performance and just put the Bond Brothers on instead. Nev will hear none of it. Jimmy pleads with Opal to walk away from the situation and trust his judgement on the unfolding events. Unfortunately, Opal chooses Nev and the stage over Jimmy. Then she adds fuel to the fire by destroying the Confederate flag onstage and ignites a firestorm. Jimmy pays the ultimate price and is killed during the ensuing riot. Opal and Nev are never the same again. Critics blame Opal. Neville drowns himself in pills. Was the riot on the shoulders of those racist scumbags? Most definitely. Was it further incited by Opal? Sure. However, is it possible that someone else could've been responsible for setting the whole thing in motion? Quite possible actually.

Forty five years have passed since the riot that claimed Jimmy Curtis' life, and now his daughter, Sunny, is trying to find all of the pieces to the puzzle and what happened that night. Will she ever find out exactly what happened? Not likely yet she is determined to try. Throughout her interviews we delve into the history of the fictional duo that is Opal & Nev as well as each of their personal histories and their ensuing careers and Opal's life. After the duo dissolved Nev found mainstream success whereas Opal never found any real success as a solo artist. Rather she maintained a place on the periphery due to her involvement and support of a number of causes and fight for social justice and equality. Now Opal has been tapped to join Nev for the Derringdo festival in New Hampshire and the idea of a revival tour for the duo has been proposed as well. Yet when Sunny shares what she has learned during her interviews with Opal there is a pallor cast over the upcoming reunion. Opal doesn't want to believe Sunny and initially dismisses her words, but as events unfold Opal can't deny the possibility that what Sunny said could, in fact, be true.

Thanks are due to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. Thank you for allowing me to get to know Opal and Sunny! Opal may not be the mainstream, immediately likeable character that you'd expect; She is so much better! This is well worth a read!

A special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book!

"Yet instantly I knew that this timing was smart. A tour had the potential to excite not only the Mercurials, as Opal & Nev's old cult of fans call themselves, but a new generation--crowds ready to scream along, with these crazy progenitors of dissidence and dissonance, that Black lives matter, that love is love, that the future is female. Ready to embrace Opal Jewel not as ahead of her time, but as now now now."


Let me introduce y'all to my new favorite book: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, a book that is so well written, so captivating, so meticulously researched that it can't be anything other than good, good, good. When I first saw it, I was drawn to the cover, the stark red, white, and black; the silhouette of girl's face, her expression strong and proud, stuck inside the image of an acoustic guitar. Another big draw was the style in which it was written. It was touted as the next Daisy Jones' and the Six, and while I have yet to read that book, I bristle at the idea of this book being called anything but wholly original.

Opal Jewel is entirely entrancing, fierce when she needs to be, soft when she wishes she wasn't. I rooted for again and again, and felt heartbroken when it seemed everything in life was stacked against her. The glamour and the tears and waves of change of the 70's worked as a perfect backdrop for her. I could easily imagine her fitting in alongside Diana Ross or Grace Jones (especially when it comes to outfits!). The story is told via recorded interviews with Opal, Nev, and the many people involved in their whirlwind lives, and through editor's notes from S. Sunny Shelton, the woman who is writing the book about them. Her father was the band's drummer, Jimmy Curtis III, and a sort of infamy surrounds him, not only as Opal's lover, but as the victim of a riot started at one of their shows, which ultimately ends in his life being taken.

Following her from discovery in Detroit, to partnering up with Nev Charles, who came to adulthood in Birmingham, England, to the fateful Rivington Showcase and her decline, Walton weaves an energetic story about misfits, the cyclical nature of prejudice, and in the end, about our friends and allies, and whether they are truly ever that.

This book is an oral history of a fictional 70s Afropunk band, from the perspective of the daughter of one of the band members. The book is loosely structured into 2 halves-the first half details the founding and journey of Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, of the band Opal & Nev, till the point of a climactic concert in their lives where an Altamont-like disaster happens. The second half of the book deals with the aftermath of that, and brings it to present-day. I liked that the book focuses on the incredible and hugely influential Black musicians of the 70s, unlike a lot of other books set in the same context that seem to ignore their contributions. Another interesting aspect was that it starts off from the hypothetical perspective of the family members of a fictionalised version of Meredith Hunter ( the teenaged victim of the Altamont Speedway Free Concert). The writer also gives us the voices of some players in the music industry you don't really hear from- sessions players. I found it fascinating to read about musicians' excesses from the perspective of people just trying to do a good job, who don't have the patience for the tantrums of supposed musical geniuses. I would have liked a lot more about Jimmy Curtis! The book's an interesting, quick read, that tries to make a point about systemic racism, and whose grievances are considered worthy. The protagonist Opal Jewel is a very interesting character, and some parts of the book are very well-written: Opal's childhood, her performances, Jimmy's perspective on music and being a sessions musician, the lead-up to the climactic concert. Not all the characters are as well-etched though-Nev Charles, for instance, I don't think the book would suffer at all if he weren't even there. The second half of the book felt rushed through, and it could have been longer-since this is a debut novel, it feels like the author tried to cram in a lot of things she finds interesting, such as the experience of black artistes in Paris. That tends to dilute the central story though, apart from being quite difficult to write on such a long span of time! 3 stars for this musical journey through a fascinating performer's life.

I loved this book. Ok the big elephant in the room, is this like Daisy Jones? Yep. It is an oral history of a musical duo. Did I love it just as much? Yep. You bet I did. We learn the story of Opal and Nev through interviews done by the daughter of the drummer. We learn what exactly the duo went through almost as if going through their entire history. The reader gets the background on both Opal and Nev. But the story really starts out when they met and originally started working together. There is a large climax portion and I don't want to give too much away but my heart was pounding. I loved this ending. I loved this whole book. I would recommend this book to anyone. Fantastic!