This book follows a rock n roll duo who shot to fame in the 70's. When I heard this was comparable to Daisy Jones & The Six, I had to read it. I enjoyed the oral history format and that the book highlighted social issues in the music scene. However, I do agree with reviews below that the story is "choppy" at times and includes too many editor interruptions. It was also difficult for me to really connect with the characters. Overall, I wanted to love this book but came away thinking it was just okay. I seem to be in the minority here so I would still recommend to those who love music and oral history.

Thank you Net Galley and 37 Ink for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great read! I love the oral history format with the interviews and stuff.

The format is like Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo but the content to different. This book deals a lot with racism in the United States. The riot that is the main focus on the book seems to be based partly off of a real riot where Meredith Hunter was beat to death by members of the Hell's Angel's, who were acting as security for the event.

I bookmarked the book so much, because there was so much I wanted to go back to. And let me tell you Opal may be one of the best characters I've ever read. She is amazing and strong and stands up for everything she believes in.
It took me a while to read this book bit while it is fiction it is a heavy read. It really was great though. I cannot wait to have it on my shelves.

This may be one of the top books of 2021!!

Thank you Netgalley and 37ink for this eARC. This book is out March 30th 2021

"There was more for me out in the world and I deserved every single drop of it."

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a tribute to the way in which music can reach across generations and distances to unite listeners, empower marginalized audiences, and form bridges of inclusivity. Dawnie Walton packs a punch in her debut novel, deftly addressing themes like race, class, gender, privilege, and power dynamics.

"I looked at her face, that fierce expression she’s got, and for the first time I felt like I could have some power too."

I was concerned at first by the comparisons to Daisy Jones and the Six, and I wondered whether Walton’s story would stand out as original, despite similarities in theme and structure. Like Daisy Jones by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Opal & Nev is told as an oral history, with the perspective shifting between a dozen first-person narrators, interview-style, as they recount (decades later) their experience in the sex-drugs-and-rock-n-roll scene of the 1970s.

"Isn’t that the kind of story we should aim to be telling—how it is that this rock-and-roll music could reach a sheltered Black girl like me, and make her feel not just seen and heard, but empowered?"

But Walton’s characters and their histories are unique and effortlessly likeable, and I was pleasantly surprised by the impact and depth that she brought to the table with Opal & Nev. And the celebrity “cameos” added a whole new layer of vibrancy that really brought the story to life. I could totally see this book becoming a docudrama-style miniseries!

"Don’t underestimate our spirit, baby, because we’ll surprise you every time."

I did struggle with the frequent changes in perspective/narration, and I think I would have enjoyed the audiobook version so much more - attaching a different “voice” to each character would have helped me to keep the story straight.

"The voices of Black women like Opal should not be discounted or diminished in deference to those who have hijacked our shine..."

But ultimately, the story was strong enough to overcome the challenges I had in staying focused. Watching Opal find her own voice and unleash her own power, and seeing how she used that to inspire others, was deeply moving. In the book, Opal is described, by a close friend, as “a champion for those who are marginalized, bullied, discriminated against” - she is exactly the musical hero we all need! A fun, fierce, super enjoyable read!

"Why do you think she is resonating now? There are sadly legions of these people who need her essence today."

——

A huge thank-you to Dawnie Walton, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novel is written in the form of an oral history of both halves of a fictional musical duo from the 1970s: Opal, a black woman from Detroit, and Nev, a white man from England. In addition to the interviews, there are “editor’s notes” from the (fictional) editor of the book, Sunny, who has a personal connection to the story - the father she never met was a drummer who was killed before she was born during an Opal & Nev performance. Now, decades later as Opal & Nev are set to reunite at a music festival, music magazine editor Sunny sets out to interview them and those in their orbit and tell their story. Using this format, it’s amazing how real the characters feel (even the small side characters), and how they really come to life. Plus, the book takes on not just music, memory, and the price of fame, but deeper issues like racism and sexism.

It’s a plus and minus for this book that it comes out several years after Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six, also a fictional oral history of a fictional 70s band, although the stories are nothing alike. A minus in the sense that even though Dawnie Walton was working on this book years before Daisy Jones came out, it doesn’t have the surprise factor of being the first novel written in that format. But maybe a plus in the sense that there are so many people like me who loved Daisy Jones and will be that much more eager to read another book in a similar format.

Either way, this book stands on its own and is absolutely terrific, one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. 4.5 stars.

In a very similar style/format of Taylor Jenkins-Reid's Daisy Jones and The Six, this oral music history will captivate you from beginning to end.

Where are my Daisy Jones fans at?! I have a book you're going to totally LOVE.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is written in oral history format and tells the story of a beloved rock ’n’ roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970s New York. Opal is a fiery, independent and unique singer who duets with Nev Charles— a skinny, British songwriter. Together, the pair find success writing and performing politically charged music.

Unfortunately, their success was brief and tragic. Through this book, you slowly learn the backstories and where it all went wrong. This book is captivating, ugly, and raw. While the format may be similar, Opal & Nev dives much deeper into societal injustices that are still facing us today.

Ultimately, I got a little bogged down in the extra characters and thought this book moved too slowly. It was still a really good read, though! Four stars!

Thank you NetGalley and 37 Ink for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev publishes on March 30, 2021.

<i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i> reads like a riveting oral history documentary on a favorite rock group from the past. It is an intimate look behind the scenes into Opal and Nev's personal lives and the formation, rise, fall, and reunion of the duo. Opal and Nev have a complex relationship, and their potential success as a group is cut short by tragedy and controversy.

I enjoyed <i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i>. With its inclusion of historical events and real people, artists, places, and songs, it’s easy to forget that Opal, Nev, and the many other interview subjects are fictional characters. I found myself immersed in this story. For me, at times, there was a little too much detail, so a few parts of it dragged a bit. However, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

Amongst the large cast of characters, Opal, with her larger-than-life personality, is the clear standout. She's fiercely independent, has an unconventional style and attitude, and is the definition of Afro-punk before that term existed. Opal attacks the world head-on, determined to do what she thinks is right no matter the cost. Imagine her impact if Opal existed in real life!

Some heavy messages are weaved into the story of Opal and Nev. The role of racism and sexism in the duo's rise and fall provides relevant insights both then and now. There is plenty to reflect on after reading this book with its exploration of those topics and ambition and integrity.

Overall, <i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i> is an impressive debut novel. I look forward to enjoying this book again by listening to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital copy to read and enjoy. This voluntary review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/37 Ink, and Dawnie Walton for an ARC of this book!**

Opal Jewel is a rare gem, with a cut, clarity, and color all her own. Growing up as a relative unknown in Detroit alongside sister Pearl, she gets an opportunity for a big break when her golden pipes get her noticed at a tiny club. Enter Nev, gangly British red-headed rocker with a punk edge who is looking for just the right unique and soulful voice to complement his tunes (a Merry Clayton for his "Gimme Shelter") and Opal's distinctive look and even more distinctive sound seem the perfect fit. As the duo's popularity rises, so do the stakes, and at a fateful concert one night, another band on the label, good ol' boys with lots of radio airplay, has the audacity to brandish the Confederate Flag unashamedly during the showcase. This situation ultimately sparks violence that results in the death of drummer Jimmy, who has a special connection to Opal, and the band never fully recovers from this chaos.

Jimmy's daughter Sunny is left to pick up the pieces and as the new editor of Aural, sets out to peel back the layers of the magic that was Opal and Nev, and to document their ascent and descent through an all-encompassing and no-holds-barred oral history of the rock 'n roll duo. What she discovers, however, could be crushing for the upcoming reunion tour Opal and Nev have planned and calls to question the glue that held these two together---not to mention what ACTUALLY happened during that fateful concert, so many years ago...was this dynasty built on nothing more than a dream? Is this music still even relevant in today's vastly different world...or does a broken nation need it more desperately than ever?

Walton has created quite a world in Opal and Nev, and the beauty of this book lies in its characterization and the development of so many personalities. In an oral history, voices need to be distinct, clear, and to shine, and Walton's characters do just that. She masterfully weaves in traces of pop culture to ground this alternate reality in our actual reality, with mentions of everyone from Janelle Monae to Parliament Funkadelic, to give Opal a place among the rock royalty we know and love. Opal's friend Virgil is a particular highlight, a fierce and fabulous fashion designer who has a personality big enough for his own book! Certain portions of the novel, particularly, had me lost in the world Walton designed and removed from reality entirely. Another giant piece of the puzzle here is Walton's commentary on white supremacy and race relations, central obviously not only to Opal's own tale, but to the cultural climate of 2021. Her commentary is fairly straightforward but helps to connect the lines between the fires first stoked so many years ago that unfortunately still roar in today's world, and I always appreciate the brutal honesty about the ugliness we still need to fight as a world, as hard as it might be to read.

On the other hand, where this novel faltered for me was pacing. The 3 parts of this book didn't feel particularly balanced, and I would go through long sections that I felt could have been much shorter and yet other portions I wish had been more detailed. Jimmy as a character felt unexplored to me and I believe he could have had a more dominant role in the narrative if only Walton had examined his character on a deeper level, even if only through the eyes of other narrators. He was such an important component to the story and yet still felt at times like a background character, so that was an odd juxtaposition for me as a reader. I also struggled at times with the plot of the book itself: this has nothing to do with Walton's ability as a writer and is solely based on the plot itself. I would find myself growing irritated or bored with the choices some characters made at times and had a hard time reconciling that frustration. While there were some kinks that worked themselves out by the end, I just wanted more for our protagonists, especially Opal. This is the flip side of the fantastic characterization she developed throughout the book: when you grow to really care about characters, you want them to have the world on a string!

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is a strong debut novel by an incredibly gifted writer who undoubtedly has a bright future, full of fascinating stories to tell. I am sure Walton saw some of Opal in herself, and I look forward to watching her similarly meteoric rise to the top: rock on and prosper! 4 stars

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is an oral history of the beloved rock & roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970s. This book gives off serious Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six (due to the way the oral history is written) and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (because of the way the interviewer was involved) vibes. I bet this book will be great on audio!

There was a slow (and confusing) start to the story. The editors note at the beginning threw me off because I didn’t realize it was part of the story until I was three pages in. It was a really attention grabbing start and I loved it. It took a long time to get to the event that I assumed most of the story would be based on. I loved hearing all of the different perspectives but sometimes there were seemingly random people thrown in and it lost me for a second. The book picked up around part 2 for me. I was expecting a little bit more for a resolution for the ending. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who enjoy an oral retelling and also don’t get distracted during slow starts.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton is an engaging oral history about Opal Jewel, a singer who for a short time in the 1970s was the duet partner of Nev Charles. Nev is a skinny red-headed Brit and gifted songwriter. His studio, Rivington Records, feels something is missing and decides he should have a female partner. Nev discovers Opal at an open mike in her hometown of Detroit and is immediately smitten by her. Even though she has never been in a studio, Opal manages to get a good contract and moves to New York. Opal is a tall, proud black woman with a gay friend, Virgil, who dresses her in outlandish clothes. She suffers from alopecia and either goes bald or wears big wigs, turbans, or other headdresses. Together Opal & Nev struggle to find rock-n-roll success after their first album was a flop. A tragic event fueled by racism causes the death of their drummer, Jimmy Curtis. This finally puts the duet in the limelight. Opal becomes very politically outspoken during national television interviews. The duet has some success but they soon go their separate ways. Nev finds long-term fame and fortune as a solo artist. Opal does not, and eventually retires from the music scene.

The oral history is recorded by S. Sunny Shelton, the first African American and first female editor of Aural, a rock magazine. Sunny is also the daughter of Opal and Nev’s aforementioned drummer, who died before her birth. Soon after she gets appointed editor, Sunny literally runs into Opal. Of course the more we learn about Opal, we know that was not an accidental meeting. Opal tells Sunny that she is seriously considering doing a revival show with Nev at the 2016 Derringdo Festival even though it had been more than 25 years since she has performed. Opal wants Sunny, through her editorial position at Aural, to write a book about Opal & Nev’s career so it can be sold at the Festival. Aural will also have the exclusive right to announce the reunion tour. Of course, Sunny jumps at the chance to learn even more about the duo.

The interviews are done with Opal, Nev, Virgil, Rivington Record’s owner and employees, other recording artists, band members, photographers, Pearl’s family members, Sunny’s Aural employees, and so forth. What is revealed is the portrait of a strong, independent African American woman struggling to make it in the music business run by white males. She remains true to her political beliefs and is always willing to make a statement against racism. Years later, Opal is still seen as a heroine and a role model for African Americans. When the possible truth of what caused the tragic accident is revealed, Sunny is placed in the uncomfortable position of telling Opal. Opal must then decide whether to go ahead with the Opal & Nev Revival and once again be on center stage.

4-plus stars. I was surprised to learn that this is Dawnie Walton’s first novel. She is a gifted writer. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published next week on March 30, 2020. The hardcover is 368 pages.

All I needed to hear was that this book compared to “Daisy Jones & the Six” and I was sold! This book over performed for me in several aspects. I absolutely loved the storytelling & narration of this book. The author’s talent truly shines through the writing. I soaked in every word!

Thank you SO much to Netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing novel. What drew me in to this book was the comparison to Daisy Jones and The Six which is one of my all-time favorite books. That premise of a book in a book retelling the fictional history of a Afro-Punk band in the 1970’s told in interview format was a hit for me. I was born after the 70s but everyone knows that the 70s was an iconic time. I appreciated how this book was more political than DJ&TS, tackling race which is a huge part of the book and is very relevant today. At times, I had to remind myself that this was a fictional book because it felt so much like I was reading a biography about a real band. I also got The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes vibes as the book pieces together what happened to the band post tragedy and how everyone handled the aftermath. Major themes include race, class, gender, the music industry, our perception of ourselves and other's perception of us. THANK YOU!

The best book I’ve read this year! I loved the oral history format. It made it much more readable than a regular narrative. All the characters were interesting, even the unlikeable ones. There was never a moment when I didn’t want to know where the story was going next.

I went in to this expecting something along Daisy Jones & The Six vibes and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. This might be the best book I’ve read in 2021

When I first read the description of this book, I was thinking Daisy Jones & The Six, and I though oh yes, I would definitely like this book. What I forgot was that when I read Daisy Jones I hated it in book format, but loved it in Audiobook format. I feel the same exact way with this reading experience. For some reason reading an entire book in interview format does not work for me.

If you loved Daisy Jones than I am sure you will love this one. Taking place in the 70’s Opal & Nev rise to fame, but come across many racial issues especially when on tour that affects them forever.

I might give this another chance when I can get an audio version, but for now, I must leave it at that.

Thank you NetGalley and 37 Ink for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an oral history following a fictional Afro-Punk band in the 1970’s. Highlighting issues of sexism and racism in the music scene, Opal and Nev tell their story to Sunny, the newly named and first African American editor-in-chief of Aural magazine who happens to be the daughter of Opal’s murdered lover.

Overall I felt bogged down by too much information: too many characters, too much detail about things that didn’t propel the storyline and way too many interruptions via “editor” comments and footnotes. The story was choppy and at times, uninteresting.

Again I find myself in the minority in my opinion of this book. Looking at Goodreads and reading reviews on Bookstagram, this book is consistently getting 4-5 starts. Unfortunately I have to blame timing for my lack of enthusiasm. Having recently finished The Songbook of Benny Lament, another fictional account of a band rising to fame during turbulent times, I simply preferred that book. Without a doubt Opal and Nev will be compared to Daisy Jones and the Six, the first in this oral history trend, and I preferred Daisy’s story to Opal’s.

This book will be great for readers that enjoy oral history, historical fiction and music.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the journalist style writing. The characters were well developed and were so dynamic! It was fun to picture them living out their story lines in my head. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy.

"Isn't that the kind of story we should aim to be telling - how it is that this rock-and-roll music could reach a sheltered Black girl like me, and make her feel not just seen and heard but empowered?"

This book will inevitably be compared to Daisy Jones and the Six because it's the story of a revolutionary female singer told through an oral history. It also has similarities with The Songbook of Benny Lament which focuses on an interracial duo whose music and lives make a significant impact during the Civil Rights era. But debut author Dawnie Walton, with her sharp and provocative writing and larger-than-life characters, has created a unique take on sex, drugs and rock 'n roll that should be judged on its merits alone.

Opal, a fine singer with a huge personality, and Nev, a dorky Brit songwriter, are two wrongs that combined make a right. After they rise to fame as the faces of a horrible tragedy, they go their separate ways - Opal to an avant garde life in Paris followed by failed attempts to regain her former glory and Nev to rehab before becoming a solo sensation. Decades later, the duo consider a reunion appearance and music journalist Sunny Shelton pitches an oral history of the icons, who also have a connection to the death of her father.

I loved how Walton structured the story and who she had tell it. She does an incredible job of capturing each of the characters' individual voices, giving them unique quirks in what they say and how they say it which brought them all to life. She also incorporates actual celebrities into the narrative (a "quote" from Trent Reznor about Opal is one of my favorites moments in the book) making their story feel that much more real. The lyrics to Opal & Nev's songs are also terrific (you can almost hear them in your head) and there are social and political aspects of the plot that are expertly examined without feeling preachy. Cultural appropriation, racism, feminism - it's all part of Opal & Nev's history.

There are a lot of wonderful things in The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and Opal is a protagonist I won't soon forget. The first two-thirds of the book had me hooked but the last bit, which focuses a bit more on Sunny, started to drag - for me, Opal was the star. I plan to give this audiobook a listen as well because I'm sure hearing her story will be even more powerful than reading it.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy to review.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, by Dawnie Walton, is a nostalgic fictional history of a musical duo who was famous in the 1970s, and a dark secret that shrouds the height of their stardom.

Told in a narrating interview style, the story is slowly uncovered of a band reuniting ten years after a tragedy. Their success was brief and fleeting and peeling back the layers you gradually find out why.

The plot is an important one, especially in our current political landscape which is why I continued to read. It is a story that needed to be told. However, I could not connect to any of the characters and it never held my attention. I wanted to love this story – so, so much. Not only for the importance of the message, but also as a music fan, I truly did!

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Dawnie Walton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. ❤️️

3.5 stars. This book is written in the same style as Daisy Jones & the Six and is being compared to it, but while Daisy had romantic elements this story brings up race and social justice issues. Opal is a Black woman, Nev is a British white man, and together they formed an unlikely musical duo in the 1970s. I’m not someone who is very into music or who cares much about celebrities, so I think other people will enjoy this story a little more than I did.