“Though in moments it might break your heart, as it surely did mine, this story is the closest I could get to true.”

THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL AND NEV is a fictional oral history of a rock’n’roll duo who became quite famous in the 1970s. the book includes interviews that tell the story of the duo’s rise to fame and the decades thereafter, asking questions and uncovering secrets all along the way. I was caught up in the story wanting to know what all went down with Opal and Nev, but I also appreciated the exploration of the heavy and important themes of racism, feminism, and learning to use your own voice.

Where this book is extremely well written and definitely will appeal to people who love rock revivals and musician stories, it did not do much for me.
I have never been a fan of drug use, cheating, etc. I know that this is the life of a rockstar, I do not like escaping to this world.
If I am to get down to the point of the story. I was entertaining. It brought the struggles of afro-punk musicians and how they were judged by blacks and whites.
Again, if you life stories about musicians, you will probably love this book.

REVIEW - 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 🌟
TW:

Synopsis: Sunny Shelton seizes the chance to curate an oral history about her idols. Sunny thought she knew most of the stories leading up to the cult duo's most politicized chapter. But as her interviews dig deeper, a nasty new allegation from an unexpected source threatens to blow up everything.

So many people will draw a comparison between Opal and Nev and Daisy Jones. The best comparison I can make is that they are both awesome books. Taking the format of transcribed oral interviews, every character brings a unique voice to the story - and it works! Special details make it unique - the footnotes are a work of genius. Are we reading a novel? Journalism? I literally found myself going back to the internet to make sure this was a work of fiction. Why? Because it is so relevant in the times we live in. Opal is a force to be reckoned with! She doesn’t shy away from the truth - standing up for what she believes in, those she cares for, and what she knows to be true, I can imagine how younger generations of girls - especially those of color - will revere her spirit. I found myself wanting to meet her, talk to her - get her view on life.

I listened to Daisy Jones and the Six as an audiobook, and can imagine the creativity this could bring as an audiobook as well. But for me - something about reading it just the way it was, going back and forth between the footnotes, and google to see “if that REALLY happened! You know you do that, too…) the print version was just right for me.

I recommend this to anyone who has ever truly loved a music group, a strong woman, or is looking for a new role model in the world today. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster/37 Ink for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the advanced reader copy of this one in exchange for an open and honest review!

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

Genre: Historical fiction

Synopsis: Written like an oral history of the fictional singers/songwriters Opal and Nev, this book weaves between interviews and the editor, Sunny’s, notes to tell the story of this Afro-punk duo. Nev is a scrawny British guitarist who has a passion for songwriting. Opal is a unique black woman who grew up in the Civil Rights era in Birmingham, Alabama and has always stuck out. The two shouldn’t go together, but somehow find themselves to be exactly what the other needs. Through these interviews and notes, we learn the dark history that allowed this duo to rise to fame.

Review: Although this one was a slow burn...it was completely worth it. First of all, as a history major this book just happened to line up with my class that I am taking regarding the race tensions and turbulence of the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Second, for a historical fiction this is SO relevant to today and learning about our past. It was equal parts important as it was heartbreaking which is how most of this history is. I felt so many emotions reading this. As an educator, I would use this to help my students understand just how tense this era was regarding race. And to show how while we have made progress...there is still progress to be made. I give this one five stars. EASY!

I love rock-and-roll books. I kept wanting to check Apple Music to see if they had Opal and Nev’s music to listen to as I read. So much of the story felt real and authentic. I also loved the fashion details. One thing I was left wanting was a final confrontation or acknowledgment between Opal and Nev after the Derringdo concert.

I LOVED this. The writing style was just like Daisy Jones & the Sixand made me want to do a reread.

Sunny Shelton, editor of Aural Magazine, is writing a book about Opal & Nev, a popular rock n roll duo that Sunny's father worked with before his passing. Throughout Sunny's interviews, we learn who Opal is, where she came from, and what inspired her to continue after the tragic night that her drummer & lover, Jimmy, was killed at a show. In addition, we hear Nev's story and how he came to find Opal. Sunny interviews many other acts that were associated with Opal & Nev throughout their short course of working together. In doing so, Sunny uncovers a secret, buried by false statements made by Nev, that has the potential to change Opal's decision to going reunion tour with her former partner.

This entire story was so beautifully written. It touches on real-life events and allows insight into how tragedies affect families and friends. I felt like I was watching a real documentary while I was reading and I did not want to put this book down!

It’s hard to not compare The Final Revival of Opal & Nev to Daisy Jones and the Six. Both are told in a similar format: through interviewed segments with people at the heart of the events. But Opal & Nev are not Daisy Jones and the Six.

Dawnie Walton has done a magnificent job of capturing life and the music scene in the 1970’s, as well as introducing us to two people from completely different lives who came together in a legendary way. Opal is one of those women who isn’t the most beautiful, or even the most talented, but has more star power than anyone else. Nev is a quiet, geeky Brit, who has never really been the best musician. Together, they’re a fair musical group, but a culmination of events leads to an infamous concert—and a man’s death—that puts them on everyone’s radar. And from that, a legend was born.

Now—over thirty years later there’s a rumor that Opal & Nev will be reunited, and the woman whose father died at that fateful concert is interviewing those involved, and uncovering secrets that have lingered in the shadows.

Walton’s writing is so smooth and draws you right into the story. There were times I wasn’t sure if this was truly fiction or based on real-life events (I Googled it—it’s fiction!). This is just a fantastically rich and fulfilling novel.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev will be released 3/30/21.

*I received a copy of The Final Revival of Opal and Nev from Simon &Schuster and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Really enjoyed this involving story about a black singer/model and her musical partner, a white singer-songwriter. Very rich and believable characters and it kept me gripped until the end, especially after the totally unexpected twist. Thought-provoking, but fun to read as well.

I really enjoyed the Final Revival of Opal and Nev, I will say, I was a little confused at first because the writing style almost had me believing it was non-fiction! But as the story goes on, the interview format really works very well with the story line.

The story is a series of interviews going back to the early days of Nev Charles and Opal Jewel. How did they get from an absolutely unknown band to mega stars? Right at the brink of their first big break, there is unspeakable violence at one of their shows. A rival band brandishes a confederate flag and it lights a fire in Opal. Opal will find her voice and stand up for what is right, but as a black women in a crowd of white men, it comes at a huge cost for Opal and her loved ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev follows Opal Jewel and Nev Charles from their early lives, through their brief musical partnership in the 70s, to current times when they are considering a reunion. I really loved this book. The scenes are set so well that it truly feels like nonfiction in many ways. I was invested in the characters of Opal and Sunny, but also supporting characters like Jimmy and Bob. There was a lot of music history interspersed throughout the book, which isn't really my area of interest, but it helps to set the scene and makes the book feel that much more realistic.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

The Final Revival of Opal.and New is a story for music lovers to savior. Dawnie Walton explores not only the how musicians create art, but how their own creation can backfire on them. Walton's writing is so fresh, so alive, that her debut makes the same kind of impact of a musicians debut release

I had really high hopes for this book. Daisy Jones & The Six was one of my favorite experiences of 2019, and I was hoping for something similar when I picked up this book. While The Final Revival of Opal & Nev was definitely an interesting story, it didn’t scratch the same itch. It was less about the music than the trappings thereof. The descriptions of Opal’s look were intriguing and easy to visualize, and the politics attached to the music are unequivocally important. However, I was here for the music, and I must confess that I was disappointed with how much of it I received. The book was incredibly well written, and did indeed transport me to another time and place, but it felt as if the musical story was used merely as a vehicle for getting a message across, instead of being allowed to develop and stand on its own. This is definitely a book worth reading. Just don’t make the same mistake with your expectations as I did; know what you’re getting before you crack this one open.

The premise of this book captured my attention. The formatting is an interesting way to write and read a book, and while it was a struggle to get into the flow of it, it worked for the effect the author was going for. However, I just could not for the life of me get into the story. I felt like I was trudging through mud trying to read it. This should have been a quick read for me and it takes days for me to get through a chapter because I cannot get hooked. I have heard a lot of rave reviews about this book and I know it is one of the most anticipated releases for 2021 which makes my disappointment greater, but it is also a reminder that not every book is for every reader.

Loved this book. Told in the interview style somewhat like "Behind the Music, or Inside the Music", and news articles. Very different writing style that definitely worked for this story. The music, the history and the tragedy of Opal and Nev, 1970's rock duo. Opal, a black woman and Nev, a British man. Thanks so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the advance copy.

This book was a fabulous documentary-style tell about two extraordinary characters. This gave me major Daisy Jones vibes, but it was executed so much more adeptly for this genre. A great read for those who have a desire to revisit the 70s.

4.5 stars rounded up. This will end up getting a lot of comparisons to Daisy Jone & the Six as this is told in the same interview format and is about musicians but make no mistake this is no Daisy Jones. This is so.much.more. I dare say this may be my book of the year.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev tells the story of a musical rock duo who rose to fame after a tragic incident took place in the middle of their performance. Opal an African-American woman and Nev a British man and their rise and fall is being written by Sunny who has a connection to Opal through her father. Her father was part of the band.

It's not often I request a book blindy based soley on how it sounds, I usually hear about it on insta or a blog or mentioned somewhere first. This is one I grabbed soley on my own and the fact that BOTM picked it up shows what a gem it is. For a debut it really knocks it out of the park. It's an unforgetable story, emotionally charged characters, contemplative of racism in the past and of today, and really such a fantastic narrative. I can not adequately describe how special this book is.

***Thank you NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

Loved it. The style, the subject, the characters..
What I loved
This style of writing didn't work for me in Daisy Jones, but it worked here. I was so invested in the story. Especially the parts where Sunny had her 'editor notes'. It all felt so real that sometimes I thought this band really existed.
What I didn't like
I missed a bit of an conclusion. I would have liked an epilogue of sorts to see how everybody ended up.
Conclusion
Great book, that speaks about important racial and feminist subjects against a backdrop of rock n roll.

“There’s too much work to do in this revolution and too many people to wake up. Too much to fight. Nobody had time to get waylaid by fear.”

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a fictional oral history of a rock & roll duo who rose to fame in the 70’s. Opal is a fierce Black woman who wants to be a star. Nev is a British singer/songwriter who discovers Opal at a bar in her hometown. Thus, Opal & Nev are born. Swipe to read the full synopsis.

Daisy Jones & the Six is one of my very favorite books, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read another rock & roll oral history.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev was a bit of a slower read for me. It took a little bit for the story to pick up for me, and there were some characters that I wish were more developed. However, the story was told so beautifully and I was left heartbroken for the characters many times. I had to take breaks to fully digest some of the heavy moments. This book is so much more than the story of a musical duo. It is a timely story that tackles racism and how it is still at play today. It is also about a woman in the music industry, which is dominated by men. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is well-written and feels real, although it is fictional. Highly recommend!

(4.5 stars) The music of the 70s was iconic, and this fictional rock-n-roll, afro-punk duo vividly and seamlessly fit right in with that progressive and revolutionary music scene. Walton has delivered a bold debut that takes you on a journey through time, music, and the tragedy of racism both past and present.

Told like an old episode of Behind the Music, interviews and news clippings give us an intimate look at the beginnings of this duo, including a tragedy that accompanied their start up, their brief rise to fame, and the potential of a modern day reunion. But this isn’t just a pop culture music history. This is a gritty and raw detailed account of how racism has played out across the decades set amongst the backdrop of the music industry.

Walton meticulously crafted these characters, particularly Opal. Her descriptions had me so entranced and felt so real that I found myself wanting to search Google for pictures and album covers and snippets of old hits. And if I’m honest, I was a bit star struck by Opal. There was an authenticity to the characters that made them as real in my mind as any other 70s phenom.

I also appreciated the connection that the interviewer, Sunny, had to the the story. Her desire to know her dad was raw. I felt her emotion as she unraveled his connection to this duo. It gave a depth, an extra layer that further expanded the veracity of the story as a whole.

Many people liken this book to Daisy Jones and the Six. While the format is very similar, the books themselves couldn’t be more different. Whereas Daisy Jones focused on character relationships and pop culture, this book is a story of our times with important cultural relevance.

Many thanks to Dawnie Walton, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There's nothing quite like a book that envelops you in it's world.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is fiction that doesn't feel like fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my eARC for review!
Didn't we all watch that YouTube video of reunited bandmates Opal Jewel and Nev Charles? I'm certain we know the album cover of the classic release Polychrome, plus all the songs. Who hasn't used that Opal GIF on social media?
And of course, we must be up on the infamous details of the death of their drummer during the Rivington Showcase.
No? But it feels like we should know of these elements as part of our entertainment history.
Author Dawnie Walton has created a work that the reader can't put down, in a world we are somehow part of. We know these musicians, their lives before music up to their final performance; and the journalist telling their stories. We remain in this world still, surrounded by talent and fame and racial injustice.
I compare this reading experience with that of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six. Which is a favorite of mine, so consider it high praise. The plots and characters differ greatly, but the overall feel - of having these anecdotes revealed to us - is the same.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is an exciting, noteworthy book to be savoured. Recommended!
For release on March 30.