Welcome to the 1960-70s rock n roll scene: Motown in the motor city, freedom riders in Birmingham, and the misfit musical duo of Opal & Nev in NYC. Opal Jewel is a fierce Black performer from Detroit. Nev Charles is an aspiring singer/songwriter from across the pond. An unlikely pair, the duo created music that challenged the cultural landscape of the times. When the undercurrent of racism finally erupts at a concert, Opal’s bold protests set off a chain of events that will alter the course of many lives.

This debut novel was excellent. The structure is a compelling oral history that reads like a VHI Behind the Music mixed with poignant social commentary. Dawnie Walton created an incredibly visceral story that made me question if these events actually happened. The writing elicited a strong sense of place; I could see Opal’s vibrant outfits as she strutted across the stage, and I felt the rhythm of the politically charged songs.

The story sheds an unflinching light on who holds power in culture, and who society deems appropriate to challenge the status quo. Sadly, the inciting event resulting in the fatality of a Black man could easily have happened in the 1970s or be a viral news story today. The story made me question how much progress we have truly made in the ongoing fight for a “post-racial” society. Readers who adored Daisy Jones and The Six may enjoy the oral history structure in Opal & Nev, but be prepared to tackle some hefty yet important issues.

4.5 stars rounded up!

A big thank you to netgalley and 37ink for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will enjoy this similarly structured novel set in the music industry. Walton does a great job of bringing 1970s New York to life, and Opal Jewel is an engaging character to follow. The pacing of the story seems, off, though; readers spend so much time working up to the pivotal Rivington Showcase that the rest of Opal's story (and, less so, Nev's) seems rushed. I appreciate how the narrator's story is interwoven with Opal's, but sometimes it's distracting.

It's like Dawnie Walton had a crystal ball to foresee the racial tensions that plague our world in 2021. Although The Final Revival of Opal and Nev spans almost fifty years, sadly not much has changed. Make no mistake, this is a commanding, and likely to be controversial, book. Miss Walton uses "documentary" style writing for The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. It's a mesmerizing mix of fact and fiction-you'll find yourself frantically googling 70's and 80's bands, rockers, and music executives to separate the two. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev has one shortcoming-it sometimes tries too hard to get us into the character's heads. But this is a small price to pay for a novel that is bold and groundbreaking. The "story within a story" format can be intimidating-just go with the flow and let the words lead you. It may be The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, but let's hope this is not the last we hear from Dawnie Walton. She has a powerful voice that demands to be heard, and hopefully her novel will be a catalyst for much needed change.

Definitely understand the comparisons to Daisy Jones & The Six, but I appreciated how this book delved more deeply into social issues. The writing style was engaging and I enjoyed both Opal and Nev's stories, though the pacing seemed to slow near the middle, challenging to keep my interest. A part of me expected the confrontation/revelation during the final performance to pack a bit more emotional punch, but I understand most things in life don't get packaged neatly. If I were allowed half stars, I would have rated this one 3.5 stars.

What a phenomenal debut from Dawnie Walton!

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.

As much as this book is a story about music in the 70s and what it's like to be artists struggling to build a name in the music industry, this is also a story that centers around racism and antiblack hate crimes. The thing that makes this book so impactful is because of its relevance to the past and present racisms that Black people in America go through. Some parts were difficult to read because, though we know that this book may be fictional, it is still a reality for all Black people. The themes surrounding this book are very timely and pertinent to this day. It brings upon the discussion that racism is as prevalent in the past as it is today. And though it does not end in a revolutionary happily ever after where all the bad guys are defeated, the two main female characters are given excellent and realistic developments and personal closures when the story finishes, which gives the readers a sense of satisfaction.

Moreover, the book introduces to us two important characters-- Nev, a British man; and Opal, an African-American woman, but the story is not commanded by the cisgendered white man. Instead, Opal takes the spotlight of the book. She is bold and unapologetic. She demands to be heard even when she is silenced. She is the unforgettable voice of the story. When this book comes out, I am certain that Opal Jewel will be loved and admired by so many.

In terms of the writing style, I initially thought that it was going to be difficult to connect to the protagonists just because that is an issue that I have had in the previous book that I read with the same oral history format, but I think that Walton adding the insights of the supposed writer of the book really made it easier for me to feel an emotional attachment to the characters. In addition to that, the characters themselves were really fleshed out and had clear, distinctive voices.

Overall, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is an excellent and well written debut novel and I am certain that this will be a story that is going to stay with me always.

It's hard to believe that The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is fictional, and a debut novel to boot! The writing is absolutely stunning, and Dawnie Walton has created characters who feel so authentic that it's hard to remember they're not real people. I especially enjoyed reading the background stories of both main characters, from Opal's early life in Detroit and Alabama, to Nev's life in England before he moved to New York. The story of how the two unlikely pair form an Afro-punk band, and the terrible, racially-charged tragedy that changes their lives forever makes for some incredibly gripping reading. The book is written as a series of interviews, and will certainly appeal to readers who enjoy that format. It's also a fascinating look at the 1970s and would make an excellent book club selection.
Thank you so much to 37 Ink, Netgalley and the author for the librarian preview--I can't wait to purchase and recommend this book to our students!

I went into this book a little hesitant because historical fiction is not traditionally my favorite genre, BUT THIS BOOK BLEW ME AWAY! The setting is somewhere I don't think I've visited in a book before -- the 70s are alive and in your face, and Walton's writing pulsates with emotion. Yes, this book has similarities to Daisy Jones, but I liked it a lot more -- I can't pinpoint why, but I connected better with the characters here and found them to be more fleshed out. Do I want to pick this book back up and start it over right this second....yes. Yes I do.

I loved that this was told in an interview format with editor's note. It made the story feel real to me. I liked how flawed and real the characters felt. Though the pacing was a little slow at times, overall, I really liked this book. I know it's compared a lot to Daisy Jones & the Six because of the formatting and because it's about music, but to me it felt more like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

All of the "Daisy Jones & The Six" vibes and it made me so happy. The writing style is similar to Taylor Jenkins-Reid but very much unique to the author. This book has my heart. I enjoyed it so much that even though I got this copy from NetGalley, I also got it from Book of the Month so that I could have a hard copy. I can't recommend this book enough!

This is going to be a short review.

I'm not sure what The Final Revival of Opal & Nev was trying to be. I was very excited for its oral history format, but the extensive editor notes throughout the book and the short breaks from Sunny's perspective kind of killed that feeling for me. It felt a little like Walton was undecided about how she wanted to tell this story and, to me, that hurt the narrative and my reading experience.

The characters were all pretty interesting and well developed, but I didn't really connect with them due to the point above. It was difficult to feel close to them when they were getting interrupted by editor notes when telling their own stories. The ending was also a bit underwhelming because of that.

I don't know. I guess the writing style wasn't for me.

This book is so much more than was described in the introduction. First, I want to comment on the writing. I think that the author's choice in her method of presenting the story was novel and great. I appreciate creativity in writing. Second, the real story here is about racism that existed in the 1970's and the racism that still exists in the USA today. That is what really brought this story alive for me. Bravo to the author!

Wow. Dawnie Walton has created a story not just of a certain time, but for all times. It reflects a struggle of race in the larger sense, but also to be seen for who you are on a personal level. It reflects the struggle inside a person to embrace a path in life and decide who you want to be.

Opal Jewel (a name that is part given to her at birth and part created for the stage) has always been different, but she leans into that difference in New York as half of the afro-punk duo Opal & Nev. Nev Charles, who started as the sensitive storytelling songwriter, leans in to the rock and roll lifestyle after tragedy occurs at a showcase that makes them famous.

The oral history format worked so well for this story, like there was no other way for Opal to get her story across. Her voice needed to be heard, and you can HEAR it as you read Dawnie Walton's words. The words resonated, the images played in my mind, I looked up afro-punk because I didn't know what that sounded like. Walton made the world of Opal & Nev alive, made you want to know more, know everything. I wanted to finish the story, but I wanted to savor the language. Seriously, all the stars. Amazing debut!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster/37 Ink and NetGalley for the e ARC of this book!

I am calling it early. This is going to be one of the best books this year. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is the story of a fictitious rock n roll duo from the 70’s. Opal is a fiercely independent young woman trying to find her footing in NYC. Neville is a young musician trying to make it in America. The duo is working to create something of themselves, when another band wields a Confederate flag at a promotional concert they’re both performing at. The events of that night and the chaos that follows have a trajectory that no one can predict.
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I am in awe that this is a debut. The writing is phenomenal. Walton takes an oral history format, and a dual timeline story and makes it her own. I was enthralled from the very first page and didn’t want the story to end. Dawnie Walton successfully created a vivid story that felt real, and multifaceted, and flawed. Opal & Nev were so raw and authentic. Each of them was written with such full personalities. Flaws and all. Walton deftfully navigated conversations on how Black women are perceived, the power of symbols, and the persistence of racism. I was at the edge of my seat multiple times as I was trying to figure out exactly what happened that night at the promotional concert. Fascinating and thought provoking, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev will keep you hooked till the very end.
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CW: racial slurs, drug use, infidelity, police brutality, death

I loved the fact that it came close to Daisy Jones, one of the most compelling books I‘ve read in years. Sadly, the characters and their development didn’t reach the heights of Daisy Jones and actually fell quite flat in comparison. Nonetheless, this was an okay read I would still recommend to Daisy Jones lovers and those who can’t get enough fictional oral history stories.

First, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Is this written in the oral history format like Daisy Jones & The Six? Yes. Does it have sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll? Yes. Will it take you back in time like Daisy Jones & The Six? Yes.

Is this the same story as Daisy Jones & The Six? Nope. It is not. Opal is nothing like Daisy, and as much as I loved Daisy Jones, I will say I loved this one even more.

The book starts in 2016, when S. Sunny Shelton is the editor in chief of Aural Magazine. She is writing a book about Opal Jewel and Nev Charles. She plans to interview them and all of those around them. But who are Opal and Nev?

In the 1970’s, Nev, a white Brit, comes to New York to try his hand at becoming a successful singer. He’s looking for a yin to his yang, and happens to find Opal, a Black American woman, on amateur night at a bar in Detroit. Opal is fierce. She’s not classically beautiful and is not the best singer in the world...and yet, she has star quality and the ability to enhance rock music with her powerful voice.

Opal agrees to record an album with Nev, and they sign a deal with Rivington Records. Although their first album doesn’t set the world ablaze, they have high hopes for their future. Things come to a head when the record company signs a new band that proudly displays Confederate flags and has a crude following. A promotional event leads to a chaotic, dangerous, and fatal situation that literally had my blood boiling. Even so, that event put Opal and Nev in the news, and things were never the same for them.

So why is Sunny writing about them? They are in talks to reunite for a special concert. In addition to that, her own father was the man who was killed at their promotional event in the 70’s. On top of that, he was having an affair with Opal while his wife was pregnant with Sunny.

This is a story that is rich in atmosphere, has fully dimensional characters with faults, and masterfully weaves in real events to add to the authenticity of the time periods of past. I couldn’t get enough. I had to stop reading at one point and let my mind adjust to a shocking revelation. I cared about the characters, felt their wounds, hurt when they hurt, and felt uplifted when they experienced joy.

Mark my words: Author Dawnie Walton is going to be a star! While this is her first book, her talent is outstanding. She has tons of experience under her belt, and I will eagerly follow her writing career and grab her next novel as soon as possible.

Opal and Nev felt so real and authentic. If they had been, I would’ve spent the next few days diving into their Wikipedia page(s) and digging out old interviews and footage on YouTube.

The novel doesn’t shy away from tough topics, and Walton doesn’t mince words. It’s a true gem and reflection of the 70’s era (good and bad) and our current era (good and bad).

I have no doubt that this will be on my top of 2021 list. Do yourselves a favor: Grab a copy when this is published on 3/30/21.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster/37 Ink and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Poignant fictional oral history of 1970s rock and roll and a coming of age story. The characters are well developed.

Highly recommended for fans of Daisy Six.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev follows rock duo Opal Jewel and Neville Charles, and the story of their rise to fame. But a chain of disastrous events begins when a rival band under their label brandishes a Confederate flag at their concert; a constant reminder of the issues Opal will continue to face as a Black woman in the music industry. Decades later, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton has the opportunity to write their oral history when a huge allegation threatens to change everything.

Despite my heavy involvement in music, I don’t really pick up books on music too often. But the synopsis for The Final Revival of Opal and Nev grabbed my attention, and I’m so glad I read it.

From the start, this book feels so real. A few pages in, I had to remind myself whether this was a work of fiction or a memoir because of how well it ties into history. The characters themselves blend with other famous figures and historical events and it is just so well-researched. Additionally, the characters are so well-developed, making it easy to mistake this book and its characters for a non-fiction account.

This holds true for the rest of The Final Revival of Opal and Nev as we learn more about the character’s backstories and introductions to the music industry. I think one reason why I don’t read music fiction as often is because of the characterization. Often, the characters would only be shown at the height of their career and behind-the-scenes parts are just from being on the road. But this is not the case with The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. We get to know the characters from the beginning, which gives so much insight into their values and actions.

The format of this book worked so well. It’s a combination of accounts between the characters in chronological order, with editor’s notes in between. I’m not always a fan of this either, but I loved the execution here. The editor has close ties to the other characters, and as the book progresses her notes give more and more insights into the context of the stories being discussed.

I also really liked how discussions of race relations were at the forefront of The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. While there are so many popular Black artists and groups from the sixties and seventies, their own histories and issues combatting racism are seldom discussed. But in this book, this is openly discussed from before the group’s inception to the present day, and the many impacts that it had on everyone from the group themselves to the band’s following.

Overall, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is such a well-written account of the fictitious duo that feels so real. Whether you’re a fan of books on music or not, I think music lovers alike will come to appreciate this story.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev follows is written as a book within a book written by the fictional character writer/editor SarahLena. SarahLena is given the opportunity of her career to write a book about the enigmatic Opal of 1970s rock history, but doing so is going to cause her to dig deep into the story of her own family- or more specifically her father. She never met his father due to his untimely murder that occurred during a riot at a musical festival where Opal & Nev where playing.

There is a lot to appreciate in this book: a strong female character, and a story that illuminates the double standards women STILL face; a story that brings to light race issues that mind boggling can be described too similarly in the 1970s compared to today, and a rock and roll vibe. The writing makes you want to google and listen to songs that it's easy to forget don't actually exist, and a wardrobe that you'd pay to see on exhibit.

I will say there are times I wanted something different from Opal, particularly in the ending. I also feel like I would've liked this more without first having read Daisy Jones & the Six, because the style being so similar it is tough not to compare.

Overall an entertaining book and excellent debut by author Dawnie Walton. I will look for more works from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dawnie Walton, and Simon Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #netgally #thefinalrevivalofopal&nev #bookofthemonth

I wanted to love this novel so much considering its premise and comparisons to Daisy Jones & the Six. Unfortunately, none of the characters felt real to me and I didn't feel compelled to pick up the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this available for review.

When I started reading, I was afraid this would end up too much like Daisy Jones—an interesting enough band bio, but not something I couldn’t see in a rock doc on VH1. Luckily, I hung in, and it became so much more.

I felt the author handled a number of heavy topics well, and while I wanted a little more from the ending, it was satisfying enough to bring the book together. Definitely recommended!