I don't think it would be fair to say that this book was entirely a reaction to the Trump presidency, because that would be reductive...but it was certainly influenced by the growing tensions of the Black Lives Matter Movement, the fallout from #45 and the continued attempts and failures of the American people to find racial equity. What The Final Revival of Opal & Nev shows is that this has been going on for decades, which of course we all know, but Walton depicts it in an era that I at least had never considered, the 70s.

Told in an oral history, the novel follows Sunny, a recently appointed editor-in-chief to a big music magazine, as she traces the history of Opal & Nev, a musical duo who had just a brief moment in the spotlight and perhaps more importantly in the annals of the history of the fight for equality in the 70s. But Sunny has a very personal connection to the story and she's made it her mission to dig up the truth, no matter what it costs her.

Overall, where I thought I would be distracted by the format of the novel, I wasn't. Though it was helped along by generous 'editor's notes' that help to carry much of the plot forward from the past right into the present day, which I think Walton does quite cleverly, where the story (and the book within the book) finally culminates at a Coachella-like music festival where Opal & Nev take to the stage for the first time in over 40 years. I enjoyed the snippets of 'real' music history thrown in throughout, I found that it really anchored the book in reality and I almost found myself flipping through it to find a photo archive at the back of the book, as you would with a nonfiction book of the same ilk.

A captivating and very engrossing novel about the mythical duo Opal & Nev. Dawnie Walton offers a wonderful piece of 70s Americana and an engaging look at the musical world and its darker sides. Fiercely honest, well plotted and written with a very honest and controversial look at the racism prevalent at the time. A must for anyone interested in the popular music and American social history of the 70s.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date

yes yes yes, we’ve all heard it: this sounds like daisy jones and the six!

yes. exactly like that but not like that at all.

though the two books are formatted in the same way, the stories are very different. one way it differed from DJatS was that a lot of the story was set in “present day” (2016), as opposed to just the history of the band. i will say, i don’t think this “oral history” format is my favorite (though i loved both books), but i like how the “author” of the book put in a lot of her own thoughts/narrative, as we got to see her journey—when she learned new things, when things surprised her, etc.

i loved this book. this is a debut novel, but author dawnie walton did an amazing job at writing for so many people. each character’s dialogue felt very real and different from each other. it was funny and heartbreaking and thought-provoking all in one. walton did a wonderful job at showing just how much the nation has *not* progressed when it comes to race relations.

thank you to netgalley and simon & schuster for the digital ARC

📚Book Review: The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton

Synopsis: A poignant fictional oral history of the beloved rock 'n' roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970s New York, and the dark, fraught secret that lies at the peak of their stardom. Opal is a fiercely independent young woman pushing against the grain in her style and attitude, Afro-punk before that term existed.

Review: I put the book down and started to write my review immediately, because I am just amazed that this book was able to do what it wanted to do. With high expectations going in based on the description, I wasn’t let down with the newest “interview fiction” narrative to hit the shelves — hard to get out of your head during the times you can’t read, and the first thing you want as soon as you have a moment to relax. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev spans decades of a duo from the before to the after with the clarity of a narrator whose own tale is entrenched in the pages within. A few different plot twists happen that will have you waiting - and cheering, hopefully - at the end.

Disclosure: I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley. Yet another disclosure: I had picked it as a Book of the Month book pick until I received my ARC!

Book #21 of the year. ⭐️ 5/5

#dawniewalton #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #alwaysreading #books #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #reads #readallthebooks #booksaremagic #idratherbereading #momswhoread #bookofthemonth #botm #bookofthemonthclub #blackauthorsmatter #thefinalrevivalofopalandnev #tiedye

If you enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, you will love The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. It is written in the same style, but takes it to a whole new level. There is music aplenty, but the heart of the story is about racism and sexism. Opal Jewel is an amazing character who defies the accepted views of the 1970s and refuses to be anybody but herself. This was a great read!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review !

Brilliant work! This is now my number one of 2021! The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is raw, timely, and he music between the lines is loud and clear. Dawnie Walton is a master at what can often be an awkward literary device of telling a story from the POV of many characters.

There’s so much here — romance, systemic racism and sexism (explored with clear sight and depth), a real feel for the culture of several pivotal decades, intrigue, mystery, and powerfully alive characters.

I absolutely loved it and will be recommending to everyone I know!!

It is incredible to tackle racism and sexism and still serve plenty of artist poise.
I cannot say enough positive things about this book. I was thrilled to get to read a fictional oral history about a black woman and her British male collaborator and their journey through the 70’s, as told by them and assembled by another equally talented and just as invested in their history black woman.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev was so rich with culture-the fashion, the music, the history- and characters that felt like they were almost telling me their stories out loud. I will make sure that I listen to the audiobook version in the future at some point. I want to keep Opal and Sunny in my head for as long as I possibly can, because after all this time I spent reading their stories, I would happily watch a television or movie adaptation of this book over and over. In the meantime, I’ll gladly give the audiobook a shot, and probably soon, because I loved this book.
I confess that the beginning of this book did not hook me like I had hoped it would. Given the timeline of the story events it almost feels intentional that the earlier interviews did not grip me. The comparisons to Daisy Jones & the Six are justified, but primarily in format. Opal’s story is as markedly unique as it should be, because the story of a black woman in rock ‘n roll is shaped by the black experience. People can claim they do not see color, sure, but our entire society is built on race. This book deals with black women in the workplace, and the line they must toe to be never viewed as threatening but near perfect at their jobs. You could build an entire book club conversation on the work talk, as well as the allies talk, as we watch Opal and Sunny in the past and present deal with allies who only support them when they are immediately impacted.
Like the best stories, the world is fully imagined and even the worst people in this book provide something special to it. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is the rock n’ roll story I needed as the only thing I wish from this book would be Opal’s music to accompany it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

This was sadly a DNF for me. After a week of trying to get into this book I decided to put it down. This is definitely a ME, not the book situation. I think I have come to the conclusion that book written in this interview style with loads of characters is just not for me. I did not like Daisy Jones and the Six but I thought I would give this a try because this sounded amazing! The writing is very good and I know so many people will love this story. I'm honestly gutted that I couldn't get into this one.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster as well as Netgalley for my advanced copy of this incredible book. This one is out 3/30!

This is a very impressive debut. What Taylor Jenkins Reid showed us with Daisy Jones and the Six, Dawnie Walton perfected with taking it even farther. I absolutely adored this story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book showed us not only the background of these fictional celebrities, but also a look into the editor and her past and it’s all wrapped up together so seamlessly. Opal, Nev and all the incredible characters in this book came to life for me and I feel like they should be real. The history and the scandal, how fiction is intertwined with truth is absolutely perfect.

This is such a cool book. I couldn’t put it down!Thank you to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the advanced copy.
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The book is written in an oral history style. It’s fiction but it blends so seamlessly with pop culture references that the reader totally believes it. The story chronicles the unlikely punk duo of Opal—a young black woman from Detroit and Nev—a young white man from England. The book follows their development into artists from their childhoods in the 1960’s to their duo’s short-lived run in the early 70’s. The pairing of these two is quite unexpected and they make an arresting combination. Opal is not inhibited and has no problem calling out the racial injustices she encounters in outrageous ways. While it attracts attention to their music it eventually leads to a riot at a concert. The consequences forever changes their lives.
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The book spans from the 1960’s to 2016. It deals with a lot of the same issues of racial injustice that we are seeing today. You like the characters even though they are flawed. Well, maybe *minor spoiler alert* not Nev. He turns out not to be quite who he professes to be. It’s also an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the music business.
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Anyway, I very much enjoyed the book. It’s interesting, fast-paced, historically significant, and contemporarily relevant.

Ok, I'll be honest here. I did not like Daisy Jones & the Six. I know everybody else loved it. I did not. Mostly because of the interview-VHI-Behind the Music style. I was not happy to discover that this book is written in the same style. Again, we have an author using interview-type responses to tell the story. The interesting thing is, in this case, it worked for the story. I am a HUGE fan of this debut novel. I enjoyed the plot, the writing, the characters and the themes. I thought all areas explored were well done, and so much so, that I had to keep reminding myself that this a debut. The writing feels like Walton has been writing for her whole life, and maybe she has and this is just the first published work. This novel also addressed important issues that still come up in our society today, including why the Confederate Flag has such a terrible history and why people are passionate about the removal of monuments and anger toward those who decide to do it casually. I live in the South and I personally appreciated the way the history was written and utilized in the book. This novel will probably make certain people uncomfortable, Good. It's an excellent piece in pushing against racism and sexism. Five Stars all the way. Loved THIS.

I’m not sure I can truly convey just how great this book was. The oral history format and rock and roll storyline are what remind so many of Daisy Jones and the Six, but this is much more than a story of a musical duo. This is a poignant story of race relations from the 1970’s up through current times. Discussing these very real and difficult issues evoked deep emotions in me and gave me a deeper appreciation for just how far we still have to go as a society to fully deal with these important issues.

Walton effortlessly weaves details together—particularly the outfits that Virgil creates for Opal and the vivid descriptions of each new location the reader is shown through the book. I especially appreciated the unique perspectives as each individual experienced the same moment in time.

There are so many good things about this book and the only con I found was that I wasn’t immediately drawn into this story. Once I was though, it wasn’t easy to put down. There was even a chapter that was so intense I held my breath (or felt like I was) until I finished the last word.

I’m giving this wonderfully written book⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Available March 30

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I honestly don't know even know where to start with this novel. It was just SO GOOD. Dawnie Walton's writing is fantastic and the characters really come to life. In fact, you might even start Googling Opal & Nev as their story fits so seamlessly into the annals of rock.
The oral history format works so well when speaking about music and artists. And that's really where the Daisy Jones and The Six comparisons should end. This book tackles difficult political subjects and harsh truths. Opal Jewel is one of the finest main characters I've come across in a long time. Neville Charles is deeply charming and yet...there's something....not quite right. His relationship with Opal is complicated to say the least.
I'm not going to rehash the plot of this book. The publisher does a great job of telling you what you need to know about it. Just know it should be read. It will be enjoyed. And you'll be wishing there were actually Opal & Nev albums to listen to.

*Special thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC.*

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton is completely different than my reading genres but oh boy what a book this is. This novel is being compared to Daisy Jones & The Six but other than the rock & roll vibe and the oral narrative the similarity ends there. This fiction novel is set in the 70's which is still relevant in today's times. Before it starts getting repetitive a suspense is thrown in which completes changes the tone of the novel. Definitely a must read.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
Dawnie Walton
Out March 30, 2021
March BOTM Pick
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is immersive and exciting, reading like a Netflix documentary you wouldn’t want to miss. I have never read a book of this style, but I have seen this being frequently compared to Daisy Jones & the Six, which seems appropriate. This novel is the story of a journalist exploring the history of fictional 70’s rock/afro-punk duo Opal & Nev through their rise to fame and the fallout that came with it. The majority of this novel is told in interview style, cycling through a wide cast of characters from the duo’s history, tracing back to their upbringing and going as far as the present day of the story, 2016. This novel questions what success really is, and whether or not it is worth the price it asks. It didn’t glorify fame the way it could have, but felt raw and genuine, through the struggles that Opal & Nev each faced. I loved reading about them, and reading as the pieces of their history were slowly put together.

Two things truly carry this story, in my opinion: the look at racism in the professional and music scene of the 1970’s as well as their continued injustices today, and the vibrant and electrifying character of Opal Jewel. This novel isn’t just a fun story about a fake band from the 70’s, it is important, relevant, and powerful. In addition to that, I have rarely read a novel with such a strong, realistically flawed, flying-off the pages character as Opal. She was such an amazing character to read about.

There were moments of this novel, particularly in the first half, that dragged for me a little bit, and for that I have docked a star. But, this novel is truly worthy of all the attention it is garnering.

Thank you Netgalley, Dawnie Walton, and 37ink for an early copy of this novel.

I think this one gets a solid 3.5 stars! I really enjoyed many things about the writing style, such as the use of descriptive diction, to really make you feel like you were there in the moments of everything that happened to these characters. I could vividly see the outfits and makeup that Virgil would pick out for Opal and I absolutely loved that. The scenery was so clear to me with Walton's style of writing and I always appreciate that in a book versus one that's scant on details and heavy on dialog. Even though the book was told mostly in an interview format, there was still plenty of description for the setting and the action of the characters.

The characters were very well developed by the end of the book and I feel like I could have known Opal as a friend in a past life or something (I also especially liked getting to know Virgil!!!). I really enjoyed getting to know Opal and the fact that she stays true to herself and fights as a strong woman would in this messed up world. The social issues brought up in the book are very applicable to today's world and I had a few moments that made me realize a new perspective of those issues, especially for African Americans. Walton did an excellent job with this aspect of the book.

My only real "complaints" are just that I think this style of book doesn't work for me. Sometimes the interview style was very dynamic and kept me flipping between what each person said to get the full picture, but other times it was confusing and tedious. The book felt a little long, like perhaps some of the sections might have been trimmed down. Sometimes I'd flip the page and feel like "oh, another thing has happened, but when will we get to the resolution of the other thing we found out about a couple chapters ago?" But that's just me! If you've enjoyed similar books in this style, you will probably like this one. As a woman, I did feel empowered by the story and the ending was worth the parts I found slow.

Also, that cover is gorgeous!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the electronic ARC.

Solid, 4 star read. In the vein of Daisy Jones & The Six, this book really hit me like a punch. Reading about racist ideas, people, and micro aggressions experienced by Black people was gut wrenching. I consider myself to be an anti-racist, but even I had to stop and think about how my words and actions (or inactions) have affected others. Such a good book. Lots of emotions.

Opal Jewel and Neville Charles made an unlikely duo in the 1970s with their aggressive rock music and polar opposite style; and despite a respectable musical career, they're known more for the riot that occurred at a promotional concert when Opal objected to another musician brandishing a Confederate flag. Decades later, Opal and Nev are on the brink of a reunion tour, and journalist Sunny Shelton is determined to capture the magic. But during her research, a surprising allegation arises about the notorious riot and her pursuit of the truth threatens everything she has worked for.

There have been a lot of comparisons of this book to Daisy Jones and the Six, which are fair in that they both capture, through a fictionalized oral history format, the rise of fascinating musical groups in the 1970s. But that is where the comparisons should end. Opal & Nev is in a category all its own.

The book starts out focused on the musical elements of Opal and Nev, but it transforms into a story more about the relationship between Opal and Sunny and each of their careers and journeys. In this way, and in many others, Opal & Nev is so much more than just the story of a 50 year old band. Dawnie Walton addresses racism and sexism, both in the music industry and in society at large, in a way that is really impactful. I will definitely be thinking about what she has said for a long time.

I did struggle with the pacing of the book occasionally, where some parts seemed to drag on, but others were incredibly gripping. I can't quite put my finger on what the cause was, but it was enough to be jarring.

But all in all, this is a fantastic book about a really fascinating era in politics, music, and pop culture. Walton wrote such realistic characters and scenarios that I continually had to remind myself this was fiction.

Thank you Simon & Schuster, Netgalley, and Dawnie Walton for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Wait a minute!! This masterpiece fictional oral history is a debut book of the author? Unbelievably Amaaazing!! The penmanship of Dawnie Walton was superior and the varying perspectives of narrators was very captivating and entertaining! I kept looking up Opal and Nev online only to remember they are fictional characters!!

The story is about a band who came to fame overnight in 1970. The duo are Opal, from Detroit, an Afro punk who is very bold, careless and unique in her own way and her partner Nev, a Brit singer who wants to make a career in music!! I was completely wrapped in the life of these stars, their recording studio, their first label creation. The day that was supposed to be biggest break of their lives ends up being the most eventful day where a sad mishap happens which changes their lives forever!

To be honest, I did not expect this book to hold any suspense, but as the story progresses, and interviews get deeper more truth is uncovered about racism and their drummers accidental death. Read the book to experience that gradual build up of the events that leads up to the day which will be remembered for a wry long time to come and has made a history in itself!

This was a 5 star read for me and I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Daisy Jones and the Six or who enjoy an oral history style narration!! Thank you NetGalley and SimonandSchuster for the gifted galley in exchange of my honest review!

This book was great. It tells such a raw and difficult story in such a new way. You do not walk away from this book unchanged. It will give you a lot to think through and ruminate on.
I struggled a little with the pacing in this book. Parts of it seemed to drag and I struggled to read, but the middle of the book had me binging to see what happened next. Also, I felt like an outsider looking in on this story but I really wanted to feel like I was dropped into the middle and immersed. I wanted to feel these characters and their emotions, but I didn't.
Overall, this book was great and I am thankful to netgalley for the advanced copy.