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.

Daisy Jones and the Six captivated us with the oral history format of a fictional band and I predict we will be equally fascinated with Opal & Nev.

We know from the start who is conducting the interviews and why. The story looks at a pivotal moment of tragedy at a music event in early 1970's and how it shaped the careers of Opal and Nev and sets up a reunion event in 2016.

Through Opal's eyes and music insiders we see the stark differences in how women and especially outspoken women of color, are treated in the industry and media.

This is such an excellent commentary on sex, race, and what sells in the music world--a world dominated by white males.

If Daisy brought Stevie Nicks to mind, I got Grace Slick vibes from Opal.

This one may also have you googling if there was a 1970;s music duo named Opal and Nev. I truly hope it explodes with the attention I think it deserves.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and author Dawnie Walton for the complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book was well written and documented the lives of Opal and Nev. While it is not my favorite genre, I believe the author did a great job with obtaining all points of view in describing the lives of Opal and Nev.

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<p>Review copy provided by the publisher.</p>
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<p>This is a fictional piece of rock journalism. It reads like any other book about one of the musical acts of the late '60s, complete with interviews with label execs, family members, colleagues, and hangers-on. But the people and the events in it are all fictional.</p>
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<p>And it is <em>so good</em>.</p>
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<p>Walton's own background includes entertainment journalism, and it shows, not just in her absolutely pitch-perfect rendering of the genre in a fictional form but also in her observations of the personalities within it. And she uses the known elements of this genre to build something beyond itself--at first the ways in which each character may not be fully honest, may be self-justifying or reclusive or rude, seem to be entertaining and beautifully done, but they are that <em>and</em> they are plot. Who is given the benefit of the doubt and who is left hanging out to dry. Who's the big talent and who's lucky just to be there. All of these things are so familiar from the realities of music journalism that it takes a moment to realize what Walton is really doing here--and doing it beautifully, backwards and in five-inch platform heels. Highly recommended.</p>
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The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, Dawnie Walton's upcoming debut novel, is a sweeping and thought-provoking look at the meteoric rise and fall of a 1970s-era music duo.

First things first: this book is written in the same style as Daisy Jones & The Six, in that it uses interview-type responses to tell the story rather than narrative. It’s an interesting choice and I’ll admit at first I felt it was a little too copycat for me, but ultimately it worked for the story.

It was the most unlikely pairing: Neville, the gawky, earnest English musician, and Opal, the blunt, brash, young Black woman from Detroit. But somehow the meshing of their styles, particularly as Opal grows more comfortable with her voice and her presence on stage.

It’s the early 1970s, and racism is everywhere. And one night during a performance, the racially charged atmosphere leads to violence, and an act that forever changes the duo and the lives of those around them.

Flash forward to 2016, and rumors are flying that Opal and Nev might reunite for a tour. Music journalist S. Sunny Shelton, who has a connection to the duo’s early days, begins an oral history of them. But as she talks to those who were involved, she finds out there are secrets that have been kept hidden for decades, secrets which could jeopardize everything.

I definitely found The Final Revival of Opal & Nev to be a fascinating read, and while it had the usual elements of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, there was more to this book than that. I was surprised by the level of suspense in the book as well as how the book was an examination of how music and social issues are so intertwined. Walton really did a great job with this.

Again, as I felt when reading Daisy Jones, reading about songs and music is always missing something when you can’t hear them, so I hope that perhaps they’ll make an adaptation of this book, too. It’s definitely a compelling story!

NetGalley and Simon & Schuster provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev publishes March 30.

God I hope they are creating an amazing audiobook for this.


This book will have you wishing these characters were real, ok...not all of them.

It’s immersive and believable and creative. This is a great debut novel.

If oral history is the new format trend in books, I am not mad at all.
It's hard not to compare this book to Daisy Jones and the Six, since the formats are essentially the same, but this book is BETTER than Daisy Jones. Much better. The writing is superb and the story itself is just straight-up more interesting than Daisy Jones.
I loved how well-developed the characters were. Even when they were being evasive, they still brought so much to the story. Every character belonged in the narrative and helped to advance the plot, which I appreciated.
Opal & Nev deals with systemic racism in a thoughtful way that really resonated with me. This one is going to stick with me for awhile.
I can see this being a huge hit in 2021, and I will not hesitate to recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

I wasn't sure about the oral history format of this book at first - it was hard to get into with short paragraphs from so many different characters at the beginning. However, once I got into it I was really interested in Opal and her story.

There is a lot to like about this book in terms of the storyline, own voices, relation to current events, and the uniqueness of the format and the plot. Overall it was a really good book.

Some parts seemed to drag, while some of the really good parts seemed to be over too quickly. I would still recommend it to others to read.


Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is an oral history written in a way very similar to Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & the Six; however, the interviewer plays an important role in advancing the plot of Opal & Nev. If you enjoy the varied perspectives of an oral history, you will enjoy this format, though I will say it felt a bit disjointed because there were so many perspectives to hear from. There were a few consistent voices, but many one-off additions that made little sense. If you are easily distracted by this format, I wouldn't recommend this. As far as plot goes, I was excited about the premise of the story, but I found the beginning of the book really slow--I felt like it took forever to get to the "Opal & Nev" section, and it took even longer to get to the event that the main action of the book is supposedly based on. Hearing the same story from so many different perspectives made it repetitive at times. I was also quite disappointed in the ending of the book. I feel like so much time was spent on leading up to this turning point in Opal & Nev's career as a duo, and then very little to no time was spent on the years between around 1980 and 2016. The culmination, this reunion of sorts, was also a let down in my opinion. I think the end of the book was abrupt and could have used more fleshing out, more reflection on the part of the characters, or some time afterward to discuss its repercussions beyond a single footnote. Overall, I enjoyed the book, just not as much as I had hoped. Content warnings: racism/racial slurs and graphic violence

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reader's copy.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I tried my best to not compare it to Daisy Jones & The Six while reading it, which was extremely hard to do.

What I liked:
- Each character had a distinct personality and a place in the book.
- I love this oral history style of writing and I am sure the audiobook is excellent.
- It looks like 5-6 pages before I realized this was fiction, not a true story.
- The themes of racism and the historical references were so well developed and important

What I didn’t like:
- The pacing was off for me. Many parts seemed so slow while others almost had too much happening.
- I did not love the back and forth between S. Sunny Shelton’s notes and the interview. I grew to really not care for her input and wanted to focus more on Opal and Nev.

I give it 3.5 stars, but am rounding up to 4 because I believe Dawnie Walton is an excellent writer and has much, much more to contribute to the literary world.

I will probably be in the minority when I say this but this book was not for me. While the book was what well written and had great characters the storyline just couldn't hold my attention. thank you to not yelly and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I thought Daisy Jones and the Six was about as good an oral history a book could do, but I was wrong. This book is FANTASTIC. This is the story of a rock star's daughter interviewing her father's former band mates in order to get to know him better. He was killed during a show before she was ever born. Through these interviews, we get to know the stars of the band: Opal &Nev. Opal will, hands down, but the best character I read this year.

This is a page turner, you want to understand what went down that night just as bad as the author putting together this oral history. Beyond that, it's great observations on the ways our current world mimics dynamics of the world in the '70s and how we have or haven't evolved. This felt like both great historical fiction and great contemporary fiction.

An impressive debut novel. And I'll get this out of the way now, do not shy away from reading this book because you think it will be too similar to Daisy Jones & The Six. Other than using an oral history format to tell the story of a fictional band, they really do branch off in different directions. I like both books, but The Final Revival of Opal & Nev definitely tackles tougher topics.

It's the 1970s and Rivington Records based in NYC would love to add some stars to their roster. Aspiring British singer/songwriter and lanky redheaded white male, Nev Charles, is looking for that special someone to join him in making music. After an exhaustive search he sees Opal singing in a Detroit bar. She's a young Black woman, and while she might not have the best voice or a fit that boring definition of conventional beauty, she sure has "it", that presence that all stars seem to possess in spades. That's how Opal and Nev got their start so many years ago. In 2016 the duo might reunite and music journalist, S. Sunny Shelton, is in the process of collecting an oral history of the pair.

Given the title I did assume the book would focus equally on Opal and Nev. However it kinda evolved more into Opal and Sunny's story and I'm glad it did. The strength of this novel is showing racism in both its obvious and subtle forms. It's something that pops up right from the start with Opal as a young girl in Birmingham, Alabama and continues all the way into the 2016 storyline. When you read about the 1970s significant event in the story it makes your blood boil for many reasons. One of those being that fifty years later, that fictional scenario could easily play out in real life.

When I initially finished the book I kept thinking that Nev wasn't a fully developed character like Opal. But my opinion of how Nev was written changed for the better. Now here is where I try to figure out how to express my thoughts without veering into spoiler territory. The best I can come up with is saying the author made a smart choice in how she wrote that character. I think I was too dumb to realize it at first.

Sign me up for any book Dawnie Walton writes in the future. Highly recommend checking this book out.

I started to read this book on February 1st, and it took me almost 4 weeks to finish. Everytime I talked about it, I said that it seemed to have more pages than announced, but I always tried to stress vehemently that it was not a bad book. And now that I have finished, I can state: this book was great to me, it is already one of my favorites this year so far.
The way it approaches racism in the USA in different decades and levels is assertive. The musical and journalistic settings are so believable I had to look those people up online many times to certify who was real and who was not. I wanted to either hug or beat up the characters (maybe both, at some points), and got quite involved with their stories.
My anxiety for finishing it was entirely related to my desire to know what was going to happen, where was that story leading to. It is true that the initial 40% of the book was a bit monotonous, but it made sense to me, according to the proposal of the story. I think that was the kind of rhythm I would expect if I were reading a real non-fiction book. And further, things escalated in a way that got me really puzzled and curious to discover the disclosure, that, for me, was utterly satisfying!
Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.