I wanted to love this - I did.

I just wasn't a fan of the the huge author notes. I did like the daughter's POV, it was compelling as she was shocked and angered when she learned the secrets she was searching for. My problem was I compared it too much to Daisy Jones and the Six..

#TheFinalRevivalofOpalNev #NetGalley. Now available as of 3.30.21

WOW. ALL THE WOWS.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a lyrical commentary on race and feminism in the United States. Set in the 1970s, so many moments in this story could easily be happening right now, and Walton's active comparison of race relations and police brutality in the late 60s and into the 70s to 2016 showed an acute awareness of the
issues the Black community faces on a daily basis. Walton's deep dive into history, mixed with her own perspective as a Black woman in America today, allowed her to highlight the astounding period in America history that is the modern Civil Rights Movement.

There was absolutely nothing I didn't love about this one, and it is definitely one of my favorites of 2021 so far. This debut novel captivated my heart and soul, and I want everyone to read it. I have seen so many comparisons to Daisy Jones and the Six, but aside from the 1970 time period/music scene and the interview style, these two books have very little in common. Opal & Nev is truly its own work of magic and should absolutely be viewed in that way.

I finished this one up today (nothing like cutting it close to pub day!) and listened to part of it on audio. The audio was unbelievable and is narrated by a full cast that includes my favorite narrator - the amazing Bahni Turpin - and I cannot recommend it enough. An extra huge thank you to NetGalley, 37 Ink, & Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 📚

As good as this book is, I feel like it could have been 10x better. There was something about the ending that was just unfulfilling. The entire story makes sense, it wraps up everything nicely, but for the punch that this novel packs, it just seems like it ran out of steam towards the end. That being said, it's still one of my favorite reads for 2021.

Thanks to @netgalley @37InkBooks and @dawniewalton for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#TheFinalRevivalOfOpalAndNev #DawnieWalton #37Ink #NetGalley


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Dawnie Walton’s debut novel reads so smooth and easy, not that the topics are sweet or all character arcs redemptive, but the immersive narrative experience may leave readers Googling if Opal and Nev really did exist. (I may have searched a time…or few!)

Multiple-narrators, decades, and locations abound in Walton’s novel, but her most authentic voice sings loudest and clearest in Opal Jewel. Whether defending her right to sing on stage without a Confederate flag unfurled, commanding confidence with her unique album cover and stage clothing and hairstyles a la Virgil LaFleur, or singing rock-n-roll via Afro-punk, she knew what she her value was, even when public opinion, or record labels, did not offer continuous supports.

I did note the similarity in structure to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six (2019) (oral history with interviews regarding 1960s and 1970s music), but I also realize that it is common for books, movies, and tv series to be released in the same time frame about related topics, or in similar formats. Additionally, Walton utilizes her voice as a Black woman to further develop the experiences of her characters, for example, at the Rivington Showcase, smaller in scale than the real-life Rolling Stones at the Altamont Free Concert in 1969, but where the only death at either was still a young Black man.

I work with older adults, and The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is the rare contemporary fiction book that we could discuss, even those who are no longer reading as frequently due to cognitive challenges, such as dementia. Music is intrinsically tied to memory, and songs, clips, sections developed from this title would perhaps offer some excellent fuel for memory lane.

***Thank you to NetGalley and 37 Ink (Simon and Schuster) for the free advance copy***

Title: The Final Revival of Opal & New
Author: Dawnie Walton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Final Revival of Opal & Nev" by Dawnie Walton

My Opinion:

It is an interesting mythical read where one can be drawn to Opal and Nev's rock and roll duo history. Be ready for some unique characters that are well-developed and well-defined in each of their own ways. I liked how this author uses a journalistic style [Sunny] who wrote the biography of these two... Opal and Nev. Opal Jewel was some amazing character who defied the accepted views of the 1970s and refused only to be herself!

The author gives us quite a read from the 1960s through 2016 of 'the history of Detroit, the religious sister, manager and promoter, other record artists, family connections, romance, systemic racism, integument, mystery, and a good look behind the scenes of the music industry.' This was definitely controversial looked that showed the racism and sexism that was very prevalent at that time with a unique way that tells a story from many POV's. Can one believe many of these deals with some of the same racial injustice issues that we still see today?

'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' will be one of those reads that will definitely keep you are reading where you will find some humor, heartbreak, and still thought-provoking long after the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon, and Schuster for the ARC!

THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV may sound quite a bit like the uber popular 2019 novel Daisy Jones & The Six. And in many ways, it is ... Both feature a fierce female protagonist, a unique narrative structure of interviews, and the intriguing world of 1970s rock & roll. But don’t breeze past this one, thinking you’ve read one, so you don’t need to read the other!

In this debut novel, Dawnie Walton brings to life not only the story of the rise and fall of the iconic fictional rock duo Opal and Nev, but she settles this story down within the larger social context of racism in America. With social commentary that is just as sharp and relevant today as it would have been in the ‘70s, Walton slowly peels away the public image of this duo to reveal the truth about what happened one horrific night that changed each character’s life forever.

Many thanks to NetGalley and 37 Ink for gifting me an advance copy of this book.

Title: The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev
Author: Dawnie Walton
Publisher: 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster
@37inkbooks
@simonandschuster
Genre: Historical Fiction (Oral History Format)

Happy Publication Day to The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev! I was able to read this one early thanks to the “Read Now” option on @netgalley and early release from @bookofthemonth. This one is being compared to “Daisy Jones & The Six”. While that is very much true for the oral history format this one is a little deeper exploring racial issues in the 1970s. I predict this one is going to wildly popular. Don’t miss out!

Opal is all style and attitude and a black punk rock artist before her time. Coming of age in Detroit, she can’t imagine settling for a normal 9-5 job, despite the urging of her Mother and sister, Pearl. Opal believes she is destined to be a star, so when she is preforming in a dive bar’s amateur night and in walks British singer/songerwriter Nev Charles, she takes up his offer to make rock music together for the up and coming Rivington Records. She leaves behind just Opal and becomes Opal Jewel.

But picture this: It’s the early 1970s in NYC and a rival band signed to the same label brandishes a Confederate flag at a promotional concert. Opal’s bold protest then that follows sets off a chain of events resulting in violence that change the lives that they love forever.

Then, when the dust settles decades later Opal considers a 2016 reunion with Nev when a music journalist seizes the chance to write about her idols.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It took a little bit for me to get into this book. I found Part 2 and Part 3 more enjoyable. While I like the oral history format, I found the editors notes and the short breaks by the journalist, Sunny, to make it a little choppy. Also, I think the author chose to interview too many characters and that’s why it took me longer to focus and get into the book. I still really enjoyed this one and think others will too! This is one of those books that will appeal to multiple genre’s.

NetGally ARC - Dawnie Walton's debut The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a historical fiction novel written as an oral history. It tells the story of an infamous rock duo that got its start in 1970s New York City.

Newly immigrated to America, Neville Charles aspires to fulfill this mother's dream of becoming a star. Meanwhile, in Detriot, Opal is performing at open mic nights, already a star in her own mind. When Nev hits the road with his record label in search of a young Black woman to partner with to complete his act, he's undecided about whether this venture will result with any success. Then, he meets Opal and is immediately taken with her boldness: the way she sings, the way she dresses, the way she carries herself.

Once in New York City, the pair begin recording songs for the new album and playing at small venues to uncertain crowds. Trying to recoup the costs of Opal & Nev's album, the label signs The Bond Brothers, a boisterous band with strong Confederate roots. When the two acts clash on the night of the Rivington Showcase, their worlds are forever changed.

Fast-forward to 2016: Opal is considering doing a reunion tour with Nev, and S. Sunny Shelton, editor at Aural magazine, is writing a book on the history of the duo. Shelton, however, has her own personal connection to Opal & Nev that she battles with continually, trying not to let it influence her as she interviews those that were there and tries to capture these historical events as another story begins to unfold.

My interest in this novel was piqued when I read that is was being compared to Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and the Six, which I enjoyed but wasn't completely enthralled by. I can confidently say that The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is superior. It is far more readable and I found myself more invested in the characters and their circumstances. I laughed. I cried. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading about music, historical fiction set in New York City, or novels about women that truly and fully themselves.

In my opinion, the characters were entirely flushed out; they had their own unique voices. In contrast to Daisy Jones and the Six, it is written more as a final version of the book that S. Sunny Shelton is writing and the larger pieces of dialog, as well as the Editor's Notes, allow for the characters to come through. I found it easier to follow than Daisy Jones and the Six because each character has several paragraphs of dialog about a certain topic or question, instead of the numerous side characters having snippets of interview dialog continually throughout the book.

I also fell in love with Opal Jewel as a character. Nothing is better to me than reading a novel with a fierce female character that uses her voices, takes no shit, and always stands up for what she believes in. I also loved her interviews with Shelton and reading about the relationship that they formed.

Regardless if you loved Daisy Jones and the Six, pick up this novel when it's released on 3/30/2021. It's a stunning debut that draws you in from the first page and doesn't let off the brakes.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and 37 Link for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Opal Robinson isn't the best singer in the world but she has that presence, the X-factor, she's electric on stage and that's why Nev Charles picks her to join him in a musical venture. And so Opal & Nev is formed. Opal reinvents herself in 1970s New York, becoming Opal Jewel, fierce, talented and a force to be reckoned with. Together, Opal and Nev are rising stars at their label, Rivington Records, until violence erupts at a show they are putting on with their label mates and things will never be the same again.

First things first, nearly every review for this is going to mention Daisy Jones and the Six. Both books are set in 1970s and follow a rock band's rise to fame. Both are told in the format of a fictional oral history. But honestly, they aren't really that similar and so comparisons pretty much end there.

There's some great characters in this book, particularly Opal and Virgil. I think this method of story telling is good, it certainly suits stories set in this type of world but I do feel it creates something of a distance between the reader and the characters at times. Additionally, Nev in particular didn't feel fully fleshed out to me, not quite a real person which was disappointing.

I did find it a bit of a slog I have to admit. It didn't grip me particularly and I didn't find myself reaching for it until quite near the end. I was rooting for both Opal and Sunny but I didn't feel like the book really paid off and so I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. Some of the action I was waiting for was relegated to footnotes that acted as a bit of an epilogue but I wanted to see some of this played out.

I thought that this was impressive to say that it was a debut novel but it didn't quite work for me.

This fictional oral history tells the story of Opal Jewel, a young black woman from Detroit with a big voice, and Nev Charles, a British wanna-be rockstar, who team up as a duet in the ‘70s. The story weaves together their upbringings, how they came together, one disastrous show and everything that followed. It was very intriguing and a must-read for anyone who liked Daisy Jones & The Six or who is a big rock & roll fan!

I loved the interview style of the book and I thought the writing was amazing. I did think the ending was abrupt, but I know I will think about this book for a long time to come!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my digital ARC!

A friend said this felt a lot like Daisy Jones and the Six with racism added. And true, in incredibly simplistic terms it is very similar. Musicians, a retrospective, a variety of points of view in an interview format. But the characters are very, very different and the experiences in the book are very, very different. Opal grows up in full knowledge of the racism around her. Sometimes she capitulates and sometimes she fights back. That is the backbone of this book. (Please note: Nev is not a main character. This book is all Opal.) Opal and her need to stand up for herself and Black Americans fuels what I thought should have been the climax of the book and colors the relationships throughout. Yes, I did feel like the book should have ended earlier. I think everything that happened afterwards could have been included but the concert should have been the last part of the book. But, that doesn't detract from the incredible characters created and the powerful story told.

I love oral histories. When I read the summary of this book I couldn’t resist. This book did not disappoint! I loved knowing who the editor was from the beginning. I wanted to compare this to Daisy Jones and the Six, but really found this one more compelling. Now that the audio book is out I plan to listen to it next.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is told through an "interview" format. I read that it is similar to Daisy Jones and the Six. Though it was through interview format I found it hard to follow along with the characters. I felt there was way too many in each chapter. But overall, the book was good.

There’s a bit of a slew of books coming out recently that claim to be similar to Daisy Jones & the Six; this is one you’ll want to read. Opal & Nev focuses mostly on a pretty singular character- Opal Jewel, the unapologetic, bold, fierce, free-spirited Black singer in this photo-punk rock duo that has broken up a long time ago- but might be raring for a comeback. The book is told through an oral history format, & through editor’s notes from the “author” (the daughter of the band’s drummers, & Opal’s lover). There’s a real urgency to the book because of this perspective. You can feel the pain & grief that S. Sunny has had to live with, the balance she had to strike between keeping her professional distance & her curiosity to know about her father & his relationship with Opal. But as the story unfolds, you & Sunny both get pulled into Opal’s story, her orbit.

This oral history format worked well here, especially at the beginning where there was a bit more back & forth between perspectives. But the driving strength of this book is Opal- what decisions she made, the opportunities she took to advance her voice, & her astute, wry observations about being a Black female singer in the 1970’s.

The author anchored this fictional band/record company in a totally recognizable world, & gave us references that help to contextualize Opal & Nev, which I thought was so smart.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is such a strong debut novel, & I can’t wait to read what Dawnie Walton does next.

I was interested in this book because of the time period but there is just too many characters that are too hard to keep track of and I don't understand where the story is going.

I really enjoyed this book! I've seen a lot of people promoting this book for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, and while I see the similarities (fictional oral history of a musical group), I'm think that comparison does a disservice to The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. This storyline had so much depth and the characters were diverse (not just in terms of Black vs white) and well-developed. It was also so compelling and readable! I could barely put it down, but at times I forced myself to take a break to reflect. This book features a lot of political/racial themes that are sadly so relevant today. One that I really thought a lot about was enjoying someone's art or talent but devaluing them as a person, essentially only appreciating them for their entertainment value. This is a story that will stay with me and one that I look forward to adding to my shelf. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for making a digital ARC available in exchange for an honest review.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is the debut novel of Dawnie Walton. It is an oral history of Afro-punk singers Opal & Nev. This book reminded me of a Behind the Music episode. Told by multiple viewpoints, Opal and Nev seemed so real, I kept trying to look their albums up before I reminded myself this was fiction! I can’t wait to see what this author writes next. Awesome fictional debut. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a book! The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is an amazing oral history format story of Opal, a black woman from Detroit pairing up with Nev, an earnest English musician who needs a partner to bring his music to the next level.

There is a love affair, racism, charged atmospheres filled with violence and a moment that changes the duo's life forever. ` I found this book to be a really fascinating read. It looked at music and social issues with an interesting lens. It gave us fully realized characters who were interesting and thought provoking. The going back and forth in time to hear the accounts of all parties involved made for some poignant commentary on today's issues and what things were like back in the 70s.

Highly recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ACR.

I am a huge Daisy Jones & the Six fan and I've noticed many comparisons between it and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. There are definitely similarities. Both books utilize an interview style in the story-telling and the setting is the 1970's. In addition, both books are about people trying to make a go in the music industry...but it's also so much more. There is a lot of insight into the treatment of people of color - - especially women. The book is set in 2016 with interviews that take the reader back to the 1970's and the events that lead up to one tragic night that has deadly repercussions.

The storyline takes many issues head on. For one, it shows that sitting on the sidelines and not actively speaking out can sometimes be just as damaging as being on the opposing side of the message. It's eye-opening and heartbreaking all at the same time. It was fascinating to see how Ms. Walton wove this story into actual events from the past. At times, I felt like Opal and Nev must be real people. It just felt so much like a part of history. This storyline is blunt, honest and raw. It isn't an easy read, but is most definitely a timely one as it addresses, with heartbreaking clarity, the racial unrest in our country.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a well-written novel with a graceful flow between the present and past events. I did feel like the storyline moved slower in some areas. However, overall I found this to be a solid read with a clear message.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This book right here is excellent!  I loved the way the story was structured and how bold and strong the storytelling was.  I felt like I was in an episode of Unsung with all the stories of the interviewees.  I was eating up the descriptions of Opal and her climb to be somebody.  This is a completely fictional book but it reads like non-fiction - which is a credit to the author’s writing for sure.