Before picking up this book, I had seen it compared to Daisy Jones And The Six. This comparison made me nervous as I didn't love that book. However, I can say with full confidence that The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is its own unique story that tackles vastly different topics than Daisy Jones does. In fact, I liked this book better. I thought the premise was very unique - looking back on an Afropunk rock duo from the 70s who made music challenging the inequality in the world. However, the question is did both partners really believe in the messages their music conveyed... I highly recommend reading this title and if you are an audiobook person, the audio has a full cast of narrators and is fantastic!

It took me much too long to read The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. My mental state and capacity for sitting down and just enjoying a book did not do justice to the masterpiece of Opal and Nev. So while I typically would’ve devoured this book in mere days, it took me several months to read, and through no fault of the actual book.

There are tons of comparisons between Opal & Nev and Daisy Jones, and I won’t say that’s incorrect. Both are interview-style “where are they now?”-types of stories based on musical acts of the 60s/70s. I actually found Songs in Ursa Major to be much more Daisy-like. But to compare The Final Revival of Opal and Nev to anything else doesn’t do the book justice… and this coming from a girl who absolutely fell in love with Daisy Jones and pretty much anything els TJR writes. But Opal, now Opal falls into a league quiet truly her own.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev isn’t just a cool glimpse into an incredible era of music. It’s a case study in racism, both implicit and explicit, and the actions we take in response to racism, or the lack thereof. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and in many ways, that’s apparent in this book.

As a white person, a book like this really makes me question if I would’ve been any different than the characters in the book. It’s the hope that I’d be better. These implicit actions and inactions are the ones that drive and develop a racist system and society. So reading books like this one allow me to evaluate myself and my own line of thinking and doing.

Outside of the super serious topics, I found Opal to be completely fascinating. She’s an inspiration and aspirational. Bright and bald, Black and beautiful. She kick-ass and fierce and lets no one control her.

Don’t let the ballad of Daisy Jones and the Six overshadow The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. While I really did love the overall book of Daisy’s story, Daisy herself doesn’t hold a flame Opal.

This book is absolutely incredible, without a doubt. The fact that it’s a debut novel is truly mind-blowing.

A review after a long time and possibly one of my worst slumps. So thank you Opal & Nev for getting me out of it. Comparison to Daisy Jones & the six are inevitable so let’s get that out of the way. While Daisy was a simple love story with Rock as it’s backdrop- this one has a lot of political undercurrent of the decades the book travels.

The book starts off with S. Sunny Shelton, the editor in chief of Aural Magazine, daughter of someone who had a history with Rock &Roll legend Opal, planning to write a book about Opal Jewel and Nev Charles. She is interviewing Opal when the legend throws forward the idea of a reunion concert after nearly 3 decades! We get into the history of these 2 with small interludes by Opal’s sister, her husband, past story of her mother and their trips down south. Nev’s history is more fun and easy flowing though. The book then throws a complete curveball by introducing the relationship between Jimmy and Opal- the concert which ended everything and Opal Nev doing individual things. The jumps between these events felt a bit disjointed though. The different shades of Opal are interesting but again random- though she does stand out as one of the most fascinating characters this year. Her friendship with Virgil is a gem.

I Listened to the audiobook parallely and it’s amazing listening to multiple artists performing for one book- the first time I experienced it.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy for my honest review.

I was very excited to dive into this book, as I enjoyed the oral history style format of Daisy Jones & The Six and was hoping that this would give off similar vibes. Unfortunately, I was unable to connect with the characters and ended up DNFing. It reads a bit disjointed due to the extensive editors notes and the plot was slow moving. Perhaps I read this at the wrong time, and I could see myself picking it up again when I'm in a different reading mood.

This ended up being pretty disappointing, unfortunately, and I ended up DNFing this book at about the 25% mark. I wanted to give a book with an interview narrative structure another shot, but I think I can definitely say that it's not for me. I did like the focus on the music itself and how the author made the story feel authentic to the time period. But I didn't particularly like any of the characters and found Nev, one of the main characters, extremely annoying. I wasn't able to find it worth continuing, due to a lack of interest in the characters themselves, the character dynamics and relationships, or the plot :( I still would recommend this for if you already know that you like this type of narrative structure and if you like stories focused around the music scene.

After loving Daisy Jones and the Six, I was so excited to read another book in the same kind of interview style format. I loved Opal Jewell! Only thing I regret is not listening to the audio book as I can imagine it was amazing with a cast!

Thank you to NetGalley + 37 Ink for the ARC.

I personally had a hard time getting through this book. I didn’t feel connected to the story line or characters and just could not get into it. I thought the writing style was fun and creative with the interview style layout.

Im in the minority of reviewers, so I definitely suggest picking it up and trying it out for yourself, if it sounds of interest to you.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev went above and beyond my expectations. I would liken it to Daisy Jones and the Six which I also loved. I loved the interview format of the writing and think it brought a rather authentic structure to the novel. Opal was beyond badass and I could just picture her as a collection of real life musicians gathered into one personality. All in all, I felt rather connected to all the characters within this novel and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has read Rolling Stones or loves the 70s rock era of music (or music in general!)

I loved this one, maybe even more than Daisy Jones and the Six.

I also complimented my reading with the audiobook and wow I highly recommend that.

Not only was this a unique writing style, but the story was powerful and I’m so glad this book exists.

Heck yes! This book has received a lot of press and I'm glad - it deserves it. This is one of the most fun, most entertaining books I've read in a long time. Awesome for dad christmas gifts, too!

I’m sorry, I just couldn’t get into this book and was unable to finish it because the storyline didn’t connect with me. I’m sure many people love it and the concept and storyline seem great and very interesting. It just wasn’t for me, sadly.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I couldn’t put this down. I loved the dual timelines and it just felt so authentic. It doesn’t shy away from hard topics and addresses them in a nuanced way.

"The beginnings of any new thing are so lovely." Those are the words said by British rocker Neville "Nev" Charles, one half of the singing duo Opal and Nev, and perfectly summarizes the novel. While being interviewed by S. Sunny Shelton, the daughter of a former member of their duo, that is how Nev describes the early days of working with Opal. When Opal meets Nev she is pulled into his chaotic orbit, which after years of working with him she learns is quite self-absorbed. But at the start of her career, Opal believes that as a young Black woman trying to find her place in the world sometimes you have to deal with a little chaos. Unfortunately, when a rowdy band on their label Rivington Records brings a Confederate flag to their showcase, it sets a chain of events in motion that ends in tragedy.
As a Black woman in America, Opal takes the brunt of the blame because that's just what happens. After a too brief period of grieving, spurred on by the newfound fame the tragic event has given them, Opal goes back on the road with Nev. However, she soon realizes Nev is battling paranoia and an addiction to opiates and alcohol, that only gets worse as their tour continues. When Opal realizes she is doing more caring for Nev and everyone else, while no one seems concerned about her well-being, she decides enough is enough. So when an opportunity comes up in France, Opal takes a leap and becomes an expat. It is there she learns that her value isn't created by those around her, but by her own terms. The separation is a wake up call for Nev who eventually gets a handle on his addiction and manages to have his own solo career.
Jump back to the year 2016, with Sunny completing her interviews for her story on Opal and Nev, when a shocking revelation about that tragic night at the Rivington Showcase is revealed. Meanwhile, Opal and Nev are gearing up for a reunion performance at Derringdo Festival, the first reunion they've had since Opal left the duo. But once Sunny shares this devastating new information with Opal, both women are forced to consider this question: Is success really worth sacrificing integrity and human dignity?

I loved this book and how it was in interview format! Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. Touches on important topics while still being a great story filled with drama and romance.

In the vein of Daisy Jones & the Six, but with an element of social justice and cultural commentary that gives it an element of depth and impact Daisy Jones did not possess., This is the story of rock and roll from the POV of the culture that created it, and the people who were so often passed over. It is not just about this one band, but about the world that created them in the 1970s -- the world of racism and injustice -- and the world that they still live in , in the present day, where so little has changed, despite our wishes to the contrary. I know this book did not get the attention of Daisy Jones. I liked Daisy Jones. But I liked this much more.

Was I expecting something similar to Daisy Jones? Yes. Was this book close to that one? No! IT WAS BETTER. I think Walton did an amazing job with the formation of characters, and the writing was pretty top notch. I felt like I was really a part of the book, and that's because Walton knows how to write. Read this one if you are looking to be a part of a concert, reunion and a in a recording studio.

This book left me shook. It reminded me of Daisy Jones and the Six, but it was so much more. The racism, the politics, the drama, the angst. I could not put this book down.

Opal is a black woman who wants to make music. She meets Nev, a British singer/songwriter, and they join together to make make Opal's dream come true. But it is the 1970's, so racism reigns.

Opal and Nev reunite in 2016, and a reporter's digging uncovers some hidden secrets. This story is a whirlwind and gives the reader a glimpse into the life of rock stars. Opal is a force to be reckoned with.

I had high hopes for this book because of loved Daisy Jones and the Six and the interview style. I understand they are not meant to be compared. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev did not seem to capture my attention. I tried to read the book, listen to the audio, and do a combination of reading and listening at the same time. The author did a great job with all the details she added to this fictional story. I kept having to remind myself this story was fiction. I gave this book three stars for the amount of detail the author wrote into this book. Unfortunately, this book was not for me.

Thank you for this gifted copy for my honest review.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a masterful retelling of fiction events and people that is visceral and poignant. Walton explores them of sexism and racism both as a whole and in the niche of the entertainment industry. It explores how the different genders are treated in entertainment by both the fans and the industry professionals. It does all this while creating a beautiful and soulful tale of two people, vastly different in personality, who create wonderful music together and left a lasting impact on the world of music, culture, race, and feminism.

This book is perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and The Six, especially those who want a more BIPOC storyline.