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katsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"I believe in myself above all.”
“I got a better question for you. Why are you so deeply invested in proving I'm scared? Does a Black person showing they're scared make you feel safer? I suggest you sit back and interrogate that.”
The format of this book was super cool and intriguing. I really loved how it made me feel like I was really hearing the characters and getting to know them yet somehow also kept them at arm's length. It was hard to truly like any of the characters. I felt like it helped it feel like they were real people. Every person had their own imperfections and flaws that made them feel more realistic. I felt like the social commentary was really impactful, as well. It was really interesting to read a story about the artistic and creative labor of black women and how it's been exploited throughout history. I struggled with the ending a little bit. I wanted a bigger conclusion and resolution. I wanted everything for Opal. But on the other hand, would that have made it less realistic? This isn't one of those books that necessarily has a nice happy bow tying up all the loose ends. It's fiction but I've already stated that I liked how realistic it was. Perhaps, the real world is what actually disappoints me.
“I got a better question for you. Why are you so deeply invested in proving I'm scared? Does a Black person showing they're scared make you feel safer? I suggest you sit back and interrogate that.”
The format of this book was super cool and intriguing. I really loved how it made me feel like I was really hearing the characters and getting to know them yet somehow also kept them at arm's length. It was hard to truly like any of the characters. I felt like it helped it feel like they were real people. Every person had their own imperfections and flaws that made them feel more realistic. I felt like the social commentary was really impactful, as well. It was really interesting to read a story about the artistic and creative labor of black women and how it's been exploited throughout history. I struggled with the ending a little bit. I wanted a bigger conclusion and resolution. I wanted everything for Opal. But on the other hand, would that have made it less realistic? This isn't one of those books that necessarily has a nice happy bow tying up all the loose ends. It's fiction but I've already stated that I liked how realistic it was. Perhaps, the real world is what actually disappoints me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Cultural appropriation, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Gaslighting, Racism, Addiction, Murder, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Grief, Death, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Murder, and Domestic abuse
seawarrior's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a brilliant book from beginning to end. The characters and the influences they created in their world read so realistically that at times I had to remind myself that this wasn't a biography. This is a book about music and journalism, and the combination of the two, but primarily this is a story about Opal. Each of the characters presented have their own complexities, but Opal seems most lovingly depicted. She's both courageous and terrified, heroic and disappointing, wise and ignorant. It felt impossible to not love her right back, to understand her and root for her, and wish for her a more loving world.
So many lines in this story really resonated with me, but my favorite had to be Opal's statement, "He saw me as I was, and still he seemed to be choosing me. It's a basic thing, but I had never in my life been chosen before. You understand what that means? I'm saying here was this stranger, clearly as crazy as I was, this person who dropped into my life out of nowhere, and he was reaching out his hand. What could I do but take it? What could I do but choose him back?". These few lines were so affective, and pulled me into Opal's view even deeper. When they were echoed near the end I nearly held my breath, all while reading towards the fate of Opal & Nev's final revival.
I would recommend this book to other readers. I found the interview format it was written in really interesting, as it provided space to hear many different characters' voices and perspectives on some of the same events. I also recommend going through the content warnings first though. Scenes of the racist violence Opal, Jimmy and Sunny were made to endure were devastating to read, especially since these characters felt so real. There's definitely much more that can be said about this story and how well it's told, and I'm sure it will stick in my memory for a long time
So many lines in this story really resonated with me, but my favorite had to be Opal's statement, "He saw me as I was, and still he seemed to be choosing me. It's a basic thing, but I had never in my life been chosen before. You understand what that means? I'm saying here was this stranger, clearly as crazy as I was, this person who dropped into my life out of nowhere, and he was reaching out his hand. What could I do but take it? What could I do but choose him back?". These few lines were so affective, and pulled me into Opal's view even deeper. When they were echoed near the end I nearly held my breath, all while reading towards the fate of Opal & Nev's final revival.
I would recommend this book to other readers. I found the interview format it was written in really interesting, as it provided space to hear many different characters' voices and perspectives on some of the same events. I also recommend going through the content warnings first though. Scenes of the racist violence Opal, Jimmy and Sunny were made to endure were devastating to read, especially since these characters felt so real. There's definitely much more that can be said about this story and how well it's told, and I'm sure it will stick in my memory for a long time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality and Self harm
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
So I know a lot of people compare / parallel this novel to Daisy Jones but honestly- the only similarities between the two are the interview style format and the reason why anything is getting done is because of the narrators themselves. While Daisy shows the white, privileged perspective of getting into the music business, Walton doesn't shy away from revealing (even in fiction) the harsh realities of making in the business world when you are a person of color and different in appearance (especially during the 70's.) A part of me does wish this had been a tad longer or we were given first-person perspectives from any of the main group. The side characters such as Virgil and Pearl were great in bringing that balance & family in the mix. Nev (in my opinion) didn't deserve to work with Opal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Infidelity, Grief, Hate crime, Drug use, and Death
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
An incredible debut! Once I started this it was pretty hard to stop, you are immediately sucked into Opal and Sunny's stories and how there stories connect under difficult and heartbreaking circumstances.
This book is written so beautifully and in such vivid detail that you come away believing Opal Jewel is a real person, that she graced the covers of music magazines and you can easily just find her music on Spotify. Seamlessly weaving a thrilling story of Opal's life with a look into Black culture and what it means to be a Black woman in music and pulling no punches! Dawnie writes in such heartbreaking detail that doesn't shy away from tough subjects. Bursting with incredible light and energy!
A beautiful debut from a very exciting new voice is fiction, I can't wait to see what Dawnie does next, she's one to watch for sure.
This book is written so beautifully and in such vivid detail that you come away believing Opal Jewel is a real person, that she graced the covers of music magazines and you can easily just find her music on Spotify. Seamlessly weaving a thrilling story of Opal's life with a look into Black culture and what it means to be a Black woman in music and pulling no punches! Dawnie writes in such heartbreaking detail that doesn't shy away from tough subjects. Bursting with incredible light and energy!
A beautiful debut from a very exciting new voice is fiction, I can't wait to see what Dawnie does next, she's one to watch for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
davidrb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fabulous debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
internationalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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