Reviews

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

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vonderbash's review against another edition

5.0

This book is written in a similar style as Daisy Jones & the Six, and also features a fictional band you’ll wish was real. However, this book so brilliantly blends the fictional world with the real world, and hits several difficult topics, specifically race and politics.
This book is wonderful, and I’m so glad I was able to meet Opal Jewel.

I received an ARC of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

kimberleyw12's review against another edition

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informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

gillygild2342's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

3.0

I liked this. I can see why people compare it to daisy jones and the six but this has much heavier topics.

I wanted to punch nev in his face!! Opal handled everything with such grace even when she was “raging”. Oh yeah howie deserves a punch too and the bond brothers. I did not see the turn coming with Nev and then for him to continue being a piece of shit was just infuriating. I don’t love how it just ended but I get it, it’s a more realistic story than daisy jones so you can’t have a pretty romantic ending. The editors notes portions were interesting but I personally hated the font, I know that’s silly but it was hard to read. The racial topics in this are so god damn hard to stomach, and I think Walton wrote those details respectfully and beautifully

connie_c's review against another edition

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Didn’t hold my interest

kataleen1989's review against another edition

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It did not hold my interest. The story is told as if it is an interview. There are lots of characters to keep track of.

bandrh's review against another edition

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reflective 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

3.75

robinfig's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-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

4.75

I really liked the framing structure of the book and the way the narrator became part of the story. i liked the synergy between the past and present. i liked how the incident at the core of the story drove the characters and how it seeped into their life. perhaps the reason it’s not five stars is i felt that something’s could have been explored more explicitly in the story. i wish we could have seen more of Opal and Nev’s interactions with one another than we got in the book.

Content Warnings

spregasaur94's review against another edition

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5.0

This is such a well-crafted novel with a fascinating story that centers the way black women have been used by white people, especially men, for centuries. I kept having to remind myself that these characters and this story did not actually exist!

erintowner's review against another edition

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5.0

This was one of Obama's favorite books of the year and it didn't disappoint. Lots of social commentary but also great characterization and descriptions of art. Opal Jewel is flawed but inspiring!

Similar structure to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

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