The music of the 70s was iconic, and this fictional rock-n-roll, afro-punk duo vividly and seamlessly fit right in with that progressive and revolutionary music scene.  Walton has delivered a bold debut that takes you on a journey through time, music, and the tragedy of racism both past and present.  

Told like an old episode of Behind the Music, interviews and news clippings give us an intimate look at the beginnings of this duo, including a tragedy that accompanied their start up, their brief rise to fame, and the potential of a modern day reunion.  But this isn’t just a pop culture music history.  This is a gritty and raw detailed account of how racism has played out across the decades set amongst the backdrop of the music industry.  

Walton meticulously crafted these characters, particularly Opal.  Her descriptions had me so entranced and felt so real that I found myself wanting to search Google for pictures and album covers and snippets of old hits.  And if I’m honest, I was a bit star struck by Opal.  There was an authenticity to the characters that made them as real in my mind as any other 70s phenom.  

I also appreciated the connection that the interviewer, Sunny, had to the the story.  Her desire to know her dad was raw. I felt her emotion as she unraveled his connection to this duo. It gave a depth, an extra layer that further expanded the veracity of the story as a whole.  

Many people liken this book to Daisy Jones and the Six.  While the format is very similar, the books themselves couldn’t be more different.  Whereas Daisy Jones focused on character relationships and pop culture, this book is a story of our times with important cultural relevance.     

Many thanks to Dawnie Walton, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.