Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC. I have always read Allende in Spanish, so this was a first for me reading her book in English. The story is engaging from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. Well researched, it shows an interesting intertwining history of the USA and Chile (migration and conflict) in the 1800s I knew little about. Although not my favorite book of hers (it is 4.5 stars for me), she will always be quite the storyteller.

Thanks to the publishers at Ballentine for a chance to read Isabel Allende’s newest novel, My Name Is Emilia Del Valle.

Emilia, a young woman from San Francisco, wants to make her way in the world and finds writing to be an outlet for her thoughts. She wrangles herself a position as a columnist for the local newspaper, and becomes a wartime correspondent for the Civil War taking place in Chile 1891.

What follows is a typical story of an ingenue who learns that newsflash - war is hell. While I appreciate the numerous times the novel makes reference to Emilia’s whiteness (as the child of an Irish-American and one of the elites of Chilean high society), it’s a little painful to muddle through it with her.

Emilia is constantly running towards danger, both as a way to get the deeper scoop but also as a kind of rebellion on the limiting gender roles placed on a woman of her time. But once you add Emilia’s whiteness - even if she is part Chilean - the novel reads more like Eat Pray Love but instead of food or spirituality, war is the impetus for our protagonist’s growth.

This isn’t to discount Emilia’s fair share of pain and trauma that she experiences throughout the novel, but it highlights a key inconsistency in the book. The book goes to lengths to describe how tragic it is that these people (soldiers, canteen girls, poor folks, and more) are the story. They are history in action, and yet so many of their names are lost to time. And yet, this random white woman from the US gets the privilege of being able to survive and tell her story, and the book doesn’t really critique her or ever really ask her to contend with the fact that even limiting the perspective to just her and her fiance (you guessed it: also white as the snow) is still a kind of erasure of the oppressed.

We only get Emilia’s story because her whiteness and tenuous connection to wealth manage to shield her from the worst of violence consuming Chile. Also Emilia’s decision at the end of the book lands flat for me given that she is a whole colonizer who even acknowledges that land is not hers, ditches her worried family to… commune with rocks? She narrowly escapes death, and processes her trauma… on land her ancestors stole. And the local tribe is just happy to take care of her in her convalescence??

This is not just saying that I want Isabel Allende to write a story that is not hers or take a perspective that’s not hers. I’m just tired of white protagonists stepping over every other character of color in the name of feminism without a more intentional critique, as well as white latines and our complicity with these colonial patterns. Allende’s last novel El viento conoce mi nombre did a much better job of examining race alongside gender politics in a Latin American context, while also pushing white protagonists to do something beyond guilt or pity.

Isabel Allende is a better writer than this, and this novel could have been so much more. Hoping that her next one (because there will be a next one) hits the mark better.

Beautifully written story following both parts of the mother’s and daughter’s histories. A great book allows you to be alongside or picturing yourself as the characters you are discovering and this book definitely pulled me into the narrative. I could picture the world in those times and imagine the sounds and attributes of the places it took me. Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend. This book was so good.

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende is the story of a remarkable woman. At an early age, Emilia was ahead of her time. She was curious, ambitious, questioned the norms of society and had a little rebellion in her soul. With the support of her loving stepfather, she starts to write dime novels under the name of Brandon J. Price, since at this time, women writers were not accepted. Through perseverance and talent, the San Francisco Examiner hires her to cover the war in Chili. Thus begins a loving partnership with Eric Whelan which would last their entire lives. Through many difficulties, disappointments and challenges, Emilia lives on her own terms, faces many challenges and limitations, but succeeds in finding her own person, her own voice, and her own place in the world. This novel is a deep dive into what women go through to be accepted and recognized for their talent and perseverance. It also tells in detail the struggles that took place in Chili in the 1870’s and later.

This is the latest book by Chilean author Isabel Allende, sure to become a classic like her others. If you know Allende's style, it may not be a straightforward book with a single plot. The book starts in San Francisco, covering Emilia's childhood, raised by her pious mother and her kind stepfather in the days of the California Gold Rush. Emilia becomes a journalist, and gets sent to Chile to cover the Civil War there, which also happens to be where her biological father is from. Emilia goes on multiple missions, to cover the war but also to meet her father. She gets roped into many other things there, and it is quite the adventure. The ending is somewhat abrupt, but also feels right. Gorgeous writing and an interesting look into this historical period.

This book tells the story of a girl born in San Francisco in the end of the 19th century who goes to Chile to cover the revolution for a newspaper and look for her father.

This story has the ingredients for a great adventure--Journalism! Politics! War! Love! Unfortunately I've read other stories that felt like this and rang much more true to me. My overall impression was that the author had a deadline and popped in the impressions of a story rather than doing the work to really connect us with her characters. An example of this phenomenon is the romantic love that is supposed to be something of a driving love in Emilia's life. It comes to fruition in an instant realization with basically no lead up. The ending is also odd and rushed, though I wasn't disappointed to get to the end of the novel.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance review copy for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange of an honest review. I loved the first third of this book that promised a Nelly Bly-like tale -- intrepid female journalist Emilia is longing to write more than just "ladies" columns, takes a male pseudonym and becomes an ace investigative reporter. But then, suddenly, to fulfill her mother's, and ultimately her own, desire to claim a birthright, she travels to Chile where civil war is about to break out. And then it all kind of went downhill for me, amid endless gruesome scenes of carnage and torture and devastation. I skimmed those pages, until the last third of the book, when the war is and now Emilia is desperate to see land she owns deep in untamed and dangerous southern Chile. This journey too seemed endless and again I skimmed.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors and if she writes it, I will read it. She writes beautiful stories about interesting characters and places them in time and location to also educate us. In this story, we have a young woman in California who's biological parents are an Irish mother and a Chilean father. She is raised by her mother and stepfather who promote education and independence. She wants to be a writer and despite women not being hired into jobs (late 1800s), she manages to get a job at a newspaper. The scene where she convinces them to give her a chance and her machinations to prove herself, are among my favorite parts of the entire book. Interested in learning more about her Chilean heritage, she convinces the paper to send her to Chile to cover the civil war. How incredible is this young woman that she talks her way into a war zone. Of course, her life would be easier if she hadn't, but then there wouldn't be a story here.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an early ecopy. My opinion is my own.

📕I read Allende’s books to learn about Chilean history and culture. I know these are all fiction, but I doubt anything she says about Chile and Chilean people are far from the truth
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📗Emilia was a daughter of an Irish mother and a Chilean father. Her creation was not a happily ever after story, but her upbringing was. Her stepfather was the force pushing her for the better instead of the bitter. Her curiosity in penny stories got her a spot at a newspaper where women used to work on “soft, feminine” topics before. She found herself in the middle of Chilean civil war after her eye for detail and sharp pen differentiated her from the other women
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📘There were so many one off things Allende mentioned in this book that I want to explore more. The overall story was pretty predictable, but I think it was mainly because I’m so used to her writing style now

As a longtime fan of Isabel Allende, I had high hopes for My Name is Emilia del Valle—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The first half felt more like a history textbook on the Chilean Civil War than a novel, with dense political detail that overshadowed the storytelling.

While I appreciate fiction that teaches me something along the way, I prefer when the facts are seamlessly woven into the narrative. In this case, it often felt like a lecture. The story finally began to gain momentum around the halfway point, and I found myself more engaged as Emilia’s personal journey unfolded.

The ending was nearly redemptive—it brought emotional depth and a strong close… until the very last page, which left me feeling a bit let down and unresolved.

While others are loving this, I’m giving this one 3 stars: not without merit, but not one of Allende’s strongest in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

★★★☆☆
My Name is Emilia del Valle (Isabel Allende - released 05.06.2025)
e-ARC Review

✧ Read with me ✧ Instagram ✧| @haileydianereads

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books & the author, Isabel Allende, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest book review! 🥰🙌

"I no longer know what I witnessed and how much I only imagined; it is all a jumbled confusion of horror in my memory. I had never seen violence and death up close--nothing in my twenty-five years of existence had prepared me for so much barbarism, so much suffering." ⚔️📰

"My honorable stepfather always said that as long as we had work, love, and dignity, we should want for nothing." 💕💼

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy…
Historical fiction set in San Francisco & Chile
Plot involve female journalist and self-discovery
In-depth research on Chilean civil war of 1891

I want to start by saying that overall I really liked this book. It is immediately evident that Isabel Allende has immense talent when it comes to writing. However, I do think that there was quite a lull in the middle of this novel. Some of this could be attributed to the fact that this is a translated work or simply the writing may have lent itself to the creation of a slow progression during part two of this book.

RATING SYSTEM: I rate my books by 5 literary element groupings: plot and pacing, characters and development, setting and world building, dialogue and writing style. See below for a full review:

📖Plot and Pacing
My Name is Emilia del Valle is a story of self-discovery and the horrors of war. This book is written in four parts. At the beginning of this novel, we become acquainted with Emilia del Valle and her parents. We learn of her having a Chilean aristocratic father who does not claim her nor has anything to do with her upbringing as he moves back to Chile. Emilia is incredibly lucky to have a stepfather who dotes on her throughout her life. In part due to his tutelage and encouragement, Emilia has the skills and confidence to seek employment as writer and later as a war correspondent in the Chilean civil war of 1891. Throughout the book, we see Emilia change and grow into a successful writer. When Emilia finds herself on the warfront and witnessing the horrors of war brutality, readers really see Emilia understand, maybe for the first time, that this assignment is not another adventure, but a fight for her own life. As Emilia meets her biological father and his family, her connection to Chile deepens. For me, the most impactful portions of the book were parts three and four. I learned so much about this conflict and hard truths about the Canteen Girls. I truly loved those heavily researched parts of the overall story. Unfortunately, for me, part two was pretty hard for me to get through as the story faces quite the lull.

🧞‍♀️Characters and Development
The primary character that this story focuses on is Emilia, of course. While her parents, friends and lovers are described, they are described in ways which support or further Emilia's own personality and goals in life. Emilia is written very well as readers get to explore her history and life as a journalist. As Emilia ages and experiences more of life, readers are able to glimpse into her thoughts and actions as she continues to develop as a young woman in the late 19th century. However, near the ending of the novel, it feels as if Emilia doesn't quite seem to know exactly what she wants and changes her mind on situations, which she had previously been rather steadfast in her beliefs, based on previous statements throughout the book. Maybe this was Allende's point - we are always continuing to grow and change, maybe nothing is truly written in stone even the ideals we seem so keen on holding tightly throughout our lives.

🌇Setting and World Building
Allende does a wonderful job explaining the historical and political situation we find Emilia in during this specific time of Chile’s history. There are a lot of complexities at play in this war-torn country throughout this book. However, I felt that Allende was able to easily explain both sides of the conflict without having to spend too much time in the nitty gritty details. I felt very much like the settings and the war happening around Emilia were descriptive during the time that actions are described in the book. Unfortunately, there were not many scenes that were action-packed, so readers must rely on first-person storytelling which, unfortunately, is not as immersive as I was hoping for throughout most portions of the novel.

🗣️Dialogue
As the writing in this book centers around the journalistic point of view of the main character, all of the dialogue is written as it was observed or what Emilia remembers of the exchange. While this is not inherently bad, it was not as engaging as other forms of writing might be when it comes to dialogue. Additionally, due to the nature of the book itself, the dialogue seemed very transactional and pointed rather than conversational and explorative throughout the book.

📝Writing Style
The writing style of this book is very much a first-person description of what Emilia is seeing and what is happening to the characters around her. There are a lot of explanations of details, yet it always feels like the reader is being talked at, but maybe that’s just a personal frustration with first-person point of view. I do think that this could be because of the journalistic point of view that the writing is trying to convey given the profession of the Emilia’s profession. Ultimately, for the reader it didn't translate as particularly immersive. Allende utilizes a wonderful vernacular, but it’s not quite enough to supersede the constant “telling of actions.” This is the first book I have read by Allende. After reading this book, I would like to read some of her other works. I found that she is extremely talented when it comes to writing characters.

❉BONUS❉: Emotional Connection
In regards to an emotional connection, for me, it was rather limited for this book. I did find myself empathizing with everything Emilia experienced as a war correspondent and the atrocities that she witnessed and experienced herself. However, a lot of her actions did not make sense for me in regards to the ending of the book. This could be due to the time period in which the book takes place and Emilia feeling like this was her path to personal freedom and social independence. I admire her bravery but I felt like the ending could have been written in a way that made more sense and better aligned with her character and her situation at the time.

😤The Flaws
For me I had two flaws with this book. First, there was quite a lull in the story or pacing of this book. I found that I was forcing myself to get through part two, but I really enjoyed the last two parts of the book. It was definitely worth the read, but I feel like this could have been better paced at times. Secondly, I felt like a lot of the actions that Emilia took at the end of the book were frustrating and were written as a way to encourage or inspire modern readers rather than being true to the situation that Emilia found herself in. It became rather unbelievable at the very end of the novel.

I look forward to reading other works by this author in the future as her potential shines in portions of this book.

Gratitude, always.
-H.

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and it DELIVERED! I can always count @allende to deliver an incredible novel covering lesser known history, leading women, and complex families! If you’ve never picked up one of her novels - you MUST!!

❤️ for my LOVERS of lesser known historical fiction reads, leading women, journalism, dynamic families, some romance!

❤️ this one’s for fans of THE WOMEN, THE MAGNIFICENT LIFE OF MARGARET FULLER and had some elements of MY CODE NAME HELENE? All historical fiction novels that I love!!

❤️ I loved learning about the 1891 Chilean Civil War - absolutely a piece of history that I knew nothing about but was so devastating and fundamental to Chile & its people. As with all of @allende’s novels - it’s all shared in such a digestible way!

❤️ EMILIA - a fierce, trailblazing women in journalism, who started her career writing under the pen name of a man. While I believe her character is fictional, it mirrors the lack of rights/power women could hold in the 1800’s

❤️ CHILE - I know little about it but throughout the novel, I learned so much about the country and it’s rich history and landscape

Interesting read about a young female journalist at the turn of the century as she makes her way in a man’s world. Strong willed and not deterred by the norms of the times Emilia seeks to find the Chilean father she never knew. As war rages in Chile, Emilia finds that covering only the human interest side of the war is no longer possible due to the atrocities inflicted on both sides. This ARC was provided by Random House Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A huge thank you to PRH Audio for my gifted audiobook and netgalley and Ballantine for my ARC!

If you are expecting a love story with one, don't haha! I was hoodwinked thinking this would be a really sweet love story annnddddd while I knew it was set during the Chilean Civil War in the 1890s, it definitely is NOT a love story, even though love is portrayed.

I really love Isabel's writing and knowing that she is from Chile added such a richness to the story. The story follows Emilia, who grew up without her biological father- a man of great wealth from Chile who seduced her Irish immigrant mother and left her pregnant. Emilia grows up fiercely indepenedent for a woman of her time, from being a dime story author and traveling journalist. An assignment takes her and her colleague to Chili to cover the civil war happening and it is very not sugar-coated when it comes to wartorn realities.

Our protagonist changes from the first half of the book to the end, I can't say that I liked her more but I understood her better. Emilia is a free soul and will not be tied down by societal conventions, a personality trait that leads her straight into a very brutal part of the conflict.

I felt the overall historical writing a bit confusing- I think I got mixed up who was backing the President and then the rebels and the ending seemed rushed.

Overall well done, and Isabel is an auto-read author for me!

Content: fade to black, war violence and torture.

A stunner from Allende, as was expected - however, I thought the ending was rather abrupt. I wish it could have been fleshed out more considering how descriptive Allende was throughout the rest of the novel. Emilia is a fiercely strong and independent woman at a time when that is assuredly not what women are supposed to be. The supporting characters from Papo, to Eric to Paulina enriched the story masterfully. From San Francisco to Chile, this was a beautiful tale of a woman coming into her own, a love story and a story of a country ravaged by war and corruption - a story as only Allende can tell.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

Isabel Allende returns with her fourth installment about this sprawling and complicated family first introduced in her 1982 debut. As always, the protagonist is a young woman longing for and living an unconventional life; someone fiercely independent, dreaming big dreams, wanting to discover purpose, a sense of self, and everything that life has to offer whether good, bad, and everywhere in between. Emilia is the daughter of an Irish nun (yup, you read correctly) and a Chilean aristocrat who promptly abandons them. But there’s a loving stepfather who encourages her curiosity and raises her to be self-sufficient. This is her coming of age story. It does get bogged down in the middle, grabs on to one too many plot conveniences and coincidences, and at times uses weird creative license with its point of view narration, but nonetheless this is a compelling addition to the author’s bibliography in her trademark style.

Emilia del Valle is born out of wedlock to her American mother Molly after she has a brief affair with a Chilean aristocrat Gonzalo Andres del Valle. Her father deserts her mother before Emilia is born, but Molly marries a kind man who raises Emilia as his own. Emilia longs to be a writer and she achieves her goal by writing novels under a man's pen name and by getting a job at a city newspaper. There she meets Eric Whelen, destined to be the man whom she loves. They travel to Chile to report on the revolution of 1891 partly because Molly is desperate for Emilia to meet her father to claim her birthright and party because Emilia yearns for adventure. Emilia does not keep her distance from the war, which has traumatic results. But her strength, her love for Eric and her parents and her determination to discover her destiny keep her from losing her spirit.
Allende delivers another novel with a strong female lead character who is thrust into cataclysmic circumstances. It follows Emilia's story from her birth and we see how she grows into an independent yet caring woman. Allende writes descriptively about the atrocities of war and the beauty of Chile.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this egalley.

Allende never fails me. This is ann excellent tale about a woman discovering her roots as well as fascinating details of the Chilean civil war and unrest in the late 1800’s. I found Emelia’s story , in equal measure full of twists & turns and very moving

3.5 I have always been a big fan of Isabel Allende and greatly look forward to her next book release. Unfortunately, I can't say this was one of my favorites. As expected, the author did her research on the subject of the Chilean Civil war. Given her family and background, the turbulent history of Chile is never far from her mind, or her stories. While the Civil War was interesting, I found the main character hard to connect with. Allende specializes in books about strong women surviving in adverse conditions, but I feel Emilia was written too much like a modern day women. Even with an indulgent father, I don't feel a woman could have conducted herself and said the things she did in that particular place and time. I found it hard to take her seriously. One of the things I've always loved Isabel Allende's book is there is often just a touch, or sometimes a dollop, of magical realism woven into the story, which I've come to expect when reading one of her books. I found that sorely lacking in this book.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Chilean Civil War I would encourage you to read this book. Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC opportunity.