As with her other novels, Isabel Allende has again crafted a beautifully written saga of Chilean history and culture. She expertly weaves her characters, helping readers feel as if we’ve stepped into their world. The intense and vivid saga starts in the U.S., focuses in Santiago and Valparaiso, and then drifts to Patagonia. Engaging to read despite some rough spots likely due to translation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Isabel Allende is known for her historical fictions, typically involving some aspect of Chilean history. This time, My Name is Emilia del Valle tackles the civil war in 1891. The war became a focus of other countries, like America and England because of the manufacturing of nitrate, used for explosives and gunpowder.
The book is told from the POV of Emilia del Valle, one of the few American female newspaper columnists of the day. Emilia was the result of her Irish mother’s relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, who tossed the novice nun aside as soon as she was with child. Emilia was a woman well ahead of her time, not just in her profession but the way she chooses to live her life.
Allende has the ability to put you right in the time and place. I could easily imagine the miner’s camps and later the battles, hospital and prison. It was a brilliant move to make Emilia a columnist, as her articles provide the necessary details about the social and political issues without dragging down the storyline. And while the main characters are fictional, she provides the real background of the country with actual political figures.
I was totally engaged in the politics on both sides. This was no black and white clash, both sides had serious faults. At one point, Emilia tries “to hold all the contradictions of this place in my head.” I loved how Allende brought out the societal and class differences on both sides.
I was less than engaged with the last section of the book which resulted in this being a four, not a five star, read for me.
The book is obviously well researched and I couldn’t wait to read her Author’s Note. So imagine my disappointment when there wasn’t one.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this ARC by Isabel Allende, My Name is Emilia del Valle.
In San Francisco in 1866, an Irish nun, abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat, gives birth to a daughter named Emilia del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman. She writes by a male pseudo name and is widely published and convinces the editor of The Daily Examiner to hire her when she reveals herself. During this time she is covering the civil war in Chile.
Although a violent conflict, Emilia throws herself in the center of it all. Those years were not kind to her. After she attempts to find herself, no more can be said because of spoilers.
Quite the interesting and intense story. Beautifully written as usual by Allende.

“I finished my story. I am ready to go home,” Emilia said.

My Name is Emilia del Valle follows the story of a bold an unconventional woman. Set between gold rush era San Francisco and Chile during its Civil Wat, we see the upbringing that shaped her and the barriers she breaks for women of her time. Emilia’s story is adventurous, and you can’t help but root for her. There were times that I felt the story could have gone deeper, and I didn’t love the ending, but it was overall a good read.

It’s beautifully written and offers a compelling story of how Emilia finds her way in the world, uncovers her past, and finds love. I didn’t give it five stars because there was some of “this happened and that happened,” especially at the beginning. The story covered much of the Chilean civil war, and that was particularly captivating. It’s a great book.

Isabel Allende is so good at the historical fiction genre. My Name is Emilia del Valle gives us a strong and determined main character. She is unstoppable when she sets her mind to something. She knows what she wants and will work towards her goals no matter what.

Emilia was born in interesting circumstances. Her mother, who plans to become a nun, gets pregnant instead. She struggles and holds on to a grudge with Emilia's father even after she has moved on and built a good life for herself and her daughter. We follow Emilia through life as she discovers herself, love and loss. During this pursuit, Emilia finds herself in danger many times. I was worried about this fictional character's well being. That's how good Isabel is. She makes you care.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the advance readers copy of this book!

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I found this to be an interesting story and I learned a lot about the history of Chile, which I know very little about. Also the vibrant way that the author describes the people and the society were fascinating.

That being said the POV and the voice that the author used made it really hard for me to fully emerge myself in the story and characters. It may be a translation issue because at times the sentence structure and rhythm felt rudimentary.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an early copy.

Isabel Allende has written another captivating historical novel with a strong woman at its center. This time, the backdrop is the Chilean Civil war of 1891. It is also about one young woman's struggle to become an important story teller in her own right, under her own name.

Emilia is an unusually smart and brave young woman, who must behave more assertively than most women of her time, to become a journalist in the San Francisco of the 1880s. When war breaks out in Chile, she actually succeeds in becoming a war correspondent. It does help that she speaks Spanish.

There are multiple stories housed in this novel. There is also the story of Molly Walsh, her mother, which will inform a large part of Emilia's life. After a loving childhood and an excellent education aided by her kind adopted father, Emilia is still not prepared to see war in a distant country, let alone be in the midst of battle.

The Chilean Civil War comes terrifyingly alive in these pages. It's a brutal, sad story that almost kills its heroine and does end many who she has come to care about. In the end, Emilia struggles to come to herself again and make her own decision about what comes next for her.

I enjoy Isabel Allende's writing and her stories, and this one was memorable. My reservations about this latest novel are minimal. That it did not spell out Emilia's next chapter is a perfectly good decision, even if it surprised me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction novel.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Isabel Allende's latest novel.

Isabel Allende once again proves her mastery of historical fiction with My Name Is Emilia del Valle, a mesmerizing and deeply immersive tale that spans generations, political upheavals, and personal reckonings. The novel beautifully intertwines personal identity with historical upheaval. At its core, this is a story of self-discovery, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth, anchored by an unforgettable protagonist.

From the moment Emilia del Valle is born under scandalous circumstances, her life is shaped by an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. Raised in 19th-century San Francisco, she defies societal expectations, forging a career as a writer under a male pseudonym. Her journey from fiction to journalism mirrors her own search for truth—both in the world and within herself. When an opportunity takes her to Chile to report on a civil war, Emilia finds more than just a story—she uncovers the secrets of her lineage and is forced to confront her own identity.

Emilia del Valle is a protagonist that stays with you long after the last page. Allende’s storytelling is as mesmerizing as ever, blending rich historical detail with an emotional depth that makes Emilia’s journey feel deeply personal. The novel’s strength lies in its immersive atmosphere, bringing both 19th-century California and war-torn Chile vividly to life. The historical backdrop is meticulously researched, offering a vivid portrait of the political and cultural forces that shape Emilia’s destiny. From the bustling streets of her homeland to the far-flung places that become her refuge, each setting pulses with life. That said, the novel is so rich in historical detail and introspection that, at times, the pacing seemed to lose momentum. However, for those who appreciate Allende’s signature blend of history and magical realism, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise spellbinding work.

In My Name Is Emilia del Valle, Isabel Allende proves once again that she is a master storyteller. Few can rival her sense of time, place, and fully fleshed out characters. It is 1891 in San Francisco, and Emilia had written dime novels under a man's name. She convinces the editor of The Daily Examiner to give her a column. Her work takes her to New York City, and when she has a chance to cover the Civil War in Chile, she jumps at the chance to go. Emilia utilizes the opportunity to find her birth father and learn more of her Chilean roots. Her stepfather is very close to her and has given her independence, confidence, and an adventurous spirit.

Emilia is unique for her time as a working woman who travels for work. I loved her character, and her coming of age story is tasteful and unique. Allende's prose is magical and immersive. I felt that I traveled with Emilia on her journey. Her time in Chile is especially poignant and beautiful. Learning about the history of Chile was fascinating to me and informative. I would like to explore more of Allende's backlist and immerse myself in more intriguing stories and characters. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books, and Isabel Allende for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Allende takes readers on another epic adventure with her latest book, My Name is Emilia del Valle. The illegitimate child of a Chilean aristocrat, Emilia grows up never knowing her biological father. Nevertheless, she is thoroughly loved and cared for by her religious mother and supportive adoptive father who encourage her writing ability. Emilia grows up to be a journalist and author who doesn’t let her gender block her entry into the world. After traveling to New York on her own, she embarks on a journey to Chile to cover the civil war and to track down her father before it is too late. Along the way, Emilia finds love but she never lets romance derail her ambition and curiosity. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and tales of strong adventurous women are sure to love Emilia del Valle.

I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but My Name is Emilia del Valle really called to me. In my search for Latine authors and stories, I knew I had to fully immerse myself. This was my first time reading something by Isabel Allende, and I’m so glad I did.

At times, the story felt a little wordy with a lot of information—but if you're a fan of historical fiction, I imagine you'd really enjoy that. For me, it lost me for a little while, and I started to lose interest. I’m really relieved I kept going, though, because the story turned out to be incredibly touching and empowering.

This book really shines a light on the terrors of war and how it can transform people. The violence is brutal, but seeing it through Emilia’s eyes was refreshing. She’s powerful, determined, stubborn, proud, independent—and yet, she’s also sympathetic and has moments where she's soft. I loved her at every turn of the story. I want to believe I see part of myself in her, especially my younger years of rebelling against the “norm” of Latino family expectations and what good, faithful women are “supposed” to look like. Having a character who is so confident, so set in her ways, so determined to share her story—and knowing she is worthy, talented, and a force—was my favorite part of this book.

You can really tell there’s a lot of research and personal experience behind this story. The details of growing up in a Hispanic household, even while being raised in America, really resonated with me. The feeling of belonging to two different countries, your heart and soul constantly split between them—it’s something I know all too well.

Overall, I think this will be a great read for fans of historical fiction and women's fiction. Emilia's character will stay with me!

This historical novel set during Chile’s civil war did not quite live up to what I have come to expect from Isabel Allende. The historical details were impressive, but the pacing was uneven and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. As a novel of self-discovery, I found it missing an emotional center, stuck as we were with the telling of events in a tone that felt cold and didn’t allow for much nuance of feeling. The most important piece of the story was left almost entirely to the reader’s imagination as we finally catch up to Emilia after she has spent some time alone in the wilderness. A disappointing, flawed work from a skilled storyteller.

There was a lot I loved about the book -strong female lead, I loved learning about her relationship with her family in the beginning. The writing was beautiful and well done. The descriptions of war were very detailed - to the point where this was a much heavier read than I anticipated. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will be looking into more from this author!

Isabel Allende once again has given us a story of a strong woman, deeply connected to her family and culture, a story full of heart and courage depicting a piece of history of her native Chile. The story telling is alluring from the first page. Her writing is as usual mesmerizing with descriptions of places such as San Francisco, New York City to Valparaiso to Santiago that brought me right there. The depiction of events and the mores of the times and the people, not just the political situation in Chile gives a genuine feel for the time. In the late 1880’s when it’s unheard of for a female journalist to even have a byline other than for the gentler issues, Emilia del Valle is sent to Chile on assignment during the political upheaval of civil war. It’s a fascinating story of a young woman looking to make her place in the world and discover something about her roots as she seeks out her birth father at the same time .

The first person narrative gives it the feel of a memoir . We experience Emilia’s story first hand and intimately as she connects with the people she meets along the way, allowing us to make acquaintance with some interesting characters. It’s so much more than the story of a journalist, but of a young woman staking her claim in life and love . The sign of an impeccable translation is when you don’t feel as if you are reading it in translation. I originally gave this 4 stars and after thinking about it more as I write my thoughts , it’s deserving of 5 stars.

I received a copy from Random House through NetGalley .

I received an advanced copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a life long Allende fan, I am proud to say this is her finest work yet. Allende masterfully crafts the story of a novelist turned journalist and her lover on a journey through war torn Chile at the turn of the century. All of the Allende hallmarks are here: passion, adventure, war, family secrets and the most memorable canine companions.
Allende has grown in this novel through the inclusion of plot twists, she is playing with her usual formula and adding mystery that leaves you guessing about the characters fates until the final page.


This is a new classic and i’m so jealous that come May millions of readers will be able to read it for the first time.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. I really liked this book. It was slow at first, but then picked up. Im so happy I stuck with it, it's worth reading.

Isabel Allende is one of my all-time favorite authors of historical fiction, and this novel about Emilia del Valle, a young woman who becomes a journalist and travels to war-torn Chile, lives up to this legacy. Well-written and compelling, and a great story about a strong woman overcoming the limitations of her time. Nearly docked a star for the final chapter but the rest of the novel makes up for the shortcomings of the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5 stars
RECOMMEND

This novel had the usual beautiful writing by Isalbe Allende, but the character development and storyline didn't work for me. This novel is more about the Chilean Civil War of 1891 than about Emilia. The description of the book was not what I expected at all. It was all about the war, which was devastating, horrific, and ugly.

If you REALLY like Isabel Allende or her writing, this book may work for you. The graphic war descriptions are gruesome and were too much for me. I prefer more character-driven novels, and this novel missed the mark on that aspect.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7328025559 - posted 3/5/2025

StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/0dd95b7d-232e-4a77-9339-cfaa02eac314 - posted 3/5/2025

Books by Dorothea blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/03/review-my-name-is-emilia-del-valle.html - posted 3/5/2025

This is a beautifully written novel, narrated by Emilia del Valle. It is her story bifurcated by her life and journalism and her experiences during the horrible civil war in Chile.

Emilia goes to Chile to write about the war, instead her life becomes tangled in the bloody excess of the war. Because Allende writes so well, I felt the pain and bloodshed. She is there in search of her biological father as well. This part of the narrative was certainly what I enjoyed the most. Ironically, finding her father and her inheritance becomes her own future.

This is a very interesting novel, but not an easy read. I think anyone interested in South American history will find this fascinating.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read another novel by Allende.