First of all, a big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC of My Name Is Emilia del Valle. It was not my usual genre, but I ended up truly loving this expressive narrative.

Emilia del Valle was an author and later became a war correspondent during Chile's vicious Civil War. I paused to ask myself how I ended up with this book but I plodded on. So glad I did. It was both heart stopping and so vivid in the descriptions of humanity and the countryside.

Set against the backdrop of the Chilean Civil War of 1891, My Name is Emilia del Valle follows Emilia, a young journalist who defies convention by traveling to Chile to cover the conflict. Along the way, she finds herself in the trenches of battle, navigating political turmoil, personal loss, and a journey of self-discovery. When she unexpectedly inherits land in a remote part of southern Chile, she embarks on a new adventure that challenges everything she thought she knew about herself and her place in the world.

The story is intriguing, but the pacing is uneven—some parts move too quickly, jumping abruptly from intense moments, like being on the battlefield, to quieter ones, like a stay in a hotel. Other sections slow down considerably, making it feel like the momentum stalls. I also found parts of Emilia’s journey hard to believe. In 1891, it seems unlikely that a woman would be allowed to work as a journalist, travel to Chile during a civil war, somehow make it onto a battlefield, and then go off on her own to claim inherited land in a remote part of the country. While historical fiction doesn’t have to be perfectly accurate, these details felt a bit too modern for the time period. That said, the story is engaging, and Allende’s writing is as vivid as ever—just be prepared to suspend some disbelief.

I love reading books by Isabel Allende and this one truly did not disappoint! It is a great historical fiction read about the state of affairs in Chile and a young woman becoming a nun and falling under the spell of a Chilean aristocrat. And along with that, a woman pursuing a career in writing and traveling to the trenches of the Chilean war.

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Isabel Allende's newest book, My Name is Emilia del Valle. Emilia is from San Francisco. Her mother was the daughter of an Irish immigrant who had planned to become a nun until she met a dashing, wealthy Chilean man, who is Emilia's father. Emilia is raised by her mother and stepfather, whom she loves dearly, and she never seems to miss her absentee father. She loves writing and aspires to become a reporter, a profession that was not available to women at the end of the 19th century. She is permitted to report on the Civil War occurring in Chile and finds herself in danger, living a life she could never have imagined. Emilia must decide who she is and who she wants to become after meeting her father and his family, experiencing the Civil War, and observing how other people live.

Another very enjoyable book from Isabel Allende. This one if filled with complex characters, interesting Chilean history and a wonderful story!!

I came in with high hopes of getting swept away. This book didn’t do that. Everything felt rushed or like a dull lecture. The fmc wasn’t engaging or interesting. In fact all characters were underdeveloped and forgettable. I never saw the romance between mmc and fmc.

I am a fan of Isabel Allende. I have read almost all of her books and have loved many of them. This one, however, fell flat. There were many reasons why I should have found it captivating. The early part of the book is set in my hometown of San Francisco in the 1860s. It follows a young nun who becomes pregnant by a wealthy Chilean rascal who then shuns her. I should have been captivated by the descriptions of the neighborhoods and early San Francisco life, but they felt rote. The rest of the book follows the daughter produced by this union, Emilia. She becomes a writer and journalist and ultimately travels to Chile to chronicle the unfurling civil war and to meet her father's family. While I enjoyed learning more about this period of Chile's history, many of the historical and location descriptions were thin. The plot also felt more contrived than usual. As a writer, my pet peeve is when the same descriptors and verbs are too-often repeated, and this was the case in this book. I also found the characters less developed than usual. By the end of the book, I felt as though I had read something written by AI: the right ingredients were all there, but they did not combine into a savory dish. I hate writing negative reviews, but I'll confess I am glad I did not have to buy this book. I hope Allende's next book will be written with the care of her earlier works.

Isabel Allende is my absolute favorite author, so I was thrilled when I got an advanced copy of the book! Her book “House of Spirits” completely changed who I am as a person, and I’ve read all of her other books. This book is about Emilia, a woman who becomes a journalist and goes to Chile in search of her story and the war raging on in the country.

This one fell a bit short for me though, and I’m not sure why. I loved her writing, it’s as clear and precious as always. I loved the real life history that the story was based on. Allende always does an incredible job of researching her history, and I always end up learning something about Latin American history that I didn’t know before. And of course, her main character was a complete bad ass and didn’t fit into society’s norms of how a woman should act.

But I just felt like this story didn’t go as deep as I wanted it to. I felt like it was very surface level, and I wanted to know more about our main character. I almost feel rushed through this book, and would have loved more pages so that Allende could have really fleshed out every character and scene. Everything was just a little too abrupt for me. But all in all, a good read! Just wanted to explore our characters a little bit more Thank you #netgalley for the book!

My Name is Emilía del Valle is another brilliant and exciting novel written by Isabel Allende about a very strong, independent and fierce female character: a young woman, in the end of the 19th century, who lives in California (born to an Irish mother and a Chilean father) and aspires to be a writer and a journalist. She first writes short novels - under a male pseudonym, that are published in the local paper, but she wishes to became a journalist and not hide under another name.
She manages to travel alongside the most respected male journalist of the paper they work for and they go to Chile to report all about the current civil war in that country.

It's a touching story about the horrors of war and how to find yourself, your true self and identity, in the midst of tragic events and uncertainties.
Isabel Allende, as usual, writes beautifully and the readers are gripped by the very first chapter. This book is divided into different parts, which makes, in my opinion, the reading experience more dynamic and fast-pacing.
The conclusion is heart-breaking but also compelling.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it, and even if you haven't read a book by Allende yet, you should consider picking this one up.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I was afraid the book had gotten away from her. It had gotten away from me, and I thought irretrievably. It begins slowly like one of those austere Chilean warships, becomes unwieldy, and when the engine explodes, I was sure we were going to the bottom. It sailed into port like a hand in a silk glove. But let me try to be a little more prosaic.
The titular Emilia del Valle grows up in San Fransisco during the 1890s, the last gasp of the gold rush. Her mother, an Irish girl, was about to take her vows as a nun when she was seduced by a Chilean aristocrat who abandoned her and her child. She finds shelter and eventual domestic bliss with a greathearted schoolteacher, but she always harbors a desire for revenge upon her seducer. And she tries to transfer that vengeful desire to Emilia.
Her mother's revenge fantasies fuel Emilia's first forays as a writer, dime novels under an assumed (male) name. That's important to remember: Emilia is a writer. That will be more than her vocation. It will be her salvation.

The story then widens out from a family saga in a dangerous way as Emilia's inevitably pulled into her father's orbit and her fatherland, which is in the middle of a brutal civil war, brutally detailed by Allende. The effect is jarring, as if the author has set off a bomb in the middle of a tea party. The shift seems almost unforgivable.

But just when you're about to be swamped the ship changes tack again. Emilia's reaction to the horrors she has witnessed and undergone is profound, and she undertakes a journey which seems impossibly foolhardy, but it's as much an inward journey as a matter of miles, a journey to the heartland and to her own heart, the heart of a writer.

Confused? I was. And exasperated at times, but in the end I was won over. It's a difficult book, not in its lambent prose, but in its shifting scope. It takes a pro to pull it off. Isabelle Allende is up to the task.

One of my favorite books from this author in years - Allende is always a master of her craft, but when she really sinks her teeth into a sweeping historical drama, it’s truly something special to experience. Transporting, vivid, and rich - loved it.

A story that you can't predict. Meet a young woman who finds family and love and adventure in most unexpected ways.

I usually love Allende's work but this round I got lost a few times. I think the storyline was too complicated and the descriptions too detailed for the hectic week in which I read it.

I recommend this when you're ready for a young woman's gripping saga ... and you have time to relish the rich language and textures of Emilia's journey.

Emilia, the daughter of an Irish nun and Chilean aristocrat, is raised by her mother and stepfather in San Francisco. A creative thinker, Emilia begins publishing dime store novels under a male name. When pulp novels no longer intrigue her, she convinces The Daily Examiner to hire her as a journalist. There she is paired with Eric Whelan. When civil war erupts in Chile, she talks her paper into sending her in country. There, she finally meets her father’s family.

This was an intriguing and fast paced novel. The characters were realistic and well developed. I loved learning about Chile and enjoyed that the author had Emilia and Eric covering different sides of the war. I’m not going to give anything away, but I was a bit perplexed by the ending. It just seemed different from the rest of the story. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

Isabel Allende’s latest novel, My Name Is Emilia del Valle, is a masterful blend of historical fiction and personal journey, showcasing her incredible and unique talent with storytelling. Set in the late 19th century, the narrative follows Emilia del Valle, a young woman born in San Francisco to an Irish mother and a Chilean nobleman. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia’s insatiable curiosity and determination lead her to defy societal norms, pursuing a career in writing and journalism— rare for woman of her time, and brave.

Allende’s prose is vivid, taking us from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the tumultuous landscapes of Chile during the civil war. Emilia’s journey to her father’s homeland is not only a quest for personal identity but also an immersive exploration of a nation in conflict. Allende's meticulous research and attention to detail paints a rich view of the era’s political and cultural situations..

Emilia’s character is an ode to resilience and independence. Her evolution from a pulp fiction writer under a male pseudonym to a courageous journalist reporting from the front lines is inspiring.

My Name Is Emilia del Valle is a captivating tale that further cements Isabel Allende’s status as a literary legend. Her ability to intertwine personal narratives with historical events creates a profound and unforgettable novel. I recommend this book whole-heartedly..

Isabelle Allende has written another masterpiece. Emilia is conceived by an Irish American nun impregnated by a Chilean aristocrat. She is raised by her mother and devoted stepfather, Papo. Papo supports her to become a courageous, independent, and resourceful young woman. She aspires to be a journalist and lands a job at the San Francisco Examiner, which provides her the opportunity to cover a civil war in Chile. With her life in peril, she explores not just the culture, topography, and sociopolitical dynamics of Chile, but also gains a deeper understanding of herself and her biological father's family.

As with her previous books, Allende delivers another riveting novel with complex characters you come to love, intriguing settings, and plot twists that keep you guessing what will happen next. I highly recommend My Name is Emilia del Valle.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

In "My Name is Emilia del Valle", Isabel Allende crafts a fiercely strong female protagonist at the end of the 19th century who takes on an unprecedented role in the Chilean Civil War.

In 1866, Emilia del Valle is born in San Francisco to an Irish nun who never planned to get pregnant, but is raised under the love of her stepfather Don Pacho and encouraged to look beyond the stereotypical roles expected of women at the time. Well-educated and strong-minded, Emilia begins pursuing her love of writing at a young age, writing dime novels under a male pseudonym that are inspired by stories her mother imagines, and channels it into a future job as a journalist - still taking on a fake name to hide her gender. Her determination proves her value, however, and a strong friendship with fellow journalist Eric Whelan eventually land the two in the heart of the Chilean Civil War.

It is during this time that Emilia is forced to grow up quickly, coming to terms with the brutalities of war as she's forced into the front lines to witness the battles. She grows close with a number of the Chilean canteen girls, women who take on multiple roles as providers, caretakers, and nurses to support the soldiers at the front lines and details their heroic efforts in her writing. It is also in Chile that she finally meets her biological father face-to-face as well as the remnants of his family, coming to terms with her own background. While Allende does also spend some time on Emilia's romantic developments, I personally found this one of the lesser interesting aspects of the story.

The novel as a whole is an incredible work of historical fiction, especially for those who don't have much background on this time period; it's clear an extensive amount of research and work has gone into the writing. The pacing is fairly quick, as we follow Emilia through her life and work, and the events covered are fascinating and enthralling. What I struggled with, however, is how disconnected I felt from the protagonist, even with the story being told from a first-person perspective; the novel feels like more of a chronological retelling of events, and very little of Emilia's true emotions and thoughts, her struggles and pain, are shared. I've read several of Allende's earlier works and still am not sure if this is a matter of translation, or simply her style of writing.

Overall a recommended read for those who appreciate a strong female protagonist and well-researched historical fiction, but not one of my personal favorites.

Thank you Ballantine Books for the advance copy of this novel!

My least favorite book written by Allende It read like a history lesson and I found it confusing and hard to follow. I didn’t find the protagonist, Emilia, to be someone who I cared enough for to want to know her life story. The themes of feminism and lost parentage were not well developed.

This was a very different book. Emilia was the daughter of a Chilean man and a novice nun. Her step-father was a wonderful father to her. Emilia made money by writing dime novels under a pseudonym. In the 1800s San Francisco, women could not be writers. Even when she started working for a newspaper, she had to write under a man’s name. Emilia wanted more. She and her coworker were sent to Chili to cover a civil war there. She met her biological father and his family and was caught up in the war there.
The writing was beautiful, but it was not a subject that greatly interested me. My Name Is Emilia del Valle, by Isabel Allende, is a story you might enjoy of a young woman stretching the boundaries of convention.

I’ve read several of Isabel Allende’s novels, but I’m not sure I have ever been as enraptured with a character as I was with Emilia del Valle. In fact, there are few characters in literature that I have found more compelling. She is a study of bravery, independence, and adventure – both unique qualities for a woman of her time. The book starts in 19th-century San Francisco with her mother, Molly – an intriguing character in her own right.

Molly is Irish Catholic and preparing to be a nun. One misstep leaves her pregnant and alone, but she gives birth to Emilia, and nothing will be the same. She marries an older man, Francisco Claro (or Papo to Emilia) who loves her and provides. He has a big heart and loves Emilia more than anything. I loved their connection and how he encourages her to dream big – and follow those dreams.

Emilia starts writing dime novels and actually begins to make a living. She has to publish under a male pseudonym and yearns for the time when she can put her name on her works. She becomes a reporter and is absolutely fearless. Being half Chilean, she convinces her editor to send her to Chile to cover the civil war that is brewing. This leads to the bulk of the action… and it is riveting.

Allende’s handling of the battles is top-notch. The writing shows the frightening truth of war – it is not glorious or compelling. It is a brutal, blood-thirsty affair that touches everyone who has the misfortune of being close by. I appreciated her tenacity in sticking to facts. It was so compelling that I found myself reading the history along with her narrative and it was spot on.

There are side plots, but everything leads back to Emilia del Valle. She is a force of nature. Her journey of self-discovery with the backdrop of a nation’s darkest time is simply captivating. Now that I’ve finished, I will miss her greatly. The middle of the book to the end is a sweeping story that I couldn’t put down.

It is so good. Five stars – I highly recommend.

I have loved Isabel Allende's writing for years. Her writing is so lyrical as she weaves an incredible story in this book. It thrives on its combination of adventure, war, family, inheritance and romance; all components of a work of art. Her characters sing from the pages and you can rejoice in their triumphs and feel for their sorrow. The strength of the two main characters give new meaning to the idea of perseverance and holding fast to one's ideals. This book took me to places quite unknown and I adored every page of the adventure.