I have only read a few of Allende’s books, but this didn’t pull me in quite the same as the others I’ve tried. It felt a little disjointed and the characters lacked depth. This book covers the Chilean civil war, a love story, lost and found family, and a little bit of everything in between. So much happened, and I think it would’ve been richer with a little less happening in more detail. It was enjoyable nonetheless.

Emilia was born in 1866 to a bitter woman who, when she was a novice nun, got pregnant. Unable to continue living with the other nuns, she married an older man who had worked with her when she was a novice and loved her. As Emilia grew, she was inundated with stories of her rich and cowardly father who refused to acknowledge his daughter and the inheritance she was owed from his rich coffers.

Emilia loved her stepfather, who taught her everything he knew and instilled in her that she could be anything she wanted to be. As a female she was expected to follow the pre-ordained path of marriage, or specific feminine vocations. However, Emilia had no desire to be a wife, nurse, or teacher. Her passion was writing so, under a male pseudonym, she began writing a series of successful dime store crime novels.

At age twenty-two Emilia became a crime reporter at The Daily Examiner in San Francisco, paired with a male reporter who took her under his wing. Eventually they travelled to Chile to report on its civil war, as Emilia convinced the editor to also let her go because her father was Chilean, and she spoke Spanish.

As Emilia learned more about Chile, its beauty, and its warring factions, she began feeling a love and connection to the country. However, separated from the man she loved, and finding herself on the wrong side of the winning army, Emilia soon found out Chile’s beauty didn’t extend to the black hearts of her countrymen.

In her own words, Emilia explains why she was not the typical female of her time and place. Her rich descriptions and life experiences will keep readers on the edges of their seats until its final, satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommended for Adults.

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende is a breathtaking novel that beautifully captures the resilience and curiosity of its protagonist, Emilia. Set against the backdrop of the Chilean Civil War, the story follows Emilia’s journey as she defies societal expectations, pursuing knowledge, independence, and her passion for storytelling. Her strength and sense of wonder make her an unforgettable character, drawing readers into her world of adventure, love, and self-discovery. Allende’s lyrical prose and masterful storytelling bring history to life, making this a deeply immersive and emotional read. A definite 5-star book that left me captivated from start to finish!

Ms. Allende is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint in this one. I grew to love Emilia, I think you have to appreciate how this author writes, since she normally covers a country’s crisis in war. This time the story is based in Chile and it is truly a self-discovery and a wonderful love story.
I spent several enjoyable hours with Emilia and Eric. The ending was great. This is one of those books that you think about long after you turn the last page.
I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for my unbiased review. Comes in with high 5 stars.

My name is Emilia De Valle
Emilia De Valle is the illegitimate child of a nun and a Chilean aristocrat who seduced her mother and left her. She is growing up with her mother and her adoring stepfather in San Francisco in the late 1800’s.
She had a talent for writing and pens short novels under a man’s name, otherwise her books would not be published. She eventually works herself in as a journalist for the Examiner, resenting writing about women’s interest stories. When a chance to travel to Chile comes up to cover the developing civil war, she grabs it and travels to Chile, where she also tries to find and reconnect with her biological father. The author describes the civil war between government forces and the rebels in all the horrific details war entails. The rest of the story takes place in Chile , how Emilia and a colleague, who later becomes her love interest fare in Chile during the civil war and its aftermath.
My favorite genre is historical fiction, because I can always learn from these novels. This is especially true when the author is Isabel Allende and her research is meticulous. I googled the Chilean civil war of 1891 to understand even more the historical events. The writing is beautiful as one would expect from this author. Emilia is a very strong woman and her character endures situations very few could. Overall this is a 5 star novel.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

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While the writing was beautiful and I always enjoy reading about historical events I am unfamiliar with, this book missed the mark for me. Despite the high stakes of the situation the characters were in, I felt like this book moved a bit too slowly to hold my interest. I found the descriptions of the Chilean Civil War harrowing and enticing, and my heart broke for those involved; that being said, the characters themselves felt a bit underdeveloped, and with so many names involved in the conflict, it would have been nice to flesh them out a bit more.

All that being said, I would still recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, and those who enjoy reading about strong women pioneering their own path. While this specific book wasn't necessarily for me, I'm open to reading other works by Isabel Allende, since I did really enjoy her writing style.

Loved the story! I felt the last two chapters dragged on but I think it’s more because I was so desperate to hear the ending because I was so into the story. The love story between Eric and Emilia came a little out of nowhere, but nevertheless I still loved their story. I loved Emilia so much, I might name my future daughter after her.

I have been a fan of Isabel Allende’s books just about since the beginning and I don’t recall any that disappointed me!

My Name Is Emilia del Valle was so interesting! I don’t believe that I ever had read anything about the Revolutionary Chilean Civil War in the 1890’s, but this book brilliantly illustrated it for me.

A young woman, a wrong--side-of-the-blanket child of a Chilean nobleman who despoiled an aspiring nun grows up in a loving home with her mother and adoring step-father. She grows up to be very well love, independent, intelligent, and self assured. She yearns for a career in journalism - real journalism- not about the genteel topics to which female reporters are generally assigned. Ultimately she is allowed to report on the Chilean Revolutionary Civil War and travels there with her friend, a male reporter. As an aside she hopes to track down the noble family to whom she is related and navigates a meeting with her biological father and his family .

What happens next is riveting reading! We follow her reportage as she experiences civil war up close and personal, tries to keep track of what her fellow reporter is covering on “the other side”, and becomes involved with a family that she never really knew she had.

For me this is another “5star” read from. favored author. I was granted access to a galley copy of this book by the publisher for I am grateful. The more only requirement was an honest review which I am so happy to provide! This is. book to learn from, to grow from and to enjoy!

My Name is Emilia del Valle stretches the imagination with a civil war set in Chile during the late 1800's covered by a woman journalist nee romance writer using a pseudonym since women writers were not recognized. Determined to locate her Chili an dad, Emilia sets off for Chile with unfathomable adventures. This is quite a suspenseful novel that Isabel Allende characteristically pens.

I can’t say enough about how wonderful of a writer Isabel Allende is. My Name Is Emilia del Valle, is a captivating historical fiction about a young woman born in San Francisco to an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat. Raised by her mother and a supportive stepfather, Emilia develops a strong sense of independence and a passion for writing. Her journey takes her to the battlefields of Chile, where she seeks to uncover her roots and establish her identity.

Allende’s storytelling shines as she weaves a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and resilience. Emilia’s character is richly developed, portraying a woman ahead of her time, defying societal norms to pursue her ambitions. The novel delves into themes of family, identity, and the pursuit of one’s destiny, all set against the backdrop of the historical events of the Chilean Civil War of the late 19th century.

Allende’s masterful storytelling and rich character development make this novel a noteworthy addition to her body of work.

I would’ve liked to have more history in this book. Also, in the end she gets married really.? I have read other books by this author that I really liked this one not so much

I have read and enjoyed many of Isabelle Allende’s books in the past, and have even read a couple of them in Spanish, calling upon my rusty high school/college Spanish to do so. For this reason, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her latest novel, “My Name is Emilia del Valle.” As explained below, I was somewhat disappointed with this one, primarily due to the long drawn out descriptions in the second half of the book.

The book starts with Emilia as a young girl in San Francisco in 1873, where she lives with her mother, Molly Walsh, and her stepfather, don Pablo Claro, whom she refers to as “Papo.” Her biological father was Gonzalo Andres del Valle, from a prominent Chilean family, who seduced her mother when she was a novice nun. Emilia has never met her biological father, who refused to acknowledge his paternity and returned to Chile before Emilia’s birth. When she is in her twenties, she becomes a reporter for the Daily Examiner, a job she obtains through persistence, stubbornness and strength of character, refusing to take “no” for an answer.

The first half of the book describes her life with her mother and stepfather, including her stint as a reporter. The descriptions of her tour across the country and back on the transcontinental railroad, as well as her experiences while in New York reporting for the paper, brought this period of time to vivid life. After her trip to New York, she is sent to Chile in 1891 to cover the civil war there between the “Congressional” faction and those supporting the President, Balmaceda. She is supposed to be focusing on the “human interest” side of the civil war, while her co-worker, Eric Whelan, is to report on the actual conflict. Emilia promptly ignores this directive, becoming embedded with the President’s troops where she joins forces with the “Canteen Girls,” women who provide provisions and first aid to the troops in combat.

The second half of the book, which starts with the Chilean Civil War, quickly becomes bogged down with detailed and protracted descriptions of both the actual combat and the horrors perpetuated by the victorious Congressional troops on the conquered Presidential forces and their leaders and supporters. Subsequent chapters provide detailed and somewhat monotonous descriptions of a prolonged, arduous journey through a remote and undeveloped region in the southern portion of the country, describing what seems like every step along the way.

These detailed, drawn out descriptions made the book a drudge to read. If these sections had been more succinct, the book would have been so much better. Perhaps other readers with more patience than I have will enjoy the beautiful prose and evocative descriptions of San Francisco, transcontinental United States train travel in the late 1800’s, and the south Chilean wilderness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Let me state the obvious – Isabel Allende is a beautiful writer who never disappoints.

I had decided to read a different book before I read My name is Amelia Del Valle, but once I read the first sentence, she had me hooked. Not so much because of the story that hadn't even really begun, but because the writing just carries you along.

The other thing about Isabel Allende is that she takes you to places and times and events that you've never been to before and, often, don't even know existed. This time it is the Chilean Civil War at the turn of the last century. Since I didn't know who won the conflict (and chose not to Google it), I felt the suspense of the reality of war. In addition, her descriptions of being on the battlefield are so vivid as to evoke strong emotions in the reader.

Finally, I had no idea what would happen to the characters: would Amelia survive? Would Eric? Would they begin a life in San Francisco? Would the pull of Chile be too strong?

Allende keeps you wondering until the last page. What a wonderful read it is.

There is something about the worlds that Isabel Allende creates where they have the capacity to be cozy and familiar while also showing how heart-breaking life can be. I just fall into her worlds and I don’t want to leave them. I also fell in love with Emilia. I loved ever piece of her story and how she went against everything everyone told her and truly just followed her own instincts. I left this book feeling like I could do anything if Emilia could pull off all she did in this book. I also learned so much about Chile which I also loved. 💛

I should have known that Isabel Allende's newest book was going to sweep me away. Allende's writing is so beautiful, and her stories are so heartbreakingly wonderful. I loved every minute I spent reading My Name is Emilia de Valle and I can't wait for the rest of the world to read it too!

I was excited to receive this copy of Isabel Allende's upcoming release My Name is Emilia del Valle. This historical fiction begins in San Fransisco in the 1866s, following an Irish-American mother and her child Emilia, who, while she has not met her father, knows he is a Chilean aristocrat. Emilia does not follow traditional norms for women and sets out to be a writer and journalist. She spends time writing before being partnered with a man named Eric and traveling to Chile to write about the ongoing Civil War. While the reader learns more about Emilia as she learns about herself, they also learn vast and ranging information about the historical event itself, as Allende is so good at doing. She provides multiple perspectives and historical facts alongside a variety of characters. Allende's clear love of the Chilean landscape and history also shines through. While this book is accessible to older teens, it is better suited to a public library setting. That being said, I will still likely buy a copy for our high school library as Allende is a popular author! Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was a challenging read for me. It tells the story of Emilia, a young woman in the mid 1800's who works hard to become the first American woman to become a news columnist. She's blatantly feminist, so much so that it's hard to believe. The opportunities she's awarded seem unrealistic for her era. The story is told amid the backdrop of the Chilean war. I am not a fan of long, graphic battles but unfortunately they dominated the book.
There is a love story but it seems to exist on the margins.
I had a hard time relating to the characters and my overall feeling is one of disappointment.
3.5
Read from: Jan 28, 2025 - Jan 30, 2025

Emilia defies social conventions in 1880s San Francisco by writing crime novels and then newspaper articles. When the Chilean Civil War breaks out in 1891, she travels across the hemisphere in search of adventure as well as the father she never met.

The story of Emilia in Chile was the heart of the novel, but it was only half of the book. The other half focused on her growing up. While some of the backstory was important, I would have preferred it be told through flashback. The beginning of the novel was too slow, and I think some of the information was unnecessary for the later parts.

The scenes in Chile were heartbreaking and dark, and I was sucked in.

THE BEST LITERARY HISTORICAL NOVEL I’VE READ IN YEARS!!!!
Utterly enthralling!
I finished the last page at 3:30am this morning while still snuggling in bed…..then set the book down and melted into bliss.
It has everything I love . . . elevated historical fiction blended with literary storytelling mastery.
…..we meet a powerhouse independent heroine….
learn some fascinating history, and experience Chilean Civil War down to our toes.
Isabel Allende, our gifted raconteur, can spin a tale like nobody’s business.
….I was in awe from our protagonist’s (Emilia) courage & gusto ….
….I was moved tremendously by her step-father ….
….And . . .
….I was engrossed on every page - every turn —
[there is remarkable ambition, adventure, brutality, war, family roots, career desires, work ethics, giving back to the community, history, journalism, friendships, love, a little romance ….etc.

Isabel Allende is eighty-two years old. How did that happen? Impossible … can’t be … where have the years gone?

Isabel Allende has been influencing me ….entertaining me…teaching me ….and inspiring me to be a better person….for many YEARS.
She’s not only a very talented writer…..but also a woman who is passionate about family, friends, social justice, activism, feminism, and history…..(both Chilean and American)…..
I’ve read seventeen Isabel Allende books…..both fiction and non-fiction. (She’s published well over twenty).
I’ve gone to hear Allende speak at ‘book-readings’ three different times. I guess it’s fair to say ….I’m a lifetime fan.

Isabel Allende, Chilean-American author, is a master-storyteller.
She has written over twenty books that have been translated in 35 languages…
She is the world‘s most widely read Spanish-language author.
In 2004 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 2010, she received Chili’s National Literature Prize. President Barack Obama awarded her the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In “My Name is Emilia del Valle”, we are first introduced to Emilia in San Francisco. Her mother: Molly Walsh, was nun in 1866.
Molly Walsh got pregnant by a Chilean aristocrat (Gonzalo Andres del Valle)— who was not the father or husband in either Molly or Emilia’s life.
Molly married Francisco Claro who became Emilia’s devoted stepfather. Emilia called him Papo. Others called him Pancho.
The storytelling about the above paragraph is much more juicy, interesting, intimate and descriptive.
The beginning setting is in the Mission District of San Francisco….
We get a flavor of family life, work life at a local school, (Aztec Pride), and the colorful community….with nuns and neighborhood residents.
As Emilia was growing up ….(an only child until the age of eight….with three brothers to follow)….her interest in writing first evolved from reading “DIME NOVELS”.
Dime novels were about 90 to 100 pages in length, pocket size, printed on cheap paper. Stories about Cowboys and Indians, adventures, soldiers, easy to read and entertaining.
Critics considered them garbage, but for many people who didn’t have much time to read, they preferred them over poetry and romance.
In the United States, roughly between the years 1860 and 1915, the western themed dime novels were quite popular.
Emilia wrote ‘her’ first dime book at age seventeen. Her Papo supported, and cultivated Emilia’s passion and independence.

….In order form Emilia to get her dime story/stories published ….she had to invent a pseudonym…
Brandon J. Price was the macho-male name used. God forbid females wrote anything other than flowery articles.
Emilia’s own author/identity was kept a secret…
….Until ….
….Eventually ….
….Emilia got a job as a columnist with “The Daily Examiner” …..
She was assigned to work with Eric Whelan (the top journalist) ….

Part II of this novel ….
Emilia and Eric are both sent to Chile to report of the Civil War. We will experience the dark wrenching scary things — all that war is — other things will fester ….
….Emilia will meet her biological father …..
and
….Emilia and Eric begin to fall in love …..
I’m saying NO MORE …..other than I was on the edge of my seat, not knowing how the book was going to end.

A few excerpts:
“My honorable stepfather always said that as long as we had work, love, and dignity, we should want for nothing. We also had a decent little home, and we’re not indebted to anyone”.

“Remember princess, that you will have to work twice as hard as any man for half the recognition” was one of the lessons my Papo taught me”.

“I was terrified, trembling from fear and cold, hunched down with my head in my hands, trying to make myself invisible. I cursed my decision to stay instead of returning to Santiago as Eric kept asking me to, muttering prayers, imagining my body morally wounded by bullets, sabers, or bayonets, limbs amputated,eyes blinded, paralyzed, disfigured”.

“The most difficult part of the battle came after, when the survivors would walk the battlefield to collect the wounded, close the eyes of the dead, and pray over the pit of bodies piled atop the others, all equal in the same woeful world filled with blackbirds of ill omen and the stench of rot and the smoke of the bonfires built to burn the carcasses of the dead horses and mules”.

“That’s how it was in the United States; more men died in our Civil War than in all other wars we’ve had. The country was left deeply wounded, and I’m not certain it will ever heal”.
“Do you think the Chileans will hate each other forever?
“Hate often lies doormat under the surface, only to sprout back up when given the correct circumstances. That is how it has happened in the United States—we are still very much a divided country”.

A glass of brandy anyone?
Congrats to Isabel Allende. This is a beautiful, brutal, fierce, lush, mesmerizing, stunningly enjoyable novel.

~ I received an ARC copy of "My Name is Emilia Del Valle" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

While Ms. Allende's reputation and writings have received critical acclaim, I've never once read her works until now. My Name is Emilia del Valle is a pleasant introduction into Ms. Allende's world building and writing styles. Her development of Emilia, a half-Chilean, half-American journalist in the late 19th century describes a character who experiences growth and humility through pursuing her passion of writing. Allende builds Emilia del Valle's story around the Chilean Civil War which led to the deaths and persecution of hundreds and not thousands and resulted in a government overthrow.

Allende paints a beautiful picture of the Chilean landscape while being unapologetic in the realities of war and its casualties. Emilia is not a vain character, but inexperienced in the beginning of her journey and grows as a writer and as a person throughout the story.