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.

Off to a slow start and with some heavy subject matter, I unfortunately wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book. The settings and characters are still intriguing, though, so I hope to return to it!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of My Name is Emilia del Valle.

Emilia is ahead of her time. The daughter of a devout Catholic mother seduced by a roguish absent father, Emilia grows up in the shadow of her mother’s rage at her father but loved and cherished by her stepfather who treats her as his own in post-gold-rush San Francisco.

In order to help provide for her family, Emilia tries writing a crime dime novel, and finds astonishing and immediate success, though she writes under a male pseudonym because a female author would be unheard of. From there she begins working as a reporter for a local newspaper, and eventually she is sent to cover the Chilean civil war for the paper. In Chile, she experiences the brutalities of war and nearly loses her life. She also tracks down her father, as Chile is his home country.

If these plot points seem far fetched, it doesn’t really matter. The beauty of this book is the evocative narration and Emilia’s descriptions of the people she meets and her various adventures, and her reflections on all she experiences. The language allows the tone of the book to ooze out of its pages and surround the reader like a warm blanket, even when the content is ghastly.

If you’re looking for a story that will put you in a different place and time (and if you’re not, why not?!), this is a perfect book for you.

Emilia Del Valle growing up in America in the late 19 th century, learns from her mother, a former novice Catholic nun, that her father, a wealthy aristocrat in Chile, owes his daughter her due inheritance. As fate would have it Emilia’s destiny is to be a journalist at a time when that profession is unthinkable for women. As Chile is torn apart by warring government factions, Emilia, becomes a foreign correspondent in that country and finally comes to meet the father she has been seeking.

The Chilean civil war was particularly newsworthy to foreign governments because of its mining and manufacture of nitrates, essential for the production of gunpowder and other explosives. Emilia has reason to be there and as she becomes involved in the bloody battles and aftermath of civil war, her observations as a skilled reporter lend credibility to the plot.

Allende did her homework. The historical background is impeccably researched and infused with actual characters who lived at that time and place. Grim details of the war add to the feel of the era. And yet, I found the book difficult to read. It was a slow and plodding journey for me to finish reading. Somehow, I was never fully engaged with the characters, the storyline or the author’s writing. For me it was a disappointing two star read. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy in return for my honest review.

After the patronage of her loving stepfather, Emilia is determined to earn her living as a writer, which is unorthodox of her gender at the time. Writing under a male pseudonym, she finds success writing 10-cent novels but aspires to become a journalist where she hopes to write under her own name. One of her assignments is to cover the political tension in Chile. This story covers the Chilean Civil War in great detail. It details the struggles between the president of the time, the wealthy European settlers, and the impoverished people in Chile.

Emilia del Valle's story is a powerful and vulnerable story written in the form of a memoir, but the book discussed such heavy topics that I found myself flinching with reluctance to finish. The book is about self-discovery in a harsh world during trying times. It's an emotional read that covers an important piece of Chilean history. It was a good book but was not for me. I truly think that I may have been the wrong target audience, and if read at another time or in another mood, I would have given the story more than 3.5 stars it deserves. It is very well written and researched and may thrive with a difference audience.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

This was my first Isabel Allende read, and I enjoyed it so much! She is masterful in the historical fiction genre, and I can’t wait to dig into her other novels!

Why do I do this to myself! Jeez! When I requested this book on NetGalley it was because I had read some excerpts from a book when I was teaching multicultural literature to high school seniors prior to retiring in 2017. I remembered her name and how much I enjoyed her work. What I didn't realize though, and wish I had, is that the name del Valle was first mentioned in The House of the Spirits which was published in 1982 while My Name Is Emilia del Valle was just published this May. That being said, I loved this book anyway. So, I had to go back and read her 1982 book just for a little insight (review to come later on that one).

I love historical fiction and I found the Chilean history very intriguing, informative and interesting. It doesn't hurt that Isabel Allende's writing is just beautiful and heartfelt. I tend to love books with plots that involve books and/or authors which this one did. It also takes place in San Francisco, about 75 miles from my home. She's only 16 years old when she begins to write under a pseudonym using a man's name, of course. Writing pulp fiction might've made writing using her own name even more difficult. Eventually she becomes a journalist and covers the war in Chile.

I love how smart and innovative she was. Emilia was a strong and courageous woman who stepped out of the box due to her own dreams and convictions. She didn't let societal norms hold her back. Nothing like reading about a woman ahead of her times which encourages women (I hope) or our day and age to do the same.

I love Allende’s writing and was excited to receive an advance copy from NetGalley. Allende’s words flow in a way that pull me in to the story and slow me down. I admired Emilia’s strength and perseverance in a time when that was not valued. The descriptions of the brutality and cruelty of war were vivid as were the descriptions of Chile.

That said this book took me months to read. I put it down for weeks at a time and even forgot at one point that I had left it unread. Partly I think that is because there are many stories is one relatively short book and in Emilia’s young life.

Perhaps this a book best read when you have a couple of days to just sit and read on vacation without distractions.

I really love Isabel Allende’s books. Happy to get a chance to read My Name is Emilia del Valle where independent Emilia ends up covering war in Chile. I found this incredibly engrossing and certainly is up there with The Women about the Horror of War. I actually think this is a much more Real Book. It is Heartbreaking and Heartlifting at the Same Time.

It is a Terrific Book. Love the Writing, love Emelia and all the characters she meets. Such an interesting look of Civil War in Chile in 1897 that I had no knowledge of. It’s always great to enjoy a book, be disturbed, and learn so much. This book delivered on all levels.

Highly Recommend if you can read difficult war scenes and are a fan of Historical Fiction. If you enjoy Isabel Allende, you are sure to love this one 🩷

Thank you Ballentine, and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.