Wonderfully written historical novel depicting a strong female character and her quest for recognition both as a writer and as the daughter of a Chilean man who abandoned her and her mother. Emilia was raised by her Irish mother, Molly, and her step-father Francisco Claro (don Pancho). As a school teacher, Claro raised Emilia to be both well-educated and independent, encouraging her desire and abilities to be a writer. At the same time, Molly continually stressed to her daughter a "woman's place", and her own personal desire that Emilia be recognized by her biological father. Emilia had to begin her writing career using a male pen name, as women writers were not recognized yet by publishers. While writing social articles for a newspaper, a war in Chile begins, and Emilia and another reporter, Eric, are sent to cover it. The history that is covered regarding the war is not necessarily well-known and was interesting to learn through the eyes of two reporters, both covering different aspects of the conflict. This also gives Emilia the opportunity to meet her birth father and his family. The unfolding stories of the war, her Chilean family, and romance with Eric lead to a story that is heartbreaking, hopeful, and eye-opening to both the reader and Emilia. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #MyNameisEmiliadelValle

4.5 rounded up. I love Isabel Allende's writing style. When I saw she had another book coming out, I had to get my hands on it and start reading it asap. What a great heartfelt story of such a courageous independent woman. Emilia del Valle goes on an adventurous journey to find her roots in Chile while working as a journalist during a war. So much happens to her while she is there and we as the readers get to go along with her and grow with her. I loved the ending. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you enjoy a strong woman character and like historical fiction.


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

My Name is Emilia del Valle is a historical fiction novel that carries the distinctive voice of Isabel Allende. Beautifully written, the story follows Emilia, the illegitimate daughter of a former novice and an aristocratic Chilean. She has never met her biological father—in fact, she has another father figure who, though not related by blood, has lovingly raised her as his own.

Emilia has had a gift for writing since a young age. She eventually becomes a newspaper columnist and is given the opportunity to travel to Chile to report on the civil war. The war is devastating, and she experiences it firsthand—those parts of the book really resonated with me.

What begins as a professional assignment quickly turns into a deeply personal journey, as she not only uncovers her hidden roots but also discovers a new version of herself. Emilia is a vivid, authentic character: a strong woman navigating a man’s world, determined to defy societal expectations for an unmarried young lady. She pushes boundaries until she emerges on the other side, and I loved her for that.

Thank you NetGalley & Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

My Name is Emilia del Valle is a historical fiction that read like an actual excerpt from a history book. It follows the life of fictional Emilia, daughter to an Irish mother preparing to take her vows and a Chilean gentleman after one fateful night together. Emilia is raised by her mother and step-father, abandoned by the father who refused to acknowledge her existence. She grows up a curious child and even more inquisitive woman, establishing herself as a write under a pseudonym and eventually secures a position as a journalist. When news of the Chilean civil war reaches her in San Francisco, she and her colleague, Eric Whelan, venture out to report on the conflict.

This is an inspiring story of self-discovery, the horrors of war, political intrigue, and love. As I mentioned, it reads like a history lesson which I think lended to its credibility, but at times did fall flat in terms of emotional impact. However, Emilia is such an admirable and independent main character it was difficult not to be inspired by her passion and determination. Her disdain for religion and any kind of social leash that would corral her into a specific category of woman was refreshing for someone of her time. It had me wishing she was an actual historical figure that I could research and hyperfixate on later. The first part of the book is a quick and wholesome look at her upbringing, and it decidedly picks up momentum when Emilia journeys to Chile to report on the war. At times, Allende's insightful commentary of the civil war made me think of the political turmoil we now face in the US, and how violence and war bring out the worst in humanity. Yet underneath the ugliness that is the face of violence, Allende always reminds us that love can always see us through.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!

This book showcases incredibly detailed and powerful writing that truly brings scenes and emotions to life. The author’s command of language is impressive, making even small moments feel vivid and meaningful. However, the pacing at times felt sluggish, with several sections dragging or meandering without a clear direction.

Overall, it’s a beautifully written novel, but one that requires patience as it slowly unfolds its story.

Allende is a master storyteller and she has done it again. Born in 1866 in San Francisco to a Catholic nun who was seduced by a Chilean aristocrat who left her to fend for herself, Emilia is an adventurous young woman, who had a loving stepfather who always encouraged her. At 17 she starts to publish popular pulp fiction under a man’s name (women cannot be authors!). A few years later she turns to journalism and is hired by the Daily Examiner and paired with a talented journalist, Eric Whelan, and sent to Chile to cover that country’s civil war. She is nearly killed in the war but also meets her estranged father, who acknowledges her as his daughter, falls in love with Eric, and finds peace in the land of her Chilean ancestors. Emilia is an unforgettable character whose strength and courage fills the pages of this book.

If you like to read about a strong female character combined with a pivotal time in history, this is one book you won’t want to miss. Emilia del Valle is the illegitimate child of a former nun and a Chilean aristocrat. She knows nothing of her father other than his name and country of origin.

Fortunately for Emilia, she was raised by a wonderful father that encouraged her education and independence. It’s the late 1800’s and Emilia is already a published author and a columnist for a newspaper, although she works under a man’s name.

When Emilia and another colleague are given the opportunity to travel to Chile to cover the civil war, Emilia sees it as an opportunity to find and meet her father. What she doesn’t realize when she arrives in Chile is that this journey will be a turning point in her life and one that leads to self discovery of who she is and where she belongs.

The story tells much about the civil war and people who played a part during that time. Allende does not sugarcoat the horrors of war and its impact on the people in Chile. Allende also relates the beauty of Chile and their customs and beliefs throughout the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to recommend this to other readers and give my honest review.

Really liked this premise but I found it dragged and was pretty boring. Also did not love the ending.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Isabel Allende has a new book coming out in May, My Name is Emilia del Valle. I’ve only read one other book by this author, Violeta, and this one reminds me of that. Both books are set largely in Chile and are structured with a feisty female protagonist looking back and recounting her life story. I had a similar reaction to this story as to the last. It’s a fascinating tale, giving me insight into a period of time and a country that I know next to nothing about. The prose is lovely, especially when describing the beauty of Chile. However, I feel distanced from the narrative. I’m interested in what is going on, but don’t ever feel emotionally drawn in by the characters.

Emilia is brought up in San Francisco in the post- Civil War years. She is the illegitimate daughter of an Irish almost-nun and a Chilean playboy. He abandons mother and child. Emilia’s mother marries a teacher who showers them both with kindness and love.

Emilia wants to be a writer. She moves from writing dime novels under a male pseudonym to journalism, although the editor of the newspaper only wants her to write human interest stories. She is befriended by another staff writer, Eric, who helps her learn the ropes and supports her as she branches out into more substantive journalism. When the Chilean civil war breaks out, she and Eric are sent to Chile. She is to write about the government’s stance, and Eric is to write about the rebels.

The novel takes us deep into the politics and violence of the civil war of 1891. By showing both sides, through what Emilia and Eric discover, each with their own bias, the reader gets a more multidimensional view of what took place–in all its seeming futility.

At the same time, Emilia hunts down her birth father and her extended family in Chile. Emilia learns about family, identity, and love in the midst of and in the aftermath of the brutal conflict.

Thanks to @prhaudio for the review copy of this audiobook! And thank you to @Netgalley @randomhouse and @ballantinebooks for the chance to review this ARC.


I always appreciate the chance to learn about a new piece of history. And in this book we travel to the country of Chile in the 1890s to observe and experience their Civil War. The conflict is viewed through the eyes of Emilia Del Valle, a female reporter bucking tradition by traveling from America as a war correspondent.

Emilia’s character, though fictional, was fascinating and her life served as an excellent device to showcase the history both of San Francisco and Chile in the 1890s. Her determination to become a writer when women were not expected to do anything besides be wives and mothers, was inspiring. The book is written as a first person narrative and told in factual non-emotional prose that took some getting used to. I don’t know if the tone is original or added in translation. But it was definitely unique.

Although I learned a lot of history and was riveted by the descriptions of battle and the aftermath of war, I found the ending a bit pointless and not tied in well with the rest of the book. I also would have appreciated an audiobook narrator with more distinct voices and accents. The choice to not use Hispanic or Chilean accents for characters that spoke English, I felt took away from the story.

Overall I loved learning about a new to me time period in history but I don’t know if I completely recommend the book.

I get excited every time Isabel Allende has a new book coming out, knowing a strong, independent female character will be at the center of her novel...

My Name Is Emilia del Valle is no exception. Emilia is confident, unafraid, and talented. She is tall and beautiful, which is a plus when you are the only woman in a profession primarily held by men, and often the only woman in the room.

This book is written in a first-person narrative with the feel of a memoir. Emilia's thoughts are free-flowing, yet she cautiously holds back specific details, fearing her words could hurt someone dear to her. Emilia is searching for her place in the world and welcomes adventure in her endless pursuit.

The setting of the late 1800s feels authentically drawn, whether it takes the reader to San Francisco or various parts of Chile during the civil war. Allende's writing transports you there. The story explores themes of discovering your identity, understanding love and family, and realizing the devastating impact of war.

My name is Emilia del Valle has an ending that works. It is not a perfect ending, but it perfectly fits the main character, Emilia del Valle.

5⭐

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Isabel Allende for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this book, as usual from Isabel Allende. It ties historical events and human spirit together so well. I felt a lot of the themes it touched on are especially poignant given the current political state in the US. I will say though Emilia came too close to death too many times and did not die which felt a little too happy ending to me lol.

In my head, Isabelle Allende can do no wrong and this book is no exception. An author sets off for South America on a journey of self discovery and to find her daughter. This is a story of honestly, truth, and self discovery!

Set in the US and Chile in the 19th century, the novel follows Emilia del Valle, a daughter of an irish woman. Despite not being recognized by her father Gonzalo Andrés del Valle, she was raised by her mom and Papo, a Mexican headteacher of a school in San Francisco, and since her childhood, she became a writer of dime novels under a penname. Later on, she became a journalist using the same nom-de-plume until she felt strong enough to swim against the tide and reveal her real name.

In this historical fiction novel, Allende took me again to Valparaiso and Santiago, teaching me through fiction about the Chilean Civil War. It was sad to read about a divided nation ending the life of people because of their own interests. Aside from this sad conflict, it also highlights the richness of the vast country, the history, and its native groups.

This is a poignant novel about love, identity, self growth, and discovery, and as in most of the other novels, migration and feminism are themes also present.

It made me think of all the impediments that women might still face in the present in order to write and, as well, to think on the hard job of a journalist being sometimes exposed to risks in order to cover an event or expose the truth.

I'm very fond of Isabel Alllende who I met through The House of Spirits Trilogy (my favorite books by her) and even if I have been reading her latest works I hadn't connect enough with the stories until now.
I enjoyed the book from the beginning and found it very emotional and rich in history and as well I think there's a lot of Isabel in this fiction novel. She is currently 82 years old, and this is her 28th book.
I hope other readers love this novel as much as I did.

Publication Date: May 6th, 2025

Thank you, Ballentine Books - Random House, for the digital-ARC.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced inspirational story about the life of a woman in the late 1800's. It begins in San Francisco and ends in the wilderness of Chile. This brave, adventurous woman risks her life to seek her values and I have a lot of admiration for her. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

In this piece of historical fiction, we get to know Emilia del Valle, a woman born of a disgraced Irish nun who was seduced by a Chilean aristocrat in San Francisco in the late 1800s. Raised by her harsh mother and warm schoolteacher stepfather, Emilia grows up to be an inquisitive and forthright young woman. She pursues writing and eventually finds a position with the San Francisco Examiner. Her talents and skills land her an opportunity to cover the civil war in Chile, which also provides her with an opportunity to learn more about her father and his side of the family. Her time in Chile leads to connection, both familial and romantic, and a harsh dose of the violent realities of war. The novel is descriptive and easy to follow up until the very end where Emilia chases something that feels just out of her reach. The ending was definitely a choice; it didn't quite sit well with me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
This is my first book by author Isabel Allende, and I just want to read more. She is a very talented author. In this story she has created a headstrong, freethinking young woman, Emilia del Valle. She is being raised by her mother and stepfather. She loves to write, and she is given the chance when she convinces the editor of The Daily Examiner to hire her. She is given the chance to go to Chile, where a Civil War is brewing, as a journalist. This changes her life. She grows up and also makes contact with her real father and his family. The author's description of the war and Chile were very realistic. I felt like I was there. I thought this was an excellent book, and I really liked the main character and her views on life.

Isabel Allende does not disappoint. I tried to take my time with this book, wanting to relish every word, but the story simply wouldn't let me. I was hooked from the very first page! Allende's historical fiction is truly something special – I always come away feeling like I've experienced a place and time, not just read about it. I've honestly learned more about Chile and California from her than from any textbook.

This new novel centers on the captivating Emilia del Valle Claro, a young woman growing up in San Francisco's Mission district, encouraged to think for herself and embrace her talents. Her path as a journalist takes her to 1890s Chile during a civil war, and what unfolds is a powerful exploration of a country in turmoil, the stark realities of different social classes, the fight for survival, and the heartbreaking consequences of war. But it's not just about the conflict; Emilia also finds her biological family and, wonderfully, love blossoms amidst the chaos. And in a satisfying turn, she claims her inheritance, which feels like a key to unlocking her true self and allowing her to move forward with purpose. As a longtime fan of the Del Valle family, I was thrilled to see some familiar characters pop up – a delightful treat!

This title and cover are beautiful-- immediately drew me to the book! this historical fiction piece was creative and expertly wove politics and events in the US and in Chile in a way I have never considered before. Emilia was such a stellar heroine!

Thanks to Ballentine and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

Isabel Allende is a great for a reason: she writes compelling characters in beautiful stories, highlighting women who travel the lengths of the world to know themselves and be independent and fierce in their choices and convictions. Emilia del Valle is not the exception. Born in California, she lives her life, going to Chile to cover the Civil War and prove herself as a journalist. She takes lovers, she meets family she didn't know existed, and she continues to live her fullest life possible. I love Allende's writing and I love her female characters. They are so human and wonderful and a joy to follow.