It's 1891, and Emilia lives with her mother and stepfather in San Francisco. Her mother was seduced and abandoned by a Chilean, so Emilia is interested in going to Chile, perhaps to meet him. She works as a newspaper reporter, and surprisingly they approve of her going to Chile to cover the civil war, but in a ladylike way, of course. Romance, family encounters, and war and its horrors are what she finds in Chile, described by Allende, the ultimate raconteur. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am a huge Isabel Allende fan, but this one took me a while to get into. About halfway through, I couldn’t stop reading and got really immersed in the story. So grateful for Allende’s storytelling.

4.5⭐

Get me an author who can do both. Isabel Allende pulled my heart out and stomped on it a couple times while also educating me about the Chilean revolution of 1891. This is why she's a master storyteller and I just appreciate being in a world where she writes books.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishing for an early copy of My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende is an extraordinary storyteller, and her latest novel, My Name is Emilia del Valle joins her impressive oeuvre of work that brings characters to life in historical settings that cannot help but educate the reader. In this novel, a young Emilia del Valle sets out to work as a journalist in late 1890s San Francisco and takes on reporting a civil war in Chile. The journey will test all her strengths; she will rely on the wisdom of her stepfather who has instilled in Emilia the idea there is nothing she cannot achieve.

Rough travel, loss of loved ones, the tragedy of war and its aftermath will all attempt to bring Emilia down; however, she will rise, sometimes under extraordinary circumstances, to understand her heritage and her place in the world.

Readers should be aware that the war scenes are graphic in nature. By contrast, Allende also describes the beauty of the Chilean landscape with land, mountains and sea always in Emilia's vision.

Allende also relays information about the importance of nitrate as a Chilean resource and its value on the world market. It is this resource that contributes to the unrest in Chile at the end of the 19th century.

Isabel Allende never disappoints; This newest endeavor takes its rightful place on the Allende bookshelf.

"'Mark my words, miss, one day the workers of this country are going to band together, with the women in the lead. And then we'll have a true revolution,' he said."

Isabel Allende. Chile in the late 1800s. What more do I need to say?

Thanks to the kind folks at NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC. I did not love it but others will.

Set in 19th Century California, a beautiful historical fiction from the master of the genre. Lush descriptions and intimate characterization will transport readers to another time.

Allende is one of my favorite authors; I've read every book she has published. Her sweeping descriptions of Chile and its political and social machinations are always fascinating. This story is of a young American woman, a journalist visiting Chile to report on its late nineteenth-century civil war. In her quest for authentic stories, she gets caught in a turbulent political landscape where her status as a U.S. citizen isn't a guarantee of safety.

As I've come to expect, Allende creates a masterful blend of romance, politics, feminism, and landscape in what is truly a coming-of-age story for the intrepid Emilia del Valle. Emilia is already clever and brave but has been incredibly sheltered up to this point. Allende illustrates life for a woman who dared to have a job in a traditionally male profession while engaging the reader in the background story of Chile's volatile political history. I loved the whole story - until we got to the end. The part about leaving her fiancee to travel solo to the wilderness of Southern Chile seemed as if it were tacked on to the novel as an afterthought. The idea of having Eric narrate the epilogue was clever, and I enjoyed the heightened mystery of not knowing what he will find about Emilia through this change in narrator. However, the ending still didn't ring true for me about what we knew of Emilia to that point.

Once again Isabel Allende brings us another riveting story about a strong minded adventurous woman. “My Name is Emilia del Valle” is a story about Emilia who is born to a previous nun who was seduced by an aristocratic Chilean and becomes pregnant. Emilia is raised by her mother and her step father. She grows up in the late 1800’s with her Papo encouraging her to do and be anything she wants. She loves writing and writes dime novels which become published under a pseudo name because women at that time did not do that. As she becomes older, she is told by her mother that her biological father is an aristocrat in Chile. Meanwhile her mother has been trying to get him to recognize her as his daughter but to no avail.

Emilia eventually gets a job with the San Francisco Examiner. When civil war breaks out in Chile, she convinces her editor to send her, along with a reporter, to write human interest stories about the people in Chile affected by the war. Emilia has no desire to just do that and wants to be part of the war. She becomes part of the war effort, falls in love, finds her father and his family, gets arrested, is recognized as his daughter, is left a piece of uninhabited property at the very tip of Chile, and ventures there to find herself and write her memoir.

This does not even do justice to the wonderful story Isabel has written. She writes as a narrative in such away that we are mesmerized from the start. We become part of Emilia’s story of adventure, love, and finding herself. I have loved any of the books I have read written by Isabel Allende and recommend this one just as highly. Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this uncorrected ebook.

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende is historical fiction mostly about a time in Chile during their civil war. I have read other books by this author which I enjoyed but this book I found to be a very difficult read. The first third of the book follows Emilia as she grows up in San Francisco and convinces the newspaper editor to give her a job as a journalist, which was unheard of in the 1800s. The second third of the book is when Emilia and a fellow journalist travel to Chile to cover the civil war going on there. That is where the book gets bogged down. There are just too many people to follow the story and who is on which side of the war. It really drags on. This is also the time where Emilia finally gets to meet her biological father. The last third of the book is what happens to Emilia after the civil war ends. I didn’t find the ending very satisfying and it seemed some what contrived. While the story was beautifully written, I just didn’t find the characters realistic or very likable.

"In this spellbinding historical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and The Wind Knows My Name, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father - and herself.

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.

To pursue her passion for writing, she is willing to defy societal norms. At the age of seventeen, she begins to publish pulp fiction using a man's pen name. When these fictional worlds can no longer satisfy her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at The Daily Examiner to hire her. There she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.

As she proves herself, her restlessness returns, until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, as does Eric, and while there, she meets her estranged father and delves into the violent confrontation in the country where her roots lie. As she and Eric discover love, the war escalates and Emilia finds herself in extreme danger, fearing for her life and questioning her identity and her destiny.

A riveting tale of self-discovery and love from one of the most masterful storytellers of our time, My Name Is Emilia del Valle introduces a character who will never let hold of your heart."

The voice of Emilia is so strong.

Isabel Allende is a strong voice in historical fiction, especially as it pertains to Chile where she spent much of her childhood and early adulthood. In this novel, a continuation of the story started in "House of Spirits" (but this is a standalone) her protagonist is a female journalist in San Francisico trying to prove herself by writing under a male pen name. Women back then (1880s) were not easily welcomed into a field that was considered to be a "manly" profession. When the call goes out for journalists to cover the civil war in Chile in 1891, she jumps at the chance, since her heritage on her long-gone father's side is in that country and her hope is to research her ancestry while she covers the war. What transpires is more, much more, than what she bargains for and will keep you on the edge of your seat. This story is engrossing as much as it's informative and is full of intrigue, adventure, the horrors of war, and the friendships forged during such traumatic conflicts. It's a love story, a discovery of oneself, and is full of cliffhangers that will leave you pondering what happens next more than once through the story. I've read Ms. Allende's books in the past, and this one ranks right up there among the best. Thank you to #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for my copy. Highly recommend. Pub date is May 6, 2025. A definite must for your TBR list.

I loved this book! Historical fiction about a woman journalist who travels to Chile during their civil war in the late 1800s. The details were vivid. The small details that Allende adds to her characters, they feel so real. This book is slightly connected to the book, Daughter of Fortune (another great book!), so if you liked that one you will also like this one

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

As always, I cannot help but be completely captivated by Allende’s writing. Her setting, her descriptions, take you directly to the scene—whether that scene be at a Chilean lake, a mansion, or a scene of war.

I fell in love with Emilia’s story and the courage she displayed in such extreme circumstances. This was an absolute perfect read for Women’s History Month—a story of historical fiction written by a strong woman about a strong woman who befriends strong women along her journey of finding who herself.

"My Name is Emilia del Valle" follows the journey of a strong and unconventional woman, Emilia. The story unfolds between the gold rush era of San Francisco and Chile during its Civil War, offering a glimpse into the formative experiences. The book's historical accuracy is undeniable, but the story itself felt uneven. The characters remained distant, making it hard to truly invest in their journeys. The novel aims to explore self-discovery, yet it lacks a compelling emotional core. The narrative is presented in a cold, detached tone, leaving little room for emotional depth. The most impactful part of the story, Emilia's time alone in the wilderness, is left largely to the reader's imagination. It's a disappointment

I enjoyed every second of reading this book. Emilia del Valle is the daughter of an novice nun of Irish descent and a Chilean man who shared a brief relantionship. Set in San Francisco in late 1800, Emilia is raised by her mom and her stepdad who she calls Papo, a man who raised her as her own. From him Emilia learns to be curious and pursue her creativity, including writing and publishing novellas under a male pseudonym from a young age. When Emilia is in her 20s and uninterested in marriage, she applies for a job as a journalist in one of the top newspapers in California, where she is given a column written under her male pen name. When a civil war is about to rupture in Chile, Emilia feels in her bones she needs to go explore her Chilean roots and maybe meet her father. She is sent by the newspaper to Chile with one of her coworkers Eric Whelan, as war correspondents. To cover more ground, Eric goes to investigate the rebel's side and Emilia starts to socialize with the government and aristocrats that hold the power in Chile.

Emilia is an admirable character that is confident in her talents and is willing to put herself on dangerous situations for the sake of a good story. I enjoyed the setting and the historic context of Chile's civil war, which I knew nothing about. I very much loved the ending. I know I'll be thinking of Emilia del Valle for a long time. As of any Isabel Allende's books, this is a must read.

My Name is Emilia del Valle tells the story of a woman in the late 1800s as she breaks down gender barriers as author and a newspaper reporter. Her job as a reporter takes her to Chile, where she covers the Civil War, including going to the front lines, caring for the wounded, and ultimately, traveling the country. While the story was interesting and ultimately compelling, at times, it did get bogged down with political details and names of those involved in both sides of the war. I would recommend reading this book but knowing that it gets slow at times. Thank you to Random House Publishing and Isabel Allende for access to the advance reader copy.

Reading at time like a memoir, this novel is the convincing story of the life of a young woman who is determined, resilient, and committed to uncovering the truth. The main character is Emilia del Valle, a young woman raised by a mother who became pregnant while preparing to become a nun, and a beloved stepfather who was a major influence on her life. Toward the end of the 19th century it was not acceptable for women to be journalists, but Emilia prevailed and finally was assigned to report on the political unrest in Chile. She was doubly pleased, because her alleged biological father was a member of Chilean aristocracy, and she was determined to seek him out. She became embroiled in the revolution in Chile and witnessed the horrors of the battlefield, then when volunteering as a nurse she was arrested and brutally punished. Her integrity and indomitable spirit permeate the story, and readers will come to care about her at the same time learning about the history and culture of Chile.

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabelle Allende

From the first sentence to the last, this five star page turner will hold your attention. Allende has a way with words like few other authors. Strong characters and equally strong story lines are her hallmarks. I especially enjoyed the author’s descriptions of people and places.

Emilia is not your typical female from the 1870s. She is from California and wants to work as a journalist. Determined and encouraged by her stepfather Papo, she finds success on her terms. A newspaper job leads Emilia to Chile, where she hopes to meet her birth father for the first time.

It’s 1891 and a civil war between the North and the South of Chile is brewing. Life will be very dangerous for a woman, but Emilia needs a story of interest to send back to her boss. She starts the trip with Eric, her co- worker, but they separate and have very different experiences. Much of the story focuses on this internal war, which is largely based on fact.

This novel was translated from Spanish to English by Frances Riddle, who deserves praise for her work as well.

Like most of Isabel Allende's books, we are given a strong female character who is a non conformist. The beginning of the book takes place in San Francisco with the remainder of the book taking place in Chile during the civil war. I found the pacing good and the book enjoyable.

It is a classic of Allende while being in a slightly different location. It is a beautiful while heart wrenching as only Allende can do.