An absolute treasure that is as informative as it is spellbinding. When Allende lends her hypnotic style to historical fiction, the story seamlessly unfolds. She is a master storyteller. I love novels like this because it feels like no single genre can hold them. Plot expectations float right out of the window, and the unpredictable threads add to the allure.

This novel reads like a memoir only it's centered on a fictional character. Emilia del Valle is a forward-thinking young lady with career aspirations and dreams to see the world. The only issue is that she lives in the 1800's and most believe her sole focus should be marriage. Luckily, her stepfather encourages her to achieve all the dreams she holds dear. Their relationship was lovely to witness. She travels from San Fransico to Chile as a journalist to cover the civil war raging there and with an ulterior motive to research her paternity.

"My Name is Emilia del Valle" has plenty to offer: travel, picturesque settings, danger, romance, war, and a magnetic heroine to explore it with. Another mesmerizing novel by Isabel Allende loaded with emotional depth.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the Advance Readers Copy

Emilia Del Valle, growing up in the shadow of her mother's scandalous past, sought to forge her own path. To support her family, she began penning dime-store novels under a male pseudonym. But her ambitions extended beyond fiction. Boldly seeking a career in journalism, she landed an assignment to cover the Chilean Civil War. Immersed in the chaos of battle alongside the Chilean Canteen girls, she experienced firsthand the horrors of war. I was riveted by this novel until the last 10%, the ending somehow did not sit well with me.

Thank you NetGalley, Isabel Allende and Ballantine books for this beautiful ARC.

The story of Emilia Del Valle will capture hearts as you journey with her in her fight to find her purpose. And fight her identity as a woman in a man's world.

She heals. transforms and even fall's in love.

What I took away from this book was her perseverance to keep going knowing she was Emilia Del Valle and noting was going to stop her.

This book is a treasure and will be revered for years to come.

I love everything that Isabel Allende writes and this epic tale was no exception. Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy!

Another wonderful book by Isabel Allende! A novel including a family saga, a love story, international intrigue, adventure, history and humor! I only wish it had more magical realism because Allende is the queen of it!

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende is a rare look into the Chilean civil war and that culture.We are introduced to Emilio and a cast of memorable characters.
Emilia grows up very independent and begins to write using a male name. Her journey of self discovery is undaunting. I was captivated by this story from the very first chapter. It's filled with magical realism, historical fiction and this author's incredible storytelling is amazing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have read several books by Isabel Allende, her books are always enlightening, engaging, and interesting. Ms Allende has a wonderful writing style, the story flows, her words are very descriptive , you really feel like you are there. The story of a young woman , Emilia in the late 1890’s is an interesting read, it follows her life in California, her desire to be a journalist. she ultimately travels to Chile to cover the civil war there with another journalist for a California newspaper. Emilia’s story in Chile is one of true adventure, peril, discovery of her true self, her heritage and her ultimate destiny.

I enjoyed the main character of this book, however she was given far too much modern sensibility to be believable. Like all books by this author, it's heavily weighed down by the intricacies of the Chilean Civil War in a way that makes it feel like your slogging thru the story. However, it's interesting to learn the broad strokes of that history and experience a different culture thru the eyes of an American character.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars.

Feeling slightly unfulfilled after reading this book about Emilia del Valle and the Chilean civil war.

Isabel Allende returns with My Name is Emilia del Valle, a stirring novel that breathes life into a fierce heroine amidst the tumult of the Chilean Civil War. This time, Allende brings us the story of Emilia del Valle, a young woman caught between two worlds—her Chilean roots and the Irish upbringing of her stepfather—as she forges a path as a writer in a man’s world.

Emilia’s journey begins in San Francisco, where she dreams of breaking through as a writer for the Examiner. Surrounded by men paid more to cover “hard” news, Emilia endures the expectations that women stick to “softer” topics like fashion and home life. But her ambitions won’t let her settle. Determined to cover meaningful stories, she’s drawn to the revolution unfolding in her father’s homeland, Chile—a war both historical and deeply personal. I really enjoyed reading about San Francisco in the late 1800s - I just wished there was a little bit more of the historical side added to the book. It was interesting to read about the Mission District, a place I am familiar with.

The novel takes readers through Emilia’s search for her father, her quest to capture the war’s brutal reality, and her brush with Chile’s fierce canteen girls who brave the frontlines to support soldiers. Though the plot sometimes skims over pivotal moments, the story never loses focus on Emilia’s emotional journey as she grapples with identity, love, and the calling to write. It's a fast read - almost surface level.

In the end, while this 300-page novel leaves some threads untied, My Name is Emilia del Valle is a gripping tale of courage, heritage, and resilience.

You always know when you are reading a book by Isabel Allende. Words are like colors, vibrant and penetrating. My Name Is Emilia del Valle is no exception. A work of fiction about a brave woman, Emilia, who gets caught up in the Chilean civil war.
The details of life, in Chile, at this time draw you in, colors your imagination. You see the battles. This is truly a gripping read. Isabel Allende never disappoints. Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors. I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book due not fully connecting to the main character and it being focused on the history of Chile. The ending was beautifully contrived and written.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The beauty of this story lies in its ability to weave historical fiction with a personal tale of growth, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy narratives that delve into the heart of a character’s emotional and cultural identity. It’s a book that stayed with me long after I finished it, and Emilia’s story is one I won’t soon forget.

This is the first historical fiction story I have read in quite some time and it was wonderful. I really enjoyed Emilia’s character; her bravely, her wild spirit and determination was invigorating to read. I enjoyed following her journey and learning about the culture and people she met along the way. The worry was way to follow along and very well written.

I got through the first two chapters and something was just not clicking for me. This unfortunately is not the book for me at the moment, but I wish the author the best and I appreciate the opportunity given by the publisher for this arc!

My Name is Emilia Del Valle
Isabel Allende
Ballentine (RH). 2025

In many ways, this novel reads like a memoir. We spend every page immersed in Emilia Del Valle’s life, a woman ahead of her times. She is embued with spirit, tenacity, and fearlessness.. While the point of view shifts in and out of her voice, this is her wholly her story and you have a window into what she is thinking and feeling. It reads true.

The story begins with Emilia’s birth in late nineteenth century San Francisco to an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat. It is a time of little opportunity for women. Raised by her mother and a loving, openminded stepfather, Emilia grows up to be very self sufficient and curious about the world. She has a very strong sense of herself.. Her stepfather encourages her and supports her ambition.

As a teenager, she follows her dream to become a writer and successfully writes pulp fiction under a man’s pseudonym. After a while, it’s not enough for her. She talks her way into work at a newspaper and begins her career in journalism, proving herself to be very capable. Along with a fellow writer from her newspaper with whom she falls in love, Emilia convinces her editor to send them to Chile to cover a brewing civil war. It is there that she meets her estranged father and forges connections with that part of her family. However, the political strife escalates and Emilia finds herself in the middle of a bloody war. The reader is not spared any of the violence of war and subsequent fallout Emilia experiences.

Emilia’s life story is remarkable. I felt like I journeyed with her through every adventure and lived every raw moment with her. She comes to life brilliantly in the capable hands of Allende. Another fascinating story to add to her impressive resume.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ballentine (Random House) for the opportunity to read and honestly review this advanced reading copy.

“The Transcontinental Express, inaugurated in 1876, traverses the route from San Francisco to New York City in eighty-three hours, a journey that would have previously taken a month by stagecoach. That train connecting two oceans is one of the most spectacular technological advances to come out of our marvelous century of inventions.”

This was the beginning of Emilia’s travels. I found her early years in late 1800’s San Francisco interesting. Her parents each had charm and personality, too.

Once Emilia arrived in Chili, the story became more intense. I appreciated all the details of life in Chile…the people, the houses, the food and the customs.

Emilia’s experience with the civil war in Chili, and her first battle were very raw, brutal and honest. It almost sounded like a non-fiction account. From that point on, though, the story became repetitive….more battles, more killing, more blood, more violence. I found myself skimming over a lot of it, stopping to catch the important details.

The rest of the book went downhill from there, for me. I didn’t like the decisions Emilia made and I grew tired of the same stuff, just with different people.

Overall, though, it was a compelling story that took me to a new country.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

This was a strong historical fiction novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed going on this journey with the characters. The overall story worked well overall and that the characters were everything that I was looking for. It had that element that I wanted and was invested in what was going on. Isabel Allende has a strong writing style and can’t wait to read more from them.

Very enjoyable historical fiction story. Allende always weaves an amazing story. I try to read all of her books.

Another great and moving read from this author, the book centers around the story of Emilia, who was a product of an affair between an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat in 1866. Emilia grows up independent and wanting to use her voice through writing; as a teenager, she publishes her fictional writing utilizing a male name. Soon, she craves more and turns to journalism and is hired by the San Francisco Examiner; it here she meets Eric, another journalist. They are both eventually sent to Chile to cover their civil war; it is then that Emilia learns about her father and how Chile is a part of who she is. The war begins to escalate and Emilia finds herself in danger while trying to figure out her true identity.

This was a wonderful book to learn about self-discovery, family, strength, and adventure. The book is also rich in historical detail, incorporating political movements and ideas both in America and Chile. I absolutely loved Emilia, she was brave and resilient during a time when women were meant to play a different role in society, and was determined to let her voice be heard. The writing, of course, is just phenomenal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not usually interested in historical romance type stories, but this book caught my attention. I found it interesting and well developed. So happy I gave it a chance. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.