DNF @ 30% | This was my first of Allende's, and while it didn't capture me, I'm still eager to try another book of hers. This could have been a "right book, wrong time" situation because the story itself sounds incredible, but the pacing didn't keep me engaged. I MIGHT come back to it at some point when I'm in the mood for something slower and historical, but I'm taking it off my shelf for now.

Emilia del Valle is a fictional character who is in the process of discovering what she can’t NOT do—despite societal norms. She was created by Isabel Allende, but I kept wishing she had been a real person. My Name is Emilia del Valle reads like the biography of an outstanding woman of the late 19th century

Born to a disgraced Irish nun who then raised her with a devoted stepfather, Emilia became a writer in a world where “appropriate” topics for women simply did not interest her. Writing pulp fiction under a nom de plume eventually led to journalism. In her role as a reporter, she demanded to be allowed the opportunity to cover a civil war in Chile where she became embroiled in the danger and violence of a world turned upside down.

As she and her fellow reporter Eric are subjected to increasing danger, love blooms between them. Allende masterfully describes the horror of war alongside the reality that faithfulness to one’s calling puts a strain on even the most ardent devotion. In Emilia, she has created a believable protagonist whose flaws somehow serve to make her stronger as she admits, “I did not know who I truly was until circumstances put me to the test.”

Emilia’s “circumstances” lead her into sin and poor judgment calls, and Allende laudably portrays them as such. As she risks her life to “collect the dispersed fragments” of the tales of those whose stories would otherwise never be told, she rejects betrayal as an option and stays true to her calling. I doubt if Emilia could have stopped being a journalist if her life had depended on it.

(Thanks to Ballantine Books & Netgalley for a review copy.) Emilia del Valle is intense and so ahead of her time! The war atrocities described in here made me glad I was listening to it and could breeze by some of the descriptions of war - it was hard to imagine all the gore. What happened to Emilia at the end seemed to all make sense given what she went through during the Chilean Civil War. It was really fun to read about the cross-continental railroad and the novelty of it back then. I was a little surprised with the love story arc - didn’t expect that coming. I do kind of wish there was a reckoning with her Papo bc he sounded like a wonderful person who knew how to love unconditionally. Papo was prob my fave character - I wish I could be that for my kids.

My Name is Emilia del Valle starts with a powerful premise, and the first half had me fully engaged. I was drawn in by the promise of a rich, character-driven story set against a turbulent backdrop. Emilia’s voice is compelling, and I was eager to follow her journey.

But as the story progressed, I found myself struggling. The second half shifts heavily into historical and political detail—so much so that it began to feel more like nonfiction. The dense recounting of war and regional conflict started to overshadow the characters, and I lost the emotional connection I’d had early on.

Still, I admire the ambition and the research behind it—it just wasn’t quite the narrative experience I was hoping for.

Allende has created another magnificent lead character in Emilia del Valle. The story begins in the 1860s when Emilia’s mother Molly falls under the spell of a wealthy Chilean gad. Her dream of a life in service to God is crushed when she becomes pregnant and is set adrift by the church. She finds a safe harbor at a school where she had taught in San Francisco’s Mission District. Eventually, she marries the founder, a wonderful and erudite man. He plays a role in rearing Emilia to become a strong, educated female, but Emilia knows her strength and tenacity comes from her melodramatic mother.

When Emilia conceives of writing dime novels, it becomes a family affair. Her mother helps with plots—the gorier and bloodier the details, the better—and her Papo handles editing and delivery for publication. This family enterprise turns out to be Emilia’s steppingstone into journalism. Her inherited tenacity helps her land a job with The Daily Examiner, and the world opens to her. After proving herself, she is allowed to travel to Chile with another reporter to cover civil unrest that will lead to a bloody civil war. It is on this trip that Emilia will discover herself and her future.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this e-galley.

A well researched historical fiction story of a young woman journalist at the end of the nineteenth century. The tale takes place in San Francisco, New York, and Chile and the author does an amazing job of making the reader feel like they were there. The main character is extremely likeable and I was rooting for her success throughout. The story did bog down a bit when we got to the Chilean civil war but it made me curious enough to do some outside research. All in all, a solid historical fiction novel that I found engossing.

I did not finish tjis book. I usually like the works of this author, but after 3 chapters I could not find enough interest to finish it. This is not a review saying that the book is bad. It was just not me.

I have read many books by the illustrious author Isabel Allende and have loved every single one of them. Her newest book, “My Name Is Emilia del Valle,” is no exception, and I am grateful to NetGalley, Ms. Allende, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me an advanced copy to read prior to publication. My opinions are voluntary.

As usual, Ms. Allende has centered this book on a strong female protagonist who demonstrates time and again resilience, courage, and independence in the face of adversity. This character, from whose name the book’s title derives, fearlessly and steadfastly resists societal norms and insists on shaping her own destiny as a single, unmarried, working woman in the field of journalism previously held only by men near the late half of the nineteenth century. In doing so, she deliberately puts herself in the position of having to navigate challenging circumstances, sometimes even deadly ones.

Eventually, though, this intrepid woman falls in love, still flouting convention by living openly with her lover. Love, however, doesn’t stop her from her dangerous, adventurous ways, and the two lovers separate, agreeing to marry a few months later upon her return. What happens next kept me in suspense until the final pages.

Every word on every page of this book was a delicacy to me. I enjoyed every morsel. I hope Ms. Allende writes many, many, many more books for me to read and enjoy.

My Name is Emilia Del Valle is a powerful story about a girl named Emilia who grows up in a country facing hard times. The book follows her as she grows into a strong and brave woman, even when life gets difficult.

Emilia has to deal with problems in her family and the world around her. She faces danger, love, and loss, but she never gives up. She learns how to stand up for herself and what she believes in.

The author, Isabel Allende, writes in a beautiful and clear way that helps you feel what Emilia is feeling. This book teaches important lessons about courage, kindness, and being true to yourself.

It’s a great story for anyone who likes books about strong girls, history, and finding your place in the world.

Another well written story by Isabel Allende. She has this classic way of giving every character a fleshed out background story, sometimes you forget what the main story was because you are so intrigued and entertained by the background information. I also know that every time you read an Allende story , you will be getting a small history lesson and this was no exception. Loved the history, loved the characters… and I would recommend for lovers of historical fiction and Isabel Allende.

When I picked up My Name is Emilia del Valle, I noticed frequent comparisons to Portrait in Sepia. Thinking it would provide helpful context, I read that novel first—something I now regret. On its own, Emilia del Valle might have stood as an engaging story. However, when read alongside Allende’s earlier work, it feels more like a repetition than a fresh addition.

Much of the novel revisits familiar ground already well covered in Portrait in Sepia, Violeta, and Daughter of Fortune. The recurring themes and family dynamics, once powerful, now feel overused. Emilia’s character, while full of potential, comes across as overly familiar—her accomplishments often feel implausible, and her feminist commentary lacks nuance. The story offers limited emotional development, and her romantic arc never quite resonates.

The historical backdrop of the Chilean Civil War, though rich with potential, feels more like a setting than an integral part of the narrative. The storytelling leans heavily on exposition rather than immersion, and the prose—possibly affected by a literal translation—can at times feel awkward and overly direct.

In the end, My Name is Emilia del Valle doesn't significantly expand the del Valle legacy. While long-time readers may enjoy returning to familiar characters, this novel may leave others wishing Allende would explore new stories and directions.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I still remember reading The House of the Spirits by Isabell Allende in high school. I was surprised to see she had another novel coming out! I enjoyed this book overall, although it was slow at times.

As a fan of the author I was immediately drawn into the history in California. The portions of the war and later story in Chile lost a bit of the connection the the humanity of the characters.

This book was extrememly well written, and I’m sure some people will love it! But it was very, very heavy on the history of the Chilean civil war. Too much detailed and description of the war for me.

The beginning and end of the book were great! The beginning was about Emilia as a child living in San Francisco, getting her first job as a reporter (women did not get jobs as reporters back in the 1890s), and heading off to Chile. The end was again about Emilia.. her quest to explore southern Chile and about her love interest. Emilia is a very likeable characther and I enjoyed the story of Emilia’s life and relationships!! If you love all the details and descriptions of the Chilean war, this book may be perfect for you!

Another great book by Isabel Allende! I was pulled in from the very beginning, the story of Emilia's humble beginnings and her life long fight to live life on her own terms, even in the face of imminent death, speaks not only to the innate fighting human spirit but to the every day women who refuse to bend to patriarchal roles since the beginning of time.

This was like three different books. I loved the first part -- an strong, independent woman who wants to write but the only way to be published is to use a male pen name and how she fights to use her own name. But then the book started to concentrate on the Chilean War and the struggle there. And then the last part, I just didn't understand her choices and what she was working toward and found myself skimming to just get to the end. I with this was all brought together better and the theme thought out.

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
Emilia was born in San Francisco in 1866. Her Mother was to become a nun, but her father, a Chilean aristocrat took advantage of her, and then abandoned her and her unborn child.
The mother married a wonderful man who raised Emilia to be an independent thinker, and to be self-sufficient.
Emilia had a love of writing, and in her teenage years she would write fiction and sell them under a male pen name. Later she convinces a newspaper to hire her as a journalist, where she is paired With another journalist, Eric Whelan.
When the opportunity arises to cover Unrest in Chile, she and Eric both are sent to cover it and Emilia is excited to see the land of her birth father, and of her roots as well.
Once the war breaks out, she and Eric who are working separately are put in danger, but she is there to do a job, so she works with both sides to get her stories.
Wonderful story , with a lot going on. I am not big on giving away too much of a story, so you need to read this if it sounds interesting to you. Well worth the read.

I have always enjoyed all of the books I have read by this author.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a copy of this book.

Emilia was born to a nun and an Argentinian man who refused to acknowledge her or her mother. Thankfully, she was raised by a loving stepfather. Brash and brave Emilia does not fit into the box prescribed to women at the time and instead becomes first an author and then a reporter. When she convinces the paper to send her to cover the civil war in Argentina, Emilia risks not only her life but also her heart. Told with stunning historical facts, Allende weaves a sweeping tale.

I enjoy Isabel Allende, but I found that I kept putting this down and getting distracted. I loved the character of Emilia, but I needed to get to Argentina a lot sooner and I could have done without the constant retelling about her circumstances.

Thank you to Net Galley, Ballantine Books, and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

“Emilia is a wild and bright spirit. I will never be able to hold her, I can only hope to accompany her and that love will keep us always together.” 🤍

a special thank you to Net Galley, Random House & Ballantine for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.

🔍 publication date: may 6th, 2025

review: ★ ★ ★ ★ (06/02/25)
a novel rich with history, culture & war but sealed with an tranquil, romantic end.

Emilia had my admiration from the very start. Her love for writing/reading, natural curiosity & passion for adventure created a FMC who i loved seeing myself in.

while i do agree the romance subplot may not have been necessary, i appreciated how it didn’t take away from her strength. regardless, during this period, to be a courageous woman, like Emilia was, is a difficult task.

on the note of difficulty, i was worried about not having much knowledge on the late 1800s or Chilean Civil War. fortunately, the historical context was approachable yet nuanced.

the book was far more interesting and complex than expected, especially the various societal expectations (whether it was the wealthy upper Chilean class the prejudice against indigenous peoples)

HOWEVER!! if depictions of war and light gore are uncomfortable for you, this may not be the book for you!

According to the NPR’s Book of the Day podcast, in My Name is Emilia del Valle, Isabel Allende wanted to tell the story of the Chilean Civil War of 1891 from an outsider’s point of view. Enter her protagonist, the titular Emilia del Valle, the product of an affair between her nun novitiate mother and a Chilean aristocrat. Raised by her mother and Mexican stepfather, Emilia finds that she has a talent for writing. She begins by writing very successful pulp novels under a male pen name. She then becomes a columnist for a San Francisco newspaper, eventually convincing her boss that she should be a war correspondent.

What I loved: Watching Emilia develop as a writer. I wanted so much more information about her pulp novels and how they were written but, alas, that wasn’t the focus of this novel. I also loved the tidbits of early San Francisco history sprinkled in at the beginning of the novel.

What I liked less: When she went to war as a correspondent. I was bored. I didn’t want to be there. I wasn’t even excited when this turned into a love story. In fact, I had a really hard time accepting the love story. They went from colleagues with zero chemistry to lovers in a blink of an eye.

What I hated: (⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️) I absolutely hated that Allende tried to trick me with a fake death. In a first person novel? C’mon. And I absolutely hated the ending. Just what in the world was happening there? It didn’t add to the story at all and just made me want to throw my kindle across the room.

I may have read this quickly, but it was not a solid hit for me.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.