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.

I am beyond thankful to have received this ARC of My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts!

Set in the late 1800s, this captivating story follows Emilia, a young, adventurous woman discovering herself and striving to become a writer. Allende’s narrative style makes Emilia’s journey feel intimate and personal, drawing readers right into her world.

Allende masterfully weaves elements of her own life and heritage into Emilia’s story. Both hail from Chile and share a passion for writing, which adds a rich layer of authenticity to the narrative. Through Emilia’s perspective, we explore Chilean culture, the challenges of societal norms, and the drive to pursue one’s dreams.

One of the most touching parts of the book is Emilia’s bond with her stepfather, contrasting with her complicated relationship with her biological father. This emotional depth adds layers to Emilia’s journey of identity and belonging.

Emilia’s character is bold and resilient, and Allende’s vibrant writing brings each scene to life. The novel is a testament to Allende’s gift for creating strong, memorable female protagonists, making this a tribute to every woman seeking her own path.

This was a wonderful read and perfect for fans of historical fiction, family themes, and stories of self-discovery. Highly recommend!

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Lyrical and transportive storytelling.
As always, so enjoy the thread of magical realism in the author's writing.
Not my favorite of this author tho—too much of this story was a deep graphic dive into the Chilean civil war.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine for this e-ARC.

This book was incredible! I loved the setting and the diversity of the character being half Irish and half Chilean. The storytelling was wonderful, though I think Allende has used better translators in the past - I felt like the language was too simplistic at times. I am not really a fan of long descriptions of war, either, so that also made it less than a 5 star read from me. I love Isabel Allende's work though, she is incredible!

Isabel Allende is well known for blending Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, and personal experience into stories of characters that come alive off the page, and in Emilia del Valle we have a personality that escapes from the text into adventure. Emilia relates the story of her parentage even before delving into the story of her formative years in San Francisco, and transitions into becoming an author and reporter in an era where women just did not do such things. Emilia's connections to her parents, especially her step-father provides a solid foundation and a belief in herself that pushes her to defy societal convention. Craving adventure and a connection to the land of her biological father, she eventually travels to report on the Chilean civil war. The story is full of vibrant images of life in the late 19th century, war, and love. I delighted in being taken on Emelia's adventure with her, taking in the beauty and horrors of the world she moves through, connecting with all of the characters that she meets along the way, and finding a certain peace in the story's end. This is an enchanting read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.