Publication Date May 6, 2025
It seems weird to say this, but I am a fan of Isabel Allende, despite not being a fan of many of her books. I loved A Long Petal of the Sea, which was published in 2021, and hadn’t really read anything of hers since then, so I was happy to receive a copy of her latest, My Name Is Emilia del Valle, from Random House-Ballantine in exchange for my honest review.
Many people associate her with Chile, and this book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn about Chile’s history, culture, and people while being entertained by terrific writing by a renowned female author…and while the book is set in San Francisco as well as Chile, it is the parts set ibn Chile that I found most interesting.
The protagonist in this one is Emilia del Valle Claro, raised in the 1870s by her mother and stepfather (her bio-dad seemed to me to be somewhat of a scoundrel, living in Chile).
Before becoming a writer at the age of 39, Allende worked as a journalist, TV host, and school administrator, so having Emilia work as both a writer and journalist seems perfect. After meeting Eric Whalen, a fellow journalist, the two of them embark on a series of adventures that had me cheering for them, while learning way more than I expected about what life was like for a woman in Chile during the 1870s.
It is, as expected, beautifully written, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Four stars! And that “not a fan of many of her books” refers primarily to magical realism not being among my favorite genres. Bu as a fan of strong women, I highly recommend this book.