Get ready for a sweeping and empowering reading experience with My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende. This historical novel follows Emilia—a fearless young writer—as she carves her own path across continents and expectations, chasing truth, identity, and a story only she can tell. This book club guide will help you dive into the rich historical backdrop, bold personal choices, and themes of legacy, independence, and finding your voice that make Emilia’s journey so compelling and unforgettable.

1. What were your first thoughts about Emilia? Did your opinion of her evolve as the story unfolded?
2. Emilia moves between fiction and journalism—how does each form shape her journey?
3. How did Emilia’s relationships with her mother and stepfather influence her decisions?
4. What stood out to you most about 1860s San Francisco and Civil War Chile? 
5. What drives Emilia to Chile? Is it truth, identity, ambition, or something else?
6. Emilia straddles many identities—Chilean and American, woman and writer, fact and fiction. How does she navigate those complexities?
7. How did you feel about Emilia and Eric’s romance? 
8. Emilia doesn’t conform to expectations. Which of her choices did you find bold or inspiring?
9. Did the Chilean conflict feel like a backdrop or a central force in the story?
10. What role does legacy play in Emilia’s journey? Is she trying to escape her past, honor it, or reshape it into something entirely her own?
11. Emilia often chooses risk over safety. Do you think that’s a strength or a flaw? Were there moments when you wished she had chosen differently?
12. What did Emilia gain (or lose) from finally meeting her father?
13. Was there a scene or a quote that stuck with you long after you finished?
14. If she were alive today, what kind of writer or activist would Emilia be?
15. What themes resonated with you most—love, legacy, identity, truth?