Allende's Paula (1995) is a memoir written for her daughter, Paula, who was in a coma at the time. The book delves into Allende's family history and has been highly praised by critics. However, the process was draining for Allende, leading to a period of writer's block afterward.

The House of Spirits (1982) is Allende's debut and most celebrated novel. She penned this work while in exile, reflecting on her grandfather's influence. The novel is structured as a series of letters to him, narrating the lives of three generations of women: a grandmother, a mother, and the young female narrator.

In 2003, Allende published My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey through Chile, a nonfiction book. This work discusses various topics, including the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 1973 Chilean coup d'état.

Allende frequently acknowledges Gabriel García Márquez as a significant influence. García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967; reprinted in 1998) is one of his most renowned works. The novel takes readers on a complex and enigmatic journey following the male protagonist's unfulfilled love, with the hope that he will eventually find a resolution. García Márquez excels in using magic realism to craft his narrative.

Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate (1990) tells the story of a young woman whose cooking magically affects those around her. Set in Mexico, this unique and often humorous tale of forbidden love was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 1993.

Uruguayan author Tessa Bridal, who experienced political turmoil in her homeland similar to events in Chile, wrote The Tree of Red Stars (1997). This novel offers a fictionalized account of the terror she and her friends endured.

Poems, Protest, and a Dream (1997) is a collection by Mexican poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, who was born in 1648 and spent her adult life in a convent. This dual-language volume includes an essay providing insights into her life and times, with a focus on women's roles in society, a topic that remains relevant today.