The literary conversation of the moment revolves around two names that have coincided at the forefront of current publishing: Juan del Val and Angela BanzasTheir new novels have been presented as two sides of the same coin: a contemporary look at love, power, memory, and the secrets that cross generations and social classes. It's no wonder they're the most searched titles when we ask for "novels by Juan del Val and Ángela Banzas."
In this article, we gather in detail, without missing a thing, who they are, what they've written, and why their latest books are causing so much buzz. Here you will find the essential plots, the context of the Planeta Prize, its trajectories and the key themes. that connect and differentiate their proposals. We present this in a friendly tone and with all the verified information already circulating in the media and editorials.
Two authors, two narrative universes that intersect
Although they come from different worlds, the effect is the same: His novels have captured the attention of the general publicJuan del Val presents a story set in Seville's high society, in which a woman decides to rewrite her life; Ángela Banzas, meanwhile, proposes a journey to post-war Galicia, where absences, illness, and family silences push her protagonist to unearth the truth.
Both titles are being released under the umbrella of the Planeta Prize, with a joint tour that will take them across Spain in a format almost reminiscent of a literary road movie. He, with a novel of passion and social criticism; she, with an intimate drama marked by memory., fear and the possibility of a different future. The dialogue between these two perspectives is at the heart of its impact.
Vera, a love story: passion, freedom and shadows of power
Juan del Val's novel centers on Vera, a 45-year-old woman belonging to Seville's high society. After more than two decades fulfilling the expectations of a marquis's wife, she decides to break up her marriage and start living by her own rules. The turning point comes with Antonio, a young man of humble origins who does not belong to her world and who awakens in her something more than desire: the real possibility of breaking away from the script that others have written.
What begins as an unlikely attraction becomes the catalyst for a life-changing event. From there, Vera's ex-husband's resentment mutates into something darker and more threatening. Del Val explores the tension between desire, reputation and hidden violence. that can arise when someone in the circle of power loses control. There are losses that, when accumulated, push characters to the limit.
Beyond the romantic plot, the novel offers an explicit social critique of privilege, hypocrisy, and life behind the walls of certain luxury developments. The author combines emotional intensity with touches of thriller, moving the story forward amid secrets and broken appearances. The idea of "true love in all its forms" intersects with that of learning to be free when you lose your fear of making mistakes.
This duality between rebirth and threat turns reading into a sequence of dilemmas: What are you willing to risk to recover your own voice? How do you negotiate freedom when everyone around you is pressuring you to return to the fold? Vera not only faces a past with poorly healed wounds; also to the consequences of finally choosing what you want.
When the Wind Speaks: Memory, Postwar, and the Power of Imagination
Ángela Banzas's finalist begins in the fall of 1939, just after a family tragedy. Its protagonist, Sofía, grows up in rural Galicia under the strict watch of her paternal grandparents, while her father, a librarian who lives in the shadows, fosters her love of fairy tales and fantasy stories. Since she was a child, Sofia has lived with secrets, absences and the recurring vision of another girl. who doesn't know if it's a memory, a fantasy or something worse.
An illness takes her to the Royal Hospital of Santiago, a setting that functions as a physical and symbolic space. Between hallways, rooms and Clandestine corridors reveal traces of a buried past which gradually becomes clearer. There, Sofia meets Julia, a fundamental friend, and a young man with green eyes who seems to know too many answers. The discoveries don't end with the illness: she also learns that she once had a twin sister no one had told her about.
The story explores the realms of fear, repression, and family wounds of the postwar period, but also the imagination's capacity to resist and make sense of pain. The novel defends love as the last hope In the darkest moments, with that pulse of emotional intrigue that characterizes Banzas' work. The rural atmosphere, the weight of the unspoken, and the search for truth sustain a mystery that breathes until the very end.
It's a story of imposed silences, inherited guilt, and small, intimate rebellions that make their way. In the midst of this climate, The author contrasts superstitions, legends and memories with the tangible facts that Sofia unravels. The feeling that the past hasn't fully occurred permeates every step of her personal investigation.
Juan del Val: career, resources, and essential bibliography
Juan Ángel del Val Pérez (Madrid, October 5, 1970) was a journalist and communicator before becoming a successful novelist. He has worked as a columnist, screenwriter, director, producer, presenter and collaborator on Spanish National Radio, Spanish Television, Channel 9, Antena 3, and Telecinco. For four years, he co-hosted the program "The Best Thing That Can Happen to You" on Melodía FM with his wife, Nuria Roca.
On television, his presence as a panelist on El Hormiguero has given him massive visibility and, at the same time, has often placed him at the center of public debates. Regarding his ideological profile, he has sparked a series of controversies.He has been accused of conservative views, although he recalls his brief youthful activism in the Young Communists and having voted for IU and the PSOE. He has expressed opposition to Pedro Sánchez's government and has stated that he does not respect EH Bildu voters, while claiming to respect Vox voters.
As an author, his breakthrough came with the 2019 Primavera Novel Prize, thanks to Candela, the story of a middle-aged woman who runs a neighborhood bar with her mother and grandmother. They followed it with Delparaíso (2021), an x-ray of the ins and outs of a luxury development., and Bocabesada (2023). Previously, she had published Parece mentira (2017) on her own and, in co-authorship with Nuria Roca, Para Ana (de tu muerto) (2011) and Lo inevitable del amor (2012).
Selected bibliography of Juan del Val: For Ana (from your dead) (2011, with Nuria Roca); The Inevitable Love (2012, with Nuria Roca); It Seems Like a Lie (2017); Candela (2019, Primavera Prize); Delparaíso (2021); Bocabesada (2023)Her new novel places Vera in a labyrinth where desire opens doors and, at the same time, attracts threats that are difficult to measure.
On a personal and media level, Del Val doesn't shy away from exposure. He declares himself a lover of debate, sometimes of dialectical confrontation, and confesses an unwavering affection for his family. He dedicated words of gratitude and love to his wife, Nuria Roca, and he refers to his children as the engine that gets him up in the morning. This mix of irony and hope, he says, is a legacy from his father and mother.
Angela Banzas: biography, works, and a voice marked by intrigue
Ángela Banzas (Santiago de Compostela, 1982) holds a degree in Political Science and Administration from the University of Santiago, an MBA from the European Business School in Madrid, and a diploma from the University of Cambridge. He worked in a public administration consultancy before dedicating his career to thriller fiction.
She debuted in 2021 with The Silence of the Waves, where Adela Roldán's life is shaken by a childhood nightmare that drives her to travel to a Galician village to investigate. A year later came The Conspiracy of the Fog, which mixes Galician superstition and legends with an investigation into the disappearance of a teenager on Illa de Cruces. a fictional island inspired by Illa de ArousaIn 2023, he published The Shadow of the Rose, a story of cursed authors, crime, family secrets, and mysteries set on the island of Cortegada.
In 2024, her fourth novel appeared, cited as El aliento de las llamas (also referred to in some sources as El aliento en llamas), with a plot of redemption and intrigue inspired by the figure of Emilia Pardo Bazán. Its publication rate has been constant, one book per year., and his first three works have accumulated notable sales, around 70.000 copies.
When the Wind Speaks, her fifth novel, has established her as one of the authors to watch. A finalist for the Planeta Prize, The work recovers the Galician postwar period as a backdrop and draws a portrait of Sofía from childhood to the moment when illness forces her to the Royal Hospital of Santiago, where passageways, documents and memories emerge that demand answers.
Regarding her method, Banzas writes her novels in Spanish and her poetry in Galician. She always carries a Moleskine notebook to jot down ideas and usually creates a playlist for each book, recording audio so she doesn't forget details. She lives in Madrid, is married, and has two children, Pablo and Aitor., and says that if she had had a girl, her name would have been Sofía. Hence her pseudonym for the award presentation, Sofía García, the same name as her protagonist.
Very connected to the literary scene, participates in fairs, festivals and regional press, where he maintains friendship with authors such as Susana Martín Gijón, Santiago Díaz and Sergio del Molino. As a fan, she “follows” Athletic because of family tiesAnd since 2021, when she left her previous job, she has dedicated herself fully to writing.
Planeta Prize: jury, figures, and unveiling
The announcement of the winners took place during a literary dinner held at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), chaired by José Creuheras, president of Grupo Planeta and Atresmedia. The jury for this edition was composed of Luz Gabás, Pere Gimferrer, Eva Giner, Carmen Posadas and Belén López, who served as voting secretary. José Manuel Blecua and Juan Eslava Galán participated in the deliberations and voting electronically.
The call for entries broke records with 1.320 originals received from around the world, a record number that underscores the award's popularity. The prize money amounts to 1.000.000 euros for the winning work and 200.000 euros for the runner-up., consolidating its status as the most highly endowed award in the world of literature.
Juan del Val presented himself under the pseudonym Elvira Torres and concealed the final title of his novel with an alternative label, It's Not So Easy to Die of Love. The verdict defined it as “contemporary, with open social criticism and a touch of thriller.”Del Val has described his book as a story of true love in every sense of the word and emphasized that one learns to be free when one stops being afraid of making mistakes.
In his public address, the author thanked the jury and dedicated the award to his wife, Nuria Roca, with a particularly moving message. For her part, Ángela Banzas saw the Planeta final as a clear boost to her career. a novel that combines memory, research and sensitivity.
Dates, release date, and tour: what we know about the release
Regarding the arrival in bookstores, the information released places the launch in the first week of November: It has been announced on the 5th in some communications, while others mention the 4th. In any case, an intense promotional campaign has been planned that will take both authors to various cities on a shared tour.
A package is sold with the winning and finalist novels, a common practice that facilitates a mirror reading of both works. The idea is clear: to propose a dialogue between two very different perspectives. about love, power, memory and identity, and that the reader finds crossed resonances between the two stories.
All the works: an organized overview so you don't get lost
Bibliography of Juan del Val: For Ana (from your dead) (2011, with Nuria Roca); The Inevitable Love (2012, with Nuria Roca); Parece mentira (2017); Candela (2019, Primavera Prize); Delparaíso (2021); Bocabesada (2023). Vera, a love story, joins her as her new high-impact literary project.
Angela Banzas's Bibliography: The Silence of the Waves (2021, 664 pages)The Conspiracy of the Fog (2022, 464 pages); The Shadow of the Rose (2023, 432 pages); The Breath of the Flames (2024, 400 pages); and her fifth novel, When the Wind Speaks, a finalist for the Planeta Prize.
Themes that connect and differences that enrich
There is a common theme in both proposals: the search for one's own life in pressing contextsVera struggles to break free from a marriage of convenience and the social straitjacket that surrounds her; Sofía tries to understand the web of silences and inherited pain that sustain her family history.
The differences are evident and complementary. Juan del Val explores the friction between desire, power, and reputation, with hints of thriller and social criticism. Angela Banzas builds post-war atmospheres, mixing superstition and memory, and uses intimate intrigue to uncover buried truths. Where one depicts Sevillian high society, the other reveals rural Galicia with its shadows and customs.
Both, however, agree on betting on strong, complex, and nuanced female characters. Vera and Sofia are destined to resonate with very different readers., from those seeking romantic excitement with edges to those who prefer the slow and moving pulse of historical-family drama with mystery.
They also share a very modern way of understanding reading as an experience: rhythm, narrative tension, and memorable scenes that facilitate "engagement." The combination of universal themes (love, identity, fear, hope) with recognizable contexts, it multiplies the possibilities of connecting with broad audiences.
The media author and the intrigue novelist: two profiles on the road
The joint tour highlights the contrasting profiles. On one side, a writer with a strong presence in the media, accustomed to the cameras and debate, with a journalistic background and a track record of novels that have already found widespread acclaim. In the other, an author of intimate research and Galician sensitivity, with a sustained publication pace and a growing reader base that appreciates its settings, its legends and its way of managing mystery.
This contrast works as a selling point and, at the same time, as an invitation to cross-reading. Those who come for the story of passion and social criticism can discover the post-war memory; those who come for the historical intrigue can gain a glimpse into Del Val's emotional and social whirlwind. The reader wins.
The media context: focus, debate and reception
The media coverage has been extensive from the very beginning: record participation, a high-profile jury, and a fully formal ceremony dinner. Del Val has made headlines for his regular television appearance., her statements, and her dedication of the award to Nuria Roca. Banzas, less known to the general public, now appears with an undeniable calling card and a book that definitively places her on the mainstream map.
Among readers, there is curiosity about the two narrative lines. Vera's plot appeals to those seeking stories of breakup and rebirth. With a dose of tension; Sofía's book appeals to those who enjoy the weight of history and family secrets. Both books, due to their complementary nature, build bridges rather than barriers.
Biographical notes that shed light on the works
In his biography, Del Val has stated that he believes in open relationships, while also declaring unwavering admiration for his wife and a central bond with his children. He says he inherited irony from his father, and hope from his mother.This interplay between public provocation and private affection fits with the tension between social display and intimacy that Vera traverses.
Banzas, for her part, works with predetermined outlines but leaves much to the reader's intuition. She says she shares the texts with her husband while writing and trusts his judgment, although instinct has the final say. That way of measuring time and managing detail It is noticeable in the way When the Wind Speaks doses clues, memories and revelations.
One more note: the author writes poetry in Galician, while her novels are in Spanish. This coexistence of registers adds texture to his prose., with a very attentive ear to rhythm and a sensitivity that draws on oral tradition and Galician cultural memory.
What the reader expects when opening each novel
In Vera, a love story, the reader enters a territory of high emotional tension: reputations at stake, wounded pride, desire, fear, and freedom. The focus is on the metamorphosis of the protagonist and how power structures react when someone decides to stop obeying. Expect twists that broaden the social critique and an atmosphere of growing threat.
In When the Wind Speaks, the atmosphere rules. There's a scent of damp earth, hidden papers, and whispered secrets. Sofia's childhood, marked by loss and silence, sets the tone for a story that travels from pain to the possibility of love and hope. The Royal Hospital of Santiago serves as a symbolic enclave where questions finally find a channel.
Both novels also raise the question of the validity of a second chance. Whether at 45 in a Seville of salons and gardens, or in the harsh postwar period of a Galician village, The characters look for a place where they can breathe without permissionThere they understand each other and complement each other.
For those who follow the authors' previous work, there are also bridges. The portrait of closed spaces and privileges connects with Delparaíso, while the pulse of intimate intrigue and legends recall the world of The Conspiracy of the Fog or The Shadow of the Rose.
A practical note to close the availability chapter: The publishers have scheduled their release for the first week of November., with references to the 5th in several communications and mention of the 4th in others. In any case, the bookstore ecosystem is preparing for a flood of readers.
With all of the above on the table, it's easy to understand why these two novels are on everyone's lips: A double commitment to powerful stories, with memorable characters and a media context that multiplies their reach.If you're interested in reading about love, power, memory, and second chances, here are two different and compatible paths to explore them.
