Good Girls Gossip: Find Your Female Power

by Tova Leigh

The ultimate guide to female friendship, mutual empowerment, and reclaiming “gossip” from the patriarchy, with humorous anecdotes and 30 practical exercises from social media star Tova Leigh.

When women talk together, amazing things happen ...

Offering practical tools as well as stories from Tova’s own personal experience and from the many women she has met along the way, Good Girls Gossip gives all women permission to be themselves, and highlights the key role other women play in female empowerment.

As a little girl, Tova would watch her mother and her friends gossiping  "It was deeper than words, like something primal, like a pack of wild wolves howling with laughter at an invisible moon. I know now that what I was witnessing was their authenticity, and it sparkled ....". Like all women, they shared experiences. Heartbreaks, struggles, birth stories, aspirations, shitty bosses, health scares, culinary secrets, diet struggles ... They cried together, got angry together. They gossiped and they formed bonds. They empowered each other.

The book is the ultimate guide to female friendship and mutual empowerment, exploring crucial topics such

Tapping into women's generational why women of all ages need to come together.Discovering "who am I?" with questions for the reader to explore their own true identity. Giving ourselves permission to be who we are, with exercises to break out our boxes. Setting start small and build up from there. Assessing our own create a road map to what matters to you. Prioritising why pleasure is a necessity, not a luxury, and how to get it. Creating how to draw on the support of other women in being yourself. Reclaiming the word "gossip": this word became used as a misogynistic tool to oppress, silence and strip women of their power. It's time to reclaim it!

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Tova Leigh is a social media influencer, content creator, writer, performer, wife and mother. Tova’s shamelessly, open and honest video rants, articles, and podcast, have resonated with a huge number of women around the world. Tova uses her platforms to support and empower women by giving them a sense of belonging as she doesn’t hold back whilst sharing the raw truth with her uncensored topics that include motherhood, body issues, marriage, sexuality, relationships not forgetting chocolate, wine and of course cake!

With her viral online series 'Mom life crisis', Tova went on a journey to rediscover life after motherhood (yes this does exist). From doing a nude photo shoot, to bungee jumping, pole dancing, changing her appearance and even flying to Nepal to do the Everest base camp trek, Tova documented her journey. The series received an overwhelming response from thousands of women across the world. She is currently taking her raw humour on stage with her live show My Thoughts About Stuff and writing her new book.

Reviews

[Tanja Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Tova Leigh and follow her on social media. I have also read and thoroughly enjoyed her other books. This was underwhelming though and mostly stating obvious facts.

I was never much indoctrinated into what women can and cannot do. I never much succumbed to shame. The one thing I do regret is not diving deeper into female friendships sooner. I have gotten much better at lifting other women now, and cheering as required.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to Good Girls Gossip by the premise — the idea of reclaiming gossip as a means of passing information between women, especially how that has historically been demonized or reduced to something frivolous. I was hoping for a more sociocultural exploration of how gossip, in its deeper form, can be both subversive and powerful — a tool for survival, connection, and even systemic reform.
Instead, much of the book centered around self-permission, inner narratives, and personal reframing — which might appeal to those looking for a self-help or personal development read, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting or hoping for. While those themes are certainly valid and may resonate with many readers, I was left wanting a more thorough investigation of how information flows between women in collective spaces — especially historically — and how that might still operate today in empowering ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie McMeans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Empowering Message, But Didn’t Fully Land for Me

Good Girls Gossip is a heartfelt celebration of female friendship, connection, and the power of women coming together. Nova Leigh (aka Tova Leigh) clearly has a deep passion for encouraging women to reclaim their voices, challenge outdated narratives, and find empowerment in everyday conversations—especially those labeled as "gossip."

There are some lovely moments here, especially when she reflects on her own upbringing and the fierce women who shaped her worldview. The practical exercises scattered throughout the book are a nice touch, offering ways to foster deeper bonds and self-awareness.

That said, this one didn’t hit all the marks for me. At times, the tone felt more like a stream-of-consciousness blog post than a cohesive guide, and some of the anecdotes didn’t feel especially fresh or structured. I wanted a bit more depth and variety in the stories, especially given the universal theme.

Still, the message at the core—that female camaraderie is powerful and vital—is something I absolutely agree with and appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Alanna Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the beginning of this book but I felt like after it finished the history at the beginning I got bored reading about the "drama" and delving into the why's. It just didn't gel with me but I would read more from Tova Leigh as I liked her writing style and may add her on socials. thank you netgalley for letting me read and review.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the concept, just not the execution. A lot of this is basic knowledge & I feel as though each chapter was a little more redundant than the last.

I do think if you’re in a place where you need a mental pick-me-up, this would be your book. However, this wasn’t what I needed at this time in my life. I definitely skimmed through it just to get to the end.

[Renel]

I received an ARC but this is not what I expected at all from the description so a dnf for now and probably forever… sawry

[Alex Wagner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Idk this book just wasn’t for me - I received this as an arc. I found the writing really high school and didn’t feel like the information was relevant or even necessary. Might be good for someone else but not for me