I stumbled across Tova Leigh on social media a while back and always found her content laugh-out-loud funny—sharp, bold, and unapologetically honest. So when I saw she had a new book coming out, I just assumed it would be more of the same: cheeky observations, witty anecdotes, and a bit of mischief thrown in. Sadly, Good Girls Gossip wasn’t what I expected at all.
This felt more like a self-help book than the light, humorous read I was hoping for. It’s not that the writing wasn’t good—Tova clearly knows how to put her thoughts across, and she writes with purpose—but the tone was far more serious and reflective than I anticipated. It had moments of vulnerability and empowerment but not much of the spark that makes her online content so addictive.
A large portion of the book draws on her journey as a mother, which is fair enough, but as someone who’s never had children (and never wanted to), I struggled to connect with a lot of the points she was making. There’s a strong message in here about shaking off expectations and embracing authenticity, but the lens through which it’s told didn’t resonate with me personally.
That said, I don’t think it’s a bad book—it just wasn’t the book for me. If I’d gone into it knowing it was more of a self-reflection meets empowerment kind of read, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up in the first place. I’m sure it will strike a chord with a lot of people, especially those navigating identity through motherhood or societal roles. I just wasn’t the right audience for this one.

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 Nova Leigh (aka Tova Leigh) clearly has a deep passion for encouraging women to reclaim their voices, challenge outdated narratives, and find empowerment in everyday conversations—especially those labeled as "gossip."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.

✶ PRE-READING ✶
I was expecting a mix of sharp insight and humour - something that celebrates the everyday power of women’s voices while challenging the social narratives that try to diminish them. I was also hoping it would feel personal and grounded, not just theoretical. I've read one of Tova's other books, but it didn't have much of her voice in it, so I was looking forward to learning more about her.

✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought... Tova Leigh writes with honesty and wit, pulling no punches but always with heart. Her reflections on friendship, mentorship, and vulnerability feel grounded and real - like a chat with your boldest, most emotionally intelligent friend. She brings big themes down to a human level, showing how personal stories can be tools for collective empowerment.

It surprised me by... How practical it is, alongside the narrative. This isn’t just a celebration of women’s voices - it’s a toolkit for recognising the value of our own and others’. There are moments of humour and irreverence, but also deep sincerity and care. It doesn’t shy away from discomfort, and it encourages growth without shame.

I struggled with this and really wanted to DNF. I had high expectations but it didn’t meet any of them.

Good Girls Gossip by Tova Leigh is a vibrant and heartfelt celebration of female friendship and empowerment. Through a mix of humour, personal stories, and practical exercises, Leigh reclaims the often misunderstood idea of gossip as a powerful tool for connection rather than something negative.

From childhood memories of watching her mother and her friends sharing laughter and secrets, Leigh captures the essence of what it means for women to come together—to support, vent, laugh, and build deep bonds. The book explores how these conversations foster authenticity and mutual strength, touching on themes such as heartbreak, motherhood, work challenges, health, and everyday joys.

Leigh’s guidance is both uplifting and practical, offering 30 exercises designed to nurture meaningful friendships and empower women to be their true selves. Good Girls Gossip is a warm, relatable guide that celebrates the unique magic of women’s relationships and the vital role they play in personal growth and solidarity.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I really enjoy Tova Leigh's content but I was not a fan of this book. The information felt very surface level and common sense but I found myself still not relating to it.

The format was reminiscent of 'self-help' but with a 'gossip' case study on the topic that was just covered. I found the theme of gossiping throughout the novel kind of strange and a little juvenile - I understand that her intention was to reframe the word gossip as something positive and say everyone does it, but it didn't convey to me. Because I couldn't get past that, I think it really skewed my perception of the direction of this book.

I've been following Tova in social media for years. A compelling look at female relationships, regaining feminine power, and the beauty that is all women despite size or age Loved it.

In this empowering guide, Tova Leigh celebrates the power of female friendship and reclaiming "gossip" from the patriarchy. Through personal stories and 30 practical exercises, she encourages women to embrace their true selves, strengthen bonds, and lift each other up.

Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending it.

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.

I requested this book based on the description because I love learning about the history of niche things. Sadly this story was not what I expected. I was expecting something leaning more towards storytelling and feeling like fiction, while this really leaned more towards a self help book.
For this reason, I did not finish it. I didn’t write a review on goodreads as i find it unfair to give a low rating because a story wasn’t what I expected of it. For netgalley I will give it 3 stars.