Coming November 10, 2026

The Girl’s Guide
to Guts

Everything Your Doc Didn't Tell You
(But Your Bestie Would)

NBC News correspondent Chloe Melas and New York Times bestselling author Judy Batalion help you tackle the emotional and practical realities of bowel disease with candor, humor, and the kind of lived experience most medical experts can’t offer.

Bloating. Pain. Cramps. Gas. Food fear . . . Your doctor gives you medical advice. Your nutritionist suggests dietary changes. But who actually knows what you’re going through? Over 100 million women are living with IBS, IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other chronic gut issues, yet most are ashamed to share their stories.

In The Girl’s Guide to Guts, Chloe Melas and Judy Batalion, who together have more than fifty years of experience living with ulcerative colitis, are here loud and proud, writing with remarkable openness about everything from bleeding and bloating to sex and fertility, what to do after a diagnosis, the anxiety of living with a chronic illness, what to bring in your carry-on (and we’re not talking heels!), and the countless lattes purchased in exchange for use of a bathroom. They also interview experts in their field to give you the inside scoop on what your doctor is actually thinking.

Here, you’ll read about figuring out how to survive a first date when your stomach is gurgling, navigating colonoscopies and chronic pain while raising kids and working high-pressure jobs, and learning how to advocate for yourself with your doctors.

The Girl’s Guide to Guts takes the conversations many readers are already having and puts them center stage. Welcome to the bowel movement movement!

PRAISE FOR THE GIRL’S GUIDE TO GUTS

“Gut health is foundational to nearly every aspect of our well-being, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood—and least talked about—areas of medicine. Chloe Melas and Judy Batalion bring much-needed honesty, humor, and clarity to the conversation, connecting the dots between gut health and whole-body wellness. Their compassionate roadmap for navigating chronic GI issues will leave you feeling seen, informed, and, most important, not alone.”

—Dr. Mark Hyman, New York Times bestselling author and co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function Health

“Honest, hopeful, and deeply comforting—a reminder that none of us is alone.”

—Hoda Kotb, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Jump and Find Joy

“Chloe and Judy make something so many women silently struggle with feel empowering, approachable, and actually comforting. Real proof that hot girls have IBS.”

—Paige Desorbo, New York Times bestselling author of How to Giggle

“I have always believed that when women lift each other up, magic happens. Chloe and Judy remind us that there is zero shame in talking openly about our health—and honestly, it’s about time. This book is a beautiful reminder that you are never alone on this journey.”

—Kris Jenner

“Chloe and Judy show up for women in a way that creates clarity—and clarity drives action and accountability. The Girl’s Guide to Guts cuts through confusion and equips women with practical tools to better understand and support their health. Through relatable stories and health-forward insights, this book makes complex information both accessible and actionable.”

—Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, New York Times bestselling author of Forever Strong and The Forever Strong Playbook

“Chloe and Judy let it rip giving us all permission to stop being embarrassed about medical issues that should never have been taboo in the first place.”

—Sara Sidner, CNN

“Chloe and Judy say the parts out loud that most of us only whisper to our most honest friends.”

—Lo Bosworth, founder of Love Wellness and author of Love Yourself Well

“Okay, we’re done pretending this isn’t happening. Chloe and Judy are saying everything women have been dealing with—and not talking about—for way too long. It’s honest, it’s hilarious, and it feels like the start of a much-needed conversation.”

—Katie Sturino, author of Body Talk and founder of Megababe

“Helpful to all women who want to feel their very best.”

—Christie Brinkley, author of Uptown Girl

“Reading this book feels like sitting down with a trusted friend who finally says the things so many women are thinking but rarely voice. It’s a powerful reminder that women’s health deserves to be seen, heard, and taken seriously.”

—Karissa Bodnar, founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics

“A brutally honest—and surprisingly funny—call to start talking about the one body part we’ve been mistreating our whole life and yet supposed to trust: our gut.”

—Rebecca Minkoff, designer, author of Fearless, and co-founder of Female Founder Collective

“This book is a beautiful reminder that even the struggles we carry quietly deserve compassion, answers, and community.”

—Kendra Scott, author of Born to Shine and founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Kendra Scott Jewelry