Book Synopsis

Two women who have been through it all with their own gut health issues offer groundbreaking honesty and advice to live a full life while navigating symptoms.

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

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? How do you work, date, travel, parent, dress, eat, and maintain relationships when your condition is with you every day?

In The Girl's Guide to Guts, Chloe Melas and Judy Batalion, who together share decades worth of experience living with ulcerative colitis, show up with remarkable openness and candor 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 learn 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 advocating for yourself with your doctors.

The Girl's Guide to Guts takes bowel disease--our culture's final taboo--from being a topic many women hold inside or only discuss privately into a conversation we're ready to put center stage.

Review Quotes

"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 love this book. [Melas and Batalion] offer a rare glimpse into an unseen world in which too many patients live alone, unable to share with their families, friends, and health teams."--Ellen Scherl, MD, the Jill Roberts Professor of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine, as seen in Gastroenterology & Enterology News

"NBC correspondent Chloe Melas and New York Times bestselling author Judy Batalion aspire to more than just answer[ing] those embarrassing questions and shar[ing] their experiences with other women with GI disorders. The authors convey the sense they are in the room, ready to hold your hand and answer your most personal questions."--Gastroenterology & Enterology News

"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 Anchor

"This guide is a candid, authentic, and humorous exploration of how to live with chronic gut health issues. AKA: Something us Jewish girlies need to know about."--Hey Alma, "21 Jewish Books We're Excited About for Fall 2026"

"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

About the Author

Judy Batalion is a New York Times bestselling author of award-winning nonfiction and fiction. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Vogue, among others. Judy has a BA in the History of Science from Harvard, a PhD from the University of London, and has worked as a museum curator and university lecturer. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children.

Chloe Melas is an entertainment correspondent at NBC News appearing on the Today show, Nightly News, and NBC News Now. She previously worked at CNN where she broke numerous high-profile stories during the Me Too era and co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve show alongside Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. In 2023, Chloe worked to publish her late grandfather's memoir, Luck of the Draw, which became a New York Times bestseller. Chloe is the co-founder of the gut health brand Bio.me. She lives in New York with her two sons, four pets, and husband.

The Girl's Guide to Guts - by Chloe Melas & Judy Batalion (Hardcover)

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