Good Girl Syndrome

How to Stop People Pleasing and Finally Be Yourself

By: Marta Martínez Novoa, Rosemary Peele - translator

Narrated by: Rachel Bavidge

Brought to you by Penguin.

I’ve always been told that if I was good, I’d attract good things. So then, why am I unhappy?

From a young age, women are taught to put everyone else first. The result? A society full of ‘Good Girls’, pushing themselves to meet expectations while ignoring their own needs. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this whip-smart and empowering book, psychotherapist Marta Martínez Novoa explains that people pleasing is not a personality failing, but a common response to trauma – an instinct to become more appealing to a threat, and a way to feel safe. Taking you on a journey into your past, this book will help you understand why you feel the way you do in the present, and gives you practical tools to build a future where you feel bolder, safer and more confident in everything you do.

If you’re done being a people pleaser and ready to start living for you, this is your toolkit to wake up and finally take charge.

© Marta Martínez Novoa 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026