Gwyneth: The Biography

by Amy Odell

Love her or hate her, Gwyneth Paltrow has managed to stay on the A-list, her influence spanning entertainment, fashion, and the modern wellness industry. Paltrow was born to parents viewed as Hollywood royalty, and that immense privilege turned her into a target of backlash when, at just twenty-six, she won an Oscar. However, rather than crumble in the face of criticism, she leveraged the attention for valuable endorsement deals and film roles, eventually founding her controversial wellness and lifestyle company, Goop.

Over the decades Paltrow has participated in countless carefully managed interviews, but the real Gwyneth Paltrow—the basis of her motives, desires, strengths, faults, and vulnerabilities—has never been fully revealed until now. Based on exclusive conversations with more than 220 sources, including close current and former friends and colleagues, this deeply researched biography provides insight and behind-the-scenes details of her relationships, family, friendships, iconic films, and tenure as the CEO of Goop. Gwyneth: The Biography offers the fascinating, definitive look at how Paltrow rose to prominence, stayed in the limelight, and shaped culture for so long.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Fashion

448 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Amy Odell is the editor of Cosmopolitan.com, the largest community of millennial women on the Internet. She was named to the post in September 2013 and oversees all of Cosmopolitan’s digital presence, including editorial content, social media, and original video production. Odell is responsible for expanding the website’s editorial to include a wide range of feminist, political, and LGBTQ topics alongside celebrity news, and relationship and style coverage. Under her leadership, Cosmopolitan.com has more than doubled traffic to reach over 34 million monthly unique visitors, and the brand’s social media following has increased threefold to nine million. As a result, Cosmo was recognized as the “hottest magazine in digital” on the 2014 Adweek Hot List.

In 2015, Odell was named to Forbes' list of “30 Under 30” in media and featured in Adweek as a “New Publisher,” one of 15 young innovators who will change the magazine business. In 2014, Odell was selected to Crain’s New York Business prestigious “40 Under 40” list, and included in the Business of Fashion 500, a professional index of people shaping the global fashion industry.

Prior to Cosmopolitan.com, Odell was an editor at BuzzFeed from 2012 through 2013 and is credited with the launch of two women’s verticals for the viral news site, BuzzFeed Fashion and BuzzFeed Shift. Odell began her journalism career in 2007 as a party reporter for New York magazine, where she ultimately became the founding blogger of the magazine’s fashion blog, The Cut, in 2008.

Odell is a graduate of New York University and lives in Tribeca with her husband and very sassy cat.

Reviews

[Ahava Leibtag · Rating 1 out of 5]

You have to be a really untalented writer to make Gwyneth about as uninteresting as a piece of white bread(which she’d never eat). Odell interviewed 220 people for this? Doesn’t show. With maybe a few gossipy tidbits, she never gets underneath what makes this woman tick. And she spends the last third of the book showing how kooky GP is and how much she may have contributed to health misinformation. Where was that in the beginning of the book? How did those seeds get planted? What about tracing those threads better, instead of just blaming it on her dad and her superiority complex?

Boring. Linear. Banal. Maybe GP is just boring. Or maybe an editor needed to do a serious cut and paste job on this one.

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF; the narrator’s disdain was so offensive

[Adam Messinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I say anything else, I absolutely read this cover to cover in one single weekend.

Reading Gwyneth is like reading a Wikipedia article. Something I have done since childhood and continued on in every office job I’ve ever had. It’s a breeze, it’s fun, and you get a good idea of the subject. But on many occasions when I’ve wanted to dive deeper, I’ve gone outside of Wikipedia and…read a real article. And oh wowwwww oh that just feels so different doesn’t it?

Gwyneth (the book) skims through its subject’s life with a gleeful pace, never stopping for too long to submerge us in the world or provide greater context for the space the subject occupies in the bigger picture. For example, at the end of the chapter focused on Gwyneth’s much contended Oscar win, the author adds a slim paragraph about how some people didn’t think she deserved to win. No examples as to why or what was going on that year really. And then she moves on to the next life event.

It feels as if this book has that movie biopic syndrome where instead of using select scenes and life events to speak to large swaths of the subject’s life, it moves and moves and moves, never stopping for too long to risk crumbling down or—god forbid—having an authorial bias shine through.

But with that said I enjoyed reading it. Had no idea just how shaky Goop as a business really is. Also I really didn’t have much context for Gwyneth’s career outside of um Glee and Iron Man. Totally unknowable and even after an almost 400-page book, I don’t know if I know her any better than I did before. Would 10/10 rip cigs with her though.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just left me obsessing about whether I am also a cluelessly awful person.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought parts of this book were very interesting although I can’t say that I like Gwyneth as a person. Her level of privilege and entitlement is off the charts. I really enjoyed the first half of the book which focused on her acting career and relationships, but the second half of the book about Goop was a bit boring to me.

[Olivia Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed I cried I danced

[Malia]

About a quarter of the way in, I think this is a DNF for me. I thought it would be a little fun, gossipy read, but honestly, it's kind of boring and nothing surprising at all. I do not have a particularly strong opinion of Gwyneth or Goop, positive or negative, so maybe I'm just not the best audience for this book.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an absolute hatchet job. You would think that Gwyneth Paltrow was evil and miserable and just the worst person on earth by reading this book. The author embarrassed herself with this one. It is definitely one-sided and quickly becomes
extremely boring, despite having an amazing subject.

[Brian Tuft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as with the Wintour there is not a trace of voice or tone in the writing. It is truly giving Wikipedia. However, the book is so well researched and there is such a palpable passion for the subject and telling us everything about the subject. That I found it impossible to not read. And impossible to put down once I started. While there is little in terms of surprises for me as a big fan of GP. Seeing all of the highs and lows in order with recollections from friends and frenemies made for a great time.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Amy Odell’s controversial new GWYNETH biography for the 16-year-old version of me who idolized Gwyneth in the ‘90s. After reading it, the 40-something version knows better. 🥴

BUT (and it's a big one): I so very much appreciated the 🐇 hole searches this book sent me on to reminisce about Gwyneth's amazing looks of the past. My two faves: the blood red '96 Gucci suit and her entire wardrobe for "Great Expectations". What an amazing decade to have been a fan of both fashion and the cinema!

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I guess since it’s a biography and not a memoir, there aren’t any super interesting or scandalous stories. If you somewhat follow pop culture, there isn’t much that you haven’t heard before.

[Walker Iversen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Empire of Pain” but for Goop

[James King]

This is a great read if you want to revisit 90s and 00s films and celebrity culture and are interested in the snake oil wellness industry of today. It's a bit gossipy and silly but has a journalistic sheen.

[Marci Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a great biography but the author states that Gwyneth was "oddly comfortable around adults"- seriously! This author is biased and a Gwyneth hater.

[Addi Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book with Gwyneth's upbringing and her Hollywood days, but then when the book starts to cover Gwyneth's wellness obsession and the origins of Goop, the author starts "fact checking" and makes multiple comments about how Gwyneth lead many people into dangerous territory with her "misinformation." I don't think Gwyneth has been right about everything on this topic, and she definitely has made some crazy claims and associated herself with wacky people. But also in many ways she was way ahead of the curve when it comes to big pharma and how many things can be treated holistically. The author has a very clear bias when it comes to anything going against the grain of what we've been taught about medication, healthcare, vaccines, etc., and it left a bad taste in my mouth by the end of the book. I wish this had been a more fair portrait of Gwyneth without the author's overt opinions overshadowing her later life. Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator made multiple bizarre mispronunciations and I'm confused why those weren't caught in editing.

[Lauryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ Meh - this is a pretty boring recap of Gwyneth based on publicly available interviews, recapping cultural touchpoints and citing sources with a somewhat sexist slant on GP’s approach to business. I remain fascinated by Gwyneth the person, but the author clearly doesn’t like her and that came through in her writing.

The part of this book that especially drove me crazy is the write up of her as a CEO where the author is aghast that her c-suite protected her time from any random person coming to her with questions and insinuated she was an especially terrible boss. Everything described in that part is par for the course in any corporate environment I’ve worked in!

Gwyneth, like many before her, has a singular point of view and taste that obviously is compelling to lots of people which is what I wanted to learn more about. Some of her wacky wellness trends are for sure problematic, but she certainly isn’t the only one promoting fringe solutions to women.

I look forward to someday reading Gwyneth’s version of her life story should she choose to write it!

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a person who has ever had strong feelings about Gwyneth Paltrow. I’ve enjoyed a couple of her movies (“Emma” and “Sliding Doors”). And I’ve long given her the side eye for her business Goop that preys on many women’s fears relating to health and wellness issues, in many ways a precursor to the MAGA movement.

Anyway, I guess it should be no surprise that I didn’t feel strongly about Amy Odell’s new biography of Gwyneth either. I thought it was fine, but a little thin since Odell wasn’t given access to Gwyneth or anyone in her inner circle. If you really like or dislike her you’ll probably enjoy this book more than I did.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Paltrow's, beware. You will not find much to love about her in this book. If you are skeptical of Paltrow and her unscientific, potentially dangerous woo woo "wellness" crap, you will find your skepticism validated.

[Carolina Menapace · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone read Sociopath, by Patric Gagne, I’m now convinced that GP is the same person after reading this book. I love unauthorized bios more bc of exactly what they are…unauthorized by the person being featured. Could do without the snarky tone.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as her past bio says n Anna. Really well researched and written. Makes important connections btw GO’s business and to anti vax and other pseudo scientific “wellness” misinformation

[Tifany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too snarky to be believable and the author had no access to anyone of import for interviews including the subject herself. Not balanced, rife with sexism and internalized misogyny. Pass on this book. Biased to the negative waste of time.

[Alex Kurtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very well written biography, I’ve always been fascinated with Goop and Gwyneth so it was a really quick read (listened to it) and had some interesting stories

[John Labman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always been fascinated by Gwyneth. She’s kooky and I would never wanna work for her. But she would be fun to have a kale salad with.

[Belinda Hitchcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book. The author comes across as petty and jealous. Just another example of a woman trying to tear another woman down. *boring*

[Reginas..Haunted..Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF with an hour to go on the audiobook. I just couldn't anymore. So boring! Alas, I wasted another audible credit.

[Judith]

If you’re not a GP fan to begin with, this book certainly won’t turn you into one. I got about half way through and couldn’t continue. I enjoy a good biography, but this one was just mundane, wordy, and left me wondering what was really true and what wasn’t.

[Jacquie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I thought it would be more interesting. I listened to the audio version .

Gwyneth and her parents come off as insufferable. I can't even understand her hype. To be honest, other than dating Brad and Ben and winning an undeserved Oscar, I don't think she was as big as the author makes her out to be. I don't recall anyone I know ever discussing her or venturing out to see her lead a film. Plus, there is way too much detail on Goop. There is no need to get into the minutiae.

I commend her for reinventing herself as a wellness guru but as a movie star she was sort of uncharismatic. Hence, the ennui inducing biography. Oh well.

[ds · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had astronomically high expectations for this that amy odell actually satisfied like 60% of so like graded on a curve thats 5 stars

[AllBookedUp · Rating 3 out of 5]

“If you’re not smart, you start hanging around with people on your payroll, people who won’t disagree with you. When you’re famous, no one disagrees with you. You get paranoid. You get isolated and everyone wants a piece of you.”
~ Gwyneth Paltrow

Some people may find Paltrow aloof, but in reality that’s her nervous energy. She found Brad Pitt to be charming and while he was too dumb for her, she felt he was very passionate as a lover. Sidenote: Brad Pitt was two weeks shy of earning a journalism degree in the University of Missouri. She didn’t even come close to attending any college. While Paltrow’s parents might’ve been acting royalty, Brad Pitt’s father owned a trucking company, and his mother worked at a school as a school counselor. His southern charm is wonderful, but it bought her. Paltrow found Pitt was beneath her. She later “traded up“ to Ben Affleck, who was more on her level. His father was a playwright. The problem with Ben Affleck was the fact that he was a struggling alcoholic, had a gambling habit, and he has a revolving eye. Paltrow didn’t care as long as she was the IT girl. She also stated on Call Her Daddy podcast telling Alex Cooper that Ben was “technically excellent“ lover.

With all the effort that Paltrow put into herself, she could never vanquish her privileged persona, like when her staff failed to do something for her, and she snapped at them, or when her house was filled with extravagant gifts from brands and she’d say “just have the cleaning lady take it away.”

In regards to the fact that Paltrow stated early in her cater Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed her, Paltrow still made many movies with him and Miramax. She’s won many accolades in working on their films and thus, her profile was rising.

As Paltrow’s fame grew, her relationships became more transactional. Paltrow was always so savvy, especially when it came to managing relationships. She can make you feel as if you’re one of the most important person in her life and another time, act as if she’s never met you.

Tidbits:
She’s friends with Beyoncé thru her husband’s friendship with Jay-Z.

She met her second husband, Brad Falchuk, at the series, Glee.

Vanity Fair magazine wanted to do a cover story even though Paltrow tried to hide that she and her husband, Martin, were actually divorcing. She instructed all her friends to not talk about her to VF.

For a person who claims she doesn’t care about others think about her, in actuality, she does. She can be flawed and vengeful.

When Paltrow was running GOOP, she could be warm and caring, but also cold. Employees who worked up the nerve to go to our office or often met with impatience, and attitude of “what do you want? Get it over with. Let’s move on.” If an employee replies to one of her emails with “thanks“ or “on it,” She’ll tell them not to send those emails because they were a waste of her time.

Paltrow had a close relationship with her food editors at her company GOOP. It often blurred the lines between professional and professional. The food editors who wrote GOOP’s recipe worked directly with, until she tired of them for one reason or another. In the office it was common knowledge that the food editors would go to Paltrow‘s house after work and make her dinner under the guys of “recipe testing.” When she and her new husband, Brad Falchuk were living apart, the food editors will bring dinner to his house too, which wasn’t a light lift to LA traffic.

The older and more successful she became, the more entitled she became and as we read in the beginning of the book, she already was. The author started off portraying Paltrow as aloof looking but she had a reason. She was nervous and tried to hide it. Hence, she smoked and it occupied her hands. Then about the rest of 2/3 of the memoir, she was painted as entitled but seemingly didn’t realize it. The last third, Paltrow embraced it fully and fully believes in her own hype.

Is it a hatchet book? Yeah, I would say so. Is it the truth? I don’t know because I don’t know her personally. If she’s like this in reality, she can keep to her side of the fence.

[Becky]

Did you know Gwyneth purportedly “invented” ghosting and following a gluten-free diet? Incredible. *face palm* We already know Gwyneth is ridiculously insufferable. But still, four things remain ever true:
1. I would’ve 100% ripped some cigs with Gwyneth in my early 20s.
2. Goop sunscreen is the best.
3. Thank God GP inspired Chris Martin to write Coldplay’s “Fix You.” I love that song.
4. The BEST thing GP has ever said: “Nobody knows what the fuck they’re doing, and you can learn whatever it is that is specific to your business that you need to learn.” I genuinely, wholeheartedly agree.

It’s difficult to rate this book strictly based on the writing vs the subject at hand (especially since I listened to this via audiobook). + I imagine it would be incredibly difficult to write a biography without being able to speak to the subject, or anyone close to her. I’m curious why the author spent all this time essentially creating an amalgamation of every interview GP has ever done, which often read as a GP-themed Mean Girls Burn Book? Idk.

The most relatable thing to happen in the whole book: Bruce Paltrow insisting on going to Portifino despite being on the verge of his death. Same, dude. I’d do the same if given the opportunity. Because Italy.