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Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier
The bombshell exposé that reveals--for the first time--exactly what happened at Glossier, one of America's hottest and most consequential startups, and dives deep into the enigmatic, visionary woman responsible for it all. Called "one of the most disruptive brands in beauty" by Forbes , Glossier revolutionized the beauty industry with its sophisticated branding and unique approach to influencer marketing, almost-instantly making the company a juggernaut with rabid fans lining up for a chance to buy its coveted products. It also taught a generation of business leaders how to talk to Millennial and Gen Z customers and build a cult following online. At the center of the story lies Emily Weiss, the elusive former Teen Vogue "superintern" on the reality show The Hills turned Into the Gloss beauty blogger who had the vision, guts, and searing ambition needed to launch Glossier. She cannily turned every experience, every meeting into an opportunity to fuel her own personal success. Together with her expensive, signature style and singular vision for the future of consumerism, she could not be stopped. Just how did a girl from suburban Connecticut with no real job experience work her way into the bathrooms and boudoirs of the most influential names in the world and build that access into a 1.9-billion-dollar business? Is she solely responsible for its success? And why, eight years later, at the height of Glossier mania, did she step down? In Glossy , journalist and author Marisa Meltzer combines in-depth interviews with former Glossier employees, investors, and Weiss herself to bring you inside the walls of this fascinating and secretive company. From fundraising to product launches and unconventional hiring practices, Meltzer exposes the inner workings of Glossier's culture, culminating in the story of Weiss herself. The Devil Wears Prada for the Bad Blood generation, Glossy is a gripping portrait of not just one of the most important business leaders of her generation, but also a chronicle of an era.
Audio CD
First published July 11, 2023
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About the author
Marisa Meltzer
5 books167 followersMarisa Meltzer is author of Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music and co-author of How Sassy Changed My Life: A Love Letter to the Greatest Teen Magazine of All Time. Yes, she really loves the nineties that much.
As a freelance writer, her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Elle, Slate, New York Magazine, Teen Vogue, and many other publications. She has covered such diverse topics from why Miley Cyrus is a good role model to which Pride and Prejudice adaptation has the best Mr. Darcy and she's reported on Parisian riots and overachieving New York City high school students.
She is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
As a freelance writer, her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Elle, Slate, New York Magazine, Teen Vogue, and many other publications. She has covered such diverse topics from why Miley Cyrus is a good role model to which Pride and Prejudice adaptation has the best Mr. Darcy and she's reported on Parisian riots and overachieving New York City high school students.
She is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,705 reviews
September 24, 2023
This book zooms in and out like a camera trying and failing to gain focus on its subject. Is it a story about Glossier or Weiss? Is it a story about the beauty industry or the fashion industry? Is it about a specific female CEO or is she simply an example in a book about girl boss culture? Is this a nonfiction documentary about the topic or a collection of essays centered around it? Literally what happened to Glossier? When did it happen? How did it happen? I read this whole book, and I don’t know.
It’s just too meta. There’s so much about the idea of glossier, the concept. So much of this book exists in abstract observations about the brand or the idea by the author or observers. So little of the book is fact. We’re sort of vaguely passing through some semblance of a story without ever actually telling it. It’s sort of like if I wrote a book about Glossier, then I wrote a book about all of the intrusive thoughts I had while writing a book about Glossier then I threw out the book about Glossier and published the book of intrusive thoughts. You can kind of suss out where I am in the timeline and vaguely know what’s going on because you can sort of guess what’s happening based on the intrusive thought it triggered. But I never actually tell you what’s happening.
It’s so plainly obvious that the author didn’t properly do her due diligence. Didn’t have the full cooperation of Weiss. Was grasping to reach a page count. The author makes it clear she’s talked to and been involved with Weiss and Glossier long before this book, and I think she incorrectly thought that made her an expert or meant she was qualified to write this book based on what she already knew.
I think someone who intensely googled Weiss and the brand probably could’ve done just as good a job without talking to anyone involved. Probably better because they wouldn’t have padded the word count with useless existential, reflective quotes that told me nothing.
It’s just too meta. There’s so much about the idea of glossier, the concept. So much of this book exists in abstract observations about the brand or the idea by the author or observers. So little of the book is fact. We’re sort of vaguely passing through some semblance of a story without ever actually telling it. It’s sort of like if I wrote a book about Glossier, then I wrote a book about all of the intrusive thoughts I had while writing a book about Glossier then I threw out the book about Glossier and published the book of intrusive thoughts. You can kind of suss out where I am in the timeline and vaguely know what’s going on because you can sort of guess what’s happening based on the intrusive thought it triggered. But I never actually tell you what’s happening.
It’s so plainly obvious that the author didn’t properly do her due diligence. Didn’t have the full cooperation of Weiss. Was grasping to reach a page count. The author makes it clear she’s talked to and been involved with Weiss and Glossier long before this book, and I think she incorrectly thought that made her an expert or meant she was qualified to write this book based on what she already knew.
I think someone who intensely googled Weiss and the brand probably could’ve done just as good a job without talking to anyone involved. Probably better because they wouldn’t have padded the word count with useless existential, reflective quotes that told me nothing.
September 10, 2023
this could have been a very good article.
October 5, 2023
I tried. Memoir, business, and nonfiction are my favorite genres. Throw in a female CEO and I am all in. But it ended up in my DNF pile after listening to almost 50% on audiobook.
What I liked:
* Strong, determined, ambitious, knows what she wants, successful CEO
What I didn't like:
* All the talk about make-up, clothing, brands, privilege, etc
What I liked:
* Strong, determined, ambitious, knows what she wants, successful CEO
What I didn't like:
* All the talk about make-up, clothing, brands, privilege, etc
February 27, 2024
Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier is an interesting look into the life of founder Emily Weiss and the rise of her megabrand Glossier. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook, the pacing was nice and it was not repetitive. Emily Weiss's background was not necessarily unique, but it was compelling nonetheless, and it is always a joy to read about successful women. I did not know about her blog 'Into the Gloss' and loved hearing how she grew it into the company we all now know and love, Glossier.
I do have a few critiques, the first being that this is described as a bombshell exposé, but there was no big scandal discussed in detail, and the brand is still thriving today. Some of the bigger issues that were discussed, such as 'Outta the Gloss', the group of former Glossier employees who came forward to discuss the racism they experienced working for the company, was not discussed enough. If you visit their Instagram you can read their open letter to Glossier, and their response to Glossier's plan of action, both of which are linked in their bio.
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Glossier products, but I did visit the flagship store in NYC back in 2019. I actually loved it, the vibe was really cool. It was fun for my mom and I to visit and play around in there since it is kind of interactive, and has many photo areas. It kind of made me feel like an Influencer before influencing was a thing. I would add some photos to this review but I don't know how to do that on Goodreads lol. I got the Birthday Cake flavour of their famous Bomb Dotcom lip balm, and it lasted me years!
Overall I think this was a great non-fiction, especially for fans of Glossier, the beauty and makeup industry, and pop culture in general.
I do have a few critiques, the first being that this is described as a bombshell exposé, but there was no big scandal discussed in detail, and the brand is still thriving today. Some of the bigger issues that were discussed, such as 'Outta the Gloss', the group of former Glossier employees who came forward to discuss the racism they experienced working for the company, was not discussed enough. If you visit their Instagram you can read their open letter to Glossier, and their response to Glossier's plan of action, both of which are linked in their bio.
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Glossier products, but I did visit the flagship store in NYC back in 2019. I actually loved it, the vibe was really cool. It was fun for my mom and I to visit and play around in there since it is kind of interactive, and has many photo areas. It kind of made me feel like an Influencer before influencing was a thing. I would add some photos to this review but I don't know how to do that on Goodreads lol. I got the Birthday Cake flavour of their famous Bomb Dotcom lip balm, and it lasted me years!
Overall I think this was a great non-fiction, especially for fans of Glossier, the beauty and makeup industry, and pop culture in general.
August 5, 2024
3.5—I wouldn’t call this a bombshell exposé. Nothing was really all that shocking. I was most surprised by the obsession with Weiss’s first marriage and her Little Wedding Black Book… how many times did we really need to cover that?
I’m a fangirl so Glossier is always going to be a topic of interest to me, but this felt simultaneously repetitive and all over the place and could have used a little more focus and editing.
Overall, it made Emily Weiss look like a human being who wants to share her vision with the world while also maintaining a private life. As someone who also became a boss in her early 20s, though obviously on an infinitely smaller scale, I found Weiss’s words and actions very relatable. You learn and you grow as you go. You have imposter syndrome. You look to others who came before you. So she’s not perfect… who is?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this title.
I’m a fangirl so Glossier is always going to be a topic of interest to me, but this felt simultaneously repetitive and all over the place and could have used a little more focus and editing.
Overall, it made Emily Weiss look like a human being who wants to share her vision with the world while also maintaining a private life. As someone who also became a boss in her early 20s, though obviously on an infinitely smaller scale, I found Weiss’s words and actions very relatable. You learn and you grow as you go. You have imposter syndrome. You look to others who came before you. So she’s not perfect… who is?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this title.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2023
2.5
May have been better as a long article. It started to feel repetitive especially in the later chapters and the author had a tendency to insert herself in the narrative in a way that felt forced. Emily Weiss remains elusive and Boy brow and Glossier You remain hero products to me.
May have been better as a long article. It started to feel repetitive especially in the later chapters and the author had a tendency to insert herself in the narrative in a way that felt forced. Emily Weiss remains elusive and Boy brow and Glossier You remain hero products to me.
November 11, 2023
I’m not sure why I read this book when I’m more of an Urban Decay kinda gal makeup- and vibe-wise, a bit gothy and with absolutely zero interest in whatever effortless, is she or isn’t she, no makeup-makeup look Glossier was ever peddling. Hell, I prefer “effortful and she definitely is” - I don’t even believe in blending eyeliner, and my ideal mascara would probably be named something like Perverted Tarantula. But anywho, I read it because I love a business case study and especially one starring a woman in business, hell yes, let’s go for it! I’ll sit with it in the cafeteria and be its cool punk friend.
Unfortunately, I was very distracted throughout this entire book by a few things, predominantly the impression that damn, this author is trying to hide it, but she really hates her subject. So much so that I almost felt sorry for Emily Weiss, which, you know, I kind of resent! There is a particularly painful part right at the end when the author is more or less stalking this poor woman (dammit!) at a hotel, when she’s basically just a tired grown up mom now who wants to go feed her baby, and the author gets mad at Weiss for (wisely!!) not divulging, I don’t know, the wisdom of the entire fucking universe to this tenacious, entitled reporter who clearly dislikes her? Plus - Weiss was the CEO of a makeup company, not, say, Apple. Even if you did have any right to expect her to trustingly spill her guts to you, let’s have some perspective. She didn’t revolutionize any lives here (even though in her youthful heyday, she did, in a very Adam Neumann kinda move, talk about things like Glossier-branded apartment buildings and cars, apparently).
I came away from this book utterly unconvinced that the story of Glossier was any more interesting or revolutionary than that of many other beauty brands throughout history, including and especially ones made by and for people of color. Madam C. J. Walker, anyone? Hell, give me a history of Miss Jessie’s! I also came away from the book without feeling as though the author differentiated Glossier from other brands that have had huge (and way more enduring) popularity surges. It came off seeming more like a fad.
Another problem with this book was that the history of Glossier, and Weiss herself, was also just, well, all pretty fucking dull? Or at least not as interesting as the existence of a book might warrant. How surprising is it that a rich, attractive white woman from Connecticut did a bunch of free internships in the fashion industry and then talked people into giving her funding to start a beauty line? It’s like Weiss is a less fascinating, less visionary, more sane, more banal, less illegal Elizabeth Holmes. And how surprising is it that a makeup brand like Glossier, founded by someone like Weiss, was a horrible, retrograde, superficial, not to mention racist, Mean Girls place to work? (There also isn’t a whole lot about this in the book.)
I didn’t know anything much about Glossier going into this read because, like I said, I’d truly prefer prison makeup when push comes to shove, but I thought there would be A Lot More Going On and I agree with the critique that this could have been an article, and/or a meta memoir about some kind of authorial existential crisis.
Unfortunately, I was very distracted throughout this entire book by a few things, predominantly the impression that damn, this author is trying to hide it, but she really hates her subject. So much so that I almost felt sorry for Emily Weiss, which, you know, I kind of resent! There is a particularly painful part right at the end when the author is more or less stalking this poor woman (dammit!) at a hotel, when she’s basically just a tired grown up mom now who wants to go feed her baby, and the author gets mad at Weiss for (wisely!!) not divulging, I don’t know, the wisdom of the entire fucking universe to this tenacious, entitled reporter who clearly dislikes her? Plus - Weiss was the CEO of a makeup company, not, say, Apple. Even if you did have any right to expect her to trustingly spill her guts to you, let’s have some perspective. She didn’t revolutionize any lives here (even though in her youthful heyday, she did, in a very Adam Neumann kinda move, talk about things like Glossier-branded apartment buildings and cars, apparently).
I came away from this book utterly unconvinced that the story of Glossier was any more interesting or revolutionary than that of many other beauty brands throughout history, including and especially ones made by and for people of color. Madam C. J. Walker, anyone? Hell, give me a history of Miss Jessie’s! I also came away from the book without feeling as though the author differentiated Glossier from other brands that have had huge (and way more enduring) popularity surges. It came off seeming more like a fad.
Another problem with this book was that the history of Glossier, and Weiss herself, was also just, well, all pretty fucking dull? Or at least not as interesting as the existence of a book might warrant. How surprising is it that a rich, attractive white woman from Connecticut did a bunch of free internships in the fashion industry and then talked people into giving her funding to start a beauty line? It’s like Weiss is a less fascinating, less visionary, more sane, more banal, less illegal Elizabeth Holmes. And how surprising is it that a makeup brand like Glossier, founded by someone like Weiss, was a horrible, retrograde, superficial, not to mention racist, Mean Girls place to work? (There also isn’t a whole lot about this in the book.)
I didn’t know anything much about Glossier going into this read because, like I said, I’d truly prefer prison makeup when push comes to shove, but I thought there would be A Lot More Going On and I agree with the critique that this could have been an article, and/or a meta memoir about some kind of authorial existential crisis.
November 15, 2023
When I found out about this book, I knew I had to get my hands on an ARC. I used to be a hardcore Glossier fan, religiously checking Into the Gloss and spending all of my birthday/Christmas money on the brand's newest releases. (Of course, this was in 2015, when I was a teenager and still believed in earnest that a brand could be your friend.) I am fascinated by the company even now, with their "cool girl"/"no-makeup-makeup" marketing--the way they insist on being "real," while also suggesting that you should change your eyebrows and your skin and maybe your lips while you're at it.
So naturally, I was excited about this. And some parts of the book were really fun. My nosy side enjoyed delving into Emily Weiss's moneyed background, and it was fascinating to learn more about Glossier’s workplace culture, often at odds with their public image.
Still, I expected more. As another reviewer mentioned, this is not a bombshell exposé at all. Very few secrets are divulged, and much of the information will be old news to long-time fans of the brand. They might get a little thrill from all the name drops, though. (Eva Alt! Annie Kreighbaum!)
I thought the work was strongest when it leaned into its commentary about gender and class, and weakest when it came to analyzing Weiss herself. (The enigmatic Glossier founder appears in a few interviews and yet manages to say very little at all.) Meltzer's portrait of Weiss is painted with ambivalence, with the last chapter coming to a weak conclusion about Weiss simply being a woman who was trying her best.
Overall, it was a quick, fairly enjoyable read, I just think I wanted something a bit more hard-hitting and analytical.
So naturally, I was excited about this. And some parts of the book were really fun. My nosy side enjoyed delving into Emily Weiss's moneyed background, and it was fascinating to learn more about Glossier’s workplace culture, often at odds with their public image.
Still, I expected more. As another reviewer mentioned, this is not a bombshell exposé at all. Very few secrets are divulged, and much of the information will be old news to long-time fans of the brand. They might get a little thrill from all the name drops, though. (Eva Alt! Annie Kreighbaum!)
I thought the work was strongest when it leaned into its commentary about gender and class, and weakest when it came to analyzing Weiss herself. (The enigmatic Glossier founder appears in a few interviews and yet manages to say very little at all.) Meltzer's portrait of Weiss is painted with ambivalence, with the last chapter coming to a weak conclusion about Weiss simply being a woman who was trying her best.
Overall, it was a quick, fairly enjoyable read, I just think I wanted something a bit more hard-hitting and analytical.
September 18, 2023
I was so excited for this book as a millennial who grew up alongside the cult of Glossier and for the most part, it delivered. I didn't love the author's journalistic style, it's one of those where the author inserts herself as part of the narrative. I can see why it was done, but I'm very picky. It felt a bit like the author couldn't decide whether she wanted to uplift Weiss or keep taking weirdly cheap potshots at her as well. This book, wanting to be splashier than it is, loads accusations of Weiss being a bad CEO for some really petty reasons (among more legitimate ones, to be sure) such as wanting employees to dress professionally and have clear desks? It definitely wasn't a bombshell and to be honest I could have gone for a lot more talk about the development and impact of more of the products. It would have been super interesting to read about how much Glossier took from K-beauty trends as well, but that's the beauty obsessive in me talking.
Read
November 2, 2023Propulsive, engaging, and gossipy, this book is exquisitely written and researched. Meltzer has unprecedented access to a woman who remained a cypher for much of Glosier's run, and handled the rise and eventual fall of the company with grace- I especially loved the chapter detailing the systemic issues around the breathless coverage surrounding the bad behavior of some of the girlboss cohort.
A must read for anyone who loves business nonfiction, corporate intrigue, and aspirational worldbuilding (or any Glossier fans wondering what happened in between 2018 and 2022).
A must read for anyone who loves business nonfiction, corporate intrigue, and aspirational worldbuilding (or any Glossier fans wondering what happened in between 2018 and 2022).
December 3, 2024
It felt like Meltzer was trying really hard to paint Emily Weiss as some kind of 'Devil Wears Prada' figure without making it too obvious.
Weiss’s so-called “missteps" (judged by the media) seemed to stem from moments when she tried to be vulnerable in personal Instagram captions or blog posts, only to face criticism. Then, when she shifted to a more business-focused persona, she was labeled cold and robotic.
Some of the "scandalous" details from Glossier employees that Meltzer included:
- Weiss would make friendly conversation with an employee then ask for a project update. The audacity!
- Employees complained that Weiss stocked organic foods for staff but *only* gave a 6% raise that year. How dare she.
- Some employees mocked Weiss behind her back for being socially awkward in private moments when she tried forming friendly connections with staff. This one was the pettiest of all.
Weiss just seems to be a successful & intelligent woman who wants to keep her private life private, which seems to personally bother journalist Meltzer. Oh, and Weiss is human -- there's your shocking twist.
I’m no Glossier fangirl (never even tried the brand), but the “bombshell” details Meltzer included here just make her—and the employees who dished them out—look petty.
Weiss’s so-called “missteps" (judged by the media) seemed to stem from moments when she tried to be vulnerable in personal Instagram captions or blog posts, only to face criticism. Then, when she shifted to a more business-focused persona, she was labeled cold and robotic.
Some of the "scandalous" details from Glossier employees that Meltzer included:
- Weiss would make friendly conversation with an employee then ask for a project update. The audacity!
- Employees complained that Weiss stocked organic foods for staff but *only* gave a 6% raise that year. How dare she.
- Some employees mocked Weiss behind her back for being socially awkward in private moments when she tried forming friendly connections with staff. This one was the pettiest of all.
Weiss just seems to be a successful & intelligent woman who wants to keep her private life private, which seems to personally bother journalist Meltzer. Oh, and Weiss is human -- there's your shocking twist.
I’m no Glossier fangirl (never even tried the brand), but the “bombshell” details Meltzer included here just make her—and the employees who dished them out—look petty.
September 11, 2023
The author captures a behind the scenes look at the evolution of the Glossier brand in the 2010s era of girl boss.
While this felt a tad bias (leaning in major favor of Weiss), lackluster ending and left out the clear sense of privilege, there is still much to enjoy within the pages.
I’m not a big Glossier fan (not anti- just find it basic lol. Isn’t it ironic?) but I’m always intrigued by the evolution of a “cult” brand and the people behind it all. I especially appreciate an insiders view into the culture of a company.
I also knew little of Weiss so I was interested to learn a bit about her. She’s super private so don’t expect dirty secrets but it’s hard not to be somewhat impressed by her ambition.
Just 7 hours on audio and well worth my time.
3.75 stars
While this felt a tad bias (leaning in major favor of Weiss), lackluster ending and left out the clear sense of privilege, there is still much to enjoy within the pages.
I’m not a big Glossier fan (not anti- just find it basic lol. Isn’t it ironic?) but I’m always intrigued by the evolution of a “cult” brand and the people behind it all. I especially appreciate an insiders view into the culture of a company.
I also knew little of Weiss so I was interested to learn a bit about her. She’s super private so don’t expect dirty secrets but it’s hard not to be somewhat impressed by her ambition.
Just 7 hours on audio and well worth my time.
3.75 stars
October 5, 2023
unfortunately disappointing all around.. good start w the history of into the gloss and emily weiss but that was the only thing that felt even a little bit novel. because of the author's conflicts of interest it just felt like a bunch of lame anonymous quotes that added very little to anything that was already known about glossier
i also thought it was written soooo oddly – like i kept checking to make sure i hadn't gotten an advanced readers copy or something because it felt like the book didn't have an editor? the writing felt very clunky and weird and maybe it's because the book was like 30% quotes but everything else did not read in any compelling/cohesive/grammatically correct (???) way
i also thought it was written soooo oddly – like i kept checking to make sure i hadn't gotten an advanced readers copy or something because it felt like the book didn't have an editor? the writing felt very clunky and weird and maybe it's because the book was like 30% quotes but everything else did not read in any compelling/cohesive/grammatically correct (???) way
dnfed
September 9, 2025I technically finished the book but I'm going to be really honest here, I switched to the audiobook early on and I ended up spending most of my time with this book playing a game on my phone and rolling my eyes every time I was reminded of how beautiful and privileged Weiss was and that's pretty much all I remember of this book.
Other than that, there was a blog, reviews by random people are what made things different, the first products weren't even that good, but the branding was on point. The pink is great (I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, but I love pink), the pouches were great too wow such effortless commercial genius. The chirpy tone was forced (as are most brand voices let's be honest). Timing was everything. It's all very well and good but it didn't make for a particularly engaging read.
I came to terms with the fact that at the end of the day I just didn't care for Weiss' story and its apparent lack of struggle and her almost preternatural commercial acumen (good for her though) and as stated I didn't really pay close attention, no rating because I'm going to count this one as a DNF.
Other than that, there was a blog, reviews by random people are what made things different, the first products weren't even that good, but the branding was on point. The pink is great (I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, but I love pink), the pouches were great too wow such effortless commercial genius. The chirpy tone was forced (as are most brand voices let's be honest). Timing was everything. It's all very well and good but it didn't make for a particularly engaging read.
I came to terms with the fact that at the end of the day I just didn't care for Weiss' story and its apparent lack of struggle and her almost preternatural commercial acumen (good for her though) and as stated I didn't really pay close attention, no rating because I'm going to count this one as a DNF.
November 25, 2023
Unfortunately, this was not for me. It felt too vapid and the story far too spare. Maybe I'm not in the right headspace for this kind of thing right now. I think there probably is a story there, but it feels as if this could have been a long-form piece for Vogue rather than a full length book.
September 16, 2023
Well researched, well written and overall a really fun and interesting read. If you love Glossier or grew up with it, this is a worthwhile read imo! Thank you Atria and Libro.fm for the ARC!
December 13, 2023
(2.5 stars rounded down)
I read this entire book in one sitting, and for a story supposedly meant to be this grand expose that had Glossier employees/affiliates genuinely worried about how its publication would impact the brand, I didn't actually learn a single thing about Emily Weiss or Glossier that I 1) didn't already know or 2) couldn't safely assume.
This book meanders around making half-baked points about white feminism, privilege, diversity (or lack thereof) in beauty and cosmetic spaces, with only the loosest ties to anything having to do with Glossier. I learned more about the rise and fall of "girlboss" imagery in mainstream media than I did anything substantial about Emily Weiss.
The beginning of Glossy was the most engaging part as we follow Weiss through her early career days, watching her put together the pieces to achieve her goal to reposition the beauty industry as an equivalent to the fashion industry, and not simply an afterthought. The cult-like growth of Glossier coming on the heels of the successful Into the Gloss blog was fascinating, but after the first few initial stories following Glossier's launch, the book loses steam quickly.
As many other reviewers mentioned, the main struggle of this book is that it is just too long. Glossier didn't have some major scandal or huge downfall like Theranos or WeWork did that would've leant to a more dramatic story. As a result, the narrative simply fizzled out the longer it went on. "This could've been an email" in book form that, while initially promising, underdelivered and left me sitting there three hours later wondering what the point was to what I just read.
I read this entire book in one sitting, and for a story supposedly meant to be this grand expose that had Glossier employees/affiliates genuinely worried about how its publication would impact the brand, I didn't actually learn a single thing about Emily Weiss or Glossier that I 1) didn't already know or 2) couldn't safely assume.
This book meanders around making half-baked points about white feminism, privilege, diversity (or lack thereof) in beauty and cosmetic spaces, with only the loosest ties to anything having to do with Glossier. I learned more about the rise and fall of "girlboss" imagery in mainstream media than I did anything substantial about Emily Weiss.
The beginning of Glossy was the most engaging part as we follow Weiss through her early career days, watching her put together the pieces to achieve her goal to reposition the beauty industry as an equivalent to the fashion industry, and not simply an afterthought. The cult-like growth of Glossier coming on the heels of the successful Into the Gloss blog was fascinating, but after the first few initial stories following Glossier's launch, the book loses steam quickly.
As many other reviewers mentioned, the main struggle of this book is that it is just too long. Glossier didn't have some major scandal or huge downfall like Theranos or WeWork did that would've leant to a more dramatic story. As a result, the narrative simply fizzled out the longer it went on. "This could've been an email" in book form that, while initially promising, underdelivered and left me sitting there three hours later wondering what the point was to what I just read.
November 13, 2023
This book felt more like a critique than reporting the facts, like a fan writing a Reddit post in r/glossier.
Meltzer quotes a fan tweet like it’s a declarative statement from a reputable source and writes, “Kyle Leahy doesn’t seem very cool”. I think she’s trying to sound relatable in her writing but she just sounds unprofessional and dumb.
Throughout the entire book Meltzer separates Glossier’s success from Weiss’s success which doesn’t make any sense to me. She ends the second to last chapter with “Weiss is a complicated woman who is more admired than she is liked” as if she’s writing some sort of burn book about her and in the next chapter talks about the insane success of the new SoHo store that opened in fall 2023 saying, “name another decade-old company that has lines out the door every weekend”. The brand is Weiss therefore making the obvious success of the business hers, even if she isn’t CEO.
As a fan myself even I know that the timeline of this story is way off and I’ve read accounts from OG Glossier employees that there are a lot of factual errors.
The content of this book (Glossier’s story) was what kept me in it and pushed me to finish this book, the authors own narrative was god awful. What a disappointing book to come out of a decade long beauty brand that could have been really interesting.
Meltzer quotes a fan tweet like it’s a declarative statement from a reputable source and writes, “Kyle Leahy doesn’t seem very cool”. I think she’s trying to sound relatable in her writing but she just sounds unprofessional and dumb.
Throughout the entire book Meltzer separates Glossier’s success from Weiss’s success which doesn’t make any sense to me. She ends the second to last chapter with “Weiss is a complicated woman who is more admired than she is liked” as if she’s writing some sort of burn book about her and in the next chapter talks about the insane success of the new SoHo store that opened in fall 2023 saying, “name another decade-old company that has lines out the door every weekend”. The brand is Weiss therefore making the obvious success of the business hers, even if she isn’t CEO.
As a fan myself even I know that the timeline of this story is way off and I’ve read accounts from OG Glossier employees that there are a lot of factual errors.
The content of this book (Glossier’s story) was what kept me in it and pushed me to finish this book, the authors own narrative was god awful. What a disappointing book to come out of a decade long beauty brand that could have been really interesting.
November 5, 2023
The writer of this book can literally kick rocks. Such a perfect example of how women can literally not have anything. So shocked that this book has been so praised??? But if u love glossier and Emily Weiss you should read to give it low stars on goodreads to lower its rating
February 1, 2024
I listened to the audio version of this book and I recommend it! It was unintentionally really funny on top of the book being quite good. It was honest and fun, a great look at the girl boss era of the 2010s!
September 24, 2023
what the heck, at least the cover is pretty
this is not a bombshell expose, this could have just been an article
this is not a bombshell expose, this could have just been an article
October 9, 2023
This was a "nothing burger" as the kids say.
Deeply boring and had no actual points outside of the author telling a story that's already been told and taking unnecessary shots at Emily Weiss. The TikTok influencers who convinced me to buy this book made it out to be this juicy exposé about Glossier (a la "Bad Blood"/Theranos) and it... wasn't.
That said, I do now want to try the Glossier "You" fragrance. So, there's that.
Deeply boring and had no actual points outside of the author telling a story that's already been told and taking unnecessary shots at Emily Weiss. The TikTok influencers who convinced me to buy this book made it out to be this juicy exposé about Glossier (a la "Bad Blood"/Theranos) and it... wasn't.
That said, I do now want to try the Glossier "You" fragrance. So, there's that.
October 8, 2023
This was interesting but not very well written.
November 26, 2023
I needed a book to listen to while on a walk, and the audio of this just happened to come in at the perfect time.
This is an odd book to review because it feels like an odd time for this book to have been written. In some ways it reminds me a little of The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew which I read earlier this year. Only Glossier might never have had the same outsized impact like J Crew did and so the chronically of their stories might not be the same... Though I do think that both books make it clear just how each company was able to shake up their respective markets in various ways.
The biggest problem with the book is that Glossier hasn't imploded? It hasn't crashed and burned and so it's the story of a company founded by a person with an interesting enough background, the rare success story of a woman leading a startup with the evaluation that it had and then it just sort of stagnates because that's what businesses do?
That's not to say the book is bad, because it certainly isn't. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading about Glossier, and Emily Weiss' backstory and the way that the brand became what it is long before I ever placed my first order for some face wash. I do think that that implosion or salacious scandal of some kind is what drives narratives like this, or at least interest. That's not to say the book doesn't touch on issues within the company and makeup over all, they feel almost like footnotes.
I don't know who exactly I would recommend this one too, but there's definitely an audience for it, even if it's just a person with a curious mind looking to kill a few hours.
This is an odd book to review because it feels like an odd time for this book to have been written. In some ways it reminds me a little of The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew which I read earlier this year. Only Glossier might never have had the same outsized impact like J Crew did and so the chronically of their stories might not be the same... Though I do think that both books make it clear just how each company was able to shake up their respective markets in various ways.
The biggest problem with the book is that Glossier hasn't imploded? It hasn't crashed and burned and so it's the story of a company founded by a person with an interesting enough background, the rare success story of a woman leading a startup with the evaluation that it had and then it just sort of stagnates because that's what businesses do?
That's not to say the book is bad, because it certainly isn't. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading about Glossier, and Emily Weiss' backstory and the way that the brand became what it is long before I ever placed my first order for some face wash. I do think that that implosion or salacious scandal of some kind is what drives narratives like this, or at least interest. That's not to say the book doesn't touch on issues within the company and makeup over all, they feel almost like footnotes.
I don't know who exactly I would recommend this one too, but there's definitely an audience for it, even if it's just a person with a curious mind looking to kill a few hours.
September 23, 2023
As someone who is caught between Gen X and Millennial, I have bought an item or two from Glossier but wasn’t aware of Emily Weiss or the Glossier fandom. I always enjoy stories about successful women bosses and was excited to read this book when it was published.
Unfortunately, I walked away with a great dislike of the author. She inserted herself into this story in a confounding way. She has a great sense of the struggles women leaders face unfairly, especially showing her disdain for those who revel in the take down of a Girlboss, yet this book is exactly that. The celebration of a woman who she puts high on a pedestal and then delights in taking her down.
Let’s be honest here, Emily Weiss made some good and bad decisions as founder and CEO. It’s common for founders to take a more backseat role after a decade of leadership. But she never made any illegal, unethical decisions that deserved how she was derided and her downfall was celebrated. This isn’t WeWork and yet we are left with a sense that Emily Weiss is just as big of a failure as Adam Neumann.
Unfortunately, I walked away with a great dislike of the author. She inserted herself into this story in a confounding way. She has a great sense of the struggles women leaders face unfairly, especially showing her disdain for those who revel in the take down of a Girlboss, yet this book is exactly that. The celebration of a woman who she puts high on a pedestal and then delights in taking her down.
Let’s be honest here, Emily Weiss made some good and bad decisions as founder and CEO. It’s common for founders to take a more backseat role after a decade of leadership. But she never made any illegal, unethical decisions that deserved how she was derided and her downfall was celebrated. This isn’t WeWork and yet we are left with a sense that Emily Weiss is just as big of a failure as Adam Neumann.
October 16, 2023
I don’t usually leave reviews like this but… this book was a steaming pile of garbage. Simply put, the author had nothing here. There is no meat and potatoes. It’s a meandering, poorly written, inarticulate and un-fact-checked tale of nothing— well, other than the authors own baggage about pretty privilege and wealthy female founders.
There are so many moments in this book that are just complete double standards and reveals of the writers ineptitude or blind spots in this space. You can’t write a book about girlbossing or sexism and then spend the whole time describing Emily Weiss’s wardrobe and body. You can’t describe a female investor’s physical appearance and “beauty for her age” in great detail and never do the same of a male investor or leader. I was incredulous over how often the author talked out of both sides of her mouth. It reads like a poorly edited fast company article with 0 plot.
This could have had potential after a glossier exit, but for now, was a waste of time, energy and breath. Worst book I’ve read all year.
There are so many moments in this book that are just complete double standards and reveals of the writers ineptitude or blind spots in this space. You can’t write a book about girlbossing or sexism and then spend the whole time describing Emily Weiss’s wardrobe and body. You can’t describe a female investor’s physical appearance and “beauty for her age” in great detail and never do the same of a male investor or leader. I was incredulous over how often the author talked out of both sides of her mouth. It reads like a poorly edited fast company article with 0 plot.
This could have had potential after a glossier exit, but for now, was a waste of time, energy and breath. Worst book I’ve read all year.
November 20, 2023
This book was bad. It actually made me angry. The author was so obviously envious of the creator of Glossier and missed her ethics class in journalism school. She was trying to out-feminism Emily and ended up coming full circle around to being a misogynist. It was supposed to be glossier slander but just made me a bigger fan of the brand bc of how this author tried to spin the narrative? Also if you’re writing a book about beauty and fashion maybe make the effort to learn how to pronounce the house and brand names for your audiobook? I don’t understand why you would write a book about something and then pretend to be aloof/above it all. God forbid a woman succeed
March 4, 2024
"'It is so bad, I want to give you a zero. But, that's not possible, so I give you a one.' - Tyra Banks" - Me
June 16, 2024
2.5 stars. I'm a sucker for books that expose the inner workings of businesses, particularly unicorns (companies valued at >$1 billion US dollars) that have a public fall from grace (see further reading below). I had only vaguely heard of the brand Glossier and had never heard of Emily Weiss before picking up this book, but frankly it as a very weird read. The main issues I had with this book were:
1) from how Meltzer presented the beauty brand Glossier and its founder Emily Weiss, neither have really fallen from grace, been rocked by major scandals, or really done anything to merit a "scandalous tell-all" like this book seems marketed to be
2) Meltzer writes with a sense of animosity, deep-seated resentment, and/or jealousy towards Weiss that is frankly bizarre for a journalist who's supposed to maintain professional distance and objectivity in their work. I would also be very upset if I were in Weiss' position, that this journalist who I've allowed to profile me for years and invited into my home when I'm apparently a very private person is now writing an exposé about me trying to paint me as a #gaslightgatekeepgirlboss and dredging up details of my personal life that are irrelevant to my work.
Further reading - business exposés I'd recommend over this book:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou, about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, where the #girlboss narrative actually works
Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork by Reeves Wiedeman
Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn by Nick Kostov and Sean McLain
The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew by Maggie Bullock
Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric by Thomas Gryta
The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind
Memoirs that serve as personal exposés about toxic business cultures
Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber by Susan Fowler
Uncanny Valley by Anna Weiner (about the author's experience at an unnamed tech company)
Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millennial Los Angeles by Kate Flannery (about the author's experience at American Apparel)
Private Equity: A Memoir by Carrie Sun (about the author's experience at an unnamed NYC-based investment firm)
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing (I have very mixed feelings about this book about the author's experience at an unnamed MLM)
My stats:
Book 123 for 2024
Book 1726 cumulatively
1) from how Meltzer presented the beauty brand Glossier and its founder Emily Weiss, neither have really fallen from grace, been rocked by major scandals, or really done anything to merit a "scandalous tell-all" like this book seems marketed to be
2) Meltzer writes with a sense of animosity, deep-seated resentment, and/or jealousy towards Weiss that is frankly bizarre for a journalist who's supposed to maintain professional distance and objectivity in their work. I would also be very upset if I were in Weiss' position, that this journalist who I've allowed to profile me for years and invited into my home when I'm apparently a very private person is now writing an exposé about me trying to paint me as a #gaslightgatekeepgirlboss and dredging up details of my personal life that are irrelevant to my work.
Further reading - business exposés I'd recommend over this book:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou, about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, where the #girlboss narrative actually works
Billion Dollar Loser: The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork by Reeves Wiedeman
Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn by Nick Kostov and Sean McLain
The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew by Maggie Bullock
Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric by Thomas Gryta
The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind
Memoirs that serve as personal exposés about toxic business cultures
Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber by Susan Fowler
Uncanny Valley by Anna Weiner (about the author's experience at an unnamed tech company)
Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millennial Los Angeles by Kate Flannery (about the author's experience at American Apparel)
Private Equity: A Memoir by Carrie Sun (about the author's experience at an unnamed NYC-based investment firm)
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing (I have very mixed feelings about this book about the author's experience at an unnamed MLM)
My stats:
Book 123 for 2024
Book 1726 cumulatively
September 13, 2023
Despite not knowing anything about this brand other than “Intern Emily” from The Hills founded it, I really enjoyed this behind the scenes look at her business and its success. I also now know she hates references to The Hills! This isn’t a business takedown or expose — purely just the story of its rise — so it’s best for those who like business stories and not necessarily salacious ones.
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