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: Biography, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Fashion, Celebrity

448 pages, Kindle Edition

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Olivia Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed I cried I danced

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realized while listening that I actually knew very little about Gwenyth. I enjoyed it all but particularly the Goop years - also a great narrative on the wellness to MAHA pipeline.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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

[Tony Farinella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwyneth Paltrow is a polarizing figure, loved or hated by many. She’s got a knack for generating buzz. When I heard there was a book about her, I was immediately intrigued.

The book delves into her childhood, family, career, and relationships, and it’s incredibly fascinating. Despite Amy Odell’s best efforts to portray Gwyneth negatively, I couldn’t find myself hating her or being offended by her. Sure, she’s aloof, cold, and sometimes cuts people out of her life, but I could understand her reasons, even if I didn’t always agree with them.

The most uninteresting part of the book, in my opinion, is her work with Goop. I get why it’s important to include it since it’s a significant part of her life since its founding in 2008, but the Goop era gets repetitive quickly, and I found it tough to finish near the end.

Also, as many other reviewers have mentioned, Amy Odell clearly has a personal vendetta against Gwyneth Paltrow, which comes through in her writing. The book is good, and I enjoyed everything up until the Goop years, which unfortunately take up a good chunk of the book. It was a bit inconsistent.

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrity biographies tend to be hit or miss for me, but Amy Odell is a master of the genre. This book was incredibly well-researched and full of the sort of juicy (but well-sourced) gossip that makes this kind of book so fun. My biggest takeaway from this was just what a charmed life Gwyneth has had. You know that girl in high school who’s perfect and has basically no problems? That was her. Her struggles relating to the rest of us are part of what makes Gwyneth such an unintentionally comedic figure, and this book is full of funny anecdotes that highlight that disconnect. This book was a super fun read and would make the perfect palette cleanser if you’ve been reading a lot of books on heavier topics.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was both boring and eye roll-inducing.The author comes across as a close minded mean girl which is ironic because she seemed to be trying to write a takedown expose on Gwyneth, but it fell flat. I didn’t have much knowledge or opinions about Gwyneth before reading this book and I don’t care much for celebrity gossip, but I came away impressed with how she’s shaped her life and built something meaningful after leaving acting. She seems to follow her own inner compass while ignoring haters and being willing to learn and reinvent herself. I respect that.

[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.

[Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate slating authors. But here I go. This is a big pile of steaming shite. I've never been closer to throwing a book out the window. Or even worse, not finishing it. Sure Gwyneth is polarising. She is controversial. But to spend over 400 pages slamming the woman, with no tonal shifts, no insight from the woman herself... I reckon I could go on and on. But this is self indulgent crap. I know what happened. Gwyneth wouldn't be interviewed, so Odell decided to cut loose. But it's so blatantly pathetic. One example - Paltrow is narrated as being a tyrant simply because she asks her staff not to piss on the toilet seat! She is a devil because she goes to defend herself in a court trial against a man who quite obviously was trying to gain money off her in a skiing accident - yet Paltrow is portrayed as a vicious crook. It is nonsensical and dismal writing for any reader who has only an inch of context. You don't have to like Paltrow, but when you spend four days reading a diatribe of almost hyperbolic hatred... urgh.

[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.

[Juanita Gaulton Broadbent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot. I think the author hopes for you to come away hating G. I did not. She’s fabulous. Be strong and be you .

[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.

[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!

[JC · 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.

[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.

[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.

[Abby Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/2 way through and I won't lie, it's not particularly pleasant to read about someone so thoroughly unappealing.
4 ⭐️ for the writing 1 ⭐️ for the subject matter. Off to read a romance now about good decent people. 🤣

[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