Gwyneth

This was a delight. It took me a while to get through (it’s meaty!) but it was utterly unputdownable. I’ve long been a fan of Amy Odell’s writing—her Anna Wintour biography was another favorite—and I love that she leads with curiosity. While the book can be a bit salacious at times, it’s never mean-spirited or biased. She simply states the facts as they are. Paltrow’s story (and Odell’s book) is really split into two acts: the ’90s “It girl” era—Spence school, Oscar-winning acting career, tabloid-ready love life—and the “media mogul” years: Goop, wellness, jade eggs, and building a lifestyle empire. It’s juicy in parts (Paltrow calls Brad Pitt stupid in multiple creative ways—this came across as really mean to me), but Odell balances fascination and critique with rare skill. She’s always fair. Because it isn’t authorized and Odell didn’t have direct access to Paltrow or her inner circle, the second half feels a little thinner. Still, this is arguably the book of summer 2025: the perfect poolside read, utterly mesmerizing. You’ll learn a lot—and you’ll definitely have plenty to talk about afterward.