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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.
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.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2023
About the author
Marisa Meltzer
4 books113 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 948 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.
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
September 10, 2023
this could have been a very good article.
July 4, 2023
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?
Thank you 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?
Thank you 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.
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).
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.
Currently reading
February 9, 2024Been waiting for this audiobook on Libby for months! I am excited to listen to it today. 💗💄💅🏻
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
October 14, 2023
It felt like Meltzer was trying to paint Emily Weiss in a Devil Wears Prada light without being too obvious.
All of Weiss's supposed missteps (judged by the media) seemed to be instances where she was trying to be more vulnerable in personal Instagram captions or her blog and was bashed for it. When she'd retract into her business-only persona, she was painted as callous & robotic.
Some of the slanted details from Glossier employees that Meltzer included:
- Weiss would make friendly conversation with an employee in the office then ask for a progress update on a project. The audacity!
- Employees complained that Weiss stocked organic foods for staff but *only* gave a 6% raise that year. How dare she.
- Employees made fun of Weiss behind her back for being socially awkward when she tried forming friendly connections in private moments. This was the pettiest detail to include.
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 not a Glossier fangirl (never even used the brand); I just thought the author's choice to include certain "bombshell" details only makes Meltzer & the Glossier employees who provided them look extremely petty.
All of Weiss's supposed missteps (judged by the media) seemed to be instances where she was trying to be more vulnerable in personal Instagram captions or her blog and was bashed for it. When she'd retract into her business-only persona, she was painted as callous & robotic.
Some of the slanted details from Glossier employees that Meltzer included:
- Weiss would make friendly conversation with an employee in the office then ask for a progress update on a project. The audacity!
- Employees complained that Weiss stocked organic foods for staff but *only* gave a 6% raise that year. How dare she.
- Employees made fun of Weiss behind her back for being socially awkward when she tried forming friendly connections in private moments. This was the pettiest detail to include.
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 not a Glossier fangirl (never even used the brand); I just thought the author's choice to include certain "bombshell" details only makes Meltzer & the Glossier employees who provided them look extremely petty.
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.
January 13, 2024
“she’s not just a ceo, she’s a cool ceo”
[4.5 ⭐️, full review pending!]
[4.5 ⭐️, full review pending!]
December 11, 2023
This book was quite literally written for me and I still think it was unneeded. No real tea on Glossier beyond the regular what you would expect allegations.
Fun to relive the launches and remember the early days of the company but beyond that this author seems to think Emily Weiss is a lot more of a household name than she is? I'm sure she is in the industry and in new york and to certain brand loyals, but not sure outside of those parameters.
A fun listen while I was working but wouldn't recommend beyond that. TOO SOON!
Fun to relive the launches and remember the early days of the company but beyond that this author seems to think Emily Weiss is a lot more of a household name than she is? I'm sure she is in the industry and in new york and to certain brand loyals, but not sure outside of those parameters.
A fun listen while I was working but wouldn't recommend beyond that. TOO SOON!
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.
December 1, 2023
[3.5]
No, no es un BOMBSHELL EXPOSÉ, pero sí se trata del deep dive más elaborado acerca del fenómeno de Glossier. Hay personas que creen que esto pudo ser "un artículo", pero me parece que eso es demeritar la labor periodística de Marisa Meltzer, quien lleva años siguiendo de cerca a la marca y a Emily Weiss, y es probablemente la externa a quien más le han permitido acercarse a la compañía.
Tampoco estoy de acuerdo con las personas que creen que este libro no está bien enfocado, pues me parece que para hablar de Glossier hay que hablar de la figura de Emily Weiss y para hablar de esas dos es necesario hablar de la industria de la belleza, son tres pilares inseparables para explicar esta marca de skincare y maquillaje que ha logrado establecerse como un "estilo de vida" aspiracional.
Algo que también aprecio es que no critica por criticar, y se separa del discurso misógino alrededor de la "girlboss": un término que claro que ahora percibimos hasta cierto punto problemático, pero que es complejo a la hora de observar y contar la historia de mujeres jóvenes (millennials) que fundaron compañías en los 2010's y que fueron puestas bajo un escrutinio distinto al de otros CEO hombres que podrían considerarse sus contemporáneos.
Otro punto a favor es que Meltzer no pierde de vista las intersecciones de clase y de raza, un elemento clave a la hora de analizar historias de éxito precedidas de muchísimo privilegio.
Fue un audiolibro muy interesante.
No, no es un BOMBSHELL EXPOSÉ, pero sí se trata del deep dive más elaborado acerca del fenómeno de Glossier. Hay personas que creen que esto pudo ser "un artículo", pero me parece que eso es demeritar la labor periodística de Marisa Meltzer, quien lleva años siguiendo de cerca a la marca y a Emily Weiss, y es probablemente la externa a quien más le han permitido acercarse a la compañía.
Tampoco estoy de acuerdo con las personas que creen que este libro no está bien enfocado, pues me parece que para hablar de Glossier hay que hablar de la figura de Emily Weiss y para hablar de esas dos es necesario hablar de la industria de la belleza, son tres pilares inseparables para explicar esta marca de skincare y maquillaje que ha logrado establecerse como un "estilo de vida" aspiracional.
Algo que también aprecio es que no critica por criticar, y se separa del discurso misógino alrededor de la "girlboss": un término que claro que ahora percibimos hasta cierto punto problemático, pero que es complejo a la hora de observar y contar la historia de mujeres jóvenes (millennials) que fundaron compañías en los 2010's y que fueron puestas bajo un escrutinio distinto al de otros CEO hombres que podrían considerarse sus contemporáneos.
Otro punto a favor es que Meltzer no pierde de vista las intersecciones de clase y de raza, un elemento clave a la hora de analizar historias de éxito precedidas de muchísimo privilegio.
Fue un audiolibro muy interesante.
December 24, 2023
5/5! my first 5 stars for a non fiction in AWHILE but I really enjoyed this!! being a fan of Glossier since literally high school this was a very fascinating read for me to learn more about Emily Weiss and the business side of the beauty industry
November 12, 2023
this had a promising premise & start but it just wasn't engaging
October 3, 2023
Totally agree with all the reviews saying this would’ve been a great article. Was so excited to read it at first, then had to force myself to finish it
January 1, 2024
Okay I loved this, I flew through it. I’ve never read the biography/history of a company or founder like this but I think the glossier brand is really interesting, and I’m now realizing Emily Weiss is maybe more interesting (who to be honest I could not have named as the founder before this (which I bet she would appreciate?)).
This book is really well-researched and it tells a compelling story about Weiss and glossier in themselves, but it also has a lot of other things to say about broader topics—the fall of the female founder, what it means to be a lifestyle brand, how and why the beauty industry has changed over the last couple of decades, the “girlboss” phenomenon. The author’s thoughts on being “friends” of a brand or a founder in a capitalist economy are also really interesting.
It has a great narrative flow and journalistic feel and it also feels like the author is part of the book, asserting her own views (not in a good or bad way—she’s got interesting stuff to say). It both celebrates and critiques Weiss which is fascinating considering Weiss cooperated with the making of this book. In that, I think the author occasionally sounds vaguely judgmental of Weiss, which I found strange, because it seems like the book is trying to be a more nuanced picture of a female founder, which I guess it succeeds at. I do like one of the last lines: “She is a woman who was learning on the job, who was calling the shots from the beginning… She built a company that will last, and she deserves all the credit for that. So who is she? Weiss is a complicated woman who is admired more than she is liked.”
Anyways! I think I said the word interesting a lot because it was. I’ll land on 4 stars ultimately I think just because it feels like 5 star reviews are books I’ll read over and over and over again and I don’t see myself connecting with this one that emotionally😗
This book is really well-researched and it tells a compelling story about Weiss and glossier in themselves, but it also has a lot of other things to say about broader topics—the fall of the female founder, what it means to be a lifestyle brand, how and why the beauty industry has changed over the last couple of decades, the “girlboss” phenomenon. The author’s thoughts on being “friends” of a brand or a founder in a capitalist economy are also really interesting.
It has a great narrative flow and journalistic feel and it also feels like the author is part of the book, asserting her own views (not in a good or bad way—she’s got interesting stuff to say). It both celebrates and critiques Weiss which is fascinating considering Weiss cooperated with the making of this book. In that, I think the author occasionally sounds vaguely judgmental of Weiss, which I found strange, because it seems like the book is trying to be a more nuanced picture of a female founder, which I guess it succeeds at. I do like one of the last lines: “She is a woman who was learning on the job, who was calling the shots from the beginning… She built a company that will last, and she deserves all the credit for that. So who is she? Weiss is a complicated woman who is admired more than she is liked.”
Anyways! I think I said the word interesting a lot because it was. I’ll land on 4 stars ultimately I think just because it feels like 5 star reviews are books I’ll read over and over and over again and I don’t see myself connecting with this one that emotionally😗
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.
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