⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I LOVED this memoir! It is written by Holly Madison, one of Hugh Hefner’s former #1 girlfriends and star of the hit series, The Girls Next Door. It was so fascinating (and sad) to read about the ways that Hefner manipulated and controlled the women in his life and, honestly, he was borderline a cult leader with his manipulation tactics. My only complaint about this one is that Holly came off a bit judgmental at points in her descriptions of some of the other women involved which was off putting but it didn’t change the fact that I devoured this audio book (read aloud by Holly herself)!
Content Rating: R (it’s not particularly explicit given the content matter but I still wouldn’t recommend it for kids or teens)
Book Description:
A spontaneous decision at age twenty-one transformed small-town Oregon girl Holly Sue Cullen into Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner’s #1 girlfriend. But like Alice in Wonderland after she plunged down the rabbit hole, what seemed like a fairytale life inside the Playboy Mansion—including A-list celebrity parties and her own #1-rated television show—quickly devolved into an oppressive routine of strict rules, manipulation, and battles with ambitious, backstabbing bunnies. Losing her identity, her sense of self-worth, and her hope for the future, Holly found herself sitting alone in a bathtub contemplating suicide.
But instead of ending her life, Holly chose to take charge of it.
In this shockingly candid and surprisingly moving memoir, this thoughtful and introspective woman opens up about life inside the Mansion, the drugs, the sex and the infamous parties, as well as what her relationships with her Girls Next Door co-stars, Bridget and Kendra were really like. Holly talks candidly about a subsequent abusive relationship, her own successful television series, and the hard work of healing, including her turn on Dancing with the Stars. A cautionary tale and a celebration of personal empowerment, Down the Rabbit Hole reminds us of the importance of fighting for our dreams—and finding the life we deserve.
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