You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.41k reviews for:
Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
Holly Madison
3.45 AVERAGE
1.41k reviews for:
Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
Holly Madison
3.45 AVERAGE
Good read but...
I love Holly and GND and this was a pretty fun read. Some parts are a little repetitive and I was sad to see some of the adjectives chosen in respect to people like Kendra were negative , despite Holly being so aware of the power of negative words. Overall though it was enjoyable and her story is relatable.
I love Holly and GND and this was a pretty fun read. Some parts are a little repetitive and I was sad to see some of the adjectives chosen in respect to people like Kendra were negative , despite Holly being so aware of the power of negative words. Overall though it was enjoyable and her story is relatable.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This book started with promise. Ultimately I think it was a worthwhile read, but by the end of it I was over Holly Madison's breathlessly "naive" voice. Something about it just did not ring true...but perhaps that is because of the lack of introspection apparent in the writing. While Holly tries to play herself off as innocent and well-meaning, she just seems mean and petty by the end of it, clearly not willing to own up to her own part of the shit-stirring and what is probably supposed to be sly or down-played references to her own wealth and fame. I don't really buy it. But if you are looking to read about the ins and outs of the playboy mansion and want some dishy celebrity exposse... this is probably right up your alley!
So, I'd been itching to read this book for awhile. I had it on hold at the library for THREE MONTHS! It started to annoy me how slowly people were reading. I read this in a few days.
I was intrigued with this book because I watched two seasons of GND and I loved Holly. She always was the docile not 'crazy' one. I just related to her for some reason even though I thought she was insanely beautiful! I was always intrigued with the playboy, since I was old enough to get my first copy of one (around 15). Just like Holly there was always this mysterious glamour that surrounding being a playmate. I grew up in LA so it was a very real thing to just drive down and audition when one was old enough.
I instantly related to Holly. I instantly related to all her mistakes she started to make once she turned 18. I was right along with her ride, and I made similar mistakes, they just didn't include Hugh Hefner. And thank god I never tried to pursue that! You know I have to say, I do believe Holly's story. I believe every word of it because who would be that candid about their mistakes in life? Honestly, she was embarrassed, as I was and am about a lot of my mistakes.
The story followed a steady pace and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. To the point I didn't want to put it down.
People make mistakes. People often make the same mistakes when in a pattern, to act like people don't is unrealistic. I made three mistakes IN A ROW with my last three relationships. So with Holly jumping in with Criss the way she did--yeah I relate! I don't consider myself stupid. But I understood her being lonely, and in need of validation. I just got her.
She never implies that HER leaving GND is the reason it failed. I've seen this places. She clearly states on page 302, that Kendra, Bridget, and herself are the reason. And I quote:
"With Kendra and Holly's World pulling in solid ratings and being renewed for additional seasons and GND fading quietly into the night, it appeared WE weren't so "replaceable" after all."
She also never implies Peepshow ended because she left. She just said it went on a few more months then closed. That's fact. Not her bragging.
I also related to her with childbirth! It made me smile because so many people talked about how they screamed and it was so horrible. I literally was in labor for a couple hours, had an epidural, and then Lucy came out. I didn't feel any pain. Just because we opted for the epidural doesn't mean we are lying. It just means we didn't have pain lol.
As a whole, I enjoyed going on Holly's journey. She was relatable and humble with sharing her mistakes and I give her credit for that. I appreciate her opening up her life and allowing people in because people are judgy and cruel. But I'm glad she told her story, because it made me feel not so alone anymore.
I was intrigued with this book because I watched two seasons of GND and I loved Holly. She always was the docile not 'crazy' one. I just related to her for some reason even though I thought she was insanely beautiful! I was always intrigued with the playboy, since I was old enough to get my first copy of one (around 15). Just like Holly there was always this mysterious glamour that surrounding being a playmate. I grew up in LA so it was a very real thing to just drive down and audition when one was old enough.
I instantly related to Holly. I instantly related to all her mistakes she started to make once she turned 18. I was right along with her ride, and I made similar mistakes, they just didn't include Hugh Hefner. And thank god I never tried to pursue that! You know I have to say, I do believe Holly's story. I believe every word of it because who would be that candid about their mistakes in life? Honestly, she was embarrassed, as I was and am about a lot of my mistakes.
The story followed a steady pace and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. To the point I didn't want to put it down.
People make mistakes. People often make the same mistakes when in a pattern, to act like people don't is unrealistic. I made three mistakes IN A ROW with my last three relationships. So with Holly jumping in with Criss the way she did--yeah I relate! I don't consider myself stupid. But I understood her being lonely, and in need of validation. I just got her.
She never implies that HER leaving GND is the reason it failed. I've seen this places. She clearly states on page 302, that Kendra, Bridget, and herself are the reason. And I quote:
"With Kendra and Holly's World pulling in solid ratings and being renewed for additional seasons and GND fading quietly into the night, it appeared WE weren't so "replaceable" after all."
She also never implies Peepshow ended because she left. She just said it went on a few more months then closed. That's fact. Not her bragging.
I also related to her with childbirth! It made me smile because so many people talked about how they screamed and it was so horrible. I literally was in labor for a couple hours, had an epidural, and then Lucy came out. I didn't feel any pain. Just because we opted for the epidural doesn't mean we are lying. It just means we didn't have pain lol.
As a whole, I enjoyed going on Holly's journey. She was relatable and humble with sharing her mistakes and I give her credit for that. I appreciate her opening up her life and allowing people in because people are judgy and cruel. But I'm glad she told her story, because it made me feel not so alone anymore.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Incest, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Alcohol
i first heard about holly madison in my early teens, when i started watching "girls next door" (or "girls of the playboy mansion" as it was titled in germany) because i was kind of obsessed with mtv and viva reality programs. i distinctly remember always liking kendra a bit more than i liked her, but i haven’t given much thought to her or the show since then.
but still, when i heard that holly had written a scandalous tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that went on in the mansion, i was intrigued.
despite being curious, i didn't expect a scathing retelling of her emotionally manipulative and almost abusive relationship with hugh hefner. i spent a lot of time during this book trying to differentiate between truth and fiction, and in the end, it doesn't matter much to me that holly, of course never painted herself as the villain in any sort of conflict she presented within the story.
i believe that these were truly her experiences and downplaying them would be unfair to her and the cruelty she experienced in the mansion and in part afterwards.
our protagonist, holly madison, is far from perfect. she is much more intelligent than i remember her ever coming across on "girls next door", and, different from other people who publish their life's story, she actually has a story to tell.
i don't know her stance on feminism or if she could define the word patriarchy for me, but this story, in its heart, was definitely about a man getting off on the power he has over women and manipulating them with that power imbalance. holly reflects on a lot of those things in the book, and while i've read people saying she shouldn't have been as hard on hef, i think she should have been a lot harsher.
i didn't like how much the other women were painted as the villains in this story, but i'm sure that was what holly felt at the time. i would have liked a bit more introperspective on the fact that they too, were playing hef's game and being victims of the same emotionally abusive relationship she was in.
despite my criticism, i was suprised how much i started to root for and love holly by the end of the book. i may not be able to relate to some decisions she made over the years, but during the course of the book i have gained a lot of empathy for her and definitely recommend this book if you want not only scandalous behind-the-scenes scoop of a years old reality program, but also read a story about a woman learning to break free from a shitty man (men, really, if you count her short relationship with criss angel, one of the darker chapters of the book) and empowering herself.
4/5 stars, (i also recommend the audio book narrated by holly herself!)
but still, when i heard that holly had written a scandalous tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that went on in the mansion, i was intrigued.
despite being curious, i didn't expect a scathing retelling of her emotionally manipulative and almost abusive relationship with hugh hefner. i spent a lot of time during this book trying to differentiate between truth and fiction, and in the end, it doesn't matter much to me that holly, of course never painted herself as the villain in any sort of conflict she presented within the story.
i believe that these were truly her experiences and downplaying them would be unfair to her and the cruelty she experienced in the mansion and in part afterwards.
our protagonist, holly madison, is far from perfect. she is much more intelligent than i remember her ever coming across on "girls next door", and, different from other people who publish their life's story, she actually has a story to tell.
i don't know her stance on feminism or if she could define the word patriarchy for me, but this story, in its heart, was definitely about a man getting off on the power he has over women and manipulating them with that power imbalance. holly reflects on a lot of those things in the book, and while i've read people saying she shouldn't have been as hard on hef, i think she should have been a lot harsher.
i didn't like how much the other women were painted as the villains in this story, but i'm sure that was what holly felt at the time. i would have liked a bit more introperspective on the fact that they too, were playing hef's game and being victims of the same emotionally abusive relationship she was in.
despite my criticism, i was suprised how much i started to root for and love holly by the end of the book. i may not be able to relate to some decisions she made over the years, but during the course of the book i have gained a lot of empathy for her and definitely recommend this book if you want not only scandalous behind-the-scenes scoop of a years old reality program, but also read a story about a woman learning to break free from a shitty man (men, really, if you count her short relationship with criss angel, one of the darker chapters of the book) and empowering herself.
4/5 stars, (i also recommend the audio book narrated by holly herself!)
fast-paced
It felt like she took jabs at Kendra any chance she could it was tasteless. When she speaks of her time at the mansion and the other girls she speaks as if she was better than anyone there. Constantly saying they were all dumb, addicts or users when she was also using hef and made herself seem like she was the smartest. Gives very much “pick me” vibes throughout the whole book. It was interesting to see her point of view but the telling seems completely biased which I didn’t like. There was splash’s of honesty and if she kept that tone throughout the book and been honest with herself this would’ve been a great book
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced