Holly MadisonCritiques

I loved the series "The Girls Next Door" and watched all episodes when it was on Bravo in the 2000's.
One of the first Kindle books I purchased was [b:Bunny Tales|58925|Bunny Tales|Izabella St. James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388242068s/58925.jpg|57372] and having read that I wanted to see what Holly had to say. I must preface this by saying I lived in Los Angeles and have been to the Playboy mansion in the past for outside events, as well as having known a couple of the "girlfriends" over the years. So, it was easy to follow the events in this book.

That being said:

It felt like it was very, very easy to read in that it could have been written by someone in high school. The grammar, style and mechanics were textbook. The story was pretty much what I expected, but I did enjoy it. A pretty easy read, nothing too heavy. If you get it for free, it's probably a good poolside summer read. I also just listened to the Audible copy in my car.

This was a great read. it's was intriguing to get an inside view of what happen through Hollys eyes. She spent a lot of time not being able to speak her mind and being suppressed so it's great she was able to air it all out. writing is a great form of therapy. Everyone handles the same experiences different, I feel like she wasn't trying to throw anyone under a bus just saying it like she knew it. Life doesn't always take the path we plan but it always ends up at where we need to be some how.

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/pg1wWLSW8V0

Enjoy!½

I'm reading this in October, the month I typically reserve for nothing but horror reading. But I feel like this sort of fits the theme; it's just a different kind of horrifying.

I never really watched The Girls Next Door, I didn't read this book because I want an inside look at Hugh Hefner's bedroom escapades (gross), and I really don't care about knowing anything of the inner workings of the "famous for fame's sake" world. I was really drawn to this book when I read a preview of it, and the voice of the narrator (and writer) sounded so sad and vulnerable and sincere when she described how she would end it all. Oh, and intelligent. That made me sit right up and re-think how I had judged this person in light of how she became famous.

The book pretty much lives up to all of that. I never expected the prose to be beautiful or poetic. It feels honest. Although, there seems to be a certain amount of branding to it that, every so often, creeps over the genuine line. The details are salacious, but, to me at least, the book manages to avoid that sticky, tabloid tell-all feel. I would have liked a bit more self-reflection. There's some, but it's really just a story of her time being with/escaping from Hefner with a little bit of feminist hell-yeahing at the end. There is vulnerability, but only in a retrospective and sort of superficial way. Hefner is never called out as being abusive (except maybe once), manipulating, yes, and the implication is definitely there. But flat out abusive, no.

Overall, it was an interesting read (obviously, I read it in one day). And I'm glad to have my preconceived notions that Hugh Hefner is sad, lame human being confirmed.

This was a really sad book until page 238 when she found the courage to stand up for herself.

Interesting look inside the Playboy Mansion. Hugh Hefner needs a therapist on site. Or maybe 12 of them. Eesh.

Sorry not sorry. As a girl who idolized Bridget, Holly, and Kendra at 14, I wish I had this book back then to show me how lewd Hef really is/was. I believe Holly. So what if memoirs are embellished or changed a little to represent events better? The heart is still there. Team Holly! & I love that Bridget is one of her best friends!

Interesting read. Life isn't all fun and games at the Hef House. It stopped being that way long before he died.

Holly shares her good times and bad times. Alot of bad times and drama. She has more tolerance for that than I do.

Down the Rabbit Hole is her introspective account of her time inside the Mansion: the drugs, abuse, infamous parties, and Holly’s real behind-the-scenes life with Bridget, Kendra, and Mr. Playboy himself. It is also her chronicle of healing and hope. By telling her story, both a cautionary tale and a celebration of personal empowerment, Holly reminds us of the importance of fighting for our dreams—and of finding the life we deserve.

Down the Rabbit Hole is Holly Madison’s memoir that is mostly of her life living in the Playboy Mansion as Hugh Hefner’s number one girlfriend. It’s fascinating how a smart woman like Holly – she has several college credits – could be manipulated into staying at the Mansion under Hef’s strict rules for over six years. It wasn’t for the money – contrary to popular belief, he did not give his girlfriends a lot of money. They each got a relatively small allowance for clothes and beauty treatments and that was it. In return, they lived at the Mansion and had to be in a 9pm every night and were not allowed to spend even one night away from the Mansion without Hef.

I really liked reading all of the behind the scenes info Holly shared about The Girls Next Door the E! reality series that Holly starred in with two of Hef’s other two girlfriends at the time, Kendra and Bridget. I loved that show when it was on. I figured there’s some editing trickery and whatnot in reality TV but I didn’t realize how much! There was a lot in The Girls Next Door. Now I want to find old episodes and watch them again to see if there are any clues about what was REALLY going on during that time at the Mansion.

When Holly finally breaks free of Hugh Hefner’s hold, she immediately takes up with famous magician Criss Angel, who turns out to be even crazier than Hef! I love that Holly tells all in that relationship too, the good, bad and ugly.

The book ends with Holly finding ostensibly true love with her husband Pasquale Rotella. Ironically, just as I finished the book, she and her husband announced they are divorcing. Could another memoir be in the works? Sign me up – I want to know what happened!

Holly is surprisingly intelligent and incredibility honest. If you like celebrity memoirs, you’ll like Down

Interesting

This was quite interesting and a good read. Holly comes across as smart and ambitious, hardworking and genuine. She also comes across as a bit catty and I wish she had taken more responsibility for the choices she made. She had the audacity to call one of Hefner women his latest concubine..when she was the same. Thinly veiled references of her being better than a prostitute...when she was essentially that were pretty weak. Still she certainly created a life she was proud of and her point of view is interesting and a good solid warning.

Down the Rabbit Hole is all about spilling the beans, and I can't say as though I blame Holly Madison for writing it. I hesitate to use the term, but Holly Madison was Heffner's number one girlfriend for seven years, only after years of paying her dues as a lesser ranked girlfriend among a dozen others. She was also one of the stars on The Girls Next Door, a (not so much) reality show that stars Hef's three girlfriends at the time. This book will open your eyes to what life really was like in the mansion, and there is not one thing that was glamorous about it.

While I don't question the authors belief in her own honesty, I do think that she sees herself through rose colored glasses. According to her, practically every other girlfriend was a slut, bitch, user... Except her. There were a lot of victims of broken promises, wasted lives, emotional abuse, broken spirits, etc., but I don't think there was a person with honorable intentions among them, including Holly Madison. I accept that people make decisions for different reasons, and sometimes tell lies to themselves to get through it. Often they don't come to terms until later in life, forgive themselves and move on. Other times, people lie to themselves for so long, that it becomes their real life story, and I think that's the case with Holly Madison. A nice woman, living a good life hopefully, who doesn't care to face the ugliness of who she was in her past. Such as the plight of memoirs, right?

Anyway, I am glad that I read it. It's always good to be reminded of the reasons that I am blessed to live the life that I do, simple as it is.

Some parts were more interesting than others while some felt really dragged out. It's cool to get her side of the story and see how she felt about her time at the Playboy mansion. While some of the things written in the book may or may not be the facts Madison wants us to believe but it was definitely interesting. I always loved Holly on Girls Next Door and was very interested in reading her story once I heard about this book. I don't think I will read Holly's other book but I now have a new look on Playboy.

It's not like I had high expectations going in, but...not sure why I finished this one.

I always read while I eat my lunch at work. One day I accidentally left my copy of Down The Rabbit Hole at home. I was so invested in continuing reading Holly's story that I bought the Kindle copy too, just so I didn't have to miss an opportunity to read. I watched Girls Next Door when it was on TV so getting to hear the behind the scenes stories was very fun and interesting. I also always liked Holly Madison so it was easy for me to empathize with her struggles. I will say that she definitely makes herself the victim in almost any situation. Obviously this is Holly's book so she is going to paint herself in the best light, but there were many times I wondered how much of what I was reading was only a portion of the truth. With that said, it was kind of obvious when she was covering up something so I didn't feel all that lied to since I could tell when she wasn't being totally truthful. I really enjoyed this book overall. Holly's story is so unique and hearing about the ins and outs of living at the Playboy mansion was fascinating. I thought I had an idea of what life was like but if Holly's story is any indication of real life in the mansion, my impression (along with most of America's) was very wrong.

I was surprised at how I could not put this book down. It would've been like trying to look away from a trainwreck. I give Holly credit for feeling like it was necessary to write this book in order to save someone some pain and heartache in the future if they found themselves in her shoes. I knew ahead of time that life at the Playboy mansion had rules and obviously things aren't always as they seem, but I really had no idea as to the extent of it. It may seem like a "trashy" read because of the association with the reality show "Girls Next Door" and with Playboy, but I honestly loved this book. I ended up feeling so bad for this woman and what she had to go through in her 20's, and how abusive the people closest to her could be. This is a cautionary tale, and I would recommend it to others who seem to find themselves in sketchy situations more often than they'd like. I would also recommend it to anyone who just wants to read a non-fiction book full of drama and stories that seem like they should be fiction but aren't! Holly did well for her first book.

I just finished Down the Rabbit Hole... While I don't think it's fair for me to review or criticize because it was based on her experiences, I will say this... I enjoyed the book a lot. I found it to be interesting and inspiring. It just proves that things aren't always as they seem.

If Holly's world interests you, I highly recommend the read.

Wasn't sure if I was going to like this book but I actually did. I opted for the audio version and Holly reads it herself. I always thought Hef was a disgusting man with all his girlfriends and now I he is even more disgusting to me. The man wanted to be known as a man who could concur any woman and could have any woman. He never wanted to look weak. Even though he gave his girlfriends lots of money, there were restrictions about what they could spend it on and there were tons of rules on the girlfriends that he really caused a lot of them to lose their self worth and self confidence. It was so bad that Holly started to stutter. Of course why she stayed with him for 7 years I don't know. Any man who thinks he needs to be surrounded by 3-6 girlfriends many decades younger than him is just plain creepy. I did find this a fascinating look behind-the-scenes of what really happens inside the mansion. Who knew Hef doesn't own the mansion but rents the bedrooms.

After leaving the Playboy mansion, as well as all of the good and the bad associated with that living situation, Holly moved to Las Vegas to star in a burlesque show and her own reality TV show. This is the story of how she found a new career and life after Hugh Hefner. Her story is filled with failed romances, friendships and mishaps, but it is an interesting read. I anticipate another book will follow at some point that will depict her marriage, motherhood and all that she does after leaving Las Vegas tha I probably will read as well! Holly is in interesting character!

First, it has to be said, Holly Madison should not try accents. She gets away with Criss Angel’s Long Island accent better than she does a British accent when reading the excerpts from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Still, these attempts highlight her performance deficiencies, never a good idea in presenting oneself.

That being said, listening to this was a good choice. This is Holly’s story, and she deserves the chance to tell it. Other than the accents, her vocal performance is good. And, it must also be said, her impression of Hef is entertaining.

On to the content…

Holly Madison recounts her tale, focusing mainly on her time at the Playboy Mansion, which is, of course, what everyone wants to know about. To hear her tell it, life at the mansion is downright abusive. This assessment is not a stretch by any means, but still eyebrow-raising, if you haven’t spent much time thinking about just how unhealthy it would be to live with an 80 year-old man and half a dozen women. Surprisingly, it mirrors some stories told by women who have run away from polygamous communities in the West and Southwest: an older man who develops a cult around himself to mask his shortcomings and insecurities, drives wedges and forces competition among the girls to make himself feel wanted. He uses money, status, liquor, and drugs to keep them dependent on him and in such a state of low self-esteem that they lose their own identity and fear leaving. There are arbitrary rules, temper tantrums, a uniform of sorts and attempts at replicating a look, and ostracization for some who break the illusion proffered by “Daddy.”

There are lots of peripheral salacious details – like the girlfriend who procured other girlfriends and Playmates to work as escorts – but they’re not really the focus of Holly’s story. If you’re looking for sex, or even glamour, move on. Holly completely deconstructs Mansion life, and it sounds as unappealing as an obligatory visit with a great-uncle you barely know - only longer, and much more intrusive.

There’s a moment toward the end that Holly mentions. I’m not sure that she explores it to its fullest depth, but it’s definitely poignant. In her last visit to the Mansion, she sees a framed picture of the Girls Next Door from one of their Playboy shoots, all 3 of them naked and piled on top of each other. It takes her aback, how pornographic it actually is. She recalls feeling nothing of the sort during the shoot, and talks about how blasé they’d all become toward nudity during their stint at the Mansion. But with some time and distance, it’s clear to her how the rest of the world saw them, and that it was intentional. Holly doesn’t linger on the moment longer than that, but it made me wonder how she’ll continue to process that image as she moves farther away from that time in her life.

It’s easy to say, “Oh, she knew what she was getting herself into.” While it’s true that Holly knew she was stepping into the stratosphere when she became a Girlfriend, it’s also clear that no one could really be prepared for a life like this. Even the hustlers can’t always keep up the pace and play all the angles. And that’s exactly what men like Hefner are counting on, and the exact accusation they fling at the women they use up. From there, I could delve into the horrible mental abuse he subjects all of these women to, and the social context that allows and even promotes his lifestyle. Suffice it to say this: if there’s even a shred of truth to Holly’s story, she’s much more the victim than a willing participant or a conspirator in this assault on her innocence.

As a former “secret” fan of the reality show The Girls Next Door, I was fascinated by the lives these women lived as girlfriends of the infamous Hugh Hefner, playboy extraordinaire. I assumed their lives were filled with mega-parties, wild sex and so many adventures it would be hard to contain them all in a TV show much less a book. Understandably, the TV show was mild, or it would not have been allowed to continue, but I assumed this book would provide me with the real stories behind my favorite bunny on the show – Ms. Madison. It did, but not in the way I imagined it would be living in the infamous Playboy Mansion! It is a wonder she did not go mad with the incessant rules and schedules! Hefner is not playboy; he is an old man trying to stay relevant in a world that has long moved past him! I have to admit – I was rooting for Holly the whole way through and am so glad she has come out on top! I loved her story!

I love this book. I am glad she had the guts to tell the truth about how being exploited by an old man can damage you. I am glad she got out and began a better life. I admire her courage. I don't think she made this stuff up. I have always suspected that a man at this age taking 18 year old girls into his bed and parading them around naked or half naked was wrong. Dr. Drew interviewed Kendra once and he said he has never in all is years met a girl that was stripping, posing nude or worse that didn't have some damage in their past. I think Hugh Hefner preys on that and for his own sexual gratification and money, treats them like objects and allows others to treat them the same way.

Girl sleeps with ancient, decrepit man old enough to be her grandfather. Girl takes off her clothes for money and so men can objectify her. Girl becomes D list celebrity desperate for whatever fame she can get. Girl writes tell all trashing (nearly everyone) she ever met. I am not judging her for her choices but I don't think you get to put out there that you are some kind of role model for women because you "rescued yourself" by getting naked in a burlesque show every night. I kind of feel sorry for her daughter. Warning: reading this book could possibly drop your IQ by ten points.½

I was really intrigued when I heard Holly wrote a book. I always liked her the best so I was super excited when I got this book. It's pretty interesting to read what happens at the infamous home of Hef. The writing is very easy to read, at times a bit childish, but never so much so that it's hard to get through. I also at times felt that it was too goody goody, and trying too hard to show how innocent she was. Fascinating to read about her relationship after Hef and all the people she encounters through her life at Playboy and most interesting was reading about the real Hugh Hefner. All in all an interesting, quick read.