The shocking, never-before-told story of the bizarre world inside the legendary Playboy Mansion—and, finally, the secret truth about the man who holds the key—from one of the few people who truly knows: Hef"s former #1 girlfriend and star of The Girls Next Door
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"s journey into Wonderland, after Holly 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 for four years—quickly devolved into an oppressive routine of strict rules, manipulation, and battles with ambitious, backstabbing bunnies. Life inside the notorious Mansion wasn"t a dream at all—and quickly became her nightmare. After 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, the abuse, the infamous parties, and her real behind-the-scenes life with Bridget, Kendra, and, of course, Mr. Playboy himself.
With great courage, Holly shares the details of her subsequent troubled relationship, landing 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.
Down the Rabbit Hole
As a fan of The Girls Next Door, I knew I had to read Holly Madison's autobiography as soon as it came out. I simply could not believe that the images presented in the television series about the mansion and Hugh Hefner and the girls themselves were so heavily sugar-coated to the point that I should have received diabetes. Holly isn't afraid to tell it as it was, with Heff's behaviour off camera only being able to be described as that of a spoiled child and his treatment of the girls no different to the dirt beneath his feet. The courage that Holly has to come out and speak about her experience in one of the most well-known places in the world is nothing short of commendable as her book details the crazy world that is life with Hugh Hefner as part of the Playboy franchise. If you want to learn what lurks behind the velvet curtains and mansion walls, Holly's book is your ticket to the true Playboy story. - Amanda
QBD The Bookshop, 11/03/2016