Chrissy’s Review: Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison

Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
written by Holly Madison
published by Dey Street Books, 2015

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this read. It was an interesting perspective, and if it is all true, it is a shame that Holly—and any other girlfriends—had to go through all of that.

I admit, The Girls Next Door was a total guilty pleasure show for me. I enjoyed watching what the girlfriends were up to. I always liked Holly on the show. She always seemed more intelligent than she let on and there always seemed to be something else going on behind her outward portrayal. And this book shows that even more. To me, Holly is intelligent and driven. Yes, she made some mistakes, and yes, she did choose to become a girlfriend, but you still feel bad for her. The relationship she was in–if her story is to be believed–seemed abusive and rather scary.

Down the Rabbit Hole was a quick read. It isn’t a out-to-get-you or spill-all-the-secrets book, although it could be seen as that. It was her story of her life. Some parts were repetitive, and that got old after a while. Also, there was a detachment between Holly and the telling of her story. She didn’t seem happy or even emotionally there until she got to the parts after Criss.

Would I recommend it: If you like these types of memoirs, and you were a fan of The Girls Next Door, then yes, read Down the Rabbit Hole.

About the book – from Goodreads: 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.