Synopses & Reviews
The real, untold, and unvarnished story of life inside the Playboy Mansion-and the man who holds the key-from the woman who was Heff's #1 girlfriend and star of The Girls Next Door I'm well aware of the public perception of Hugh Hefner and his harem of blondes. I may have been reduced to becoming a trophy girlfriend, but despite the popular opinion of Playboy bunnies, I wasn't a fool. I knew how most people felt about us, but that wasn't nearly as important as how I felt about myself. In my heart I knew that I had sold a bit of my soul for the chance at fame.-Holly Madison For Holly Sue Cullen, falling into the Playboy Empire was as strange, wonderful and fraught with peril as Alice's slip into Wonderland. A spontaneous decision at age 21 transformed the small-town Oregon girl into Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner's #1 girlfriend. Her years inside the Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties and events (as well as her own #1-rated TV show) to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex with the boss, backstabbing newcomers, and a total loss of identity. Nearly swallowed whole and figuring the damage to her life was irrevocable, it is no wonder Holly found herself sitting alone in a bathtub one night contemplating her own end. Holly's tale is a cautionary one-but also one of personal empowerment. There was no hero to save her. Initially, magician Criss Angel gave her the courage to leave Hugh Hefner's kingdom, but as Holly found out, jumping from a terrible relationship to an abusive relationship wasn't a way to reclaim her identity. In DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, Holly will for the first time open up fully about life inside the Mansion, her near marriage to Hugh Hefner, her disastrous relationship with Criss Angel, and take readers behind the scenes of her successful series. Holly's is the story of a woman finally deciding to live on and by her own terms. It's the story of her finding her footing again, not just with her turn on Dancing with the Stars, or her successful follow up shows, but by reclaiming a life that she knew she deserved.
Review
“Reads like a celebrity memoir infused with The Bell Jar and Going Clear.” Buzzfeed
Synopsis
The real, untold, and unvarnished story of life inside the legendary Playboy Mansion--and the man who holds the key--from the woman who was Hef's #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 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.
Synopsis
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: Hefs 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 Hefners #1 girlfriend. But like Alices 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 wasnt 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.
About the Author
Holly Madison spent five seasons on the #1 rated E! hit reality show The Girls Next Door before landing the leading role in the Las Vegas strip's smash hit , Peepshow. She also starred in two seasons of her own hit E! series Hollys World. Madison divides her time between Las Vegas and Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.