Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny

Holly Madison

Jun 2015 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

This book was really good up until she started writing about leaving the mansion... I felt like she is constantly putting others down to make herself look better put me off reading it was to much... I will give 4 stars as I did really enjoy the beginning but for all the going on about not wanting to be compared she did non stop digs at Kendra and whats her name Crystal amongst others... No one should tear others down to make themselves look good... 🌟🌟🌟🌟🤗👍

Despite the messy time lines and glorified self awareness I found it a great read having loved the GND, also found Holly relatable and actually left me a but sad it was over.

I'm not sure if I can swallow how hard she tries to make the reader believe that she was so "Naive". The LA scene is a dog and pony show and people placing so much much value on you only because of your beauty or status is shallow.It's a sad and sobering reminder of what this world has come to because of the constant " Media programming"that is shoved down our throats everyday.I do believe her time at the mansion was no fairy tale and I believe Hugh Hefner was no prince charming! I can honestly say that I never saw one episode of GND and I don't read the tabloids.I can see how a girl could get caught up in the fame and fantasy but even the Playboy mansion has a front door and she could have walked out of there at anytime! But she wanted something out of it all so she stuck around.I'm sure she's a nice enough person but come on,she had an agenda.Like the saying goes.....Watch out what you ask for.

About the author

Holly Madison is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Down the Rabbit Hole. She spent five seasons on the #1 rated E! hit reality show The Girls Next Door before starring in her own hit E! series, Holly’s World. Holly divides her time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.