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

7 years at the mansion, she was depressed, suicidal. Used and toyed with by the women in the Mansion , verbally abused by Hefner and once received a beaten by him. Her obsession of being on film, in Playboy magazine and of course the luxuries, weekly allowance and more, she does not deny this in the book. IMO She didn't leave the mansion because going back to her hometown was a dead end or worse. she did not have to take abuse. Theres a saying, You can't have your cake and eat it too!

I first read the Free Sample of this book. The first few chapters were so juicy and invigorating that I ended up purchasing to read the rest. The rest: not as good. Much of the book is Holly's own drawn out internalisation and sililoques. It was interesting, but I didn't like the way she made everyone else out to be the villain. Yes I'm sure she was the victim in many circumstances, but you don't get through those kind of situations without playing the game yourself. No mention of being on invito either.

They say "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"...and Holly's book certainly verifies that statement!!! I was a huge fan of The Girls Next Door, and am so disappointed in this blatant bite at the proverbial hand that has fed her! By her own admission, she WANTED the fame and celebrity. Hanging out at the Playboy mansion and becoming Hef's girlfriend made it possible for her to achieve these dreams that otherwise would have remained unfulfilled.(Trust me, saw her show in Vegas;don't look for het to get an Oscar nomination anytime soon!) Had anyone even heard of Holly Madison before she became Hef's girlfriend? This book is a bitter woman's sad realization of the fact that the old addage is true: Nobody rides for free.

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.