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  • Down the Rabbit Hole

  • Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
  • By: Holly Madison
  • Narrated by: Holly Madison
  • Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (594 ratings)

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Down the Rabbit Hole

By: Holly Madison
Narrated by: Holly Madison
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Publisher's Summary

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 number-one girlfriend and star of The Girls Next Door.

A spontaneous decision at age 21 transformed small-town Oregon girl Holly Sue Cullen into Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner's number-one girlfriend. But like Alice's journey into Wonderland, after Holly plunged down the rabbit hole, what seemed like a fairy tale life inside the Playboy Mansion - including A-list celebrity parties and her own number-one-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.

©2015 Holly Madison (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

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What listeners say about Down the Rabbit Hole

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    379
  • 4 Stars
    144
  • 3 Stars
    49
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    15
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reality vs Fiction

As many who have read this book probably also in awe of being one of the many girls who wanted Holly and Hef together this book allowed a look into Holly's mind how she thinks and ticks also the reality. i found revisiting the GNO series while reading and in the end listening to this book was really valuable to see things in a very different light and pick up way more than originally when I just thought of it as a fun loving show.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Don't waste a credit on this

She sold her soul, but that's everyone else fault but hers. There 10hrs 51mins I'll never get back.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

Well read and thought out. Enjoyed every minute, was hard to stop listening. Nice to learn the truth behind the mansion.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book

Well worth downloading/reading. Such a well written book. Totally wasn’t what I was expecting. Highly recommend this book. This book is funny too.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A really great listen!

I really enjoyed this book, I've listened to it many times. Usually I need to wait years before I listen to or read anything again. It really gives an insight into what others believe is an ideal life, and is actually quite enlightening.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Roz
  • 28-12-2015

Lacked Flow

I enjoyed this story and was interested in Holly's back story having watched The Girls Next Door. I listened to the whole book start to finish on a long haul flight and found that it lacked flow and narrative, the chapters would start on one subject but need to be backed up by other past events. Entertaining though and didn't require me to listen too carefully.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Both great and rubbish

I found this book really good in the beginning. You can definitely relate to her struggles while young, and understand more about what drew her to the house and made her stay too long.
However it is peppered with random catty comments and weird references to how well she is doing now. I think if this book was restructured with some pointless stories removed (for example when she bought Kendra a matching skirt?), it would sound less one -sided.
Generally Holly is likeable and the first half of this book is great, the second half however falls into boring feuds and references to how much money she earns - hence boring.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting enough

Performance was great. Story was ok but i did find her very hypocritical and had a bit of a poor me complex. The story is told in more of an up beat way and its easy enough to not let it bother you because of that. Wouldn't have finished the book if it was not being read to me i don't believe.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Lea
  • 21-08-2015

Most entertaining Bunny

I didn't know what to expect when starting this book, after all I didn't believe I could relate to this woman. However, I found it insightful, honest, entertaining and touching.

Holly knows who she is and she doesn't shy away from calling out the behaviors of others. She has a lot to brag about but stays humble. Her story surprised me in many ways, and gave interesting insights. I'm impressed.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen!

Really enjoyed this audiobook, especially being read by Holly herself. I remember watching her show, and wanting to go see her Vegas residency but never got the chance - she’s an icon and was a favourite on the show so really interesting to hear what life was really like at the Mansion. Hef sounds awful I’m so glad she got outta there and is thriving on her own.

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