Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

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

9 reviews

lizacorn's review

emotional informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Incest, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Alcohol

growintogardens's review

informative medium-paced

3.0

I never actually watched any of the E series, but I knew about them and Playboy, so I've known who she is for a long time. I watched a newer docuseries "Sectets of Playboy," and I found Holly likeable and wanted to know more of her story. I think the book is easy to follow and it's an interesting look at that world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts

bzliz's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

I’ve been listening to Holly and Bridget’s podcast Girls Next Level and thought I should reread this to compare new feelings with old ones. I was a big Girls Next Door fan when it aired. I especially loved Bridget and Holly (Kendra always gave me bad vibes) and I liked how fun the show was at its core even though these women were living a lifestyle I definitely couldn’t relate to. As I get older, it makes sense that the reality of the situation didn’t match up to the reality show. 

People can debate all they want about the truth of Holly’s words but now that she and Bridget are doing this podcast and doing interviews with people who were also in the Playboy circuit, I think their stories of mistreatment are pretty credible. Note: Kendra fans will probably not enjoy this. 

There are a few editing errors that jumped out at me but it wasn’t terribly distracting from Holly’s message. She does repeat herself at times and the allusion that her life had similarities to that of Marilyn Monroe seems a little grandiose but I think that overall I’m glad she seized the opportunity to tell her story and hold very little back. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

 I picked this up because I have recently fallen down the rabbit hole (pun intended) of rewatching The Girls Next Door and exploring the dark and twisty world of Playboy.
"Down the Rabbit Hole" is Holly Madison's memoir that mainly highlights her time at the Playboy mansion. In the early 2000s, Holly was Hugh Hefner's number one girlfriend for several years. During her time at the Playboy mansion, she also starred in the E! hit "The Girls Next Door".
I really enjoyed reading more about Holly's life. I have recently binged listened to her podcast with fellow Girls Next Door costar, Bridget Marquardt. This book definitely explores some different aspects of her life and she does a great job of not repeating herself across all of her platforms. Holly is eloquent in her delivery and balances honesty without being unnecessarily mean about those who have mistreated her.
The book does highlight the beginning of her career in Vegas after she left the Playboy world, and it does chronicle her relationship with Criss Angel, if you were curious what her life post Playboy looked like.
If you were ever curious about what went on behind closed doors at the Playboy mansion, or you wanted to learn more about Holly's life in the earlier 2000's, this book is a must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Addiction, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming

courteneykenyon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.5

An honest and sad coming of age story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Misogyny, Bullying, Self harm, and Sexism

asbat's review

informative reflective medium-paced

2.75

Very interesting book giving a sneak peak behind the curtain. The amount of manipulation that took place. I don’t necessarily agree with everything the author mentions or how she thought about situations but that’s what added to the intrigue. Hef is still grim though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Confinement

yaoipaddle's review

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

2.0

This book is an easy read and goes by pretty quickly. I like the behind-the-scenes of the playboy mansion and the reality tv life!

The most difficult parts of the book is how biased it is. Memoirs will always skew biased towards the author (it can't be helped) but Holly's seemingly zero awareness to this is hard to read. She classifies people basically as good or bad. But even the people who are 'good' at some point have a rude comment said about them or mysteriously stop being her friend.

Some other reviewers have mentioned specific hypocritical or biased moments and I cringed when she complained about not getting in a twitter fight and proceeded to explain a shady subtweet she made about someone else. Girl just ADMIT ITTTT ITS YEARS LATER!! Moments like that really make me call into question just how "mean" or "selfish" other people really were when Holly can't even bother taking accountability for making a shady tweet?

Anyways, the behind the scenes was fun but I wouldn't take it as truth unless another playboy girlie also confirms it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny

Moderate: Mental illness, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility, Trafficking, Incest, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

cristal10's review against another edition

informative inspiring slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Body shaming

akut's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

1.25

The author describes sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse without framing it that way - to her it was a normal way to be in relationship with someone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship