First published 2015
Holly Madison thought she had won the lottery when she became one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends at the famous Playboy Mansion. The glittering world of celebrity parties and luxury seemed like a dream come true. But behind the glamorous facade, Madison discovered a controlling environment with rigid rules governing every aspect of her life. Hefner dictated when and how the women could leave the mansion, what they could wear, and even scheduled intimate encounters. The psychological pressure mounted as Madison lost her sense of self within this isolated world. She found herself trapped in a system that stripped away her independence and identity. The depression became so severe that she considered ending her life. This memoir exposes the dark reality behind the Playboy brand's carefully constructed image of sexual liberation and luxury.
Genres: autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Playboy Mansion
Period: 21st-century
352 pages · Paperback · Harper Collins India Ltd
Content warnings: abuse, depression, mental-illness