Bombshell Books by Former Playboy Bunnies & Playmates
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When former members are asked what their time at Playboy was really like, you get very mixed responses. Some claim that it was a hellscape, and they were truly at the worst point of their life, while others say it was an empowering time to work at such a place. Playboy wasn’t just the founder Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends, everyone played a role in the Playboy empire. There were playmates, models, bunnies, bunny mothers, and even girlfriends who played a crucial role in making the perfect image of the controversial lifestyle.
Related story Holly Madison Reveals How Her Playboy Mansion Experience Impacted Her ParentingIn recent years, many of Hefner’s former girlfriends have spoken up about what it was really like being in a relationship with him, and about 99 percent of them are not so flattering to the late mogul. While the most well-known piece dissecting their time at the Playboy Mansion was from former girlfriend and Playmate Holly Madison, Hefner’s widow Crystal Hefner is also telling her side of the story.
Related story Holly Madison Reveals How Her Playboy Mansion Experience Impacted Her Parenting
Recently, Crystal released her long-awaited memoir, talking all about how she felt she was brainwashed and what her true feelings were for her late husband. Ever since news of her memoir being released hit the internet, everyone has been wanting to know more about what being in the world of Playboy was really like.
So we gathered as many books as we could find from people who were actually there, and that gave pretty big bombshells. Something to keep in mind is that quite a few go-to reads are out of print, so if you really want to dive into all of them, go into your local library. Another thing to note is that many of these books can be rather triggering, so proceed with caution.
That being said, let’s dive in. Below, check out the bombshell books released about what it was like living in the world of Playboy.
If you or someone you know has or is being sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to online.rainn.org for safe, confidential help.
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‘Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself’ by Crystal Hefner
Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself by Crystal Hefner follows her life once she entered the Playboy mansion and her debilitating time as Hugh Hefner’s wife; to life after.
In this book, she revealed that she felt trapped in her marriage to Hugh Hefner, how she was never in love with him, and how he’s deeply affected her mental health all these years after his death.
'Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself' by Crystal Hefner$21, originally $30
‘Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny’ by Holly Madison
Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison was an in-depth look into what life was like for one of Hugh Hefner’s main girlfriends.
This bestseller revealed so much about what life was like as a Playboy bunny: how all the girlfriends were expected to have sex with Hefner, that Hefner pitted the women against each other constantly, and that he instituted a strict 9 p.m. curfew, and more.
'Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny' by Holly Madison$14.50
‘Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion’ by Jennifer Saginor
Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion by Jennifer Saginor is a much more different take on the Playboy world. For one thing, Saginor wasn’t a bunny or Playmate, she was a child living in the mansion. This book itself was a major bombshell, because no one thought a child would be living behind those walls.
But Saginor talked about how she knew Hugh Hefner as Uncle Hef, how she did many drugs during the parties, and allegedly had an affair with one of Hugh’s girlfriends,
'Playground: A Childhood Lost Inside the Playboy Mansion' by Jennifer Saginor$12.39
‘The Bunny Years: The Surprising Inside Story of the Playboy Clubs’ by Kathryn Leigh Scott
The Bunny Years: The Surprising Inside Story of the Playboy Clubs by Kathryn Leigh Scott was a book written by Bunny Kay who worked at the New York City Playboy Club. It takes into account hundreds of Bunnies and what their time was like working at the clubs, and where they are now.
It gave a different perspective on the clubs, with many talking about the flexible work schedules and how what they learned at the clubs made them better in business. It wasn’t a bombshell book, but more of a historical look back at the club era.
'The Bunny Years: The Surprising Inside Story of the Playboy Clubs' by Kathryn Leigh Scott$14.50
‘Bunny Tales’ by Izabella St. James
Bunny Tales by Izabella St. James, ex-girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, gave readers an in-depth look into what life was like as one of the girlfriends and bunnies, from the sexual rituals to the rules she was put under.
The book dived into the sexual rituals happening in Hefner’s room, such as how he encouraged the bunnies and girlfriends to give “Oh daddy!” shout-outs, the constant Viagra, and more. Along with that, she talked about how each girlfriend got a $10,000 down-payment on a car and access all the plastic surgery they wanted.
'Bunny Tales' by Izabella St. James$14
‘My Playboy Story: Hopping from Richmond to Hollywood’ by Malorie Mackey
My Playboy Story: Hopping from Richmond to Hollywood by Malorie Mackey offers another new side: someone who was invite to the parties and events, but wasn’t a playmate or bunny. She never posed nude, and wanted to see what the lifestyle was like.
Mackey talked about how Hefner still allegedly had a girlfriend when engaged to Crystal Hefner for the first time, named Anna Sophia Berglund. She also alleged that after Crystal and Hugh married, she banned many of the girls from staying at the mansion, why Crystal was a runaway bride, and more.
'My Playboy Story: Hopping from Richmond to Hollywood' by Malorie Mackey$13
‘Playboy Mansion Memoirs: Lessons Learned from the Front Lines of the Sexual Revolution’ by Suzen Fiskin
Playboy Mansion Memoirs: Lessons Learned from the Front Lines of the Sexual Revolution by Suzen Fiskin was a look into what life with Hugh Hefner and Playboy was like.
This book talked about who she slept with during her time at the mansion, what it was like in its “golden age,” and what it was like in the sexual revolution.
'Playboy Mansion Memoirs: Lessons Learned from the Front Lines of the Sexual Revolution' by Suzen Fiskin$15.95
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