Book Review: Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion by Izabella St. James

Should Have Been Named "Hef Didn't Give Me Enough so I'm Writing a Book"

I bought this book after becoming a complete addict of the show The Girls Next Door, which in England is called Girls of the Playboy Mansion. I thought it would be a fun tell-all that would give me a bit of the inside scoop on Bridget, Holly and Kendra and, of course, Hef himself. It did deliver a lot of the dish, but instead of being the fun gossipy book that it could be, it is marred by what overwhelmingly seems to be just another story about some blonde girl that has become far too accustomed to having everything given to her.

Instead of the intention of the writer to make us feel for her, it made me a bit sick to my stomach. She would try to be gracious talking about all the things that Hef bought for her such as her beloved pug dogs, a computer, a car, her allowance, trips to the salon and clothing allowances, but instead of being thankful for these things, more often than not, St. James complains that it wasn't enough. She complains that Hef being as rich as he was could afford to "do so much more" for his girlfriends. She forgets quickly all of the things that he did do for her and focuses on what he did not. It's no wonder Hefner has pared down his "Party Posse" to only three girls. Who would want girlfriends that considered you a stepping stone and a job?

St. James is quick to put down Holly and Bridget throughout the book, but if you read into what is really going on, it seems to me that they are the ones that actually do care about Hef and aren't there just to have fun and make some cash. St. James laments always being "roped off" from the crowds at public events and night clubs. Did she expect Hef to just have any old person stumbling all over him at these places? She complains that she was a prisoner and always longed to flirt and dance and talk to guys when they went out, but was she not supposed to be a girlfriend? She mentions the Girlfriends E! network reality show many times through the book and comments on things that Hef's current girlfriends are saying. It comes off as jealous and catty rather than a tell-all.