This was actually a very compassionate insight into the complicated dance that is being in a relationship with a very difficult person. Very recommended, as some of the books written by other playmates seem to be catty and cruel.

I actually kept thinking how great this story is as a modern day Esther retelling: Queen Vashti refuses to perform at the king's party and is eternally banished for rebellion. To find a replacement queen, girls from the land are then brought to the palace to audition in a night with the king, and afterwards join his harem. Little orphan Esther wows the king, and is crowned the new queen. She then wields her influence to save the Jewish people from genocide.

Okay so the retelling kind of breaks down at the end, but the rest lines up: former top bunny Holly Madison has a falling out with Hugh Hefner, and playboy mansion politics are in disarray. Hundreds of girls sent in headshots to be invited to the annual halloween party, and down-on-her-luck Crystal is granted a ticket. At the party, she catches Hugh's eye and he invites her to his bedroom, and then to stay for the weekend, and then just to stay. She skilfully works her facetime with Hugh and quickly moves from the bottom rung to #1 girl. The beauty regimine, her fear of the consequences of asking for simple things (could her mom come to visit?), the curfews, being barred from running away, and control over outside friendships all reminded me of elements of Esther's story, too.

Women have been trading beauty and sex for shelter and influence for a long, long time... Hugh Hefner is no pioneer in that area.