Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion

  Author:    Izabella St. James
  ISBN:    0762427396
  Sales Rank:    11055
  Published:    2006-08-21
  Publisher:    Running Press Book Publishers
  # Pages:    256
  Binding:    Hardcover
  Avg. Rating:    3.0 based on 83 reviews
  Used Offers:    19 from $13.54
  Amazon Price:    $16.32
  (Data above last updated:  2008-11-18 10:52:57 EST)
  
  
Sort customer reviews by:
  
Show All Reviews on Page      Hide All Reviews on Page
   
  
Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion
  
What happens in the Mansion, doesn't stay in the Mansion!
How did I get here? I was raised a nice Catholic girl in Ontario, Canada. I am an only child whose parents lavished their attention and resources on me. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree, and I'm studying to take the California bar. I am comfortable with my own sexuality, responsible for my own orgasm, and have never been sexually or emotionally abused. And yet for two years, I lived at the infamous Playboy Mansion, rolled in a posse of seven succulent beauties, and was a co-girlfriend of the father of the sexual revolution and the world's largest living hedonist.

What is wrong with this picture?

The Bunnies. The Girlfriends. The Mansion. The Grotto. The Myth. The Man. The Fantasy. The Reality.

Izabella St. James left colder climes for the beaches of Malibu. Young, blond, and pretty, she was looking for fun, and the SoCal nightlife was a powerful magnet. Out clubbing one night, she met Hugh Hefner and his friends. Beyond the silk robe and age-proof good looks, Hugh was a genial man who invited Izabella to join his group of friends and then to move into the world-famous Mansion as one of Hef's girlfriends. (Plural.)

Bunny Tales is Izabella's story—of a party girl who discovered what work it is to play all the time. Plastic surgery, gorgeous clothes, cool cars, and a generous weekly allowance are the perks of Mansion life, but Hef's girlfriends are a clique, a sorority, a group of best buds, and bitter rivals, the worst of high school in an adult party circuit.

Izabella was witness to the growing pains of an empire—and legend—built on a revolution long over. Like the best relationships, Bunny Tales is honest and fun, revealing and real, satisfying and surprising.

                  Reader Reviews 1 - 50 of 55            Next
  
  
Review
Date
Review
Rating(5 High)
Review
Helpful
to:
Customer Review Reviewer
Info
Permanent
Link
Reader Reviews Below Sorted by Newest First
11-17-08 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  She's obviously not a fan of the Girls next Door Girls.
Reviewer Permalink
As other reviewers state it could have been proofed better. However, the book is still a good read. The author makes you dislike Holly & Bridget from the Girls Next Door. She seems very greedy while trying to convince the reader that she's not. I definately wouldn't pay full price for this book. If you can get it for really cheap its a good one-time read.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-18 10:55:53 EST)
11-05-08 1 1\1
(Hide Review...)  A Gossip book only....
Reviewer Permalink
You do learn some interesting things in the book (regarding how the Mansion is laid out, the different parties they had, etc.) - however, Izabella should be thankful to Hef instead of nit-picking him. He gave her thousands of dollars worth of stuff while she was a girlfriend (clothes, makeup, allowance, medical/dental, cosmetic surgery, new cars, etc.)- but yet it was NEVER enough. She basically said that she was there to "have fun" and get what she could.

She complains in the whole book about Hef and the mansion's rules. She went to parties and new some of the girlfriends BEFORE she became a girlfriend - so she should have known the rules beforehand. She says that Bridget and Holly were goody to-shoes and did everything Hef wanted them to do. He was treating them like royality - I think I would have wanted to spend time with him and treat him a little nicer than Izabella did.

She complained about him being "a creature of habit" and doing the same things the same way all the time. It was HIS HOUSE she was living in - and HIS money he was spending on her. I think he had the right! She complained about not being able to stay at events very long. I would have been thankful just to be able to say I WENT. He gave them a $2000 allowance an event for clothes - yet sometimes that wasn't enough. He even gave them money to buy christmas presents for the other girls - and they tried to figure out a way to keep THAT money instead of use it on what he said to use it on. And then blamed Holly because she told Hef about it. I would have told him too - that is almost like stealing from him!

She complained on valentine's day all they got was playboy items - and no "diamond jewelry" or anything like someone in a normal relationship gets. Um - who said this was a normal relationship anyway? Geez!

According, to the show - Girls Next Door - it sounds like now - most of the "rules" have gone by the wayside. PROBABLY because he knew Holly, Bridget and Kendra would do what they were suppose to do. They gained his trust. Something Izabella and her friends never gained. Her and her friends would always try to find a way to get out of doing what Hef wanted them to do. I am sure it was obvious to him - they didn't care about him.
The final fight she had was with Bridget. She claimed Bridget was crying because Izabella sit by Hef in the car and she didn't get to. She went up to Bridget and called her a "BI***". She claimed she sit by him because she was leaving and it might be the last time she got to sit by him. She could have explained that to Bridget and talked to her nicely but instead she called her names. Then she couldn't believe Hef came over grabbed her arms and told her he was tired of the "sh**". Well, duh!??

The book was an interesting read - but I didn't believe lots of things she said - and I felt she was just there to get everything she could - just like some of the girls she complained about. They sure don't know how lucky they were - I would love to have stayed in the Mansion for a WEEK - or even a day let alone 2 years - WOW!!! People like this will never be happy with their lives - always wanting something better.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-17 07:50:15 EST)
10-23-08 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Hell Hath No Fury
Reviewer Permalink
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" could be another title for the book. She lost a power struggle with Holly, didn't get all the cash, gifts and recognition she felt entitled to (simply for being beautiful, not for any real work or effort), and so she wrote a bitter, often contradictory memoir of her life in the Mansion.

That said, it is also an entertaining read. It's full of drama and tidbits of life at Playboy. The resentful passages are easy to see through, and thus ignore. Aside from that, and the poor grammar, it can be fun and informative; a soap opera based upon fact, viewed through a very skewed and scorned lens. My wife loved it, and read it through in a single sitting (it's a quick 250 pages).

So 3 stars for the drama, factoids and fun. The anger, misstatements and contradictions are fairly easy to ignore. I feel sad for Hef, the other girls (past and present), and the staff that she disses, it is a total betrayal of trust (very surprised he doesn't have the girls sign confidentiality agreements). But for those of us on the outside of this world, it's kinda fun.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-11-06 07:27:18 EST)
10-14-08 2 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Not a good book, but served its purpose.
Reviewer Permalink
I really like The Girls Next Door and was really curious what goes on behind closed doors. I was also looking for a frivolous read. The reviews that are here are very true. It is not the best book. Izabella just sounds annoying and exactly like the stereotypical girl she clearly is trying to say she isn't. I guess it's hard to understand how one would be in such an untraditional setting, but the fact is that it's not likable. She also sounds inconsistent with her views of Hef...one minute he's not so great and the next she is grateful for him. For me, I am glad I got the book, because it did fit what I was looking for. Quickly, after starting to read it, I began to scan through the parts about her life and then actually read the parts about the Girlfriends and how this all works - logistically. This was also not a book "I couldn't put down", but on those occasions when I felt like something frivolous, I grabbed it and picked up where I left off. If there were a book written by anyone else about the Girlfriends, you can bet I'd go for that one first, but until that happens, if you are curious like me and don't mind scanning, this isn't a bad buy.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-10-24 12:08:08 EST)
09-16-08 5 0\1
(Hide Review...)  Exciting look behind the doors of playboy mansion
Reviewer Permalink
This is a review from Germany. I like the show "the girls next door" and read the book Bunny Tales in one day. It's exciting to read the views of a bunny, who left the mansion. I always thought, there must be mobbing between the girlfriends and in the book is a lot of mobbing.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-10-15 07:56:10 EST)
09-11-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  really cool book
Reviewer Permalink
This book was really good. I couldnt stop reading it. Im a fan of the show Girls Next Door and the author mentions things about all the them (since she was a girlfriend at one time too). Many other celebrties are mentioned. Color photos.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-09-18 21:24:04 EST)
09-08-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Skip it
Reviewer Permalink
Not for me...This book was very self involved. She spent a majority of her time explaining the reasons she had for being there. She seemed very whiney and unappreciative of her benefactor. I would recomend checking this out at the library or borrowing it from someone. Skip buying it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-09-14 10:40:46 EST)
07-30-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Worst book I've ever read.!!!!!!!!!!!
Reviewer Permalink
This book was aweful. She acts as though it was so terrible there. But she liked the money, people and attention. But she wants you to believe she NEVER did anything bad. She was a good girl. She lives in her very own world..... Don't waste your money.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-09-09 07:36:23 EST)
07-22-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Not impressed.
Reviewer Permalink
This book is actually quite boring. It's mean spirited and BORING. It has a few details that are interesting to know, but she talks WAY too much about herself as a child.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-07-30 07:50:08 EST)
07-06-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  dont waste ur money
Reviewer Permalink
this book is plain stupid! the girl sounds incredibly unintelligent and desperate. if u want to read it, read it online, for free and be sourly disappointed! ENJOYYYYYYY
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-07-24 07:57:19 EST)
07-05-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Couldn't put it down...
Reviewer Permalink
I read this book in 2 days... I really couldn't put it down! I don't want to give away too much, but I can't believe the rules the "girlfriends" had to live by. I think the "Girls Next Door" have it much better than the former gf's since they are making their own money now with the TV show. Oh and the thought of ALL that babyoil and Hef... yuck! LOL
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-07-24 07:57:19 EST)
06-17-08 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  sour grapes make bitter wine
Reviewer Permalink
This book reads exactly like what it is-- a gossipy tell-all written by a woman scorned. Although I was surprised by all of the the contradictions, typos, and grammatical errors--either the publisher was too eager to get this book on the store shelves to bother with an editor, or this girl really needs some lessons in English! The book really delivers the dirt on the sex practices of the world's oldest hedonist, and the playmate girlfriend hierarchy....and that is what we are really after anyhow! It makes a fun beach read for the summer, but that's about it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-07-06 07:43:49 EST)
05-31-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Horrible
Reviewer Permalink
This book was an atrocious attempt at trying to remain relevant after Hef booted St. James out of the house. Her publisher really did her a disservice in pushing this book onto the public. From attacking the other girls to attempting to paint herself in a different light, failing miserably, I would recommend this book only for a good laugh due to the inconsistencies. Holly, Bridget, and Kendra are desperate fame seeking whores while she truly loves Hef in one breath, the next she's talking about the fit she pitched when he cut their allowance for parties from 2k to about 500 because the girls were pocketing the cash in addition to their "allowance" for living there. Calling the other girls conniving cheats while admitting a chapter or two away the frequency with which she cheated on Hef. Overall, the book was boring minutia from someone who really could have just stayed quiet or auditioned to be part of the THS on Hef and come out looking better.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-06-17 06:45:04 EST)
05-05-08 4 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Bunny Tales Book
Reviewer Permalink
Interesting if you have ever been to one of the Mansions Parties or if you ever watch "The girls next door" you gotta read this. Lets say "there is always two sides to a story"
Nice book
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-06-02 06:49:01 EST)
04-22-08 4 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Some interesting insights, but not worth the cover price overall
Reviewer Permalink
I got this from a friend, and because it was free I didn't feel like I had to get my money's worth out of it. I enjoyed it a lot and found it a trashy, shocking at times, strange, and engaging book that blows apart the image Hef tries to create for himself.

The grammatical errors were all over the place and that drove me nuts, but the actual content was fun. Yes, she divulges bedroom gossip - but it was about the least interesting part of the book. I enjoyed the parts about the dynamic between the gals and Hef much more.

By the end I was pretty sick of all the drama and silliness. In many ways, Izabella is right that Hef wasn't very generous or understanding at times, but I think she misses the point that they had a business arrangement, not a relationship. She admits herself that she never had any alone time with Hef to really bond with him, so why is she surprised that when she has to leave, for whatever personal reason, she doesn't get an allowance? Her naiveté is surprising.

Overall this is a fun book to read if you are curious about that lifestyle, but the writing and story aren't quite compelling enough to make it worth the cover price. I'd borrow it from the library.

If you want to read a book about the sexy life, try Callgirl by Jeannette Angell. Written with much more style and savvy, Callgirl has a lot more in the way of juicy details about what that life is really like.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-05-21 06:58:33 EST)
04-04-08 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Don't waste your money
Reviewer Permalink
This woman tries to make herself sound good. She trashes all the other 'girlfriends' in the house while making herself sound educated, entitled and completely validated. She's not. She bashes Hugh Hefner and tries to make the pampered life of a 'girlfriend' sound tedious. She flaunts her law school education and tries to make light of the fact that she never passed her boards. She also tries to make it seem she wasn't basically a prostitute as a paid employee of Hef. I was bored and I ended up not liking her at all.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-14 03:49:45 EST)
02-22-08 1 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Waste
Reviewer Permalink
If you are looking for a book to divulge secrets about the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner, this is not the book. It pretty much sums up exactly what you already know about the mansion. It jumps from topic to topic with no real outline. At one point she says she hates her life at the Mansion and the next minute she loves it. She makes it out like she is so much better than everyone else, yet she stays for the "free" ride. Also, there are numerous spelling and grammatical errors in the book. Very poorly edited. Total waste of money and time!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-11 10:00:23 EST)
02-03-08 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  bounced all around
Reviewer Permalink
It was okay, but not written very well. The author's mind seemed all over the place. I kept wondering if anyone had actually read the book before publishing it. It just seemed like I was reading the first draft of someone's book.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-23 22:38:17 EST)
02-01-08 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Very sad person she is
Reviewer Permalink
In th 1st part of the book, she talks about a "movie star" that told her not to write this book. She should hav listend to this person. She is a gold digger. She states it herself many times.
I find it odd 1,000 a week and you get mad b/c Hef cuts off your x-mas money for you to buy for friends. WTF is that? Who gives someone mony to uy for someone esle, other thn your parents when you were under the age of 9. 1k a wek is more thn most working people make.
Then her comment about Nicolas Cage. My god lady.
I find that the 3 girls Hef has now are good for him. She says so herslef, and then wonders why she isnt thre anymore. She is a gold digger and shouldnt have been there the 2 years she was.
True coloe comes out, and her sure are bright. Guess Justin also saw that.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-15 10:51:17 EST)
12-11-07 1 3\4
(Hide Review...)  * hypocritical nonsense penned by a goldigger
Reviewer Permalink
I got this book as a present and being a fan of the accomplishments of Hugh Hefner, I was really looking foward to hear about life at the mansion especially through the eyes of an ex-gf.

Unfortunately, the beginning chapters are a biography painting the author as a perfect little angel who rebels and enters the mansion after being choosen by Hef personally [she also adds that the other girls were hounding him and she didnt put in any effort]

She goes on to describe how Hef is terrible in bed, taken advantage of by the girls and how she felt trapped. She continues to tell stories of how she flirted and pulled scams on him while still attempting to portray herself as a victim.

She states in this book how she stayed with him for the money until she got back on her feet and in the same breath she says she is no where near a gold digger.

This book is contradictory and you'd be better of without it. Especially if you're fond of Hugh Hefner and the other girls [she reallyyy lays into Bridget]

hope this helps you! if you'd like to read it, buy it second hand and dont give money to this bitter woman!!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-15 10:51:17 EST)
11-13-07 1 0\1
(Hide Review...)  don't waste your time
Reviewer Permalink
While it is always interesting to see behind the scenes and peer into the lives of others, especially celebrities, this book feel nothing more like a bitter woman trying to justify her actions. It seemd to me she was constantly pleading her case as an intellect. There was constant reference to how smart she was, how brilliant her mind was, yet it was porrly written and edited. SO many grammatical errors and punctuation kistakes that weren't picked up by the editor. Pretty shabby really...especially for someone so "intelligent".
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-12-13 17:10:51 EST)
10-30-07 4 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Bunny makes Money
Reviewer Permalink
Quick read... very interesting to know what really goes on there. Some things I guess should have been left to the imagination.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-11-22 14:55:29 EST)
09-21-07 4 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Slow starter however it tells all you wanted to know
Reviewer Permalink
The first part of the book was a slow start. All I was interested in was the details about the girlfriends and the day to day life in the mansion. It does get to that part later and was enough to satisfy my curiosity. It also answered many questions I had about the 3 current girlfriends in the house. If you like the show and you want to know, just read the book. I thought Izabella did a nice job telling the details in a nice way. How else can you explain the details of that type of living situation without smearing anyone? It is just how I thought it would be at the mansion. Izabella is absolutely gorgeous and has self respect which is more than I can say for the current girlfriends of which I am not a fan of. I do like the show but they should call it "gold diggers"!!!!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-11-22 14:55:29 EST)
09-18-07 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Bunny Tales
Reviewer Permalink
This was a great book if you want a little more insight into the playboy mansion. I watch the Girls Next Door on E! and since I have started watching I have wanted to know some more secrets of Hugh Hefner, his girlfriends, and Playboy. I have heard and read a lot of things before reading this book, but things are clarified. I think if you want to know more about Playboy and what life is really like, this book will provide that.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-22 01:18:53 EST)
08-29-07 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Wonderful Book
Reviewer Permalink
I don't feel sorry for Hefner, he's got plenty of dough and wants to do the right thing with it before he dies. Spend it all on that wonderful entity called ......"himself". I got to say I never felt like he was someone to laugh at but this book does it. An 80 year old "swinger" purchasing 20 year old girlfriends and thinking he's still looking "cool". What a clown. All that money and he wastes it on hookers that mock him behind his back.

Thanks Hef, you taught me something, hedonism isn't all it's cracked up to be and you must be one first class jerk to draw in flies like this author.





(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-09-18 22:38:34 EST)
08-24-07 3 1\1
(Hide Review...)  The only shocking thing is this girl's disdain
Reviewer Permalink
I think that there have been a lot of in-depth reviews of this book, both on this site and others, so I will just get to the point in this review:
1)For someone who continually touts her education, she obviously must not have paid much attention in grammar. Were they in such a hurry to get the book out that they skipped an editor altogether? There are so many errors that it takes reading some paragraphs twice to get what she was trying to say!
2)I found it absolutely amazing that she would talk herself up as being so loyal to Hef in one sentence, then say how she laughed at him behind his back the next. It is hard to explain without using specific instances that would spoil it, but that was a consistant theme throughout the book. She would praise him and then trash him for the exact same things! She not only sounds like an ungrateful brat now, but her memoirs show that she was an ungrateful brat all the time.
3)Gee, bitter? She tries to make herself out as some kind of victim with the other girls, but she very clearly has just as bad of attitude as the girls whom she is trashing, if not worse. She at least should have reviewed what she was slamming the other girls for before she went and wrote about her doing the exact same thing.
4)Nothing here is shocking. It's not like we are reading about a politician with a squeaky clean record here-We are reading about Hugh Hefner. Although some of the descriptions are disgusting, she did all of that for two years. She acts like she was so shocked and appalled in the bedroom, but she admits that she participated (of course with a it wasn't her fault attitude) in it all.

I would say that it would have been a light, easy read had she been a better writer and not have been so obviously self-centered. The basic information is interesting and gives a lot more insight into the Mansion, but do not expect it to read like someone with as much of an education as she claims to have.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-29 03:42:31 EST)
08-20-07 4 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Interesting read
Reviewer Permalink
This was a good book to give a little insight into the life at the Playboy mansion. There are some dirty details I learned that are fun to share with friends while watching "The Girls Next Door" on tv. The author is obviously biased, and made some "insights" that are awfully amusing! $1,000 a week allowance is simply not enough? Wow. If you have an English degree, you may be slightly distracted by the number of typos and language use of the author. I almost feel compelled to write to the editor.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-24 09:48:06 EST)
08-20-07 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Really nothing new
Reviewer Permalink
I didn't think there was anything really all that earth shattering in this book. I think we all figured this is what went on. I think she is jealous of the girls that are still his girlfriends. That is she isn't on the show. I also think more women as girlfriends would lead to more problems that just having a couple of them. I think that Hef is a very generous person. It is shame that people use him as they do. I wouldn't waste my time reading this book.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-24 09:48:06 EST)
08-15-07 1 1\2
(Hide Review...)  There should be a zero rating for trash this bad
Reviewer Permalink
Holy cow, how many ways can you say....bitter, jealous witch?????? This book, as told by the author paints herself as a sweet, demure martyr and everyone else as bloodsucking, angry, money hungry girls. It's amazing that all the other girls that she portrays as jealous, money leeching bimbos didn't write a book like this, only this author. How crude!!! She talks about all the wonderful things she was able to do because of living at the mansion yet, in the same sentence will say....but we couldn't enjoy anything because we had to make curfew blah blah blah. Hef's so wonderful and girls walk all over him except for me me me. The author is a lunatic and really should take a long, hard look at herself in the mirror.....then learn how to spell and formulate complete thoughts!!!! Awful, horrible book, that makes you dislike the author the MOST!!!!!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-20 21:34:04 EST)
08-09-07 1 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Poor Little Playboy Bunny....I feel SO sorry for you!!!
Reviewer Permalink
When I purchased this book I didn't know how much complaining the author would manage. The entire book she complains about how Hugh Hefner (also called Hef)would not boost her "allowance", how disgustingly dirty the mansion is, the bad parties, how Hef has a curfew for the girlfriends, and how jealous Hef's main girlfriend Holly is. Any true Playboy fan who watches The Girls Next Door can see how Hef continues to uphold his suave image and is a true gentleman. This book is a WASTE OF MONEY!!!! It seems like Ms. James is trying to seek retribution and vengeance on Mr. Hefner and everyone he associates with. After reading this book in less than an hour, the only use I have found for it is a nice burst of color to my black marble coffee table.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-16 04:18:01 EST)
08-03-07 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  It's ok if you're more interested in some of the dirt...
Reviewer Permalink
She must have slept her way through all her university professors - the writing was horrible, tons of spelling and grammatical mistakes, and not a lot of organization. I was sick of her tone halfway through and had to force myself to finish - she was basically a prostitute, and refuses to believe that she was bought for sex and image. This book is good only if you want the dirt on the behind the scenes stuff at the Playboy Mansion. I'm a fan of the Girls Next Door - even more so after reading this book. She tries to paint Holly and Bridget in a negative light, but to me she just makes Holly and Bridget seem like they are the only ones who knew what they were getting into and maybe actually appreciate what Hef and Playboy does for them.

If you're willing to read through spoiled brat tone to get to the dirt, then go for it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-10 14:30:16 EST)
08-01-07 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Both good and bad
Reviewer Permalink
The book was good and bad.

Good because it made me understand the author more, she really took the time to explain her life and what circumstances lead to her be a girlfriend to Hugh Hefner. On the good notes: it was a good read, fast (finished in a day), and interesting to someone who is either a Playboy fan or Girls Next Door Fan (myself!).

The book was bad because I expected huge secrets to be exposed, but if you just read the message boards on E! about the girls next door, you already know about the sex things (in fact a little more in detail), about the money payments, about the strict rules, etc. I don't know how the people on the message boards knew all these things, but reading the book I didn't learn any new gossip.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-03 23:27:08 EST)
07-26-07 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Meh.
Reviewer Permalink
Izabella St. James obviously has a chip on her shoulder. It was pretty clear to me that she is bitter towards Hef and his current girlfriends, and thought that writing a book was the best way to let the world know it. She spends a large portion of the book complaining about how little money Hef gave her ($1,000 a week MINIMUM) and crying about how he wouldn't buy her an Escalade and had to settle for a Chevy Tahoe. While the book gives some insight into the world of the Playboy Mansion, I couldn't decide what to believe because of Ms. St. James's very obvious dislike for the Mansion's current residents. I would recommend this book to people who don't think much Hugh Hefner or the Girls Next Door. But if you are a fan, prepare for a lot of bias comments and be a little pissed off for spending the money on it.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-08-02 19:45:31 EST)
07-10-07 5 0\1
(Hide Review...)  Interesting read
Reviewer Permalink
I am not sure why she wrote the book, but I found it very interesting to read, and I am really not that interested in Hef or his girlfriends. If you are curious about the man, his life, then read it... but I can see why his is totally pissed.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-26 11:53:20 EST)
07-09-07 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  If you want to know the truth, this book is worth the dough....
Reviewer Permalink
There is a lot of negative feedback out there about this book. Don't believe the hype. This book is great! It is easy to read, interesting, and gives the details everyone wants to know. The author goes into explicit detail about group sex, so this book might not be for the squeamish. If you love The Girls Next Door, you will love this book.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-26 11:53:20 EST)
06-25-07 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  If you're looking to read a bitchfest, this is your book...
Reviewer Permalink
How ungrateful and bitchy can she be? One minute she's telling us how great the lifestyle is and how wonderful the pay is, the next she's complaining and bashing Hef. Sure the lifestyle is strange, different, exotic, and crazy, but that's what you signed up for! The book is poorly written and really distastefully done, she brags about being the "lawyer bunny" but doesn't portray her smarts in the book. It doesn't go into details of the sex or the "inside scoop" it just complains about how she was somehow short-changed in her experience... I'm glad I didn't pay for the book, it would have been a waste of money!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-08 23:55:17 EST)
05-29-07 4 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Quite interesting
Reviewer Permalink
Although the author is quite full of herself and admittedly reveals entirely way more of her relations than any of us would prefer our exes to, this book provides eye-opening insight into the Playboy enterprise and to Hef and the Girls Next Door.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-05 21:29:30 EST)
05-13-07 1 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Bunny Tales
Reviewer Permalink
I was very interested in the material so I ordered the book. It was interesting to say the least. Her thoughts on Hugh Hefner were very confusing to me. In one chapter she would make him out to be a savior and God. In the next she made him out to be a male chauvenistic pig and a control freak. Although most of her material was believable, some things in the book I highly doubt ever happened.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-05 21:29:30 EST)
05-12-07 4 1\3
(Hide Review...)  poor hef
Reviewer Permalink
Yeah, right
Do you think he would have 6 young girlfriends if he didn't buy them "stuff"
Come on he is 80 years old, he is getting alot of sex for very little money.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-05 21:29:30 EST)
05-03-07 2 5\6
(Hide Review...)  Don't waste your time
Reviewer Permalink
The author contradicts herself throughout the entire book. ex. Hef was a mean man...Hef was wonderful to me! This becomes incredibly annoying as she does this throughout. She is also thinks a little too highly of herself as she praises her beauty and law degree as well as her integrity. Get over yourself. She also admits to using Hef...how sweet.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-05 21:29:30 EST)
04-18-07 2 5\6
(Hide Review...)  Who is your editor??
Reviewer Permalink
Good lord...just trying to get through the book without playing Mad Libs was a task in and of itself. For someone who attended law school, the author should have known better than to allow this book to be published in this condition. I dog eared a few pages to provide examples in this review, but there were so many that I just gave up. The author seems to keep wanting to prove that she's not an airhead by providing too many history lessons of Poland and highlighting that she was always referred to as an attorney. Last I checked, you're only legitimately an attorney if you're employed by a law firm or are practicing.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-07-05 21:29:30 EST)
03-31-07 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  If You Like Girls Next Door, You'll Love This Book
Reviewer Permalink
Okay, so the writing is really pitiful. Was there an editor? Wow. I've honestly never read such poor writing in a published piece of work. It's like sixth-grade quality. That being said...this is some juicy stuff! I'd skip the first two chapters because they are BORING! She just talks about her life growing up in Canada. Do we really care? I didn't, and I don't think you will, either, so skip it. The really good stuff comes later in the book - I believe it's Chapter 12, "How to Make Love Like a Bunny." You KNOW that's the stuff we all want to read, right? Oh it's eye-opening, alright. More than you ever wanted to know about old Hef. Goooood stuff.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2007-04-18 16:24:42 EST)
10-09-06 3 2\2
(Hide Review...)  Interesting Read
Reviewer Permalink
Although I agree that this book was filled with too many contradictory statements and spelling/gramatical errors to count, it was nonetheless a very interesting read. I was intrigued to find out what actually happens behind the closed doors of the Playboy mansion, and I'm left wondering if what is shown on "The Girls Next Door" isn't all for show? I'm guessing it is, however what reality TV show isn't?

Saying that, it was almost revolting how many times Izabella felt the need to remind the readers of her intelligence and education. Yeah yeah yeah, I'm sure every Playmate/Girlfriend of Hef has tried to convince themselves of that before...that they are "too good" to have been at the mansion. Or at least that's what they think once they've been kicked out. Although I'm not doubting her intelligence, I just felt it was a bit tacky to bring it up several times in every single chapter. If she's so smart...why doesn't she make her money as a lawyer (what her education was in), and not "cheaply" by writing a tell-all book about an ex-boyfriend?

I also found the contradictory statements she made about Hef to be little much. In one paragraph she would be ripping him to shreds, actually stating she hated him on several occasions. Then below on the same page she would be praising him for being so generous, etc. Give me a break! Which one is it?

Overall I would recommend this book, but I remind you to take everything with a grain of salt.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-10-14 00:21:40 EST)
10-09-06 2 3\3
(Hide Review...)  Amusing, if you can borrow it, but save your money
Reviewer Permalink
I love to read autobiographies and the like, and Bunny Tales was my most recent read. The grammatical errors were numerous, but I was able to work past them and focus on content. The stories of the parties and sexual escapades I have read before - no surprise there. As for Hefner, he can live anyway he chooses; don't knock it if you are going to live it. He doesn't owe these girls anything, yet St. James comes across as selfish and superficial and most of all, ungrateful.

Bless her heart; St. James is conflicted and insecure, about herself and her choices. To me, this book is a chance for her to justify her actions and validate her existence. I found her opinions petty and sad...and I think she caught herself while writing and, to preserve her facade, would try to redeem previous statements with the positive. As the adage goes - that which you find disturbing in another's (perceived) character defects has nothing to do with them, but is a mirror to identify your own.

I can only wish her luck and hope that this book brings some closure for her so she can move on.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-10-14 00:21:40 EST)
09-28-06 3 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Funny!!!
Reviewer Permalink
I thought the book was hilariously funny! It's interesting how a person can rationalize their choices and some how it makes them think they are different from other people who make the same choices. Thanks for a great laugh Izabella!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-10-11 00:20:05 EST)
09-21-06 3 2\2
(Hide Review...)  An Ex- Playboy Bunny Trying to Make a Buck
Reviewer Permalink
I can't say it's the best book I've ever read, but I can say there were some eye-opening comments made about the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner. Izabella is not a dumb woman - she knew what she was doing when she moved into the Playboy Mansion to be one of Hugh's girlfriends. After 2 years she got bored with it and moved on to write a book and live with her boyfriend. So there should be no whining or complaining about her 2 years in the mansion because no one held her there in whips and chains. She got enough material to write her book and capitalize on her experiences there. And why she did not finish her bar exams is beyond me. If you like a fairly interesting quick read - this is the book!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-09-28 00:36:01 EST)
09-21-06 3 2\2
(Hide Review...)  An Ex- Playboy Bunny Trying to Make a Buck
Reviewer Permalink
I can't say it's the best book I've ever read, but I can say there were some eye-opening comments made about the Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner. Izabella is not a dumb woman - she knew what she was doing when she moved into the Playboy Mansion to be one of Hugh's girlfriends. After 2 years she got bored with it and moved on to write a book and live with her boyfriend. So there should be no whining or complaining about her 2 years in the mansion because no one held her there in whips and chains. She got enough material to write her book and capitalize on her experiences there. And why she did not finish her bar exams is beyond me. If you like a fairly interesting quick read - this is the book!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-09-29 00:20:54 EST)
09-19-06 5 0\1
(Hide Review...)  Hmm Not Bad,should have been out sooner
Reviewer Permalink
This is interesting find, i read a copy of this my associate had,working with (let's say) certain law enforcement folks,i enjoyed the book though a lot was hyped up..i really liked the book Playground ;by Jennifer Saginor a lot better and felt it was more honest..the funny thing that strikes me though is all the naive people in the world especially here in the U.S. who feel this man can do no wrong, i had been getting ( subscribing ) to Playboy For over 25 years till i did my own research about my boy hugh and "the girls next door" is a lie and joke of a show another reallity show Full of [..]Later :-)
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-09-22 00:12:22 EST)
09-14-06 5 3\4
(Hide Review...)  Bravo Izabella- An Honest Person In A World Of Lies and Deceit!
Reviewer Permalink
I do not know what some of the other reviewers were talking about, this was the best book I read all year. This was a great book from the 1st page to the last. I truly wish it were longer.

St. James has a gift for storytelling and detail that most memoirs lack. From the dirty carpets to the real story behind the Girls Next Door- I knew Bridget was crazy, to her families escape from the Iron Curtain and now living the American dream.

I have to commend St. James for having the courage to stand up against Playboy and its founder Hefner and tell the real truth behind the facade. In a world of lies, political correctness, and manipulation, this book was a great beacon of truth. St. James' honesty about herself, what Hefner is really like and the other girlfriends demented realities should be applauded.

Thanks for the honesty and exciting read, if more people in the world were like St. James, it would be a better place.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-09-20 00:16:57 EST)
09-13-06 2 2\4
(Hide Review...)  Could she whine any more??
Reviewer Permalink
I have to admit it was very interesting to learn some of the "backstage" operations of the Mansion, Hef and the Girlfriends. BUT I would rather hear it from someone else. All she talks about is how educated she is and how she doesnt fit into the "blond bunny mold", but she was there for over 2 years. She is no better than any of the Girlfriends she was trashing and she was certainly jealous of Holly, no matter how much she denies that.

TYPOS!! WOAH! Did she fall asleep on the keyboard and NOONE read it? I think they were as bored with reading it as I was. But common guys, you could have proof read better than that!!! Are you kidding me...every other page! Even things like "the;n"... how distrating is that.

Anyway...if you want a few good pages of gossip or behind the scenes info, purchase a used copy or borrow a friends. This is NOT one you want to read 2x!!

Izabella- get over it already!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2006-09-20 00:16:57 EST)
  
                  Reader Reviews 1 - 50 of 55            Next
  
  
  
  
  
  

Because the data used to generate this site come from outside sources, VeryWellSaid.com cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the data.
Search VeryWellSaid™
Google
Web VeryWellSaid™
New subjects are added every week.
View Subjects Below by:
* Top Selling
 (click category name, left)
* Top-Rated Top Sellers
 (click 'Top Rated', right)
In the news...  
Dubai\UAE Top Rated
Influenza\Bird Flu Top Rated
Iraq Top Rated
Supreme Court Top Rated
All Books Top Rated
Arts Top Rated
Photography Top Rated
Digital Photography Top Rated
Digital Cameras Top Rated
Biography Top Rated
Business Top Rated
Management Top Rated
Marketing Top Rated
Sales Top Rated
Stocks Top Rated
Bonds Top Rated
Real Estate Top Rated
Trading Top Rated
Commodities Trading Top Rated
Time Management Top Rated
Starting A Business Top Rated
Children's Top Rated
Comics Top Rated
Computers Top Rated
PC Top Rated
Mac Top Rated
Programming Top Rated
Design Patterns Top Rated
.Net Top Rated
C# Top Rated
Vb.Net Top Rated
Asp.Net Top Rated
Java Top Rated
Python Top Rated
PHP Top Rated
Perl Top Rated
Javascript Top Rated
Ajax Top Rated
CSS Top Rated
Open Source Top Rated
SQL Top Rated
Databases Top Rated
Oracle Top Rated
MySql Top Rated
Sql Server Top Rated
IIS Top Rated
Apache Top Rated
Linux Top Rated
Windows Server Top Rated
Project Management Top Rated
HTML Top Rated
UML Top Rated
IT Certifications Top Rated
Cisco Certifications Top Rated
MCSE Top Rated
MCSD Top Rated
Cooking Top Rated
Italian Cooking Top Rated
Vegetarian Cooking Top Rated
Wine Top Rated
Engineering Top Rated
Entertainment Top Rated
Health Top Rated
Nutrition Top Rated
Dieting Top Rated
Sex Top Rated
History Top Rated
Military History Top Rated
British History Top Rated
Middle East History Top Rated
Land Battles Top Rated
Naval Warfare Top Rated
Air Warfare Top Rated
9/11 Top Rated
Terrorism Top Rated
Home Top Rated
Mortgage\Home Equity Loan Top Rated
Cars