The Vegas Diaries: Romance, Rolling the Dice, and the Road to Reinvention by Holly Madison
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Recent Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by NymphaeaWhen you’ve come out the other side of the bizarre, twisted world of the Playboy mansion, where do you land? If you’re Holly Madison . . . there’s no place like Las Vegas!
After making the sudden decision to reclaim her life, Holly broke free from the sheltered, deceptive confines of the mansion (which meant exiting a hit television show) and was determined to start her life over . . . from scratch. Without the security of a job or relationship, she set out to reinvent herself on no one’s terms but her own.
Deciding to roll the dice and begin again in the glamorous and dreamlike city of Las Vegas, Holly quickly realized that while she may have left her past in the rearview mirror, the labels and stereotypes that came from it weren’t so quick to leave her. With a fierce commitment to take charge of her own narrative, Holly dives headfirst into a journey of self-discovery. After a whirlwind stint on Dancing with the Stars, she snags the coveted lead role in the Strip’s hottest new burlesque spectacular and lands a reality series spotlighting her new life as a single woman.
If her own television show and dream job as a showgirl weren’t enough to keep her busy, Holly explores the decadent, exclusive inner-world of Sin City, navigating it’s social and dating scene with humor and heart. When it comes to romance, she is met with an eclectic cast of characters, from fame hounds to long distance loves to the occasional celebrity and more than one tabloid mishap. In this reflective, heartwarming memoir, Holly learns that each dating disaster holds an important, and in some cases difficult to face, lesson about herself.
The Vegas Diaries is a comedy of errors, set against the glitz and glamour of the dazzling Vegas strip. Through the wild and crazy experiences on one young woman’s quest to “have it all,” Holly faces her fears, anxieties, and insecurities to discover that her journey to self-sufficiency is also her path to healing. Letting go of trying to prove herself to others, Holly finally gains the courage to confront her past-and in the process finds the life and love she deserves.
This girl gets knocked down, but she gets up again and keeps trying. Lesson to us all.
I liked Holly Madison’s first book and when I saw this one, I had to read it, too. I’m glad I did. She’s been through a lot, and it shows in this book. I could also get a feel for her sense of isolation and need to find herself. Her life seems to be all glitter and fantasy, but this book shows it’s not that all the time. Sure, she’s in fantastic situations, but there is always a grey side to the glitter. I liked how the author shows both sides and doesn’t mince words. She can’t understand why she seems to lose at love until she learns to love herself. It’s a powerful thing.
I wish it’d been more of a diary and less of reading conversations between her and her friends, but I can’t complain. The story kept my attention and made me want to read more. I wanted to see her finally find her happy.
If you’re looking for a somewhat fluffy Hollywood read, then this might be the one for you. It’s good for an afternoon read and will make you root for her all the more. Give it a try.
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