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Only Say Good Things

Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself

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Only Say Good Things

Written by: Crystal Hefner
Narrated by: Crystal Hefner
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About this listen

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AN APPLE BOOKS STAFF PICK AND AUDIBLE EDITORS SELECTONE OF PEOPLE'S BEST CELEBRITY MEMOIRS OF 2024 NAMED A BEST BOOK TO READ THIS JANUARY BY THE GLOSS

From a former Playboy Playmate, an unflinching look at the objectification and misogyny of the Playboy mansion, a woman’s stolen young adulthood, and her journey to self-acceptance–plus a rare look inside Hugh Hefner’s final days.

Crystal Harris’ life changed forever when she was just twenty-one and attended a party at the notorious Playboy mansion. Picked out of the crowd by Hugh Hefner, Crystal Harris became one of his infamous “girlfriends,” attending glamorous Hollywood parties and traveling the world. But being Hef’s number one girlfriend came at the cost of Crystal’s identity outside her role in the Playboy universe, and she grew increasingly restless to understand who she truly was away from what she saw as Playboy’s toxic culture. Hef controlled his girlfriends with strict rules regarding everything from their hair and makeup to their curfews, forcing them to compete with one another as part of a highly hierarchal system.

Only Say Good Things provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at a powerful cultural icon and brand, and an empowering perspective on hard-won lessons about who we allow to determine our value.

©2024 Crystal Hefner (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing
Entertainment & Celebrities Women Celebrity Emotionally Gripping Feel-Good
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What the critics say

“[Crystal] didn’t hold back — even when it came to describing her first night in the mansion — complete with three other women, pornographic videos, baby oil, and no condoms in sight — and has no regrets about spilling the X-rated details.” —New York Post

"[Hefner's] frank memoir scratches some of the glitter off Playboy’s notorious legacy of sexual freedom, luxury, and excess. An illuminating tell-all."—Kirkus Reviews

"[A] juicy debut memoir. . . This tell-all is surprisingly empowering."—Publishers Weekly

What listeners say about Only Say Good Things

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  • Overall
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Honest and relevent

I wish more people would speak up about what Hugh Hefner really was. Personally, I think he was a monster. I love the brutal honesty in this book and I really got a feel of who Crystal really is. She seems really sweet down to earth, and quite frankly after everything that she’s been through I think she’s very brave….an interesting read.

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  • Overall
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Authentic and introspective

Great inside look at how vulnerable young women get caught up in the world where they sell their body and themselves … and where women are treated as cheap objects by misogynistic men. Makes one understand why they try to spin a narrative that they feel good about it. They have to.

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Honest, compelling and not pure Demonization

Hugh Hefner was 91 when he died and has been survived by a 38-year-old spouse. Believe me when I say? This writing could have been a lot worse than it was. He used women. In the end, he used a young woman to take care of his advanced age.

To the people accusing Crystal of drugging her elder spouse? Who actually cares? If she did it or didn't do it. I am going to cite this heavily in how older people suck the life out of younger people. However, that might not be the story kind Crystal tells you. This woman has been demonized and dragged through the mud. To me, she is someone who sought out a Glamorous life but in the end, learned to be independent. By the way, at 38 years old, she is still Beautiful.

This woman teaches the reader a lot about love, loss, using people, and the cost of complying to a Narcissistic Dictator. If she had walked out on Hefner in his final years? It honestly would have been justified.

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Her authenticity

Love this book! Heartbreaking, raw and honest! Love this book about her life and what really went on, as a fan of the show and documentaries, I loved hearing her side!

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Enjoyable!

This was an easy listen. I picked it on a whim and ended up really enjoying it!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Poignant Look At A Hidden World

Crystal Hefner paints a blunt, and raw picture of Hugh Hefner and life inside the Playboy Mansion. It would have been easy to go for sleazy content and perhaps would have driven sales, Crystal allows the reader to clearly understand the sexual deviant tendencies of Hugh Hefner without cheapening herself or the book by adding graphic details.
Although, I’m not sure if Crystal truly understands the meaning of being poor, or being just an ordinary person. Poor people don’t have a car in school, their Mothers don’t get nips and tucks. I don’t think Crystal is trying to be disingenuous when she makes these references. In the area of LA where Crystal lived I suppose using drug store makeup and department store clothing is living “poor”.
Crystals story is a cautionary tale of how women must have self esteem/respect if they are ever to survive a world of unrealistic beauty expectations. Even if you don’t care about Playboy, Crystals story should be shared with any woman looking towards breast enhancement surgery.

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Incredible

What a brave soul telling the true tales. I've been a long time Girls Next Door follower and it has always made me sad. Not sure I ever realized how bad. Incredible read and incredible storytelling. Thank you Crystal

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A seemingly very honest account of what happened behind closed doors.

I could be criticized for purchasing this, but I don’t think I’m alone in wanting to know exactly what life was like at the Playboy Mansion, especially in the light of everything we know now. While the Secrets of Playboy show was not mentioned in the book, we certainly got an intense look behind the curtain (albeit with lots of the bigger headlines missing), and Crystal does briefly address how Hef would have fared in recent years (ie. not well, quite rightly). I’m still not entirely clear why they married each other - she says the prenup was iron clad, and he clearly didn’t really like anyone very much - but they did, and she kept the name, and here we are. It’s pretty seedy and could probably do with trigger warnings, but I don’t think I’d have listened if the tarnish hadn’t worn off and those curtains hadn’t faded. Knowing this empire has crumbled since, is reassuring. That it didn’t do that in his lifetime and bring him down to earth with it, is more than just a shame. While wannabe Playmates have been replaced by influencers hooked on likes, this reminds us of the dangers of putting people on pedestals, and making sexual exploitation mainstream and acceptable. I’m glad she’s out, healing, and that she is using her voice.

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Crystal reading is so beautiful and captivating!

I wish I didn’t finish the book so fast, crystals voice is so soothing and beautiful to listen too, and her story was captivating, brave and full of strength and overcoming obstacles. 10/10 recommend! I couldn’t put it away once I had started.

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Wtf. Humans like him really exist ?

I think I lived under a rock or maybe I was just raised “well” because I never knew what Playboy was, and I kinda still don’t. I saw someone post on IG a clip of a podcast Crystal did and she talked about her book and I was immediately intrigued.

I listened to her book 🎧 because she narrated it herself (love it when they read their own stories).

Wtf. Humans like him really exist ? It’s disgusting. But she seams like a real genuine and amazing person and I wish her only the best.

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