Jill Duggar Will Detail "Secrets, Manipulation" Behind Family's Reality Show In New Memoir

In their upcoming memoir Counting the Cost, Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard will explore her family's "red flags" which "became too obvious to ignore," according to the book's description.

By Jamie Blynn Jun 10, 2023 10:01 PMTags
Watch: Jill Duggar Dillard to Release Memoir Detailing "Painful" Reality TV Journey

Jill Duggar Dillard is an open book. You can count on it.

Especially when it comes to her and husband Derick Dillard's upcoming memoir, Counting the Cost, in which they plan to shed light on her controversial family and discuss the reality TV stars' strict following of the Institute in Basic Life Principles.

"For the first time, discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting," a description on publisher Simon & Schuster's website read, noting the book will release earlier than expected on Sept. 12. "Jill Duggar and her husband Derick are finally ready to share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans."

As the fourth of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar's 19 kids, Jill was "always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines," the tease continued. "She didn't protest the strict model of patriarchy that her family followed, which declares that men are superior, that women are expected to be wives and mothers and are discouraged from attaining a higher education, and that parental authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married."

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Every Bombshell From Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets

But after her 2014 wedding to Derick, her eyes began to open. And as the description noted, "the red flags became too obvious to ignore." Still, they tried to be, as the summary put it, "obedient" members of the family: "They weren't willing to rock the boat."

Simon & Schuster

Ultimately, parenthood—they have three young sons—changed their mindset. Now, "they're done with the secrets," the description read. "Thanks to time, tears, therapy, and blessings from God, they have the strength to share their journey. Theirs is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and is a moving example of how to find healing through honesty."

News of their memoir comes amid Amazon Prime Video's docu-series, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which delved into Josh Duggar's numerous  scandals, Jill's estrangement from her family and more. (Read all the bombshells here.) 

Ahead of its release June 2, Jim Bob and Michelle fiercely defended their beliefs.

Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire

"The recent 'documentary' that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love," they wrote on their website. "Like other families, ours too has experienced the joys and heartbreaks of life, just in a very public format. This 'documentary' paints so much and so many in a derogatory and sensationalized way because sadly that's the direction of entertainment these days."

"We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting," they continued. "We love every member of our family and will continue to do all we can to have a good relationship with each one."

E! News has reached out to TLC as well as Jim Bob and Michelle for comment on the memoir but has not heard back.

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