Jon and Kate Gosselin’s son Collin to tell all about his family in bombshell memoir
Jon and Kate Gosselin’s son Collin to tell all about his family in bombshell memoir
Isabella Torregiani Wed, June 17, 2026 at 11:48 PM UTC
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Collin Gosselin is sharing what life was really like behind the scenes of 'Jon & Kate Plus 8.' By: Entertainment Tonight/YouTube
Collin Gosselin is sharing what life was really like behind the scenes of Jon & Kate Plus 8 in a new memoir about his upbringing.
The 22-year-old announced on Instagram that the book, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, will debut on October 13, 2026.
'So much they never saw'
Collin Gosselin said 'there was so much' fans didn't see on 'Jon & Kate Plus 8.' By: TLC/YouTube
Alongside the announcement, Collin explained why he kept silent for so long and shared what pushed him to finally go public.
"For a long time, I wasn't sure I'd ever tell this story," he captioned an image of the book cover, which features a candid photo of himself as a child, walking alongside his mother, Kate Gosselin, as she covers his mouth with her hand.
"Growing up, millions of people watched my life on television. People felt like they knew me. They knew my family. They watched me grow up. But there was so much they never saw," he revealed.
Fear and uncertainty
Collin Gosselin said it took years to work through the fear and uncertainty he previously felt. By: Entertainment Tonight/YouTube
The former reality star said it took years to work through the fear and uncertainty that kept him from telling his story sooner.
"For years, I kept those experiences to myself. Some because I was afraid. Some because I didn't think anyone would believe me. And some because I just wasn't ready," he wrote.
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The memoir covers some of his most painful memories. Collin said revisiting them helped him find a sense of closure.
"Writing this book forced me to revisit some of the hardest moments of my life, but it also gave me something I've been searching for for a long time: my voice," he said. "This isn't the story people think they know. It's the story I've lived."
Complicated upbringing
Collin Gosselin is one of the eight children Kate Gosselin and Jon Gosselin share. By: TLC/YouTube
Collin is one of the eight children Kate and Jon Gosselin share. The others are 25-year-old twins Cara and Mady, plus 22-year-old sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Leah and Joel.
Collin has spoken publicly before about his difficult relationship with Kate and growing up largely separated from his siblings. Both issues stemmed from his parents' 2009 divorce, after which Kate was granted custody of all eight children.
In 2016, Kate sent Collin to a behavioral health institution, later saying his "unpredictable and violent behavior" led to the decision.
Life after the show
Collin Gosslin said he felt 'forced apart' from his siblings. By: TLC/YouTube
Collin left the program in 2018 and moved in with Jon, who had been awarded custody of him. Five years later, he graduated high school alongside his sister Hannah.
He has also been candid about the long-term effects of growing up on television, including how it impacted his relationship with his siblings.
In a 2025 social media post, Collin shared that he felt "forced apart" from them over the years and reflected on what their lives "could've looked like" had they stayed closer.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
