Trigger Warning: This story contains mentions of child abuse.
More than eight months after Collin Gosselin revealed that he was in the process of writing a tell-all book that would detail the alleged abuse he suffered at his mom Kate’s hand as a child, Collin has announced the upcoming release of his memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood.
“For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell this story,” the 21-year-old posted Wednesday to Instagram, along with a cover of his book, which is set to be released in October. “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. 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.
“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 a long time: my voice,” the former ‘Jon & Kate + 8’ star continued. “This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived.”
While discussing his upcoming book, Collin told Us Weekly that, despite his life being “broadcast to millions,” the real story was never shown.
“ … in fact, much of it was deliberately kept hidden,” he claimed. “For years, other people told my story through headlines, television episodes and public speculation. Now, finally, I’m sharing what was really happening behind the scenes.
As you may know, Collin– who is one of Kate and ex-husband Jon Gossselin’s sextuplets– appeared on TLC’s ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8′ for years and later appeared on ‘Kate Plus 8′ following Jon and Kate’s divorce in 2009.
In 2024, Collin spoke out about the emotional and physical abuse he allegedly suffered at Kate’s hand as a child, as well as his belief that Kate sent him to an institution when he was 12 years old because people started noticing the alleged abuse that was happening. Collin claimed that this abuse included Kate zip-tying his hands and feet together and locking him in a basement. (Kate, through her attorney, refused to comment on the allegations at the time.)
Collin has been estranged from his mom– as well as the majority of his siblings– for years. In 2018, Jon was awarded custody of Collin and daughter Hannah, while the other six Gosselin children remained in Kate’s care until the age of 18. Two years before Jon was granted custody of Collin (and Hannah), Kate placed Collin in a mental health institution for what she claimed were behavioral issues and the fact that Collin has “special needs”; however, Collin and Jon have denied for years that Collin has “special needs.”
During his interview with Us Weekly on Wednesday, Collin stated that he hopes his book will help others find their voice.
“This book is about truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced,” he said. “If my story helps even one person feel less alone or gives them courage to tell their own, then every difficult page was worth writing.”
Back in October, Collin told fans that, in addition to sharing “life experiences in general,” his book would include “proof” to backup claims he’s made about his mom’s handling of the Gosselin children’s finances. (As you may remember, Collin claimed on TikTok Live in August that he was in possession of court transcripts that show Kate confessing to taking some of the money Collin earned from appearing on the family’s TLC shows.)
According to the publisher of Collin’s book, In the Shadow of Eight will also provide readers with more details about the alleged abuse Collin suffered as a young child.
“Collin is finally sharing the truth about being held down, the basement cell where he was hidden for many years and the cocktail of powerful antipsychotics forced on an 11-year-old boy,” the book’s description reads. “This is a reckoning with the dark side of fame: the systems, the entourage, and the institutions that allowed one boy to be erased.”
While Kate has yet to comment on her estranged son’s upcoming book, Jon took to social media on Wednesday to share the cover of Collin’s book, as well as a link where fans can preorder a copy.
In a separate Instagram post on Wednesday, Collin recognized Colleen Conrad— his dad’s ex-girlfriend— for fulfilling the mother role in his life when his biological mom, Kate, would not. (Colleen and Collin have remained close, even after Colleen and Jon’s breakup.)
“I didn’t plan this at all, but coincidentally on the day of the official announcement of my book, it is Colleen’s birthday,” Collin wrote. “She is the strongest woman I know, who stepped in at the toughest part of my life and CHOSE to be a mother to me. Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on…to my real mom. I love you so much…”
Colleen responded in the comment section that she will “always be here for you and you are my son. I love you!”
Colleen also posted about Collin’s book on Instagram.
“Collin’s book finally came out. His story is finally becoming a reality and I am so incredibly proud of him for all the hard work that he put into this and having the courage to write it,” she wrote.
In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood hits shelves October 13 and is currently available for preorder.
Click here to preorder Collin’s book using The Ashley’s Amazon Associates link!
RELATED STORY: Collin Gosselin Recalls New Instances of Alleged Abuse by Mom Kate; Vows to Become Advocate for Abused Children
(Photos: Instagram; Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group; TLC)
22 Responses
Anyone want to guess how long before Kate files a defamation suit against him? I hope he makes double digit millions!!
Hopefully Jace is watching and taking notes.
Oh Good One!!!
Back in the early days of the show I used to tell my husband that one or more of their children would someday write a mommy dearest type book and expose the heck out of Kate Gosselin! Collin is the first, I wonder who will be next?
I remember reading some interview Kate did for some magazine when the 6 kids were turning 3, and she was going on and on about the “nightmare” of potty training them, and she flat out said that she pretty much had to spank them several times a day to make them “comply” And then she laughed! and said that the child she spanked the most during training was Collin! The interviewer asked her if she honestly felt that spanking was the proper way to potty train, and Kates answer was ” I have always been of the opinion that if a child defies you and doesn’t comply on the first command, then spanking shows who’s boss.”
Jesus! This woman obviously got so much worse as time went on!
I sincerely hope he’s well enough to cope with what’s sure to be hellacious backlash from not only Kate, but from the 8 siblings who are still so deeply trauma bonded to her.
I watched the whole show way back when. I always thought she was super mean to the kids. Bish should go to jail
I’m guessing the “special needs” Collin required was a compassionate and loving mother and she couldn’t be that person for anyone. He was probably reacting to her abuse and she didn’t like it. If the other kids hadn’t “fallen in line”, she would’ve done the same to them, but since they obeyed her, they didn’t see what Collin experienced.
It sounds like Kate is the one who needs powerful antipsychotics.
What’s done in dark will come to light.
Audible gasp at the cover..
No way that witch could spin that.
I feel like you could spin the picture a lot of ways. Maybe he was screaming at his brother, or saying mean things to his sister. He could just be talking over the top of other people and refusing to stop.
I don’t like Kate, not at all. But I don’t think this picture is necessarily a picture of mistreatment.
You’re being pedantic and missing the point entirely. The whole country watched her abuse and then do everyone in her power to silence him. Putting her hand over his mouth is a publicly humiliating and degrading experience for a child we know was being traumatized.
If you knew, as the world did, that this picture was take long after she was already abusive towards him,you wouldn’t be this openly and willingly ignorant.
She is 100% being abusive and mean to him there. She always covered his mouth,or made certain he “wasn’t available” any time he got an opportunity to talk to other people. She still, as an adult, tries to shut him up. What really makes you think she hasn’t done this his entire life? Are you just this disconnected with reality? Or is there something in your own life people should be concerned about?
Good for him. He deserves to tell his story.
Sorry! I meant to 👍
I always felt bad for the kids. Kate’s own brother and sister in law refused to film after season one and took it a step further and spoke publicly about Kate’s abuse of the kids & their fears surrounding their safety. Collin got the brunt of it. She singled him out on the show a lot. She would lose her mind over the dumbest things and start screaming like a psycho. I remember once the kids had went and spent the night with Kate’s brother. When they got back Joel had his hand over his sock. She asked him what he was hiding and started screaming “NO WAY!” because there was gum on his sock. She started losing it. Over gum. And a sock. Come on. Really? Then she noticed Joel got gum on Collin’s teddy bear and she starts threatening Collin telling him she is going to throw his teddy bear away. They were 3.
The thing about her brother and SIL isn’t exactly accurate. Reportedly, production talked to them about being paid to appear in the show. When Kate found out she flipped out. Said no one but Kate, Jon, and the kids should be paid for the show because it was taking money away from her family.
That’s why the brother and SIL didn’t appear on any other season of the show. Also, Kate’s a monster.