Counting the Cost

In their book "Unedited: The True Story of the Duggar Family," Jill Duggar and her husband Derick share the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the hit show "19 Kids and Counting." They reveal the strict patriarchal model that their family followed and how they tried to be obedient family members, but eventually found the strength to share their journey and find healing through honesty.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Discover the untold truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting. 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.

Jill and Derick knew a normal life wasn't possible for them. As a star on the popular TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, Jill grew up in front of viewers who were fascinated by her family's way of life. She was the responsible, second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle's nineteen kids; always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. 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 that parental authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married.

But as Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore. For as long as they could, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members—they weren't willing to rock the boat. But now they're raising a family of their own, and they're done with the secrets. 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.

Jill and Derick's journey began when they met at a Christian summer camp in their teenage years. They were both raised in conservative Christian families and shared a love for God and family. Despite their differences in personality and background, they quickly fell in love and were married in 2004.

At first, their life seemed perfect. Jill was a stay-at-home mom, and Derick worked as a pastor. They had two children, Josie and Jinger, and were happy to be living a life of service to their church and community. But as their family grew, so did the pressures and expectations placed on them.

Jim Bob and Michelle, Jill and Derick's parents, were strict and controlling. They expected their children to follow a strict set of rules and guidelines, including a dress code that required women to wear modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. They also discouraged their children from pursuing higher education, believing that women's primary role was to be wives and mothers.

Despite these pressures, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members. They attended church regularly, participated in community activities, and raised their children with a strong sense of values and morals. But as their children grew older, they began to question the strict rules and expectations of their family.

Jill, in particular, felt trapped and suffocated by the patriarchal system that her family followed. She longed for more freedom and independence, and she began to feel that her parents were holding her back from achieving her dreams.

Derick, too, felt the pressure of the family's expectations. He was a pastor, and he was expected to be a strong leader and role model for his children. But he also felt that his parents were too controlling and that they were stifling his creativity and passion.

As their children grew older, Jill and Derick began to feel that they were losing control of their own lives. They knew that they couldn't continue to live the way that their parents had expected them to, and they began to plan for a way out.

They started by attending therapy, where they were able to work through their past experiences and gain a better understanding of their family's dynamics. They also began to open up to their friends and family about their struggles, and they were surprised to find that many of them had experienced similar pressures and expectations from their own families.

Through their therapy, Jill and Derick were able to gain the strength and courage to leave their family's strict patriarchal system. They knew that it would be difficult, but they were determined to find a way to live a life that was true to themselves and their values.

They started by moving out of their parents' home and into their own apartment. They also began to pursue their own interests and passions, including Jill's love for photography and Derick's passion for music.

As they began to build their own lives, Jill and Derick faced many challenges. They were criticized by their family and friends for leaving the church and for pursuing their own interests. They also faced financial difficulties, as they were no longer receiving financial support from their parents.

But they remained determined to succeed. They worked hard to build a life that was based on their own values and beliefs, and they were grateful for the support of their friends and family.

In 2015, Jill and Derick made a decision that would change their lives forever. They decided to leave TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and start their own YouTube channel, where they could share their story and their message of hope and healing.

Their YouTube channel, Jill & Derick Dillard, quickly gained a following, and Jill and Derick became known as advocates for women's rights and gender equality. They used their platform to share their experiences and to raise awareness about the challenges that women face in conservative Christian communities.

Their story has inspired many women and men who have faced similar pressures and expectations from their own families. Jill and Derick have become symbols of hope and resilience, and they continue to work to promote positive change in their communities and beyond.

In conclusion, the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting, have finally revealed the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans. Jill and Derick's journey is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and a moving example of how to find healing through honesty.

As a star on the popular TLC reality show, Jill grew up in front of viewers who were fascinated by her family's way of life. She was the responsible, second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle's nineteen kids; always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. 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 that parental authority

authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married.

But as Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore.

For as long as they could, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members—they weren't willing to rock the boat. But now they're raising a family of their own, and they're done with the secrets.

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.

Jill and Derick's journey began when they met at a Christian summer camp in their teenage years. They were both raised in conservative Christian families and shared a love for God and family. Despite their differences in personality and background, they quickly fell in love and were married in 2004.

At first, their life seemed perfect. Jill was a stay-at-home mom, and Derick worked as a pastor. They had two children, Josie and Jinger, and were happy to be living a life of service to their church and community. But as their family grew, so did the pressures and expectations placed on them.

Jim Bob and Michelle, Jill and Derick's parents, were strict and controlling. They expected their children to follow a strict set of rules and guidelines, including a dress code that required women to wear modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. They also discouraged their children from pursuing higher education, believing that women's primary role was to be wives and mothers.

Despite these pressures, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members. They attended church regularly, participated in community activities, and raised their children with a strong sense of values and morals. But as their children grew older, they began to question the strict rules and expectations of their family.

Jill, in particular, felt trapped and suffocated by the patriarchal system that her family followed. She longed for more freedom and independence, and she began to feel that her parents were holding her back from achieving her dreams.

Derick, too, felt the pressure of the family's expectations. He was a pastor, and he was expected to be a strong leader and role model for his children. But he also felt that his parents were too controlling and that they were stifling his creativity and passion.

As their children grew older, Jill and Derick began to feel that they were losing control of their own lives. They knew that they couldn't continue to live the way that their parents had expected them to, and they began to plan for a way out.

They started by attending therapy, where they were able to work through their past experiences and gain a better understanding of their family's dynamics. They also began to open up to their friends and family about their struggles, and they were surprised to find that many of them had experienced similar pressures and expectations from their own families.

Through their therapy, Jill and Derick were able to gain the strength and courage to leave their family's strict patriarchal system. They knew that it would be difficult, but they were determined to find a way to live a life that was true to themselves and their values.

They started by moving out of their parents' home and into their own apartment. They also began to pursue their own interests and passions, including Jill's love for photography and Derick's passion for music.

As they began to build their own lives, Jill and Derick faced many challenges. They were criticized by their family and friends for leaving the church and for pursuing their own interests. They also faced financial difficulties, as they were no longer receiving financial support from their parents.

But they remained determined to succeed. They worked hard to build a life that was based on their own values and beliefs, and they were grateful for the support of their friends and family.

In 2015, Jill and Derick made a decision that would change their lives forever. They decided to leave TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and start their own YouTube channel, where they could share their story and their message of hope and healing.

Their YouTube channel, Jill & Derick Dillard, quickly gained a following, and Jill and Derick became known as advocates for women's rights and gender equality. They used their platform to share their experiences and to raise awareness about the challenges that women face in conservative Christian communities.

Their story has inspired many women and men who have faced similar pressures and expectations from their own families. Jill and Derick have become symbols of hope and resilience, and they continue to work to promote positive change in their communities and beyond.

In conclusion, the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting, have finally revealed the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans. Jill and Derick's journey is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and a moving example of how to find healing through honesty.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781668024447