Kate Gosselin's son Collin, 22, announces tell-all memoir about 'abuse, injustice'... 9 years after TLC show ended

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Collin Gosselin will not hold back in his new tell-all memoir.

The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star, 22, announced his forthcoming book this week, in which he will detail 'the reality of his childhood.'

'In the Shadow of Eight is available now for preorder,' he announced to his 80,000 Instagram followers on Wednesday. 

He teased about the book, which is due out on October 13, 'This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived.'

And he promised to cover the 'abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children.' 

Collin also slighted his mom, 51-year-old Kate Gosselin, as he praised his dad Jon Gosselin's ex-girlfriend Colleen Conrad and called her his 'real mom' in a separate post.

Kate and her ex-husband Jon, 49 – who split in 2009 – share twins Madelyn and Cara, 25, and sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, 22.

Collin Gosselin will not hold back in his new tell-all memoir, which he announced this week

Collin also slighted his mom, 51-year-old Kate Gosselin, as he praised his dad Jon Gosselin's ex-girlfriend Colleen Conrad and called her his 'real mom'; pictured in 2019

Jon & Kate Plus 8 aired for five seasons on TLC spanning 2007-2017, once amassing 9.8M viewers with the fifth season premiere.

Collin said he wasn't always sure he was going to publicly speak his truth.

He wrote on social media: '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.'

The former TLC star revealed, '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 also posted a photo from his childhood and said, 'Little Collin is so proud today ❤️.' 

Collin makes a strong statement with his book cover – a 2010 paparazzi photo of his mom's hand over his mouth as he stands just tall enough to reach her hip.

'In the Shadow of Eight is available now for preorder,' he announced to his 80,000 Instagram followers on Wednesday. He also posted a photo from his childhood and said, 'Little Collin is so proud today'

Collin pictured with his dad's ex-girlfriend Colleen 

In a follow-up post, he told his fans, 'This is not a story for entertainment, it is a story to instill responsibility in everyone to advocate and speak up against abuse, injustice, and the exploitation of children.'

The author added, 'I not only poured my heart into this book for my younger self, but for ALL who have faced unfair and outright heinous acts as children. I am your voice. I stand with you. CG.'

The note was included alongside an Instagram reel full of pictures of him as a kid.

Speaking to his younger self, he added the caption, 'Thought of you the whole time, buddy,' with a heartbroken emoji.

Collin went to give his dad's ex-girlfriend a birthday shoutout in another post.

He told his online audience, 'I didn’t plan this at all, but coincidentally on the day of the official announcement of my book, it is Colleen’s birthday.'

He added a photo of him and Conrad and said, '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. Also I had to add a Rascal Flatts song, because we always sing Rascal Flatts songs together.'

The star then said even more in the comments as he noted, 'The love you feel for a mom you were given is incredible. But the love you feel for a mom that CHOSE you is something so powerful. I am so fortunate ❤️ @colleen.conrad122 I love you so much.'

Conrad replied, writing, 'This made me cry and yes I would sing it you, Jesse and Jordan! That is my wish! I’ll always be here for you and you are my son. I love you!'

She also shared a cover of his memoir on her Instagram page and added, 'I got the best birthday present today. ❤️ 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.'

Kate with her ex-husband Jon and their eight children on Jon & Kate Plus 8

The couple pictured in April 2009, the same year they split

Kate filed for divorce from Jon in 2009 at the height of their reality TV fame, prompting a contentious custody battle.

Ultimately, Jon obtained full custody of Hannah and Collin, while his ex-wife was granted custody of the rest of the children.

During a TikTok live in 2025, Kate got honest about their divorce, acknowledging that the downfall of the marriage 'did not turn out well for my kids.'

'I don't know if you have kids or don't have kids,' she said to her online audience, 'But I made decisions based on how I would want to be treated, honestly.'

Jon tied the knot for a second time in 2025, marrying Stephanie Lebo.

In a 2023 interview with Vice TV, Collin accused his mom of abuse and said she treated him differently than his siblings.

Kate rebutted in a statement to People, claiming, 'My son Collin, whom I love with all my heart, has received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. For the safety of myself, his brothers and sisters and for his own well-being, he was placed in a facility following years of outpatient treatment which proved insufficient for his needs.'

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