"Counting The Cost" by Jill Duggar

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 are discouraged from attaining a higher education, 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. ~taken from Goodreads

This is Jill Duggar's way of getting SOME of her story out there. This is not a tell-all. She is not spilling the beans and throwing her family under the bus. For that I commend her. She still loves and respects her family, even after everything she has been through. 

I too watched 19 Kids when the specials first aired way back when. I was fascinated by their way of life. Growing up in a religious household myself, I could semi-relate to how they viewed the world. I could completely understand how all the children, especially the girls, were sort of brainwashed into believing what they believed. 

Jill Duggar paints a clear picture of what her life was like growing up in a strict IBLP household. My parents dabbled in the IBLP ways of life briefly and I have to say I am truly thankful they saw they evil in the lifestyle quickly and dragged our family out and away from it. 

Jill shares her life experiences, both the good and the bad, from when she was young to the present day. She talks about how she got into midwifery to how she met her husband. She talks about how she felt during Josh's very public scandals and how it effected her and her family. She is very candid about how her and her husband felt about her father's controlling ways when it came to the show, the money, and ultimately how they lived their life. 

I wouldn't say that this is a completely safe book on her part. She does get truthful about her feelings and says things I feel like members of her family probably hadn't truly heard or understood until she put it into words. 

I hope that by telling her story she felt like a bit of weight was taken off her shoulder. Perhaps she will stop feeling like she owes the world an explanation, which she 100% did not. I hope that she has found peace, or at least the path to it. 

This was a 4 star "read" for me. I actually listened to the audio version which is read by Jill Duggar herself and I highly recommend it.  

This is available where ever you  buy or borrow books. You can get the physical, Kindle or audio version on Amazon.

Happy Reading!