For a long time, fans of the Duggar family have wondered what Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo would write about in their long-anticipated book. While the couple hinted in November that it would be based on their podcast, fans wondered if the book could have a little something more in store.
After all, Jinger and Jeremy aren't the only Duggar couple who have been working on a book. There have been rumors that Jill and Derick Dillard are working on a "tell-all" style book about their lives in the Duggar family and the estrangement that has since followed. The possible scandals that book has in store had fans split as to whether Jinger and Jeremy would play it safe with a book about family and faith — or take the opportunity to air some grievances of their own.
Now their book is finally ready. The Hope We Hold is a memoir in which the couple share some of their childhood experiences while reflecting on their own family and parenting. In the book, they allegedly address the Josh Duggar sex abuse scandal that rocked the family back in 2015.
Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo are ready to share some new parts of themselves with the world. The two have channeled their childhood experiences, their experience as a married couple and parents, and their experience growing in their faith together into their new book The Hope We Hold. It's the same title as their podcast and expands on the narrative the couple began there.
The couple teased that the book would cover high and low points, but now that appears to truly be the case. The couple will discuss what it was like in 2015 when the Duggar family went through the hardest trial they've faced to date. Oldest sibling Josh Duggar made headlines after several women came forward with allegations that he was sexually abusive toward them when he was 14.
"Walking through that that season, it was one of the hardest times of our lives," Jinger told Us Weekly.
"It's in those times where it's not popular to be your friend, seeing how they responded really showed us the love of Christ through them and through their friendships. I think that was something that stood out to me and I saw the friends who came so close and were like, 'Hey, I'll just sit with you,' 'I'll bring you a meal or hang out with you if you want to.' In those times I thought, 'Man, that really meant the most.'"
Jinger emphasized that dealing with all of it within the family was hard, but it was even harder to hear the public opinions. Still, she said the way her family came together during that time strengthened their bonds.
"Our family was way closer because of that, and in spite of that, I guess you'd say," Jinger reflected.
"I will never forget how I felt in that moment," she continued.
"And I think even everything that happens in our lives — because we're in the public eye — it makes it more challenging because then it's not just dealing with these things inwardly, but you have to give an answer to the world. That makes it a much tougher thing to walk through."
In the book, Jinger and Jeremy also get candid about a time in their relationship when it didn't seem that things would work out between them. That time came during their courtship.
"There were some ups and downs in that time," Jinger explained, "and … at one point I kind of froze, and I was like, 'Do I want to do this?'"
"That was something for me that was really tough. I don't like to think about that day," she continued.
"I don't like to think about that time. But realizing that, OK, that's something that could help someone [with their own relationship issues] because it's something that everyone's going to have to walk through … will we be able to come together as two completely different human beings from different backgrounds and make this work?'"
Jinger and Jeremy come from different backgrounds and have certainly overcome a lot in their time together. It's their hope that by reflecting on how they've overcome these trials, they can help others do the same. The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God is out on May 4.
