I usually first think of Michelle Williams as part of Destiny’s Child, which of course she was, but she’s also much more than that. I love that she told her story. I think there were many takeaways that most people can use in their life. I've been clinically diagnosed with depression for more than half of my life and I found this to be a great read with some great takeaways. Would recommend.

"The Checking In" by Michelle Williams is a heartwarming exploration of human connections and self-discovery. Williams crafts a narrative that seamlessly weaves together the lives of diverse characters, each facing their own struggles and triumphs. The story centers around the power of checking in on one another, both emotionally and physically, and how these simple acts can spark profound change.

The characters are beautifully developed, and Williams' writing style effortlessly immerses readers into their worlds. The novel invites you to laugh, cry, and reflect on the importance of compassion in a world that often feels disconnected. As the characters navigate life's challenges, the theme of checking in becomes a powerful thread that ties the narrative together.

What sets "The Checking In" apart is its ability to resonate with readers on a personal level. Williams taps into universal emotions, making the story relatable and poignant. This book is a delightful reminder of the impact we can have on each other's lives through the simple act of checking in. "The Checking In" is a must-read for anyone seeking a touching story about the strength of human connections.

5 🌟

Let me preface this by saying that Michelle Williams was my favorite member of destiny’s child. ❤️ I polled several friends as well as my husband and Michelle, you were all of our favorites..

Ok, now that I’ve given my stance on favorite destiny’s child member, let’s get on to my review.

I loved this book from cover to cover. Michelle grabs you from the front cover inviting you to peek inside her life (and what an honest, introspective journey). She sucks you into the chapters with humor, honesty, complete transparency, hope, guidance and tools to check in with not only yourself, but more importantly God.

She reminds us that this isn’t a path of perfection and to extend grace to ourself and others 70x7 as Jesus said which translates into… don’t worry about the numbers… forgive always.

I related to Michelle on so many accounts especially childhood wounds. She explains how important it is to go back and heal those wounds so you aren’t dragging them on your journey with you..

I would recommend this book to everyone especially all my Destiny’s child loving, Christian peeps. You won’t be disappointed. This is a book I’ll purchase for my own bookshelf as well as gift to friends.

I think putting your best foot forward and always looking ahead not behind is such an important trait for any human being to have. Now, this is easier said than done, but something that we can all work on. Working and redefining ourselves is the epitome of being human. I think that sometimes we become so caught up on the hype and trying to please others before we please ourselves is so detrimental.

This author was able to bring out those lessons that we need to hear and learn in order to become our best selves!

This book is unquestionably extraordinary. Michelle Williams bares her soul, recounting her personal battle with depression in a deeply heartfelt and authentic manner. Her commitment to using her platform to address this critical issue is truly commendable. Michelle's transparency in sharing her experiences is not only refreshing but also vulnerable, making her narrative remarkably authentic as she fearlessly unfolds her story.

Within the context of mental health and therapy, African Americans as a group often lag behind other ethnicities. For some reason, we tend to think therapy is not for us. With Michelle Williams sharing her story so openly, it will help other African Americans embrace mental health awareness and therapy.

Once I started reading this book, I found it impossible to set it aside. As I turned the pages, my appreciation for Michelle Williams grew even stronger. Thank Michelle Williams for opening up & sharing your story!!!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Michelle’s personality really comes shining through in this book. I love that she was transparent and vulnerable enough to share her story. She brings up so many great points and even if you aren’t into the Bible and Christianity…it’s still eye opening. Depression is real and I’m glad she uses her platform to talk about it.

I really enjoyed this quick, calming book.

I felt at peace while reading it and honestly think that Michelle is one of the strongest women to endure the things she went through publicly.

She got real in this book.

I'm sorry. I tried. I really like Michelle Williams but I didn't find this book as engaging as I had hoped. I will probably try again if I can get my hands on an audio version but reading this... I just couldn't get past the first few chapters.

Checking in with God, yourself, and others can be a difficult task but it is one that is rewarding as it allows for you to grow, have self awareness, and ask for help. Michelle shares how it was easier for her to believe lies the world and even what she her self had said about her rather than being rooted in what God says about her and who she is. How a lack of checking in allowed for her mental health to be in a bad place. She wasn’t saying though that checking in is an easy solution to all mental health problems and that once you do it everything is great but rather that it allows for you to do work that is needed to address root causes and dive in deeper to what is actually happening. I do love that she mentioned that this can be a hard thing to do if we haven’t seen it modeled before.
She ended with how Covid affected how she checked in and I know that was definitely something that I related to as the world around me changed so much during that time and forced me to slow down and check in without even realizing it initially.
The only thing I didn’t love was some of the formatting in the book as I read the online version. The quotes in the cursive could be difficult to read at times and messed with the flow of the sentence which would be different if I was reading a paperback copy.
If you have read about Michelle Williams before or remember watching news stories about her, I would definitely recommend reading this book to provide more context to her story and to see how she has grown since then!

I really enjoyed this book from Michelle Williams. I was surprised how candid and honest she was. I was able to take away a lot from this book as well. I would highly recommend this book!

3.5 stars. A very candid and vulnerable share of her struggle with depression. Liked her descriptions of Anxiety vs Intuition and Transparency vs Vulnerability. Main points throughout the book on checking in with yourself and God.

I breezed past much of the religious content, but I found the rest of Michelle's story to be very vulnerable and relatable. I can see this being an important book for a lot of folks, but I don't think I am the target audience.

I got this one as a Read Now without realizing it was more of a religious text, so I'm giving it 4 stars because it's me and not the book. I'm sure it's fine, but religion isn't for me.

This book was hard hitting. It was nice to see Michelle as an every day person who has struggles and battles like the rest of us

This book was amazing, and I didn't want to put down this heartfelt story. Part memoir, part inspirational, even part personal development and self-help, she speaks of her experiences in her faith, her depression, her fears, and God. Anyone who seeks a good read, especially a faith-based read, needs this book. Anyone who suffers depression, doubt, or just an occasional sadness should read this book. Everyone should read this book.

Growing up in the Church, it's always been tabu to talk about having mental Issues. Michelle Williams knows that all too well. Whether you're a grammy winning artist or not, mental issues is no respect to anyone. I myself have been dealing with depression for almost 30 years, and there were a lot of tips that are going to help me once i implement them. She was vulnerable and transparent and gives a lot of wisdom and helpful tips throughout this book.

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book when I first started reading it but it ended up being a good read. Michelle talked a lot about her personal life which I wasn't expecting but it tied into her mental health journey. I wish she would have talked more about the journey of getting help. I think the book would have had a greater impact had she spent less time talking about her personal life and more time on mental health. Overall, it was a good read but I was expecting a little more focus on mental health.

I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.

Michelle Williams is probably most notably recognized for being a part of Destiny's Child. I've been a neutral fan of hers since I was a kid--I was never a huge Destiny's Child fan, but I enjoyed their music when it'd play on the radio. I've heard some of Michelle's solo work, but I've mainly followed her thoughts on life and her faith throughout the years. I always thought she seemed like someone who really had her life together, which could feel intimidating as someone who loves Jesus but doesn't always feel like she measures up--either in the world or as a believer.

When I first read the preface for this book, I knew I had to read it. This woman is someone I've admired from afar for many years, and to learn that she had struggles that I could relate to was not only intriguing but inspiring. The book itself is a fantastic read. It's part memoir, part inspirational, that dives deep into Michelle's own experiences with crippling anxiety and depression--so severe that it contributed greatly to the downfall of her engagement to who was essentially the man of her dreams.

While the majority of the book is more serious in nature, she also has a way of making you laugh and showing the lighter side of things, which is a nice break from the constant heaviness this subject matter tends to bring. There were times while reading that I felt like I was having a chat with a friend rather than reading a book, and I greatly appreciated her unique and conversational tone.

At times raw and poignant, Ms. Williams also gives some pretty solid advice when discussing how to handle anxiety and depression; including "checking in" with friends and family as well as God. She also discusses the importance of therapy and learning to recognize when you need help. While I loved the addition of bible verses and her talk of faith, I do think this would also be a lovely read for those who aren't Christian. There's plenty to relate to and feel inspired by, especially when considering it's so easy to just hide ourselves away when we really need to ask for help.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK, and how open and raw Michele got with her struggle with Depression. It takes courage to share your story with others, and I appreciate how she wants to help others with her incredible story. Definitely a book that I would recommend to everyone.

This book was recieved as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed this book because of it's writing style, unique topic, and the fact that it really provided a thought-provoking experience. Recommended for readers who want to read slowly so as to take time to process.