Life can be hard, rather you're living it in the public or feel like you're all alone. No matter where you find yourself, CHECKING IN by Michelle Williams is here to remind you of the importance of loving you and not forgetting yourself along the way.

The book is an open, honest look at depression, how we spiral out of control---but also how we can find ourselves again. I love how it shows that we might have good people around us, but that doesn't mean they are the RIGHT people that we need to love us and hold us accountable.

If you are ready to make changes and see the results mentally, emotionally and spiritually, CHECKING IN can lead you in the right direction.

I did not finish this book. I read the first five chapters and lost interest. I was very interested in hearing about Michelle's journey through depression but I found it poorly written and poorly edited. There was also too much talk about God and the Bible for me personally.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

CHECKING IN: HOW GETTING REAL ABOUT DEPRESSION SAVED MY LIFE---AND CAN SAVE YOURS.
BY MICHELLE WILLIAMS

This book was a quick read and was written by Michelle Williams. I came away from reading this memoir thinking how brutally honest Michelle is about her ups and downs in life. Her real name she tells us in the very beginning is Tenitra. Michelle is her middle name. This Grammy award singer wrote this book with the intent of helping others who have suffered from depression and anxiety. I never knew that Michelle had been through so much. I knew her as the person in the trio with Kelly and Beyonce that performed in the mega successful girl R&B band called Destiny's Child. I can remember clearly like it was yesterday the three singers exploding on the TV when they got back together and I loved their music.

Beyonce is someone that I hear about often. Michelle says that Beyonce's mother Tina actually gave Michelle her chance to become famous in the band Destiny's Child. I never knew that Michelle Williams had bouts of depression and anxiety. She says that one-fourth of the population suffers from those two mental illnesses and that she is sharing her life experiences in order to help others who feel isolated and alone. She is super honest which I respect. It takes strength to tell the world that things are not always as they appear.

She finds strength by having a relationship with God and often quotes Scripture as she tells her story. She shares that her mother and father had a lot of turmoil in their marriage and when people grow up in that environment it can really affect people. She was affected by it. But her message and reason for being so open and honest is to help others.

I wanted to read this because I was interested in Destiny's Child. I loved their music. I was surprised to read that Michelle Williams had been through such a frightening ordeal. One thing is for sure is that she has risen above her struggles. She talks about how close she and Kelly and Beyonce still are. This is not a tell all about Destiny's child about friction between them. Quite the opposite. She didn't want the band to break up but shares that when they went their separate ways to pursue solo careers that they went out on top.

Michelle shares about 2018 being a hard year for her. She shares about her reality Television show and broken engagement with Chad. After reading this book I feel like I really respect Michelle Williams for her courage. Her purpose for sharing her struggles is for others not to feel so alone if they experience what she has. I loved her philosophy about asking someone for forgiveness. She says that when asking for forgiveness you state how what it is you are seeking forgiveness for and having zero expectations for the outcome. To give people the space they need. I feel like she spoke a lot of truth about the human condition. I applaud her for her honesty and pure intentions of helping others.

Publication Date: May 25, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Michelle Williams and Nelson Books Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with my Arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#CheckingIn #MichelleWilliams #NelsonBooksThomasNelsonPublishing #NetGalley

Michelle Williams gives an honest and raw account of her experiences dealing with depression and its effect on all aspects of her life. Even though she speaks candidly as a Christian woman and uses scripture, this book caters to anyone that is going through a rough time. The main premise is self awareness or checking in with yourself instead of just going through the motions. What I liked most about this book is the honestly, you can tell that these words are hers and not made to look fancy for a book. We know Michelle Willams as 1/3 of Destiney's Child, but I had no idea of her background and the things she's been through over the years. If anything it's made me admire her willingness to share her darkest moments in order to help others see things and make changes within themselves. For me, she definitely hit some raw topics in me and really made me think about how I approach things in the world and how I treat myself. She isn't forcing any beliefs on you, but simply inviting you to take a deeper look inward and to never give up on yourself.

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. Sidenote: I am still obsessed with the surprise DC reunion during Beyoncé’s 2013 Super Bowl halftime show — my favorite one! 

Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life—and Can Save Yours is Michelle’s memoir about her struggle and challenges with depression, which she hid for years. It took her a long time to reach out for help and acknowledge why she opted for some behaviors over others. She talks about the importance of quieting our fears against what’s actually true, our willingness to be vulnerable, and the importance of forgiveness, which is admittedly something I’ve often struggled with. 

”We do this, don’t we? We jump from point a to point z and we don’t even question it; we don’t take the time to check in and ask ourselves what’s true and what’s fear-based.”

“Being able to forgive others, ask for forgiveness, and forgive yourself is about you. It’s about checking in with your heart and not being tied to someone in a negative way.” 

No matter where you are in your mental health journey, one that’s not always a linear path, Checking In has helpful reminders — You Are Not Alone.

I’ve loved Destiny’s Child growing up and Michelle Williams has come out with a autobiography/self help book about her journey through depression and how she made her way through it. It also offers some interesting insight into her career and personal life as well. It’s perfect if you are a fan of hers from the group of if you are looking for good advice book on someone battling there way through depression.

What a special and important book. I am a huge Destiny's Child fan, and I always treasured following the band member throughout their careers since then. What a raw and honest book about Michelle Williams deciding to put herself first and give her mental health the attention it deserves. Thank you to NetGalley and Nelson Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I'm always interested in other people's mental health experiences, celebrity status not required. It's such a common experience any more, especially in these pandemic days, that I appreciate when folks are willing to talk about it and share their experiences.

This book was received as an ARC from Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a fan of Destiny's Child have seen some documentaries on MTV on Destiny's Child especially when Michelle was in the group and I remember her being energetic and outgoing but, after reading Checking In, I've learned that she kept all of her real emotions bottled up and "swept under the rug" so to speak and that made Michelle realize that she needed help mentally and emotionally. I have always admired Michelle when she was in Destiny's Child but after reading Checking In, I admire her even more now for her bravery and courage for checking herself into an institution and getting the help she needs, but checking in with herself in reminding herself what her true purpose is and as long as she believes that, she has no reason to feel any kind of negativity even when others surround her.

We will consider adding this title to our Biography collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Did not finish this book. Wasn’t what I expected. Will leave average review for you. Thanks for the opportunity to give it a try.

I’ve been following with Michelle’s journey since Destiny Child’s days and I can’t express my joy at receiving a copy of her book.
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In her first book, Michelle courageously shares the hidden secrets that nearly ended her life; the importance of her faith, family, and friends; and the lessons she learned about prioritizing her mental health. She is on a quest to increase mental health awareness and urges others to understand the importance of “checking in” with themselves, God, and others. Her candid, often humorous, and incredibly brave book will inspire readers who desire hope for their own difficult times.
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I love everything about this book, Michelle’s is transparent as she  shares her journey and experience with us. I love how she continuously point us to God truth and his presence .
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This is much more than a book to read, in each of the of chapter , Michelle’s own honestly propels me to check in with myself and  ask the hard questions.

I didn't quite know what we readers would be getting here, but let me tell you! This book gave what it was supposed to give! Michelle is honest without telling all her and her folks' business, while doing her part to advocate for mental health awareness. 

Checking In pleasantly surprised me. Ms. Williams was a guest on my sorority's program about mental health awareness right before the book was released. I decided to register to drop in for a few and hear her. You know, see what was what. She was amazing! I loved her personality and knew I had to read this book. I'm glad I did!

This book is part memoir, part self-help. It does have a Christianity slant but she's not overly preachy. Religion doesn't take over the entire book. So if religion isn't quite your thing, you can skip/skim it and keep on pushing to the next paragraph. 

Additionally, for those y'all who wanna get in her business, yes, she discusses her relationship. For the record, I thought doing the show was a bad idea. Unless you NEED the money and your relationship is solid as a rock, chile, no. I digress..


Anyway, I appreciate Michelle's candor, vulnerability, and advice. If I don't do anything else now, I check in with myself, especially when I feel the crazy start to creep up. Listen, none of us are exempt from life. There will be ups and downs; there will be disappointments, grief. There will also be happiness. Check in with yourself; listen to yourself and your intuition. Seek help if you need it. There is no shame in taking care of your mental health. 

In short, I immensely enjoyed this book and recommend it. I learned a lot about Michelle. I identified with her, related to her, and hell, I like her! I'm so happy she decided to share her story. Sharing helps others, and you never know who you could be saving.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson Books, for granting me an ARC to read and provide my honest review!

I'll start by saying I am a huge Destiny's Child fan and I've long thought Michelle to be underrated and frankly, treated very unfairly. We've all seen the memes and the 'Beyonce, Kelly and the other one' references. She is a fantastic talent and I believe any true DC fan will know that. I was aware of her struggles as I follow her closely on social media and so was so happy to receive this copy of her book to review.

She is very honest throughout and so damn funny! I really laughed out loud several times. She is someone who seems very self-aware and knows her mistakes and is willing to admit to them. She gives some wonderful advice and I highlighted so many inspiring words and quotes from her. I found it very helpful. I read it in two days! I kind of thought it would be like the usual wishy-washy celebrity does a self-help book thing but it was completely different. I've read self-help books from actual professionals who gave me less helpful advice than Michelle does here!

I know she has strong faith and is a true believer in god, which I am not, so was a little worried that it may be too 'Bible' for me. And yes, she does quote the Bible and talk about God a lot, but it is never preachy and I found her quotes very helpful actually.

Yes, she mentions DC and the other girls but only briefly and if you are looking for celebrity gossip then you won't get any here. She respects her true friends and would never do Bey and Kelly like that. If you want some real talk about depression and anxiety and to know that even beautiful, wealthy, famous people suffer from it, then this is the book for you.

Frank, honest and well-written, I think Michelle may have found another talent as a great author!

This book is definitely 5stars hands down! Michelle shares stories that are funny, authentic, touching, revealing and honest. I didn’t want to put the book down. Her witty personality really comes through. I also realize we have a whole lot in common.
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Reading her story didn’t feel like I was reading the story of a member of one of the most successful girl groups of all time. It felt more like reading my BFF’s story. And that’s what I’ve always loved most about Michelle. She is so down-to-earth.
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Throughout the book she tells us how her depression showed up in her life & relationships (and I must say, a lot of women will definitely relate to her stories). She also tell us when she knew it was time to check herself into a facility. She reveals how she felt after changing her name to Michelle to become a member of Destiny’s Child (this happens to be one of my favorite stories). She also shares how she felt once the group broke up.
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This memoir is laced with just the right amount of advice for those that are prone to depression. But I don’t want you to think this is a book only for people with depression! Absolutely NOT! This is a very good read for everyone!
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I did not want this book to end! I soooo wish it wasn’t over! I don’t want to put my friend on the shelf😩😂. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A honest look into what depression can look like and how she survived.  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I requested this book because I’m a music lover and was a Destiny Child’s fan but she covered so much more: relationships, mental health, and spirituality just to name a few. I flew through this book and really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and Nelson Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

Checking Is an honest and vulnerable self-help book that shines a light on mental health. Michelle Williams shared her experiences with anxiety and depression that will ultimately have the opportunity to help others including myself with their own struggles.

I am and will always be a fan of Destiny's Child so I was eager to read about Michelle's life. I liked that she gives readers a backstory into her life. It helps us understand how she grew up and how she grew into the person that she is today. It is refreshing to see her open up and tell her truth. Normally, we put celebrities on a pedestal assuming that because of their fame they are immune to everyday struggles but Michelle dives deep into her own issues to prove everyone wrong.  

In this book, Michelle opens up about her childhood, her issues with feeling less than, and her struggles with anxiety and depression. She does even experience having suicidal thoughts. Something like this could break a person down, but Michelle gives credit to God and the concept of  'checking in' as her saviors.  Michelle introduces checking in with yourself, God, and others as a way to help you live your most honest life. Like she says in the book a person that is depressed is probably the best liar.  So, she explains why checking in can help everyone live a healthier and more positive life.

I give Checking In 4 stars. I think this book will reach so many people who have ever struggled with mental health and insecurities. Her experiences are raw, vulnerable, and relatable. She introduces the concept of checking in to help individuals stop thinking that they are defined by what others think. This book provides times for reflection and motivation to help you realize that you aren't alone in your struggles and remember that you have to put in the work to stay healthy in all aspects of your life.

Checking In by Michelle Williams is an excellent memoir and self-help guide that truly resonated with me and that I truly enjoyed.

I grew up listening and looking up to Ms. Williams, so it was refreshing to read about her personal life and how she has experienced trials and struggled just the same as others in the past. It was also wonderful to see how she was able to work through her depression, continues to admit to being a work in progress (I mean aren’t we all?) and gives us some of the tools and ideas she has used to help overcome her obstacles. 

The flow was smooth, the pacing appropriate, and the content flowed nicely, which kept my interest throughout. She offers insights and suggestions that she herself has used to help. She is real, honest, and open. It was so wonderful to see her self-reflections as well as her faith playing an intricate role in her journey. It really gave me several ideas to help with my own processes.

5/5 stars 

Thank you NG and Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. 

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Instagram, Amazon, B&N accounts immediately. Publish date 5/25/21.

At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Nelsonbooks for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.

“Checking In - How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life---and Can Save Yours” by Michelle Williams. Even the title is wonderful! This is such an inspiring book!

When life gets hard, you need to check in. You need to check in with others, and you need to check in with yourself. 

Michelle Williams is a Grammy Award–winning singer, but she has been through more than you might be aware of. Anxiety and depression. Planning her own funeral. She needed help. And she realized that. But sometimes, people do not realise, or realise too late. And that is why you need to check in!


I read half of the book, without really realising who Michelle Williams is. From the story, I could definitely tell that she was successful and had a lot of pressure. But I did not realise until later on, how much success she and Destiny’s Child actually had. But maybe this was a good thing. I read the book, like Michelle Williams was just a completely normal human being. Because she is. Even though she might be an award-winning singer, she is a human being just like everybody else. And everybody can go through anxiety and depression. 

In this book, Michelle Williams is very honest and truthful in her way of telling her story and helping you!

The book is well written, it has an incredible message, and this is a beautiful book!

So here is my message (and partly Michelle Williams’ as well) for you today: Check in with those around you! Make sure that you and others are doing alright!

“It takes practice to release the hold we have on our stress and anxiety. But God wants us to. He wants us to because he loves us. Because he cares.” - Michelle Williams 

Checking In is a book that debuted right on time with May being Mental Health Awareness Month. In true Michelle fashion, she is candid and brutally honest with her mental health journey. I expected to read about her journey with battling mental health and being in the spot light. What I was not expecting was how detailed she was. Part of me applauds the bravery and part of me feels like I want to offer her a hug. As a depression and anxiety warrior myself, I loved everything about this book. I really feel that it wasn’t just for entertainment or education purposes- it’s a book that everyone can read and find themselves with an, “aha moment”.  There is nothing that I would change about this book because Michelle gets it and I can tell this was not a rushed book. It takes a lot of vulnerability and soul seeking to put the things that are in this book in black and white. Very good job and I highly recommend. I will definitely purchase and go back and reread because there were things that I need to highlight. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.