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.

As a long-standing fan and supporter of Michelle Williams, I was excited to be a part of the team that had an early read of the book. The book does not disappoint; we finally get to experience Tenitra. As whimsical as this seems, we sometimes establish fictitious aspects of what a "celebrity" should or should not experience. Depression is a real thing and I thank her for sharing her story to inspire individuals like myself who dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts in the past. The book is written as a conversation so you feel as though you are talking to her as a true friend in person and not just in your head. I would recommend this book because it reminds me how I continue to over my depressive episodes over the years which are the three pinnacles of this book: Checking in with yourself, Checking in with others, and most importantly, Checking in with God. I am looking forward to great things from Tenitra Michelle Williams.

Checking In gives an insightful and engaging look into Michelle Williams' life and how she has managed her mental health. Fans will enjoy learning more about her journey and in the latter chapters, there is a strong push to dig deeper and reflect on the daily issues that we all face that may challenge our abilities to be at our best. The sections on forgiveness and making sure you are checking in with the right people are great reminders in these stressful times. For those who follow Michelle on social media, this book is very much written in her voice and you can "hear" her personality as you read, making it enjoyable and easy to read.

This book was amazing! First off, when I found out that Michelle was writing a book, but when I found out it was about mental health and checking in with yourself, I was so excited to read! Like Michelle, I am going through a personal growing period and in touch with my feelings. In this book she talks about how scary dark times can be, but ultimately she decides she wants to get rid of those toxic thoughts and be in touch with herself to feel better. This story is raw, honest, and inspiring. I cannot wait to buy books for all the women in my life that need the push to be better!