Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Announces Book True Gretch: 'I Hope This Book Will Help You Find the Good'

Gretchen Whitmer's last five years as Michigan governor have seen her go up against a pandemic, a rise in domestic terrorism and more. And now, she hopes to recount some of her experience in a new book, with a mission to encourage readers to "make a difference."

True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between is due out this summer from Simon & Schuster.

Per a release from the publisher, the story will follow Whitmer's life and career — from lessons she learned from her grandmother Nino to the kidnapping an assassination plot against her in 2020.

“In this moment, our world is thirsty for compassion, empathy, big ideas and the grit to get shit done," Whitmer said in a statement.

"No matter who you are, or what you hope to achieve, I hope this book will help you find the good and use it to make a difference. I’ll be doing the same alongside you.”

True Gretch, described by the publisher as an "unconventionally honest, personal and funny account" of the politician's life and work, will follow Whitmer's time as a lawyer, her efforts as governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, her fight to protect reproductive rights and her motto (“get s--- done").

“We’ve been watching Whitmer carve a hugely successful path in these divisive times, and we are thrilled to be publishing her book," Mindy Marques, vice president, executive editor at Simon & Schuster, said in a release.

"She is the very rare politician who can make change and find humor in politics, and her first book is as unconventional as she is.”

The book will also include some of the politician's humor throughout, and net proceeds from the title's publishing will be donated to the Capital Region Community Foundation during her remaining time as governor.

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News of her new book comes seven months after the last three men of the 14 that were charged for their involvement in allegedly attempting to kidnap Whitmer at her Antrim County vacation home in 2020 had been found not guilty. The men were arrested in October 2020 along with 11 others — five of whom have since been found guilty by a jury on their respective charges, and four of whom reportedly plead guilty to lesser charges.

"I think about [being in danger] everywhere I go," Whitmer said on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?  in March 2023. "The former president made me a target and threw a lot of gas on the fire and it has continued to burn. And I think about it everywhere I go."

She continued: "There are times when I am in public — and I've got the greatest state police detail in the world — but there are big crowds sometimes, and it does cross my mind."

True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between arrives on on July 9.