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Inconceivable: My Life-Altering, Eye-Opening Journey from Infertility to Motherhood
Fifteen years ago, Alex Johnston and her husband decided it was time to start a family. As it turned out, that was the easy part. Like many women of her generation, she had left child-bearing until her thirties as she finished her education and established her career. She was stunned to learn that her fertility had already peaked and was in serious decline. What followed was a harrowing, sometimes heart-breaking journey, including infertility and IVF treatments, and multiple attempts at surrogacy. She refuses to quit even after losing her first child (carried by a surrogate), a tragedy that jeopardized her marriage and her mental health.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
152 pages, ebook
Published May 4, 2021
1 person is currently reading
137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 8, 2022
Click here to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
October 5, 2024
This book had me sobbing. Written by the CEO of the concussion clinic I work at - a true testament to the strength and resiliency of women.
June 22, 2021
Inconceivable is Alex Johnston’s memoir of her difficult path to parenthood. She details her struggle with infertility, her IVF attempts, the devastating loss of her first child, the successful surrogacies that gave her two daughters and the surprise of her own pregnancy that saw her deliver a son.
Alex draws you into her story immediately. She’s smart, practical and her passion for sharing her journey to help others is clear. I found her story hugely informative and emotional.
Inconceivable is written with a lot of heart and credit goes to Alex for pulling me into her story so easily that I shed quite a few tears while reading (both happy & sad tears).
This book demonstrates repeatedly the huge investments required from Alex to achieve her parenting dream - emotional, physical and particularly, financial investments. She acknowledges early on in the book that she was privileged to have many treatments & options available to her that are out of reach for many and while the author’s journey was sometimes heartbreaking & devastating, it’s even more difficult to think of those people who don’t have any options available to them.
If you enjoy memoirs, I recommend checking out Inconceivable. The book is surprising, informative, eye-opening, an emotional rollercoaster and beautifully hopeful.
I received an ebook copy of Inconceivable from the publisher.
Alex draws you into her story immediately. She’s smart, practical and her passion for sharing her journey to help others is clear. I found her story hugely informative and emotional.
Inconceivable is written with a lot of heart and credit goes to Alex for pulling me into her story so easily that I shed quite a few tears while reading (both happy & sad tears).
This book demonstrates repeatedly the huge investments required from Alex to achieve her parenting dream - emotional, physical and particularly, financial investments. She acknowledges early on in the book that she was privileged to have many treatments & options available to her that are out of reach for many and while the author’s journey was sometimes heartbreaking & devastating, it’s even more difficult to think of those people who don’t have any options available to them.
If you enjoy memoirs, I recommend checking out Inconceivable. The book is surprising, informative, eye-opening, an emotional rollercoaster and beautifully hopeful.
I received an ebook copy of Inconceivable from the publisher.
May 21, 2021
Inconceivable is a memoir about the author's journey through infertility. Alex Johnston was in her 30's when she realized she would need some help having a child. She and her husband both really wanted to be parents so they started down the path of fertility treatments. They started with IUI and then moved onto IVF. When these didn't take, they started with surrogacy. They had the heartbreaking experience of their baby girl (carried by a surrogate) dying during labor resulting in a stillbirth. After consideration, they continued to pursue having a child via surrogacy.
This was definitely heartbreaking at times but it is important to get these stories out there. More and more, women are having to seek help to have babies and it is good to have books like these to show what can happen on this journey. We live in a time where there are many medical options to help a woman have a child, however, that doesn't mean that it is always an easy path.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This was definitely heartbreaking at times but it is important to get these stories out there. More and more, women are having to seek help to have babies and it is good to have books like these to show what can happen on this journey. We live in a time where there are many medical options to help a woman have a child, however, that doesn't mean that it is always an easy path.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
May 10, 2021
Content warnings: Full-term stillbirth, infertility’s effect on mental health, medical details re: fertility treatments
Inconceivable is Alex Johnston’s account of her journey through infertility, IVF, and surrogacy. Johnston openly shares the realities of every step of the process – medical procedures, information and misinformation, societal prejudices and pressures, and the emotional toll of all of these factors – and brings the reader along in the telling with a conversational and warm tone. In telling her story, Johnston advocates for awareness, better access to up-to-date evidence-based fertility education, and accessible and affordable assisted reproductive health benefits.
This is a timely release – it hit shelves last Tuesday, May 4th – as April 18th-24th was National Infertility Awareness Week in Canada. Infertility is a complex and difficult subject, but if you’re aware of the statistics, it’s a shame that an experience this common is shrouded in misconception and uncomfortable silence. Approximately 1 in 4 have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant. Many suffer consecutive losses before seeking medical assistance. 1 in 8 couples have experienced infertility (defined as not conceiving after a year of actively trying to conceive). Social media has given rise to more and more people sharing their stories, both in search of community and to educate others, but there’s still an educational barrier and a general unwillingness to engage the subject.
Personally I didn’t know much about reproductive health – beyond the standard contraception and STI info given in sex ed – until pregnant with our daughter, at 26 years old, from an amazing and informative OB-GYN. Access to evidence-based information is more important than ever as the average age for starting a family continues to rise – well into the late 20s and early 30s – given that infertility rates increase dramatically with age, while the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies inversely decline. Many only learn these statistics when faced with an infertility diagnosis.
One thing I appreciate about this memoir is the author’s honesty regarding her privilege and the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into growing her family. There is an astronomical – and in many cases insurmountable – financial barrier for assisted reproductive technology; this memoir talks about the high costs of IVF and surrogacy, but also mentions how many other options, like adoption, are prohibitively expensive and complicated. Ontario provincial health benefits currently cover one round of IVF in a patient’s lifetime – but if you’ve ever looked into the average success rates per IVF round, multiple rounds are required on average for successful conception, with success rates dramatically decreasing with age. This barrier disproportionately shuts out anyone who requires medical assistance to grow their family – in this memoir’s case a heterosexual couple, but Johnston also frames this issue in relation to same-sex couples and anyone planning a pregnancy without a partner.
Johnston’s experience in government is also a unique asset: daughter of a former Governor General, with current and prior experience working in political and non-profit advocacy roles, she has a broad perspective that includes both personal experience and the realities of pushing for policy changes, even on widely popular issues with champions in politics. The takeaway is that it took a demographic shift in elected representatives, and the efforts of numerous passionate campaigners, many years to make small changes. The details are specific to Ontario but the story at the heart of the book is one that many people face – with different degrees of social and financial support.
I would have appreciated more attention to supporting facts – statistics, particulars of legislation changes including names and dates – but that’s personal preference, as my usual go-tos for nonfiction lean more toward investigative journalism and academia than memoir. Johnston includes a short list of citations at the end of the book, including enough general supporting info to back up her points, contextualize her personal story, and give a jumping-off point for anyone who wants to learn more.
Inconceivable is a quick and easy read in terms of length and author’s voice; its subject matter is difficult but shared with honesty and a solid understanding of the author’s personal story in its broader societal context. Johnston’s memoir is a valuable contribution to the conversation around fertility and assisted reproductive technology in Canada, published by Toronto-based nonfiction firm Sutherland House Books, with content addressing current fertility options and existing legislation in Ontario.
Inconceivable is Alex Johnston’s account of her journey through infertility, IVF, and surrogacy. Johnston openly shares the realities of every step of the process – medical procedures, information and misinformation, societal prejudices and pressures, and the emotional toll of all of these factors – and brings the reader along in the telling with a conversational and warm tone. In telling her story, Johnston advocates for awareness, better access to up-to-date evidence-based fertility education, and accessible and affordable assisted reproductive health benefits.
This is a timely release – it hit shelves last Tuesday, May 4th – as April 18th-24th was National Infertility Awareness Week in Canada. Infertility is a complex and difficult subject, but if you’re aware of the statistics, it’s a shame that an experience this common is shrouded in misconception and uncomfortable silence. Approximately 1 in 4 have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of an infant. Many suffer consecutive losses before seeking medical assistance. 1 in 8 couples have experienced infertility (defined as not conceiving after a year of actively trying to conceive). Social media has given rise to more and more people sharing their stories, both in search of community and to educate others, but there’s still an educational barrier and a general unwillingness to engage the subject.
Personally I didn’t know much about reproductive health – beyond the standard contraception and STI info given in sex ed – until pregnant with our daughter, at 26 years old, from an amazing and informative OB-GYN. Access to evidence-based information is more important than ever as the average age for starting a family continues to rise – well into the late 20s and early 30s – given that infertility rates increase dramatically with age, while the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies inversely decline. Many only learn these statistics when faced with an infertility diagnosis.
One thing I appreciate about this memoir is the author’s honesty regarding her privilege and the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into growing her family. There is an astronomical – and in many cases insurmountable – financial barrier for assisted reproductive technology; this memoir talks about the high costs of IVF and surrogacy, but also mentions how many other options, like adoption, are prohibitively expensive and complicated. Ontario provincial health benefits currently cover one round of IVF in a patient’s lifetime – but if you’ve ever looked into the average success rates per IVF round, multiple rounds are required on average for successful conception, with success rates dramatically decreasing with age. This barrier disproportionately shuts out anyone who requires medical assistance to grow their family – in this memoir’s case a heterosexual couple, but Johnston also frames this issue in relation to same-sex couples and anyone planning a pregnancy without a partner.
Johnston’s experience in government is also a unique asset: daughter of a former Governor General, with current and prior experience working in political and non-profit advocacy roles, she has a broad perspective that includes both personal experience and the realities of pushing for policy changes, even on widely popular issues with champions in politics. The takeaway is that it took a demographic shift in elected representatives, and the efforts of numerous passionate campaigners, many years to make small changes. The details are specific to Ontario but the story at the heart of the book is one that many people face – with different degrees of social and financial support.
I would have appreciated more attention to supporting facts – statistics, particulars of legislation changes including names and dates – but that’s personal preference, as my usual go-tos for nonfiction lean more toward investigative journalism and academia than memoir. Johnston includes a short list of citations at the end of the book, including enough general supporting info to back up her points, contextualize her personal story, and give a jumping-off point for anyone who wants to learn more.
Inconceivable is a quick and easy read in terms of length and author’s voice; its subject matter is difficult but shared with honesty and a solid understanding of the author’s personal story in its broader societal context. Johnston’s memoir is a valuable contribution to the conversation around fertility and assisted reproductive technology in Canada, published by Toronto-based nonfiction firm Sutherland House Books, with content addressing current fertility options and existing legislation in Ontario.
March 3, 2021
Heartbreaking, emotional and informative, Inconceivable, the story of Alex Johnston’s tragic road to motherhood, is a must read for young women planning to have children. Alex, a lawyer, was 34 when she and her husband David decided to start a family. After months of trying, they consulted a fertility specialist and learned that she was premenopausal, her fertility had peaked when she was 28 and that her chance to have a baby was slim. With determination, she researched other options. After IVF failed, she turned to surrogacy, then not well known in Canada. The search for a surrogate, the excitement of the pregnancy and the thrill of labor end for Alex and David ended with the death of their daughter Sam minutes before she was born. This is shattering for Alex (and the reader). Alex and David will finally have children and complete their family.
Alex Johnstone is a force of nature. I have children. I have no idea how she survived what she did. She writes beautifully and her sense of humor shines through. The description of her wild ride home from Green Bay with a newborn is laugh out loud funny. She also describes her frustration, anger and grief so well that you rage and cry along with her. She ends her story with an appeal to young women, advising them to have fertility counseling early so they can freeze eggs or start a family earlier than planned. She has worked tirelessly to change policies in Canada, including funding IVF. This is a 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sutherland House and Alex Johnston for this ARC.
Alex Johnstone is a force of nature. I have children. I have no idea how she survived what she did. She writes beautifully and her sense of humor shines through. The description of her wild ride home from Green Bay with a newborn is laugh out loud funny. She also describes her frustration, anger and grief so well that you rage and cry along with her. She ends her story with an appeal to young women, advising them to have fertility counseling early so they can freeze eggs or start a family earlier than planned. She has worked tirelessly to change policies in Canada, including funding IVF. This is a 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sutherland House and Alex Johnston for this ARC.
March 10, 2021
This book tells the story of Alex Johnston, and her long, difficult road to motherhood. This book tells of her infertility, and the long years it took for her conceive and have her children. This was an honest and up front memoir, and one that I was happy to have read. All those who want to become parents take their own path, and it is no different with Alex. She details a journey of difficulty, loss, and ultimately joy.
This is well written and engaging book. It was easy to get into and relate to Alex, with her struggles, fears, and you wanted her to get her family. I enjoyed hearing her story, and learned a lot about fertility treatments, surrogacy, and the health system.
The author lives in Canada, and a lot of the information on treatments and steps that were taken were very specific to Canada and the health system there. It doesn’t pertain much to the United States health system. Also, the author and her husband spent ultimately hundreds of thousands of dollars on treatments and surrogacy. A lot of people do not have the money or the means to engage in what they did to have kids. In Canada, Alex was working to change the laws, but in other countries the path that she took may be unattainable.
Overall, this book is educational, entertaining and I would recommend reading this, especially if you’re struggling with fertility or just want to learn about some options that are out there.
This is well written and engaging book. It was easy to get into and relate to Alex, with her struggles, fears, and you wanted her to get her family. I enjoyed hearing her story, and learned a lot about fertility treatments, surrogacy, and the health system.
The author lives in Canada, and a lot of the information on treatments and steps that were taken were very specific to Canada and the health system there. It doesn’t pertain much to the United States health system. Also, the author and her husband spent ultimately hundreds of thousands of dollars on treatments and surrogacy. A lot of people do not have the money or the means to engage in what they did to have kids. In Canada, Alex was working to change the laws, but in other countries the path that she took may be unattainable.
Overall, this book is educational, entertaining and I would recommend reading this, especially if you’re struggling with fertility or just want to learn about some options that are out there.
March 3, 2021
When Alex and her husband decide to start a family, they never would have imagined the challenges that they would soon face. In this memoir, Alex shares the trials and tribulations she faced in hopes to help another wishful mom-to-be.
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Inconceivable centers around a husband and wife’s journey to parenthood. The author goes into grave detail about her failed fertility treatments, infant loss, surrogacy, and life after infertility. There were several times throughout this short but impactful memoir, that I felt my heart physically ache for this family and I ended up shedding more than a few tears before it was over with. So many women suffer quietly with infertility and I praise the author for sharing her harrowing story. I know it could not have been easy to share her family’s story with the world, but it was absolutely necessary. The author said this book is intended to “pay her experience forward,” informing women of the realities of their infertility, and it did exactly that. Thank you to Sutherland House, NetGalley, and the author, Alex Johnston, for the eARC. I will absolutely be purchasing a copy of this memoir when it releases in May.
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Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5)/5
•
Inconceivable centers around a husband and wife’s journey to parenthood. The author goes into grave detail about her failed fertility treatments, infant loss, surrogacy, and life after infertility. There were several times throughout this short but impactful memoir, that I felt my heart physically ache for this family and I ended up shedding more than a few tears before it was over with. So many women suffer quietly with infertility and I praise the author for sharing her harrowing story. I know it could not have been easy to share her family’s story with the world, but it was absolutely necessary. The author said this book is intended to “pay her experience forward,” informing women of the realities of their infertility, and it did exactly that. Thank you to Sutherland House, NetGalley, and the author, Alex Johnston, for the eARC. I will absolutely be purchasing a copy of this memoir when it releases in May.
•
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5)/5
March 19, 2021
In "Inconceivable" Alex Johnston details the long, painful and arduous road she and her husband take in an effort to have a child.
Alex finds herself unable to conceive at a fairly young age, in her mid-thirties, due to a decline in fertility that began at the shocking age of 28 years old. Thus begins their attempts to conceive via IVF and then surrogacy- a time in which they will withstand blow after heartbreaking blow.
Ultimately Alex and her husband David go on to have a three child family- I will let you read the book for find out about that, but I sure didn't see it coming!
This was an easy yet heartbreaking read, in that it was a fairly short but at times harrowing and intense book. That being said, it was devoid of dialogue - it was definitely the telling of her story but at times I felt distanced from it- and I wished I knew more about her children after their arrival, but then that isn't the point of the book, really.
Thank you to the publisher (Sutherland House) and Netgalley for a galley edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Alex finds herself unable to conceive at a fairly young age, in her mid-thirties, due to a decline in fertility that began at the shocking age of 28 years old. Thus begins their attempts to conceive via IVF and then surrogacy- a time in which they will withstand blow after heartbreaking blow.
Ultimately Alex and her husband David go on to have a three child family- I will let you read the book for find out about that, but I sure didn't see it coming!
This was an easy yet heartbreaking read, in that it was a fairly short but at times harrowing and intense book. That being said, it was devoid of dialogue - it was definitely the telling of her story but at times I felt distanced from it- and I wished I knew more about her children after their arrival, but then that isn't the point of the book, really.
Thank you to the publisher (Sutherland House) and Netgalley for a galley edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2021
Alex Johnston finds herself unable to conceive in her mid thirties. She undergoes multiple rounds of IVF without success and then she and her husband pursue surrogacy. Each step of the way Johnston and her husband are faced with heartbreak and terrible loss, but they never give up hope. We get a peek inside IVF and the toll it takes physically as well as financially. Johnston describes the surrogacy process and how complicated it is, not to mention expensive. I appreciated that she touches on the financial aspect of infertility and how she and her husband are so fortunate to be able to afford all of these treatments, while most couples cannot. Johnston lives in Canada and a lot of the details she discusses are specific to her home country and the health care system there.
This memoir is short, but packs a punch. I commend Johnston for sharing her story with the world and opening up about her experiences, which must not have been easy to do. I recommend this book for those struggling with infertility or if you know someone who is.
This memoir is short, but packs a punch. I commend Johnston for sharing her story with the world and opening up about her experiences, which must not have been easy to do. I recommend this book for those struggling with infertility or if you know someone who is.
February 1, 2024
One of the most poignant memoirs of motherhood and even womanhood I have ever come across! There's so much tragedy, so much loss, and yet also so much hope interwoven in the tale that reads out-of-this-world but was the reality of the author's life when she and her husband decided to create a family.
I especially loved the advocacy angle Alex Johnston takes regarding women's fertility throughout - it's inspired and driven by her own struggles and rude meanderings through the female health world and then of fertility treatments and trying to have a child, let alone getting pregnant. More girls should be hearing about this, that when we women think we'd like to start thinking of a family in our 30s, well, we may just be heading for a battlefield since our fertility didn't get the memo and may have already started to close the shutters on the whole endeavour. Be aware, be informed, take your own health and fertility in your own hands with knowledge and the information Alex Johnston discovered in extremis, her hindsight now a gift to other women younger than her
I especially loved the advocacy angle Alex Johnston takes regarding women's fertility throughout - it's inspired and driven by her own struggles and rude meanderings through the female health world and then of fertility treatments and trying to have a child, let alone getting pregnant. More girls should be hearing about this, that when we women think we'd like to start thinking of a family in our 30s, well, we may just be heading for a battlefield since our fertility didn't get the memo and may have already started to close the shutters on the whole endeavour. Be aware, be informed, take your own health and fertility in your own hands with knowledge and the information Alex Johnston discovered in extremis, her hindsight now a gift to other women younger than her
May 16, 2021
Thank you, Alex, for sharing your story. A powerful book, a captivating read, and a helpful resource for women and families. I am grateful to Alex for her honesty, and authenticity, and for writing a book that is informative, yet creative. That is personal, but resonates with so many. That navigates a challenging situation, but offers hope and practical advice.
Alex started her journey naive to the trials and tribulations faced by many when they start to explore parenthood. She lived the experience and shares her ups and downs, her emotional hurdles, and the process she followed from infertility to motherhood in Inconceivable.
Inconceivable is a helpful resource, a supportive read, an emotional journey and a story that will resonate with so many.
I would recommend this book HIGHLY -- trust me, you won't put it down.
Alex started her journey naive to the trials and tribulations faced by many when they start to explore parenthood. She lived the experience and shares her ups and downs, her emotional hurdles, and the process she followed from infertility to motherhood in Inconceivable.
Inconceivable is a helpful resource, a supportive read, an emotional journey and a story that will resonate with so many.
I would recommend this book HIGHLY -- trust me, you won't put it down.
October 5, 2021
INCONCEIVABLE: My Life-Altering, Eye-Opening Journey From Infertility to Motherhood by Alex Johnston
Publisher: Sutherland House
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Health, Mind & Body, Parenting & Families
INCONCEIVABLE: My Life-Altering, Eye-Opening Journey From Infertility to Motherhood by Alex Johnston is an inspirational story of one woman's path to motherhood.
I struggled to read this more than I thought I would. I wanted to read this because I thought it would be informative and inspiring to me in my own journey to motherhood and it was....I just wasn't ready for it.
This book is well-written and is easy to read. But it can be very triggering.
I'm so grateful to Alex Johnston, Sutherland House, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Sutherland House
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Health, Mind & Body, Parenting & Families
INCONCEIVABLE: My Life-Altering, Eye-Opening Journey From Infertility to Motherhood by Alex Johnston is an inspirational story of one woman's path to motherhood.
I struggled to read this more than I thought I would. I wanted to read this because I thought it would be informative and inspiring to me in my own journey to motherhood and it was....I just wasn't ready for it.
This book is well-written and is easy to read. But it can be very triggering.
I'm so grateful to Alex Johnston, Sutherland House, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
May 13, 2021
When Alex Johnson and her husband decided to start a family, they didn't envisage the problems that would stand in their way of becoming parents.
But when years passed without them creating the family they dreamed of, they had to face the facts and make difficult decisions.
This is the first memoir that I've read, and I have no idea how to rate it.
This book raises the important and very overlooked topic of infertility and having gone through similar problems although, on a much smaller scale, I could definitely relate. The book made me cry, and it made me smile.
But how can anyone put a rating on someones' harrowing story?
I'd love to leave it unrated, but for the benefit of NetGalley, I'd go for 4 stars.
But when years passed without them creating the family they dreamed of, they had to face the facts and make difficult decisions.
This is the first memoir that I've read, and I have no idea how to rate it.
This book raises the important and very overlooked topic of infertility and having gone through similar problems although, on a much smaller scale, I could definitely relate. The book made me cry, and it made me smile.
But how can anyone put a rating on someones' harrowing story?
I'd love to leave it unrated, but for the benefit of NetGalley, I'd go for 4 stars.
March 11, 2021
Inconceivable tells the story of Alex Johnston and her husband David through their infertility journey. I cried, i smiled and I read this book in two hours because I could not put it down. The way she talked about such terrible subjects and still came out of it in the end was admirable.
Alex talks about her privilege being able to pay for numerous IVF cycles and surrogacies which is something I've never thought about or had to think about. I realize now how privileged I am to say that.
I would explain this book as heart breaking but also happy and educational.
Thank you to Sutherland House Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Alex talks about her privilege being able to pay for numerous IVF cycles and surrogacies which is something I've never thought about or had to think about. I realize now how privileged I am to say that.
I would explain this book as heart breaking but also happy and educational.
Thank you to Sutherland House Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 22, 2021
In her memoir, Alex Johnston details the harrowing journey through a long fertility process to finally reaching motherhood... in surprising ways!
The author's honesty about her process and experiences offers a rare glimpse into the ups and downs of fertility treatments. It will be interesting reading for anyone going through their own fertility process or difficult pregnancy.
The book is a short but informative read that should however be accompanied by a trigger warning that we will also encounter pregnancy loss at various stages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author's honesty about her process and experiences offers a rare glimpse into the ups and downs of fertility treatments. It will be interesting reading for anyone going through their own fertility process or difficult pregnancy.
The book is a short but informative read that should however be accompanied by a trigger warning that we will also encounter pregnancy loss at various stages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2021
This memoir comes from the voice of a woman who has suffered amongst the most painful losses - pregnancy losses. This woman has incredible resilience and I’m left quite speechless by her intense journey and unfailing hope.
While I appreciate reading her experience, as someone who has experienced pregnancy loss myself, I have to say that her finances allowed her to go through so many treatments (something she does acknowledge) so it’s not an experience nor a voice that I can really identify with. It is, at the foundation, a book about hope and not giving up.
It’s a nice memoir, but I didn’t read anything that grabbed my attention or kept me hooked on reading. Sometimes there was too much narrative, too much time spent on something insignificant, when her strength is what should have shone through.
While I appreciate reading her experience, as someone who has experienced pregnancy loss myself, I have to say that her finances allowed her to go through so many treatments (something she does acknowledge) so it’s not an experience nor a voice that I can really identify with. It is, at the foundation, a book about hope and not giving up.
It’s a nice memoir, but I didn’t read anything that grabbed my attention or kept me hooked on reading. Sometimes there was too much narrative, too much time spent on something insignificant, when her strength is what should have shone through.
April 30, 2021
What an intense journey on the way to motherhood. It's always nice to be able to read about someone who has gone through what you've gone through or are going through. I found this book easy to read (in terms of the author's writing) and I kept wanting to read more. It's also humbling to read about someone who has gone through similar things but has had even more difficult circumstances.
I think this was a cathartic read for me as well as a story that shows their are multiple ways to accomplish some goals.
I think this was a cathartic read for me as well as a story that shows their are multiple ways to accomplish some goals.
June 11, 2021
Inconceivable is the story of Alex Johnston's journey to become a mother. When Alex and her husband decided to have a baby, they were unable to conceive. Over several months and consultation with a fertility specialist they learned her chances of conceiving a baby were very slim. They turned to other options, including IVF and ultimately surrogacy. This is a hard story that is full of grief, loss, and even child death and tragedy. However, the author is a strong woman, and her humor and determination shine through.
July 11, 2021
This quick memoir details the emotional journey that the author went on with her husband to have children. They endured countless years of infertility, IUI, IVF, surrogates, miscarriages, and their first daughter being stillborn, on their quest to form their family. The story is both heartbreaking, yet filled with hope, as they preservere, while enduring some impossibly difficult challenges. I love the insight that the author provides and the light this book sheds on what infertility can look like.
May 4, 2021
A powerful story about trying to conceive that puts the author through a lot. The journey spans years and at times seems to be heading towards conception but obstacles and life interferes.
The only thing I wanted more of is how this made Alex feel, as well as the relationship with her husband which seems to be gleamed over for the most part.
3.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The only thing I wanted more of is how this made Alex feel, as well as the relationship with her husband which seems to be gleamed over for the most part.
3.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2021
Such a lovely book, though heartbreaking and honest. It was relatable, readable and informative. One of the reviews I read said this book should be read by everyone, and I think that's true - it's a great way to understand infertility for those who have (luckily) not had that experience, and it's relatable to those of us who have.
THank you to NetGalley and Sutherland House for the opportunity to review this book!
THank you to NetGalley and Sutherland House for the opportunity to review this book!
June 22, 2021
Defy you to put this book down
Just finished early on Father’s Day which is both coincidental and appropriate; this book is compulsive reading - beautifully written, a very personal story, told in a direct sincere way and punctuated with wry humour at just the right times, that touches all the emotions and will inescapably leave you thinking more deeply about family and the people important to you.
Just finished early on Father’s Day which is both coincidental and appropriate; this book is compulsive reading - beautifully written, a very personal story, told in a direct sincere way and punctuated with wry humour at just the right times, that touches all the emotions and will inescapably leave you thinking more deeply about family and the people important to you.
August 22, 2022
As a woman in a 9 year infertility struggle myself, I’m so glad I read this book. The author’s writing style was witty and she did a wonderful job sharing her story. Even though parts were sad, it’s also a joyful story and I’m thankful that I got to read it.
May 29, 2021
Inconceivable is heartbreaking and heartwarming . Sharon Johnston, Alex's mother and grandmother to her three chics.
tbr_life-stories
May 11, 2022May 31, 2024
What an amazing story told with such love and compassion for everybody involved. Well written, a joy to read.
April 29, 2021
Inconceivable is one that is going in my list of memoirs that everyone should read. It is a heartbreaking yet hopeful, raw and honest account of the author’s infertility journey.
One fact that stood out to me (and was repeated throughout the book) is that a woman’s fertility begins to decline by age 28. As a woman in her 30s who has been taking my sweet time to start a family, this is a fact I feel I should have known before now.
When reading this book, not only was I emotionally invested in Alex’s journey to motherhood, but I was astounded by some of things I didn’t know about infertility and the different options toward parenthood. This book is a must read for any woman hoping to have children one day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sutherland House Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
One fact that stood out to me (and was repeated throughout the book) is that a woman’s fertility begins to decline by age 28. As a woman in her 30s who has been taking my sweet time to start a family, this is a fact I feel I should have known before now.
When reading this book, not only was I emotionally invested in Alex’s journey to motherhood, but I was astounded by some of things I didn’t know about infertility and the different options toward parenthood. This book is a must read for any woman hoping to have children one day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sutherland House Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
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