Alex Johnston’s memoir, Inconceivable, is an enthralling account of one woman’s reproductive pilgrimage to motherhood, delivered through the pernicious lens of unexpected infertility. Like many educated and successful women, Alex has waited until the right time to start a family with her loving husband, David. Her personal biological clock, however, has other ideas. Unbeknownst to them, their prime reproductive years peaked while Alex was in her twenties. As a result, they spend most of their thirties struggling through the emotional hurricane of trying to have a baby through any means possible—artificial inseminations, in vitro fertilizations, and multiple surrogacies. Through each failure, miscarriage, and even the traumatic still birth of their daughter Sam, Alex and David somehow find a way forward. Together. Inconceivable is written with military precision. Through a straightforward account of her own struggles with the vicissitudes of reproduction, she skillfully balances facts with raw emotion. When communicating the first half of her struggles, Alex expertly breaks down the complexities of the infertility world using a seemingly “diary-style stoicism.” This format successfully drives home the point that medical misinformation and societal insensitivities rob women of their reproductive freedoms on a daily basis. By writing with facts first and feelings second, Alex presents a powerful call to action for governments everywhere to protect women’s reproductive rights. But the story doesn’t end there. In the second half of her memoir, Alex dexterously shifts the tone of Inconceivable from educational to emotional. This is a story about love. Luck. Sacrifice. Resilience. And how mental health issues can affect us all. Alex shows us and pays tribute to the people who helped her through. Rife with personal anecdotes and examples of unconditional love from her own family, Inconceivable is a survivor’s guide to dealing with life’s hardships. The best way to validate hardships is by paying attention to that person’s story. Accessible and impactful, Inconceivable invites readers to witness Alex’s pain and perseverance through the injustices she faced. This memoir is not just a story; it’s an ode to endurance, love, and a better path forward. —CANREADS TORONTO BOOK REVIEW