Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Unthinkable

Rate this book
Kairi Jackson didn’t expect his introduction to fatherhood to be a traumatic experience. After watching the love of his life birth their child, that precious moment quickly changes from celebration to grief. As he awaits the fate of his child’s mother, Kairi takes a trip down memory lane, trying to understand why God brought him to this point. During his reflection of his past with Jonessa, he appreciates every moment he shared with her through the good and bad.

Creating and birthing life is supposed to be a blessing, but how can you embrace it when it looks to be a curse? On this journey of remembrance and appreciation of all things good and bad, can Kairi accept his final moments with Jonessa, or will hurt and regret torment him?

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2024

113 people are currently reading
161 people want to read

About the author

Malay Reneé

31 books67 followers
Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Malay Reneé found her love for writing while in the 7th grade, through her love for theater. Being in love with plays encouraged her to start writing out her own ideas and turning them into her own world of scripts. As she got older she wanted to tell more stories, more in-depth. She loved using her imagination to come up with short stories about her perception and ideas of love and her spin on real life drama.

In 2017, she proudly finished her first full length novel. Once it was finished she had no intentions on pursuing a career in writing because of so many doubts and fears. In 2018, she took a leap of faith and looked into making her childhood dream a reality. As of now she has penned and published 13 books and plans to expand her writing career as time goes on. With this new journey in writing she plans on getting back to the original root of her writing, which is love.

Penning love stories that aren’t you traditional happily ever after’s. “Writing in love untraditionally” as she calls it. She still reside in Syracuse as a Teaching Assistant and amongst other titles she takes on the best title ever as being a mother to an adorable little girl.

You can follow me at:
Facebook| Malay Reneé
IG| author_malayrenee
Twitter| @Malay_Reneé

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
87 (81%)
4 stars
15 (14%)
3 stars
3 (2%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for *Ebony I*.
1,413 reviews154 followers
February 8, 2025
Loving Past the Trials

Wow this book sent me through all of the emotions. 

Kairi and Jonessa were the most going with the flow couple ever. Kai didn't give BDE, but he was everything he said he was...hard working, caring, and supportive. Joie was way more complicated, she had the biggest heart but was guarded because of her illness and life. They were content with just being in love and didn't really put expectations on their partnership. While Kai is chasing his dream, work becomes his priority and he struggles finding the balance. He wants to be the man Joie fell in love with, but he also wants to be successful. With all the broken promises and feeling second their relationship takes a turn. 

Through it all I appreciated the way Kai was steadfast at her side as she experienced crisis after crisis. It never changed the way he loved her. The author did a good job of representing life with a disease and how it impacts every day life of the carrier, but the family as well. It was a lot 🥹

I wasn't super sold on jumping from past to present, but I did like how it peeled back the different layers of the story. This one really touched my heart. 
Profile Image for Antoinette (_literaryaura_).
442 reviews91 followers
February 16, 2025
Another exceptional read and my second favorite read of 2025. I was locked in from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The story was very realistic and very relatable. Those hospital scenes almost took me up out of here. This story will tug on your heart strings and is a real tear jerker for sure.
Profile Image for Monae Nicole.
Author 76 books190 followers
June 22, 2024
A beautiful journey.

If I could have given this more stars I would have. I absolutely loved the way this author told their story. It was a full journey from the beginning to the very end. Their relationship was relatable. I rooted for them the whole time, even when situations tried to tear them apart. There were a few parts where I cried, so make sure you have tissues nearby. This story was worth every single page, and I would recommend it. One of the best books Ive read this year. Easily in my top 5.
Profile Image for Shahtia Gay-hairston.
3,438 reviews26 followers
June 20, 2024
Unthinkable

Good standalone! I never witnessed a sickle cell crisis in real life but it’s clear from Jonessa’s depiction it’s nothing to play with. I love seeing their love story develop.
Profile Image for Lala.
24 reviews
March 9, 2025
I experienced all the emotions chapter after chapter. I loved the way the author introduced how the couple met. The story was relatable and that sparked the motivation to turn the page after page. Jonessa was solid within her own right, open to love but not desperate. Kairi knew what he wanted and refused to settle for anything less than that, but when he met Jonessa he felt it…from friends to lovers to life partners.

I also enjoyed how the author introduced what it looked like for a couple, where one of them had a chronic medical condition. I loved how Kairi never left her side. Crisis, after crisis he was there, staying in the hospital, he never wavered. I also loved how the author showed how a disease not only affects the carrier, but the family as well. The author showed what a couple in real life could possibly face and the lessons and blessing that’s on the other side. It was passionate, honest, raw, real. The narration between the past and present provided a little more context into their story.

I know it’s the beginning of the year, but definitely a high recommend and one that can easily become my favorite in 2025.
Profile Image for Q. Moore.
968 reviews39 followers
December 9, 2024
Forty year type of love!

Ms. Malay, it's something about your novels that always have a unique spin on them. Jonessa life was a real rollercoaster, especially with her health challenges. I wasn’t expecting the other secret that came out as the book went on. However, she handled it her way with her parents backing her decision. That type of love and support is unmatched in some families. Cocoa and Keenan did a solid when they introduced Kairi and Jonessa. They started a bond that would stand through the test of time. They had their ups and downs like any normal couple, but they persevered through them. At one point in this masterpiece, I was holding my breath. I didn't know the fate of Jonessa. Let's just say you execute that scene and chapter well. Kairi and Jonessa were meant for each other. They have that 40-year type of love in the making while expanding their family.

Hands down, this is a magnificent read, Ms. Malay did this. If you haven’t had the opportunity to indulge, please take the time to. You will be thoroughly intrigued.
Profile Image for LaWanna.
12 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2025
This book right here had me in my feelings. I love everything about it. 5 stars are not enough. Wonderful story telling.
Profile Image for Stacie H.
124 reviews
June 27, 2024
Whew!

I made it through this heart ful love story. Kai and Joei love journey was beautifully written. I made have tapped in on every emotion I have while reading. It made me smile, frown, laugh, cry, get mad and feel love.
Kai had a big heart to stay by Joei through her health issues and help take care of her. He did drop the ball on a few things but he was a great man.
Joei had a big heart and cared for children sooo much. Though she did something that could have changed things in her love life her and Kai was able to fight through it and come out on the other side stronger.
Great read and the ending was worth the ride.
Profile Image for Kinya Williams.
251 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2024
Good read

Kairi & Jonessa! This is my first book by this author. I was riveted. From their 1st meet to the 1st date and the 1st misunderstanding! It's really well written. The characters are believable, and their situations are relatable.
84 reviews
June 19, 2024
loved this

My gurl has done it again … and you made me cry 😢. Definitely worth the wait … although you love these standalone books . I’m definitely here for the next one to come !!!!
184 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2024
Amazing

Whew…this one had me crying like a baby! It was such a good story and each of the characters were so endearing! The authors storytelling is very well done!
5 reviews
June 21, 2024
We’ll Done!

I enjoyed reading this book. I haven’t cried reading a book in a long time. The story was beautiful. Well done, Malay Renee’.
Profile Image for Lauren Lane.
379 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2025
wow 🥹

SPOILERS!!!
This was a great read! Well thought out and accurate in all things SCD. The love and attention Jonessa’s parents showed her throughout this book was so touching. Her father didn’t go as hard on Kairi like I thought he would. I definitely wasn’t expecting Jo to be adopted and I didn’t really see the need to even mention her real mother.
I can’t lie…I initially felt like Ki was selfish right after the move. It wasn’t an excuse for what Jo did but it was a human error and I’m so glad they got past that. I wanted Ki to stop with the back and forth with meeting Jo’s needs one min and then letting her down the next. Loved the friend group and loved the role Jo played in her career. The ending scared me and of course I teared up because everyone literally said their goodbyes 🥲 I’m glad it all got better.
20 reviews2 followers
December 2, 2024
Phenomenal

I truly enjoyed this book! I loved how it alternated timelines between the present and the past. I know that’s not for everyone but it seemed perfect for Kairi and Jonessa’s story. Their journey to life and love wasn’t perfect by a long shot but it was SO REAL. As a person with chronic illness, I could especially relate to Joei’s character. My goodness, I was in full out tears at certain points. That just lets me know how successful the author was at creating a story that readers can connect to. Well done Malay Reneé!
Profile Image for Whit.
3,657 reviews51 followers
March 23, 2025

What a heartbreaking, emotional and captivating roller coaster ride!!!!!!

That last hospital scene was so heart-tugging, it felt like a family member was leaving here. Didn't even realize I was crying, until I tried to catch my breath! Loved how Kairi and Jonessa tried to work through, what was vividly described as an impossible situation. Sickle Cell Anemia is no joke!
Profile Image for Kymesha.
43 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2025
I was not prepared for this book to put me on such an emotional ride.🥺 It is a beautifully written story of two people loving throughout their trials. It definitely pulls on your heart watching them fight to push through their problems.
I also love the realistic look into the struggles of someone dealing with sickle cell.
827 reviews2 followers
December 4, 2024
love it 😍

When I say this book emotionally hijacked me. Whew I have laughed, gotten mad, cried, and rejoiced reading this book. So different than the normal boy meets girl. More realistic for sure and it touches on an illness so many don’t realize affects so many people.
2 reviews
January 22, 2025
GOD’S BLESSINGS

This is by far the best book I’ve ever read And I’m A Everyday Reader,It was full of so much Emotion and FAITH,LOVE AND TRUSTING IN GOD THAT HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. It HAD ME CRYING TEARS OF JOY. I LOVED IT 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
18 reviews
December 12, 2024
Unthinkable

Good read. Slows down when you past 85% really good story line.I like the characters personality. I recomend to read.
18 reviews
January 1, 2025
Grab the Tissue

This book was so good!! Baby, when I tell
you I have balled my eyes out! Who would've thought things would happen the way they did. Definitely a great read.
6 reviews
January 8, 2025
Amazing

This story was so well written. I couldn’t put it down. So many ups and downs, but true love prevailed.
Profile Image for BooksAreMyLoveLanguage.
82 reviews1 follower
May 10, 2025
I love reading books that make me feel & this book did that. It was so realistic and had me deep in my feelings. Loved it!!
Profile Image for Domonique.
23 reviews
October 20, 2025
Love this read!!!!

Omg, I had so many emotions while reading this book. I love Kairi and Joei's story of becoming one. It showed the good, bad, pretty, and ugly.
Profile Image for Cherie Harris.
3 reviews
June 19, 2024
Where do I begin? If I could rate more than 5 ⭐️, I most definitely would!!!This was my first read by this author and I have to say that she blew me away. It was beautiful to experience Joei and Kai from their first encounter until their finality. The way that these two showed up for each other and chose each other no matter what, had me in my feels. I shed a few tears while reading this masterpiece. Joei was the epitome of strength and Kai was giving “my man my man my man” vibes!!!! The little pinch of “Deja” drama was just enough but baybeeee when that “Quan” drama hit, I slid down the wall slooooowwlllllyyyy!!!! READ THIS GEM NEEEOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!!! I promise you will not be disappointed!!! Malay Reneé has a forever fan/supporter in me!!!
Profile Image for DeNae Sheree.
1,108 reviews21 followers
June 19, 2024
Beautiful story

This was such a beautifully written book. The author took us through all the ups and downs in a relationship. I could really feel all the emotions the characters were going through. It was also such a unique storyline, I’m so impressed. Definitely one of the top 3 reads of 2024 for me!!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.