When God Was a Rabbit

Every family has its secrets. Every childhood has its magic.

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman is a beautifully written, must-read coming-of-age novel that blends wit, wonder, and emotional depth. Spanning four decades, the story follows Elly, a quirky, curious girl growing up in 1970s England with an eccentric family, a deeply loyal brother, and a pet rabbit named God. But as Elly moves from childhood innocence to the complexities of adulthood, the bonds that once held everything together are tested by love, loss, and life’s unexpected turns.

Told with warmth and originality, Winman’s debut explores themes of friendship, family, identity, and the strange, beautiful ways people stay connected, even when time and tragedy intervene. It’s a novel where humor meets heartbreak, and the ordinary becomes quietly extraordinary.