Three women. One unthinkable secret. A country on the edge of change.
Set in post-apartheid South Africa during the early 1990s, If You Want to Make God Laugh is a stirring novel of race, motherhood, survival, and the power of unexpected connection. Ruth and Delilah—two white sisters, one wealthy and defiant, the other a former nun—are brought together by the sudden appearance of an abandoned newborn. Zodwa, a teenage Black girl living in poverty and secrecy, is the child’s real mother—pregnant by rape and terrified of her world collapsing. As political unrest simmers across the country and the AIDS crisis looms, their lives intersect in irreversible ways. Bianca Marais tells this powerful story with deep empathy, heart-wrenching honesty, and the grace of someone writing from lived history.
❤️ Why You’ll Love It:
- Rich, character-driven storytelling
- Themes of personal growth, societal pressure, or survival
- Beautifully written with emotional resonance
📌 Perfect For:
- Fans of literary fiction or contemporary novels
- Book clubs looking for layered, discussable stories
- Readers who enjoy emotional or psychological journeys
If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Morris
Author: Bianca Morris
Condition: Like New
- Publication date : July 16, 2019
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 448 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0735219311
- Item Weight : 1.47 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.33 x 1.37 x 9.3 inches
🌟 Notable Reviews
⭐ “Marais paints post-apartheid South Africa with raw, emotional honesty and unforgettable characters. This book is both heartbreaking and healing.”
— BookPage⭐ “Lyrical, unflinching, and full of humanity… Marais has given us a deeply moving story of what it means to be a woman in a fractured world.”
— Shelf Awareness⭐ “An extraordinary tale of strength, trauma, and unexpected sisterhood. I cried more than once.”
— Goodreads Reviewer⭐ “Bianca Marais masterfully braids the lives of three women into a story that will stay with you long after the final page.”
— Booklist⭐ “This is the kind of book that changes how you see people, history, and what it means to choose hope.”
— Library Journal