Bookseller Reviews
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Funny but informative, I loved it!
Fundamentally is a fast-paced and hilariously funny novel about an extremely unfunny topic. It's a very dark humour, which I love the most, and highly rela... READ MORE
Funny & Thoughtful
Fundamentally is the perfect mix of funny and enlightening. There is no better feeling than when we can thoroughly enjoy reading something, and also learn ... READ MORE
Fantastic debut
I didn't imagine a book about ISIS brides would be so funny, but here we are. Nadia's voice is well written and she is a compelling, protagonist. A brilli... READ MORE
Hilarious and Original, a must-read!
To sum it up, l've read Fundamentally multiple times this month and l've loved every single reading of it. It is an exceptional and original novel and I'm ... READ MORE
Sharply observed, deeply contemporary
A frequently hilarious and sharply satirical story about an academic who has travelled to Iraq to deradicalise ISIS brides - this is one of those books tha... READ MORE
A Brilliant Icebreaker of a Book
Did I ever expect to be having a full blown giggle about war crimes committed by ISIS? No! And yet here I am, finished this book while having laughed lots ... READ MORE
Sharp satire with real heart
Fundamentally was one of those novels where I just think “oh yes, this voice is IT” within the first few pages. It’s a darkly comic satire that’s probably ... READ MORE
Funny, rude and surprising
I really enjoyed this debut “fish out of water” novel. It is great to read a book written by a Muslim woman which reflects modern life, as this one does, t... READ MORE
Thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking
Fundamentally is a massive achievement. To approach the subject of religious fundamentalism with a protagonist who bumbles her way through her life though ... READ MORE
Funny and emotional
This was a really unique book and I laughed and learned a lot! Dr Younis clearly built most of the story from her actual experiences with de-radicalization... READ MORE
Funny and enlightening
Very enjoyable! I boosted this to the top of my tbr mountain after hearing the author talk about it. The characters all had wildly different life experienc... READ MORE
Synopsis
A wildly funny and razor-sharp exploration of love, family, religion and the decisions we make in pursuit of belonging.
'By normal, you mean like you? A slag with a saviour complex?'
Nadia is an academic who's been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, Rosy. She decides to make a getaway, accepting a UN job in Iraq. Tasked with rehabilitating ISIS women, Nadia becomes mired in the opaque world of international aid, surrounded by bumbling colleagues.
Sara is a precocious and sweary East Londoner who joined ISIS at just fifteen.
Nadia is struck by how similar they are: both feisty and opinionated, from a Muslim background, with a shared love of Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines. A powerful friendship forms between the two women, until a secret confession from Sara threatens everything Nadia has been working for.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
- ISBN: 9781399623940
- Number of pages: 336
- Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 30 mm
- Weight: 236g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allA wonderful satire of extremism…..
Nadia, a 30 something academic recovering from a recent heartbreak accepts a United Nations job in Iraq and is tasked with rehabilitating ISIS women. Nadia... READ MORE
Five stars!
Nussaibah Younis’ Fundamentally is a sharp, heartfelt, and darkly funny exploration of identity, morality, and resilience. Set against the backdrop of an i... READ MORE
2025 Debut
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
Reading about the author and how she came to write this book is absolutely fascinating.
This is a... READ MORE
Informative
This was not one of my favourite reads. Very interesting topic and very informative but lightened and interspersed with humour. There were many side chara... READ MORE
A unique and engaging debut read!
Fundamentally is a darkly funny and thought-provoking novel about Nadia, a heartbroken academic who takes on a UN job in Iraq to help rehabilitate ISIS bri... READ MORE
An important and courageous story.
To write about politically sensitive and controversial subjects is courageous and I'm sure the author has been met with critical voices. The main character... READ MORE
It is a hit with me!
I really enjoyed this - it so different from the other books that I have been reading recently, it is an absolute breath of fresh air. The topic is one th... READ MORE
Outstanding clever….
…a great read written by someone who understands how we often fail when we try to intervene in things we often don’t understand. This novel can be read o... READ MORE
Wow just one to read
Wow, the most incredible story with some of the most memorable characters I think I have ever read, I felt so bereft once I finished and I couldn't know ev... READ MORE
Well written and flows at a good pace
At times very funny and also very crude but overall quite a depressing read. The infighting of the UN agencies, the corruption of the authorities and the ... READ MORE
This novel has a really interesting premise.
‘Fundamentally’ has been given some extremely positive pre-publication reviews. I looked forward to learning plenty about deradicalisation programmes from... READ MORE
Solid Debut
Fundamentally explores a complex situation of terrorism, religion, and deradicalisation through dark humour of an academic working with the UN in Iraq.
... READ MORE
Brilliantly funny, thought provoking and moving
Very, very good indeed.
‘Fundamentally’ has an eye-catchingly ballsy premise: a comedy about de-radicalising Isis brides. But comedy is underselling it:... READ MORE
Whip-smart and full of heart.
I was really interested in reading this story because it sounded fascinating and was also not something I would usually be drawn to. I was a bit concerned ... READ MORE
An excellent debut
I struggle to write a review of this book, mostly because I have never read anything like this before. To write a book about a subject so contentious and a... READ MORE
Unsure if it's for me
As the reviews say, it puts humour into a serious topic however, I've read a 1/3 of the book so far and haven't picked it up again. For me personally it's ... READ MORE
Groundbreaking
Nadia, a British woman of Pakistani descent has distanced herself from her Islamic roots. Recently recruited by the United Nations to help “deradicalise” E... READ MORE
A cliched and naive comedy about de radicalisation
*I received a free preview copy of this book from NetGalley*
This book is basically The Devil Wears Prada set in the UN in Iraq. Nadia is a young Britis... READ MORE
Brilliantly funny, readable and thought-provoking
This was an unexpected treat. Implausibly funny, given the subject matter, it also manages to excoriate fundamentalism and humanitarian aid organisations, ... READ MORE
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