Review of Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis

In the wake of a heartbreaking dumping and being disowned by her puritanical mother, acadmic Nadia accepts a huge job at the UN and escapes her current life for one in Iraq where she will be working to rehabilitate ISIS women. But not only does she feel masssive imposter syndrome, nobody else seems to have faith in the programme either which makes things even harder when she meets gobby East-Londoner Sara whom she desperately wants to help. 

Sara is not your typical ISIS bride. For one, she’s smuggled dairy milk and gummy bears with her across the border. The two bond over silly things like this as well as their shared Muslim background and a firm frienship is founded. In its purest form, it is a story of girlhood. Despite its serious theme, Nussaibah Younis has managed to write a genuinely funny novel - a feat in itself no matter the subject matter. It is razor-sharp and radical in every sense of the word. This debut is the work of a very talented new writer with their eye on the pulse of what love, religion, family and friendship means in our current climate. 

Reviewed by Abi

Published on 25/02/25 by Orion

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