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Fundamentally

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Fundamentally

By: Nussaibah Younis
Narrated by: Sarah Slimani
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About this listen

 SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A NEW NAME TO WATCH OUT FOR' THE TIMES
'THE DEBUT OF THE YEAR' STYLIST
'ELECTRIC' GUARDIAN

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.

'Funny, gripping and compassionate' DOLLY ALDERTON
'Not only hysterically funny but trenchant and necessary. I loved it' INDIA KNIGHT
'A raunchy, irreverent, touching and daring debut' PARINI SHROFF
'Essential reading' JONATHAN COE
'A breath of fresh air' MARIAN KEYES
'Original, funny and fearless' NINA STIBBE©2025 Nussaibah Younis (P)2025 Orion Publishing Group Limited Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Political Satire Funny Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking Middle East Iran
All stars
Most relevant  
Really strong plot, with beautiful writing and a window into a world much misunderstood. A worthy read.

A really fascinating insight

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Clearly narrated, witty and brilliantly written, I didn't expect to enjoy Fundamentally as much as I have.

Superb storytelling with a hint of reality

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What a breath of fresh air! Funny, witty, impeccably observed and beautifully written. Favourite book of the year!

LOVED it!

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Really great story and fascinating take on things I’d only seen in the news. Good characters that depict intersectionality and complex situations well.

Surprising and spot on

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Well well well. This is quite the debut. This author looks at a very serious topic but intertwines humour excellent. I wouldn’t say either of one of main characters are the most likeable but Nadia is good at heart just very misguided.

Talk about bureaucracy

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I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Fundamentally, and I absolutely loved it!!
Narrator was on point too!

This book is raw, powerful, funny but most of all it’s human.
Despite the book being centred around the rehabilitation of ISIS brides, there is so much in it that people will relate to. The main thing is the age old need to belong. To be accepted, and what can go wrong when you’re not.

This is a cleverly written book that mixes razor sharp wit with very serious topics. I will be recommending it to lots of people and look forward to any future books by this author

Quite possibly my favourite book so far this year!

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Wanted to read something different and this really delivered. Don’t be put off by the subject matter, it’s a brilliant book

Hugely entertaining and moving

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Great wit, pacing and cracking story. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel inspired no doubt by the plight of poor Shamima Begum..

Sharply funny take on ISIS brides, academia, religion and NGOs

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I like the narrator, the pace and turn of phrase. Good realistic plot and mainly believable characters. But to me it is a serious book and I don’t agree with some of the media reviews. A good debut

Interesting and educational but I didn’t get the humour as it was too sad

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An enjoyable story with well drawn, complex characters. The narrator was incredible - she really bought the characters to life.

Excellent

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