I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman takes a UN job repatriating ISIS brides. The trauma the young women suffered, the fellow employees at the refugee camp, and personal drama make for compelling story lines.

Fundamentally
By Nusaibah Younis

Nadia is a PhD looking for a "real job" when she writes a paper about the so-called ISIS brides and what should be done to repatriate them to their home countries. As the result of the uproar caused by her paper, Nadia is offered a job by the UN to set up just such a program.

A little background on who Nadia is: she lives in the UK, having been raised by a Muslim mother (whom she often disappoints), and has just suffered a breakup from her lover, Rosie. So Nadia accepts the job, ostensibly to do some good, but also to run away from home. It is only upon her arrival in Baghdad that Nadia begins to realize just how over her head this job is.

Nadia is assisted by a team of two: Sherry, a buttoned up twit loudly proclaiming her objection to the project "on moral grounds", and Pierre, a snarky Frenchman who was passed over for Nadia's job.

As Nadia becomes more involved with the "brides" in the internment camp, the story becomes, by turns, both funny and thought-provoking. Nadia's fixation on Sara, a young Londoner like herself, allows the author to give voice to all the issues involved. Two major threads concern Nadia's relationship with her fundamentalist mother and all the facets of the brides' situation (family, sex, religion, human rights – the list is endless).

While the book drags in places and the ending is less than stellar, this is a good read. It allows the reader to see the "other side of the coin". And in fact, this coin is multi-faceted.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Thanks for the review copy. This is a great debut. I enjoyed how funny the book is, too. Thus one will be a hit.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Nussaibah Younis' debut novel, Fundamentally, explores the complexities of international aid and deradicalization through the story of Nadia, an academic working with the UN in Iraq. After a difficult breakup, Nadia takes on the challenging task of rehabilitating ISIS women, immersing herself in the intricate world of humanitarian efforts and the contentious nature of her work.

When Nadia arrives in Iraq, she realizes that the task ahead of her is much larger than she anticipated and that she may not be the best person for the job. Nevertheless, she embraces the challenge and resolves to pursue her mission in her own way. Along the way, she encounters various personalities, some of whom become significant to her journey.

The story is thought-provoking and sensitive, exploring themes such as terrorism, religion, deradicalization, and the complex issues that accompany them. However, the novel tends to oversimplify these themes, which is likely intentional given the author's choice to adopt a humorous tone throughout the book.

For a debut novel, this was a decent read. Would I recommend it to every reader? Probably not. While some situations were quite funny, providing humor for those seeking it, I don’t believe the book will appeal to all readers looking for a lighthearted experience. Additionally, the novel's portrayal of Islamic culture and religious beliefs often leans towards Western stereotypes, which may disappoint readers who understand the basics of the religion. If you can overlook the story's shortcomings, give it a chance; you might find it enjoyable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Nussaibah Younis’ "Fundamentally" is a sharp, witty, and thought-provoking exploration of morality, relationships, and the challenges of working in high-stakes, international settings. The novel follows Nadia, a London academic who takes on a role with the UN to lead a deradicalization program for ISIS brides in Iraq. What seems like an opportunity to make a real difference quickly unravels as Nadia confronts bureaucracy, a lack of support from her colleagues, and her own inner conflict about how far she's willing to go to help the people she’s supposed to serve.

Nadia is a wonderfully complex protagonist—her inner monologue is at once funny, insightful, and deeply relatable. As she navigates her personal life, from her recent sapphic heartbreak to her fraught relationship with her mother and ex-partners, the reader is drawn into her moral dilemmas. The book balances humor with serious, often difficult themes—motherhood, religion, and sexuality—without feeling preachy or too heavy-handed.

The novel's humor, rooted in British culture and Nadia’s sometimes naive optimism, provides a refreshing contrast to the difficult realities of her work in Iraq. There are moments of laugh-out-loud comedy, but the author never lets the levity overshadow the gravity of the situation. The secondary characters are just as well-developed as Nadia, giving the narrative richness and emotional depth.

While the book offers keen observations about the clash between youthful idealism and the often disillusioning realities of global organizations, its pacing falters slightly toward the end. Despite this, "Fundamentally" is an engaging, compelling read that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

Highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a funny, insightful, and surprisingly tender exploration of moral conflict and personal growth.

I really enjoyed this novel about a woman who, when faced with the complexities of the world, undergoes serious reconsideration of who she is and what she believes in. Nadia, a brash criminologist, gets involved in a UN plan to rehabilitate ISIS brides, and finds herself advocating for one woman in particular who--in a slightly different timeline--Nadia thinks could easily have been her. But people are complicated, and the UN people Nadia works with are a mixture of corrupt, uncaring, overworked, and burnt out, and her protege isn't as much like Nadia as she thinks. Younis does a fabulous job of world-building and character development, and I appreciate the excellent bi/pan representation in a person of color. This is a great choice for book clubs and discussion groups.

I am thankful for the chance to read this book but I honestly did not get very far. The writing felt cheesy and it took me out of the plot so much that I knew I wouldnt enjoy it.

This was a wickedly funny debut! Highly recommend anyone give it a shot to hear Nadia's narrative voice here. The satire of the UN is interesting and new for me, and felt this explored themes that were unique to what I've read in the past.

Unfortunately, this one took me a little too long to get engaged with and to finish with enthusiasm. The writing is very good, the plot just wasn’t for me. Thank you Nussaibah Younis and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Fundamentally.

This novel follows Nadia, a university lecturer on a sabbatical to Iraq with the goal of rehabilitating and repatriating foreign-born ISIS brides. The plot itself is certainly unique: the setting and the characters are vivid, and the issues that Nadia’s UN organization tries to address are not something I know much about. Nadia herself veered between being sympathetic and hard-to-like; she’s shockingly (and sometimes rudely) honest to her coworkers, and she develops a somewhat inappropriate relationship with one of the refugee women she works with. This book is funny, though some of the jokes border on crude, and I can understand the Dolly Alderton comparisons. All in all, I appreciated the unique voice and setting (especially seeing as it’s informed by Dr. Younis’ experiences doing similar work to Nadia’s), though the plot arc and the characters’ decisions often seem erratic. 3⭐️, I liked it.

“Fundamentally” is by Nussaibah Younis. In this book, Nadia, a London college academic, writes and publishes a paper on rehabilitating ISIS brides. She gets an offer from the UN to do that just and accepts. When she gets to Iraq, she realizes she’s in a bit too deep water as she needs to not only develop the program, but her assisted team is not even behind her. In some ways, this book reminded me of some people I know - I can make a difference, I can change the world, I can do it and that will-power is enough. Welcome to a big slow moving corporation with paperwork, procedures, and good luck. While the enthusiasm that Nadia shows is great (and sometimes humorous), it did remind me of those young enthusiasts I worked with in US government jobs (or new teaching organizations). I found the contrast of enough humor to offset the heavy topic a good balancing act. I also thought the pacing was well done (well, except for near the ending). I wasn’t too thrilled with the millennial feel of this book, but that’s obviously my flaw - not the author’s.

"Fundamentally" by Nussaibah Younis is a heartfelt and thought-provoking exploration of faith, identity, and resilience. Younis writes with an authenticity that makes the reader feel deeply connected to her journey. The themes of self-discovery and personal growth are beautifully woven throughout, offering moments of reflection and inspiration. Her storytelling is both poignant and relatable, blending personal anecdotes with universal truths that resonate across cultures. The writing style is accessible yet profound, making it a meaningful read for anyone navigating questions of belief or belonging. This book is a gem for those seeking a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them.

I quite liked aspects of this but i found the writing to be a bit disjointed in places. I liked the themes though.

The description of this book was unlike any I’d seen, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, for me, the characters were underdeveloped and the last bits of plot were too wild. I do really appreciate the ARC.

Hilarious and, really an amazing story. I knew little to nothing about ISIS brides going into this book and I learned not only about their situation, but the climate of Iraq. I loved the level of humor mixed with ways to make the characters relatable and I appreciated the ending! So grateful to have been able to get an early copy of this book!

I really enjoyed this witty, irreverent, and heartfelt novel about a woman joining the UN in Iraq to "deradicalize" ISIS brides. A lot of the portrayals of the UN reminded me of We Meant Well by Erum Shazia Hasan, but the tone of Fundamentally is a little lighter than that one somehow. I really liked seeing how Nadia wrestled with the hypocrisies of working for a group like the UN, and her frustration about their limitations, as well as examining the different reasons women become radicalized (not to mention the women who didn't have a choice). Nadia is not perfect, and makes a lot of mistakes, but her heart is in the right place. The characters are hilarious and almost unrealistically goofy in their portrayals sometimes, but that was effect in communicating what Younis wanted them to represent. I wasn't thrilled with Nadia's choice at the end, but I hope it is the start of a greater healing journey for Nadia. I really recommend this if you are also interested in learning about the nuances of radicalization and/or international development. Younis clearly knows her stuff and I appreciate her sharing it with us via fiction.

I enjoyed reading this, I've always been very interested in reading about Muslim women from their own perspectives, and that was what I expected to get here even tho I am aware the book is fiction.. I don't find the subject matter personally offensive, as I am interested in reading about the perspectives of Muslim women that are both presently still Muslim and that have distanced themselves from the religion.

That being said I could not figure out the perspective of the author vs. the character, I still thought the issues were handled in a manner that was especially compelling for me, I love books that are provocative and insightful, and this book kept me absored till the very end. I had a few issues with the way I felt things were portrayed, but not enough to consider it a negative reading experience,

I was invited to review this book by the publisher. Nadia is a doctor and an academic, who publishes regarding rehabilitating ISIS brides. The United Nations is intrigued and want her to assist in their program that deradicalizes these women in Iraq. Nadia agrees to go, as she wants to get away from London and parts of her past. Once in Iraq, however, things don't go as she anticipated; her team is hostile to her because she is new, and many do not believe her program is ethical. Nadia takes herself and a few others to visit the women directly, and it is there she meets Sara; Nadia knows she is from London based on her accent, and vows to return her home. However, Nadia is met with one roadblock after another, as the corruption reveals itself - so, she decides to take things into her own hands. But, what are the results of such an endeavor?

There were definitely parts about this book that challenged the reader to think, but there was enough humor spliced in that it wasn't too "heavy". The writing offers a lot for the reader - this did not drag in any way, but propelled along pretty quickly. Plus, there were lots of interesting topics discussed here such as womanhood, Western powers, religion, and corruption. You would not think there would be humor in such a book, but it is a special treat within the pages. I enjoyed this read with multi-layered storylines and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton/Tiny Reparations Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is a brilliantly audacious journey filled with wicked humor and sharp wit! Nadia’s character is wonderfully relatable; her mix of vulnerability and fierce determination makes her journey captivating. The author doesn’t shy away from asking tough questions about belief, agency, and the ethics of saving others, all while delivering an engaging narrative that is equal parts funny and thought-provoking. I was hooked from the start and am absolutely dying for more from this talented voice! This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates humor woven into poignant storytelling.

A dark comedy and a tongue in cheek story about government (many governments) bureaucracy, Fundamentally is the queer comedy that you didn't know you needed. Dr. Nadia Amin drops into a plum job of deradicalizing ISIS-affiliated women in Iraqi refugee camps. It's certainly ground breaking and a meaningful mission. But once she arrives she realized that her life as an academic has kept her from many sordid truths, including how to manage the unmanageable staff she is now responsible for leading.

Honestly every sentence was hilarious and there was some great nuggets of info as well. The truth is, these women have no country at this point and no where to go! Younis has created a romance where no one else would have thought to look. She does it with great skill and hilarity and I recommend it whole-heartedly. #penguin #nussaibahyounis #fundamentally