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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 Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Funny 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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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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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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The narrator is fantastic- she really brings the story to life. I loved this book, fascinating and unapologetic, the author’s voice is a real breath of fresh air. I binged this and loved every second.

Highly recommend

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Funny, thought-provoking, hopeful and wonderfully read by Sarah Slimani - except perhaps the South African accent.

Engaging story, wonderfully narrated

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