Fundamentally: Shortlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction

Fundamentally by nussaibah younis

Much like the main character Nadia, we hit the ground running when Nadia arrives in Baghdad to join a team working for the United Nations. Exposed to both the sights, sounds and culture of this country as well the bizarre mix of personalities of her new colleagues, we get an insight into an Organisation of which I previously had no knowledge. Always irreverent and with the black sense of humour that is so often found in people who by day deal with difficult and dark issues, Nadia, who is tasked with setting up a de-radicalisation programme for Isis brides, deals with the frustrations of the protocols and red tape that restricts her accomplishing her aim by partying hard where ever and with whomever she can.

Although I had very little knowledge of the subject – other than information gained through the media - this story challenged me to remember the old adage ‘ there but for the grace of God’ when confronted by the story of Sara an ordinary girl living in England, who as a young and idealistic teenager was drawn into world where she was forced to see things no child should witness. Although far removed from my world I could emphasize with Nadia’s need to feel she could ‘fix’ the problems of others – as a way of compensating for not being in control in her own life, and the disappointment when those you are trying to help do not necessarily want the help you are trying to give. The relationship between Nadia and her mother also gives us hope that however fragile and damaged a relationship may be there is always a way back and some problems can only be resolved with the help of your Mum.

C Ede – Hythe Remainers Book Club 2025

I cannot say I enjoyed this book as the topic is too important.

The author obviously felt the need to shock the reader in the opening chapter. Although I understand she wanted to dismiss the stereotype I felt some of the language was unnecessary.

The book covered the problem of young girls seeking adventure or just wishing to get away from what they perceived as their stifling Muslim communities.

I felt there was something not quite right throughout the book and it was only at the end in the epilogue that the author explained why she had set the book in Iraq rather than Syria which would have been more believable.
Having lived for three years in Khartoum in the 1970s, when the only way in and out was by plane and was very expensive- way beyond our means, I understood the camaraderie amongst the mismatch colleagues who were working with the UN. The description of the ministers and their ‘need’ to show their importance and the ‘corrupt’ behaviour certainly rang true.

No matter what one’s thoughts are about Jihadi brides I think this book offers an insight into why some very young women leave the UK either with a boyfriend or with the promise of an adventure.

Definitely would recommend to a friend and I score it 8/10

Fundamentally is a debut novel that ambitiously attempts to blend satire, comedy, political critique, and emotional depth, but for this reader ultimately falls short. Centred on Dr. Nadia Amin—a British Muslim academic recovering from heartbreak who takes on a deradicalisation role with the UN in Iraq—the novel promises exploration of identity, ideology, and redemption. However, its execution is uneven, with implausible plot developments, some cartoonish characters, and forced humour that detracts from its weightier themes.

The protagonist’s saviour complex and moral blind spots go largely unexamined, while the supporting cast—composed of various archetypes—serve more as narrative props than real people. Most glaring is the erasure of local Iraqi voices, which undermines the story’s credibility and moral ambitions. The novel’s pacing is lopsided, with too much focus on trivial personal drama and too little on the complex realities of radicalisation and aid work. Attempts at emotional resonance are rushed or unresolved, and the ending feels implausibly neat. Really? Would Nadia's mother have been able to whistle up Sara's parents overnight, to say nothing of finding her a job? And another jarring note is hit by the faux thriller attempt at stealing back the baby. It's also impossible not to guess that Sara has been modelled on the real life Shamima Begum, who has ( and is still having) a much less happy ending.

In trying to be subversive, moving, and funny all at once, Fundamentally ends up delivering a messy, tonally inconsistent, and often frustrating read that feels more like an undeveloped concept than a finished novel.

We were fortunate enough to receive copies of this book as our book group was one of the six selected to shadow the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Told in the first person , the author writing from direct experience of working in UN and related NGOs, the story is set in Iraq in 2019 and focusses on the de-radicalisation of ISIS brides and 30 something academic Nadia’s role there. This was certainly an original theme and something I had never read about in fictionalised form so all credit to it for that.
I found the first section of the book tricky to get my head around. The tone was satirical, sarcastic, critical and supposedly “laugh out loud” funny? It came across as something of chick-lit rom-com with explicit sexual references, overdrawn ludicrous caricatures of the UN staff, contemporary cultural references to dating apps, and sexual practices, which I assume was intended to endear us to the main character despite her own inexperience and ineptitude alongside her over zealous arrogance. Instead I found myself disliking her and finding her annoying. All the accompanying cast of characters seemed ignorant, crass, rude and inept. Exaggerated for comic effect perhaps?

However as the story progressed I found myself drawn in.Sara’s, the ISIS bride from the East End of London, must be the story of many girls from the Muslim community in the Uk , not least that of Shamima Begum, and the background to her story was fascinating and authentic sounding. The reality of their lives and the contrast when they reach Syria or Iraq where they were subject to harrowing abuse, was powerful and disturbing to read.

I was interested in the references to real events and people in particular Anwar al - Awlaki, the Al-Qaeda leader and cleric, who radicalised girls such as Sara. Clearly the author had real knowledge of this world.

A serious and important topical issue - but the tone, particularly at the beginning of the book when I felt the writer was trying to shock, was one I struggled with. I wondered constantly what a Muslim reader might make of the book. It was a curious mixture of serious and informative detail about communities and cultures with which I was unfamiliar, interspersed with elements of farce which didn’t always work.

I was gripped by the whole escape episode even if it was implausible. The book became something of a thriller in this last third. The confrontation with Sara at the end was fascinating as was the discussion about the two worlds the women live in and the type of Muslims they were.

I enjoyed Nadia’s back story - her relationship and alienation from her mother, and her mother was one of my favourite characters . The depiction of aid workers was more realistic and successful I felt than the earlier portrayal of UN staff. Perhaps the author really wanted to shine a light and mock these organisations? Clearly her credentials would qualify her to make authentic and accurate observations on that world.

Happy fairy tale ending somewhat implausible perhaps. I gather the author has a book deal for two more books. She will be someone to look out for although I don’t think this would be a worthy winner of this year’s prize.