1.22k reviews for:

Fundamentally

Nussaibah Younis

3.97 AVERAGE

sharonoldsfanclub's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

szabojulia's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

teiganvictoria's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bryonyrb's review against another edition

4.25

funny informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

zavatskajam's review against another edition

5.0

emotional lighthearted relaxing

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

bowenlacar's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

amytondreau's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bookish_purrsuits's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I really struggled with how to talk about this book because I loved it so much, but I don’t think everyone will and that will honestly break my heart. Younis takes a book premise that seems like it will be way too heavy for my brain to handle at the present (academic takes job with UN to lead a deradicalization program for the ISIS-affiliated women held in Iraqi refugee camps) and turns it into a witty, heart-warming, and poignant story that I adored. 

The true triumph of this book is Nadia (the main character). She’s so realistically flawed- well-meaning but completely unprepared (and a bit inept) for the bureaucracy and corruption of activism. You can’t help rooting for her even when you want to shake her and say, “What the hell were you thinking?!” Every character felt fully fleshed out and I honestly need a follow-up book or a reality TV show about the UN employees because I am invested in all the drama. 

I also loved the story of Nadia and her mother’s relationship, and Nadia’s relationship to religion. I really connected with her description of outgrowing her faith. 

“…Faith had once nourished and sustained me. But over time, it had curdled, my insides recoiling as I continued to ram it into myself.”

If you, like me, are putting off reading this 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist nominee because you think it will be too depressing or dreary, please please pick it up. I hope you love it as much as I did. 

mallen13's review against another edition

3.5

dark funny informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sarahirish's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes