Fundamentally

by Nussaibah Younis · 2025

When brilliant academic Nadia Amin is abandoned by her mother and spurned by her lover, she throws herself into a UN posting in war‑torn Iraq, tasked with rehabilitating women who once fought for ISIS. Amid bureaucratic chaos and a cast of well‑meaning but clueless colleagues, Nadia meets Sara—a foul‑mouthed, sharp‑tongued East Londoner who was radicalised at fifteen. Despite their very different paths, the two women bond over shared Muslim roots, a love of Dairy Milk, and a penchant for cheeky pick‑up lines. As Nadia’s deradicalisation program gains momentum, Sara drops a bombshell that forces Nadia to choose between her career, her conscience, and the fragile friendship that has become her lifeline. A witty, heartfelt debut that blends political satire with a moving exploration of identity, loyalty, and the unexpected ways we rescue each other.