Nussaibah Younis

About

Nussaibah Younis is a British writer, peacebuilding practitioner, and internationally recognised expert on contemporary Iraq. Born in the United Kingdom to an Iraqi father and a Pakistani mother, she developed an interest in Middle Eastern politics and conflict that shaped both her academic career and humanitarian work. She earned a BA in Modern History and English from the University of Oxford and a PhD in International Affairs from Durham University. Younis previously worked as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, where she directed the Future of Iraq Task Force, and advised the Iraqi government on programmes designed to rehabilitate women affiliated with ISIS. Her research and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal. Fundamentally (2025), her debut novel, draws on her professional experience to examine radicalisation, redemption, and the complicated realities of international aid through sharp humour and empathetic storytelling. She lives in London.

Books on TheBookRoads

All genres Literary Fiction

All themes Friendship

Newest first Oldest first

Fundamentally

Can you save someone else when you’re still trying to save yourself? When Nadia Amin, a sharp-witted academic, loses both her lover and her mother’s approval, she escapes to Iraq to lead a UN rehabilitation programme for women affiliated with ISIS. Armed with theories about deradicalisation and an uncertain sense of purpose, Nadia soon discovers that international aid is far messier than academic research suggests. Then she meets Sara, a rebellious young Londoner who joined ISIS at fifteen. Despite their radically different experiences, the two women recognise something of themselves in each other, forming an unlikely friendship that challenges Nadia’s assumptions about guilt, faith, and redemption. When Sara reveals a devastating secret, Nadia must confront the limits of her own idealism. Darkly funny and deeply compassionate, Fundamentally explores radicalisation, cultural identity, and the complicated human need to belong.

2025 Iraq