Tuesday 10th June 2025

An Evening with Nussaibah Younis

Kibworth Books, 7.30pm (doors 7:00pm) 

One of the most eagerly-awaited debuts of 2025 is Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. We loved it and we think you will too. We're honoured that Nussaibah will be coming to Kibworth to talk about her novel and her writing process as part of a national tour. Here's Nussaibah in her own words:

After a ten-year career in academia, think-tanks and peacebuilding in the Middle East, I jacked it all in and wrote a novel. Fundamentally will be released in the US and the UK on 25th February 2025. I write biting satire covering everything from global politics to faith, queer identity and relationships. Probably not for the easily offended. I live in North London with my gorgeous labradoodle Mish Mish, and am writing my second novel.

Pre-order the book here

About the book: 

'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.

A bitingly original, wildly funny and razor-sharp exploration of love, family, religion and the decisions we make in pursuit of belonging, Fundamentally upends and explores a defining controversy of our age with heart, complexity and humour.

Please note that event tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.