If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett

‘An utterly dazzling debut!’ ROBINNE LEE

‘Sparkles with drama, scandal and ’90s New York energy’ ESSIE CHAMBERS

‘A sexy, fast-paced ride!’ TIA WILLIAMS

Get ready for a utterly immersive journey through one of the most dynamic eras in pop culture history.

It’s 1999, and Nikki Rose is the only Black editor on the staff of a prestigious fashion magazine she once thought would be her ticket to becoming a respected editor-in-chief. But after being told one too many times by her boss that ‘Black girls don’t sell magazines’, she quits to take over Sugar, a struggling hip-hop music and lifestyle magazine with untapped potential.

Thrown into an entirely new world of wealth, decadence and debauchery, Nikki has just six months to save Sugar – and her own dreams. As she pulls all-nighters at the office and parties with New York City’s most influential bad boys, Nikki must prove she has what it takes to lead. But her most dangerous challenge is evading Alonzo Griffin, her married, powerful ex-lover and former boss, who is determined to destroy both her and Sugar.

Determined not to be beaten, Nikki leans on a circle of loyal friends and navigates unexpected romances that force her to reckon with what – and who – she truly wants.

Written by the ultimate insider, this is a juicy story of ambition, friendship, love and finding your own voice.

A fast-paced and unsparing peek behind the curtain of the cutthroat world of hip hop music and the magazine scene in late 1990s New York by the ultimate insider: former magazine editor-in-chief, Amy DuBois Barnett. Barnett’s debut novel is The List and The Bold Type meets The Other Black Girl.

About the Author: Amy DuBois Barnett is an award-winning media executive and author who earned national acclaim as editor-in-chief of Honey, Ebony and Teen People – where she made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream US magazine – and as deputy editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. She has held senior leadership roles at Paramount, Hearst, Disney, Time Inc. and several independently owned media brands. Barnett has a BA from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She resides in Los Angeles. If I Ruled the World is her debut novel. Follow Amy on Instagram, X and TikTok @amyduboisbarnett.

26 Mar 2026
 

If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett ISBN 9781398543669