If I Ruled the World -- Amy DuBois Barnett, Hardcover

A fast-paced, juicy debut novel that peeks behind the curtain at the cutthroat world of hip-hop music and the glamorous magazine scene in the late 1990s, written by the ultimate insider

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 very married, very powerful ex-lover and former boss, who is determined to destroy both her and Sugar. Along the way, Nikki leans on a circle of loyal friends and navigates unexpected romances that force her to reckon with what--and who--she truly wants.

If I Ruled the World is a smart, utterly immersive journey through one of the most dynamic eras in pop culture history--a story of ambition, friendship, love, and finding your own voice.

Author: Amy DuBois Barnett
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: 01/27/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.25h x 6.12w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781250378125

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 11/01/2025 pg. 62

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 U.S. 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.