The Devil Wears Prada meets America's Next Top Model meets The Reckoning in this witty debut filled with scandal and romance in the world of publishing from the former editor-in-chief of Honey, Ebony and Teen People…

* PICKED AS A BOOK TO LOOK OUT FOR BY STYLIST *
 
'Captures the glamour, danger and magic of a defining moment in American culture. An utterly dazzling debut!' ROBINEE 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. 

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.

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

Readers can't stop talking about If I Ruled the World . . . (5 star reader reviews)
‘The story was engaging from start to finish … A highly recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable and entertaining read’
‘A sharp, sexy debut that pulls the reader straight into the glamorous and cutthroat world of magazine publishing in 1999 New York City’
‘This book is layered. It inspires. I could not put it down. Bravo Amy!!’
'Buy this book! Get copies for your friends!’
‘This book was absolutely AMAZING! Following Nikki’s journey pulled me in and I was rooting for her on every page … Superb writing!’
 

"Barnett offers a unique vantage point…[She] draws on her lived experience of the late nineties, built into a fictional world that reflects the cost of ambition, the politics of media power, and the personal trade-offs Black women dealt with to achieve success" - Ebony

"A nostalgic debut about ambition, power and self-discovery…Barnett taps into her years as an industry insider to capture the glamorous toxicity and debauchery of the 1990s magazine industry. In this story about a Black editor who quits a gig at a glossy to take over a struggling hip-hop magazine, main character Nikki is Carrie Bradshaw meets Kimora Lee Simmons" - People

"Packed with glitzy fashion, steamy sex, delicious drama, and fierce ambition…The page-turner is fast-paced and offers healthy doses of ambition, drama and love all with a sexy backdrop of the 1990s hip-hop, fashion and magazine industries. It is guaranteed to have your group chat buzzing!" - Essence

"Captivating…Fast-paced, juicy, glamorous…If I Ruled The World does an exceptional job of shining a light on the underbelly of taxing and toxic workplaces, and provides an unflinching look at what it costs women to succeed in male-dominated spaces" - Forbes

"A sharp, glossy throwback to 1999 New York…Barnett’s insider industry perspective gives every office power play and party scene a lived-in charge…This is set to be the first can’t-miss page-turner of 2026" - Oprah Daily