If I Ruled the World

“I’m always here for 90’s nostalgia, especially of the NYC variety—and Amy Dubois Barnett’s If I Ruled the World scratches the itch. As a major player in the fashion and music scenes of the era, who better than Barnett to weave a world sizzling with such delicious romance, swagger, and intrigue? A sexy, fast-paced ride!” – Tia Williams, New York Times bestselling author of A Love Song for Ricki Wilde“Amy DuBois Barnett’s debut sparkles with drama, scandal, and ’90s New York energy. She powerfully captures a pressure-cooker moment of transition—the messy work of growing past bad choices, squaring ambition with integrity, and holding on to your ride-or-dies. It’s a pitch-perfect depiction of a world I didn’t want to leave.” – Essie Chambers, national bestselling author of Swift River“Funny, sexy, witty, and full of grit, If I Ruled The World is for anyone who’s spent a lifetime climbing a ladder that keeps adding rungs. This fierce, unputdownable, guilty pleasure of a novel steps back into the uniquely fabulous and ruthless New York hustle at the turn of the century, through the eyes of a real Working Girl ad industry insider, when the biggest players moving the needle of culture were grinding for recognition in a society that would rather look away. An utterly intoxicating debut.” – Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming“If I Ruled the World had me hooked from the very first page. This fascinating story from inside magazine publishing—and the music world—really hits all the right notes: it’s meaningful, nostalgic, heartfelt, and resonant.” – Kate Fagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Three Lives of Cate Kay“With a keen eye and an accomplished voice, Amy DuBois Barnett takes us on a thrilling ride through the high-stakes world of magazine publishing in 1990s New York. At the intersection of fashion and hip-hop, If I Ruled the World captures the glamour, danger, and magic of a defining moment in American culture. An utterly dazzling debut!” – Robinne Lee, bestselling author of The Idea of You

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.