Romance Book Club w/ Amy Dubois Barnett: If I Ruled the World

Join and Barnes & Noble Philadelphia on Tuesday, February 24th at 6pm at Barnes & Noble Philadelphia (1708 Chestnut Street) for a book-club style discussion of , 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.

Attendees will have the chance to discuss the book with the author in a group conversation led by our store manager Lynn Rosen and get their copy signed after the event.

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To make this event safe and enjoyable for all attendees, please read the guidelines below before purchasing a ticket so that you know what to expect on the day of the event.

TICKET INFORMATION

Seated Admission w/ Book: $32.39 (Admission + one copy ) **LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

• One copy of (published 1/19/2026)

• Admission and seat in the event space and signing line with .
• For Seated Tickets: A limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. However, this ticket may not necessarily guarantee a seat at the event, as arrivals after the start of the event may be placed in standing room behind the seated audience.

General Admission - FREE **LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

• Admission to the event space and signing line with
• For General Admission Tickets: A limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Registering for a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. Ticket holders will be granted a standing view from behind the seated audience -- some views may be more limited/obstructed than others.

ADDITONAL GUIDELINES:

• Any gifts for the author will be collected prior to the signing line.

• Other books by the author will be available for purchase at Barnes & Noble - Philadelphia.

• Please arrive on time according to your ticket in order to secure your seat in the event space. Late arrivals may only have access to standing room and may not have the opportunity to enter the event space.

• The exact time at which the event ends will be determined on the day. To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise you to arrive on time for the event. Late arrivals may not have the opportunity to meet the author.

• All event guidelines are subject to change.

• If you have any additional questions, please can call the store directly at: (267) 234-9790.

• Barnes & Noble may cancel this event at any time with or without notice to the ticket holders.

Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event. Each person must have a ticket to enter.

REFUNDS

Attendees can receive refunds up to 1 day (24 hours) before your event start TIME OF 6 pm.

If you are unable to attend the event, Barnes & Noble - Philadelphia, PA will hold your books for seven days after the event. Please contact the store to arrange your pickup.

Event guidelines are subject to change.

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An award-winning media executive and author, Amy DuBois Barnett made history as the first Black woman to helm a major mainstream magazine in the US, as editor in chief of Teen People. She also served as editor in chief of Ebony and Honey, and was the 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.

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.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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