The words of the Miranda Priestly-alike editor of StyleList magazine, Lucinda, will both haunt and inspire our ambitious heroine, Nicole Rose. Nikki dreams of editing her own magazine - one that's for and about young urban Black women like her - but she's made powerful enemies. Chiefly, the teeth-grittingly awful Alonzo Griffin, who's made it his mission to destroy her.
Life as one of the few Black staff at StyleList magazine in the '90s isn't easy, but when Nikki's dream opportunity comes up, as editor-in-chief of Sugar, that's no walk in the park either. Most of the staff hate her, the ousted ex-editor is fuming, her new boss - the redoubtable Barbara Porter - seems to be waiting for her to fail, giving her six months or bust. And meanwhile, the malign influence of Alonzo is forever in the background, seeking to discredit her in particularly unpleasant ways.
Navigating city life, career and love (mostly very badly, in the case of the latter), with the support of her tight-knit friend group Teresa, Denyse and Sofie, Nikki's story is hugely engaging and ultimately satisfying. Is it possible to become a success without compromising her integrity?
If I Ruled the World is a highly entertaining read but it doesn't shy away from difficult issues. Racism is never far away, but also the misogyny and rape culture which is exemplified by certain rappers (though they're far from the only culprits) is tackled head-on both by the narrative and - eventually - Nikki herself. Her interview with a rap artist accused of rape is an alarming read and experience, but I loved how she handled it and didn't back down.
Nikki was a hugely likeable character and I was rooting for her all the way, despite some seriously questionable decision-making - mainly involving men. It takes her girls to point out the patterns this smart woman has been completely oblivious about.
Some of the slang and abbreviations were lost on me, which I guess isn't surprising given that I'm a white middle-aged British woman reading about young, Black New Yorkers.
Amy DuBois Barnett, as a former editor-in-chief of magazines for young women, clearly knows what she's talking about, and has produced an entertaining, compelling and ultimately satisfying read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
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