I Wish I'd Quit Sooner - Coming January 13, 2026
A compelling survival guide, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner confronts the hidden cost of toxic bosses and equips readers with the clarity and courage to reclaim their work and well-being.
Too many talented professionals stay trapped under destructive leadership—fearing the unknown, doubting themselves, or hoping things will change. In this eye-opening book, Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett blends rigorous research with powerful real-world stories to reveal what toxic leadership really looks like, why it persists, and—most importantly—how to break free.
From spotting red flags early, to building strategies for protection, to navigating the emotional toll and finding the confidence to move on, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner is both practical and empowering. It doesn’t just help you escape a toxic boss—it helps you rebuild stronger, more resilient, and ready to thrive in the workplace you deserve.
Clear, compassionate, and actionable, this is a must-read for anyone who has ever whispered to themselves: “I deserve better.”
Exclusive Bonus Offer
Start your personal and professional growth journey before I Wish I’d Quit Sooner releases!
When you order your copy today, you’ll receive exclusive access to a self-guided video series designed by Dr. Laura to help you reflect on your workplace experiences, clarify your career goals, and set healthy boundaries.
In these three sessions, Dr. Laura will guide you with reflective prompts and insights to help you uncover patterns, gain clarity, and prepare for meaningful, actionable change.
HERE’S HOW TO CLAIM YOUR THREE-SESSION MINI COURSE ...
STEP 1: ORDER YOUR COPY
Order your copy of I Wish I’d Quit Sooner from your preferred retailer.
STEP 2: ENTER YOUR ORDER DETAILS
After purchasing, return to this page and enter your details below.
Once you submit this form, you’ll receive an email with instructions to access a private password protected page to receive your exclusive bonus sessions.
STEP 3: ENJOY YOUR PRE-ORDER BONUS
Endorsements
“For anyone who has a toxic boss or is worried they might, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner is a much-needed survival kit. Dr. Laura draws from her extensive research to help recognize and navigate toxic bosses to chart a healthier way forward.”
—Brigid Schulte, journalist and New York Times best-selling author of Over Work and Overwhelmed
“This book cuts through the noise. Dr. Laura names what many are afraid to: Toxic bosses are real, and so is your power to rise above them. It’s a clear, compassionate guide for choosing accountability, not victimhood—even in tough situations.”
—Cy Wakeman, drama researcher and New York Times best-selling author of No Ego
“Dr. Laura offers far more than an escape plan from toxic bosses: She delivers a blueprint for cultivating the kind of psychologically safe, high-engagement workplaces that reduce burnout and elevate performance. I Wish I’d Quit Sooner is equal parts wake-up call and roadmap—a rigorously researched, story-rich guide that transforms personal pain into the brighter future of a better workplace. If you care about people and results, this book belongs not just on your shelf but as the cornerstone of your organizational culture.”
—C. Allen Gorman, PhD, industrial-organizational psychologist and associate professor of management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
“This book nails it. Clear structure, sharp insights, and zero fluff. Whether you’re dealing with a toxic boss now or just want to understand what to avoid, it’s a toolkit you’ll come back to.”
—Philip Vanhoutte, work well champion and coauthor of The Smarter Working Manifesto
“How I wish I had this book as a resource when I was working for a toxic boss! Dr. Laura’s work is validating and provides a practical and emotionally supportive step-by-step plan to move from feeling helpless to regaining control of your career and life.”
—Anonymous, VP in the Canadian energy industry
“Toxic bosses are incredibly painful, but do not define you nor your career. This book is a helpful guide to surviving a toxic boss, and more importantly, to recovering afterward and finding ways to thrive again.”
—Andrew A. Schmidt, PhD, HR Executive and creator of the Toxic Leadership Scale
"A necessary punch of truth for a world that too often rewards the opposite."
—Paul McCarthy, speaker and author of The F.I.R.E.D. Leader: Reinventing the Future of Leadership
"Stuck under a toxic boss? You're not alone—and you're not powerless. Dr. Laura’s essential guide offers practical strategies, expert insights, and real-world examples to help you navigate difficult workplace dynamics, protect your well-being, and take back control of your career."
—Mary Abbajay, author of Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work and Succeed with Any Type of Boss
Dr. Laura’s Novels
When Cadence Weaverly graduates from high school, she thinks it's for the best that she and her boyfriend, Richard White, take separate paths: she to Julliard and he back to Harvard. Ten years later, she has an ideal job and a wonderful fiancé, Christian. She is building the life of her dreams--until the day Richard resurfaces out of the blue, abducts her from her San Francisco apartment, and returns her to his mansion where he holds her captive. Cadence can hardly believe her ears when Richard professes his undying love and reveals his plans to build a life together. Terrified to fight back for fear he will have Christian murdered, Cadence must determine how to reason with a mentally unstable man who is obsessed with making her his forever. But even if she manages to escape, will she ever really be free of the man who hunts her heart? In this psychological thriller, a young woman must rely on perseverance, courage, and inner strength to survive after she is kidnapped by her deranged ex-boyfriend.
For twelve years, Cadence Davidson has dreaded her daughter's twelfth birthday, for that is the day she will tell Sophie who her true father really is. Sophie's world is turned upside down when she learns that her biological father is really Richard White, the man who abducted her mother twelve years earlier. She wonders if she will ever meet the elusive billionaire, only to find herself suddenly abducted into the life that he has carefully crafted for her and her mother. She begs to be free from this man who has torn apart her family, yet struggles with her emotions as she finds herself softening towards her father and abductor. Richard White must fight to salvage his dream of finally having the love of his life, Cadence, and his daughter, Sophie, together. Despite his carefully orchestrated plan, he's faced with unexpected events that threaten to wreck his dream forever. As his inner voice taunts him, Richard strives to preserve his family and come to know his beautiful daughter. Will Richard be able to find peace and hold on to the family he has fought for a lifetime to bring together? In this psychological thriller, an obsession that spans decades comes to its ultimate test. Love, loss and courage coalesce on the great Pacific Ocean as Richard faces his demons and makes one final choice to find peace and love. Cadence can hardly believe her ears when Richard professes his undying love and reveals his plans to build a life together. Terrified to fight back for fear he will have Christian murdered, Cadence must determine how to reason with a mentally unstable man who is obsessed with making her his forever. But even if she manages to escape, will she ever really be free of the man who hunts her heart? In this psychological thriller, a young woman must rely on perseverance, courage, and inner strength to survive after she is kidnapped by her deranged ex-boyfriend.