I Wish I'd Quit Sooner: Three Months In — What I've Learned from my Valued Readers

It’s hard to believe that my book, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, has now been out in the world for three months. 

When I first wrote this book, my goal was simple: to give people language for something many were experiencing but did not have the right language to name. I wanted readers to feel less alone, and more equipped to do something about one of the most damaging dynamics that exists in professional life. 

What I didn't fully anticipate was just how much my readers would give back to me.

Over the past three months, I've heard from professionals across industries, career stages, and continents. Some are still in the thick of it, navigating toxic environments day by day, wondering if things will ever change. Others have already made their exit and are now trying to make sense of what happened to them. And a remarkable number have reached out to say some version of the same thing: "I wish I had this sooner."  

The book becoming an Amazon International Bestseller was incredibly meaningful. But what has mattered most to me is how it's landing with real people in real situations. One reader shared that the book helped her realize that what she experienced wasn't normal, and that leaving had been the right call all along. Another described it as a validating, research-backed guide that helped her reclaim her power and move forward with clarity. Those words mean everything, because that is exactly what I set out to do. 

I've also been deeply humbled by the support from colleagues and leaders I admire. I had the honor of receiving an endorsement from Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, who described the book as one that “doesn’t just help you survive a toxic workplace—it helps you reclaim your power.” Cy Wakeman noted that it “cuts through the noise” and reminds readers that while toxic bosses are real, so is their ability to rise above them. 

And perhaps one of the most thoughtful reflections came from Demetri Papadimitropoulos, an experienced publicist in the book world, who wrote that I Wish I'd Quit Sooner feels “like a (practical) guide for people trying to find their way out of a dark building with no emergency lighting… it does not aim for fireworks, it aims for traction.” That word captures it perfectly. Traction is what people need when they're in survival mode.

My blogs on toxic leadership, whether on the narcissistic boss, the gaslighter, or the dishonest manipulator, continue to be among the most widely read. Similar episodes on my podcast, Where Work Meets Life, also receive a high number of listens. People are searching online for answers. They are trying to make sense of their experiences, and are looking for a way forward. That need feels even more urgent and important in today’s context.  

We’re navigating a world marked by uncertainty, including economic shifts, workplace disruption, and rising stress levels. More people are in survival mode right now than we might think. In that kind of environment, toxic leadership doesn't just frustrate people, it destabilizes them. It erodes confidence and clarity at the exact moment people need both most. That's why getting this message out has felt so urgent to me, not just as an author, but as an organizational psychologist who has spent over 25 years working with people navigating these exact situations.

The past few months have also taken me to some incredible audiences. I've had the opportunity to speak in my book launches in Calgary and Toronto, and to continue these conversations on larger stages, including at SXSW. What struck me in every setting wasn't just the level of engagement, it was the relief. People nodded. They leaned in. They found each other after sessions and shared stories. And many expressed gratitude for finally having the words to describe what they had been carrying, often in silence, for years. 

Because that's the thing about toxic leadership: it thrives in silence. It counts on you not saying anything, not naming it, not believing your own experience. I Wish I'd Quit Sooner is about breaking that silence; and watching people do exactly that has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. 

To everyone who has read the book, shared it, passed it to a colleague or a friend who needed it: thank you. More than you know. 

This has always been bigger than a book. It’s a movement to #stoptoxicbosses. It's about changing how we understand the great responsibility of leadership. How we support each other at work. And how we build workplaces that are genuinely healthier, more human, and worth staying in. 

That work continues, and I'm so glad you're part of it!

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Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an award winning Organizational Psychologist, Keynote Speaker, Business Leader, International Bestselling Author, and Podcast Host of the highly acclaimed podcast Where Work Meets Life™. She is a sought-after thought leader on workplace psychology, the future of work, and career development with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Laura is passionate about creating cultures that attract top talent and where people stay and thrive.  

Dr. Laura has founded several psychology and consulting practices, including Canada Career Counselling in 2009, where registered psychologists across the country have helped thousands of Canadians navigate their career and workplace challenges, while supporting organizations to develop thriving leaders and cultures. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Calgary, where she is currently an Adjunct Professor actively conducting research on toxic leadership across North America.  

Her new book about toxic bosses, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss, endorsed by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, was released on January 13, 2026, and became a #1 Amazon bestseller in Workplace Process & Infrastructure, as well as an Amazon International Bestseller. Drawing from her research and decades of experience, the book offers insight, validation, and practical strategies for those navigating, escaping, and recovering from a toxic boss at any stage of one’s career. 

She has published two psychological thrillers, Losing Cadence and Finding Sophie, which aim to captivate readers while raising awareness about mental health and domestic violence. These novels are currently being adapted into a television series and inspired her to co-found WITH HER, a movement to end violence against girls and women. In recognition of her impactful work, Dr. Laura received a Canadian Women of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018. 

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:

• Canada Career Counselling

• Synthesis Psychology