Margo's Got Money Troubles

by Rufi Thorpe

Margo Millet's got money troubles. As the child of a Hooter's waitress and an ex-Pro-Wrestler, she's always known she'd have to make it on her own. When she finds herself pregnant by her college professor - who is very keen not to be involved - she realizes she will need cash fast.

At twenty, alone with a baby, what Margo lacks in options she makes up for in ingenuity, and soon she has a plan: she'll start an OnlyFans as an experiment, producing content and writing storylines unlike anything else out there. Help arrives in the form of her live-action role-playing flatmate Suzie, and her father, Jinx - a recovering addict and veteran of the wrestling world, who has experience of making an audience fall in love.

Before she knows it, Margo is an online phenomenon. Could this be the answer to all of Margo's problems, or does internet fame come with too high a price?

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Humor, Adult

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

Rufi Thorpe received her MFA from the University of Virginia in 2009. She is the author of four novels, The Girls from Corona Del Mar, Dear Fang, With Love, and The Knockout Queen, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award. Her newest book, Margo's Got Money Troubles, will be out 6/11/24 and is currently being adapted for television by A24 and AppleTV. She lives in California with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

She would figure it out. Because it was impossible that there was no solution. People had babies all the time and somehow managed it.

When a book is described as "wholly original," I admit it makes me a little bit hesitant. What does that mean? Is it original because it contains the sort of fun heretofore unseen, or is it original because no one was crazy enough to have put such ideas to paper before? Then you throw in a premise that includes OnlyFans and pro wrestling, and well really, what the heck are we even talking about here?

But I've been in a reading slump for months now and needed something to shake me out. So I reached for Margo's Got Money Troubles not expecting much, and boy oh boy, did it deliver in every single way.

Right off the bat, I was captivated. The first thing I noticed was the writing, how sharp and persuasive and just gosh darn funny it was. I'm trying to think of the last book that made me chuckle so hard, and I'm coming up empty. All that humor in here was the perfect medium through which more serious topics could be tackled and explored without coming across preachy or righteous.

And this book did not shy away from serious topics—teenage motherhood, love affair with a teacher, pornography, selling one's body, addiction, and of course, how to make money and a life for yourself and your baby when you have no viable skills. But everything was done with such a subtle hand and delightful tone that you hardly realize you're reading something profound when you're having so much fun.

The characters in here were sketched with such acute clarity, it's hard to not take them for real. Margo is exactly the sort of sweet, smart, and spirited character I can love and cheer for. Yes, bad things happened to her, but she doesn't let that get her down. In fact, every side character in here is their own version of loveable, and it makes reading this story even more of a delight from beginning to end.

Honestly, this was such an exuberant and feelgood story, one I didn't even know I needed. Looking back on it, I'm still not sure I could properly describe it or put it in a box, just because I've never read anything quite like it before. But I do know it was a hell of an entertaining and insightful read. If you're like me and have been hesitating on this book, just go pick it up.

P.S. How is it I've never heard of Rufi Thorpe until now? All her books are going straight onto my TBR.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody could have prepared me for the true plot of this book—though the synopsis promises an array of juicy details.

For yes, this is about OnlyFans and TikTok and pro-wrestling. It’s about a 20-year-old single mother, her son the result of an affair with her english professor.
And yet…oh man, oh yet. It is also a deeply, agonizingly human story about the judgments we make, the way we try and decide who “deserves” a Good Life.

Rufi Thorpe, master of fleshing out realistic characters for people to relate to, has somehow surpassed even herself. Here is a novel full of people who keep handing you reasons to root against them….though I promise you’ll stay glued to the story for the exact opposite reason. You will love them.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an early copy in exchange for a review!

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

in THIS economy??!

this rocked beyond my wildest guesses. so quirky, so funny, so one of a kind: everything these weirdo characters did was unpredictable, and yet somehow they felt so real, and i cared about them and their relationships and their bizarre plans.

i will say the thing that keeps this from a 5 star is the fact that the baby at the core of the plot mostly feels like some sort of nearby puppet, in that his name is mentioned a lot but i don't really get his vibe. but that's fine too.

i just have baby fever of the literary variety. i can't explain it either.

bottom line: my first book by this author and now i have to read them all.

(4.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Natilie Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⊹₊⟡⋆

I absolutely devoured this. I really loved every second of it - it was so much fun, I was so engrossed in the story, and it was absurd in a believable way. It also had so many good takes and cultural messaging about feminism, motherhood and sex work. This was such a refreshing take, and whilst I was reading it every so often I'd go "that's actually such a good point", and I hadn't had the means to express it previously. This book highlights how our primarily punitive culture determines who is 'fit' to be a parent and who isn't. They are more concerned with what a ‘conventional’ parent looks like than with an individual's parenting style and whether it promotes a child's well-being.

It didn't give me that 5-star feeling, but it was exceptionally well written, and I enjoyed every second of it. This is definitely an 18+ book - and does describe sex work and the like in aggressively realistic detail!

₊˚⊹♡ reading log

♡ 20/12 2:09pm
Margo is a highly relatable female character, even though she has what I would describe as a very unique but also at the same time not unique experience

♡ 20/12 1:09am
so the power has gone out and my phone barely has any charge so i’ve been left with nothing to do but read - i am eating this book up. The amount of research on OnlyFans and Fortnite that must have gone into this is astounding. That is some commitment right there, wow.

₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading

i need a lil lit fiction to break up my intense fantasy streak - i've read the first chapter of this and it genuinely feels like gossiping with a girlfriend atm, which i love love love

[Creya Casale | cc.shelflove · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I was bored for the majority of this book. I kept thinking to myself, "Where is this going? What am I reading towards?" In short, the synopsis is the entire story. Margo becomes unexpectedly pregnant by her college professor, decides to keep the baby, and starts an OnlyFans to have money for said baby. Nothing else happens. With a Goodreads rating of 4.03, I guess I expected more. I am definitely the outlier from all of these rave reviews, but it did not leave any impressions on my soul.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I’m just saying,” Jinx said, seemingly more lucid now, “when you’re lost in the deep dark forest, the thing to do isn’t to get scared of the trees. You have to find your way out again.’

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe is a slice of life that hits close to home for anyone who's ever worried about making ends meet. Margo, the main character, is like so many of us, trying to juggle financial stress while keeping her sanity intact. Thorpe does a fantastic job of diving into what it really feels like to be constantly worried about money, and how that anxiety can creep into every part of your life.

The story is relatable, and Margo's inner monologue is both sharp and funny, even when she's dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. Thorpe's writing is crisp and honest, making it easy to get sucked into Margo's world. It’s a quick read, but it packs a punch, touching on everything from self-worth to the pressures of modern life.

If you’re looking for a story that’s equal parts insightful and entertaining, with a main character who feels like someone you could know (or even be), this book is worth picking up. Plus, Thorpe’s ability to mix humor with deeper themes makes it a genuinely enjoyable read.

I Highly Recommend.

[Holden Wunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is honestly a hard one for me because I went in super hesitantly as I am a SWer and knew this could go off the rails or even get dangerous in messaging for unwitting young women. I don’t hate it and I quite like the writing and will check out her other books but I also have some serious problems with this as well.

I’m not someone who believes you have to be X to write about X but as swers are so marginalized and sensationalized, only interviewing some Onlyfans girls for this didn’t feel like enough to me to capture the dynamic, dangers, and hard work it takes to survive as a s*x worker.

As I don’t want to rant forever so I’m going to bullet point for the first time ever.

Pros :
*Margos situation is set up for her to become a SWer and her journey into it is fun and messy
*The characters are incredibly enjoyable to read about in all their mess
*The writing was accessible and had me easily going back and never wanting to stop

Cons:
*Out of nowhere, multiple times, Margo becomes a super savvy businesswoman and makes thousands upon thousands of dollars relatively easy. This is rare and a dangerous message as SW isn’t easy and can take YEARS to buildup anywhere near where Margo gets and the cons of living as a SWer for measly money isn’t worth the catastrophic damage as a trade off.
*As someone who got kicked off of multiple platforms on social media due to SW even when abiding by guidelines made these TikTok storylines unbearable to me. Everyone in the industry has to do social media but it doesn’t work like Margo’s journey does.
*I enjoyed the plotlines of CPS and the dangers of losing her child and life but it felt incredibly easy to get out of. SW IS FOREVER. And it’s dangerous. So in general it felt too “sunshine-y” and unrealistic
*The fact she met a man on OF to then have him fly out and date him? To then stop dating him and they’re starting a company together? Insane and dangerous storyline that had me wanting to throttle the authour.
*She got doxxed and I really appreciate this storyline but the dangerousness of it didn’t land but it was more inconvenient and embarrassing. And then she doxxes herself to a client to hook up with?? UGH.

Overall I know the authour had a fun idea and interviewed SWers for it but the nuance wasn’t there enough to make me feel like it was truly done by someone in the industry (because it wasn’t) and that was glaring. It makes me worry for young women to see this message and think it’s easy, it won’t follow them for life, etc. I absolutely love SW and there should always be fun and light and connection which was there but it wasn’t underlined with the cons in a way that felt serious and for that it loses a couple stars.

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book eager to learn about Margo, but I had no idea I'd end up learning so much about myself! At first, I realized I’d been quick to judge others for their bad decisions, but this book made me confront that—and embrace the journey of growth I saw in Margo. By the end, I was so thrilled to see both of us changed.

Margo’s story brilliantly shows the “domino effect” of life’s decisions: how one choice can spiral into a mess, especially when we think we know what we’re doing, only to face harsh consequences. Some people, like Margo, simply lacked the guidance and support they needed growing up, leading them to seek love and acceptance from the wrong places. This book doesn’t shy away from tough issues—especially the way society harshly judges young women but often lets older men off the hook, even when they clearly know better.

Margo’s growth is a powerful reminder that bad decisions don’t define you; you can keep moving forward no matter what. This is a story about real people with real flaws. We can’t always relate to perfect, all-knowing characters, because, honestly, most of us are figuring life out as we go.

The humor was also a highlight, even in a story that covers heavy topics. The book touches on sensitive issues, like OnlyFans, exploring how people like Margo are sometimes judged harshly for using it. The author does an excellent job balancing these themes, showing that while the platform may have consequences, it shouldn’t be used as a weapon against anyone.

The ending was heartwarming, with Margo finding her place in the world and the people who truly belong in her life. She’s ready to keep growing, and to everyone out there like Margo—real or fictional—you’ve got this! This book isn’t just a story; it’s a lesson on growth, acceptance, and learning. I hope more people read it with an open mind, just like I try to with every book.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margo Millet is twenty years old and a new mother after having an affair with her married English professor. She has a lot on her plate as she finds her finances dwindling and her responsibilities mounting. But Margo is determined, courageous, smart, witty, and willing to do what it takes to provide a home for herself and her son.

Margo learned at a young age that she can stand on her own. Her mother was a Hooter waitress, and her father was a married pro-wrestler who lived with his wife and children elsewhere. But now her father, Jinx, is back and they agree to help each other. Margo's quest to provide for herself and her child sees her turning to OnlyFans to make money.

Margo's Got Money Troubles was an enjoyable, endearing, witty, and touching read. I could not help but root for Margo! I appreciated how the author showed the struggles of being a single mother. Margo finds herself in interesting situations, relying on her humor, her courage, her determination, and her father.

This was a wonderful book with heart! I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I liked how the author showed that relationships can be messy, that being supportive and understanding goes a long way, that humor helps, the importance of knowing your rights, and that there is no shame in having an OnlyFans account.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]]

She’s just like me!

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re old here, allow me to apologize for the umpteenth reminder that I am not a blurb reader. If you’re new here – I am not a blurb reader. I am addicted to a cartoony cover and a catchy title so that’s what hooked me here. I’m also always looking for the next . . . .



Or what I like to call the “Mom Com,” and from the title/cover art I thought maybe that’s what this would be. I probably would have skipped it over had I read it was about a very young and ill-prepared financially new mom who takes to Only Fans as a source of income with her fresh-out-of-rehab father as her roommate. That just sounds like A. LOT.

Turns out I sort of loved this one. I guess I’ll always be a fan of an underdog story. And while there were most DEFINITELY times I wanted to shake the shit out of Margo for being so naïve, the way the author broke the fourth wall and had Margo recognizing her errors in hindsight was a smart way to keep me invested.

Maybe venture out of your comfort zone and give this one a whirl in June.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. I never expected to love these characters as much as I did. Margo truly shines. She’s so insightful and smart, and with the growth she makes throughout the book, she finds her voice and is not afraid to say the hard things, and at a relatively young age. I also loved how the author spotlighted good, healthy communication amongst the characters. What a way to model self-advocacy.

The characters and the story are rather unconventional. I’ve been talking nonstop about the book, while reading it, and finding it hard to describe, but that’s the joy in it. It’s completely novel and original. I’ve not been a fan of pro wrestling before, but now I wish I could watch a match on the couch with Jinx and Margo. And that Jinx, Margo’s dad… He could not have been more different from my own dad, but at the same time, made me miss him. He grows into such a strong figure in Margo’s life, and healing happens. It’s stunning to watch it unfold.

There’s so much nuance and complexity and many important issues addressed in ways that don’t hit you over the head, but still slam dunk them. Mark wearing a certain school sweatshirt - well, I knew the author must have some kind of ACC tie. That sweatshirt choice is perfect. 😉

Overall, Margo’s Got Money Troubles will be a favorite of mine this year, and Rufi Thorpe will continue to be one of my author favorites. Her books are true surprises, each and every time. At the risk of being redundant, which is how I roll when I love a book this much, this one is all about the characters and their growth, their powerful dynamics, their resilience, and their completely endearing hearts. And, yes, it did make me laugh a few times, but more than that, it made me feel good to watch good things happening for these characters I was so invested in.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[elizabeth rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING. Phenomenal. Humorous. 👏👏✨️

The audiobook, narrated by Elle Fanning, was SPECTACULAR. Truly *chef's kiss* 💖 If you’re looking for a book that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply insightful, this is it!

Margo Millet, the 20 year-old daughter of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, is thrown into adulthood with more challenges than she ever expected. Navigating life as a young, broke mum while trying to find her footing in the world is tough enough, but add an unexpected stint on OnlyFans to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a story that’s equally hilarious and heartwarming.

This is one of my favourite books of the year. EASILY five stars ⭐️ ❤️ ✨️

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at page 114. this is only one of two DNF's this year.

i was excited to read this, but knowing it's been optioned for adaptation with apple tv even before it's been published, it read very much like it was trying to be a novel that got optioned and as such didn't flow organically.

the changing POV between 1st and 3rd often on the same page pulled me out of it and i had to keep checking to see if i was reading it right.

i say don't bother with this one and watch the adaptation instead, whenever that comes out.

thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a memorable plot with noteworthy characters that I grew to love.

[Candi · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I know about Rufi Thorpe after reading three of her novels is that she can write authentically about a range of characters. Young gay men: Check. Popular but lonely teen girls: Check. Fathers and how they relate to their daughters: Check. Teen girls with mental illness: Check. Young, unwed mothers: Check. Drug-addicted dads: Check. It’s obvious, yet I’ll state it, you’d have to be a keen observer of all human nature to nail these characters the way Thorpe does. Her writing is sharp and propulsive; the dialogue is believable. Each story feels fresh and different from one another. The themes may not appeal to every reader, but I’ve been surprised each time at how much I’ve felt a vested interest in the outcomes of her characters’ lives.

In this novel, we meet Margo, a college student who becomes pregnant following a brief affair with a married professor. Margo decides to keep her baby which is no small feat for a young woman with a rather unusual family situation. Her mother is a former Hooters server who had a one-night stand with a pro-wrestler. Margo saw more of dad on the television screen than she did in her own life. Margo is smart and caring, even if she is young and figuring things out as she goes along. What she learns rather quickly, however, is that the decision to keep a baby doesn’t result in the reactions she had expected.

“She’d thought, somehow, that keeping the baby would make people regard her with more kindness. But women frowned at her and Bodhi in the grocery store. The eyes of men skittered over her like she was invisible. She seemed to walk everywhere in a cloud of shame. She was a stupid slut for having a baby, and if she’d had an abortion, she also would have been a stupid slut. It was a game you could not win. They had tried to warn her… She hadn’t understood they meant that every single person she met, every new friend, every love interest, every employer, every landlord, would judge her for having made what they all claimed was the 'right' choice.”

What is a girl to do when she needs income and time to devote to a nursing baby? Start an OnlyFans page, of course! It’s her father of all people who plants this idea in her head! I must confess my ignorance. I thought I was pretty social media aware if not savvy, but I had to ask my twenty-year old to get me up to speed on this particular site. Maybe you will have to do the same or maybe it’s just me alone in the dark. In any case, what followed was a pretty funny and definitely racy romp through OnlyFans land and TikTok. It’s not all fun and games, however. There’s a serious side to this as Margo navigates her relationships with her father (who is also now a roommate), her mother and new step-father. She learns to manage her online persona and questions her choice of career and her own moral soundness.

“What if, inside, Margo was secretly rotten? What if the reason doing the OnlyFans didn’t feel wrong to her wasn’t because it wasn’t actually wrong, but because she was so vile she could no longer detect all that was wrong with it?”

Oh, and one more thing before I leave you to decide if this novel is your jam or not. Thorpe plays around with point of view this time around. While the majority of the story is told in third-person, Thorpe will occasionally switch to first-person. She’s not doing this to mess with the reader, but to prove a point about novel writing in general. Well, okay, maybe she is messing with us a little bit.

“Part of this game is that you are going to realize certain things before I do. This is called ‘narrative irony.’”

If you haven’t read Rufi Thorpe’s work yet, then I can easily recommend her if you believe her subject matter interests you. I realize it might not appeal to all readers. She really is a smart cookie. I have to say that The Knockout Queen is my favorite though! While this book is funny and I rooted for Margo, it suffered a little bit in comparison to the singular experience I had with the book just before it: Miranda July’s All Fours. It’s not Margo’s fault that this one followed hot on the heels of that book!

“People are all so lonely. Even when they do horrible things, it often comes down to that, if only you take the time to understand them. It seemed like that should mean the world could be better, that people could help each other, like Jesus said. And yet that’s not what happens. That hardly ever seems to happen at all.”

[Terra Fonk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly don’t understand why this is marketed as a “laugh out loud funny” story. I didn’t think anything happening was funny 🤷🏻‍♀️

[casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

with the way this book was ending i thought it was going to launch into an expressvpn ad LMAO

this was really charming and quirky though! sits at like a 3.5 for me, i wanted a bit more out of it but it was still a fun ride. i’d recommend to anyone looking for a more unconventional coming of age story that isn’t super self serious but still has some tender moments :)

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All the stars!!!!! I love a quirky book & Margo's quirk is unmatched. At 19 Margo finds herself knocked up by her much older married English professor. With not much more of a reason than because it makes her feel like a good person she decides to keep the baby. Margo's mom is a former Hooters waitress turned judgmental fiancé of a youth pastor. Her dad is an ex WWE superstar with a history of drug use and a new family and life that don't include Margo. From signing a non disclosure agreement to being paid to judge dick pics...there isn't much Margo won't do to make a buck. Desperate times, people! And yet somehow this book felt as equally realistic as it did off the wall. What very easily could have come across as too much felt like just enough. Laugh out loud funny, heartfelt, sad, hopeful...and quirky. Did I mention quirky? As a whole, this story has so many different things going on but I feel like almost anyone could find at least a sliver of relatability within its pages.

I did a mix of book + audiobook and must say Elle Fanning's narration was impeccable. The writing. The storyline. The characters. & the narration. All 5 stars.

[Clare Pooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I rooted for a heroine as much as I did for young, single mum Margot. And I adored her relationship with her retired pro-wrestling dad, Jinx. Totally unique, offbeat, hilarious yet poignant. Loved it, and now I know a lot more about OnlyFans 😂
If, like me, you think the idea of working out which Pokémon character a penis most resembles is hilarious, this book is for you. If not, maybe try something else ;-)

[Jennifer Hevern · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not for me. I don't want to tear it apart, but I didn't like it. I really disliked how the POV went from 1st to 3rd person almost from page to page. The characters did not keep my interest. I felt the whole premise was just dumb and immature. Maybe that's how I felt about the the book, the characters were so immature, and to me really played the victim. This just wasn't for me.

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 Stars

To be blunt, the whole story is practically told in the blurb. Sure, there is a little more to it, but overall? Blurb. Which, hey, that's what made me read it in the first place...but it was also like one of those movie trailers that shows all the best parts of the movie. In fact, word on the street is that this was optioned for a TV show before it was even finished (starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman). Which gives me the ick a little, but I suppose that's the norm these days in the cutthroat world that is book-to-movie deals. Plus, I think this will actually be a great show if done right.

But I digress.

All I'm saying is that I wish whoever wrote the blurb had held a little more back, is all.

All that said, I enjoyed this. I love messy characters and this story was rife with them. Margo was frustrating at times. But I get frustrated when characters do really dumb shit, so that's on me. She was young and naïve and that was the point.

I was like a kid with popcorn watching her interact with her parents. Her and Jinx's relationship was one of my favorite parts of the of the book, second only to the exposition on POV, narration, and writing.

I would read more from this author.

Favorite quote:

"'There's a kind of seventies glamour to it. It's understated.' I said. I knew it didn't have beading or sequins, but in my opinion she didn't need the glitter. She needed a dress that said, I am getting married on purpose, and it it not a mistake."

[NZLisaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Netflix’s The Maid you’ll love Margo!

Margo has always known she was white trash. Her birth was the result of a one-night stand between a Hooters waitress and a married pro-wrestler. At the time her mother didn’t even know her father’s real name, only his ring alias. Now, 19-year-old freshman Margo is in the same predicament, pregnant by her older married community college professor. Within weeks of her son Bodhi’s birth she has quit college, been fired from her waitress job, two out of three of her roommates have moved out, and the father of her baby has ghosted her. Out of options, and desperate to make quick money, Margo creates an account on OnlyFans uploading topless photos of herself in order to gain paid subscribers.

Margo was in a bind and had a steep learning curve ahead. But as tough as things were for her Margo was resilient, determined, savvy, intelligent, and had a straightforward, honest, sarcastic way of narrating. She was also irresponsible and overly trusting. I was completely in her corner rooting for her to succeed and find happiness. My heart broke for her as she was barely twenty and had been let down by everyone her entire life. All she wanted was support and love. No wonder she wanted a baby who would love her unconditionally. I would’ve preferred more focus on Margo adjusting to new motherhood instead of her financial woes as her interactions with Bodhi were hilarious, but I can’t really complain as it was explicitly stated in the title what the focal point would be.

I couldn’t help being entertained over Margo’s experience with OnlyFans and other social media. Yes, she was being exploited, but the combination of Margo’s business sense, detailed research, and writing skills (she was majoring in English in college) meant she had the control, well as much as she could in that situation anyway – not saying it was all smooth sailing. The writing was blunt and direct and included graphic descriptions of male and female genitalia, bodily functions, sexual content and sexual slang, and drug use. I wasn’t fazed as it fit the tone of the novel and the personality of the narrator, and was usually conveyed in an amusing way, but to decide if this book is the right fit for you, I suggest listening to or reading a sample first.

I flitted between the kindle and audio, and the audio was phenomenal, read by Elle Fanning, the perfect voice for Margo, and the cover image even looks a lot like her. And it’s lucky I loved her performance as Apple TV is turning Margo’s Got Money Troubles into a limited series, and Elle Fanning is set to star. Yay!

If you enjoy reading about characters who are a train wreck, yet are strong, tough, and fascinating then I highly-recommend Margo’s Got Money Troubles. I adored it!

[Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a desperation to a novel that is unsettling. The world so painstakingly re-created in miniature; this tiny diorama made of words. Why go to all this trouble, to create me, to seduce you, to enumerate so many different breakfast cereals? To make the cunning tiny apartment, the itsy-bitsy Jinx? It's like going to meet your new boyfriend's family for the first time and discovering they are all paid actors. It's almost easier to believe I'm real than to understand what's actually going on. The desperation that could have caused anyone to invent me in the first place. The urgency and need that would require creating an imaginary space of this size and level of detail.

And it really makes you wonder: What kind of truth would require this many lies to tell?

The Goodreads description fully lays out the setup of this novel, so I’ll move straight to my thoughts.

Every now and then I read a book and I don’t realize until it’s much too late that I’m waaaaaay too emotionally invested. It happened to me in the Beartown trilogy, where one character did something so needlessly hurtful to another that I just stopped reading the book for rest of the day, as if I was punishing the book for hurting these characters.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles grabbed my mind and attention from the start. It’s very well-written. The narration switches back and forth between first and third person, between 20-year-old Margo and some older, wiser version, a clever mixture that gives the story both an energetic immediacy and a wistful sense of nostalgia. I enjoyed watching Margo finally get to bond with her long-absent father. The book and Margo are extremely funny—like some of her subscribers, I’d also pay extra to read more of her descriptions of ‘what Pokémon does your penis most resemble.’

I can’t put my finger on exactly when or how it happened. All I know is, somewhere in the back half of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, bad things start happening to Margo, and it made me angry. Angry about the challenges of single parenthood and lack of childcare (especially in low wage occupations) in this country. Angry about the way child protective services can be weaponized against mothers for reasons unrelated to the actual best interests of the child. Angry that people were making Margo sad when she deserves only good things. I was ready to jump inside the book and give a few characters a piece of my mind and/or a kick in their ass. And that emotional investment seems like the mark of a pretty great book. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Highly recommended.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margo’s Got Money Problems is not one of my typical reads but I loved it! Filled with many laugh-out-loud moments, this unique story is also surprisingly emotional at times. I absolutely loved Margo and rooted for her throughout. This was such a fun, contemporary novel and I highly recommend it!

Even though the book hasn't been published yet, it has already been adapted for television as a series and will be produced by David E Kelly and A24. The series will stream on Apple TV and will star Elle Fanning.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe will be available on June 11. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

[Dona's Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I would love this but I did not!

Full review:

Thank you to the author Rufi Thorpe, publishers William Morrow Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of MARGO'S GOT MONEY TROUBLE . All views are mine.

It seemed improbable that men really wanted sex this badly, and yet they did, there was an entire economy based on how badly they wanted it, and for a moment Margo understood the sexual desire she felt was mild in comparison. She would never pay fifteen dollars to look at a guy naked. You could buy two, possibly three sandwiches for fifteen dollars. p71

Well, I thought I would love this one. But I really didn't. I am a huge fan of fiction books with feminist characters, storylines, or themes, and this is one of those. Sort of. But the feminism you'll find in this book is a new breed of it‐‐‐ sort of an issue feminism. OnlyFans only feminism.

Thorpe also writes a copious amount of material about the details of the character's legal troubles and how she will address them. Unfortunately, the author only provides details about the boring stuff. Well, boring if you're not using this book as a how-to manual. Her rare metaphor is interesting, so I bet her figurative writing would actually be good, but she describes exactly nothing. I would say it needs an extra 50 pages in literary description, except I can't imagine this book being any longer than it already is.

Apple TV has optioned this one for a streaming series. First time this has happened before a book was published. Considering the lack of description in this book, I imagine the series will have to be an improvement on the text.

That was how it was being a grown-up. We were all moving through the world like that, like those river dolphins that look pink only because they’re so covered in scars. p190

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. She kept thinking, as she nursed him, I am so fucked, I am so fucked, I am so fucked. Because all around her she could feel the echoey space of no one caring about her or worrying about her or helping her. She might as well have been nursing this baby on an abandoned space station. p12 I'm tired of all the hero-mom narratives dominating the literary landscape right now, but I am here for the mom disaster narratives! *edit nope, just another hero mom narrative, swer edition.

2. I like intergenerational trauma story lines like this: “Look at how long and thick his fingers are.” The love-drunk look on Jinx’s face made the back of Margo’s throat hurt. Had her father looked at her like that when she was a baby? p64

3. This book goes into great detail about the family court system and how terrible it is. Well great, I guess, if you're not the one losing your kid, but still just horrifying material. I think this is a very important subject and I'm glad Thorpe decided to cover it in her cold, calculated style.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. I'm in the first pages of the book, and I'm already put off by the sections of completely unnecessary and horribly executed second person POV. In this case, it's just slipshod stand-in for first-person POV and should be written in first person instead. *edit In general, changing POV feels clumsy and confusing throughout the text.

2. Dang girl, just give your poor dad some space lol! He is really fine without you!

3. "Violently" is used repetitiously and often incorrectly.

4. Thorpe spends 50 pages moralizing why abortion is selfish or at least irresponsible, then spends the rest of the book justifying (or not bothering) the main character's use of her OnlyFans account to make a living as a sex worker. These are both important women's issues, neither of which are more pious or deserving than the other. Thorpe is sending some convuluted, and some downright bad messages to the young women who will read this book. I find the narrative didactic and obtuse. Is this what passes for white feminism in 2024?

5. This book contains very little descriptive writing. It's mostly dialogue and summary of action.

6. There are pages and pages of shroom-tripping characters laying out a business plan, step by step. It's such a dry scene and it's not good fiction. It reads like a how-to book. I bet some readers will actually follow it.

Rating: 🤱 / 5 "hero" moms
Recommend? No
Finished: Aug 27 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
👶🏻 new mom stories
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
💉 addiction recovery stories
💇‍♀️ women's coming of age
💄 feminism

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be one of my favorite books read this year. Super cute and funny and a nice little satire on the patriarchy that shames women whenever it can. Margo isn't even old enough to drink legally, but her college professor seduces her and gets her pregnant (pause here in case you didn't know - just like the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way, the student is always the one who is seduced in these situations, even if the professor says she came onto him - this is how sexual harassment is defined legally, and it is based on positions of power and potential abuse of that power, which is why Bill Clinton definitely was in the wrong - something I'll scream about every chance I get - gosh I hated that guy!).

Anyway, back to Margo. She decides to keep the baby (because she wants to be a "good" person - thanks to society saying only good people keep their babies - PUKE). But she's completely unprepared and has ZERO help from anyone. Yet, she figures it out all by herself. She is a fantastic hero for this book.

But wait, there's more! There's even a hook for the men who might be curious about "chick lit" (whoever came up with that needs to pay every feminist a salary in perpetuity!): Margo's father is none other than a WWE icon, and he is another really well-written character. Her mother, on the other hand - ICK. 100% ICK. Ok, she's doing the best she can, but really, she needs to do better.

This book was fun, had fabulous character-development, shamed the shamers, and wasn't afraid to go into places other books might be afraid to explore - and it was all done within a PG-13 rating! Also, I love that the potential love interest is a Korean man. We need more Asian leads represented in our media.

FIVE happy and enthusiastic stars from me!

[zoë ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ੈ♡˳ rating: five of five stars

ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i genuinely adored this book. it was such a quick and easy read i finished it in about two hours, even with my boyfriend talking to me the entire time. i went into this thinking it was going to be a romance book but was very suprised (and maybe a little bit relieved) that it wasn’t. it was truly just about margo. she not only had money troubles, but she had troubles in every sense of the word. it seemed like no matter what she did, something bad happened as a result of it. but i’ll give it to margo, she did whatever she had to do for her son, and that is the best part about the book.

spice level - 0/5 - not a romance book.

ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ none :)

ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ “love was not something, i realized, that came to you from outside. i had always thought that love was supposed to come from other people, and somehow, i was failing to catch the crumbs of it, failing to eat them, and i went around belly empty and desperate. i didn’t know that love was supposed to come from within me, and that as long as i loved others, the strength and warmth of that love would fill me, make me strong.”

“ೃ⁀➷ “you need to be someone worth falling in love with- you teach them how to love you by showing them who you are.”

“ೃ⁀➷ “everyone had always known, could see that there was something about me that wasn’t worth investing in. the way they could so easily throw me away.”


◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈

[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

the author's meta inserts felt really out of place. story-wise this was managed to be surprisingly boring and i had a hard time believing in margo's story concept for her collaboration with other OF workers. full review to come.

[Danai · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 53% the blasphemy in this adds nothing to the book, and while most likely an attempt at comedy it is most certainly a failed one.