This book was surprisingly funny and still heartwrenching at times. A relatable story buried in a slightly ridiculous narrative. A really enjoyable read.

Adulting hasn't turned out like Margo expected. When her English professor wanted to start an affair, she wasn't sure how to say no so agreed. When she gets pregnant, he wants her not to have the baby but she decides to. That's the good part of adulting; when Bodhi is born she finds a love that is more than anything she has ever experienced. But being a single mom is no picnic. Margo is broke and she gets fired from her waitressing job because she can't find child care and even if she did, it would cost as much as she could make.

Margo's parents never married. Her mother, Shyanne, moves from one man to the next, looking for stability she never quite seems to find. Her father, Jinx, is a former pro wrestler who had a wife and other family elsewhere. He is a larger than life character but his life has been marred by his serial cheating and his opiate addiction caused by the injuries in wrestling.

When Margo is about to get evicted, she knows something must change. Two of her roommates are moving out leaving only Margo and Suzi to make the rent and Suzi is more broke than Margo. Jinx comes to town, falls in love with Bodhi and decides to move in and help. Margo finds a job online but it's porn adjacent, posting semi-nude photos of herself and gaining subscribers. She has one subscriber, JB, who she starts an online relationship with that feels different than the rest. But the professor has decided to file for custody and someone has turned her in to Social Services as an unfit mother. Can Margo make everything work?

Rufi Thorpe has written a laugh out loud book in which the reader will fall in love with Margo. No matter what the troubles that pile up, Margo faces them all heads on and refuses to give up. She will do anything to make a better life for Bodhi and her intelligence and creativeness may take her far. I loved so many of these characters. Jinx is a larger than life character who loves Margo and Bodhi and does anything he can to protect them. JB may be the perfect romance but can Margo afford the time for a committed relationship? Margo herself is such a resilient, empathic character that one can't help but love her and root for her to make sense of it all. This book is recommended for literary and women's fiction readers.

Here is an author who creates worlds with an awareness that sparkles, dazzling attention to detail with deeply flawed quirky characters so realistic you won't be able to become anything less than terribly fond of them that when it's time to turn the last page, it’s hard to let go of them.

Margo is going through it. After an affair with her community college professor, she’s pregnant. She’s not listening to the noise about not keeping the baby, but she does have some figuring out to do. Thorpe creates a perfect balance of humor and tension that keeps the pacing tight. With characters including an ex-pro wrestler dad (get ready to love him!) and a Hooters waitress mom (judgy), Margo tackles the challenges of new motherhood, going from unemployed to finding work (don’t judge) that will lead her to newfound wisdom with her head held up high.
​
Here's where you’ll be; quietly absorbing the magic of Margo’s different POVs (readers, she breaks the fourth wall, and I loved it), which makes this story that much more unique and fun to read, the jump-off-the-page lively characters will make you laugh and also make you pause about serious issues including childcare, substance abuse, sex work, as you root for Margo on the sidelines. Read it for the satire, insight, and a place to warm your heart.

I thought this book was laugh out loud funny! Margo is a new mom like no other. You will be rooting for her all the way.

This was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the shifts in points of view. Characters were a lot of fun and I enjoyed learning more about the OnlyFans world.

Margo’s Got Money Trouble by Rufi Thorpe: A Synopsis
A Journey of Resilience and Reinvention
In her latest novel, "Margo’s Got Money Trouble," Rufi Thorpe delivers a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of survival, identity, and empowerment. The story revolves around Margo Millet, a young woman whose roots are as eclectic as they are challenging. Born to a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo has always understood the necessity of forging her own path.
Blisteringly funny and filled with sharp insights, "Margo’s Got Money Trouble" is a tender and engaging tale. Thorpe crafts an endearing protagonist in Margo, whose struggles and triumphs resonate deeply. The novel is a playful yet honest examination of the intersections between financial desperation, personal reinvention, and the power of narrative. It invites readers to reflect on their own stories and the ways in which they navigate the complexities of life.
In sum, Rufi Thorpe's "Margo’s Got Money Trouble" is a poignant and timely exploration of modern challenges and the extraordinary measures taken to overcome them. Through Margo's eyes, readers embark on a journey that is as hilarious as it is heart-wrenching, ultimately celebrating the indomitable spirit of a young woman determined to wrest control of her destiny.

I really enjoyed this story. It seems like it would be a comedy and while there were some comedic elements it was much heavier and heartfelt than I was expecting. Margo is an incredibly flawed character but her mothering instinct takes over and she will quite literally do anything for her child. It was a very emotional read and caught me off guard with how much I felt connected to the story.

3.5 rounded to 4 of 5 stars
Margo gets pregnant by her professor and has the child. Since she can't find reliable child care, she loses her waitressing job and needs to figure out how to earn money. Her estranged father comes to live with her and offers and tells her about the OnlyFans website. Margo researches it, and starts posting videos. This action puts her in contact with JB, and also puts the custody of her son in danger.
An interesting look at how influencers use social media, and how this non-reality world affects lives. Funny at times, but also tragic, in a way, as it examined a young girl trying to navigate her relationships.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles was an absolute masterpiece in all its quirky, hilarious, narrative glory. I would read this book over and over again for its creative wit and gorgeous prose. I couldn’t put it down.

The characters were unique and deep, they relationships as complicated as real life. Everyone’s support - or lack thereof - for Margo was layered, and I appreciated that. Not everyone was a bad guy at the end - but on the same side of the coin, not everyone was a good guy either.

The narrative shift throughout this book was incredible. I never expected the alternating POV for one narrator. But it was brilliantly creative and took the nuance of Margo’s relationships (with others, with HungryGhost, and most importantly, with herself) to new heights.

Like most of us, Margo’s Got Money Troubles. But she approaches it a bit differently than the rest of us - with a deep determination that she can do it. That she can love her son through all hardships. And she does. Five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advance electronic copy of this title.

This book was full of surprises. It was a while between when I requested it and when I actually read it, and I was not expecting...a lot! In fact, I just reread the blurb, and I still wouldn't have expected how things turned out. Is OnlyFans a real thing that everyone knew about except me?

Margo did indeed have money troubles. And some mother troubles. And maybe father troubles as well. And now--baby problems. Can a young college student with a baby manage to stay in an apartment with three roommates? And how can she manage to support both her and the baby, and care for him as well? Her father surfaces and is able to help with childcare, and inadvertently steers her towards OnlyFans (which I have now googled--yep, it's a real thing! And why this is definitely an adult book). The majority of the book is how she learns about OnlyFans, other women who use it, and how to make a living at it. A lot of this was pretty hilarious, though some was a little scary, and some a bit sad.

For those on the same page as me, OnlyFans is sort of pay for view for nudes, ranging into internet porn. If that makes you uncomfortable, this book probably isn't for you. Would I have read it if I knew what was coming? Maybe not. There was enough family drama to make it a compelling story, but it definitely pushed the boundaries of my comfort level.

3.5 stars

Wow! Quirky little weirdo that Margo and her dad. This was funny and bold and we need more books like this. Just a wild ride and car crash you can't turn away from so enjoy the ride!

I loved this book!! Here is an author who creates worlds with an awareness that sparkles, dazzling attention to detail with deeply flawed quirky characters so realistic you won't be able to become anything less than terribly fond of them that when it's time to turn the last page, it’s hard to let go of them.

Margo is going through it. After an affair with her community college professor, she’s pregnant. She’s not listening to the noise about not keeping the baby, but she does have some figuring out to do. Thorpe creates a perfect balance of humor and tension that keeps the pacing tight. With characters including an ex-pro wrestler dad (get ready to love him!) and a Hooters waitress mom (judgy), Margo tackles the challenges of new motherhood, going from unemployed to finding work (don’t judge) that will lead her to newfound wisdom with her head held up high.
​
Here's where you’ll be; quietly absorbing the magic of Margo’s different POVs (readers, she breaks the fourth wall, and I loved it), which makes this story that much more unique and fun to read, the jump-off-the-page lively characters will make you laugh and also make you pause about serious issues including childcare, substance abuse, sex work, as you root for Margo on the sidelines. Read it for the satire, insight, and a place to warm your heart.

Margo's Got Money Troubles tells the story of 19-year-old Margo Millet, the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler with an addiction, who gets knocked up by her college English professor and decides to keep the baby. She has no idea how a newborn could change her life, especially financially. But when she’s fired from her waitressing job and two of her three roommates move out, she has to figure something out — fast. When her dad decides to move with her he tells her about a wrestler that has an ongoing Only Fans page and Margo decides to try it and discovers one option for easy money. What starts as an "experiment" and descriptions of male parts as pokemon (I couldn't stop laughing with that) grows to be a business and Margo's path to grow up. I loved the different characters and I cheered for her and her potential love life with one of her customers. Her relationship with her mother was so toxic and the character was so well build that I disliked her so much! I wanted to tell Margo to run and leave her mother as she was very selfish and self-centered. Overall one of the best books I have read so far! I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to see it on the big screen!

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced read copy of Margo’s Got Money Problem’s by Rufi Thorpe!
After an affair with her college professor ends with an unexpected pregnancy, Margo is faced with a series of difficult decisions and challenges to overcome.  Full of family drama and all kinds of moral dilemmas, this book tells the story of Margo finding herself amidst the journey of motherhood and life as a young adult.  
While this book wasn’t my personal preference of content it was well written and left me intrigued all the way to the end.  Margo’s character was lovable, driven and just plain genuine.

This book was so unexpectedly good. I was invested in the main character and rooting for her. I was surprised Margo still decided to have a relationship with her mother considering everything that happened.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but it ended up being funny, quirky, and heartfelt. Although it was slow at times, overall I enjoyed it.

I truly did not know what to expect with this book, but I was so pleasantly surprised! Margo, the daughter of a Hooter's waitress and a former pro wrestler, has just had a baby with her married professor. I'm not usually one for reading the plot summaries, but this one caught my eye and I was immediately intrigued. I listened to this one on audio and what a fantastic decision that was! The audiobook was narrated by Elle Fanning and she did such a great job with the narration. I loved Margo's character. Margo is so smart and witty, and there were many parts of this book that made me laugh out loud. There are also several moments where Margo and those around her show so much heart that I was emotional. The writing is also so smart in this book and while I have not read Rufi Thorpe's previous works, I will definitely seeking them out in the future. Thorpe does such a great job with nuanced moments as well as the big ones throughout. This book ended up on my top fiction reads of 2024 list so it's definitely worth picking up! I highly recommend it, especially the audio.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book got a lot of - well deserved, imo - attention this summer. The topic is “light” (a single mom who creates an Only Fans account to get by), but the writing is more “literary,” parts of the plot are really original/unique, and there are some deeper messages about motherhood, poverty, and systemic issues that are handled really impressively.

Omg I absolutely loved this one! I had heard that Elle Fanning narrated this and that she did an excellent job. So I immediately requested the audio through Libby. After a long wait, it finally came through. I was a little nervous because I can have trouble listening to literary fiction on audio. But I had no trouble at all with this one.

I’ve seen some mixed reviews on this, and I think it probably comes down to two things: if you love the FMC Margo or not, and if you’re uncomfortable with or judge her for her choice to do “cam work.” I loved Margo, and was not uncomfortable with that aspect, so it was a huge yes for me. Margo being judged and threatened to have her child taken away from her because of said cam work just made me root for her even harder. And for all women who choose to do that kind of work.

Overall, this was a funny, quirky, and sweet book, and I’d highly recommend it to everyone.

Rufi Thorpe's Margo's Got Money Troubles is a fiercely funny and thought-provoking exploration of identity, survival, and the lengths we go to in order to reclaim power in a world that often feels stacked against us. The story follows Margo Millet, a young woman caught in a whirlwind of financial instability, unexpected motherhood, and the complicated return of her estranged father, Jinx, who offers advice straight from the world of pro wrestling.

Margo’s journey to independence takes an unexpected turn when she starts an OnlyFans account as a desperate experiment to make ends meet. As she finds success, the story delves into themes of control, self-presentation, and the shifting dynamics of personal agency in the age of internet fame. Thorpe’s portrayal of Margo is both sharp and endearing—she’s raw, relatable, and navigating a path that many of us can understand, even if not all of us would take it.

Thorpe's writing is laced with humor and biting wit, but beneath the laughs, there’s a poignant look at the struggles of forging a future without a clear roadmap. Margo's Got Money Troubles is not just about money—it’s about building a life that feels real, owning your narrative, and discovering your worth in a world that constantly tries to define you. It’s a smart, empowering, and utterly captivating read that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to hustle for a better life.