Member Reviews
Margo got pregnant after sleeping with her college professor and decided to keep the baby without thinking through what the full impact on her life would be. After getting fired from her job due to child care issues, she came up with an unconventional way to support herself. The story started out slowly and became more interesting and thought provoking as it went along. I would give it 3.5 stars.
What an absolute charmer of a novel! The characters, especially Margo and Jinx, jump off the page, and I love the way the story is told via point of view. It's sweet, edgy, unique, and I read it with a smile on my face. I'm so glad it's becoming a TV series as well, I could see it playing out before my eyes as I read. Will definitely be eagerly awaiting Rufi Thorpe's next one!
This book is about a 20 year old woman named Margo who has an affair with her college professor and has the child. She drops out of school and in order to pay her bills and rent she decides to start an OnlyFans account. She makes some pretty good money, then a few people in her life step in because they do not approve of what she is doing for a living. If you’re like me and don’t really know a whole lot about social media you will after this book is done!
I have gone back and forth about how to rate this book, and settled on a 4 star rating. I like Margo and I was rooting for her all the way. It was a quick read, but I may be thinking about it for a while!
Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow Publishing for the digital ARC.
A brilliant novel about the realities of adulting! The characters in this novel are extremely well developed and portrayed to the point where a visceral reaction was forthcoming depending on what the author intended. All of our insecurities, embarrassing little anecdotes and secret desires and heartbreaks are deftly narrated by the protagonist who feels, more than not, like she could be any of the readers since we all will relate to one (or maybe more than one) character on some level. A definite favorite of 2024!
After seeing rave reviews, I needed to pick up Margo! Admittedly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the Only Fans premise, and as I was reading it, I found it turned me off a bit. To be clear, I am not anti-sex work. Sex work IS work. That said, I really tried to evaluate the story as a whole, I can see the hype. At its core, Margo is a touching story about the extremes a single mother goes to in order to provide for her son. I found myself walking away from the story feeling touched and really having a soft spot for Margo. Yes, this story is a bit absurd, but if you can get on board with the Only Fans piece, you’ll find that there is a lot of tenderness here too.
What a terrific read! Margot is 20- always remember that- and she's the new mom to Bohdi, the child of her relationship of sorts with her professor. And she's broke. Her horrible mother won't help, two of her room mates are moving out, and she's at her wits end when she discovers Only Fans and everything changes. And then her wrestling generally absent father Jinx shows up, having been thrown out of the house by his wife. Jinx is one of the best characters I've read in a while- Thorpe makes him feel very real. Things go well - she expands her business by working with two other women, TikTok, and her room mate Sarah, and then her ex sues for custody and CPS shows up. And that's when things get serious. This is emotional, it's funny, it's got terrific characters you'll root for, and it's a page turner. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This deserves all the praise it's gotten-it's great.
The novel was a quick, enticing read as it switches between first and third person about Margo Millet, a 20 year old that becomes pregnant due to an affair with her college professor and decides to keep her kid. She has a rocky start into motherhood after realizing how difficult it was to be a mother and also a provider at the same time. Margo ends up going into the field of sex work by starting an OnlyFans. Much of the story is based on how she works hard at trying to achieve success through her new career path but also fighting to defend her choice of occupation with family and friends. There's a lot of moral conflict throughout the story centered on this bit and as a reader, we follow along as Margo embraces her role as a mother and also as a sex worker. I was also touched by how her relationship with her ex-pro wrestler, Jinx, has developed and healed and overcoming the issues between her and her mother Shyanne. Both of her relationships with her parents acts as a parallel to her her relationship with Bodhi and to her own personal growth. By the end of the novel, I feel proud of Margo and how much she has grown after going through such a huge significant change in her life.
📚: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (@rufithorpe)
⭐️: 5/5
The gist: Margo’s 20 years old. Her college professor got her pregnant. Her mom is unsupportive. Her estranged former pro-wrestler dad just arrived on her doorstep needing a place to stay. She’s a new mom. And, oh right, she’s got money problems because her boss at her waitressing job fired her when she couldn’t find reliable childcare. She’s kind of hitting rock bottom, so what is there to do now? (Hint, not a spoiler since it’s in the synopsis: It’s OnlyFans.)
The good: This book’s synopsis feels unhinged. What I just wrote above feels unhinged. (How does a book tie in OnlyFans, professional wrestling, new motherhood, and finding oneself?!) But believe me when I say - this book is SO GOOD. It’s heartwarming. It’s heartbreaking. It’s smart. It’s feminist. It’s also absolutely hilarious. I loved this read!
The eh: Not necessarily an eh - it’s part of why I loved it - but this is a book where OnlyFans plays a central role. This read isn’t necessarily for everyone because while it’s not spicy, it is very explicit!
Also, not worthy of a star rating drop, but some of the narrative commentary that pops up gets a bit confusing (and doesn’t really serve a purpose, it feels).
Big huge thanks to @williammorrowbooks via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Margo’s Got Money Troubles is out this upcoming Tuesday 6/11!
First off, I freaking love Margo. She’s smart, determines, a bit weird, and deeply caring.
Margo is bright young woman thrown off her track by a grown a double s man who gets all predatory on her. Basically she’s 19 he’s her very married English professor in his 30s. And when she gets pregnant he wants nothing to do with the baby or her.
In fact most people dip out on Margo. Her mom, most of her roommates, her boss. But one roommate, Suzie, and, shockingly, her dad who was absent for most of her life steps up big time.
Unfortunately her dad is also fighting his own demons and when he threatens ol professor with bodily harm, prof’s lawyer (and probably his mommy cause he’s totally an enormous, coddled mama’s boy) talks him into suing for custody.
This causes problems for Margo as she’s just found her footing earning money through social media and OnlyFans. And she’s terrified of losing her son.
The characters are well developed and mostly grow throughout the story. I also loved how Margo broke the 4th wall to address us readers in a way to know she’s telling this story and it’s her perspective even if told in third person.
Oh, Margo. Margo, Margo, Margo. Girl, I adore you, but your actions were very, very questionable. I wanted to pull my hair out, and scream at the top of my lungs! Based on the title, it’s obvious that Margo gets herself into a bit of a cash flow situation, and needs some financial help. How Margo decides to deal with these said money troubles had me raising my eyebrows until they disappeared from my face. Let’s just say that it’s not the route that I would’ve chosen in that situation, but hey, I applaud her for it! I went in completely blind with this book, and recommend that you do too. Just know that it’s pretty random, quirky, comical, and a little raunchy—but not overly so. It’s one of the most unique storylines that I’ve ever come across, so the author definitely gets some major bonus points for that. I especially loved the family dynamics, mostly the odd, yet totally sweet father-daughter relationship that warmed my heart. I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. It’s narrated by Elle Fanning, and she did an absolute fabulous job with it. I really can’t envision anyone else as Margo. Overall, this book is incredibly entertaining. I laughed, frowned, gasped, sighed, and shook my head so many times! Margo is a hoot! 4/5 stars for Margo’s Got Money Troubles! It’s out on June 11th!
Margo's Got Money Troubles hooked me from the very beginning! It's funny and heartwarming, with a great cast of characters and I loved every minute of it!
Although I didn’t love some of Margo’s decisions in the book, I enjoyed seeing her grow and stand up for what she believed in. Margo and Jinx were both very lovable characters, and it’s impossible not to root for them.
4.5 stars and the only reason it's not a 5 is because I just could not get enough of Margo and did not want this story to end. This book was hilarious and heart-warming! Basically, a 20=year-old college student named Margo becomes pregnant by her English professor and has to navigate new motherhood, childcare and adulthood. She is the child of a former Hooters waitress and an ex pro wrestler. (TBH, I will devour anything with a WWE angle and Margo's dad Jinx is probably once of my fav characters EVER.) Anyway, it's not like Margo has had a lot of help navigating adulthood, etc. so after a conversation with her father, she checks into the online world of OnlyFans in order to make a living. Hilarity ensues. Trust me, you do not want to miss reading this novel and routing for this adorable young lady who is just trying to figure it all out.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-arc.*
Short synopsis: When Margo finds herself pregnant, with her college professor’s baby, he wants her to get an abortion. She decides the keep the baby, and finds less than conventional ways to support herself and her baby.
My thoughts: This is not a book for everyone, because of the subject matter. I’ve seen such raving reviews for this one and it’s well deserved. Margo was such a quirky character but such an amazing mom. Using unconventional ways to take care of herself and her son.
While I couldn’t see myself resorting to the same ways to make money as she did, she sets up an OnlyFans account to make money to pay rent and support her son. I love how she defended herself and her occupation.
I have such a soft spot in my heart for Jinx, while he was a terrible father for Margo growing up he really redeemed himself when she needed him most. I loved that he was a professional wrestler. It’s only fitting that his occupation should be unique when we are discussing Margo’s job.
Rooted in this quirky unique story is imperfect characters doing what they think is best for their kids. Being a parent is HARD, making the best choices for your kids wellbeing is HARD! But the author really opens your eyes to a new perspective to understand others in different situations than you.
Thank you @williammorrow for a copy of this book! Available June 11, 2024!
Read if you love:
- Stories of resilience
- Fighting for your rights
- Parenthood
- Forgiveness and understanding
- Unconventional occupations.
This is not the book I was expecting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4 ½ stars! We meet Margo, a young college student, who has an affair with her married professor and gets pregnant. It is a fun, contemporary look into Margo's life as she navigates new motherhood, roommates, financial responsibilities and her parents & their own issues. I loved the character Margo. She was very relatable. I enjoyed the author’s writing style as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.
Margo is twenty, and a single mother after an affair with her married professor. Her life is not going as planned, so she is forced to pivot in order to financially support motherhood. Her determination to survive drives all her decision. Her parents create additional chaos in her life, as she enrolls in a unconventional career.
Margo's Got Money Trouble was enjoyable, humorous, witty and an endearing read. You'll cheer Margo through each hardship. Thorpe has masterfully crafted a story on the struggles of single mothers, overcoming shame and finding your way.
Thank you, William Morrow
This is my first Rufi Thrope book and I'll definitely be picking up her others. This was not at all what I expected and based on the description, I thought it would be a fun light beach read, but it turned into so much more than that. It's a story of family, empowerment, and controlling our own narratives. The different ways of telling the story - first, second, or third person with the occasional breaking the fourth wall - was so clever. Initially, it drove me nuts but as the book unfolded it really added to the theme, and I ended up appreciating this literary device. The characters all felt so real and delightfully weird. Thorpe's writing is both gorgeous and accessible at the same time. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know.
This was such a delight.
The story is funny and compassionate, real because of its absurdity. The writing is sharp and clever. You can see Thorpe playing with language and structure, but because it's in the voice of Margo, such a curious, creative character, it doesn't feel like the reader is being toyed with. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
Can a book be simultaneously hilarious and profound? Rufi Thorpe’s MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES answers that question with a resounding YES! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book after reading the synopsis, but I certainly did not expect the unmatched reading experience it delivered.
The plot is fairly simple. Margo is a naive college student who finds herself pregnant after a brief affair with her professor. Unable to support herself and her infant through her part time waitressing job and with no reliable family network, she turns to the Internet - specifically OnlyFans - as a short term solution. With the help of her newly present dad, a former professional wrestler, she incorporates lessons from the pro wrestling circuit to build her following.
That’s the plot and, based on that alone, this book would be entertaining, but it is so incredibly nuanced that each chapter reveals another layer, poses another question, and challenges another societal belief. The writing is sharp and witty and the characters are complex and endearing. The combination is gripping and made it impossible to put this book down.
The author shifts perspective between first and third person and occasionally breaks the third wall which seems odd, but ultimately adds to the narrative. What a clever storytelling technique that enriches the reading experience.
MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES delivers on multiple levels and surprised me in the best way.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
*added to 2024 favorite list!
I have to start out this review by saying how much I LOVE The Knockout Queen… and I have been patiently waiting for Rufi to get another book out into the world… well my friends… it was worth the wait.
TBH I knew zilch about it before starting… 2 chapters in I decided to take a peek the the synopsis and oh my word I knew I was in for a wild ride. My emotional scale was all over the place… the characters have so much heart and felt so authentic while portraying the nitty gritty of mundane life and just trying to take care of the people they love.
Rufi is brilliant with her story telling and grabbing the readers attention with characters and plot… both I could not wait to get back to each day.
A little something to look forward to…
Choices
Wrestling
OnlyFans
Complicated parental relationships
Father/daughter reconciliation
The price of child care
Judgment of sex work
Found family
This is a story I would love to revisit and I’m so happy to see that’s it’s already been picked up to be adapted as a TV series!
Thank You William Morrow
6/11
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