The cover of this book and the title intrigued me. The main character, Margo, was 19 and definitely had troubles including becoming accidentally pregnant. My favorite section was in chapter three while buying a baby stroller at Goodwill. Her worries about what her baby might grow up to be were so well written I had to read them out loud to my husband. But the story got serious when Margo had to deal with a need to make money and she discovered a unique way.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What is Margo, a 19 year old, who is in college, finds out she is knocked up by one of professors, to do? She gets a job making Only Fans content, of course.

Margo is 19 and pregnant. She decides to keep the baby and soon finds out like is pretty hard. Next thing you know her, mostly absent dad, Jinx is moving in with her and the baby. Jinx used to be a pro wrestler and struggles with addiction.

This book had some great writing and made me laugh out loud several times. It is a fun and quirky read.

4/5 stars

I had no idea where this book was going but it was such a fun read. This is a modern, fresh, weird story with unique characters that will definitely pull you in. It's quirky and one-of-a kind.

Definitely pick this one up when it releases on June 11 and make sure you read The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thrope for another solid read.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

"The beginning of a novel is like a first date." Unfortunately, "Margo's Got Money Troubles" will be my last date with Rufi Thorpe. Though I enjoyed this one more than I did her previous novel, "The Knockout Queen," I once again found the story and writing to be a bit juvenile (despite the mature subject matter of the story) and think this book would be better marketed as young adult than literary fiction. I did not like the repeated switches between first person and third person. I also could do without the parts of the novel that disparaged Christianity-saying that Mary lied about how she became pregnant and that she was actually raped did not add anything to the story. I get it, the author thinks Christianity is bad and doing pornography is okay, but you can make the case for pornography and how a woman should have the right to make a living in any manner she chooses without bringing Jesus's conception into it. This book glossed over the problematic relationship between a college professor and his student and, though it showed the struggles of being a singer mother, I think it made light of that challenge as well. I did find the portrayal of the over-zealous CYS worker to be spot on though; in my line of work I have encountered variations of that character in real life many times.

I liked the message of this story and the strength of Margo's character. However, I didn't like the execution and the whole book just felt immature to me. I guess I am not the audience for Ms. Thorpe's writing. There were parts I found humorous, especially the comparisons between penises and Pokémon, but overall a disappointing and lackluster read for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I started this book somewhat blind & quickly realized it was definitely out of my comfort zone. I didn’t know what Onlyfans was before this book, so I took some time to process what it is & how I feel about it. I ended up rooting for Margo and her underdog story, even though her naïveté drove me a little crazy sometimes. I thought Thorpe did a great job of writing a realistic story of single motherhood with complicated relationships. My only issue is the side romance story that felt unrealistic & too good to be true. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Margo is an empathetic, loveable character. The story is engaging with an interesting, unusual plot. It leant great insight into the life of someone thrust into sex work.

“Look at me! Look at the beautiful, insane things I can do with my body! Look at me! Love me!”

Absolutely no one is writing books like Rufi Thorpe. When you think of a distinctive literary voice, Rufi Thorpe is it. Only Thorpe can take an off the walls cast of characters like Jinx, a pro wrestler celeb a la Hull Hogan or Margot, our naive yet spunky only fans creator, and create a story that is laugh out loud funny, yet emotionally poignant and raw.

Margot’s naïveté is at times charming and often skirts the realm of ludicrous. Every time I was one eye roll away from writing Margot and her story off, Thorpe expertly pulled me back in.

“But when they talked about the opportunities she would be missing, she’d thought they meant a four-year college. 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.”

It’s this unfailing naïveté mixed with hope and relentless stubbornness that creates an intoxicating cocktail within Margot that you can’t help but root for. You don’t agree with her choices probably, you might wonder if she really is quite all there sometimes, yet she takes such sharp turns, giving readers a new perspective on sex and relationships, eloquently encapsulating experiences, slights, or pressures that likely felt so unique to you that you see bits of yourself reflected in her somehow.

“If the world doesn’t know you are loved, then you’re trash. I think that’s even true of people.”

It’s hard to put into words how this magic unfolds, but Thorpe writes a comedic scene that you’re engrossed in because it feels so outlandish, and before you know it, at the end of the paragraph or page you feel an emotional pang at being seen and understood. Themes of loneliness, depression, disappointment at yourself and with those who were supposed to guide you, are laid out in the open with the kind of honesty or air reserved for children, who somehow say the most honest, damndest things without any ulterior motive or guile.

“you said I can’t have it both ways, but why can’t I? Why can’t being genuine and putting on an act coexist? Aren’t we all always putting on an act?”

This book is a whacky, zany adventure that comes out the other side full of hope, female angsty rage and empowerment, and just that little bit of kindness that we all deserve to show ourselves.

“Look at me! Look at the beautiful, insane things I can do with my body! Look at me! Love me!”

Many thanks to @williammorrowbooks for a free copy and to @librofm for the complimentary audiobook! @ellefanning did such a great job capturing Margo's personality and characteristics- she also brought on all the humor that was intended for this story.
Let the record reflect I only picked up this book because:
1.@kell.of.a.read was raving about it.
2. The title was catching!
I've made it a habit to not really read the synopsis of the books I read. I just try to make sure it's a genre that I love and go for it. I wasn't sure what to really expect but I must say that this book was quite entertaining!
I felt for Margo, who had to stop taking college courses because she gets knocked up and all of a sudden becomes a single mom just trying to get by with little to no income and not much support from her mom. To help her make ends meet, she decides to start an OnlyFans account and things just get funnier from there.
I was proud of the way she went about this life changing event despite how young she was, she was so resilient and it was heartwarming to watch.
@kell.of.a.read had mentioned that | may not like this story because of some of the content. Now while some of it was a bit much and went against my Christian values, it was still very interesting to get a Birds Eye view on these characters and their personal struggles.
At the end of the day, I know everybody will do what they feel like they gotta do to survive, I just know it ain't for me (even though I joke about it from time to time probably too much now that I think about it...hmm.

This was a cute coming of age story. Not my preferred genre but I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone.
I liked the story about Margot and her having a baby and trying figure out how to navigate being a young mom without a job. I really wasn’t interested in the wrestling or the Only Fans part. That’s out of my interest area. The writing was well done and I’m interested in reading her back list.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest opinion. 3⭐️

Having never read anything by Thorpe, I wasn't sure what to expect except I knew it was getting a lot of buzz. "Margo’s Got Money Troubles" is a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you laughing, crying, and everything in between. Thorpe skillfully crafts flawed yet compelling characters whose struggles are both ridiculous and familiar. It definitely took me a moment to adjust to the narrative style, which alternates between third and first person perspectives, the payoff is worth it as it adds layers to the story. While there's a hint of romance woven in, the heart of the tale is Margo’s resilient journey and her quirky support system. Despite her missteps, her unwavering determination to forge ahead, even when clinging on by a thread, is both inspiring and relatable. Thorpe doesn’t neatly tie up every loose end, but leaves readers with a sense of hope.

So quirky and fun. I liked this SOOOOO much better than her last - my expectations were low going in but I was pleasantly surprised. If you like quirky characters and story, with a strong sense of found family, I would definitely give this one a try. 4 -4.5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Thank you publisher William Morrow for the ARC of Margo's Got Money
Problems by Rufi Thorpe which will be available in bookstores on June
11, 2024.

The novel starts out with your typical college student living the college life.  She is trying to decide what she wants from her college experience and what she wants to do with her life.  However, this is
not your standard "campus novel". To be honest, I nearly quit this book because of an unexpected turn.- I had not read the synopsis of the book. However, Margo is so endearing and creative that I simply
had to continue. I really enjoyed her methods and ideas to solving problems.  Her interactions with her dad range from her role as child and then role as needing to be a parent to her parent.  Furthermore,
her dad seems to be happy to have a second chance at caring for his
daughter and now grandchild which he had missed out on with Margo during her childhood. I ended up enjoying the book and would certainly recommend you read it too!

#MargosGotMoneyTroubles #NetGalley

I’ll be very honest, based on the description of this book, I was not expecting to cry. And yet, each day I read this book, I CRIED. Margo is a character that you just can’t help but root for. Her naivety and cluelessness at the beginning was a little frightening, but my god, the way she hustles and fights not only for her son, but herself was incredible. She is not a character I’ll soon forget. It’s not all emotional, there was some great humor in here as well. Jinx was such a complicated character, but I absolutely loved him. I thought this book also brought up some great conversations about sex work and positivity, relationship dynamics and the struggles of parenthood. I’ll be thinking about this book for a good long while.
CW: drug addiction, toxic relationships, drug use, descriptions of childbirth, infidelity, vomit, sexism

Thank you to NetGalley and Williams Morrow for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Much thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow/HarperCollins Publiishing for the ARC of "Margo's Got Money Troubles" in exchange for an honest review.
The best way to fully enjoy this young woman's journey through the perils and pitfalls of adulthood is avoid reading any detailed plot descriptions. Get comfortable, settle in and let author Rufi Thorpe guide you through the sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart aching calamities of 20 year olf Margo MIllet - ex junior college student, ex lover of her married college professor, and now harried, exhausted and unemployed mom of the resulting baby boy.
Margo, a good soul possessed of an inventive, creative mind, chose to have her prof's child against everyone's common sense advice. Though she loves her baby fiercely, she's faced with the daunting task of caring for her son and figuring out how in the world she'll make a living to feed, clothe and shelter them both. Money troubles indeed.
And here's where I don't want to elaborate on the most unlikely avenue Margo takes to assure herself financial success and stability, taking her on a bumpy and at time laugh out loud path to discovery of her own abilities, her sense of self-worth......and even love.
Helping and/or hindering her along the way are her gambling-addicted mother, her wayward retired pro-wrestler dad, her up=for=anything roommate Suzie and a couple of oddball internet personalities. You find yourself cheering on Margo as she navigates countless bumps-in=the-road thrown at her while attending to breast feeding, sleep deprivation, full diapers..... not to mention figuring out who and what she wants to be in life.
While I've read more than a few books this year that took aim at the entitlement and arrogance of the male patriarchy, none of them accomplished this task with as much sharp wit, cleverness and sheer bravado as Rufi Thorpe's Margo. One of the best fun reads of the year.

thank you netgalley for the free e-arc. i don't understand why this was marketed as funny/comedic. where is the funny and the laughs?? i also thought it was written very YA-y. i get that she's using onlyfans but what's up with all the vulgar language to describe things that could have just be simply stated? i thought this could have been done a better, tastful way.

I have loved Rufi Thorpe for years, and I think this will be her breakout hit! This should be in the hands of everyone this summer. This is so much more than the "OF book". Margo starts at a junior college knowing, based on her parents, she is pretty much on her own and needs to figure out how to make a living. She engages in a brief relationship with what we as the reader can understand is a predatory and manipulative English professor. Margo ends up pregnant and that need to make a living became more much urgent, so yes, she starts an OF. This book follows her journey to make this money. But its really about her relationships, her finding herself and her own place in world that seemingly doesn't want her or expect much from her. It's about power and enpowerment in our current climate, and I could not put it own. It's entirely accessible and devour-able...the ideal summer read.

What made this such a win for me is how tender and warm so much of this was in so many unexpected ways. It can make you both laugh and cry in the most raw and weird in the BEST way. A total singular reading experience.

I enjoyed Margo’s Got Money Problems so much more than I was expecting. I think it takes tremendous skill to make such complicated and flawed characters so likeable, even at their worst, I found myself rooting for them. I was expecting the changing point of views to be confusing, but it was done so seamlessly I think it ended up making the story even more engaging.

4.5 🌟 *rounded up*

This book definitely surprised me. It was so much more than I thought it would be. It was about the judgements we make against other humans- who deserves a good life, what makes a good person. It addresses complex issues (drugs, unwanted pregnancy, sex work, etc) in a light way with a little bit of humor, but also in a way that forces you to think about any preconceived notions you may have about unconventional societal life choices.

I loved this book and its unique plot line and I’m so excited Apple TV has picked it up!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Rufi Thorpe writes such wonderfully flawed characters and I love it. This concept of Margo and Bodhi, her pro-wrestling dad, and her OnlyFans account was so strange and fun and oddly heartwarming through and through. Thank you to NetGalley for the early release!

This was fun and insane in the best way. Single young mom, Onlyfans, shitty mother, overly religious step dad, pro wrestling ex addict dad. What could go wrong?