Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of Margo's Got Money Troubles.

I'm betting that this book is going to be on a lot of hot summer reading lists - it's already been optioned for a TV series at Apple with some big names attached. The premise of the book is intriguing and to me, it had so much potential! My only fault is that it didn't quite stick the landing.

Margo Millet is unemployed, there's no way she can pay her rent this month and she's a new mom. She has - as the title of this book suggests - money troubles. With few options available to her and absolutely zero support, she needs to find a way to pay the rent, and the sooner, the better. Things start looking up when fate finds her estranged father, former Professional Wrestler, Jinx on her doorstep looking for a place to stay. Agreeing to help her with childcare, Margo lets Jinx move in. When one evening Jinx casually mentions that one of the female wrestlers he knows makes more money creating content for OnlyFans than she does wrestling, Margo decides it's worth taking a look at. What starts out as an experiment turns into a lucrative career - but it may come at a higher cost than she's willing to pay.

There is so much to discuss in this book, but one of the most interesting things that Rufi Thorpe does is flip back and forth between first-person and third-person narration throughout the book. It's almost as if Margo breaks the fourth wall and is talking directly to the reader, but then switches back to the third person. I loved this - it was cleverly done. Margo is an endearing character, even if her decisions sometimes make you want to bang your head on a wall and ultimately you want to root for her and her family. This could have been a four-star book for me, but I felt that the ending was rushed and the story just fell off without any real conclusion leaving me just a little unsatisfied.

Overall a smart, wild ride that just missed the landing for me.

This is the first book I've read from Rufi Thorpe and now I will be reading every one of her books. Margo is a college student that gets pregnant by her married professor. She has to navigate motherhood while dealing with the financial struggles of being a young single mom. Her pro wrestler father moves in with her after not being very involved in her life. Along the way, she discovers Onlyfans and begins her online career.

I gave this book 5 stars. It is such a unique story and I enjoyed all of it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me. access to this ARC.

I went into this book completely blind. It totally took a turn that I wasn't expecting but you know, it kept my full attention and I was invested!

Margo is a 20 year old who ends up getting pregnant by her professor. She ends up having to drop out of college due to lack of child care and funds, and find herself creating an OnlyFans account. Her ex pro-wrestler dad, who she really doesn't have a relationship with, ends up helping her out. And that's just the beginning of what goes on in this book!

This was such a layered book that really delved into women's sexuality, stigma women get, lack of resources for single parents, and just the ins and outs of being a young, single parent.

This was a very unique and thought-provoking book, and even after finishing this book weeks ago, I still think about the characters and the storyline. Rufi Thorpe creates such realistic characters.

I'll be looking forward to future books by Rufi! I loved Knockout Queen, which is also a super unique and character driven book!

Oh my. I started reading Margo's Got Money Troubles in the middle of the night on a family vacation, and I did not stop until I had finished the whole thing. This book is a wonderful, hilarious, relatable, and all-too-realistic look into the life of Margo, who, despite her money troubles, is doing her very best to make the most of her life. Even though Margo is very young, and even though my life at that age was very different, I could see a lot of myself, and of others, in Margo and her struggles. Life is hard, especially when we don't have support, and the niceties of learning how to navigate as an adult - and, as a parent! - in today's world are complicated and often obscure. Margo's parental relationships also felt real - there is love there, but also judgement and selfishness and fallibility. The modern elements of Margo's Only Fans career, and navigating that world, were also a nice touch. I also appreciated that we didn't get a neat, tied-with-a-bow romance in the end. I will definitely be purchasing, and recommending this one widely!

This is a strong contender for Book of the Summer! Rufi Thorpe crafted loveable characters with very of the moment problems experiencing the highs and lows of being a person in the world. I was delighted by the twists and surprises and was rooting for Margo’s little family along the way! After an affair with her married professor, Margo finds herself pregnant working in a service job and soon with a newborn and no job at all. After securing her ex-professional wrestler father as a roommate, she turns to the gig economy to accommodate her personal and childcare needs by starting an OnlyFans page. This book explores loneliness and the expectations of others by showing how society turns its back on vulnerable people and essentially casts them out unless they meet their strict expectations. Thorpe shifts perspective with the narration (1st to 3rd omniscient and back) in the novel that underscores the question of authenticity that arises from our modern lives: fiction, social media, and other forms of entertainment like professional wrestling. What do we see and how real do we need it to feel in order to care about it? Margo is an excellent cypher through whom to examine these questions because she’s just trying to figure it out for herself in her process to become the person she needs. I recommend pairing this book with the film Poor Things if you seek a story about a woman making her own way while adding knowledge and adjusting her opinions based on newly found information.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book!

Wow, what an unusual story. I don't even know where to begin with this one.

The truth is that it took me a while to get into this story. Margot made so many poor decisions, one after the other that I wasn't sure I wanted to keep going because I was frustrated. But then I slowly started to fall in love with her tenacity. I fell in love with her ability to forgive and her willingness to give others chances and her demands that she, too, be given chances.

This book full of oddball characters and collection of poor choices and misfortune will fill your heart when you're not paying attention and leave you in tears, proud of these characters for all the growth and tenacity they experience over the course of the story.

I started on the fence and ended up loving it.

with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First, thanks to the author and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Second, wow. This was not at all what I expected when I requested it. I learned so much about Only Fans/social media that I didn't know.

Margot is a great character. She's strong, brave, a wonderful mother despite being so young. I felt so many things while reading this. Memories of being a young working single mom trying to do the right thing. Anger at Shyanne, who has to be one of the worst fictional mothers/humans I've ever read about.

But, Jinx! What a wonderful, flawed, lovely character. Once an absentee father, the love and devotion he gives Margot and Bodhi when they need it the most brought series tears to my eyes. Watching the relationship with Suzie develop from roommate to true solid friendship was so good. Seeing the transition from awful human being to less awful human being in Mark definitely calmed the anxiety this book gave me.

This book is so full of heart, humor, and empowerment. You'll get angry, you'll cry, you'll laugh, you will pump your fist rooting for Margot. You'll also really, really get an urge to watching wrestling! So much good here. So much.

4 5 stars.

One of the best books I have read in quite some time! I found such a warm admiration for Margo, and always wanting her to perservere and do better for Jinx and Bodhi. I would recommend this book to any adult, no matter the content! Bravo!!

I really enjoyed this funny, laugh out loud book about Margo and the cast of characters in her life, family and friends. Margo has to grow up quickly after getting pregnant and dropping out of college.

The flow of the story, and the writing style kept me engaged and reading.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

The more I reflect on Margo’s Got Money Troubles, the more special this book seems to me.

Margo is a 19-year-old who starts out her story recounting her brief affair with her English professor, her pregnancy and subsequent choice to have the baby, and the aftermath. Her money troubles are present from the beginning - hospital bills, childcare, rent - and Margo decides to start an OnlyFans to make ends meet. Through some surprisingly insightful parallels between developing an online persona and the professional wrestling world, Margo builds a following, all while navigating the pitfalls of being a public figure on the internet and working within a society that vilifies sex work of any kind.

The author uses perspective shifts to give context to how Margo reflects on the events of the story. The things she needs to give herself “distance” from, if only to give her past-self more grace, she writes in third person. It can be jarring at first, but you get used to it. A few passages even take on a meta quality, with the author writing in second person when she really wants the reader to pay attention to something. I won’t spoil what Rufi Thorpe wants us to learn - the perspective shift makes the moment clear - but I can say with certainty that, for all that I expected I would enjoy this book, I did not expect the book to have something to say.

I think Margo is an incredibly relatable, flawed, intelligent character. Her naivety is an obstacle she has to overcome, which is something a lot of us do as we get older. As she gains experience and self-efficacy, she believes (and we, the audience, believe) in her ability to succeed. She works at it. She practices difficult conversations in the mirror. She uses her available resources and consults experts when she’s out of her depth. She is so endearingly human that you can’t help but root for her and cheer with her. The perspective shifts enhance the story, giving the reader the sense that older-Margo is telling the story to us, with us. There is a closeness to this, in a way that stories like To Kill a Mockingbird allow us to reflect on how we were at that age, how those experiences changed us.

The novel begins with a passage about how starting a new book is like going on a date, falling in love. I have felt that same giddy excitement as I tell my friends about Margo’s Got Money Troubles - “it’s coming out in June, I think you’ll really like it!” I give 5-star ratings sparingly. But I can tell, this is one of the best books I will read this year. And I’m excited to keep reading. Even knowing that I might have just read one of the best of the year (and it may be all downhill from here!), it’s experiences like this that remind me how good discovering a new book can feel.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Rufi Thorpe, and William Morrow for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

One of the most fantastic & unique books I’ve read in a long time! Even though my life experiences have been substantially different from Margo, I felt so much empathy and compassion for her. I felt myself cheering on her relationship with Jinx. Her entire household felt like the perfect little unstoppable team. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the ending brought me so much joy!

This book is so SPECIFIC.

that might seem like a weird review, but it’s the word that jumped out while reading, and the one that continues to jump out as I reminisce about the special world the author built. Every detail contained specificity, making it easy to picture the characters and their situations — even though I’ve never met a single real-life person who fits their profiles. I would read a whole series about these people and their antics. Highly recommend, especially if you’re looking for something new and different. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early arc!

Well this novel surprised me in the best possible way! As soon as I read the description for Margo’s Got Money Troubles I knew I HAD to read it! Well it was crazier than I originally thought and it also one I am going to be recommending to absolutely everyone! The characters are well developed, quirky, and completely endearing! Every now and then I read a novel that plays out like a movie in my mind and this gem most definitely did. Margo's Got Money Troubles is a 5 star read and the first novel I’ve read from Rufi Thorpe, but I will definitely be reading her prior novels asap!

A funny and heart warming tale of Margo, who finds a creative way to support herself after her professor knocks her up. Although the character of Margo is well developed, I found the others a little flat. Margo’s former pro wrestler father did add a good amount of comedy and really was a heart warming character, but the other supporting crew wasn’t very memorable. This book also focuses on more untraditional ways to earn money and women’s empowerment, which was refreshing. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends who are looking for an enjoyable, quick read.

Rufi Thorpe's "Margo's Got Money Trouble" is a delightful coming-of-age tale that blends humor, heart, and unexpected twists into a captivating narrative. Set against the backdrop of Margo Millet's tumultuous life, the story unfolds with a raw honesty and sharp wit that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I gave this novel a strong 4 stars!

Margo, the daughter of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, navigates the challenges of adulthood with resilience and humor. When faced with an unexpected pregnancy and financial struggles, she turns to unconventional means to make ends meet. Thorpe's portrayal of Margo's journey is both relatable and empowering, capturing the essence of resilience in the face of adversity.

What sets "Margo's Got Money Trouble" apart is Thorpe's masterful storytelling. With effortless prose and a keen understanding of human nature, she brings Margo's world to life with vivid detail. Each character feels authentic and multi-dimensional, adding depth to the narrative and allowing readers to become fully immersed in Margo's story.

But beyond its entertaining premise, the novel also explores themes of identity, empowerment, and the power of storytelling. Through Margo's experiences with online fame and self-discovery, Thorpe offers a poignant commentary on the complexities of modern life and the pursuit of happiness.

Overall, "Margo's Got Money Trouble" is a triumph of storytelling—a laugh-out-loud funny and heartwarming tale that will leave readers cheering for its endearing heroine. Thorpe's writing is a joy to behold, making this book a must-read for anyone in search of a captivating and uplifting story.

This book was such a fun read. The inclusion of OnlyFans as a central plot point made it feel current, and added edge and humor to an otherwise predictable new, young unwed-mother story.

20-year-old Margo has just had a baby from an affair with her married professor. The professor (and his aggressive mother) has paid Margo off to quit college and agree to never identify the professor as the baby’s father. All is well until Margo loses her waitress job and decides to make a foray into OnlyFans, an online subscription service through which subscribers “follow” individuals who provide risqué photos and videos. Once Margo’s participation in this field becomes linked with her real name, the professor files a lawsuit to gain full custody of the baby and Margo is forced to reconsider her career path. The compelling story line is made more interesting by Margo’s colorful father, an ex-professional-wrestler, coming to live in Margo’s apartment and helping Margo market herself on OnlyFans. There is also an interesting side plot involving an online relationship with an OnlyFans subscriber.

I read this book upon the recommendation of Kevin Wilson, one of my very favorite authors (he wrote Nothing to See Here, among other books). It is outside of my normal genre of literary fiction, but I found it perfect as a lighter tale between my mostly heavier features. I easily recommend it as a well-written work of general/women’s fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC which will be published in June.

This book is an intelligent, humorous, and insightful exploration of life's complexities. "Margo's Got Money Troubles" presents a wildly engaging story about Margo, a college student facing unexpected pregnancy with her married professor's child. Choosing to raise the baby on her own, she finds herself financially challenged when the baby's father opts out. The plot thickens as her ex-pro WWE star father, a recovering addict, steps in to assist, albeit not very effectively, leading Margo to venture into creating an Only Fans account for extra income. Margo, as a character, is profoundly relatable and evolves significantly throughout the narrative, mirroring the growth that often accompanies young parenthood. The relationships depicted are intricately layered, showcasing the book's deep dive into societal judgments and the essence of moral integrity. This tale, while entertaining and at times comical, touches on the raw, human desire to provide and be perceived as worthy, especially through the lens of motherhood. I found this book impossible to put down.

Margo's Got Money Troubles
Rufi Thorpe
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Blisteringly funny and filled with sharp insight, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a tender tale starring an endearing young heroine who’s struggling to wrest money and power from a world that has little interest in giving it to her. It’s a playful and honest examination of the art of storytelling and controlling your own narrative, and an empowering portrait of coming into your own, both online and off.
A book outside my comfort zone, but one I enjoyed all the same. I don't know how to categorize it, maybe plain Literary Fiction touching upon some mature themes, sex work being a major one.
So my recommenation, maybe go outside of your comfort zone and read this when it comes out in June!

"Margo's Got Money Troubles" by Rufi Thorpe is a brilliantly crafted novel that delves deep into the intricacies of financial insecurity and the profound impact it has on personal relationships and self-identity. With her signature style of raw honesty and emotional depth, Thorpe navigates the turbulent waters of modern life, making this novel a resonant and compelling exploration of contemporary issues.

The novel follows Margo, a character so vividly and intricately drawn that she leaps off the page, breathing and living in the reader's imagination. Margo's financial struggles serve as the backbone of the narrative, but Thorpe's storytelling prowess elevates the tale into a broader examination of ambition, friendship, love, and the societal pressures that shape our decisions. Margo's journey is fraught with challenges, yet it's her resilience and complex emotional landscape that captivate and engage the reader's empathy.

Thorpe's narrative is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling, with each chapter peeling back layers of Margo's life, revealing the vulnerabilities and strengths that define her. The secondary characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and perspective to Margo's world. The interactions and relationships between characters are portrayed with such nuance and sensitivity that they echo long after the final page.

What sets "Margo's Got Money Troubles" apart is Thorpe's ability to discuss financial instability without judgment or simplification. The novel approaches its themes with a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of poverty and financial distress, avoiding clichés and easy solutions. Thorpe offers a narrative that is both specific in its details and universal in its themes, making Margo's story resonate with a wide array of readers.

Thorpe's prose is exquisite, combining sharp wit with poignant observations, all while maintaining a pace that keeps the reader engaged and invested in the outcome. The dialogues are crisp and authentic, further grounding the story in reality and enhancing its relatability.

"Margo's Got Money Troubles" is not just a narrative about financial hardship; it's a story about the human spirit, about fighting against the odds, and about finding hope in the most unexpected places. Rufi Thorpe has delivered a novel that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving, solidifying her status as a masterful storyteller capable of tackling complex social issues with empathy and grace.

In summary, "Margo's Got Money Troubles" is a testament to Rufi Thorpe's talent for creating rich, emotionally charged narratives that speak directly to the heart of contemporary life. It's a novel that is sure to resonate with readers long after they've turned the last page, and it comes highly recommended for anyone looking for a story that combines depth, drama, and a dash of humor to explore the complexities of life and the resilience required to navigate them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

You know how sometimes in life there are people you grow up with who you just don't understand? They make horrible romantic decisions, beg for the affection of their objectively godawful parents, assume that people will show up for them without any clear indication that they'd do the same in return, and make choices so spectacularly stupid that it's hard to have any pity when it all blows up in their faces. That is Margo, the main character of this book, and from the jump it is as absolutely exhausting to read about her as it is to know a person like this in real life. I did not finish this book having any better of an understanding of this type of person than I did when I started reading it. In fact I put this book down about halfway through and read an entire other book in the meantime just because I could not take the thoughtlessness of this character any longer (when she brings home her newborn to a house with three other COLLEGE STUDENTS and is shocked when they don't all want to live with a screaming baby - girl, come on!!!).

And yet. When I picked it back up I found that I appreciated her chaotic voice a little more than I had previously, and then I ended up finishing the entire second half of the book in an afternoon. What can I say, she grew on me! It's tough not to feel sympathy for someone doing their best to turn things around, even when this includes absolutely self-destructive moves like continuing to seek the affection of her hideous excuse for a mother. It felt good to watch a character who initially appears to have the emotional intelligence of a paper bag develop meaningful relationships, stand up for herself, and even have a great Legally Blonde moment toward the end. This was a great portrait of someone who's incredibly smart in their own way, and more capable of forgiveness than I could imagine being myself even given a hundred lifetimes. By the end I found myself a little verklempt, and proud of a fictional character. Alright, alright, four stars out of five.

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.