Margo's Got Money Troubles was a unique and fast-paced read. I really enjoyed following Margo's journey and was drawn to her as a character. I felt myself rooting for her and her family and found the tone of the novel to be super interesting-- dark but also somehow hopeful and lighthearted at the same time.

3.5 ⭐️rounded up because it was a pretty fun read. I really liked the writing and the main character BUT it kind of lost me in the details and went on way too long.

I liked the cast of characters in Margo's Got Money Troubles from her pro-wrestler dad to her social media friends. It made for a fun cast of characters. From the reviews on social media, I really thought this was going to be one of my favorite books of the year, however it was okay. It was heartwarming and fun at times but also very slow and boring in others. I enjoyed parts but overall the story did not wow me.

I never thought I would find a book about an onlyfans account to be so empowering? You couldn't help but root for the main character and her struggles as a single mom, even as she made questionable decision after questionable decision...but then she had you re-thinking everything you thought before! Mind blown. Looking forward to reading more by this author!

Margo's Got Money Troubles was a totally unexpected hit for me! I was not planning to be so completely invested in her life, problems, or creative ways to handle obstacles. :) Her relationship with her father left the book leaps ahead of other novels about family dynamics.

I did not like this book. It is about a young woman who gets pregnant and decides the best way to earn a living is by becoming a prostitute. I liked the beginning of the book but by the end I wanted it to be over. I cannot recommend this book. I found this book to be demining to women and felt like it was supposed to be funny, but it was not especially in the current political times. I don't understand the thinking of this book--it made no sense to me since the main character Margo, could have found another job. In fact, it hardly had any information about her job search. I expected a lighthearted funny comedy and instead read this tragedy that made no sense to me.

I love Rufi Thorpe so much! She develops the best characters filled with reality, quirk, and humor. Reading this as a new mom made it even better. I found myself so proud of Margo for doing whatever it takes to care for her son and standing by her choices even if they were deemed unconventional. Margo is brilliant, caring, and determined. This was a great coming of age story.

Loved it. Brilliant characters and storytelling. I read this a while ago so I don't have much more to add.

I absolutely loved this book! Margo is complex, strong, and naive all at once, and just doing her best in a rough situation. All the characters felt fully realized and the storyline was interesting while remaining realistic. While a lot of it was hard to read, there was also a lot of humor and a lot of hope, which I really appreciated.

I honestly don’t even know how to rate this one. It was entertaining, thought-provoking, and off-beat. I really enjoyed certain aspects of it, especially the depiction of early motherhood. However I found the main character so unusual, not necessarily in a bad way, but enough that I couldn’t understand why she made certain choices. In some ways I sympathized with her but I can’t say I agreed with her often.

I received an advanced copy of Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe from the publisher William Morrow via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Margo, the child of a waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, has always known she’d have to make it on her own, so she enrolls at a local junior college. She’s figuring out her life, when she falls into an affair with her English professor and while the affair is brief, but she winds up pregnant and despite advice from everyone, she decides to keep the baby. Now at twenty, Margo is alone with an infant, unemployed, and rapidly running out of money to pay the rent. When her estranged father, Jinx, shows up and asks to move in, she agrees and gets Jinx’s help with childcare. Slowly, she puts together a plan, she’ll start an OnlyFans, and with Jinx’s advice from the world of wrestling, she finds herself a runaway success. But is her fame going to cost her too much?

My Thoughts: I loved this book so much. There is so much to love here. Margo is a character that I won’t soon forget. Margo is the perfect mix of naïve, well meaning, and badass. Margo knows that she didn’t fully understand what it meant to be a mom, but also at the same time she seems like best mom ever. She is surrounded by adults who have taken advantage of her and then shamed her when she no longer fits into their bubble. The mom in this book is just awful. I really disliked her, but I loved to see Margo and Jinx forming a relationship and supporting each other. Jinx’s struggle with addiction is handled with care but will jab you. The way that Margo fights to take care of her baby in the only way she can think is amazing. The sexism she faces in response is handled realistically, but Margo continues to fight for her baby. I was getting so anxious as we reached the end and I thought my heart might actually break. But this book really just took a part of my heart. The writing is excellent. The way Thorne plays with the narration and switches between first and third is brilliant. The way she can intermingle humor, devastation, and insightful prose within seconds of each other.

Who Should Read It: People who love books with humor, big feelings, and good writing.

Summary: A woman tries to take care of her family while managing really difficult circumstances.

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.
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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.