Margo's Got Money Troubles: A Novel

"Margo's Got Money Troubles is the feel-good novel we need right now." --The Washington Post

"[An] enormously entertaining and lovable book." --Nick Hornby, New York Times Book Review

A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman's attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world--from the PEN/Faulkner finalist and critically acclaimed author of The Knockout Queen.

As the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo Millet's always known she'd have to make it on her own. So she enrolls at her local junior college, even though she can't imagine how she'll ever make a living. She's still figuring things out and never planned to have an affair with her English professor--and while the affair is brief, it isn't brief enough to keep her from getting pregnant. Despite everyone's advice, she decides to keep the baby, mostly out of naiveté and a yearning for something bigger.

Now, at twenty, Margo is alone with an infant, unemployed, and on the verge of eviction. She needs a cash infusion--fast. When her estranged father, Jinx, shows up on her doorstep and asks to move in with her, she agrees in exchange for help with childcare. Then Margo begins to form a plan: she'll start an OnlyFans as an experiment, and soon finds herself adapting some of Jinx's advice from the world of wrestling. Like how to craft a compelling character and make your audience fall in love with you. Before she knows it, she's turned it into a runaway success. Could this be the answer to all of Margo's problems, or does internet fame come with too high a price?

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 wholly original novel. . . . Thorpe is both poetic and profound in the way she brings her remarkable story to an end." --The Associated Press

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304 pages

Average rating: 6.71

84 RATINGS

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5 REVIEWS

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Community Reviews

amyford
Oct 29, 2024
10/10 stars
Funny and thought-provoking
SBCarroll19
Oct 16, 2024
8/10 stars
Loved it! Margo was a fascinating character as she was frustrating! The unique characters and topics kept me turning the pages
KaraBrown
Oct 15, 2024
4/10 stars
This girl is a complete train wreck. I have enough chaos in my own life.. I certainly don’t need to read about someone else’s. This book was not for me.
Anonymous
Sep 13, 2024
8/10 stars
this book has an insane plot but was a page turner. loved the last few lines of the book!
BooksAndBubbles9
Aug 31, 2024
5/10 stars
The novel centers on Margot, a college freshman with big dreams and little life experience. She’s quirky, funny, and easy to root for at first. Things get complicated when she ends up pregnant after an affair with a sleazy professor who quickly vanishes. With a struggling mom and no support system, Margot turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet, which brings both opportunity and judgment into her life. The story had a lot of potential, but it gets bogged down by too many details and subplots. It’s like the author tried to cram every possible storyline in, and it ends up feeling chaotic. One minute you’re cheering for Margot, and the next, you’re frustrated and want to throw the book across the room. While the scattered plot is overwhelming, there are some genuinely empowering moments that might resonate, especially if you’re a young woman finding your own way. The writing style is solid, with a mix of third and first-person perspectives works surprisingly well and adds some flavor. I enjoyed the way Rufi Thorpe brings the characters to life in her descriptions of their personalities. You can almost see them in your mind. The side characters—like her estranged wrestler dad and her nerdy roommate Suzie—are interesting, but the story still drags in parts, especially with repetitive OnlyFans content. By the midpoint, I had a hard time caring about Margot’s journey and was ready for the end. I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t grab me. While the characters are memorable and the writing is strong, the story itself gets lost in the clutter. Not a bad pick for someone a bit younger than me coming into their own perhaps, but not as impactful as I hoped. By far one of my favorite quotes: “That’s just the internet, a disgusting place, really. This is kind of like trying to have a nice dinner party in hell.” So true sometimes. So true.

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