Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
As a millennial who has money troubles herself, once I saw this title and the vibrant cartoon book cover, I knew this would be a book I needed. Reading the synopsis which seemed filled with humor only cemented that fact. Nobody prepared me for the bigger picture and true plot of this book. Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe is a sharp but tender exploration of the journey of becoming a woman in a world that seems to be rooting against you.
More Than Just Money Troubles
After an affair with her college English professor, Margo finds herself 19 and pregnant. Of course, he wants nothing to do with her or their baby, which leads Margo into a desperate situation. As the title probably clued you in on, she is now in a tenuous financial situation and on top of that has a new baby to take care of.
Forced to get creative, she finds out that people can make good money on OnlyFans — and this seems like the perfect solution, since she will be able to work from home. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, now her estranged father — an ex-wrestler — pops back into her life asking for a place to crash. She allows her dad to stay on the condition that he watches after her son and he agrees, so at least she can cross “find childcare” off her list of worries. Unfortunately, life only becomes more complicated once she becomes unexpectedly internet famous and suddenly, the whole world has an opinion on how Margo is making her money.
Naïve but Lovable
Margo herself is a very messy, chaotic, and at times very naïve but oh so loveable. We see as she struggles to keep a roof over her and her son’s head while trying to find her own identity in a life that seems to get messier every day. At times, I can’t lie, she was about to drive me totally insane, but the more I sat with her I realized that she’s a young mom going through life for the first time. What girl in her late teens and early 20s hasn’t made any mistakes? Realizing that only made this story more believable.
Not only is this a story about becoming a mother, but it is also about fatherhood. With the unexpected return of her own father, Jinx. Living with Margo, he quietly helps her build confidence in herself and improve her business while battling his own demons with addiction — it just about ripped my heart open. Also, the father of her baby and former English professor makes his way back, as he grapples with his own idea of what it means to be a father.
Soon to Be Adapted for Streaming
Author Rufi Thorpe makes sure each character that starts on the page winds up in our hearts. Thorpe has a remarkable ability to explore emotional topics and complex issues such as unexpected and unwanted pregnancy, drug addiction and sex work, all with a lighthearted touch and humor! This helps in keeping an open mind while reading about such polarizing topics. And the way she develops and writes her characters is so poignant. Each and every one is a deeply flawed person doing the best they can to find their way through difficult situations.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a unique, hilarious, and redeeming tale about the debate of what makes people either “good” or “bad”, the ethics behind the sex work industry, and complicated family dynamics. Heart spills from the page and these characters will stay with you long after the book is finished.
Luckily, readers don’t have to wait long for more of Margo, as AppleTV+ and A24 will bring the story to life in a series, with Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman at the helm.
About Rufi Thorpe:
Rufi Thorpe received her MFA from the University of Virginia in 2009. She is the author of four novels, The Girls from Corona Del Mar, Dear Fang, With Love, and her most recent, The Knockout Queen, which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award. Her newest book, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, is out now. She lives in California with her husband and two sons.
Photo Credit: Leyna Ambron
