Margo’s Got Money Troubles Book Summary
Margo’s life is tough. She’s a young single mom with a toddler, constantly worried about money. Eviction feels close. Options are running out. So, Margo makes a hard choice: she starts an OnlyFans account to pay the bills. Her dad, Jinx, is a big presence in her life, even though they’re not close. He’s a former pro wrestler, charismatic but unreliable, living his own shaky life on the edges.
As Margo explores online sex work, she finds a surprising way to make good money. It connects to her father’s past. She starts bringing wrestling elements into her online persona. This unexpected path forces Margo to reconnect with Jinx. It’s a reunion she doesn’t really want. Old history and resentment come up. But maybe there’s a chance for a real connection.
The novel follows Margo as she tries to build a stable future for her and her daughter. She faces judgment from society, and maybe her own doubts too. She deals with the complexities of selling her body online. And she navigates her complicated relationship with her larger-than-life father. It’s a story about being desperate for money. It’s also about the surprising ways different worlds can meet – online sex work and indie wrestling. It shows the fierce, messy love of a mother. And it explores the strong, complicated pull of family, all told with Thorpe’s characteristic grit, humor, and heart.
Author Intro
Rufi Thorpe
Rufi Thorpe is a well-regarded American novelist. She was born in California and went to college at UC Santa Cruz. Then, she got her writing degree from the University of Virginia. She lives in California with her husband and two sons.Her stories often look at things like social class, ambition, unconventional relationships, and the complicated nature of human desires
Her first book was The Girls from Corona del Mar (2014). It got good reviews and was about the lifelong friendship of two women whose lives go in very different directions. Next was Dear Fang, With Love (2016). That one’s about a father and daughter traveling in Europe while dealing with a family history of mental illness. Then came The Knockout Queen (2020). It’s a dark but also tender story about a girl with a powerful punch and someone who doesn’t fit in, trying to figure out who they are and how to survive.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles Book Reviews
Rufi Thorpe has done it again. Margo’s Got Money Troubles is an absolutely stunning, fearless, and darkly hilarious novel that perfectly captures the messy realities of being broke, ambitious, and desperate in modern America. Margo is the kind of protagonist who sticks with you—she’s resourceful, flawed, and painfully relatable. Thorpe doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, and that’s what makes this book so compelling. The way Margo navigates the world of online content creation is both fascinating and unsettling. It’s not a black-and-white portrayal; Thorpe shows the empowerment, the vulnerability, and the emotional gray areas with nuance. And the romance? It’s refreshingly imperfect. Derek isn’t a knight in shining armor, and Margo isn’t looking for one—she’s trying to find her own way, which makes the emotional stakes feel even higher. This book is witty, sharp, and completely unputdownable. If you love novels that explore the complexities of money, relationships, and self-worth, this is a must-read.
As someone juggling student loans, side hustles, and the constant feeling of financial instability, Margo’s Got Money Troubles hit home HARD. Thorpe absolutely nails the absurdity of being in your late twenties and feeling like you’re just… drowning. Margo’s internal monologue is hilarious, heartbreaking, and painfully relatable. The whole concept of selling custom videos for money? Genius. It’s not glamorized, and it’s not demonized—it’s just shown for what it is: a job that comes with its own set of risks, rewards, and ethical dilemmas. The way Thorpe explores economic struggle in a way that feels honest and modern makes this book incredibly refreshing. Also, Margo’s relationship with her mom? Whew. If you’ve ever had a parent who is way too involved in your life while also judging your every decision, you’ll definitely see yourself in these pages. This book is real, raw, and funny as hell. Highly recommend.
If you’re looking for a traditional romance, Margo’s Got Money Troubles isn’t it—but that’s what makes it so good. The love story between Margo and Derek is subtle, slow-burning, and refreshingly realistic. There’s no sweeping grand gesture, no perfect fairytale ending. Instead, there’s a deep, complicated, and sometimes frustrating connection between two people trying to figure themselves out. Thorpe doesn’t make romance the center of Margo’s story, and that’s what makes it feel more powerful. Margo isn’t looking for a man to save her—she’s trying to save herself. But when real love enters her life, she has to decide what she’s willing to let go of and what she wants to hold onto. It’s unconventional, it’s messy, and it’s absolutely worth the read.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a powerful and timely novel that cuts straight to the heart of contemporary economic anxiety and the impossible choices faced by many, particularly single mothers. Rufi Thorpe uses Margo’s story to brilliantly dissect the realities of living paycheck-to-paycheck (or rather, crisis-to-crisis) in modern America. Her decision to turn to OnlyFans isn’t presented as a moral failing but as a rational response within a system offering few safety nets.
