From the Publisher
The warmth of Thorpe’s tone, together with the thoroughness of her imagination and the artfulness of her pacing, means that skepticism is kept at bay. She sells us on both the characters and the plot . . . [in] this enormously entertaining and lovable book.” — Nick Hornby, New York Times Book Review
“The feel-good novel we need right now. . . . Margo’s Got Money Troubles is fiery while at the same time darkly funny . . . With Margo, Thorpe has given us a heroine to cheer for as she zigs and zags through a clothing-optional world, creating a brand-new life driven by age-old intelligence and motherly love.” — The Washington Post
“Beyond Thorpe’s strong characters and tight plots, what sets her apart from her peers is the gnawing philosophical tension that rests at the center of her books. . . . Thorpe’s novels defy easy categorization. Her characters’ radiant energy and her books’ knotted plots don’t align with the moody atmosphere and tone poem quality of most contemporary literary fiction. Yet, these novels remain more intense and rigorous than most upmarket women’s fiction. It’s exhilarating to find an author who wants to tell you a good yarn, but also ask a lot of complicated questions.” — Lauren LeBlanc, Los Angeles Times
“Endearingly chaotic, this coming-of-age tale is certain to score a passionate fanbase.” — Lauren Puckett-Pope, Elle, “Best Books of Summer”
“For those seeking chaos this summer, Margo's Got Money Troubles has more than enough for your fix, and you'll laugh out loud, too. . . . a smart, witty look at money, internet fame, and power.” — Marie Claire
“Deeply funny, thoughtful, riveting.” — Emily Gould, Vulture
“A wholly original novel. . . . Thorpe is both poetic and profound in the way she brings her remarkable story to an end.” — The Associated Press
“A raucous and dazzlingly original novel that might just be the funniest book you read all summer.” — Oprah Daily
"Crazy good." — Newsday
“In turns funny and moving, daring and satisfying, but above else, relentlessly charming—that rare book about storytelling that also tells a good story.“ — Emily Temple, Literary Hub
“It's hard not to love Margo, the character, who's smart, resourceful, goofy and kind, gamely conducting us through what is finally an entertaining plot full of quirky characters, surprising twists, and good old-fashioned suspense (What's to become of baby Bodhi?!). Give that woman, and her clever author, whatever constitutes a round of applause in this make-believe world.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Reading a Rufi Thorpe novel is like attending a masterclass on causality in fiction. Few authors write as deftly about navigating the systems that control our lives.” — Arturo Vidich, Chicago Review of Books
“Exuberant . . . Terrific characters, rich worldbuilding, deep thoughts about fiction and morality, a love story, and a happy ending.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Sometimes, a simple review feels insufficient. Where are the skywriters, the megaphones? In the case of Margo's Got Money Troubles, rest assured: this novel is going to make some serious noise. Aside from its excellent pacing and fascinating character work, this book is terrifically smart and plays with perspective through the indelible voice of Margo. A brilliant exploration of what is real and what is fake, how the world sees us and how we see ourselves, and what it means to try to control the narrative. . . . Whether it's Rufi Thorpe or Margo, readers will fall in love.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
“For anyone navigating the intertwined anxieties of adulthood and motherhood and trying to find their way through life, this book promises to offer sharp insights. It does so with a blend of boldness and humor. . . This audacious story explores themes of self-reliance and empowerment, but in a humorous rendition.” — Harper’s Bazaar
"Margo’s Got Money Troubles is an audacious, wildly funny, completely unpredictable novel by a writer so singular that it's hard to compare her to anyone else. Rufi Thorpe writes wildness so well, the messiness of the choices we make, the strange ways we bend and twist ourselves to accommodate those choices, and she does it with the rare qualities of tenderness and empathy. An absolutely brilliant book." — Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here
“A hilarious novel about making the most of what you’ve got. Sharp and funny by turns, this is an exceptionally tender look at young motherhood and love that also involves professional wrestling, and yes, OnlyFans. I gobbled it up.” — Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow
“The most captivating narrative of motherhood, sex work, point of view, and regret. I’m obsessed!” — Leila Mottley, New York Times bestselling author of Nightcrawling
"A thrilling, uproarious, and above all affirming exploration of one young woman's fight to make it in a world that's rooting against her. Margo is an unforgettable heroine, so real she walked right off the page and into my heart." — Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit
"Long after the last page of Margo’s Got Money Troubles, I think of certain lines and bust out laughing. In public. This novel is damn funny, but also touching and smart and surprising and beguiling and just completely bad ass. Rufi Thorpe is truly one of one!" — Deesha Philyaw, award-winning author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
“Rufi Thorpe is one of the most talented and daring novelists at work today. Thorpe takes a young, single mother's desperation and weaves from it a madcap, remarkable family of misfits. Margo’s Got Money Troubles is just so good: the humor, the pathos, the redemption—every sentence, every twist of plot is wildly original and unexpected. When has such a lovable heroine ever been created? Reading Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a joy; you will fall in love on page one.” — Stephanie Danler, New York Times bestselling author of Sweetbitter
“Simultaneously irreverent and earnest, Thorpe analyzes contradicting social mores in an immersive and thoroughly entertaining way. Margo’s charming voice is the perfect vehicle for modeling the power gained by fashioning your own story in defiance of the criticism and dictates of others.” — Booklist
“Tender and offbeat. . . Thorpe infuses the portrayal of Margo and Jinx’s relationship with sweetness, and she makes Margo a character to root for as the young mother learns how to support herself with help from her unconventional family. Once this gets its hooks into the reader, it doesn’t let go.” — Publishers Weekly
“When I finished it, I couldn’t quite believe it was over, that is how much I was completely rapt by Margo’s Got Money Troubles. A brilliantly unique story, fallible and lovable characters and moments so human and hilarious that I laughed out loud multiple times. I can’t quite believe this is only the first book I’ve read by Rufi Thorpe, because after reading her latest novel, it’s clear that I need to go back and read everything she’s ever written. She is a genius, after all.” — Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us
“I cannot stop telling people about this weird and wonderful gem of a book. It’s so completely different than anything I’ve ever read. … This book was so singular and full of heart and I fell hard for both the titular Margo and her father, Jinx. If nothing else, read it for the last line alone, which FLOORED me. My prediction is this will be the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow of 2024, so if that’s your jam, get in on the ground floor.” — Book Enthusiast
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2024-02-17
A college freshman finds out that everyone was right: Her decision to have her English professor’s baby really does ruin her life. Until it doesn’t.
“I’d learned about the terms first person, third person, and second person in high school, and I’d thought that was all there was to point of view until I met Bodhi’s father in the fall of 2017.” Not for nothing does Margo’s journey into motherhood begin in English class, as she switches back and forth between third and first all the way through the book, using third for distance from her cringier mistakes. The elevator pitch for Thorpe’s fourth novel—as exuberant as the first three—is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow with online porn instead of video games. Really! It’s a story of friendship, love, and family set in a different part of the big world of cyber-storytelling. Shortly after Bodhi is born, Margo finds she can’t afford the child care necessary to hold on to her waitressing job. Then two of her three roommates move out in response to infant wailing, and she has to find a source of income fast. She ends up posting pictures on OnlyFans, a subscription-based porn site. “Lonely, hot girl in financial freefall, please help me make rent this month....If you want to find out what Pokémon your dick most resembles and what attacks it might have, send me a $20 tip and I’ll provide a full write-up.” Turns out she is very good at this. Further help with the rent comes when her father, Jinx, a wrestling world icon, comes fresh from rehab to move in and help her with the baby, and then she reaches out to OnlyFans viral stars WangMangler and SucculentRose, who have much to teach. Just as she’s beginning to get it together, the English teacher does a complete 180—instead of wanting nothing to do with Bodhi, he’s now demanding full custody. The title is the only bad thing about this book.
Terrific characters, rich worldbuilding, deep thoughts about fiction and morality, a love story, and a happy ending.
