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Margo's Got Money Troubles

A Novel

Audiobook
0 of 3 copies available
0 of 3 copies available

Audiobook Narrated by Elle Fanning!

"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

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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    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 8, 2024
      Thorpe (The Knockout Queen) returns with a tender and offbeat story of sex work and teen parenthood. Margo, 19, gets pregnant by her college English professor, who, along with her mother, wants her to have an abortion. She has the baby anyway and struggles to keep up with rent before reaching out to her father, Jinx, a retired professional wrestler and heroin addict who wasn’t around for much of her childhood. It turns out Jinx has recently left rehab and needs a place to live, so he moves in and helps Margo take care of the baby, whom she’s named Bodhi. With Jinx watching Bodhi, Margo finds time to explore online sex work. She briefs Jinx, with whom she has a candid relationship, on her new income stream, and he reluctantly offers advice on her OnlyFans account. Margo enjoys the work and quickly gains subscribers, but her popularity brings trouble when Bodhi’s father learns what she’s up to and disapproves, leading to a fight for custody. 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. Agent: Michelle Brower, Trellis Literary Management. (June)Correction: A previous version of this review mischaracterized Jinx’s reaction to learning about Margo’s OnlyFans account.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Rufi Thorpe's astonishing and timely novel is given a satisfying narration by actor Elle Fanning, who will star in the upcoming Apple TV adaptation. Fanning infuses intelligence and emotional depth into her portrayal of 19-year-old Margo, who becomes pregnant by her married college professor. Margo's inability to access affordable childcare, coupled with lack of help from her mother or the baby's father, leaves her in a precarious situation. After losing her waitress position, she explores making money through online sex work. Then Margo's long-absent father, Jinx, a former professional wrestler, reenters her life, offering the support Margo needs while hiding his own secrets. While Fanning's character depictions could be better distinguished, overall, her narrative skill and steady pacing evoke a relatable and thought-provoking family story. M.J. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      September 13, 2024

      Actor Elle Fanning offers a pitch-perfect portrayal of 19-year-old Margo, a first-year college student struggling to find her way as she contends with single motherhood, crushing financial difficulties, and societal expectations. Thorpe's (The Knockout Queen) latest playfully alternates between the first and third person to tell Margo's story, which starts with an ill-advised relationship with her married college professor, followed by a surprise pregnancy and then the birth of her son, Bodhi. After losing her job waiting tables, Margo needs money, fast. Rather than seeking more low-paying gig work, she cautiously engages in sex work by posting explicit pictures and videos on OnlyFans, a subscription-based pornography site. Along the way, and with help from her pro wrestler father, Jinx, her stalwart roommate, Suzie, and OnlyFans stars WangMangler and SucculentRose, Margo comes into her own as a sharply intelligent and fiercely supportive mother, friend, and entrepreneur. Fanning's portrayal of Margo hits all the right notes, capturing her irrepressible humor, deep love for her son, and open-minded approach to life. Secondary characters are also skillfully depicted, but Margo is the real star here. VERDICT An uplifting, utterly charming novel depicting the real-life challenges of parenting and the lengths to which one woman will go to protect her family and affirm her talents.--Sarah Hashimoto

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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