Margo's Got Money Troubles

"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