Margo’s Got Money Troubles By Rufi Thorpe
Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services Assistant
Genre: Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? Margo was in the midst of getting through community college when she was smitten with one of her English professors. Mark was a smart and snarky individual, and most of all, he was passionate about Margo. That was until Margo got pregnant. As fast as their affair started, Mark was out of the picture. Margo was stonewalled by Mark’s mother and lawyer, who demanded that she leave college in exchange for financial aid for the baby. So, Margo took the money and dropped out of school. But the money could only last for so long and Margo was losing jobs and roommates left and right. She needed a quick way to earn cash, without the need for a babysitter. That’s when her estranged ex-pro wrestler father came into the picture. Together, they found a way to make thousands in mere days by doing what wrestlers do best: creating a persona for thousands of fans on the internet.
My Review: This was a fun and hilarious read. It was also very raw, highlighting the many financial hardships and societal shaming Margo would come to witness as a young single mother. Margo’s Got Money Troubles illustrated just how and why someone might find themselves in the erotic gig-economy. What I also enjoyed about this book was the various supporting characters that had their own complex problems. Both large and small, many grievances would come to exist against Margo and some of them she would come to reconcile. That’s not to say that they were all justified; some characters were downright dreadful. However, this book does a masterful job in acknowledging opposing plights and viewpoints. All in all, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is an intriguing story dedicated to some of the more underground forms of making-a-living.
Three words that describe this book: Funny, irreverent, raw
Give this a try if you like: Choke, Fight Club, Black Buck, I Hope This Finds You Well
Rating: 5/5
