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remivfoliage 's review for:
Margo's Got Money Troubles
by Rufi Thorpe
*my review contains spoilers*
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read—it feels like uncovering the incredulous backstory behind one of those viral headlines about young people.
Here’s the story: Margo, a college student, has an affair with her married professor and accidentally becomes pregnant. Despite the circumstances, she chooses to keep the baby, asserting her pro-choice feminist stance: this was her choice. However, the timing couldn’t be worse—her flatmates are moving out, leaving her to cover higher rent and prepare for the baby. Out of options, Margo turns to OnlyFans, drawn by stories of people earning big money.
Margo’s journey as a young woman, not even old enough to drink legally (21 in the U.S.), navigating life on her own terms is profoundly compelling. Raised by a single mother with a gambling addiction, and with her estranged biological father suddenly reentering her life as a flatmate, Margo still refuses to lean on them for financial support. Her independence and determination to take responsibility for her choices are admirable.
Personally, I’ve never seen sex work as something shameful—it’s a way of earning a living, and in my eyes, it’s far better than relying on family indefinitely. What broke my heart, however, was the betrayal Margo faced when her mother and stepfather secretly reported her to authorities, attempting to have her baby taken away because of her job.
What I admire most about the story is its refusal to cater to societal norms. Margo’s journey doesn’t end with her conforming to traditional standards of “respectability.” Instead, she continues forging her own path, planning to expand her online presence and embrace her unconventional career. It’s a bold, unapologetic conclusion that drives home the book’s central message: it’s honorable to live authentically, even if it means enduring judgment or rejection from others. Life is too short to live by others’ judgments—if something feels right for you, go for it.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read—it feels like uncovering the incredulous backstory behind one of those viral headlines about young people.
Here’s the story: Margo, a college student, has an affair with her married professor and accidentally becomes pregnant. Despite the circumstances, she chooses to keep the baby, asserting her pro-choice feminist stance: this was her choice. However, the timing couldn’t be worse—her flatmates are moving out, leaving her to cover higher rent and prepare for the baby. Out of options, Margo turns to OnlyFans, drawn by stories of people earning big money.
Margo’s journey as a young woman, not even old enough to drink legally (21 in the U.S.), navigating life on her own terms is profoundly compelling. Raised by a single mother with a gambling addiction, and with her estranged biological father suddenly reentering her life as a flatmate, Margo still refuses to lean on them for financial support. Her independence and determination to take responsibility for her choices are admirable.
Personally, I’ve never seen sex work as something shameful—it’s a way of earning a living, and in my eyes, it’s far better than relying on family indefinitely. What broke my heart, however, was the betrayal Margo faced when her mother and stepfather secretly reported her to authorities, attempting to have her baby taken away because of her job.
What I admire most about the story is its refusal to cater to societal norms. Margo’s journey doesn’t end with her conforming to traditional standards of “respectability.” Instead, she continues forging her own path, planning to expand her online presence and embrace her unconventional career. It’s a bold, unapologetic conclusion that drives home the book’s central message: it’s honorable to live authentically, even if it means enduring judgment or rejection from others. Life is too short to live by others’ judgments—if something feels right for you, go for it.