I first became acquainted with Rufi Thorpe’s writing when I devoured The Knockout Queen, a queer coming-of-age friendship novel that set the tone for her unique narrative style.

Fast forward to last June, when Thorpe’s latest offering, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, hit the scene.

I eagerly dove into the audiobook with little prior knowledge of the plot—and that turned out to be for the best.

In Margo’s Got Money Troubles, single mom Margo finds herself teetering on the edge of hopelessness.

After losing her job and quitting college, she makes a rash decision by signing a contract that drags her son, Bodhi, into the chaos.

Enter Jinx—Margo’s former pro-wrestler father, fresh from rehab—who offers his babysitting services in exchange for room and board.

Taking advantage of Jinx’s wrestling expertise, Margo creates a wildly inventive online persona.

She launches her presence on TikTok, churning out elaborate videos to promote her OnlyFans content under the screen name “HungryGhost.”

Here, she offers a unique service: providing comedic feedback on subscribers’ photos. It’s a refreshingly quirky twist that perfectly encapsulates the novel’s blend of absurdity and heartfelt introspection.

At its core, the story is a balancing act. Margo grapples with the everyday challenges of motherhood while launching her unconventional enterprise.

Along the way, she learns to extend grace—to herself and to those around her—as she navigates the tumultuous landscape of her past mistakes in search of love and fulfillment.

The novel also weaves in fascinating elements of Buddhism. The title of Margo’s screen name, “HungryGhost,” is a nod to the supernatural beings in Buddhism and Chinese Taoism—spirits condemned to wander the earth, forever in search of sustenance.

 Furthermore, Margo’s journey is mirrored by her son, Bodhi—a name that evokes the final stage of enlightenment, the Bodhisattva, in Buddhist tradition.

His quiet presence throughout the narrative serves as a constant reminder of growth, transformation, and the hope of achieving self-actualization.

Switching gracefully between first and third-person perspectives, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is as reflective as it is compassionate.

The audiobook, narrated by Elle Fanning, brings warmth and humor to Margo’s naïveté, making the experience both engaging and deeply human.

And there’s more exciting news on the horizon: According to IMDb, Apple TV and A24 are set to adapt Margo’s Got Money Troubles into a film, with Elle Fanning reprising her role as Margo and Nick Offerman stepping in as Jinx.

While no release date has been set, filming is slated to begin this spring. I, for one, cannot wait to see how this intriguing blend of wrestling, Buddhism, and OnlyFans translates to the big screen.

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Happy reading, and may your literary journey be as transformative as Margo’s!