Binge-Watch Alert! Here’s What to Expect from the Star-Studded Margo’s Got Money Troubles—And How Closely This Adaptation Sticks to the Book

The book Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe hooked me right away. A college student unexpectedly getting pregnant, then creating an OnlyFans account to keep her mounting bills paid? That premise felt both relevant and realistic in our world today.

And I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. The novel, released in 2024, won the relatively new but prestigious Clark Fiction Prize in 2026, an accolade shared by the likes of Pulitzer Prize–winners Colson Whitehead (for The Underground Railroad in 2018) and Percival Everett (for The Trees in 2023). Amazon reviewers loved it too—the book has racked up 17,000 reviews in just two years.

So when I heard that the novel was being adapted into a television series by the ultra-hip A24, I was excited for even more people to experience a story I loved. I was also a bit skeptical. Would the show stay true to the book’s commentary on single parenthood? Would the Hollywood-ification of a good book dull the authentic character development? Would Margo, a young girl making her way in the world, still feel relatable when played by a beautiful actress?

I finally got those answers when the first three episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles dropped on April 15 on Apple TV. This star-studded show features Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer, plus a screenplay adapted by David E. Kelly, known for writing shows like Big Little Lies, The Practice and Presumed Innocent.

The show seems to be just as popular as the book: A day after its first three episodes released, it already has a 96% critic’s rating and a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, giving me (and anyone else who loved the book) a good reason to keep hopes high. Ahead, here’s my inside take on how closely the show sticks to the book and why you should tune in, whether you’ve read the source material or not.

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What is Margo’s Got Money Troubles about, exactly?

The show follows Margo Millet (Elle Fanning), a junior college student from an unconventional family who gets pregnant after sleeping with her slimy married English professor, Mark (Michael Angarano). Margo’s mother, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), isn’t happy about the pregnancy, and at the time, her dad (Nick Offerman) isn’t in the picture.

At just 19 years old, Margo is portrayed as naive about the realities of the world, which had me reminiscing about my own not-so-practical point of view at that age. Margo’s baby comes, and she’s in need of a lot of cash—fast. That’s when Margo comes up with the idea to create an OnlyFans account, which she develops with help from her dad, Jinx (Nick Offerman), who shows up after a stint in rehab to help.

The story follows Margo’s journey to get on her feet as she grows her OnlyFans presence. Diving deep into the world of online adult content, Margo navigates parenthood and her relationships with her friends, the father of her child, her parents and her fans.

How closely will the series stick to the book?

So far, the adaptation of Margo’s Got Money Troubles stays true to what the novel is about, with a few distinct changes worth calling out. These changes mainly have to do with how a television show is a different storytelling medium from a book.

Ready to dive in? Beware, there are serious spoilers ahead!

The plot points stay true

All the major plot points of the book are present in the show. Margo’s still a young woman who gets groomed by her married professor, and she’s still trying to make money through sex work to support her new baby.

Before the rest of the episodes are released, it’s hard to know for sure whether the show will stay true to the book. However, the characters and plot have been set up in such a similar way that I don’t expect the show to deviate too much from this novel about getting through hard times.

Motherhood remains important in Margo’s transformation

In the book, Margo’s personal transformation hinges deeply on how she finds empowerment and self-actualization through parenting. I loved how, in the beginning of the book, Margo decided to continue her pregnancy despite pressure from both Mark and her mother to terminate it.

I was glad that this idea of Margo staying true to her own needs and desires is present in the series because her becoming a parent influences her personal transformation. It also plays a role in how she understands her own parents, a former Hooters server and an ex-professional wrestler.

Characters are the same, for the most part

The characters of Margo, her professor and her parents all remain consistent with the book. One difference, however, is in the character Linda (Nicole Kidman), who acts as the family mediator.

In the novel, Linda is Jinx’s sister, making her Margo’s aunt. In the show, Linda knows Jinx from the professional wrestling community, and she isn’t related to the family. I don’t mind this change, and I think it makes sense to add a little flair for the TV show without losing the character’s purpose. (And seeing Nicole Kidman act the role of a pro wrestler will certainly be a good time!)

Another change: Margo’s mother seems to be a little nicer in the show than she was in the book. This removes an additional, realistic challenge that Margo faces, so I hope that the next episodes show Shyanne’s difficult, unlikeable side—it’s important for Margo’s growth as a character.

One difference in the show that I’m happy about is the glimpse into Jinx’s journey in rehab. We couldn’t know this in the book because it was written from Margo’s perspective, and she wasn’t aware of her father’s whereabouts. In a television show, however, the viewer can get information that the book’s narrator might not have, and I was glad to see that we learned more about Jinx, who was ultimately my favorite character in the book.

A major love story isn’t present

In the book, Margo winds up falling in love with a guy named JB (Michael Workéyè). JB is still in the television show as Margo’s customer, but they don’t have the kind of love relationship they do in the book.

Thorpe told the Hollywood Reporter that the film’s producers attempted to keep this storyline in the show. However, the nature of Margo and JB’s relationship just doesn’t translate to the screen.

I think this makes sense, and I like that there’s less emphasis on a love story in the television show overall. This is a story about a young woman learning to get on her feet, and she certainly doesn’t need a love interest to get there.

What else can we expect from the series?

Margo’s Got Money Troubles is definitely a funny story. It’s also sad, unexpected and filled with twists, earning it a place squarely in the dramedy genre.

One important thing to note: Despite the comedic moments in this show, it’s very much a commentary on the difficulty of staying afloat financially in American society today, which is what I loved most about the original story.

In that vein, the show is relatable to anyone who’s ever had money troubles, been a single parent, struggled with family relationships or tried to understand their own parents and their choices. I don’t have children of my own, yet I could relate very much to the relationship dynamics, money issues and mental health challenges portrayed.

In other words, this show couldn’t be more timely for any American of any age.

What does the early buzz say?

The initial verdict on Margo’s Got Money Troubles is good—really good. In fact, there are already rumblings that this show could be a contender for awards season, as long as the rest of the series holds up to its great start.

“It really lives up to it so far! The tone is exactly right,” said a commenter on Reddit.
“…by the end of the first episode I was hooked and wanted more, same with the end of the second episode, but unfortunately, it was bedtime,” according to a commenter on IGN‘s Facebook page.

Sentiment is similar among movie critics, with reviewer Richard Roper raving that the show is “a star-studded, wickedly funny, sex-forward adaptation, and it’s one of the most engaging and entertaining series of the year to date.”

Still wondering if you’ll enjoy the show? Well, there’s only one way to find out!

Where can you watch Margo’s Got Money Troubles?

You can tune into Margo’s Got Money Troubles on Apple TV, but all eight episodes won’t be available right away. The first three episodes came out on April 15, and one episode will drop every Wednesday until the finale on May 20.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece, Michelle Polizzi tapped her experience as a journalist to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Apple TV: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”
Texas State University: “About the Prize”
Reddit: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles Is the Must-See Show of the Spring”
Facebook: “IGN”
RogerEbert.com: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”
Hollywood Reporter: “The One Big ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ Change That OnlyFans Creators Requested”

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