I am not normally a TV person at all, let alone a fan of book-to-TV adaptations, but this show may have changed my mind. By Danielle Kate Wroe, Senior Social News Reporter. Published: 07:31, Sat, Jun 20, 2026.
A Rare Discovery
I would much rather spend my hours reading a book than sitting in front of the TV. But every now and then, something captures my attention. When it comes to adaptations from books, the likelihood of it being better than the source material is slim. It had never happened to me before. However, it has now.
I found a copy of Margo's Got Money Troubles on Vinted for a couple of pounds, bundled it with another book, and as soon as they arrived, I started reading the Rufi Thorpe novel that receives high praise, even from RuPaul.
Falling in Love with the Story
I read it in a couple of days and absolutely adored it. It started off a little iffy for me, and I rolled my eyes at the beginning. But then the plot twist came, and I was hooked. It was full of heart and community and was just perfect.
But then I watched the TV show, and it built on that perfection. I could not believe how much I was enjoying it and wanted to binge-watch episode after episode.
The Premise
The premise is this: Margo gets into a sexual relationship with her professor and ends up having a baby with him, despite his advice against it, as little does she know, but he already has two kids and a wife.
The rest of the book is Margo's exploration of herself through the lens of her relationships with her mum and famous dad, roommate and close friend Susie, and all the other people who end up meaning something to her.
A Blend of Humor and Heart
The book and TV show blend whip-smart humor with a sincere look at single motherhood, sex work, and family dynamics. Margo is constantly questioning whether her internet fame and the money she makes from it are actually worth it.
The TV adaptation was produced by Rufi Thorpe, and the book was kept almost identically. Where changes were made, they made sure they improved the adaptation, which I appreciated. The differences were subtle, but I noticed them — no spoilers here.
Staying True to the Source
I love when an adaptation stays true to the source material, and this one really did, even directly quoting it at times, which made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I even cried several times, especially thanks to the performances of Elle Fanning as Margo, Michelle Pfeiffer as Shayanne (Margo's mum), and Nick Offerman as Jinx (Margo's dad). They were so powerful, and the emotional moments were conveyed even more powerfully in the TV show.
Real and Relatable Characters
Her relationships were messy, complicated, and so real. It was refreshing to read about and watch a female character who was not completely perfect and actually made mistakes and had flaws. But it goes without saying that the adaptation would not have existed without Rufi Thorpe's genius, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
It is just really great to watch a TV show that felt better than the book while staying true to it at the same time.
Looking Forward
I am so happy to hear that a second season has been commissioned. I really hope it is as good and continues Margo's story in an interesting way, rather than dropping off completely.
This experience has made me more open to watching book-to-TV adaptations. That being said, which would you recommend?
