If you like stories with interesting leading ladies, I’ve got two adult novels for you. I’d recommend The Maid if you are looking for a lighthearted mystery and escape from the news cycle of chaos. If you’re up for a funny but also unflinching look at the plight of young, single, working-class mothers, try Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Twenty-five-year-old Molly lives her life in exceptional and simple terms. She has a photographic memory for detail but has trouble reading social cues and other people’s intentions. Her dear Gran used to help Molly understand the world, but she died a few months ago, and Molly feels lost. Her confusion worsens when, during her shift as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, she finds one of the hotel’s wealthiest and notorious guests dead in his bed.
The head detective suspects her, and her coworkers at the hotel are using Molly’s unique personality against her… perhaps to cover up their own illicit activities. It’s all very hard for Molly to understand, and she’s going to need some help to get out of this mess, but she doesn’t have friends she can count on. Or does she?
What I liked
Molly’s unique point of view thoroughly colors this mystery. We can only see the world through Molly’s eyes, but we understand things differently than she does, adding irony, humor, and intrigue to the story. Some people give this book negative reviews because they expected more of a mystery. There’s definitely a “Clue” like aspect to the story, but it’s more about relationships and human nature. The lighthearted tone of The Maid offers respite in a time when our world bombards us with stories of war, retaliation, and selfish gain. While Molly starts the book vulnerable and scared, she learns the value of connection and gains wisdom about who she can trust. In the end, despite some despicable actions by many characters, kindness and goodness win out.
What I didn’t like
Molly’s voice can get monotonous at times – perhaps I can blame that on the narrator of the audio book I listened to. Molly’s tone comes through as I suspect it would for someone with her personality, but some readers find the voice grating. Ultimately, the humor and good feelings mattered more to me than Molly’s voice.
Recommendation
The Maid would be a good choice for anyone looking for a lighthearted break from the fire hose of chaos in our news feed. If you like Only Murders in the Building, you’d probably like The Maid. This novel is the first in a series of four. I would be interested in reading more about Molly the Maid later.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
I downloaded the audio book after I heard it recommended on one of the “year in books” podcasts I listened to in late December. The idea of a 19-year-old trying to navigate the world of motherhood and adulthood with little emotional support from her parents, much less financial help, appealed to me. I believe our society spends too much time debating abortion and not enough resources educating and empowering women to make the best decisions for their well-being. I figured this novel would explore that, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Margo is wicked sharp and uses funny descriptions to explain her predicaments. Her mom is an ex Hooters waitress currently working in retail. Her dad’s an ex pro wrestler who has spent most of his life on the road or with his other, “legitimate” family. Margo’s smart, but since she lacks financial resources, she settles for junior college after high school. There, she guilelessly falls into an affair with her English professor and ends up pregnant.
Against everyone’s advice, with a naïve expectation that the world will support a woman who chooses motherhood, Margo decides to keep her baby. She soon finds herself without employment, without money, and on the brink of eviction. Her father shows up to help, but his opioid addiction complicates the situation. Desperate, Margo turns to the online world of sex work as a means to earn some cash while still taking care of her baby. With his experience from the pro wrestling world, her father helps her create an online presence to earn fans and money. But soon, because of her job, Margo finds herself in the middle of a custody fight and a CSS investigation. After she’s worked so hard to provide for herself and her baby, she might lose everything after all.
What I liked
Margo’s Got Money Troubles highlights the challenges women face navigating the world of motherhood, employment, and child care. Margo makes several terrible decisions, and yet, I empathized with her. The poor girl is barely 20 and has no trustworthy adult role models to guide her. She is, despite all the odds, an excellent mother, and her plight challenges our current societal norms and policies for women and children. Margo is often witty and funny, even when her life seems hopeless. She demonstrates incredible resourcefulness and perseverance, and ultimately gains confidence and connections she can rely on.
What I didn’t like
I’m currently re-evaluating my relationship with social media and stepping back from online life. Margo is trying to build an income online, so lots of the book revolves around creating and posting videos and gaining followers. I got tired of hearing about TikTok and other platforms and found Margo’s obsession with followers unhealthy.
Recommendation
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a great book for readers interested in women’s issues, particularly the plight of single mothers. Content warning: Margo turns to OnlyFans, a pornography site, to earn money. She discusses the nude pictures and videos she posts of herself. The novel also explores the role of religion and culture on motherhood. Throughout the story, Margo contemplates how the Virgin Mary must have felt being a young, pregnant woman in terms some might view as offensive. Her mother marries a religious conservative who disapproves of Margo’s choices.
Note: Margo’s Got Money Troubles is currently being adapted for television by A24 and AppleTV. And the author, Rufi Thorpe, earned her MFA from the University of Virginia, my alma mater!
Can you recommend other books about people who learn to love themselves? Share in the comments!
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
