Title: The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp

Author: Krystal Evans

Genre: Memoir

Publisher: Octopus

Publication Date: 19th June 2025

Rating: 4.5/5

Cover:

Summary:

When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Narrowly escaping by breaking a window and jumping out head-first Krystal suffered burns, smoke inhalation, and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her sister. That Evans has written such a warm and disarmingly funny memoir about what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is nothing less than astonishing.

This is a spellbinding story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from a summer camp for burn victims, to putting up with a succession of her mom’s increasingly shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie’s childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.

But, writing with joy, skill and candour, we witness Krystal growing as a person from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.

At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.

Review:

 I wasn’t aware of Krystal Evans before this book came to my attention (it immediately appealed to me in part because I LOVE the cover and in part because of the brilliant title) but I enjoy memoirs, especially those written by comedians, as they are often excellent and observant writers. That is certainly the case here. The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is a fantastic and powerful read and one that I could not put down once I started. Evans had a pretty traumatic childhood, with not just one, but many tragic events happening to, or around, her. The most cataclysmic of which being the horrific loss of her little sister in a terrifying house fire, in which Evans herself was seriously injured. Consequently there are some very harrowing and intensely sad parts of this memoir, always detailed with a candour and clarity that is heartbreaking but compelling. 

However, I didn’t find this an overwhelmingly depressing read. Evans’ ability to use humour to cut through the trauma is clear throughout – without ever minimising the totality and impact of the many things she has had to endure growing up, not least of which is the complex relationship she had with her mother, whose own issues have a gigantic effect on her children and family. The book covers Evans’ childhood and then also moves on to her first forays into comedy in Edinburgh – I found this section really interesting, having lived here in Edinburgh my entire life, and I will absolutely have to look out for any future Fringe appearances by Evans! In conclusion, The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp is a funny, heartbreaking, smart, honest and sharply written memoir of resilience, mental health and loss that lives up to its witty title and that  I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. 

★★★★.5 

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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