Monoray acquires 'exceptional' memoir by comedian Krystal Evans
Monoray has acquired comedian Krystal Evans’ "exceptional" memoir, The Hottest Girl at Burn Camp: How to Survive a Fire and a Chaotic Upbringing (Without Losing Your Sense of Humour).
Jake Lingwood acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Zoe Ross of United Agents, and the book will be published in hardback in June 2025.
"When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down," the synopsis says. "Krystal narrowly escaped by breaking a window and jumping out head-first; suffering burns, smoke inhalation, PTSD – and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her six-year-old sister. But horrific as events were, the account of what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is a richer and more complex story."
The synopsis adds: "Writing with skill and candour to find light in the darkest of places, this is Krystal Evans’ story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother and having a wolf for a pet (really)... The Hottest Girl At Burn Camp is Krystal’s story of how she grew 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."
Evans commented: "I went through very dark times as a kid, but now I tell jokes for a living. It might sound weird, but instead of using humour to cover a wound, it actually helped me heal. Having a troubled past doesn’t define me, but it has created me."
Lingwood added: "Krystal has written an exceptional memoir. Her voice is so strong, and she is incredible company on the page, even when relating tragedy. It’s a cliché, but you will laugh and you will cry – and that’s not an easy feat to pull off with credibility in non-fiction. I strongly believe this will be one of the memoirs of the year."
