Hotshot is an upcoming nonfiction/memoir from author River Selby. This book is rich with information about the environmental complexities of fire suppression and the impact of human behavior on our landscapes. These themes of nature are woven between stories of Selby’s life as a female wildland firefighter.

This will sound stupid to say, but I think this book does a really good job at being what it is. It is both an intensely vulnerable memoir and a thorough resource on environmental science—in equal parts. I can think of a few different friends or coworkers who would find this memoir really interesting.

TW: eating disorders, sexual assault, suicide, substance abuse, mental illness, sexual content

As you can see from the list above, this book hits on several heavy topics that may not be suitable for all readers. I’m pretty unflinching when it comes to these things, and the only part I’m still looking for at the end of the book is some resolution on Selby’s experiences with those things. Maybe unbeknownst to the author, the reader is rooting for you!

River, I hope you’re doing well and thriving today. This book taught me more than I ever dreamed of learning about fire, nature’s response to it and the various local and government departments, agencies and programs that regulate our human interactions with the land.

This is a 5 ⭐️ read for me. Hotshot is available on August 12, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC in exchange for me honest review.

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