Again, a very funny, weird, believable book. I had such a great time with the story and the concept of following different people dealing with it on every day of the moon cycle.
I was so emotionally invested in most of them!!
Loved this book! Such a great ride.

3.5 STARS

It took me the longest time to finish this book, but this is not because it was bad. It’s just that this is built more like a collection of short stories than a whole, singular story. And sure, some of these stories are more interconnected than others; we have some recurring characters (like the President of the United States or the astronauts who were preparing for a new launch on the Moon) and there is a common denominator to all of them, but still… this is more alike a collection of short stories than a novel, and so I started reading a couple of stories here and there, between other reading and I didn’t see a reason to change that. Hence, the long reading time.

But mind me, I enjoyed the book. I didn’t love it, but it was fun, and I enjoyed it. I think this has a lot of things in common with Starter Villain (even if I enjoyed that one a tad more): it has a brilliant premise, and it is full of humor, but the realization of it is not as clever or as good as the premise led me to expect. Maybe it’s just me, and I was expecting too much from this. I can’t really say. But still, this book is a big exercise in the “what if” game, and the brilliant idea is “what if the moon suddenly becomes made of cheese”.
It’s as simple as that. And so brilliant. Because, come on! It is brilliant!!

In general, I think that the book is not as brilliant or as funny as I wanted it to be, but it is still quite fun, and we have some really satisfying stories, too. Like all collections of stories, some talked to me more than others; some I loved, and some I didn’t. But I don’t think there were bad ones, just good ones and less-good ones.
Every story is a day in this new, changed World. The first one is the day in which the Moon became made of cheese, and every other story is a day after, and the spotlight is on so many different characters. We have the ones who are more directly involved and invested in the Moon situation, like the group of astronauts who were preparing for a new Moon launch, the President of the United States, or an egomaniac billionaire who always wanted to go on the Moon; but we also have days from the perspective of normal people, who are not so involved (but still, this big change affect everyone). And so we have stories from college or school students (a couple of favorites of mine are about two college students, one who needs a new job because she has to pay for her studies and one that needs a job because he just took a sabbatical from college, and how they met. This is a really short short version of it, but the stories that have them with characters were among my favorites), stories from older people and stories from people in a lot of different jobs (and another one of my favorites was of a woman in real state business. This is one of the most satisfying stories!!). Anyway, you get the gist. We get a lot of different POVs on the same event, and it is interesting to see how it affects everyone.

All in all, I had fun, and I think that you can choose to read it as a cohesive story or like a collection, taking your time reading a couple of them here and there, and the book will work perfectly both ways. It could have been a tad more fun or involving, but I am still happy to have read it, and the premise is genius, so…no complaints here!

This was my first John Scalzi book, and I really enjoyed it. I picked it up because it’s a standalone novel, and the premise sounded both unique and intriguing. Scalzi takes the absurd concept of the moon being replaced by a giant ball of cheese and explores its consequences from multiple perspectives. While the idea itself is humorous, the book goes beyond comedy, delving into how different people and institutions might react to such an outlandish event.

What stood out to me the most was Scalzi’s sense of humor. His writing is sharp, engaging, and genuinely funny, making the story an entertaining read. However, one drawback for me was the sheer number of characters. There’s no central protagonist, and I tend to prefer books with strong character development. That said, despite the sprawling cast, the book kept me entertained, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Overall, this was a fun and lighthearted read, and it has definitely made me want to explore more of John Scalzi’s work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've read 2 books of John Scalzi before. The Kaiju Preservation Society was fun but I enjoyed the heck out of Starter Villian which was the reason behind me requesting this ARC.
I liked the idea of moon changing into cheese followed with its consequences so, I picked this up with a certain level of expectation. The book does not really follow any one person's story even though we get so many perspectives. This shows the lives of random people scattered across America on how moon turning into cheese has affected their lives or in some cases, how they see this as an opportunity to benefit themselves. Very few perspectives get follow up chapters within those 30 days but the rest were kind of conclusive on their own or left for interpretation. The usual Scalzi humour fell flat and the cheesy puns were just boring after a few. This was an experience for sure but not one I think is worth the effort.

What are your views on cheese? Lover? Hater? Lactose Intolerant? I love cheese – all cheese, even the ultra-stinky, blue cheese – Roquefort, Stilton – I’m here armed with my crusty bread/crackers and of course my tray of pickles! So when I was asked if I wanted to read the arc of When The Moon Hits Your Eye – of course, I said yes cheese!

This core focus of John Scalzi’s latest book is What if the moon turned into cheese? Firstly, I have to congratulate Mr Scalzi on being brave enough to take on such a challenge and do it in such a way that even science is factored in! The moon plays a core role in the functioning of sea tides and Mr Scalzi not only looks at it from a scientific perspective – you know astronauts and scientists, examinations of moon mass and volume but, he also takes a turn in the shoes of others.

Filled with cheesy puns galore, Scalzi traverses the perspectives of many from scientist to a uni student, a cheese shop owner, a writer, and of course an insanely irrational billionaire…I’m not going there, read the book and you’ll get it.

I absolutely loved how their perspectives were presented as almost a standalone series of separate stories but, all ultimately played a role in progressing the plot of the story and providing a never-ending stream of cheesy puns! When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a hugely fun read, that will get you thinking and I hope like me, definitely tickle your funny bone, plus it also provided me with a wonderful escape from reality…even if it did leave me with an urge for lots more stinky cheese and balsamic pickled onions…

Thank you so much Pan MacMillan for sharing this arc with me and allowing me to join the Book Tour for When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi.

Totally all of the opinions in this review, including those on cheese and pickles are most utterly and totally my own!

Only John Scalzi could get me to read, love and order a special edition copy of a book about the moon turning into cheese.

I loved everything about this book the "science" of the cheese moon, the reaction of the world and the characters all hit the perfect tone. The way that we got to meet multiple sets of characters throughout this book and really connect with them is a testament to the authors skill. I could quite easily have read an entire novel following any of the characters presented but I'm so glad we didn't, getting to meet them all was even better and I wouldn't have known what I was missing if we had.

The style of writing for me was just exactly in the middle of enough "science" that we weren't feeling like this wasn't serious but enough attention to the humour of the craziness that we still perfectly got how entirely ridiculous the premise was.

I 100% recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a tongue in cheek sci fi book that is both fun and thoughtful

I read an arc of this book from netgalley (apparently it takes time to print and ship special editions)

I really loved this book, unexpected in a lot of places but also exactly what you’d expect from a John Scalzi book as well. We meet an incredible array of characters throughout the book and some make multiple appearances and others don’t. I mean they might all do but I just haven’t been smart enough to notice everyone. I don’t think this book will be for you if you want a very clear cut plot, but not having one adds to the charm for me. The book can ask you some philosophical questions if you’d like but you can also just take it at face value if you like. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

An utterly bizarre book that takes the premise 'what if the moon turned into cheese?' and runs away with it, to both logical and hilarious extremes (albeit not always both at once).

It's written as a series of interconnected short stories and the points-of-view are incredibly varied, from astronauts hoping to go up to the moon (until it turns to cheese), to a non-fiction author making no money (until the moon turns to cheese), to a young woman hoping for a normal job at the cheese shop (then the moon turns to cheese), to an irrational billionaire making jibes at Musk (especially once the moon is cheese!) and so on.

My only issue with stories told in this way is that I tend to read them one chapter at a time, think 'that's very nice' and then put the book down for a while - they don't tend to have the same narrative thrust. But in this case, the moon becomes quite the threat and so it did keep pulling me back in.

This is a light book - there are little bits of sort of hard SF in there, but only like a hard cheese variant. It's mostly just fun. A giant 'what if?' That's not going to work for everyone, but it worked for me! I cared about the characters, and I cared about the cheese puns.

🧀 When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a gem of ridiculousness, the kind of book that has you giggling at its sheer absurdity while simultaneously making you ponder the strangeness of human nature. John Scalzi masterfully blends humor with a sharp critique of society, weaving a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is hilarious.

Each chapter throws you into the lives of new characters—some of whom we meet again as the story progresses—ranging from astronauts and scientists to pastors, politicians, university students, and even cheese shop owners. The result? A whirlwind tour through humanity’s quirks, ambitions, and downright bizarre tendencies. Some moments are endearing, others are laugh-out-loud worthy, and a few even tug at the heartstrings.

This was my first Scalzi book, and it definitely won’t be my last. I read it as a digital ARC, but by the time I was halfway through, I knew I needed a physical copy on my shelf.

If you enjoy stories that balance wit, satire, and a touch of the absurd, When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a must-read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, for the ARC!
—
But seriously, what kind of cheese????

This was such a silly and entertaining book! Definitely the cheesiest sci fi novel, it has hidden depths and I actually found myself tearing up, it's evocative and makes you pause for thought! My full review will be on my instagram this week as part of the book tour with panmacmillan!

I absolutely loved this book—its sheer absurdity made it incredibly entertaining, and I can’t wait to dive into Starter Villain, which has been waiting on my shelf for far too long.

John Scalzi’s writing reminded me of the satirical authors I grew up with, like Wodehouse and the Bulgarian writer Zdravko Popov. That familiar, sharp-witted vibe struck a chord with me and was likely one of the many reasons I enjoyed this book so much. I’ve already recommended it to countless people—including my mom, a strict thriller reader!

This book has everything—lighthearted comedy, dark humor, political tension, religious doubts, love and hate, acceptance and denial, belief and riots. The deeper you go, the darker it gets, and I loved how Scalzi wove brutal reality into such an absurd premise.

With the central theme of the moon being made of cheese (BUT WHAT KIND OF CHEESE???), the book also sent me down memory lane, reminding me of the old Tom and Jerry episode "O Solar Meow" from the very first chapter.

It’s a light, noncommittal read—not a binge book, but one to relax with at the end of a long day, letting it pull you away from reality. Savor it. On a side note, my favorite POVs were Annette and Felix’s, though I wish I’d had more time with Lessa Sarah and Hector as well.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, for the ARC!

So... overnight... the moon turns into cheese. Not only does it do this, but to maintain tides, it has to stay the same mass so it expands. The scientists know this cos as the moon changes, so do all the moon rocks that have been collected. Weird huh...
We then follow a whole eclectic bunch of people as they all try and make sense of what is happening and how it affects them, or doesn't. Kinda in a self contained connected short story kinda way.
And as with all short story collections, if you are like me, you will like some more than others. We hear from the CEO of an aerospace company, a school dropout, a cheese shop owner (loved that one), and many many more people from all walks of life.
All delivered in a witty and rather bonkers way. And with an overall story arc running throughout as all the time the moon is still made of cheese and things are happening to it that, well, could be tricky... and perilous...
As there are a lot of vignettes, there are also a lot of characters but I honestly wouldn't get too bogged down in the majority as often they are one and done and play no further part.
There's also quite a lot to think about come the end of the book, but I think this will differ on a personal level so I will say no more about it. Suffice to say I got my own food for thought out of it all...
It's also my first book by this author... which means that I now have a whole back catalogue to add to my tbr as what he did here really intrigued me and I both gelled with his style of writing and sense of humour... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Headlines:
Metaphor
Cheesy puns
Billionaires without brains

This sci-fi carried a storyline based in the ridiculous but Scalzi managed to make it engaging and to some degree believable in terms of society's reactions. The moon turned into organic matter (cheese) one evening and it had global effects.

Told in a number of POVs that somehow worked, we saw small town sheriffs, billionaire rocket owners (side eye), NASA, the president of the US (not in orange) and all sorts of random societal perspectives. I don't like lots of POVs but I can say, in this case, it mapped the story well.

The underlying issue of an organic moon couldn't really be explained but the impact it had on earth was fascinating. The conspiracy theories, the Christians blaming the devil and some end of world frenzy felt accurate.

I was lingering in the 3.5 rating but the way the story ended really pulled it up to 4 stars for me. The clever finish and commentary after events was spot on. Cheese puns aside, this really is worth the silliness.

Thank you to Tor for the review copy.

Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to dis a Brie
I cheddar the world and a Feta cheese
Everybody's looking for Stilton
(Sweet Dreams are Made of Cheese - parody song from the Internet, to the tune of the Eurythmics song Sweet Dreams Are Made of This)


Award winning John Scalzi has a varied career to date. He’s written about old military soldiers in a Heinlein/Starship Troopers kind of space opera way (Old Man’s War and associated books), parodied Star Trek (Redshirts) and James Bond (Starter Villain), imagined a future with Godzilla/Kaiju monsters (The Kaiju Preservation Society) and now this.

From the publisher: “One day, suddenly and without explanation, the moon turns into a ball of cheese.
For some, it’s an opportunity. For others, it’s time to question their life choices. How can the world stay the same in the face of such absurdity and uncertainty?

Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and patients at the end of their lives – over the length of a lunar cycle, each gets their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to hope, to laugh and to grieve. All in a story that goes all the places you’d expect, and to many others you could never anticipate. For the people of the earth, this could be the end – or the beginning of a whole new world.”

Scalzi manages to take a very, very silly idea – namely that the moon is actually made of cheese – and run with it. There’s as much science as the idea can sustain (clue: not that much) but the premise is there really to describe, with some humour, the effects on the citizens of America. There also just happens to be an egotistical billionaire (wonder who Scalzi could be thinking of?) and a President who needs things kept simple. (who’d a thought it?)

In this book what Scalzi does best – and is very good at – is take an impossible, absurd situation and tell us about how people are affected by it. (In his afterword he refers to this as “Everyday people dealing with an extremely high concept situation, in contemporary time.”) And this, I think, is Scalzi’s superpower, for when he writes of his diverse range of characters - from high school students, small businesses, and small town churchgoers to NASA, the Banks and the politicians - he makes each vignette feel real, and that’s a tough line to follow in such a ridiculous situation.

There are moments here that just made me think that whatever the disaster, their responses would be the same. I was left wondering how many of them actually ended their story however, as we are just left to wonder at the end of the novel.

In short, though, When The Moon Hits Your Eye is a science fiction story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and yet has something meaningful to say. In it generally people can be good, empathy can be valuable and villains get what they deserve. To my mind, it’s all rather Frank Capra-esque but with a science-fictional angle, a little bit like the film Don’t Look Up (2021) perhaps, but with more SF.

I know that some will see this book as ‘too silly’ (thoughts of Monty Python here), whilst others like me will admire the way Scalzi has managed to make such an idea readable. I found that it was a much-needed tonic in these present times, to remind us that even when things seem bad, they are not forever, and that even when things are tough there are good things happening. Even when we think we are at the worst, we should still be able to love and laugh. When The Moon Hits Your Eye made me do that.

Big thanks to @bookbreakuk and @panmacmillan for having me on this book tour and sending me a copy of the book.

I've read two John Scalzi Books before - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘢𝘪𝘫𝘶 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 and 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 - and really enjoyed them both, so I JUMPED at the opportunity to get my hands on the latest installment of his wacky, unique, and just plain FUN sci-fi.

In 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙀𝙮𝙚 we are presented with yet another madcap scenario: What would happen if one day the moon inexplicably turned to cheese?

What follows is a series of vignettes where we get to experience this idea from different POVs, from astronauts preparing for a moon landing, to megalomaniac billionaires (cough), to cheesemongers. This was a really fantastic format for me, reminding me of 'How High We Go in the Dark'...but comedy 😅 In all seriousness though, I felt this format really worked well for Scalzi and this book in particular, allowing him to dip into some more emotionally impactful scenarios as well as his usual humour.

I randomly have a lot of friends working in physics and astronomy, and the first thing one of them said when I showed them this book was "well if it has the density of cheese we're all screwed", so colour me impressed that this is in fact addressed, and remains one of the key issues of tension through the book - this isn't just a social thought-experiment, I get the feeling Scalzi really did his research here so he could explore the physical impacts too.

Scalzi is such a welcome addition to my reading roster. I've said it before and I'll say it again, his books are so much fun, and they're perfect for switching things up when my TBR's feeling a little heavy or I've got a lot going on and could just do with a giggle.

If you've enjoyed other John Scalzi books, definitely look out for 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙀𝙮𝙚 when it hits shelves on the 27th March; and if you haven't read him yet, give this one a try next time you're looking for something light-hearted, entertaining and entirely unexpected.

John Scalzi goes all Irwin Allen in his new novel When the Moon Hits Your Eye.

In this new book, Scalzi runs with the absurdist premise of what would happen if the moon inextricably turns into cheese and what effect this would have on the population of Earth.

Now whilst the premise may seem utterly bonkers, Scalzi deftly turns away from the action of the moon turning into a molten lump of dairy to focus upon the lives of a number of different people and manages to inject the book with a surprising amount of pathos and heart.
The book itself doesn’t focus on a narrative arc but instead introduces a wide range of characters and different scenarios and how the general public, politicians and other officials deal with the situation. Some of these can be quite comical, some can be heart warming and others can be quite scathing, especially towards the political and corporate institutions that interfere with our everyday life.

Whilst The Moon Hits Your Eyes may not resonate with everyone, the book was an enjoyable one that highlights how we as a society deal with forces outside our control.

Absurd but Surprisingly Thought-Provoking & Fun ⭐

What if the moon turned into cheese? Not metaphorically, not figuratively—but literally. Overnight, poof—the moon is now cheese. Scientists are baffled. Conspiracy theorists are thrilled. Billionaires see a golden (or gouda 😝) opportunity. And humanity .. well, humanity does what it does best .. panics, profits and speculates wildly.

As someone new to Scalzi’s work, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised by his fast-paced, witty style. This was an absurd yet oddly grounded thought experiment on how the world would react to a cosmic impossibility. The story unfolds in vignettes, each chapter offering a new perspective - NASA astronauts scrambling to make sense of lunar cheese, a megalomaniac billionaire determined to claim his slice of history, cheese shop owners reveling in the sudden boom, and a pastor guiding a bewildered congregation through celestial uncertainty. It’s a mix of satire, social commentary and sheer ridiculous fun, all wrapped up in a rather entertaining narrative.

Scalzi masterfully balances humor with a surprising amount of poignancy. Yes, this book is full of laughs (expect lots of cheese puns - there’s no escaping them) but beneath the absurdity lie sharp reflections on media frenzy, scientific speculation and how humans, for better or worse, adapt to change. While the vignette style meant I didn’t get deeply attach to any characters—something I tend to need being a character-driven reader—the interconnected glimpses into this bizarre new reality still kept me thoroughly engaged. (Though a deeper connection to the characters would have definitely elevated the experience even further- I just wanted more from everyone, I’m greedy 😂 )

Overall, this was ridiculous, clever and a wildly entertaining ride.

📖 Huge thanks to @panmacmillan & @bookbreakuk for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been wanting to try John Scalzi's work for a while, so I was very happy to have the opportunity to read his upcoming book. I have some mixed feelings, but I had a good experience overall.

I was surprised to find that this was a collection of interconnected stories that changed character each chapter. After a while, I lost track of who was who and had more interest in certain characters than others. However, this method of storytelling meant that the impact of the moon turning into cheese was examined through multiple lenses and people from many walks of life. I liked this concept a lot! Rather than writing a conventional sci-fi novel, Scalzi instead focused on human relationships. I found the stories to be thought-provoking and varied.

I was highly engaged at first due to the strong start. In my opinion, the pacing tapered off a bit from the middle onwards. Some of the plotlines were more transient, so I didn't feel the fulfilment of finding out what happened to the characters. Regardless, the writing and characterisation were strong. There were some laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some skilful social critiques. I would like to read more of John Scalzi's work in the future.

One day, suddenly and without explanation, the moon turns into a ball of cheese. How could you read that line and not want to read this book? It’s both absurd and amazing. John Scalzi has a very unique sense of humor that really resonates with me. I laughed a lot throughout the book. I highly recommend it, along with his other works. I can't wait to add this book to my shelf and look forward to reading his next story. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi is a wildly unique and thoroughly engaging read. The premise—where the moon inexplicably turns to cheese—is as silly as it sounds, but Scalzi turns it into an entertaining and thought-provoking story. Told from a variety of perspectives, each chapter offers a fresh viewpoint, from astronauts to billionaires, and even conspiracy theorists, keeping the narrative unpredictable and fun.

The book expertly blends speculative science with everyday human implications, offering a thorough take on how a seemingly absurd event could radically alter life on Earth. Some chapters are more science-focused, while others delve into humor or heartfelt moments, making for a well-rounded experience. Scalzi’s sharp writing and subtle commentary on wealth and power, especially through characters like Jody Bannon, the billionaire obsessed with the moon, resonate deeply in today’s world.

The pacing is strong, though the story shifts towards a more serious tone in the latter half, as potential catastrophic events unfold. Despite this, it never loses its humour and charm. The ending is satisfying, bringing everything together and promoting some poignant reflection.

While the middle of the book feels a bit chaotic at times, the clever writing, engaging characters, and unique perspective more than make up for it.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye is an unforgettable read that’s equal parts ridiculous and profound, and it’s definitely worth the ride.