Crazy & Over the Top- FUN! Scalzi is so clever with "When the Moon Hits your Eye"!! What would happen if the moon was cheese?? A bunch of inter-connected short stories tries to answer that with different POV's - found it quite funny & also heart warming! Many thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my advanced readers copy - appreciate the good feels!!

This delightfully absurd premise is handled with sincere empathy. I love the range of characters and their entirely plausible reactions to a seemingly impossible event. I am always so excited for a new Scalzi book and this is no exception.

John Scalzi is no stranger to blending absurdity with sharp social commentary, and When the Moon Hits Your Eye delivers this in spades. The moon is cheese—a premise so outlandish it could collapse under its own ridiculousness. Yet, Scalzi makes it the foundation for a deeply human and surprisingly poignant exploration of our collective response to the impossible.

Told through a tapestry of interconnected stories, the novel captures a cross-section of humanity as it grapples with the moon’s cheesy transformation. From astronauts debating the physics of dairy orbital mechanics to terminally ill patients finding unexpected solace, each perspective is rendered with Scalzi’s trademark wit and empathy. Billionaires see dollar signs, comedians find punchlines, and scientists scramble to explain the inexplicable—all while the rest of us look up in awe and dread.

What elevates the book is its ability to oscillate between humor and gravitas without losing its stride. Scalzi’s prose is razor-sharp, his dialogue crackling with humor and pathos. But beneath the laughs lies a profound meditation on uncertainty, belief, and resilience. The moon’s transformation becomes a mirror, reflecting humanity’s capacity for both brilliance and folly, selfishness and generosity.

While some readers might crave more resolution—Scalzi is content to leave many questions unanswered, leaning into the absurdity—the journey is more than satisfying. Each chapter builds on the last, weaving a narrative as rich and layered as a well-aged Brie.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a delightful, thought-provoking romp that invites readers to laugh at the absurd while pondering life’s deeper mysteries. Scalzi proves once again that the best speculative fiction doesn’t just entertain—it challenges us to think differently about the world, even when (or especially when) that world suddenly smells like Swiss.

It was not what I expected! A good reflection on society, especially the “afterwards”. I wanted more from some characters and much less of others, but that is a good reflection of life.

John Scalzi has done it again. Given us a book with a totally bonkers premise and somehow not just made it work, but made it amazing.

Not only did I not know exactly how he'd make the silly premise work. (The moon's suddenly made of cheese? Really?) but I definitely didn't expect the format of this book. And that's both where it almost lost me, but thankfully, it didn't. Because it's also where it absolutely won my heart.

This book is, no question, a novel. But, also, it's interconnected short stories. There are a few storylines that appear throughout the book, but sparsely. What is really is is a book that zooms out and says "ok, this crazy thing has happened", here's so many different ways it would affect life.

You get to sit in NASA clean room labs, looking at moon samples (they also turned into cheese!) and get the scientists reaction. You are in the boardroom of huge banks. How would they handle a world where maybe life isn't going to continue as we know it for very long? We sit in on an SNL taping and see that sometimes tragedy makes good comedy. And sometimes it lands like a lead balloon.

And on and on. All done with Scalzi's trademark humor. He forever makes me laugh and I think he does dialogue almost better than anyone out there.

I normally love Scalzi's books. They are innovative and entertaining. But, I still don't know what I read here. Overnight, the moon turns to cheese and the results are not good. No one knows what to do. NASA is in the middle of planning a return trip, but has to scrub it, except a rogue billionaire takes his own moon lander and tries to make it work. However, the moon erupts like a cheese fondue and wipes out his lander and sends a huge ball of flaming cheese hurtling towards Earth. It will be an extinction level event. The reader watches as humanity readies itself for death. People grieve, laugh and explore their lives. It's a very wild ride.

If you're a fan of science fiction, fantasy, or non-fiction, then "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" is an absolute must-read. Scalzi's writing is engaging, thought-provoking, and utterly captivating. Be prepared for a witty and engaging reading experience!

Classic Scalzi. Fun, humorous and the perfect weird distraction from the current state of the world.

This book is truly unique, and I’m eagerly anticipating its release—especially the audiobook. Since Wil Wheaton narrates John Scalzi’s works, I always opt for the audio version. In my mind, Wil is John!
The story unfolds through multiple characters and vignettes, exploring how different people might react to a global catastrophe. It feels incredibly authentic, capturing Scalzi’s signature humor while offering a remarkable representation of human behavior.
It took me a moment to adjust to the book’s rhythm, but once I did, it became a fascinating read. I think this would make an excellent book club pick—I can’t stop trying to discuss it with my husband, even though he hasn’t read it yet!

Thanks to @netgalley and @torbooks for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

As always, so much fun. The science is "loosey goosey" (Scalzi's words) but still believable.

The moon turns into an "organic matrix", i.e., cheese, and then things get weird.

Scalzi considers this, not a trilogy, but *connected* to The Kaiju Preservation Society and Starter Villain. None of the same characters, or settings, or plot points, but I can see how he considers them connected.

A fun, emotional, quirky read that only Scalzi could pull off. I'm convinced that he became obsessed with cheese puns and had to write them all down or risk insanity. Those brain-addled, desperate (cheese) doodles curdled into a full-fledged book.

It may be cheesy, but I think it's grate.

Scalzi allows one fantastic element (spoiler alert; the Moon turns to cheese!) but then plays out all of the consequences realistically and logically.
How would the government react? How would churches react? how would social media react? There is plenty of the typical Scalzi snark, but also optimism and thoughtfulness. A good, fun, emotional read.

*When the Moon Hits Your Eye* by John Scalzi is a witty and engaging science fiction novel that combines humor with thought-provoking themes. Set in a world where the moon is a prominent part of daily life, the story follows an intriguing cast of characters caught in an unexpected, high-stakes adventure. Scalzi’s trademark blend of sharp dialogue, humor, and social commentary shines throughout the narrative. The plot is fast-paced, filled with twists and surprises, while exploring deeper questions about humanity and technology. *When the Moon Hits Your Eye* is a delightful and imaginative read for fans of quirky, character-driven sci-fi.

How this book manages so many perspectives is as Improbable as the moon turning into cheese.

Seriously though, I've read books that struggle with the voices of just three characters yet this one quick changes with every single chapter.

I've had my issues with the way Scalzi writes in the past two standalones I've read from him (Starter Villain and The Kaiju Preservation Society) but what I think he does best is at the center here and it shows. His dialogue and construction of believable dynamics between people is just delightful and I think there will be at least one chapter that will speak to every reader.

It manages to pursue a solid narrative while continuing the different character per chapter structure.

Although the diversity of humanity could never be captured in a single novel, each cheese slice sized piece of "When the Moon Hits your Eye" does an admirable job.

Enjoyed the premise very much and appreciated the character development throughout. Scalzi never fails to entertain with his stories and this one is no different.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi is a quirky and imaginative tale that showcases Scalzi's signature wit and humor. The premise is intriguing, blending science fiction with a touch of absurdity, and the dialogue crackles with sharp banter. However, the story occasionally feels rushed, and some plot points lack the depth needed to fully engage. While the humor lands more often than not, it sometimes overshadows the emotional beats of the narrative. Overall, it’s an entertaining read, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Scalzi’s best works. A fun diversion for fans of lighthearted sci-fi.

Endearingly hilarious.

John Scalzi does it again. Once again, he takes a wacky concept (the literal moon turning into cheese!) and manages to twist it into something ridiculously beautiful and heartfelt.

At first, I didn’t know if I’d vibe with an entire book where each chapter is written from the POV of a new character, but this book manages to do it perfectly. It was fun seeing all the storylines intertwine and come together to form a unique narrative.

Featuring a cheese shop version of Romeo & Juliet, a billionaire and his dream of going to the moon (what could possibly go wrong?), loads and loads of cheese puns and many more humans having the most human reaction to such a strange circumstance as the moon turning to cheese.

I’ve really enjoyed the other two John Scalzi books I’ve read (The Kaiju Preservation Society & Starter Villian) so I knew what I was getting with “When the Moon Hits Your Eye.” It was the most ridiculous and fun sci-fi romp. The moon suddenly turns to cheese and the book is written in the form of snippets of how the world deals with it, from governments, NASA and regular people. It was a fresh take on a sort of apocalypse situation but some portions were a little slow and hard to get interested in. But most were hilarious and entertaining. The ending was a bit abrupt but sadly felt like a realistic take on how the world would react. Overall, I enjoyed it and it was a fun, weird read!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this advance copy and review it!

The premise for this one almost kept me from reading it (the moon turns to cheese? Really?), but I'm glad I went ahead and read it. It's more like satire/fable than science fiction (though there is some science!) and yet it's very heartwarming. Scalzi shows us what people are doing wrong here, but also what we're doing right. His best book so far, in my opinion.

this is a wonderful book, probably the best John Scalzi book since Redshirts as far as deep concepts go. It’s entertaining and delightful.