My first book by John Scalzi but definitely not my last one, because this was such an enjoyable read! The moon turning to cheese is a silly premise, but it does develop into an entertaining story and had me invested throughout the entire book. The special format helped with that too. Every chapter followed a different character across the USA, presenting many different perspectives on the whole cheese moon disaster. I really liked that the author focused on several personal experiences rather than one global catastrophe, and also the way how this situation not only created a whole lot of problems, but also extraordinary possibilities. The characters ranged from astronauts who were supposed to go to the moon when it still was a rock to a Hollywood producer who is now getting pitched cheesy moon comedies fifteen times a day to some rich people who just really want to taste the moon cheese. The book never returns twice to the same POV, but some characters appear or are mentioned in multiple chapters. The book almost felt like a series of interconnected short stories, and naturally some were more interesting than others. Some were science-focused and mostly informative (all science stayed pretty vague, though), but others were funny or even surprisingly heartfelt. I never knew what would be up next, so I started each chapter with new interest. There is also some mixed media, which is always nice to see in books. The story is of course speculative and often over-the-top, but many scenarios were still very much rooted in reality and you can find the one or other parallel to our everyday life. I do have to say that the book lost me a tiny little bit in the second half when the situation got more dire. After the great start, I never wanted it to take the apocalypse-route, but it made sense because the story had to lead somewhere. It was resolved nicely in the end, though. After liking "When the Moon Hits your Eye" I will definitely check out "The Kaiju Preservation Society" and "Starter Villain", because the author somewhat groups these three books of his together and I could really need some more.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Pan MacMillan books and John Scalzi for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved the idea of the moon suddenly becoming cheese. It’s a classic childhood tale retold for adults in our modern age.

This story starts of slowly then gradually increases its pace detailing unimaginable event occurring and told through the perspectives of many different people over a period of time. This I found to be most amusing and satisfying as their reactions and opinions were very varied. The science is easy to understand which was good as I felt it may have taken over the story. I loved the way Scalzi gets into people’s heads and hearts to bring out the best in his characters which he did so with expertise.

Overall this is a fun, dramatic and sometimes emotional story to read and felt different to the authors usual style of writing. At first I was a little sceptical where this book would go but I should have known I would not be disappointed. A most enjoyable, satisfying read with great characters and an unusual plot that will keep you glued to the pages.

I received and ARC of this from Netgalley.

This was fun. It is not a book that you can actually take seriously, I mean the moon changes into cheese! But this book has great heart. The story gets told from a lot of different perspectives and that allows the reader to see many different situations, some of them funny and some actually heart breaking. It boils down to how different people deal with a life ending event and the emotions that come with that and I thought the book had a great balance of humour and emotion to it. I would recommend this book but only if you don't mind a little bit of a light hearted tone to a storyteller.

Unexpectedly thought-provoking. What a concept!

Loved Starter Villain. Saw this and the premise and was instantly sold. Never seen anything quite like it... and it was brilliant!

The plot? Well, one day the world awakens to discover the moon has... wait for it... turned into cheese. Yes, scientists are stunned but confirm it. Moon rock samples on Earth are the same. Cheese.

The book veers around to various characters over the globe reacting to this, their lives affected in different ways, from cheese shop owners to NASA astronauts preparing for a mission soon to be cancelled.

Loved the very timely-feeling thread about one of the world's richest men and his quest to land on the cheese-moon. How apt for the times we are living in.

Over the course of one lunar cycle, the author shows us the possible science (difference in mass, explosions under the surface, change in size, affect on tides etc) and human implications, without ever having to give explanation (good one!). There's the science writer fortuitously talking about the moon in his latest book, suddenly becoming world-renowned. The former rock star re-assessing his mistakes in love. Conspiracy theorists expounding dark ideas on what is really going on.

I feel Scalzi enjoyed the creation in particular of both Jody Bannon the billionaire and US President Brett Boone. Just a feeling I had while reading them.

The more serious aspect of the story kicked in later as potential catastrophic events are brought to light, which also gives readers the chance to reflect on how something similar (okay maybe not moon cheese) might change their own lives and priorities.

Loved the ending too, bringing home yet another point about the effect of time on any one occurrence and how society looks back with hindsight and 'knowledge'.

It veered from ridiculous to more serious, taking in global viewpoints, and never became less than thoroughly absorbing.... like a thick fondue with dip one might say.

Batty, mad and totally unique. It's a cracker (sorry).

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Let me start with I loved this book! It is a perfect lift in these strange political times, as it tracks the impact of the moons' spontaneous change to cheese (or organic matrix). We start at Day 1 when the change is first noticed in locations which hold pieces of lunar rock (Wapakoneta, Ohio to start) that have also changed form, then each chapter follows day by day impacts on NASA, moon missions, the President of the USA, students, everyday folk in vignettes on their thoughts, opinions, life and loves.
There are some storylines that thread the book, the NASA moon mission being chief amongst them, an entitled billionaire, rival cheese shops and the coffee shop conversations of three retirees. One of my favourite chapters was following a movie pitching session in Hollywood, where all bar one was for a cheese related film, and the sudden change of fortune for a college professors writing career due to his latest book having a section on the moon and cheese. The political commentary sounds right for these times and the cast of characters meet the extraordinary events in ways that reflect our humanity.
This is on my shopping list for my husband and would recommend for anyone who wants a change of pace from hard core science fiction.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley - all views are my own.

DNF at 28% percent

This book made me feel numb. The biggest issue is that the humour didn't stick with me, which is the whole thing that should make this work interesting. I found some dialogue that would have been funny if I was in the room with the characters, but it didn't translate to page.

The format of the book is that it follows another character in every chapter, creating essentially a collection of short stories following a common theme. This would have worked if the endings of the chapters were satisfying. But they were not. There was no climax or punch line at the end. Thus, I hoped the story arc would continue, but I yet again got another set of characters, making me frustrated and uninterested

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me access to an e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat from start the finish. The pacing was very well done and I was always excited to pick it up and read.

What a wonderful premise - over night the moon (and all moon samples on the ground) turn to what appears to be cheese.
The book is split into 29 chapters (one for each day of the lunar cycle) and we effectively get a set of linked short stories exploring what would happen on Earth if this came true.

It made me laugh quite a lot, and the nerdy space science seemed accurate to me, and at one point it also made me cry which I really wasn't expecting.
I wasn't sure how the book would end, and I'm still not 100% convinced by one part but then the couple of extra chapters explained why this was the only way it could play out.

What a fun read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)

Scalzi's sci-fi comedy about an unexpected celestial event that throws the world into chaos was a really enjoyable read. With multiple intertwining storylines, the narrative is humorous, unexpected, and absolutely bonkers at times.

This novel is an ambitious blend of wit, silly science, and social satire, packed with engaging and interwoven storylines. I loved the concept and how the various narratives connected, creating an intricate and often entertaining plot. However, some threads felt unnecessary, as they weren’t as engaging as the rest of the story. Trimming a few of the less gripping storylines could have made the experience even sharper and more enjoyable. That said, it's still an inventive and fun read with Scalzi’s signature wit.

For a book about something as ridiculous as the moon turning to cheese, this was FANTASTIC.

I don't think many authors could pull it off, but writing the absurd and making it a great read seems to be a strength of Scalzi. He manages to present a ridiculous concept, then fills the story with immediately likeable (or loathe-able) characters that bring such immense heart that you can't help but be swept up by it all.

Almost every chapter is told by a different character, so we get a wide variety of experiences. This is probably the part that I loved the most and happens to work incredibly well for this story. Seeing the small picture - on the individual level - helps us relate to what's happening in such a pure way, that it becomes less about the absurd and more about the experience of being human.

Add to that the perfect amount of humour and a gouda-mount of cheese puns (see what I did there) and you've got yourself a special kind of silly book.

Obviously, if you're picking this one up for scientific accuracy then you're in for a rude shock, but if you're after something a little more quirky with a lot of heart, this is absolutely one to pick up.

With thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for an ARC

Absolutely bonkers!
Imagine waking up one day and finding that the moon is suddenly made of cheese! Would you believe it? Be convinced that it was a hoax? A cover up or conspiracy?
This is day by day of a full lunar cycle, as the world tries to work out what is going on. From multiple viewpoints, this really is an unexpected and entertaining read.

This was definitely different to everything else I’ve read by this author, and I think the key difference is the multiple perspectives. Also it’s a lot more grounded, which is odd given the subject but I think it makes more sense that way. It would have been too easy to turn this into a farce, and although it has ridiculous moments , it’s about more than that.

On its surface, it's a homourous sci-fi novel, with an odd-ball premise (moon turning to cheese), and a set of funny-ish (including black humour) scenes showing the effects on life as we know it. There is really no protagonist, though some characters do appear several times. Upon closer inspection, the book is a thinly veiled social critique taking aim at some of the odder aspects of contemporary life - be it political system, macro economy, or social norms.

The book shines due to the author's writing style, and dry wit. The combination makes for a fun and entertaining read, and the lack of substantive characters doesn't make the book a difficult read. Essentially, the book reads like a series of comedy sketches, some more absurd than others. The absurdity goes up one notch when it becomes clear what dreadful consequences the moon's transformation might eventually have.

Within the humourous sci-fi genre this is probably a great book, which stands out as being well written and substantive at the same time. As a result, I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend to fans of the genre.

For me, personally, the experience was fine. I liked it, and am happy to have read it, but I didn't really take away anything from the experience. There is nothing memorable or distinctive here to make it more than a good book. I'm sure that if I was a bigger fan of the genre I'd've given it 1 additional star. As it stands, it is what it is.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I think only John Scalzi would think of writing a book about the moon becoming cheese. Well he thought about it, and did it. The stories are vignettes, some one chapter and a few more, all connected by this unaccountable change in space. There are some chapters I found particularly funny, like the school kids discussion the situation and the family feud to name two. Politics, science (assumed possible), a bit of skullduggery and humour. Fun is what it is. The book is very American biased. Russia and China do get a mention, however the rest of the world were obviously nonplussed out toasting cheese sandwiches under a very different sky. Okay, John says this was much harder to right than he thought, so I’ll give him some leeway. Some well matured Scottish Cheddar might be a suitable repast in recovery, if you are not completely cheesed off now. Thank you to Pan McMillan and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

We are confronted with a seemingly impossible proposition, that the moon has turned to cheese. And we live in an age where disinformation not only exists, but is actively used as a tool by pundits and political parties. [loc. 514]
Scalzi's latest novel, very much in the vein of Starter Villain and The Kaiju Preservation Society, takes a light-hearted concept -- here, it's the moon (including moon rock samples) suddenly turning into cheese -- and explores the consequences in twenty-eight sections, one per day of the lunar cycle, recounting the experiences of ordinary Americans.

We begin with the director of a small Air and Space Museum: other stories feature a retired philosophy professor, two assistants in two cheeseshops both alike in dignity a small town in Wisconsin, a Sunday School teacher, an appalling billionaire (when asked what he'd say to other billionaires with space companies, his answer is 'Hey, Elon and Jeff? Ha ha ha lol suck it dudes'), a Vice-President of development in Hollywood*, a sex worker in Las Vegas...

I recall several novels, a while back, examining what would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared or had never existed: Seveneves, The Fifth Season, to name but two. (I'm sure there were others which I cannot recall or locate. Any suggestions?) This novel also fits the premise, albeit with more comedy. It reminded me, in parts, of the film Don't Look Up, and of Ben Winters' Last Policeman trilogy: but the scope is broader, and so is the humour. It's sometimes tragic, sometimes (surprisingly?) profound, and a very good read.

Interesting post about translating the title for audiences unfamiliar with the Dean Martin song.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 25th March 2025.

*This is where Scalzi stashes most of his appalling puns.

This is an entertaining book on the whimiscal question of what if the moon was made of cheese? In this case, it turns into cheese quite unexpectedly which makes everyone go wild with theories and actions. Each chapter is usually from the viewpoint of a different group and how they handle this strange development. You get some whacky stunts that I laughed so hard at, from billionaires racing to be the first to try this special "moon" cheese, to producers vetting new movie ideas (like "No Whey Home"). Those were a couple of my favorite chapters though there are loads more hilarious stunts! And of course it wouldn't be complete without the panic of a possible Fromaggedon! I also like how each chapter was a new phase of the moon, ending with the lunar eclipse.

So, no this is not a deep thinking novel. It is supremely fun and what with each chapter being a different group, it was like reading a bunch of connected short stories. John Scalzi is my go to for his wonderfully written funny novels and this one is another winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this totally entertaining and crazy fun book!

If you've ever been on ao3, you've probably seen the tag "crack treated seriously" - that's basically what this book is. The moon, suddenly and inexplicably, turns into cheese, and the book follows a wide range of people and how they react to this new reality. It's very funny, and while I found the first half a bit slow, I devoured the last half. While the premise is buck wild, its a heartfelt and genuine story about people coming together to handle a truly unprecedented situation.

This is a fun book about the moon turning to cheese. The principle story is told over the course of one lunar cycle from the viewpoint a variety of different Americans. The book starts quickly - after all, it wears its premise on its sleeve so there is no mystery for the reader about what has happened. There's more of a focus on how to tell the world and how people deal with such absurd news. While the beginning chapters mostly focus on people who are professionally involved with space in some way, as the book progresses we get a wider range of viewpoints and vignettes.

Obviously this is soft science fiction book and it wisely does not offer an explanation of *how* the moon turned to cheese. It does, however, make an attempt at extrapolating what the effects might be. That much cheese would be unstable, and over the course of the lunar cycles the characters have to deal with an increasingly volatile moon.

Mostly I found this book enjoyable. The premise is silly, of course, but within that the characters still have to go about their lives and deal with the situation in front of them. They exist on a wide spectrum from overindulged rich guys to a a struggling former sex worker, and even the objectionable characters are still quite fun to read about. I struggled a bit with being given so many names - it sometimes made it difficult to notice when people returned in later chapters, particularly as a lot of the characters have very similar narrative voices. However, the plot was easy enough to follow that it didn't make a huge difference.

With such a large cast there are bound to be some chapters that don't hit home, but the majority entertained me and I liked the very human portraits that emerged. There were times when it was genuinely funny, and it was a warm read throughout.

I had already read Scalzi in its not exactly sci-fi version (Villain, Kaiju, etc.) and liked it quite a bit. This time, on the other hand, it seemed to me that he didn't quite know how to end the book and even struggled a bit (but maybe it's a clear case of projection and it was me struggling to keep up with him) to handle the almost infinite number of characters. The end then really left me hanging.... In short, I have read much better books of his, but surely that is a matter of taste.

Avevo giá letto Scalzi nella sua versione non esattamente sci-fi (Villain, Kaiju, etc.) e mi era piaciuto parecchio. Stavolta mi é sembrato invece che non sapesse bene come far finire il libro e facesse anche un po' fatica (ma magari é un chiaro caso di proiezione ed ero io che faticavo a stargli dietro) a gestire il numero quasi infinito di personaggi. La fine poi mi ha lasciato veramente con l'amaro in bocca....Insomma ho letto libri suoi decisamente migliori, ma sicuramente é questione di gusti.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of When the Moon Hits Your Eye—the moon turning into cheese? It sounds absurd, and yet Scalzi completely pulls it off. The execution of this bizarre idea lives up to my expectations, and it was genuinely satisfying to see how he explored the chaos and humor that followed this cosmic shift.

The humor in this book was spot on. One of the highlights for me was the fate of the tech billionaire—such a brilliant, unexpected twist. I found myself laughing out loud more than once, which isn’t something I often do when reading.

While the shifting perspectives tied the story together well, I did miss forming deeper connections with the characters. Most only got one chapter, which made it hard to get attached to them. I enjoy connecting with characters, and that was the one thing I felt was lacking here. It felt a bit like a collection of short stories, each with its own unique voice, but the lack of continuity made it feel like there was something missing for me.

That said, Scalzi does a fantastic job of making each vignette count, and the satire and wit are top-notch. If you’re a fan of clever, fast-paced storytelling with a touch of philosophical reflection, this one’s definitely worth the read.

Thanks to net galley for e-arc.

I did enjoy this book and it would probably be a 3.5 but it didn't quite hit page turner for me. I think it too a bit to long to get going. The middle and end were far better.

I enjoyed the concept of using something silly to examine how the world operates and responds to crisis.
For the most part the book reads like a short story collection or different people from vastly different walks of life responding to the main events. It's a fun read with serious undertones