In the acknowledgments/author's note, Scalzi talks about how this book came to exist. He was working on another, more "serious" book. But then 2020 happened and working on something that intense and dark was just not within his emotional capabilities. After struggling with the book for over a year, he eventually abandoned it. According to him, the next day the concept for this book just plunked itself into his head and he wrote the first draft in just a few months. 

This book is not serious. It is actually pretty ridiculous and a little nonsensical. Some people might be confused about why it has won awards, but I think the above paragraph is actually the exact reason why the book has won awards. The book captures something about what we have wanted in the world and what we still want in the world. This is a variation on the cozy fantasy energy—a kinda goofy, kinda ridiculous science fiction novel that doesn't take itself too seriously. 

The characters are loveable; the plot is simple; the bad guy is very inherently villainous with a really straightforward motivation. There's nothing that's hard or confusing. It's a literary soft place to land. I really enjoyed this. It isn't difficult; it is fun. Don't go into this expecting some nuanced or original critique of...anything really. But you will have a good time.