[7] In September 2017, the National Book Foundation honored Arimah as one of their "Five Under 35" writers to watch,[8][9] and in 2019, she was a United States Artists Fellow in Writing.
The book centres on women protagonists exposed to a harsh environment that pushes them "to take certain steps to fit in, or make them realize, they just might not fit in,"[12] offering "a humanizing portrait of both the Nigerian citizen and first generation young female immigrant", showcasing "their flaws, their desires, their victories, and their attempts at carving out a place in a country whose customs and values diverge from that of their heritage.
[13] The collection explores women's alienation from a number of angles, "including the fraught relationships between mothers and daughters and the complicated dynamics of female friendship.
The titular short story "What it Means When a Man Falls from the Sky" explores what happens when humanity has the power to remove pain and grief through mathematical calculations.
This beautiful story explores the fact that immortal beings can feel very human emotions, noting that grief is a powerful force that can overwhelm anyone, even goddesses.