This book was amazing. I loved the premise and loved the execution. The character development was fantastic for Logan, but I wish there was a little more from some of the other characters, but maybe that was the point. The ending was a tear jerker and for a sci-fi book to do that for me is rare. Well done!

Blake Crouch wrecks my brain in a way that makes me want to thank him for the experience.

Upgrade takes us into the realm of genomes and bioengineering. While the concept is heavy on science, the content is presented in a way that’s easy to understand.

The story is sci-fi, for now, but we can easily see how it could or even will happen. It’s definitely a thriller. It’s also thought-provoking and intense.

I love the way Crouch blends science and psychology, with a sprinkle of future possibilities, to give us stories that make me feel like my head will explode!

Just by the description alone, I was very excited to read this book. As I read more and more of this fantastic novel, I found myself unable to put it down. Upgrade is a great novel about what could be possible by enhancing the human race and what consequences and morals that may come from those choices. Well done! This is my first Blake Crouch book and certainly not my last!

This one was not for me. I know everyone hyped it up, but I just couldn't get into it. It was just a little too much science fiction for me.

This book is incredible. Crouch really blew me away with his discussions on intelligence v. empathy, and how both are needed in this world. I loved the plotting of this book. I honestly was never sure if he was going to unexpectedly shake things up on me. Although he usually pulled some of the more interesting punches, and everyone outside the main character is a bit one-note, I always understood when he pulled the punches and it got me interested in other ways the story could go.

Holy crap, Blake Crouch does it again.

Continually giving us mind-bending, realistic sci-fi that leaves you wanting to set the world on fire - what an achievement. I love the little nods to the ravages of climate change on our landscape - the talk of artificial meat being the norm, the Bellagio fountains only using real water occasionally (the rest is holograms). The world felt realistic and still in the future without having to say "The year is 2100". (IDK if that's the year it's set in please dont come for me).

Some may say this was very heavy on the science, and I can understand that - there were many parts of the science I didn't understand, but they didn't keep me from understanding the story or the dangers the characters were in.

I was in a major reading rut when I picked this up and boy did it cure me. I read this in less than a day - I couldn't put it down. Signature fast pacing and world-threatening stakes. Short and powerful.

He did it again and I can't wait to see what his nightmare brain comes up with next.

Blake Crouch has a way of sucking me into his "humanity has advanced tech prowess but bad guys who lack ethics got ahold of the tech" sci-fi novels. Simultaneously I come to care about the main characters, and the result is I tend to stay up too late to finish these books. Upgrade was no exception. There's a portion of the storyline where the main character is off by himself and the plot seems to drag in that section. I pressed on because I wanted to know how the book ended and I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed this book, but not as thoroughly as I enjoyed Recursion.

If you could become uber-intelligent and physically superior to most, would you? Would you share your newfound abilities with others, if you could?⁣
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Blake Crouch tackles just this issue in his newest novel, Upgrade. This was a fast-paced, edge-of-my-seat kind of read, with never a moment’s rest to be had. Pure energy, through and through. Can Logan Ramsay save humanity from destroying the world (and itself) by introducing a upgrade to humanity such as this on a large-scale basis? Would it be a win or a fail? Would our brains take over our hearts? It’s up to Logan to ultimately decide, and he will take you for one hell of a ride along the way.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch. Pub Date: July 12, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟. I know this author is must read for a lot of people, but for me I think his work is too science dense and I feel very lost whenever I try to read his work. This is a sci-fi read that spans topics of ethics, evolution, philosophy and AI/genetic modification. Unfortunately I just couldn’t follow this one, but if those topics interest you then definitely pick this one up! Thanks to #netgalley and #ballantinebooks for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #igreads #theupgrade

If I had four or five PHDs I still wouldn’t understand a fraction of all the scientific data in this book. Quantum computing applications, intersection of science and philosophy, a war of genes and mutations, a war with natural selection, a slap dash heart racing sci-if thriller. I just wish I understood more of the background garble. Despite all that, it was an action packed story that never let up.

In the most simplistic terms this book examines stakes that are larger “than ideology, territory or even religion. The stakes were the future of our species. Where we were going. What we would become.” Set amidst a decayed and decaying country, much of which is unrecognizable to us in this century, a titanic battle between siblings is being waged. Each is only concerned with the salvation of the human race - it is all in the perspective and they are diametrically opposite.

Rounding up as I thank Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the copy.

Okay, I thought that I would love everything Blake Crouch has ever written...but this book is the exception. I just couldn't get that into it. Logan wasn't my cup of tea!

Blake Crouch is a sci-fi genius. This is a mix of sci fi and thriller. Who wouldn’t want an upgrade to their genetic makeup? If it comes with the task of saving the human race maybe you wouldn’t want that kind of upgrade! A dark family thrill ride that involved the future of humanity... I will say I preferred Dark Matter and Recursion but I felt Upgrade was right in the same wheelhouse. I never felt bored. It is set in a dystopian near future. Excited to see what Crouch comes up with next.

Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.

“You are the next step in human evolution.”
An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation—and fears that all of humanity may be next.

Do you read the letter from the editor at the beginning of books? I always do and the one written for this book really set the premise for me and prepares me for what was to come. I became even more intrigued and excited after reading the letter written by editor Julian Pava. The topic is so fascinating to me, and I have become more interested in this area since watching movies and series along the same theme with my son. I absolutely can easily picture this book as a movie or series and it is one my son would watch together. The writing is impressive and sophisticated, is very creative and innovative, and I appreciated the talent put into it. It is not a book that flows easily, adept attention is required, yet not so much that you are lost. That being said, I do feel that I could read it again and maybe pick up on some things I missed the first time, especially now that I know what happens. Topics like this really make me think, and ponder whether these things could happen, and if so, when? And would I welcome it or resist it? Truly compelling read, and one that screams immense talent by the author.

May contain spoilers .....

One of the few 5 star reads of this year. Finished within 2 days. This was an enjoyable, exciting, fascinating read. I'm guaranteed to always enjoy a great read from the author and this book was no different. The writing flowed and reading was tight. While the deep details of the subject matter was over my head, it was written in a way that was easily understood. The characters weren't always likeable; but they came across as relatable. Reading, I imagined myself imagining those situations and how I would handle it. Overall, there wasn't a right or wrong; you could understand the decisions made by the characters. The rate we're going as a society, we could find ourselves facing the same issues. Will the same solution chosen help us?

#NETGALLEY #UPGRADE

This was a great book! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Fast paced and the characters were relatable. I really liked the science fiction aspect of it even though I usually don't read science fiction. Very good premise.

Blake Crouch has never disappointed before, and this novel was no exception! It’s got it all. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking read with great characters and a fantastic plot, pick this up. You won’t regret it.

Blake Crouch writes a cautionary but fascinating tale of a future that has a very real possibility of being true. The world of genetic enhancement has become less a question not of "could we" but "should we"? What will we sacrifice to live longer, be stronger, smarter, more powerful and knowledgeable? Our humanity, itself?

Thought-provoking and we'll told, this is one you can't put down until the last page.

Didn’t love this much as the other books by Crouch. 😬 it was hard to get into this one. It was a bit too much science for me and I was unable to really connect with any of the characters.

You know that Bradley Cooper movie where he invented that pill to make him smart and then kinda trolls the world? Upgrade is like that, but smarter with nerds and I felt dumb reading it,but liked it? Idk Blake Crouch does an excellent job of writing the same story over and over again and yet I always forget he's doing that because I'm trying to figure out the technology stuff.

You like SciFi? Read this

I am a casual fan of Blake Crouch, though every time I read one of his works I wonder why he isn't on my favorite author list!

This science fiction thriller pulled me in from the start. It wasn't too scientific (I'm looking at you, Any Weir!) for me to understand, and I'm one who gets confused just *thinking* about the vastness of space.

Blake Crouch has a very nice writing style that pulls you in and keeps you there. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns this book took and look forward to his next work!