Wow, Blake Crouch has done it again. I could not put this down. He has such a skill for taking scientific facts and turning them into a nonstop, edge of your seat thriller. I also like how he adds the family element as well. The topic of this really got me thinking as well…what will eventually save our world and humankind? Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Blake Crouch has done it again! I have read only his more recent sci-fi thrillers, but they gripped me from start to finish, and this one is no different.

In Upgrade, Logan Ramsay is a member of the organization keeping genetic modifications under control. They can range from modified pets to weaponized viruses. After an incident on the job, Logan starts to notice changes, and has to delve into his own past to figure out what is really going on.

I love that the premises of his books are just on this side of believable, enough to be a little frightening and real. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I flew through it to find out what happened. The writing is fast-paced without leaving out too many details. My only critique is that the ending felt a bit abrupt. I really enjoyed thinking about the implications of the genetic upgrades that Crouch describes. Definitely a technological advance with far-reaching and ambiguous repercussions. I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next!

Upgrade is a scorcher of a summer thriller, asking us what we would do to save humanity from itself. Blake Crouch's new science fiction thriller focuses around a central question: what would you be willing to risk to save humanity from itself? Crouch has always proved himself as the master of the science fiction thriller that asks: should we? Upgrade is no different.

Logan Ramsay is trying to live his life outside of his mother's dark shadow, But after a near-death accident during a raid, he feels different. Quicker, smarter, more awake. He can remember the past in vivid detail, and he can remember everything he's ever read. Is he experiencing a fluke thing or is he just the first in a worldwide plan?

Another good, solid read from Blake Crouch. A lot of science stuff that I kind of glossed over at times but I was still able to follow the plot no problem. A lot of action and cliff hangers that kept me moving through this at a brisk pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 12, 2022.

Get ready for another page turner with Crouch’s, latest release, “Upgrade.” I have to be honest that I am not typically a reader of science fiction, yet “Dark Matter” is perhaps one of my favorite books of the last decade, and I liked Crouch so much, I immediately read “Recursion” and had high hopes for it. However, I felt let down a little. While I liked “Recursion” it didn’t quite have the same wow factor for me that “Dark Matter” did. It was missing something. So I wasn’t sure what to expect with this new book.

However, I quickly realized that whatever that missing spark was, ”Upgrade” had it and more. If you loved “Dark Matter,” you will love this book. If you didn’t read “Dark Matter” yet, read that and “Upgrade” immediately! I could hardly put this book down, and each chapter kept you on the edge of your seat revealing more surprises around each corner. It almost reads like a thriller but a thriller that makes you ponder some really huge questions about morality, and what it means to be human.

This book could capture anyone with how it blends so many timely topics into one novel: from concerns for the environment, to questions of ethics- it will make you think, and provide insight from multiple perspectives.

I found myself thinking about it for weeks afterward, which is often the mark of a book that really left its’ impact on me. If you’re looking for a good book to get lost in this summer, this is the one!

Thank you to Random House Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy that was provided for my review. I can’t wait to see what Crouch comes up with next.

This is a fascinating story set in the future where gene editing is a federal crime and the Gene Protection Agency (GPA) enforces the law. In the past gene editing was used to try to improve crops, but the process went horribly wrong and caused a massive food shortage. Society is in trouble, the environment is dying, and the world will not last another 25 years. Logan, a GPA agent whose mother's genetic work was behind the massive food shortage, tries to make things right, but is injected with a mysterious compound that changes him completely, "upgrading" his intellect and physical abilities. His mother believes that these "upgraded" people will be able to save the world. Logan disagrees, and there lies the conflict comprising the rest of the story. Lots of science bogs down the story a bit, but the action is exciting, the characters believable, and the writing superb. UPGRADE is the author's best book yet. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is my first book by Blake Crouch, and my first Sci Fi book in quite some time. I enjoyed Blake's writing style and found that it flowed easily. While there is a lot of scientific detail in this book I was able to keep up and understand it all, and it was written in such a way that I never lost interest. I was hooked from the moment I started reading - I liked the characters and the fictional world that seemed so much like the one we currently live in and yet light years different all at the same time. Logan is a man who feels very much like a Jack Reacher type of character, always wanting to do the right thing and able to do it easily. I enjoyed cheering him on and I loved the way his mind worked, especially after his upgrade. There was a very good twist near the end of the book that I had to stop and read twice to understand it. I love it when that happens! The description for this book claims it is 'Intimate in scale yet epic in scope' and I thoroughly agree with this. The end of the book gave me all the feels!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! Just wow. The first book I read by Crouch was Dark Matter. I've been looking for something that challenges my preconceived notions and completely surprised me just like that novel. Upgrade was just that! It is a wonderful sci-fi thriller. I was instantly engaged in the story. What is great is that despite the scientific nature of the story, it's wonderfully accessible. Crouch is incredibly insightful in his approach to the science and questions that are proposed through the story. In addition, I think the themes regarding improvements at the cost of humanity is a real issue and something that hugely applies to our world today.

In all, Upgrade had me thinking and in a magnificent brain hurt kind of way. Well done. I absolutely love it and this will definitely be a book I buy for my library, personal collection and one I will recommend to just about everyone I know.

Big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review Upgrade by Blake Crouch.

It's official. If Blake Crouch writes it, I will read it.

Did I love this book as much as Dark Matter? Nope.
Did I love this book as much as Recursion? Nope.
Did I still love this book? ABSOLUTELY!

Blake Crouch is a master at his craft and a true genius in my humble opinion. He has this way of bringing sci-fi to the masses that I haven't seen in other authors. In addition to writing a truly mind bending sci-fi novel, he's also sharing a STORY. This is a remarkable talent and truly special.

The premise of Upgrade isn't wholly original but it was still enthralling and Crouch found details and nuance that blew my mind.

Logan Ramsay has a sordid reputation being linked to his mother - the scientist who caused The Great Famine killing millions of people around the world. When he gets attacked at a raid and begins to notice major enhancements to his self, it quickly becomes clear he was targeted for a DNA upgrade. As Logan's strength, intelligence, memory, and entire self begin to transform into something nearly super human, Logan sets out to find answers to why he was selected for the upgrade and how to help save the human race from imploding.

DNA alteration is fascinating and honestly doesn't even feel that far off. I love books that are just a few clicks away from reality and Upgrade checks that box and then some.

Crouch really brings sci-fi to the masses. There are definitely parts that went WAY over my head and were too science-y for me to actually understand (or probably fully appreciate), but it didn't take away from the meat or the heart of the story.

The research and care that went into crafting this story was impeccable and it was a true joy to read. As with Crouch's other more recent sci-fi books Dark Matter and Recursion, I will definitely be recommending this to anyone willing to expand their mind and their bookshelves.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC of this! I continue to be absolutely obsessed with this author!

High energy science fiction thriller, this kept me sucked in from beginning to end! I don’t know much about the possibility of gene mutations, but the idea that it could be spread like a virus was uniquely horrifying. I will read anything Blake Crouch puts out.

Upgrade is my first Blake Crouch book and I was not disappointed! A perfect blend of dystopian sci-fi and thriller. Set in the not-too-distant future where lower Manhattan in under water and a famine has killed millions, Logan Ramsay works for the GPA, a government agency tasked with monitoring scientists whose work has been in gene modification, which is now illegal. Ramsay’s past and his family are directly linked to one of the world’s worst gene modifying disasters. After a raid on a potential lab leaves his injured, he begins to realize that his DNA has been modified and upgraded. Ramsay must find out who did this to him and what their plans are all the while running from the very agency he worked for and navigating his upgrade and what really makes us human.

Happy Pub Day to Upgrade by Blake Crouch! I love sci-fi and I love thrillers so I was really excited to get into this book. I haven't read Recursion despite it being on my TBR and kindle for over a year (I'll get to it, I swear!) so I didn't know what to expect from Crouch's writing. That said, I was so happily surprised! You can tell that he is so smart and puts a lot of research into his writing because not only is it gripping but it's so thorough as well. This was the best kind of thriller because it's just a bit off from reality so it actually becomes somewhat haunting. I'm so excited this book is now available because I can't wait to discuss it with people.

The story takes place in the mid twenty-first century, so only a few decades from now. Logan’s mother used to be a leading geneticist, and she used her knowledge to try to stop a crop failure in China… but it all went awry, and billions died. Since then, genetic modifications have been outlawed. Logan Ramsay, our main character, works for the GPA – Gene Protection Agency – which watches out for any potential genetic work being done “under the radar.”

Needless to say, there are definitely still scientists working on genetic modifications. And there are still consumers interested in buying their work for various reasons.

What Logan doesn’t anticipate is that his own mother, who supposedly died years ago, is still alive and still working on an intense set of modifications… to humans. After he is unwittingly modified, he finds out that his older sister was also given this same “upgrade.” They find their mother’s suicide note (video, in this case), and learn that she wants to enhance humanity’s intelligence so that humans have a shot at stopping climate change before it’s too late.

His sister, Kara, sides with their mother. Logan does not. Seeing as they are both enhanced – both mentally and physically – this sets the scene for some hard-fought battles.

In addition to all the action, there are various ethical questions at play. There is the obvious one of free will, and people being modified who didn’t necessarily want to. But also, the modifications don’t work on some people, and instead they become ill. So, how many people’s deaths are an acceptable amount of “collateral damage?” And do humans really need more intelligence, or do they need more empathy?

Upgrade by Black Crouch is a great sci-fi book that isn't too much science and futuristic content to be confusing for those of us who aren't sci-fi brained. This book is Outbreak meets The Matrix meets Bourne Identity. Fast pace, exciting, thought provoking...it hits all the marks! Great book that will leave you thinking for a while after you turn the last page!

Upgrade is a biotech thriller set in the near future written by Blake Crouch. Released 12th July by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a biotech thriller in the tradition of Crichton, M. R. Carey, and J. A. Konrath. It's not derivative at all, but fans of the aforementioned will fiind lots to like here. The story is fast paced, action driven, and engaging from the start. It's set in the near might-as-well-be-right-now future and readers will have no problems orienting themselves in the setting and story. There is some technical jargon and basic biology/tech concepts, but readers probably won't encounter problems with the terminology in context.

The language is occasionally rough, R-rated, and there are disturbing descriptions and story elements included in the story. The entire basic storyline - what is the essence of humanity and what can, and more importantly, should science do to and for mankind is thoroughly examined. I felt a deep sense of melancholy throughout much of the book. The denouement and resolution come as inevitable but satisfying. It's well written and engaging and well based in the science as we currently understand it.

Four stars. Definitely highly recommended for fans of SF/speculative biotech fiction.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

“What do you call a heart that is simultaneously full and breaking? Maybe there’s no word for it, but for some reason, it makes me think of rain falling through sunlight”

If you are looking for an epic sci-fi read, UPGRADE is your book. I feel like the intelligent and genius minds of the characters in this book is very contagious that I somehow understand all the combined alphabet, acronym, number sequencing and so fort during the reading experience. The science is undeniably great and Blake Crouch has magically created it to a point where everyone who read this, regardless of scientific background are gathered into one convention of understanding. The thriller-suspense factor was simmering right from the beginning making the book very hard to put down once started. I was rooting for his success and my heart just breaks at everything he has to give up in order to save humanity. My heart was racing, my tears are falling and my brain is at its capacity of smartness just because reading this book gives you a front row seat of experiencing an UPGRADE!

With fun and positivity considered and all that, I will be willing to be UPGRADED, provided that the genome I am getting will prevent me from gaining weight and making my brain think of many ways to be rich without working my ass off! Ha! Ha!

Overall, this is one great read! Thank you Penguin Random House, Ballantine Books via Netgalley, and PRHAudio for the complimentary copy for review. Henry Leyva on audio was wonderful! I highly recommend this book to all readers of any genre and ages!

Blake Crouch is a genius and this novel proves it once again! The technicality of the text and the fluidity of the writing make this an amazing book impossible to put down. The plot is ingenious and well handled. A few parts seem a bit incomplete or unfinished but they don’t detract from the overall story or the ideas it makes one ponder.

Another fun, entertaining, fast paced, sci-fi book from Blake Crouch. Another book I couldn’t put down! We have just begun with editing our genome or DNA with tools like CRISPR (if you have never heard of CRISPR, a quick internet search will provide you with pages of articles). But in the near future, newer technologies makes the science available to scientist everywhere. But just because you can create new species of animals or cure diseases or save humanity from itself, doesn’t mean you should.

"Upgrade" reads like a good, long, and highly worthwhile episode of "Black Mirror." Blake Crouch worked wonders for the multiverse in "Dark Matter" and time travel in "Recursion." Here he turns his thoughtful, dark take on scientific wonderment to our genetic future, with fantastic results.

Blake Crouch is a wonderful author and I was thrilled to be able to get an ARC of Upgrade. This novel takes place in the near future and focuses on gene-editing and manipulation.

The protagonist, Logan Ramsay, gets drawn into a plot that may impact the entire world if he cannot stop it. He is highly invested in doing just that...he knows who started it.

Every chapter adds more plot twists. The characters are well-designed and draw you in to the story.

I have enjoyed every book the author has written and I anxiously await the next.