I may enjoy some of Crouch’s books more than others, but he’s never disappointed me and is easily one of my auto-buy authors. I always know I’m in for a mind-bending, thrill ride of a read.

Logan Ramsay’s genius scientist mother was responsible for the starvation of two hundred million people after an engineered virus went horribly wrong. He was also on the team, and as a way of paying penance, Logan now works for the Gene Protection Agency responsible for policing gene editing. After an explosion at a raid, Logan learns his genome has been hacked. He’s received some kind of genetic upgrade resulting in him being better at, well, everything.

I won’t reveal too much to avoid spoilers, but trust me when I say you’ll feel a lack of intelligence at certain points of this novel. Crouch dives deep into genetic detail, which I didn’t completely understand of course, but I’ve always had an interest in the topic since high school biology. Although much of the science may leave you scratching your head, you’ll get the gist of what’s happening and that’s the important thing. Upgrade may be a sci-fi novel, but it focuses on real world problems and makes points that may keep you up at night.

This would be a perfect book club selection and will spark discussion about what it means to be human, the human genome, and rationality versus emotion. The story requires the reader’s full attention, and you’ll find yourself contemplating some of the ideas within it. I was thrilled at the inclusion of an epilogue, and it presents a highly thought-provoking theory that’s still bouncing around in my head.

I can’t recommend Crouch’s books enough. They’re a must for sci-fi fans, and I can’t wait for his next riveting concept.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was the first book that I read by Blake Crouch and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I won’t go into details, but the plot was interesting and scary at the same time because it is something that could possibly happen in the future. The story does have a lot of scientific concepts, but the author makes it very easy to follow along. From what I see, a lot of people like Dark Matter and Recursion from the same author, so I am excited to read his other novels.

At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little ....better.. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep. But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in a whole new way. The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy. Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost. Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human. Even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

I am usually a fan of this author's works, but this one just didn't cut it for me. The first chapter or so started out with a bang, and I thought I would really enjoy the book, but then it went downhill from there. I think a lot of it was just because the novel used so much science - biological and chemical. Science was definitely not my strong point in school and so a lot of this went right over my head, which took away from a lot of the enjoyment of the book. The book has gotten overwhelmingly great reviews from other readers, so take my review with a grain of salt. This won't deter me from reading his books in the future, but this will definitely go down as my least favorite of all of his books.

why my nose was in this book:
blake crouch stories are intimidating for me. i've had my fair share of almost DNF moments, but kept going out of curiosity and stubbornness, and i always had that aha! moment when everything clicks and makes sense
this time around, the themes were relatable and easy to follow within their unique complexities, which made the story fly by
his stories are like 1,000 piece puzzles and it's always a fun challenge figuring it out along the way
I love that his stories make me think on a deeper level
the theme of humanity - giving everyday humans the capabilities to be their best self was fascinating and thought provoking
the theme of family vs. career success made for an intriguing discussion
Overall, I love how his stories (particularly this one) brings a fresh perspective to the table in the form of an idea subtly relevant to current world events layered in with the dangers of human selfishness in the name of bettering our planet

I don’t usually read science fiction, but I loved Crouch’s Recursion when I stretched my typical reading genres and borrowed it from Boston Public Library a few years ago. I was so excited to get an ARC of Upgrade, his latest which publishes tomorrow, 7/12, from the Random House Ballantine Books folks via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The premise of Upgrade is absolutely frightening - in the not-too-distant future, scientists are experimenting with gene manipulation and editing in order to “upgrade” human beings. Logan is unintentionally upgraded - his IQ and emotional intelligence both increase dramatically, as physically his bones solidify and his muscles strengthen. Is that what all humans need to evolve?
Crouch is able to write science fiction with a lot of science-filled details, but it still seems approachable and understandable to the average reader. And with a thriller-based plotline, Upgrade is exciting to read (as quickly as possible). I especially enjoyed the ending.

The galley was incomplete - missing pages. I read this for our upcoming subscription box and it did not disappoint. This is my first time reading him and this sci fi thriller has made him one of my go to authors. We all need an upgrade.

Blake Crouch has done it again. He takes a wild and scientific idea and makes a thriller out of it.

Logan Ramsay is the protagonist and we find him first working for the entirely plausible Gene Protection Agency to police those who tamper with genetics.

This book is action packed with a villain (Logan’s super genius mom that tried to fix world hunger but actually caused a famine that killed millions) that isn’t your typical villain as they think they are helping the human race by upgrading human DNA to be better. Logan has been upgraded against his will and forced to deal with it in a world that is coming close to destroyed by humans.

Even if you’re not into science and you have no idea of the dizzying array of genes that make up your DNA (some explained in this book), you are still able to follow and enjoy the ride of this book. And, if you’re like me, you start down the rabbit hole of reading more about the sheer magnitude of genes, DNA, etc.

The book brings some existential questions to the foreground. Because medical companies ARE messing with genetics and DNA and some of them even hold patents on people’s DNA (see: Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa gene). Would we be better off being changed? Would the world be better?

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC.

Audiobook/Book Review
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
@BlakeCrouch1
Pub date: July 12, 2022
Narrated by: Henry Leyva
Duration: 9H 48M

I’m a huge fan of Blake Crouch, and although most of his books are hugely science based, I never feel so lost in the technology/vocabulary that I don’t understand what’s happening.

In Upgrade, he directs his writing skills at gene editing and what a phenomenal story this is. I was both intrigued and terrified at the same time.

The main character, Logan Ramsay works for the Gene Protection Agency, the GPA, but his history with genetic editing goes much further back, back to a time when his mother almost destroyed the world with her hubris when she initiated a global famine. Now Logan works against those that would play God by illicit genetic editing. While on a mission, though, Logan is purposely exposed to a genetic upgrade via a virus and his life will be forever changed from that very moment. A twisty game of cat and mouse ensues and it is an action-packed deep dive into the world of genetics.

There’s no doubt that this is a thrilling sci-fi that held me in its thrall but it is hugely character driven, as well. The character of Logan is one that I immediately became invested in. He’s a good guy trying to do the right thing even when the right thing hurts him the most. I rooted for him all the way to the *almost* end and this is where he went from hero to anti-hero for me. And I’m ok with this because I believe there’s a lesson to be learned here.

Henry Leyva narrated this story and he did not disappoint. His voice has a wide-ranging timbre with a pace that moves effortlessly between chapters, bringing the story to life.

Blake Crouch has written another phenomenal story that I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come and I hope everyone with an interest in this genre/subject gives it a read.

Upgrade is exactly what I've come to expect from Blake Crouch - fast paced, exciting, relatable science, unputdownable. Upgrade is probably my second favorite Crouch book after Dark Matter. It has likely solidified a spot on my top books of the year!

This was my first Blake Crouch book- a NetGalley ARC. I’ve seen the Wayward Pines TV series and thought it was pretty good so I gave this one a shot.

So, this really wasn’t my kind of book at all, but I am also not the target audience for this book. Even though it was totally out of my comfort zone, I was still interested enough to finish.

The biggest strength of this book was in the characters. The story is told in first person by the narrator, Logan Ramsey. I really liked Logan and found him to be realistic and well written. He also explains a lot of the scientific/genetic/engineering stuff well enough to understand, but at times it does feel a little like a text book.

The setting is post-apocalyptic kinda- like the world hasn’t ended, but it’s pretty ravaged and not as we know it today. This is the result of a famine and the fallout of that famine. There is much mention of climate change, compassion fatigue, and what is best or right for others. The book has a good message, ultimately, and I think most people are going to love this. Especially those who love things like Black Mirror or other futuristic scientific fiction. Pub day is coming up on 7/12/22!

Upgrade draws you in from the first page. This fast-paced, well-written story is full of twists and turns that turns mysterious, fascinating, and deeply moving, all while exploring the very nature of what it means to be human.

I love Blake Crouch always! He is a fantastic writer and his stories are always so captivating and through-provoking! Upgrade is no exception! Definitely recommend to anyone that is new to Sci-Fi or a tried and true fan!

You think a contagious disease is scary? What about a contagion that alters your DNA? This is like GMOs on steroids! Sure they might tell you that it will make you stronger, smarter, better looking (ha!), or whatever, but they are changing the foundation that makes you YOU! And, to whose benefit is this change being made? And like always, is the power being used for good altruistic reasons? These are the questions that float throughout this incredibly engaging, sometimes frightening, but always thought provoking dystopian story. Rarely will I say that I wish a book were longer. Too many authors these days seem to write for word quantity versus quality, but I really would have liked more background on Logan and his family. I didn't even remember that he had a sister! And while this story was dealing with Logan and his reaction to being genetically altered, there was so much we never got to know about so many things. I wanted to know! The resulting story would not have been as taut and stress hormone inducing, but the world being built throughout this story was one I wanted to know more about (albeit through fingers covering my eyes in fright). If you want to read a "oh sh!t this really could happen!" fright of a book, cancel your plans and pick this one up!

With his latest novel using his similar formula, Blake Crouch releases his best yet. I found my eyes zooming along to find out what was to become of the main character. At first, Logan Ramsey is tricked into the biological change of his body. As he becomes more used to the changes in his mind and physicality, Logan realizes he must find out why he was targeted for this metamorphosis and what is the big picture from the research that made it happen. Crouch has really lassoed me this time with the science fiction subgenre of biotechnology, and with it he will possibly grab readers of super hero stories, zombie fiction, and medical ethics. The details of the medicine and dna research are easily grasped even though they seem like intense biology. Like in his last two novels, the author uses a small amount of side characters, but they have strong relationships. The way he manages to finish is the best update of the last few books he has written. He has slowed down the end and kept it from becoming a big snowball like in the past. I highly enjoyed Upgrade and look for his next work to be even finer.

Read if you like:
⬗ Sci-fi/thriller hybrids
⬗ Action packed plot lines
⬗ Post apocolyptic settings
⬗ Geneticism

Summary: Logan Ramsey, son of the brilliant genetic scientist Miriam Ramsey, is an officer with the Gene Protection Agency GPA) created to stop gene editing in the post apocalyptic society following the Great Starvation. When Logan is injected with a gene mutation virus, he begins to notice drastic changes in his cognitive abilities with IQ increased from 118 to over 200 and can now turn off his emotions at will. As the Upgrade takes hold, Logan is no longer the man he was. But why has this happened? And how far is the individual behind the Upgrade willing to go and for what purpose?

Thoughts: Wow. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of science fiction, I am always reticent when I start a book labeled as sci-fi. After enjoying Dark Matter, I wasn’t quite as nervous heading into Upgrade since Blake Crouch tends to write more thriller leaning sci-fi that is more accessible for those who don’t have a science minded brain.

While this book was action packed from start to finish, it was the overall message that made this a win for me. Crouch asks the big questions here. What does it mean to be human? What are we lacking as human beings that we are unable to see our inevitable destruction? And what cost are we willing to bear to save our species and the planet. “We were a monstrous, thoughtful, selfish, sensitive, fearful, ambitious, loving, hateful, hopeful species. We contain within us the potential for great evil but also for great good and we were capable of so much more than this.” This examination of our species and what we need to do to save it, will leave you thinking about this book and his words, long after you finish reading.

I also have to say, the technical writing in this one deserves at least a star or two all on it’s own. The discussions around geneticism, cell mutations, viruses and how they replicate, is incredibly thorough and added tremendously to the overall story.

Whether or not you like science fiction, go give this one a read. It is a wild ride of a thriller that will leave you thinking about who we are as a collective, our species, and what may happen if we don’t change the status quo soon.

Just as good as I expected! This is a fun and fast-paced sci-fi read in the same vein as Dark Matter and Recursion. If you enjoyed either of those, you should enjoy this too.

This is the type of science fiction where I don't really understand the science and I'm not really convinced anything is remotely feasible, but I enjoy the ride nonetheless.

I'm sure a lot of people (myself included) have imagined at some point about getting an "upgrade," so it was fun to read about some of the positives and negatives of what that could look like.

No spoilers, but I thought the conclusion was perfection.

I have heard so many people on podcasts and social media rave about Blake Crouch and his books Dark Matter and Recursion. I am not often drawn to science fiction, but thought I would give it a try when I saw Upgrade was available on NetGalley. I was excited to get the Advance Reader Copy ebook since I knew it would be one of the most talked about books of the summer. I was drawn in pretty quickly and enjoyed the development of Logan Ramsey as the protagonist. The technical aspect of the gene adaptation that is the undercurrent of the book was a bit too much for me, but I was able to skim those parts and stay engaged. My favorite part os the book were the examination into Logan's thoughts and his reflections on his past. I struggled a little bit with the way the culmination of the book and would have liked more detail in the conclusion. If you like science fiction and do not mind it being intense, then Upgrade is a good choice.

I don't know what I can say that will add to the many reviews of this oddly plausible work of science fiction except that I really enjoyed it. Genetic modification and its implications drive the action but there's a definite component of compassion and morality. Logan is the everyman who becomes a hero after his own upgrade is tested. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A real page turner that will appeal to fans across a range of genres.

I really need to go ahead and read everything Blake Crouch has ever written, don't I? I absolutely devoured Recursion last year, and while I didn't *quite* love Upgrade as much, I still really really liked it and found it to be a solid, thought-provoking, and entertaining novel.

"The future was here, and it was a fucking mess."

I mean, is anyone surprised? In this plausible, nay, probable future, humans have basically destroyed the planet. So that tracks. Then, this genius lady thought she could mess with DNA and whoopsie, annihilated millions of people. Our main character is her son, who, to atone for his role in his mother's mess, works for an agency created to police the tampering with of genetics. Sounds good. Until... he ends up having his genes messed with, and finds himself with this titular upgrade.

As you can imagine, this book asks a lot of great questions on morality, especially in terms of science and technology. Just because we can do something, should we? The majority of Logan's life has been spent answering this with a resounding "no", after seeing the results of his mother's handiwork. The problem is, the world is headed toward implosion, and people are doing nothing at all to stop it.

So we the reader journey alongside Logan as he is forced against his will to answer these most impossible questions of humanity. If I had any qualms, and they're ever so slight, it would be that I wanted to feel a bit more connected to Logan, but the truth is, I probably couldn't. I could never imagine what it would be like to not only be in his situation, but have the actual processing power far beyond that of a typical human. Frankly, I am just not smart enough to hang out with Logan.

I don't want to say much else, because this is a journey you're going to want to take for yourselves, and going into any more detail about the plot will ruin things. I will say that Logan will face more morality based decisions than any human should have to face, and he will have to sacrifice a lot to try to do what he feels is right. And the stakes simply could not be higher- it's the whole world's fate in his hands.

Bottom Line: Such an amazing and thought-provoking premise, I thoroughly enjoyed this ride!

4.5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by Blake Crouch, and it definitely won’t be the last!

Logan Ramsay is about to walk into a situation that will forever change his life. After an explosion that lands him in the hospital, he learns that he has been infected with an unknown virus that has modified his genetic structure. But rather than deteriorate his health, he finds that his mind has gotten sharper, smarter…essentially he has been upgraded. He knows he has been given these abilities for a reason, and now he must prevent the virus from falling into the wrong hands.

Overall, I found this book to be surprisingly easy to read. Even with all of the biological/scientific jargon, everything was explained so thoroughly that I never once found myself distracted from the story itself. In fact, it intrigued me even more! The writing also flowed really well, and I found myself finishing the book rather quickly. I honestly couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend and I can’t wait to read more from Blake Crouch!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing a copy of this book to review.*