Blake Crouch's novels Dark Matter, Recursion, and now Upgrade deal with urgent questions about the dangers of tampering with things best left alone. Upgrade is a near future story where things on earth have gone from bad to worse and our very existence is in imminent danger.

After a gene editing backfire caused The Great Starvation gene editing became federal crime but still goes on in rogue labs. Of course you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Some upgrades seem benign or even beneficial but in reality all have the potential to change the course of existence in unknown or catastrophic ways. Consider engineered pathogens or weaponized species. Who gets to decide what is good or bad when potential outcomes are unknowable. And what if there's no choice? It's an exciting ride.

With Upgrade, Blake Crouch has written another action packed, edge of your seat science fiction thriller that doesn't disappoint. I highly recommend you pick up Upgrade when it goes on sale next week, July 12th.

More good news, Amblin Partners have acquired the movie rights to Upgrade and Netflix will be producing its version of Recursion!

Thank you to Random House/Ballentine Books for a complimentary drc via Netgalley.

Logan Ramsay carries a famous last name, and not for good reasons. Logan and his mother, after a crop experiment using genetically modified locusts, caused the Great Hunger that killed 200 million people. After being released from jail, Logan goes to work for the GPA, making sure that gene editing never occurs again. But after an explosion in which he is targeted, Logan begins to change. He is stronger, faster, and much, much smarter. He can remember in detail everything he’s ever read. He can learn languages quickly. It appears his genome has been hacked. Suddenly the GPA is after him.

This is an intriguing sci-fi/medical thriller. In the first half of the book, it is fascinating to watch Logan change and learn what he can do next. When the GPA turns on him, Logan goes on the run with an unexpected companion, and their adventure is compelling and a definite nailbiter. The ways that they evade their pursuers and the things they discover are fascinating. At home, the effect on Logan’s family is heartbreaking. The book began to slow down for me at about 70%, and it got a bit bogged down in “DNA upgrades.” It is still a very compelling story with a dynamic and heart-stopping conclusion.

I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

WOW. I was already a fan of the scientific, thoughtful plots that Blake always seems to nail, but this one is even more impactful in the backdrop of today's society. The events take place in an unspecific future that doesn't feel so far out of reach, and the action that plays out feels like it could show up in the next blockbuster movie. I'll be thinking about this novel for a while. Thank you to #NetGalley for my copy!

Thanks to @netgalley for a copy of this to read and review. Upgrade comes out on Tuesday (it was also a #bookofthemonth choice). I loved the other two Blake Crouch books that I read a few years ago.

Logan is present during a bio explosion during his work at the Gene Protection Agency. He ends up in isolation while he heals to make sure he hasn’t caught any sort of contagious disease. Soon he is cleared from the hospital and sent home, but Logan notices things start to feel sharper. Logan’s genome has been hacked and upgrade, to make test a new better human race. Soon he is the only one that can stop this from happening to everyone.

This book was a little different from the other books that I read as that it has more of a genetic engineering focus. It was wonderfully written and I couldn’t put it down. It was different from other books that I have read. Be warned it was a very heavy read. It definitely lives up to the hype and my love of Dark Matter and Recursion.

4.25 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an e-arc in exchange for a review. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but give me a Blake Crouch book and I'm there.

Upgrade follows Logan Ramsey, a man who works for the Gene Protection Agency - a job he takes mostly out of guilt - when he is targeted with an upgrade that completely changes his DNA.

Although at times I felt very disconnected to Logan (à la how I felt about Paul in Dune), the general themes and message in this novel really hit home for me. As a BME student, I really ate up the science aspect. Although the middle made me a little bored, overall I was definitely engaged and felt very emotionally connected to the ending and epilogue. I also did end up reading this in one sitting so I definitely liked it!

I'm a huge Blake Crouch fan. I think he always covers really fascinating topics in a thrilling way that keeps me interested. Similar to his other books, I loved the concept behind this one. I was quickly hooked and wanted to learn more. This is the kind of book that makes you think, what if.... and it makes you question your own ethics. I did find that I started to lose interest in the second part of the book, but the third part got me right back into it. I was also so impressed by the epilogue of this book. The second part was where there was a lot of DNA info-dumping which may or may not appeal to you based on how interested in the science you are! If you're a fan of Blake Crouch, you won't be disappointed.

This was my first Blake Crouch novel and while I found it very entertaining and interesting, sci-fi is just not really for me. I also found the science parts to be so overly confusing and not dumbed down enough for the average reader. I"m not dumb by any means but I found myself skipping whole sections about genes that I didn't understand that seemed to only be a flex of knowledge. The story itself was entertaining, and a quick read.

Blake Crouch's newest noel has improved upon his raft in every single form.

While Crouch is most known for his exploration of interesting (sometimes questionably aurate) scientific concepts my one complaint of his works has often been the development of his characters. Logan is his most realied character yet grappling with trauma, humanity, and familial love throughout the novel in a way that can't help but invoke emotions in the reader. This has definitely made Crouch one of my auto-read if not an auto-buy author. I can't wait to see what he puts out next.

This was such an exciting, thought-provoking book. I really enjoyed it, thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the early copy!
*
Synopsis: Logan Ramsay works for the Gene Protection Agency, investigating and raiding illegal gene modification labs. Until one raid, he's caught in a viral IED, and within weeks is noticing differences in his physical, mental, and cognitive abilities. He's been "upgraded", but who did it to him and why? *
I flew through this in two days. I found it to be very accessible for someone who often gets lost in sci-fi books, with great characters and a really exciting plot. It was also thought-provoking in terms of thinking about moral relativity, and what sacrifices can be accepted for the greater good.
*
My only negative was the epilogue. I really liked how the majority of the book operated in this moral gray area, where you can see an argument for both sides. But the epilogue chose a side, and I think that could have been left a bit more open-ended. My own preference, others may disagree. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book and I would definitely recommend!

Blake Crouch never disappoints! His books always keep you on the edge of your seat and you can’t read fast enough! Upgrade was just as good, if not better, than his previous books!

I absolutely loved Recursion, so to also enjoy this as much is quite a feat. Sci-fi/fantasy are not my preferred genres but there’s just something unique about BC’s writing that pulls me in. Upgrade is thought provoking and makes you question the consequences surrounding genetics. BC has written a stellar fictitious story.. a “what if”.. showing how it can affect life as we know it when put in the wrong hands. In his latest book (pub. 7/12/22) all of humanity is at stake and it’s a gripping fight between two opposing sides — brother and sister, good and evil.. giving me all the feels, chills, and my heart racing in what felt like a thousand miles a minute. It’s gripping and unpredictable in the best way! 4.5 stars

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

Wow!! What an absolute ride this book was. This was my first book by this author and now I need to read his others as well!

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is another mind bending science fiction which only he can imagine. The plot of this story will sound a lot like Limitless, the Bradley Cooper movie, where an ordinary man gets an upgrade and can do incredible things with mind and body, but that is only the first act. Blake Crouch's story's always start so simple then expand and this one is no different. The story is action packed, yet super smart. I like how it shows how cool getting and upgrade is but then the detachment of being so smart. It also ask questions if would the world work better if we were all super smart, or would we find smarter ways to kill each other? The novel takes family dysfunction to the max. The ending is really smart and was perfect for what the novel was hoping to achieve. There is some nice twist and turns that caught me off guard. The only thing that did not work for me was that I lack empathy for the villain and the story was trying to give them it. There were too many moments where I was told about something than saw it. This is my third Blake Crouch novel, while I didn't like Upgrade as much as Dark Matter and Recursion, which I both rated 5 out of 5, I still really liked it and how unique the story telling is. I would like to think Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for reaching out through email and letting me download it through Netgalley. Upgrade by Blake Crouch is published on July 12th 2022.

Plot Summary: Logan Ramsey works for the GPA - Gene Protection Agency that deal with people who manipulate genes. Logan was once a criminal who worked with his mom Marion Ramsey who is infamous for making a a near famine in changing an insects genes. Logan has been winning his freedom back ever since. In his current case he tries to stop a gene slicer but walks into a trap that sets off an explosion where his environmental suit is pierced and he is infected with an upgrade. The upgrade is slow acting so he recovers with out the doctor and his own agency knowing. He starts getting smarter, healing faster, incredible memory, more physical, and all senses enhanced. He tries to hide it from his agency, who will see him as the enemy and also find out who upgrade him. He finds out who upgraded him and that he is not the only one. When he finds out he has to decide if he will save the world or destroy it, or maybe both?

What I Liked: The plot goes to that crazy level that Crouch is known for. The action scenes are pretty intense and really long, but great. There's three main action scenes and are really cool when described using the new upgraded abilities. The danger of science versus science will be our savior made a really good argument through out the novel. There is a couple of plot twists that I rally didn't see coming that were fun to see them played out. The ending was perfect and was a kind of compromise to the whole science is enemy and/or the savior.

What I Disliked: The connection and the empathy Logan had for the villain was not felt by me. They would say remember when this happened instead of have a memory of it. I think this novel should have started with a flashback that showed the family and also science and how deeply they are connected.

Recommendation: This is a good novel that will make you ask the question what would you do in this situation? The story is great science fiction that will bend your mind a little. I ill say this novel is my least favorite of the 3 that I have read, but I will say this is the most accessible of his books. It's mind bending but not as far as dark matter and recursion go. I rated Upgrade by Blake Crouch 4 out of 5 stars.

I was really excited for this one as I have Dark Matter & Recurssion and have always heard great reviews. I really enjoyed branching out with a sci-fi thriller as it was a nice change of pace from the psychological/domestic ones I gravitate towards. This was just too “sciencey” for me and I felt like lots of the jargon went over my head. Parts just felt too repetitive because it was continuing to talk about sequencing and DNA. I still think this is just to be a huge hit!

If you could "upgrade" your body and mind for a superior shift would you? Crouch takes us into a near futuristic world where upgrading your body is against the law and dangerous! But that doesn't stop the scientists and Logan slowly begins to see his body shift for the better! What will be the final result?

I believe this is labeled sci-fy, but I would suggest its more of a scientific thriller that is light enough on the science for laymen like me to be able to follow and stay with the storyline!

A very fast paced book that had me turning pages late into the night to a point that I finished this in a day and a half! A book I would give my teenage boy who enjoys genetics, coding, cloning, science and the idea of "what if" and "where can science take us".

Thank you go Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advance e-copy.

Blake Crouch is an auto read author for me even though his concepts quite frequently go over my head. In Upgrade, it was a lot easier for me to picture and follow than his other books making it my favorite of his work.

I think this one would make an awesome movie!

This sci-fi thriller explores gene editing as a way to change human behavior to address climate change and the approaching disastrous repercussions. A family of gene manipulators create a way to upgrade humans by altering their DNA to make marked improvements both physically and mentally, but this is both highly illegal and possibly unethical. When the brother, who works for the Gene Protection Agency, butts heads with his sister who would like to upgrade the world despite a high fatality rate, it becomes a battle of whose upgrades will win out. Readers will be engaged by the fast paced plot, though some will struggle with the technical gene science contained within. Some might call this cli-fi due to its core motivating premise of finding a solution to resolve climate catastrophe.

This will probably be my last attempt at reading a Blake Crouch book. His books are quick to get through, but are lacking in depth. I don't like his characters, especially the main ones. His writing isn't for me. All the science jargon is just dumped in without being explained well. Overall, this author isn't for me, but if you typically like his books, you'll probably like this one.

#Upgrade, the newest novel by Blake Crouch, has an inventive plot with well-thought-out downstream actions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dystopian thriller/sci-fi novel (shout out to #netgalley for the advance reader copy!), and I'll confess to being a diehard Blake Crouch fan since I first came across the Wayward Pines book series.

No spoilers here, but I will say I relished traveling along side the main character as he underwent changes and navigated obstacles. The story was compelling enough that I continued to think about it when I was away from the book, wanted to talk about it with friends, and continued to "what if" after finishing the book.

A great read for Blake Crouch fans, as well as readers who enjoy some sci-fi in their thrillers.

You say Blake Crouch, I say preorder. As a huge Blake Crouch fan and lover of Dark Matter (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) and Recursion (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️), I knew I had to get this book in my hands ASAP. Huge thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

Logan Ramsey got an upgrade…but there’s a catch. Yes he can read faster, comprehend better, remember more, and sleep less…but along with these new powers he is faced with the decision of whether to save humanity and suffer the consequences or sit back and do nothing. Without him, it’s not a matter of if homo sapiens will become extinct, it’s a matter of when. This book is a fast-paced, page-turner that will keep you guessing and contemplating our very existence with every page.

I go into every Crouch book fully prepared for my brain to get a workout. Upgrade did not disappoint! While it’s clear that Crouch did extensive research in developing the storylines for this novel (as we’ve come to expect with all his books), I found the plot points in Upgrade easier to digest than previous works I’ve read by Crouch (who knows, maybe I received an upgrade somewhere along the way, too).

If you’re a fan of Crouch and hoping that this book lives up to its predecessors, it definitely does.

Disturbingly thought-provoking and surprisingly moving, a must read!