"We don't have an intelligence problem. We have a compassion problem. That, more than any other single factor, is what's driving us toward extinction."

Logan's genome has been hacked, making him sharper. He can concentrate more, his memory has improved and he needs less sleep. Everything about him has improved. He's been upgraded. There's a bigger plan in motion and it's putting the world at risk and Logan is one of the only people that can help.

Blake Crouch does it again with this action packed futuristic science fiction novel. Upgrade is a clever and engaging story that covers some controversial/thought provoking themes; should gene modification be allowed for the sake of humanity or not? The story was a little heavy at times on the science aspect of genetics but it didn't take away from the overall story for me. Another must read from Crouch.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the privilege of reading this book.


For some reason I always find myself rooting against the protagonist in Blake Crouch’s books.
Logan Ramsay makes for an interesting main character.
In the beginning of the book, I felt an emotional connection to him and then again at the end but through the middle I was rooting for him to fail.
I don’t know if this is intended or if I just have a different philosophy on life.

I loved how Crouch shows us the science and benefits of DNA adaptation and upgrades, but also shows how the upgrade might cause negative issues for the upgraded individuals.
The science in the book was so interesting and it did show that with DNA becoming easier to manipulate that we may screw things up.

The pacing in Upgrade was great and this is definitely the best written book of his so far that I have read.
It makes me want to read more of his books.
Give it a go this is a great summer read!

**Will be posted on Goodreads 2 weeks prior to pub date (6/28), per publisher guidelines.**

Imagine suddenly being smarter, stronger, faster and have a perfect memory to boot. Logan Ramsey works for the GPA (Gene Protection Agency). While on a mission, he gets hit with an ice bomb that alters his genetic code. What results from this genetic mutation is some sort of super human - he’s still Logan, but every ability has been amplified…even the capability to compartmentalize his feelings. We follow Logan as he uncovers who did this to him, why, and what it means for the world as he knows it…which is in a bit of a dismal, apocalyptic-state, by the way. He needs to save the world, but how? What is right and what is wrong? Upgrade, by Blake Crouch, would provide for a great book club discussion.

Upgrade, is for anyone ready for a wild genetic ride. There is a lot of description about the body, DNA, genetic code, and science. Not surprising for this genre, but I did get lost in the medical/science jargon multiple times. I found myself wondering if someone with a medical background might have more appreciation for the detailed work and research that Crouch must have done in the writing of Upgrade. The beginning of the novel was easy to jump right into, which is part of what makes Crouch’s novels appealing to the non-typical sci-fi reader, like me. The middle of the novel drug a little bit for me, but the end picks up, and then there’s the epilogue! I wavered between 3 and 4 stars through the back half of the book, but the epilogue sealed the 4th star.

Dark Matter is still my favorite Blake Crouch novel (I haven’t read Recursion yet), but Upgrade was a great read. It is no doubt thought provoking. I found myself thinking about the story long after I put it down.

Special thanks to Ballantine Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

I’ve know read all of Blake Crouch’s work as I’m such a fan of his writing. Upgrade was definitely Interesting. I loved the setting and how the story moved around the country. The ending was superb, as was the message. There were parts of the story though that I was unsure what the point was. In his other books, there was more plot twists as the book went on but this felt pretty flat for a lot of it. I’ll still recommend it though!

I was provided a free ARC of this book by @netgalley and @randomhouse in exchange for my honest review.
My first experience with @blakecrouch1 was Dark Matter, and I literally forced a few friends and family to read it because it blew my mind, and I had to talk about it with more people! This one I will definitely be doing similar for (here's your warning)! 😁
Set in a (hopefully distant) future where the world is wrecked by famine and flooding, but with major technological advances, Logan is tasked with catching scientists who may be seeking to alter genomes. After one mission goes wrong, he is assured by his agency that nothing in his DNA had been altered. But as time passes, he's not so sure that's quite right! As more and more changes occur Logan starts to realize he was targeted for reasons that go back to his past! And, this was not a one off occurrence but the first step in a much bigger plan the could affect the whole world! But, will this plan have the desired effect? Is it the only option to save humanity? Which way will he decide to go?
This is definitely a suspenseful read. As a lowly human from 2022, I was trying to catch up with the new ways of the world, catch on to what new advancements had been made, and trying to look around Logan's shoulder everywhere he went to make sure he was safe! I did think the world building was very well done and believable. At times I struggled with Logan's likeability, but, without giving too much away, that was kinda part of the point.
This one could definitely lead to some interesting discussions if it was read in a group!
I really enjoyed it and was so excited to read it that I bumped it ahead of some other ARCs I need to read! It is set to be published 12 July 22, so you'll have to wait a little bit, but it will be worth the wait!
#Upgrade #NetGalley

I've been a fan of Blake Crouch for several years now. I LOVED Dark Matter.

Upgrade was a little more challenging for me, mostly because I felt like some of the gene modification talk was over my head. However, I did find the plot of this book very interesting. I really liked diving into the differing ideas of how best to save humanity through genetic upgrades and the rollercoaster that takes us on. I think that this book really picked up for me with the action in the last third and the epilogue was my favorite part (even made me tear up a little)! I love the way that Crouch can still manage to weave in a small love story even in a book heavy on the sci-fi.

"...it makes me think if rain falling through sunlight." 😭


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Blake Crouch's novels just keep getting better and better. This was a perfect read to devour on vacation, an excellent mix of science fiction and thrilling mystery. The amount of research Crouch must have done for this novel shows, while still being accessible to the everyday reader. The story pulls you along, but also gives you plenty of food for thought. I will be thinking about that ending for a while. And I will be pitching Upgrade as a candidate for our book club next year.

As much as I've loved Blake Crouch in the past, this book was a miss for me. The concept is timely and poignant, and overall well developed. However, the main character has a serious case of Mary Sue (or Gary Stu). Fans of modern sci-fi will appreciate the realism of this book, but unfortunately it just wasn't my taste.

Another amazing novel by Blake Crouch. I would read anything he writes. This was so well executed and written. It's hard to say which of his books are my favorite.

An excellent fast-paced sci-fi thriller with a poignant emotional touch. Logan suddenly and unexpectedly discovers that his DNA has been “upgraded” resulting in enhanced features that seem too good to be true. Crouch’s novel has humanity and family intertwined with all this science and action, which drew me in for an entertaining yet thought provoking ride.

“We don’t have an intelligence problem we have a compassion problem. If there’s a solution, it has to lie in rescuing us from our ambivalence. Our apathy.”

I graciously received an advance copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

I love Blake’s books so when I saw this I was utterly excited! My favorite is still Dark matter but I give this one four stars it was a good read! His books are a lot of science part of sci-do though so it really gives your brain a work out. I feel for some reason to read these books to need to have full concentration and attention to fully enjoy his books. I feel like I don’t want to explain to much to give anything away or to much information. All I can say is you need to read this book! You won’t regret it Blake doesn’t disappoint!

I didn't really find this book interesting or challenging. This was basically the same ol same ol.
The author has done better. I really don't think he was focused when he wrote this. or maybe he is putting too many quickly written books out.

I have read everything by Blake Crouch and this is by far his best. I will be thinking about the possibilities and ramifications of genetic enhancement for a very long time...

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC!
I unfortunately DNFed this book at about 25% of the way in. This isn't a bad book, it's just not my cup of tea. I've loved the other Blake Crouch novels I have read, but this particular one wasn't a match. This almost reads like a blockbuster action movie but with more introspection, which I think a lot of people will really like. However, that style is not my favorite. The book seemed well researched, it brought up some difficult questions about how far we should push ourselves and nature, and possible repercussions if something goes wrong. I would definitely recommend the author though, as I've enjoyed his other sci-fi/thriller books.

Logan Ramsey is the son of Miriam Ramsey, the brilliant geneticist who caused The Great Starvation after releasing gene-modified insects to eradicate some other insects responsible for eating rice. Now, he works for the Gene Protection Agency, a government organization that works to ensure genomes are left intact by "erasing" geneticists. He survives the explosion of some type of device that shreds his hazmat suit during a raid. Soon, it become clear that his genome has been hacked, he is stronger, smarter; he has been upgraded. And then he discovers that his sister was stung by some type of wasp so she, too, is now upgraded. Together, they determine their mother is still alive and working to "upgrade" all of humanity. She thinks there is a coming event that will kill off humanity. On the other hand, her upgrades will also kill billions of people whose genome cannot withstand the trauma of it. This is a really interesting book. Blake Crouch is making a name for himself writing dystopian future SF.

Upgrade is exactly what I wanted and needed it to be. I wanted something escapist and page turning, and just like Dark Matter and Recursion, Upgrade delivered. It's outlandish, unbelievable, and jumps the shark, but I enjoyed it. This is another sci-fi page turner that somehow doesn't quite feel like sci-fi. This one deals with a new technology that can alter human genes with catastrophic consequences. It's also a family story and that was one of my favorite things about it. This releases July 12th and I definitely recommend it if you liked his other books. If you haven't tried them yet, even if sci-fi isn't your thing, I recommend giving it a try for some ideal summer reading.

I rarely read science fiction but for Blake Crouch I make an exception! He has a way of making me forget it's sci-fi and instead just telling a beautiful story. Full of intrigue, mystery and just jaw dropping! So well written and chockful of surprises!

"Upgrade" by Blake Crouch was a great novel! The story takes place sometime in the near future and is about a man named Logan Ramsay. Scientists are being watched closely, and no gene science is allowed, mostly due to Logan's mother, who released what she believed would help the food chain and it backfired. Logan receives an "upgrade" without his permission, and so does his sister. The book follows him and his path after this upgrade as he tries to stop the same upgrade from being released to all humanity.

A thought-provoking fast paced novel that I couldn’t put down. Blake Crouch writes amazing sci-fi and I always look forward to his books.

As with other Crouch novels, once you get a few chapters in this is pretty much impossible to put down. The science is explained in a way that’s easy to understand. The action is fantastic and the pace doesn’t let up. I loved how Earth is shown in the future, the glimpses of life and how it’s imagined. Lower Manhattan being underwater was described so well for example.

The ending was brilliant, I loved the direction it took. An excellent read.

I thought Upgrade had a very unique and interesting premise, and I could see it leading to some excellent book club discussions. It’s not my personal favorite by the author, but had the same level of suspense and great pacing that his other books have had. Loved the social justice and environmental themes and thought there were a lot of interesting issues raised. Would definitely recommend to others!

(I will return to post review links after I’ve shared to Instagram and Goodreads.)