As I read the description for this book, the movie and television series Limitless came to mind. I am intrigued by the idea that the human brain and physicality can be hacked and our potential expanded. This book, in that regard, did not fail. The energy of the story line and character development was solid and exciting. The story kept me engaged, and there were some unexpected twists and turns.

For me, I had some trouble with the descriptive elements. The medical jargon was difficult to navigate, especially because I wasn’t sure what was real medical terminology, or futuristic. For instance, the hero passes through Las Vegas at one point, and the description is of a future version of the place, so was the medical description also manufactured from imagination, or was there foundation in reality? That’s not something that every reader will be concerned about, but I felt somehow cheated by the paragraphs of description that I couldn’t digest. Aside from the jargon, I found the premise interesting, and the story satisfying.

A copy of Upgrade, by Blake Crouch was provided to me by NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an honest review.

Full disclosure, I would read Mr. Crouch's grocery list. I find his writing style completely engaging, full of twists and a plot that keeps you frantically turning the pages . His latest book did not disappoint. It was an edge of your seat thriller with a science fiction bent that will keep readers rooting for our hero throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting and scary at the same time because it talked about things that could happen. There was a lot of scientific terminology and ideas so I had to read slowly and reread passages.

After a freak explosion Logan Ramsay doesn’t feel like himself. He’s thinking sharper and clearer. He’s reading and talking faster. He needs less sleep and is memorizing things with amazing accuracy. Logan’s body has upgraded and he is seeing the world in a new exciting way.

Logan’s transformation was no accident; he was targeted. Logan’s genome was hacked. He was chosen for reasons that are connected to his unique family history. Furthermore, he is part of a bigger plan. This “upgrade” will be inflicted upon people around the world. Humans have trashed the planet to the point that extinction of the human species is eminent. To make matters worse, people don’t seem to care and don’t take it seriously. This upgrade will change everything and is believed to save the species. However, when people start exhibiting strange side effects and the death toll rises, Logan begins to question if this is really a good idea.

Logan is the only one capable of stopping this event. He faces numerous challenges and makes difficult decisions along the way. However, he realizes that he must use his new abilities to save the human race.

If I mention the sci-fi genre do you promise not to turn off your brain? Hang with me here. I would not consider myself a Sci-Fi buff by any stretch of the imagination, but there is something about Blake Crouch’s storytelling that is absolutely magnetic.

If you were given the chance to save the future of humanity by upgrading your DNA, would you take it? UPGRADE follows Logan Ramsay in a near-future society that has been ravaged by climate change and man-made catastrophes. Logan involuntarily finds his body and mind slowly transforming into optimal conditions with uncharted IQ and physical capabilities, but what will be the cost? This sounds heady but at its heart, this is a story that explores what it means to be human.

UPGRADE is a bit heavier on the science than I remember DARK MATTER and RECURSION to be, but the science aspects are succinctly summarized and can easily be glossed over if that isn’t of interest to you.

Crouch’s previous books were both 5 star reads for me, primarily for their page-turning plots with the importance of home as a major aspect of the story. UPGRADE also reads like a bingeable thriller but the theme of family was secondary to the broader theme of the connection shared by all humanity.

Crouch raises some fascinating questions about the common good, complacency, and our role in protecting the earth for future generations. Once again, I was completely blown away by the author’s brilliant creativity and thoughtful mind.

RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
PUB DATE: July 12, 2022

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.reads books in advance of publication date (late June).

Blake Crouch has done it again! Upgrade is an incredibly well woven sci-fi thriller that further cements Crouch as a legend in the genre. I don’t know anything about DNA and although some of the subject matter was over my head, I was fully invested and I always had enough detail to understand what was going on. I was so excited to pick up this book every time I was ready to read and couldn’t put it down when I started. Incredibly well researched and nail biting thrills on every single page.

Not only are there intense action scenes and strong family bonds that we have come to expect from Crouch’s work, but there is a deeper message about humanity in these pages. I finished this book feeling hopeful about our world.

Blake Crouch is one of my auto-buy authors from this point forward. I’ve preordered my own copy already because I loved this so much. Dark Matter, Recursion and now Upgrade… truly a master of his craft.

Blake Crouch does it again. Blake Crouch can do no wrong, apparently. I read this book in one sitting.

Not my favorite of Blake Crouch’s books. It is an interesting set up and obviously scientifically very relevant. But I thought the characters weren’t developed well. The MC has no flaws, he is portrayed as morally correct the entire time, no wavering, no questioning. This made for very little development. I’d still read Blake Crouch’s next book but this one fell flat for me.

Thank you for the eArc. I will be posting my review as soon as I read it. I appreciate your patience.

Upgrade is one of the best sci-fi books I have read this year. This is my second (and favorite) book by this author and I am so glad I was able to get my hands on an ARC.

This book follows Logan Ramsay, the son of a woman who, in trying to ameliorate crops through genetics, killed millions of people. He had to deal with the consequences of his mother's failure. Now, this book is set in a world where DNA and genetics have been developed on another level . After a mission gone wrong, his body and mind will go through a transformation that no one has ever seen yet. But it's only the beginning as a bigger plan will involve him.

I don't want to say much more as I feel like everything could be a spoiler. All I'm going to say is that this book was amazing and if you want a sci-fi with a really interesting plot, plenty of action and heart-wrenching moments, this is a must-read. This book also makes you think about our own planet, our humanity and our future.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Definitely not my favorite Blake Crouch novel, but if you enjoy science fiction - this book is for you. It gets a bit on the technical side, which lost my interest, but there's no doubt that Crouch knows how to write a killer story! I'm excited to see what he will have up his sleeves next.

I hadn't read Blake Crouch before, but had a number of friends recommend DARK MATTER and thought I'd take a chance on UPGRADE when I saw it here on NetGalley. A bit formulaic, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good beach read and likes books in the Dan Brown/Michael Crichton vein.

As a huge fan of Dark Matter and Recursion, I was really looking forward to Blake Crouch's latest sci-fi suspense thriller. Though it didn't disappoint in the science and thrills, I will say that Upgrade took me longer to read because of the subject matter (genetics). I also didn't warm to the protagonist at first; there's something about the way he talked about his improved mind and body that irked me. Sometimes it sounded more condescending and arrogant rather than amazed at his new abilities.

If you're new to Blake Crouch's writing and you like smart, cinematic sci-fi thrillers, I recommend Upgrade. It isn't as easy as his previous works to skim to find out what happens next, but it's worth slowing down and taking your time to absorb each and every word.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch does not disappoint, in science, surprises or storyline. His talents have come a long way since Wayward Pines. The premise of the novel is how could the world not benefit from every human being given an upgrade mentally and physically? The answer is not so simple, and so begins a cat-and-mouse chase over several agencies and years. The book is very fast-paced and it’s hard to put down once you start reading it.

Set in a not too distant future, Upgrade explores how genetics and the search of bettering humanity may be our greatest demise.

The way I love everything Blake Crouch writes 👏🏻. This is my third read by Crouch, and it’s safe to say he is an auto-buy author for me! I binged this book in one sitting, and could not turn the pages quick enough!

He combines science as well as interesting concepts and possibilities woven into a fast-paced plot like no other. He includes not only social commentary on our humanity but how our consumerism impacts the environment and what that means for us.

Dark Matter and Recursion still top this one for me, but he continues to deliver interesting and compulsive stories that I will absolutely continue reading!

What I love about Blake Crouch's work is that the story and setting are often terrifying because despite being speculative fiction, you can actually picture them happening. Or you can already see them starting to happen especially when it comes to real-life technological advancements. This book was no different and in fact, explores viruses and outbreaks (sounds familiar?)... yikes.

I loved the first half of this novel and was super intrigued by the whole premise. The opening scene was awesome and gave me goosebumps! However, the second half was a bit of a letdown for me due to various factors.

In terms of brilliance, creativity and originality, this one pales in comparison. Where Dark Matter is more psychologically thrilling, mind-bending and emotionally driven, Upgrade feels like a popcorn thriller packed with action scenes (the climax felt reminiscent of a Hollywood summer flick and was too over-the-top for my liking). It's heavier on the science too and felt like info-dumping for the sake of it at times.

Additionally, this book reminded me of the pandemic and zombie shows so I didn't find it that unique despite a compelling premise. It's also more clear-cut on the line between good/bad and right/wrong compared to Dark Matter's all-round ambiguity, which I wasn't a fan of.

Overall, this book was entertaining and I enjoyed it. However, it was lacking in the emotional punch especially since I didn't care enough about any of the characters. The ending was also too cheesy and preachy for my liking. Nevertheless, it does cover and explore a lot of issues worth discussing. I would say it's still an enjoyable and entertaining sci-fi thriller worth picking up!

Upgrade by Blake Crouch was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I am very familiar with this author so I gladly accepted the offer to read this book as an ARC. The book, written about a bleak future, was well written and did not bog down in inane dialogue as many authors seem to do in this day and age. I am familiar with the National Capitol Region of the USA so many places mentioned were familiar to me, though I am familiar with Jeff Strand not as a doctor. As always, I will not go into plot details, however if you or someone you buy books for is interested in a book about DNA procedures, terrorism, and quite possibly a new superhero, give this book a read.

4 Stars

Loved it! Very fast paced and completely addicting, I didn't want to put it down! While there were some complex topics I found it easy to follow along and enjoyed the concept very much. I will continue to read Crouch's books!

Part 1 - 5 stars
Part 2 - 4 stars
Part 3 - 5 stars

Logan Ramsay lives in a time when DNA enhancements are commonplace. He is a devoted genome cop, investigating unethical hacks to human DNA. One day, when during an investigation, he is infected with a hack to his genome. He did not know what was happening at first. Then he started noticing that his thinking was clearer and deeper. He also begins feeling stronger and less vulnerable, physically, too. What does all of this mean? As he tries to investigate the truth of what is happening to him, he fights to stop further hacks.

In this book, the reader is taken on a unique adventure by Crouch’s realistic characters. The main character, Logan, is so human and real, that the reader experiences heartfelt sympathy and compassion for him and his dilemma. He inspires the reader to consider what her feelings and actions would be if she were put into the same futuristic situation.

This storyline is quick-paced and exciting.

Once again I find Blake Crouch to write an amazing book. He’s an auto-buy author for me. Writing good sci-fi suspense is an art and Blake Crouch is an artist.

Upgrade is intelligent, fast paced, and action packed. I would recommend to anyone looking for a thought provoking suspense. There's so many ways that this plot could have gone the wrong way, but Blake Crouch does a fantastic job of balancing reality, science, fantasy, and morality in a way that captures the essence of what it means to be human. Not to mention a lovable protagonist and a glimpse at what awaits us in the near future.