Every time I read a Blake Crouch novel, it consumes my mind. It's all I can think about until I'm finished with it. This was no exception. I loved the world, the writing, and the pace of it. The science was easy to understand and fascinating, and the story itself was so much fun. The question if you genetically alter humans to be "perfect", are they still human? 4/5 stars, one star docked for some things at the end of the book.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a science fiction thriller set in a near future where genetic manipulation is possible. It is, for the most part, fast paced and well written. Unfortunately, this fast pace is slowed down somewhat by an enormous amount of science explained in excruciating detail. I have no idea how accurate any of this science is but it sounds authentic. It also made my eyes glaze over. I wish there had been a little less time spent on all the mind numbing science and more on the main character’s early life.

Despite all the science, the story is fascinating and Logan is an intriguing main character. It is definitely a story that will make you think and will stay with you after you finish the book.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

I don’t even know where to begin with this book! It was absolutely amazing. Lately I have found reading to be just little bit of a chore, but I was able to fully immerse myself into this book. One of the things that I really love about all of Blake Crouch’s books are that they really make me think. This book makes me imagine how our world could be different if we were really capable of gene editing as it’s displayed in this book. The havoc that it could wreak… Even though this book is very scientific (and I am not a science person) it was still easy to follow. Crouch does a great job of explaining terms and providing enough context so that the average reader isn’t lost. I can only imagine how much research was put into this title. All around, it was a fabulous read and I would highly recommend. Especially for those who are looking for some mental stimulation. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

“They seemed truly happy, and it made me happy to watch them — a thousand small kindnesses among people who had nothing to give.”


Book Dynamics✨
3 parts
1 POV
Quick paced
Loooooong chapters


Crouch is my favorite sci-fi author so I had high hopes for this one and I was not disappointed.

This one is a stark reminder to not forget what it means to be human.

I loved the aspect of Logan being a federal agent. It added a different layer to the story that Dark Matter and Recursion didn’t have.

Crouch writes true sci-fi so be prepared for a lot of words you do not know 😂 it’s semi dumbed down so you can follow though.

I very much liked that this one was all about DNA and not the multiverse like his others. It was very different in a good way!

Just like his other novels this one is action packed and paced perfectly. Even with the long chapters it was still a very quick read!



Favorite Character: Logan Ramsey 😮 yes, I loved a main character! He is layered and flawed, but a perfect MC.

5⭐️// Logan Ramsay has been trying to atone for sins of his family & just living his life. Until one job turns that upside down and he wakes up feeling different - sharper, clearer, stronger. He has been upgraded. Now it’s his job to answer the questions of how, why & for what purpose that will lead him down a twisted path & cause him to ask the question “would humanity be better if we were all upgraded or does that mess with humanity itself?”

For me, Blake Crouch books are like riding a roller coaster blindfolded - I know I’m going to love it, but have no clue what to expect at any second. Upgrade is no different - it is riveting, thought provoking and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Dark Matter & Recursion and while this one is a bit of a different vein, I think this one is my favorite so far. Check it out if you love twists & turns, anything Blake Crouch and want to ponder what it means to be truly human.

Blake Crouch has become a go-to author for me so I was really excited to read this one. Lots of intense action scenes, some really thought-provoking and frankly scary themes running through this story. Scary for the very real possibilities he writes about but I think this is what makes his stories so good and engaging.

4.5 stars
Blake Crouch is a must-read author for me. Dark Matter and Recursion are two of my favorite books and now I can add Upgrade to the list as well. This book was quite different from those two but still just as well written and entertaining. Upgrade was a fast paced and thought provoking sci-fi thriller that I didn't want to put down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. Upgrade will be released on July 12, 2022

He does it again. I’m always so amazed at what Crouch comes up with. This book is fast-paced, no BS, and still with an element of heart ache while remaining action packed. All of his main characters are so ridiculously flawed that you want to dislike them, but you really can’t because they go through hell and back. So glad to have been able to read this early and will get it for my book shelf for sure.

Upgrade is another masterpiece by Crouch. He imagines a world in which a scientist finds a way to play God with the future of the human race, only to have all the progress come crumbling down due to short sightedness. The novel is fast paced and forces the reader to decide what they might do in the same situation. It was a bit heavy handed at times with the “we all need to be more compassionate” message, but that can be over looked with the strength of the rest of the story.

Set in the not so distant future, Upgrade plays with the question of genetic modification. Logan Ramsey, the son of a disgraced geneticist who caused millions of deaths, works for the Gene Protection Agency to stop illegal genetic activity. He finds himself targeted in an explosion which causes a genetic overhaul to his system, essentially “upgrading” him to a faster, smarter more superior human. But is this upgrade to humanity the answer to mankind’s problems or just the beginning?
I have long been a fan of Blake Crouch and while his previous other two novels I’ve read focused more on physics and time travel, it was fun to delve into the topic of genetics. Controversial at its heart, it was fascinating to think of the questions posed to ponder whether being upgraded would take away parts of what make us human. There were times when the gene talk and science bogged me down a bit (and I was a biology major and enjoy this stuff!) I think the average person will understand and enjoy this as well. This would also make a fantastic movie!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Blake Crouch has now solidified a position in my reading as - I will read every new book that is published...IMMEDIATELY.
Upgrade is a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller that could be one person's worst nightmare. The idea of genetically modifying humans is beyond thought but not beyond capability in the wrong hands. From beginning to end the story was engaging and twisty. It kept me guessing but was not completely surprised by the ending. This book is for those who like fast activity, solid story building and elements of the unknown. The science is digestible and readable for everyone. STRONGLY suggest this!

"We were a monstrous, thoughtful, selfish, sensitive, fearful, ambitious, loving, hateful, hopeful species. We contained within us the potential for great evil, but also for great good. And we were capable of so much more than this."

At some point in the unspecified near to moderately near future, Logan Ramsey, a relatively smart but not ridiculously smart dude who works for an agency called the GPA - or Gene Protection Agency - unsuspectingly enters a basement on the hunt for not-so-legal bacteria based on a tip the GPA received. All of a sudden, BOOM! Ramsey's hit with an aerosol explosion and has no idea his life is about to change forever. Hidden within the exploded material are genetic mutations that get into Ramsey's body and slowly (you guessed it) upgrade everything about his being - from his intellect to his bone density to his ability to perceive expressions on other peeps to how fast he can run. In a world where genetic mutation has become a big no-no due to an oopsie Ramsey's ridiculously smart mother accidentally engineered years before, the GPA turns from Ramsey's employer to his oppressor - wanting to cage and study him like a lab rat. But Ramsey ain't got time for that. He's gotta figure out who upgraded him and why. And, you know, save the world.

I've read Dark Matter and Recursion by Crouch (in addition to Upgrade, obviously), and maybe this is a cop out, but I'm having a hard time ranking them with respect to which one I liked the best. They're all written as if they were designed to be the script of an action movie. The premises are fun and interesting, there are elements that don't quite make sense, and the science sounds very sciencey but you know that a lot of it originated in Crouch's brain and isn't real science at all. With respect to Upgrade specifically, a super strong super fast super smart human (or is it humans? No spoilers from me!) lead to an action packed, slightly ridiculous, and tons o' fun finale. Or quasi-finale, I guess, since the Epilogue was more heartfelt and sweet and really tied the whole book together.

Also, I dug the moral dilemmas that were presented in Upgrade. What should we do as a species to save our dying planet? Is complacency worse than trying something that fails? And who ultimately makes that decision? Is gene editing the solution, or is it part of the problem?

An excellent, thought provoking story that kept me captivated from start to finish. Crouch's writing keeps you thinking and guessing in the best way.

Teaser: An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation—and fears that all of humanity may be next.

Upgrade is Blake Crouch’s newest book. If you’re familiar with his other works (Dark Matter and Recursion), this one will feel different, but it’s the same great writing.

Upgrade felt so different because the sci-fi part of this book didn’t feel as out there. This book is about altering genomes to make people more advanced in their ability to process and react. And as I was reading this, I could see a world where this technology exists. I think in some ways it does already exist. The book takes place in a future world that has been impacted by climate change, and that doesn’t feel very far off either.

Upgrade is about good versus evil, but also not always knowing where that line is. It’s about family and sacrifice. It’s about taking chances when the odds are against you. It’s about trusting yourself and learning who around you can be trusted.

If I hold this book up next to Dark Matter, it’s not going to be able to compete, but I haven’t found another book that can. That book left me spinning my wheels for days afterwards and I think that is rare in a book. That being said, Blake Crouch is an auto-buy author for me and everything of his that I’ve read has been good.

A million thank yous to NetGalley for proving me with an free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Logan Ramsey, son of a famous scientist, works for the GPA. The GPA stands for the Gene Protection Agency and they are responsible for detecting and catching those who do gene editing. When following a lead, Logan is involved in an accident in which he is exposed to a virus and is quarantined while the doctors try to figure out what happened but Logan notices he is changing. He soon realizes everything is enhanced, his reading, his thinking, his physical body. But was this an accident?

This is the first Blake Crouch book I have read and I enjoyed it. At times the science was heavy, and a bit much for me, but it didn’t confuse me. It was a fast paced book that kept me going. I recommend this for any thriller lovers and especially sci-fi lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-arc!

Upgrade comes out 7/12

4.5 stars
This book sucked me in right from the beginning and kept me up late, wanting to read just a little bit more! I can’t say that I understood all of the science talk but it was a testament to the author that I didn’t feel like that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. It had echoes of Flowers for Algernon, which I loved! This is the type of book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, working over the moral conundrums and thinking about what you would do in those circumstances!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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At this point, I will read literally anything that Blake Crouch writes. He is incredible at coming up with high stakes scenarios that are not only enjoyable to read, but also give the reader some interesting concepts to think about along the way. I also find his works to be really accessible to those who are just getting into sci-fi so if that sounds like you, I'd recommend his books for sure.

~~~

Upgrade is the story of Logan Ramsay, an officer with the Gene Protection Agency. His job: identify and take out genetic engineering operations. Reconciling his work and personal identity with his family's legacy becomes the least of his worries when he finds himself compromised after a failed sting. It isn't long before the changes start, forcing Logan to face his family and the events that he's been running from his whole adult life. Who will he be once all is said and done?

~~~

The thing I loved most about this book were the philosophical undertones. This book asks some really interesting questions about humanity, identity, and the age-old debate of logic vs. emotion. I love reading books that give you something to chew on even after you've finished, and this book definitely delivered that for me.
The plot thoroughly captured me from the first chapter. There were some slumps in the middle, which is why it didn't quite make 5-stars, but it really picked up toward the end and wrapped up with quite a satisfying conclusion, regardless.

All things considered, I had a good time with this read and would recommend it to those who enjoy near-future sci-fi + thriller reads that leave you thinking, but also sort of terrify you with their relevance.

As an employee of the GPA (Gene Protection Agency), Logan Ramsay is tasked with tracking down and eliminating rogue gene labs that are being used to either alter human DNA or even create new species. However, when a raid goes wrong, Ramsay awakens in a hospital bed days later in unimaginable pain. Following a barrage of tests designed to determine whether Ramsay himself suffered unexpected gene-altering damage, he is given a clean bill of health.

However as weeks pass, Logan begins to notice changes in both his body and cognitive abilities. Suddenly, he can best his unbeatable daughter in chess, he can remember exact details of every conversation he’s ever had and every line of every book he’s ever read. He feels stronger and no longer has to deal with distractions while trying to concentrate. What exactly is Logan becoming?

Blake Crouch is easily one my favorite authors writing today, which is what makes this review especially difficult. In 2019, I read and loved his last novel Recursion, a story I still think about from time to time. I was sucked in and fascinated by the idea of traveling back through your own consciousness to live your life all over again, knowing what you know now. Sure, there was a lot of hard science in there, but the story had tragic characters and incredibly high stakes that kept me reading long into the night.

While the stakes are just as high in UPGRADE, I didn’t quite feel that connection or that urgency I had felt with RECURSION or even DARK MATTER for that matter. I think much of it came down to my general dislike for Logan and a failure to connect with him. I also felt the hard science behind the gene-altering methods often got in the way and took me out of the story far too often.

I get that you need to show Logan’s progress in his intelligence and abilities, but the more capable he became, the more insufferable and annoying he came across. I’m not sure if that was the point – maybe it was. It was like that episode of The Simpsons where the crayon from Homer’s brain is removed and he becomes annoyingly brilliant, so everyone hates him. It certainly didn’t endear Logan to me and he lost that relatable nature that likely may have had me rooting for him.

Overall this one just didn’t do it for me. Even the last third of the book – which is designed as a race-against-time action thriller – left me skimming large chunks of text, feeling a “get-it-over-with” attitude that I do not expect from a Crouch novel. I had extremely high expectations, however, as UPGRADE, unfortunately, has to exist in the shadow of two very good preceding books.

This was a quick, action-packed, science-filled read and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Logan Ramsay narrates his complex story. The son of an infamous, genius, geneticist mother who caused a worldwide famine, he is wracked with guilt at his own involvement and a desire to protect the world from further genetics accidents. He’s a troubled, but sympathetic, character and I couldn’t help but root for him throughout the book.

Genetics are the constant backdrop throughout the book but in just the right amount. The stars of the book are Logan’s own thoughts and intentions and the constant action as he receives a genetics upgrade and adapts to his new existence while continuing to try to protect humanity from the threats of human-devised adaptations.

The book is full of fascinating science, near-future improvements like super speed travel and dystopian effects of climate change and geopolitical unrest, high-speed action, family dysfunction and heartfelt introspection. Upon reflection, it’s hard to believe the complexities presented in this book that seemed like such a smooth-flowing, captivating read.

First I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I never add spoilers to my reviews so no danger of having the book spoiled! After reading Recursion and Dark Matter I was absolutely blown away by how good those books were and wondered if Blake Crouch could possibly follow those up with another great book or if he even wanted to. I am very pleased to report that he did, its spectacular. The story is set in a near future were a massive tragedy has happened as a result of genetic modification so its now banned. Our protagonist is the son of the person who made the error that was so terrible. He now works for the agency tasked with policing the black market genetic modifications.

Just like Dark Matter once the story really kicks in its a fast paced hold on to the edge of your seat ride to the end. This book got over so quickly for me that I went back and re-read it to make sure I did not somehow skip over a section of the book. The book is not terribly long and that would be my only complaint, I wanted more! This is one of those books that when you are done you will be a little depressed that there is not more to read, its that good. I want to thank Blake Crouch and NetGalley again for allowing me to read this book in advance of its publishing, it was an absolute pleasure to get to read this and I was already dying to do so before I found out that I could possibly get a chance to read it. I have the audiobook on pre-order with audible and when it comes out I look forward to that alternate way of enjoying this story.

I always wondered about those positive pre publishing reviews and now I am leaving one lol! They really said just leave an honest review good or bad, I am really impressed with the process and that they really wanted genuine feedback. Of course I requested books from two of my favorite authors.

#upgrade #netgalley