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!

~~~

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

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝑼𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆
Blake Crouch
Genetic Engineering Thriller
352 Pages

Sᴴᴼᖇᵀ Sʸᴺᴼᴾsᴵs

Logan has been upgraded without his permission. Now he’s determined to figure out what is happening to him, as well as the big picture surrounding it.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

Upgrade really jumps into the technical aspect of genetic engineering. Sometimes it was a little above my head, but I find I skip over the sciency words and it doesn’t affect my understanding of the story.

The family dynamics were intense, especially after the genetic changes grabbed ahold of Logan and his sister, ramping up the misguided use of this science.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for Logan. Through no fault of his own, he ended up stuck in a miserable predicament that cost him too much.

If you enjoy thrillers and genetic engineering, you will most likely enjoy Upgrade.

Fast paced thriller that explores the genetic frontier; and what could go wrong with the ability to change people's DNA....The story is told through the main character Logan Ramsey's perspective. He works in the near future for GPA or the Genetic Protection Agency to keep genetic research under government control On a simple raid things go horribly wrong and Logan must embark on a mission to understand the fallout and what is happening to him. Reminiscence of the Michael Crichton science run amok thrillers like Jurassic Park, Prey, Next, etc.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy!

In our future world, gene editing technology began with the good intention of saving rice crops from ruin. Instead, arrogance mixed with genius led to the death of 200 million people by way of famine. Logan Ramsey has inherited this legacy. He spends his adult life trying to put the genie back in the bottle until he is exposed to a genetic upgrade that turns him into something superhuman. He discovers a plot to help save humanity by giving all humans this upgrade. The only price, the death of 1billion people. Through twists and turns, he must find a way to prevent the upgrade while also saving the world.

This was a wonderful adventure! It kept me on the edge of my seat and nose in the book to find out what happened next. I have already read and loved Recursion by Blake Crouch. He is a must read author for me now!

Four and a half stars.

Damn. Blake Crouch keeps impressing me more and more with each new book. This guy is so smart. Such a big imagination. Just wow. Even though there is a LOT of science to this novel, it works. I won't pretend to understand it, and I have no idea how much is factual. But, again, wow.

I thought the ending was a smidge cheesy. That's what dropped it a half star for me.

Overall, a spectacular book.

Many have been eagerly waiting for "Upgrade" by Blake Crouch and it does not disappoint! This book was a biowarfare page turner I could barely put down. Our story follows ex con Logan Ramsey on a regular work day at the Gene Protection Agency chasing criminals who are into genetic engineering. That day he gets an unexpected upgrade in his DNA which some think could help him save our world. Logan, who did not volunteer for this quest, is not so sure changing what we are made of is a good thing for humanity. He struggles with what to do for the best outcome for all and in doing so gives up much of himself. Logan is a very likeable character and easy to connect with through much of the book. He tried to keep us at arm's reach, but we still root for him. The depiction of this near future world reminds us we need to do all we can to save it ourselves.
The story never stops moving and we meet a few of Logan's family members along the way. Logan works through his troubled relationship with his mother and the complicated relationship he has with his sister through memories and unexpected encounters. The book is quite believable and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout and is SciFi at its finest.

A thrilling read the perfect sci fi for my thriller loving self. Such a great thriller with a lot of science and twists. I was really surprised at how much I learned always fun to learn while reading

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review Blake Crouch's new novel Upgrade. I am not your typical Sci-Fi reader and Crouch has a knack for writing novels that readers like me can read and enjoy. Dark Matter and Recursion are at the top of my list of favorite books I've read outside of my "comfort zone". While I did like Upgrade, I don't think I loved it as much as his previous two novels. The novel started out as a typical Crouch novel but for me the reader - I got a little bit bogged down in the scientific terminology - and the main character Logan Ramsey was a really likeable guy before he was genetically upgraded but after the upgrade - I felt like he was really a robotic type of know it all (which I guess is how the upgrade was designed). The book did have all your typical Crouch thrills, and as I said I got a little lost in the science. I will still be looking forward to reading whatever Blake Crouch writes. Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of Upgrade for my honest review - I would give this one 3 1/2 stars.

I was interested to read this book from the moment I read a description about it. Crouch writing about gene editing was amazing. He wrote about the fallout and how people continue to do it. People living in a world where scientists can be arrested and the future of the world hangs in the balance.

His writing showed that he did his research on the topic. He described enough to be able to follow what the narrator was talking about without feeling bored. It reminded me of ninth grade biology.

Wow, I mean it, just wow. This is one of the most entertaining works I have read in years. I have to say huge thanks to Net Galley for the ARC and the publisher, Ballantine for taking the chance on me. I have felt a little unloved lately, getting notes back from publishers that I’m not really the type reviewer they are looking for, being a regular person and probably not much an influencer. Maybe I will step up my game. Note: added twitter

Anywho, I leave it to others to synopsize books. I’ll tell you what boxes it ticked for me. Science fiction, been a fan since I was a kid, but not just anything will do. Flowers for Algernon, which I read as a kid, instantly came to mind. Bio nerd…Long ago, I had planned to get my Ph.D. in molecular genetics, with a focus on genomic sequencing and evolution. Climate change/environmental disasters, will we decide in time to stop killing our planet? Riveting action, a genius mind, Logan Ramsey is the science fiction Jack Reacher. And finally philosophical thought, what is morality? I have CS Lewis’ Abolition of Man on my reading list now. This links also to transhumanism, that had a similarly chilling near miss in Dan Brown’s Inferno from the Robert Langdon series. If any of my references work for you, I think you will like the book. I will not apologize for lost sleep or productivity you may experience.

Most of the way through the book, I was hoping that there would be a sequel, that it would end not so much with a cliff hanger, but with with some loose ends. And it did, the first time it ended. The epilogue was great, not complaining, it just seems that Crouch has left the matter completely within his control, the ending is satisfying, but something more could come of it. I can’t believe that this won’t be fast tracked for a movie. I can’t wait.

Our book club had read Dark Matter, which was exciting because science fiction hardly ever makes the cut when it is voting time. It was interesting enough, but kind of uneven and it ended up only a three star read for me. I have the Wayward Pines Trilogy on my book shelf, and have been careful not to watch the show. Upgrade was truly an upgrade for Crouch himself because it was over the top fantastic. Publishing July 12, 2022 - get it on your list now!

If your brain and body became supercharged, how would you use the new strength and intelligence?

Miriam Ramsay has spent her life exploring the ways In which genetic engineering can positively impact the environment. Unfortunately, instead of being remembered for her genius, the legacy she leaves is of the Great Starvation, when her miscalculation led to millions of deaths.

Years later, the world’s resources continue to be compromised. (Way too close to home, Crouch.)
Logan Ramsay (Miriam’s son) is working for the government in the GPA (Gene Protection Agency) when injuries incurred during a top secret bust manifest in inexplicable ways. Sharper focus. Ingesting information from multiple sources simultaneously. And he’s finally beating his daughter at chess for the first time in years.

And this is only the beginning. As people around him start to see the difference, his new secret is compromised and he’s on the run with no one to trust and very few answers.

Crouch really blew me away with Dark Matter and he kept me up with this one. Tough to put down, or to easily synopsize, the layers and speed of this were almost too much for me to grasp all at once but I really enjoyed the ride.

Early on, I questioned the assumption that people with this “upgrade” of elevated brain and brawn capacity would concentrate their energy on bettering the world. I truly kept thinking “BS that everyone on the planet would use these new skills to help others.” People are selfish and Miriam didn’t account for that. Saying that, I was incredibly pleased with where this landed and Logan’s goals at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts of the book.

Having loved two of Crouch's previous titles, Dark Matter and Recursion, I was eager to read Upgrade.

I'm happy to report I wasn't let down.

There were parts of the middle that seemed to drag, which I felt could have been tightened up some, but it was still entertaining.

I think of this novel as sort of a modern day X-Men. When Logan Ramsay's DNA is upgraded, he develops sharper skills and senses. But others receive the upgrade as well, including the main antagonist whose identity shall remain a surprise for the sake of this review.

The plot is engaging and entertaining, as are the characters. The main antagonist perhaps could have used a bit more development, but it's not a big deal.

The fates that befall man--human civilization as a whole--are unpredictable when our DNA is altered, and the story does a great job of exploring a future just like this.

Upgrade then ends on a very refreshing note of what it means to be human, and the flawed beauty of the human experience. Wonderful human-centric ending.

It's a great read for any Crouch fan, thriller fan, or probably even most sci-fi fans.

Special thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this title.

Another great Blake Crouch book! Creative, unusual, and really gets you thinking. Don't know how he does it.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"Logan Ramsay wakes up to find himself in a hospital bed, the doctors say he's been infected by a virus--one designed not to make him sick, but to modify his very genetic structure."

Signature Crouch story, full of mind bending and time warping events. It started out strong with all of my empathy for Logan and what was happening to him through no fault of his own. I'll admit I lost some interest as the genetic science-y techno stuff played out but the ending was strong. Is a sequel in process? 🤞

3.75☆

Blake Crouch does it again! This novel focuses on the genetic code that we all possess, and digs into genetic modification and technology. If you could change your genetic code to enhance your abilities, would you do it? Should you do it?

Logan Ramsay works for the Gene Protection Agency, tracking down dark labs focused on gene editing and delivery. His mother, a scientific genius, created a DNA modifier system, which led to a global catastrophe and the spread of dark gene labs throughout the world. As he strives to counteract the fallout, he becomes the target of a genetic virus that significantly alters his DNA and gives him superhuman abilities. But as he grapples with these abilities, he is now seen as a threat to those around him, to the very government that employs him. He also discovers that he may not be the only one whose genetic code has been altered. What does this mean for him? What does it mean for humanity?

This book was a whirlwind that I am still processing. It is full of science, action, philosophy, despair, and hope. All of Blake Crouch's books have a way of challenging me intellectually - oftentimes, I am Googling terms and concepts as I read. But, this book challenged me philosophically and emotionally. Blake Crouch takes the concept of genetic editing and explores the reasons for and against it. Without giving too much away, I was able to see both sides of the debate. If genetic editing could cure, could repair, could grow, could heal - is it worth it? Or are the risks too great?

This novel is action-packed! I could not put it down. Blake does a fantastic job of intertwining scientific knowledge about genetics with suspense and fast-paced conflict. He also makes sure to explain genetics to those of us who haven't taken a biology class in awhile, in a way that makes it easier to understand. But what I liked the most about this novel is how Blake Crouch ends it. He shines a light on our humanity: all of the good and bad that comes with our species, but also all of the greatness that we have within ourselves. It left me breathless at the end.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Blake Crouch for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. It was an honor.

I will post my review on GoodReads and a quick update on Instagram this week, and post a full review on Instagram closer to the publication date.

As a fan of both "Dark Matter" and "Recursion", I fully expected to enjoy this book. Crouch's writing is a unique blend of creative plotting, larger than life concepts, and sympathetic characters that make his books compulsively readable. However, "Upgrade" is in a category all it's own.

Logan Ramsey, in many ways, is a man searching for redemption. He works for the Gene Protection Agency, a personal penance for a tainted family legacy, striving to keep a post-apocalyptic world from total collapse. However, when Logan is exposed to a contagion that changes him on an atomic level, enhancing his physical and cognitive capabilities in unimaginable ways, he begins to see that his past actions have merely laid the groundwork for what's coming. But is this "upgrade" really the key to salvation for mankind? Or will it simply bring a different kind of destruction?

Crouch is a master of weaving stories that both delight and teach. I know next to nothing about genetics and learning just a fraction more about the topic was absolutely fascinating (kudos to Blake for all the research he clearly did to speak so knowledgeably on the science behind this incredible plot!). There are times the language gets a little technical for a layperson but generally, I think the details provided enhanced the story in really positive ways.

I also loved the way the emotional stakes and inner journey were present throughout the narrative. Sometimes in stories with really compelling and complex plots, it can be easy to lose the emotional arc. Crouch does not fall into this trap, keeping the question at the heart of the narrative (what does it mean to be human?) front and center. In doing this, the ending (captured so well in one of the most stunning epilogues I've read in a while) was truly satisfying.

This is a brilliant read for anyone but especially for fans of science-fiction, thrillers, and futuristic dystopian stories. I have no doubt that this will be one of my favorite reads of 2022.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advanced reader copy. Blake Crouch is one of my favorite authors and it was a dream to read and review his newest work months ahead of the pub date.