Oh man. This was a lot. And by that, I mean a lot of SCIENCE. Don't get me wrong, I love sci-fi so obviously science is a given. But this was material that flew WAY over my head. And even more, there was TONS of it. I read full pages where I felt the only words I understood were "I", "and", and "the".

So if lots of science isn't your cup of tea, don't consider this book.

Another thing I thought about with the science of this book is that, because it went way over my head, I can't even begin to figure out if it makes sense to people who DO know about genetics and molecular biology. Like, I have no clue that if they read this, they'll scoff at how absurd this was written.
I'd be interested to see what they think of this.

Science aside, this book was, in fact, interesting. The premise of the book is that Logan Ramsay is a geneticist who after working with his genius mother, became a disgraced scientist and eventually joined a new branch of government called the GPA aimed to stop illegal genetic modifications. Like, imagine SWAT raids on meth labs, but these are PhD's in a legit genetic laboratory.

On one of his raids, he's tricked and trapped when a bomb explodes with DNA editing ability that enters his blood stream. When Logan wakes up, he's got super human abilities. Think like, the deduction ability of Sherlock Holmes mixed with the physical ability of Hulk.

Logan is now determined to stop whoever did this to him.

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The story was not as action-packed as I expected it to be. I mean, Dark Matter had its downtime too, but I felt like the scenes where Logan is analyzing things just takes SO LONG. It definitely broke up the excitement and I then basically had to either take a break or reset to get myself pumped to read again.

One aspect that I really enjoyed was the little bits eluding to the fact that this is set in the near future. It's little comments about NYC being half submurged under the ocean, or the Rockies no longer being snow capped to show that global warming was wreaking havoc. They also mention "charge stations" instead of "gas stations" implying all cars are electric.

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This story really, is about playing God. If humans have the ability to change the world on a huge scale, should we? Is it our right to interfere? That's what this whole book tackled. I thought the morality of it is beautiful because that's already issues our world powers and scientists struggle with today.

After finishing this book, I think the message will stick with me for a while, even if the experience of reading the book itself was rocky at times.

This was great, and I generally expect no less from Crouch. I did think this fell short from Dark Matter, though, as the pacing towards the end was a bit off. After I hit the 75% mark, it felt like a slog to finish and ended up taking me almost two weeks to properly get through. Sci-fi fans will generally like this, though, and I'm excited to see what Blake Crouch is up to next.

This novel didn’t pack an emotional wallop for me the same way that Crouch’s previous books did. Still, an interesting concept.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC of this highly-anticipated novel.

Upgrade is a blindingly fast-paced peek into the near future. Imagine if Ancestry.com and 23andMe took their DNA data and began to codify what certain genes were for, then used that data to upgrade human kind into a new highly-rational species. What would happen? What genes would be modified? Blake Crouch takes those questions and more and gives us this thriller set in a world on the brink of collapse, where humans are working on a Hail Mary to save the species.
The antagonist in Upgrade is reminiscent of those in Dark Matter and Recursion. Family man, a bit higher than average intelligence, and introspective. He takes that character further in this novel, however, and changes the way that he thinks, speaks, and acts to line up with his upgrade status. I loved the way Crouch used even more technical terms and ideas throughout the novel.
Speaking of the science, Crouch is a master at taking real-world ideas and theories, and placing his characters in the thick of them. DNA tampering is absolutely happening right now in our world, but Crouch takes it a step further into the very real what if possibilities. It’s frightening to see how these things play out in his novels.
The plot was incredibly fast paced, which makes this a quick read. I found myself speed reading as much as I could because so much was happening that I just couldn’t put the book down. Overall, I’d give Upgrade a 4 out of 5 stars. It didn’t hit me as emotionally as Recursion or Dark Matter, but I still very much enjoyed it.

Posted to Goodreads on 4/1/22

Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copies in exchange for an honest review! I've loved Blake Crouch since I read Dark Matter. Upgrade included a lot of the same things I loved about Dark Matter - extrapolations on well-researched science, a main character it was easy to root for, a plot that was totally unique. It was quick to get engaged in the story, and although the plot slowed down a little towards the middle it picked back up again and the ending was fast-paced.

Crouch's science fiction is presented in a way that really makes the reader think - I typically read his books more than once (sometimes back-to-back) just because there's SO much to untangle and understand. This book didn't have the same play on time that I loved in the last two books, but it did give me lots to think about around topics of 'what makes us human' and 'how can we tune into reality without reality forcing us to tune out.'

I wanted to love Upgrade, and for a brief moment -- I truly did. In typical Blake Crouch fashion, the first chapter was INCREDIBLE. It set up the story so nicely, and hooked me right away. I needed to keep reading. However, as the story progressed, it got progressively more boring. The character's "upgrade" was nauseating to listen to. At times, he was just rattling off scientific information, lists of genes. Suddenly, he was able to scale buildings? Yes, the upgrade was a "thing" but some of the stuff was just obnoxious to listen to. I don't need to hear about how many milliseconds a bullet is flying at and how fast he can react. I also really didn't understand the relationship between the protagonist and his sister, and felt it was severely underdeveloped. Moreover, I would have liked more backstory on the protagonists' mother. Overall, this one fell flat for me after starting so strong. If you're a huge sci fi fan you may like this, but if science isn't your thing, I'd avoid. I haven't read Recursion but I feel like it'll be more popular than this one. I also didn't like Dark Matter, so I guess take my review with a grain of salt.

Science fiction is not even my favorite genre, I rarely read it, but this thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. What happens if people were able to be upgraded, much like a computer? While certainly anxiety inducing, this human engineering science fiction is thought provoking and exciting. Another great one from Blake Crouch!

I continue to be impressed by Crouch's work. This book showcases his skills in writing solid action scenes, accessible "near future" Sci-Fi, and compelling characters with rich interior lives. (Wish the publisher had given it a prettier cover. It deserves it.)

The idea of an Upgrade is a novel one and is handled well in this book. I loved the firsthand accounts of what it feels like to go through the transition and how it affects your brain. The book geeks out hard in these sections, but I dug it. There's quite a bit of genetics talk being thrown around, but overall I found the descriptions accessible.

The book's plot is surprisingly thin. Both Logan and another character are Upgraded. They have different agendas about what to do with their amazing new powers and their plans to share/infect it with others, and they battle it out.

Thankfully neither character's agenda is all good or all evil. The book does a nice job of parsing out the shades of grey. Humans have not treated our world well, so do we ALL deserve to the right to keep on doing as we please in the future? Even if we did want to change our ways, do we even have the evolutionary skills to even pull that off?

As it's so eloquently put in the book, "We were a bunch of primates who had gotten together and, against all odds, built a wondrous civilization. But paradoxically--tragically--our creation's complexity had now far outstripped our brain's ability to manage it."

The ending landed as a little preachy (although appropriate to the story), and, as I mentioned, I would have liked a bit more action to balance out all the science, but overall this was a great read.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!!!!!!! I absolutely adored this book. Blake Crouch is an auto-buy author for me. Dark Matter and Recursion are two of my all time favorite books and this one can be added to that list. Upgrade is a very fast paced sci-fi thriller about a man that gets a genetic upgrade. It does have quite a bit of “science-y stuff”, but not so much that it’s inaccessible. As with all Of Crouch’s novels, Upgrade has great heart and social commentary about what it means to be human. Loved it.

If you like Blake Crouch you won’t be disappointed. Is it his best work? Personally I liked Recursion better… but this is still really good! You can’t go wrong by picking it up. I really did like the concept I just felt like the way it was executed felt a bit flat in some places compared to the typical page turning I’m used to from him. All and all this is still a solid read!

Another winner from Crouch! His books are compulsively readable and Upgrade is no exception. The science is fascinating, makes you think and doesn't seem too far-fetched. The characters don't suffer - they are fully fleshed out, believable and interesting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Imagine a future where the world has gone to sh!t and the government is trying to control everything (not hard to do). They try to regulate everything to do with genes, dna, and genetics. But a super smart person comes up with an upgrade for humans.

This book hooked me from the beginning. Action packed with emotional moments. I loved it. It’s not 5 stars because there were some moments that were just too sciencey for me.

Read this. It’s great!

BLAKE CROUCH DID IT AGAIN!!

I'm a huge fan of the author and when I received this e-arc i just couldnt believe I was going to read it so soon!!. I just loved Dark Matter and it's one of my favorites books ever. And here in "Upgrade", Mr. Crouch served us again!. It was everything I expected. The characters and the whole vibe... SO GOOD. I can't wait to get me a physical copy because I'm obsessed with this one!

This doesn't match up to Recursion unfortunately. That was a mindboggling wild ride. This one just kinda ... happened. I read enjoyed the start and thought it had 5* potential, and I loved all the DNA science, but I wasn't interested in Kara's character and I found that the book kind of got a bit muddled around the 70%ish mark. It lost its momentum and after a strong start, it felt like it fizzled out.

Blake Crouch delivers another mind-bending, rabbit hole inducing read with his latest book, "Upgrade." While the other books I’ve read of his lean towards the dimensional travel side of sci-fi, this one takes a dive into genetic engineering in the not so distant future. Crouch’s exploration of gene-editing is both terrifying and fascinating. Add in the adrenaline-packed plot line and you’re left with a compulsive, compelling read that keeps you on edge until the very end.

I always like the male protagonists that Crouch writes and he gives us another one with Logan Ramsay. He’s flawed and complex and yet you find yourself hoping he overcomes the many obstacles he faces. Like Crouch’s other works, we again see a protagonist with his family at his center and the driving force in so many of his actions.

I found the whole concept of genetic-engineering intriguing and it’s a relevant focus for a society that’s just dipping its toes into what could be the future. This book presents valid pros and cons of such an endeavor and explores how far we are willing to go to save humanity. I feel like Crouch always gives us sci-fi with a heart and "Upgrade" is no different. It’s an examination of science vs. feeling (humanity) and the consequences of one trumping the other. Despite all the action and blockbuster movie feel, it’s ultimately a book arguing for compassion and hope.

I struggled a bit with all of the genetic… jargon. I’m not up to speed on genetics and while those who are, likely appreciated the immense amount of research that had to go into writing this book, he could’ve spit any random combination of letters at me and I would’ve believed it. The heavy focus on genetics didn’t deter me from the plot or enjoying the book though. It was there, but not vital that I understood the total ins and outs of it. He dumbed it down enough (thank you Blake) so that someone like myself could loosely grasp the concept and still understand what was going on and the impacts it had on the plot. Also, despite all of the scientific focus that usually slows me down when reading some sci-fi, I still found this one moved quite quickly.

"Upgrade" is another easy recommendation from me. Fans of his will be pleased with another stellar addition to his writing collection and new readers can expect a thought-provoking, high-action thriller. 4.5 stars.

A near-future science fiction thriller dealing with the ethics of genetic research and manipulation.

In a world where genetic manipulation has become illegal Logan Ramsay must contend with his family's legacy. His mother had inadvertently caused a famine when unleashing a genetic modification. Now she has bigger plans for her children and the world.

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a fast science-thriller that falls in the same vein as Dark Matter and Recursion. I personally still have Dark Matter at #1 but Upgrade is a really close second. Upgrade is fast and snappy. I had no problem reading for hours at a time. One of the most impressive things about this book was how the tone and character changed throughout the story.

Ultimately, Upgrade is a great read for those that are fans of sci-fi and thrillers. The story explains the science along the way and it a great read for anyone to enjoy.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC. In the future, the technology is available to change the genome of humans. Of course, there are regulatory agencies and a big black market. This is the story of an agent who gets upgraded genetically and then finds out his mother and sister are behind it.

WOW. If you're a conspiracy theorist, you better hold onto your hat, because you are in for a RIDE! I loved this book. I think Blake Crouch has such elegance when writing Sci-Fi books, that anyone can follow along. I am an engineer by degree, so I LOVE the added extra science, but anyone could read and completely understand the story.

This story was so great because it felt JUST real enough to be scary, but also JUST far fetched enough to not remain terrified.

I thought the craziest part of the book was the idea that people see destruction and they can feel sad, but then ignore it and go about their day. In the Epilogue it was talking about how we only can build real connections with 150 people, so when they see destruction or famine in far off lands, they can't completely associate with it, which makes PERFECT sense!

I think everyone should read this book!

Upgrade kept me on the edge of my seat from the very start. Logan was a likeable character who was easy to relate to. He starts noticing changes in his body and realizes his DNA has been upgraded. His search to figure out who did this to him and why is fast paced and interesting. Logan's story is smart and thrilling and will leave you with a good book hangover. I'm not sure where Blake Crouch gets his plot ideas but I hope they continue to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. I enjoyed it immensely.