I loved this book! I was able to read it quickly and didn't want to put it down. The plot was intriguing and I loved the mystique and sci-fi elements. After going through COVID-19 it was fun to read a sci-fi version of a virus.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

3.5/5 stars

Logan Ramsey is exposed to a virus that upgrades his genes and begins to make him smarter, faster, and stronger than he was before. It's now up to him to decide to change the course of humanity.

Blake Crouch is one of my favorite science fiction authors, and just like with his previous works I couldn't put this book down. I loved that at the beginning of the book the reader is given a slow drip of information about the setting and world. I find that it's often hard to do this well where books give you just enough information to keep you engaged but not leave you confused, but Crouch did a fantastic job with that in this book. The writing was also beautifully descriptive. I felt really immersed in the world and could feel the main character's happiness, pain, etc.

I felt like the book started to drag about 2/3 of the way through, and it never really picked back up.

The ending was really satisfying and thought-provoking, which I enjoyed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Review posted on Goodreads - 3/20/22
Review to be posted on Instagram (@skylers_shelfie) - 7/12/22

Actually a 4.5.

Timely, relevant, thrilling, smart, and thought provoking. An all around great read!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59838811

This came damn close to dethroning Dark Matter as my favorite Blake Crouch novel.

I was instantly intrigued by this world, and found myself desperate to learn more from the first mention of The Great Starvation. The future and ideas in this book don't sound so crazy, it raises some interesting questions, and I enjoyed the main character and felt connected to him all through his journey and evolution. I found the epilogue to be rather moving, and satisfying.

Received through NetGalley from Random House Publishing Group.

Another great sci-fi book (heavy on the sci) from Blake Crouch. Falls somewhere between Recursion and Dark Matter for me.

I think Blake Crouch is a great author. Dark Matter? Amazing. Which is why, with a heavy heart, I had to mark this a DNF at 35%.

The flow of a book is really important to me. Making sure the paragraphs and sentences sound good together, that they stop and start in a way that sounds nice in someone's head and makes sense for the story.
This book, however, did not.
It did that so poorly.
And this is why.
The dramatic single sentences.

A few of these sprinkled throughout a book, yes. It draws attention to the drama and makes you understand this is a crucial, important thing to be aware of. Crouch used this approximately 4 times a page, sometimes for nearly the entire page. It made the main character and the story seem so extra, and not in a good way. It read like you're being told a story by your neighbor who knows they don't really have anything interesting going on, so they need to spice up a boring tale and pause constantly for dramatic effect. I hated it, and it made me irritated with the main character. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to look past it to finish the book.

It also gave me some Matrix vibes? A few of the scenes were copy and paste from the movie, like the mysterious text he receives at work before looking up from his cubicle to see some meatheads at the door ready to mess up his day.

It kind of feels like Crouch is riding the wave of a few successful books and releasing something a little lazy because he know he can. I might try reading it again in the future. Sometimes, it's just not the right book for the moment.

Thanks to @BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for a digital ARC of #Upgrade. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Blake Crouch is the master of the sci-fi thriller (emphasis on the science part). A compulsive read set in the not-too-distant future that revolves around gene editing and the implications. Crouch's "future" is relatable (electric vehicles, a planet devastated by climate change), but still advanced enough to feel different (supersonic travel).

Our main character, Logan, is the son of a pioneering DNA scientist who genetically modifies locusts and causes a worldwide famine that kills 200 million people. Decades later, gene editing has been outlawed and Logan works for the Gene Protection Agency (GPA), seeking out rogue scientists who are still advancing the science of DNA manipulation. During a raid, Logan is infected and things take a dark turn quickly.

Even though the DNA/science stuff was a little over my head, I was still able to follow it all and found this to be the most relatable of all Crouch's books. Maybe because the characters were dealing with truly human emotions and issues or maybe because the "future" didn't feel that far-fetched. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this one but not nearly as much as Recursion or Dark Matter. I know there’s a lot of science in his books but this was wayyyy too much science for me.

Another amazing mind bender from Crouch, with a near-future setting and a very currently relevant topic, I didn’t want to put this book down. It’s easy for individuals, especially “geniuses”, to think they have all of the answers but Upgrade examines the complexity individual and social responsibility in science.

I loved Dark Matter and Recursion, Crouch's other most recent works, so I was extremely excited to read his most recent book. This one doesn't land the same for me, I think the other two have a better sense of pacing and the odds against our heroes in DM and R feel more real than Upgrade. I'm not sure which side of the debate between Miriam/Kara and Logan I agreed more with, which left Logan's attempt to save mankind from the upgrade feeling less consequential than it should for our lead protagonist. The epilogue, while a lovely sentiment, I wish had been hinted at more in the actual novel so that it didn't feel like an addendum and a statement on the world's current state. I wholeheartedly agree that the world needs more compassion but wished it felt more like the two sides of conflict throughout the novel rather than the epilogue. Still excited to see what Crouch comes out with next.

Ebook/Thriller:. I got this book from NetGalley in lieu of an honest review. The book was okay. I didn't really feel a sense of kinship with the hero, Logan, and at one point was rutting for his sister to complete her evil plan.
The book is kind of like the old movie "Phenomenon" where a man wakes up to heightened intellect. Having researched a lot about prions and spongiform encephalopathy, I understood that part of the side effect, but not what triggered the disease n the book.
There was a lot of .007 hijinks along with continuity problems. Plus, in the end, Logan goes against every thing he fought for in the book.

Crouch does it again.

Logan has his genes hacked and “upgraded.” His has new abilities. His memory, his muscles, his intelligence…they’re all sharper and stronger and far more powerful than he could have ever imagined. He’s perceiving the world and those around him in a new way and he’s not quite sure if the upgrade is good or bad, or if he’s even still human. But there are forces trying to force the upgrade on everyone, at a staggering cost. These forces believe this is the way to save the world, to save humanity. Logan is the only one that can stop them.

I know the big question is whether or not this was as good as Dark Matter, which everyone (including me) loved. The answer is: YES. The stories are very different but it’s the same style of storytelling, the same break neck pace, so if you liked Dark Matter you’ll like this one, too. The beauty of his stories comes from his cutting edge plots (his characters are pretty good too but it’s the plots that draw me to his books and I’m certain I’m not alone). I will say that I liked the characters in this one better than Dark Matter so…overall, I think it may even be better. I know, I didn’t think it was possible either.

What I love is that, while his books are insanely entertaining, they also make you think. Halfway in I tell myself, this could never happen. Far fetched. No way. But then I start thinking…is it far fetched? I’m not 100% sure because the way he tells the story you could almost believe it really could happen one day.

The first few chapters were pretty science-y (and a few places later in the book as well) and I can’t lie, I got a bit worried for a moment, but the worry was for nothing. You don’t have to be a scientist or academic to understand or appreciate this story, I promise.

Bottom line? I loved it. Every time I think Crouch can’t outdo his last book, that he can’t come up with a plot as intriguing as the last, he comes through and I feel dumb for doubting him (it won’t happen again).

Pub date is Tuesday, July 12th but I’m going to preorder a copy because I need a physical copy too - it’s that good. Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I was so excited to read this!

Like Crouch's previous books, Upgrade was a fast-paced, smart thriller that I couldn't put down. I loved the plausible premise of the book - so well written!

Crouch's strong character development was essential to the story, but I wanted a little more background on the relationship between Logan and his sister. I felt that some parts were a little rushed, which caused a small fracture in the story; however, the epilogue redeemed it for me!

Overall, I loved it and would give it 4.5 stars!

Upgrade is my third Blake Crouch read and it did not disappoint! Very interesting concept explored in a different and thought-provoking way. At first I thought it would be similar to Bradley Cooper's Limitless, but it went a very unique direction with a lot of social commentary about our world and the fate of our existence. While some parts were two action-packed for my liking, I can easily see this book as a movie. Like many have said, I did appreciate the epilogue and thought it was a necessary component to bring more hope to the story.

#theupgrade by #blakecrouch was a excellent read. I loved the idea and the character development. It was such a good read, that I read it in one day. I can’t praise it enough. I will be suggesting it to anyone and everybody. I will be buying a copy to reread it as soon as possible. A big thank you to #netgalley and #randomhouseballantine for giving me this chance of reading this fantastic book.

🧬 Upgrade by Blake Crouch 🧬

In a near-future world where genetic engineering runs rampant, Logan Ramsay is part of the agency that aims to crack down on these gene manipulations. When a raid gone wrong leaves Logan with “upgraded” genes, he’s a stronger, quicker, more intelligent version of himself. But significant costs come with this new version of himself, and in a world that’s on the verge of extinction, Logan must tackle the question:

Can humanity save itself by increasing its intelligence?

This was my fourth Blake Crouch novel and didn’t disappoint! I love the way Crouch sucks me into sci-fi and makes it understandable (In a similar way to Andy Weir). He has the ability to bring the reader right to the center of the heart racing, mind blowing, death defying chaos. My only criticism is that I could have gobbled up another hundred pages to dive deeper.

And since Upgrade won’t be released until July, I won’t spoil a thing, but THAT EPILOGUE. Often an epilogue is rushed and doesn’t add much, but this one was brilliant. I’m still thinking about it days later and couldn’t be more fitting for where we are as a society. 👏👏

First off thanks NetGalley for the ARC. I was so very excited to get this advanced copy from one of my favorite authors.

Upgrade was a fast paced adventure in deciding what the right path was for humans. Crouch has a moral to all of his stories in which we as humans need to figure out how not to fail.

This book was filled with unique science that I honestly didn’t understand but Crouch’s prose made it work. I always find his work intriguing with deep and rich characters who are flawed. Logan was a man who suffered at the hands of his family but knew it was important to succeed to save his wife and daughter.

Highly suggest this read for a fast paced story that isn’t as far fetched as it could be.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I am not often interested in any writing that includes anything “sci-fi” in nature. However, Blake Crouch is the exception and this one did not disappoint. What would you do if you had the ability to “Upgrade” your DNA to be stronger, healthier, smarter? This really got me thinking and realizing that we it may not be so far fetched.

Upgrade delivers another win for Blake Crouch. Special thank you to NetGalley for the e-ACR of this book.

Logan Ramsey is an agent for a subsection of the government that cracks down on gene-editing crime. After serving time in prison for technology invented by Ramsey's mother, he is trying his best to atone and make right the mistakes of his past. Until one day, a raid gone wrong leaves Ramsey with a significant upgrade to his brain and complete DNA structure. As Ramsey figures out his new abilities he must also figure out who is behind this upgrade and what their end goal is.

In true Blake Crouch fashion, this book is face-paced with an extremely intense plot. What felt scarier in this book was that some of the threats seem totally plausible in the future and it really made me question the good and bad of what was happening. Technology is never 100% good or bad and can have drastic implications based on who is controlling the situation.

In addition to the fast-moving storyline, I really liked the underlying questions of humanity, good and evil, and technology this book makes the reader think about. I also like that all of Couch's books have strong family connections. I think the balance of technology and human nature makes his books relatable to many readers.

I highly recommend pre-ordering this book ahead of its July launch date!