Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for this ARC. I greatly appreciated being given the opportunity to read Upgrade. Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

Unfortunately this isn’t my kind of genre, which is why I thought it was decent. I 100% think sci-fi fans and Black Crouch fans are going to absolutely love this book. It was good on some perspectives and the MC was fantastic. I, however, had a hard time with the science terms, but I still recommend to those who like this genre.

3.5 stars

In Upgrade, we are following Logan, who is an employee of the Gene Protection Agency. While on a mission, he is exposed to an unknown virus, and ends up being “Upgraded”. This DNA based virus starts changing Logan for the better, making him wicked smart and able to remember entire parts of his life, down to the exact conversations. Keep in mind, this is in a near-distant future where genetic engineering is no longer allowed due to a global starvation event caused by GMOs.

As a hardcore Crouch fan that was gifted this novel, I have to say I’m a smidge disappointed with how this turned out. I really LOVED the first 50%. I loved getting to know why he was involved with the agency, and more of his past with his family. I also enjoyed the plot twists in the first half and learning more about this near-future world through his descriptions of cities and climates.

But after he was fully upgraded, he became a really insufferable character that just regurgitated biology books. I found myself skimming some of these DNA science heavy bits, because there were too many examples listed over and over. I also found the last half repetitive, and I no longer felt the stakes that should have been involved. When you’re one of the smartest people on Earth, you’d think that they would have interesting thoughts, but I found Logan quite boring and elitist after the upgrade. He was too busy analyzing to give us a plot device!

Also, the ending fight sequences were so incredibly difficult/boring/confusing to read as the building and the floors are being described. So much of it was hard to picture in my head, so it didn’t resonate for me. At least the epilogue was charming and redeeming!

This was a great concept, but I think it may have worked better as a novella - we could cut out a bit after the 50% mark and still get to the good stuff. (also cut some of the science out)

TW: Genetic Engineering, Medical Testing, Violence

*Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review! I would love to read more Crouch in the future*

When I found out I had been given an advance copy for one of my most anticipated new releases of this year I literally screamed out loud and then proceeded to read the entire book in one afternoon because I was THAT excited and let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed.
Synopsis: The world is on the brink of collapse after an effort to solve world hunger through genetic engineering has resulted in a catastrophic famine. Logan Ramsay, average son of a brilliant scientist, may be the only man who can save it but first he must undergo a massive transformation that changes him so completely he isn’t sure he still counts as human.
Review: Before finishing the opening sentence I was reminded of why I loved the author’s last two books. This is atmospheric sci-fi at its most compelling and I was immediately drawn in by the action and mystery.
Part of why I think Crouch is so successful at writing science fiction is his ability to make difficult concepts approachable and meaningful for his readers. Exposition is deftly woven throughout the narrative in a way that never feels clunky or heavy handed. His writing is crisp and refreshing in its simplicity while delving into deep philosophical questions about the nature of humanity.
The pacing is excellent and while there’s no massive twist there are plenty of surprises along the way to keep the plot moving.
This is a somewhat more introspective journey as compared to Crouch’s previous novels however it still delivers a powerful and emotional message about what it means to be human.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary sci-fi with depth.
You can pre-order a copy now!
Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhouse and @blakecrouch1 for this digital ARC.
Pub date July 12, 2022
Review published on Goodreads March 17, 2022

Fast paced and super interesting. Lord of science but I never feel stupid when reading the technical aspects of the story. I trust that the author did his research and knows what he’s writing about. Very much a page turner. This was my first read from Blake Crouch and it had me excited to read more of his work which is probably the best compliment a new reader could give an author

Upgrade is set in the future where genetic modifications are outlawed. Centered around changing DNA to "upgrade" humans. Fast paced drama and high stakes for the future of humanity which keeps the action going. Beautifully written, intense, page-turning thriller, seem to be the words I use to describe any Blake Crouch novel.

Crouch does a great job of balancing science jargon with laymans terms so that your eyes don't roll to the back of your head and you still can understand what's going on. Lots to enjoy here, especially for fans of Black Mirror.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Blake Crouch for the electronic ARC.

An odd but compelling story about upgrading who you are.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Upgrade by Blake Crouch combines genetic engineering science fiction with a techno-thriller. Logan Ramsay and his partner Nadine Nettman work for the Gene Protection Agency (GPA). They are with a SWAT team looking for an illegal genetics laboratory. Logan is the first one in the basement. An explosion causes shrapnel to puncture his hazmat gear. He wakes up on the hospital infected by a virus; one designed to modify his genetic structure. The virus soon disappears and Logan returns to work. However, he is noticing changes. His bone density increases and he’s getting smarter with better concentration and a photographic memory. With this as a starting point, I believe it’s better if readers go into this with little knowledge of what is to come.

Logan is a nice person that has had a rough time of it during the last few years, but he has a loving wife and daughter. He hates his job, but doesn’t know what else he would do. He’s the son of Miriam Ramsey who killed millions when a genetic experiment went wrong. His character experiences extreme growth in many ways during the course of book. The other characters provide support or opposition and include law enforcement, military personnel, co-workers, and family members.

The story is engaging and suspenseful, keeping me turning the pages. There is a lot of information about genetics, but that is something that interests me. The plot is shocking and the action amazing. This is a science-based thriller set in the future and it has some unexpected twists and turns. My one quibble is that there is some slower pacing in the middle of the book. It doesn’t last long and maybe readers need that breather before the astonishing second half. Themes include genetic engineering, experiments, family, trust, betrayal, and much more.

Overall, this was an entertaining, appealing, and somewhat scary novel when one thinks about the possibilities of what can go wrong with genetic engineering. There are some pivotal stressful and emotional times. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Blake Crouch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 12, 2022.

Honestly, I am not super into Sci-Fi, but I trusted the reviews of others on the author's previous book, but ultimately this wasn't for me.

Beautifully written, intense, page-turning thriller. These seem to be the words I use to describe any Blake Crouch novel. The premise is out there, but buyable. I was stolen away from page one. Already looking forward to my next Crouch novel.

Crouch is a master at what he does! Although the premises of his books can seem far fetched at a glance, they are so well written that you get sucked in for the ride right from the start. Upgrade was no exception. An intense plot with a heartfelt undertone, this novel was an exciting ride that left me with some strong feelings by the last page turn.

Blake Crouch's books fall into one of my favorite corners of the Sci-Fi spectrum along with the those of Michael Crichton and Nanny Kress: exploring how different aspects of a potential new technology may impact us all, from the societal level down to that of the individual. I very much enjoyed his Dark Matter and Recursion even more, so I was quite enthused when I was offered the chance to read his upcoming work "Upgrade" in advance of publication.

Unfortunately, Upgrade fell rather flat for me. Perhaps part of it was the ambitiousness of the setting as rather than focus on one key idea, Crouch tries to introduce many ideas and cannot give much time to any one topic. At times, the world building seemed inconsistent and irregular, and the narrative fell into telling-rather-than-showing too often.

Perhaps part of it was the demeanor and descriptions of the characters; the manner in which our main character and his journey is depicted failed to grab me and felt rather forced and contrived (like the boasting of a charlatan) rather than sincere (one cannot help but draw parallels between this and the better execution in a certain work by Daniel Keyes). I just could not see him as the character he claimed to be, and this disconnect is further deepened by the predictable manner in which the plot unfolds and the surprising way it concludes.

Perhaps part of it was the contradictory and mixed messaging of the novel; my favorite aspect of this sub-genre is the exploration of scientific ethics in theory and in practice with the application of new tech, yet this novel lacked much of the nuance and was rather ham-handed with the messaging. Then, worst of all, it appeared to contradict its core thesis by the end of the book. I was left feeling confused and angry by the inconsistency and found myself feeling our protagonist was no better than those portrayed as villains, which I do not think that was Crouch's intent.

I'm appreciative for NetGalley and Random House for providing me access, and while I was not enamored by this work, I do look forward to seeing if this was just a blip of the last couple of years' craziness and what else Crouch may write in the future.

Blake Crouch does it again!

Upgrade is nothing short of a sci-fi masterpiece!
Crouch is a master at creating worlds where nothing is as it seems.
He knows how to keep you on your toes and does a great job at mixing thriller and sci-fi genre.
I could not put this down. This story is a true pager turner. Entralling, in every way possible! This book was brilliant.
Intriguing and super fast paced straight from the beginning. Crouch knows how to weave a great story and he's done it again in what is hands down his best work yet!
And I can't wait to have it on my shelf with my other Blake books!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Ballantine Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am not a lover of Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but when Blake Crouch puts a new book out I have to get my hands on it! Upgrade has such a great premise it was more like non-fiction not Sci-Fi it was eerie. I could totally picture it actually happening one day. Readers are going to love this one.

It turned out that reading about a man being turned into the "perfect" upgraded human being was really not as interesting as I thought. I really had trouble staying engaged while having absolutely no points of connection with either the main character or his primary antagonist. And while the epilogue twisted things around in a somewhat clever way, I am not convinced the solution would play out much better than what they were fighting in the main part of the story. This was 2.5 stars for me but rounded down for not even being memorable enough for me to write a review in a timely manner.

I loved this newest book from Blake Crouch, and will be recommending this as a great summer read for library patrons.

Blake did it again with his wonderful storytelling. He mixes science and classic mystery, and does so in a pleasant way. This book had plenty of suspense and espionage, relationships, heartbreak, and the whole gamut. Thank you for this advanced copy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first began reading upgrade but I very quickly realized I was in for quite a treat. By the end of the book, I felt that I could really relate to the situation and the challenges that the characters faced; not in that this futuristic problem has happened to me, but more so The idea that not everything is black-and-white. The book is broken up into three distinct parts, Each with its own unique feel. The first part is a bit of suspense with science and technology built in. We’re learning about society that takes place in the mid 21st-century, as well as About our main character of Logan Ramsey. The first part of the book has some good action and gets you wondering what’s next and how is the story going to unfold. The second part of the book is when things really start to get interesting. We start to learn about what makes each character unique and we start to learn what makes each character live their lives the way they do and how they make decisions. The author is very good at using past storytelling to make us understand why the characters are the way they are today, what life experiences they’ve had that affect the way that they process problems throughout the world, and ultimately how they make decisions to try to make things better for everyone. As you move through the second part of the book you begin to understand what the challenges are for society and what the characters perceive the solutions to be. The first two sections I’ve been used to help us understand the hypothetical science that is taking place, hypothetical solutions and the different ideals of each character involved. The third section is very thought-provoking. While it still some contains good suspense and action, The author really gets you thinking about making decisions with a black-and-white mindset or if you’re willing to see areas of gray and look beyond what seems to be the only solution. This book remind me a little bit of captain America in that with the genetic modifications that take place a lot of times when you’re so close to the situation you might not identify the ramifications of doing such a large scale overhaul to society. The idea that simply making everyone smarter, stronger, faster, and more intelligent would be the answer to solving the size problems is not necessarily the case it takes deeper understanding and deeper thinking to really see in this example what needs to be done in order to make humans more willing to help each other for the good of all people.

2.25 stars!

I think hardcore Blake Crouch fans will totally dig this.

I myself, am more a "I'll pick up Blake for a good time kinda gal." I know I won't be getting a new favorite, but I do expect to have a good time.

BUTTTTTTTTT....the ride for <i>Upgrade</i> didn't quite work for me. The first 50%, I was fully IN, having a grand ole time....but then I got bored and found myself skimming. It started to get repetitive and it felt like it kept going...on...and on....and on...

To me, this felt like it would have made for a better short story/novella!! I feel it would have been more impactful and thought-provoking if it had been cut down a bit.

What I do appreciate about Blake thought, is how his ideas always make you question just how far is it OK to go?????? Should we alter DNA to make people 'upgraded' versions of themselves? Would it help save the world, faster?

I don't know, all I know is keep your fingers outta my DNA, Mr. Crouch!

So to Blake Crouch fans out there - I totes think you'll enjoy this one. If you're new to Blake, I would recommend starting with something else from his backlist.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the ARC and wanting my honest opinion!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC for an unbias review. Upgrade is another thrill ride from Blake Crouch, more similar to his book Recursion than Dark Matter.

The "science" is fun, and with genetic engineering and virulent strains being all over the news, I think this will be the summer of 2022' best seller.

Logan (MC)'s history and eventually how he becomes "Upgraded" is fascinating to read about, and it actually served as a catalyst for a lot of conversations in my everyday life in healthcare. The ethics, how far is too far, and the cascade effects that playing "God" could incur. This book was an awesome read.