Name of Book: Upgrade
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Sci-Fi
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine
Pub Date: July 12, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars

Logan and his partner worked for GPA “Gene Protection Agency” which is a special organization protecting us gene editing. When he and his partner Nadine Nettmann are on assignment in Denver, he get the all-clear from the SWAT to enter only there is an explosion and parts penetrate his hazmat protection. Doctors in their hazmat gear find that he has been infected by genetic-engineered virus that will modify his genetics structure.
After treatment he is released to return home.
Logan and his daughter are close a
Logan Ramsay is the son Miriam Ramsey, a scientist who was considered a genius until her miscalculated experiment kills millions. Logan and his daughter are close and although she has taken the last name of her mother she knows who her grandmother is and has questions.

There is no doubt this story will make you think. The author, Blake Crouch’s ‘Acknowledgements’ he states that this was the most difficult book of his career.

The Epilogue is awesome. Don’t want to give too much away but this comment really resonated with me and one I will remember ~
~We don’t have an intelligence problem but a compassion problem which is driving us toward
extinction. ~

Perhaps this comment may inspire you to read this novel.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 12, 2022.

Can having a higher intellect save humanity? That’s the premise in this fast paced, addicting new novel by Blake Crouch. Set in the near future, we meet Logan Ramsey as he tries to make amends for his mother’s sins, only to get caught up in her ultimate ambitious goal. Logan Ramsey, a devoted husband and father, finds himself in a nightmarish situation unsure of who he can trust. Ramsey is a wonderful character, full of self-doubts, empathy, and determination. Crouch also gives us a wonderful cast of supporting characters. The plotline is straightforward, without any confusing turns. Told through Logan Ramsey’s point of view, this tale takes off within a few pages. Could hardly put this book down!

Thought-provoking and Fascinating

Blake Crouch has crafted a thought-provoking, fascinating thriller about the scientifically and ethically complex subject of gene manipulation. Crouch does a very good job of providing the necessary scientific information while maintaining the fast pace of the story.

Siblings Logan and Kara Ramsay become the inadvertent point-counterpoint in the argument over the use of gene manipulation. As the conflict between the siblings escalates, the potential for misuse of this powerful technology or of unintended consequences by those with good intentions becomes abundantly clear.

You will find yourself thinking about this book long after you finish reading it

As a huge fan of Dark Matter I was so excited when I received an ARC of this book. Upgrade is a fast paced sci fi thriller. The story follows Logan, who joins the GPA, to sort of make amends for his mothers wrong doing. When genetic engineering goes too far. Logan is a bit of an "average joe" protagonist that gets thrust into this whole new world. What is willing to do? It lagged a bit in the middle but overall an easy 4 star read for me.

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.