Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Science fiction is a tough genre to master- especially when you combine dystopia to the scheme of things. What works for Blake Crouch’s Upgrade is the infusion of human emotions- the bond between a father and daughter and the sibling drama are major highlights. Blake Crouch takes us into a futuristic world where a misconstrued genetic experiment by visionary Mariam Ramsay, has wiped out a large chunk of human population and resources. So much so, genetic modification is now a criminal offence and our protagonist, Logan, son of the aforementioned, along with his colleagues at Gene Protection Agency are the helm of protection against such rogue acts. Upon the failure of one mission, Logan finds himself infected by a strain which gives him superhuman abilities. But was it a one off mission gone wrong or was it the beginning of something bigger as Logan is pitted against the visions of his mother and sister in a battle to save humanity and restore compassion.
Upgrade asks the rather uncomfortable question of whether emotion for our close ones is enough or are we running towards extinction by not being compassionate for the billions around us and our future generations. Crouch’s book is highly entertaining and at no time feels preachy or scientifically complex.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

#Upgrade #NetGalley

Blake Crouch is one of my very favorite authors, but he just missed the mark with this one. I felt like he was rushing it. Usually his character development is perfection, but I didn't care about this character or his family. Interesting premise, but poorly executed. I'll be back for his next one--hoping this was a fluke.

Black Crouch is the king of making you think & contemplate life & this book was no exception. It was a thrilling sci-fi novel & I can't wait to read more by him! This book was super fast paced & kept me hooked from the start. I loved all the medical information included & was surprised it didn't get to be boring or confusing. I will continue to read all his books!

Meet some mad scientists from the future. Since they think they are right and you are disposable, as collateral damage of their experiments, maybe you won't meet them or you will meet them in the most unfortunate of ways. There is no end to what they will do to achieve what they want, just try to stop them and you will die. Or course, you may die anyway.

Another great sci fi book from Blake Crouch. I think those who don't normally go for sciency books, but prefer thrillers would find this a good book. Because this could literally be us just around the corner, I think this book was written at a good time.
If a reader is looking for non stop action with a little bit of what is happening here action, pick this up.
Thanks for the complimentary copy from netgalley.

Stars: 3.5 out of 5

I have noticed a recurring theme with Blake Crouch's books - they are very readable, but I don't always "mesh" with the story as much as I would like to. The same thing happened with this book.

It started strong. The premise is chilling it its actuality. This is a very near future that could very well result from the actions we are taking today - global warming, widespread pollution of our environment, etc. Add to it experimentation with the DNA of anything and everything, and you have an explosive mix. No wonder it blows up in everybody's faces. 

Basically, a group of geneticists spearheaded by the protagonist's mother bioengineered a mosquito to carry a virus that would make rice paddies immune to a certain type of mold that was killing the crops... then they released it into nature. Things went horribly wrong. The virus jumped from rice to other crops, which resulted in a catastrophic decrease in yields. Hence widespread famine that killed several billion people worldwide. Now genome modification is outlawed, and our protagonist works for the enforcement agency, trying to atone for his mother's sins.

I loved that premise. There is a lot to unpack here. I even liked the protagonist, and there is plenty of action. Yet, the closer I got to the end of the book, the more disengaged I became with the story. And I'm not really sure what caused me not to "mesh" with this particular book. As I said, it is well written and hugely readable. 

I think one of the reasons is that our protagonist is dead set on stopping his sister, even though he acknowledges that something needs to be done before humanity annihilates itself. He never offers an alternative solution, he is just dead-set on stopping her. And to me, that rung false. I'm sure that if he'd come to his sister and said, "Humanity still have about 100 years before we crash and burn. How about we slow down and try to modify the parameters of this genetic payload we are trying to mass-deliver? How about we do this instead?" She would have worked with him. 

Instead he spends months trying to track his sister down and thwart her plans, and the alternative solution that's supposed to save mankind is mentioned in passing in the epilogue of the book. That was rather... underwhelming. I understand the message that the author wanted to give us with this story, but I think it would have been more impactful, if he'd laid a little bit more ground work for it throughout the book.

As it stands though, it was still a very enjoyable story, even if the ending wasn't to my liking.

PS: I received and advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about this one after finding Recursion unique and pretty enjoyable. This one was a little less entertaining than Recursion and suffered from some of the same problems. Mainly that it was a bit repetitive. As with Recursion, I did enjoy the unique premise and suspenseful aspects of the book.

Would you agree to be "better"? If you could "Upgrade" your current self ? This novel explores the idea and make the reader really consider the consequences. Interesting book.

Logan Ramsay feels different: his mind is sharper, he can concentrate more, and he basically can do everything better. When he discovers the truth, it is apparent to Logan that his genome has been hacked. The truth is almost too much to bear, especially when Logan realizes why he has been targeted. The only good thing is that the new abilities give him the opportunity to stop the horror that has been set in motion.

Upgrade is an interesting science fiction with a cautionary tale for the future. In reality, the science and bioengineering in this novel is probably more truth than fiction. The middle pages of the book are a little sluggish, but the overall feel of Upgrade is fast paced. I like the main character and his story, especially as Logan struggles with his new reality. Though Upgrade is not as good as the author's previous novels, I would still recommend this book to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

Another stunner by Blake Crouch! Crouch has a way of writing that the science he is talking about - in this case, genetic manipulation - is understandable. Or, at least I think I understand it. He writes plots that fly and this one moved so quickly in some sections that I had to force myself to slow down.

He gives us a thriller laced with sci-fi and in this case, a dose of ethics. While this story feels like the most plot-driven of all his books, I loved the characters and couldn’t put it down. His books are automatic must-reads for me now!

Blake Crouch is one of those authors I’ve heard amazing things about, and I own multiple of his books, but somehow I’ve yet to dive in to any of them. This changes today!

Sci-fi books have really been growing on me lately, and I loved how much this one focused on humans altering various DNA and genetic codes in the future. Part one was FILLED with action and suspense, and by the time I finished Part Two I was dying to know how Logan was going to figure everything out! (Being intentionally vague for the sake of spoilers)

I really enjoyed this book and felt like I was watching an action movie while I was reading. It also made me start to question the hypothetical future of humanity in general.

I will definitely be checking out the rest of his books now! Thank you to netgalley for my e-copy of this novel to read and honestly review.

It’s taken me a while to get around to reading this but O.M.G. This was my first Blake Crouch read and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the story line and the ending was perfect in my opinion. I was expecting something completely different with the way the story started out but loved the way Crouch executed this one! I feel like he did an excellent job developing Logan’s character, really connecting with him. I felt like I was in the middle of a sci-fit thriller/action movie during parts of the book and I loved that! I’ll be grabbing all the Blake Crouch books ASAP!!

Thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballentine for the ARC!

This was a riveting story from the opening pages. Logan Ramsay is as ordinary as they come. Ordinary intelligence, physique, life, but with an extraordinary backstory that unfolds slowly. He is the offspring of one of the world’s most brilliant biotech scientists, who also happens to be disgraces after her discovery led to the death of scores of people across the globe. But that pales in comparison to the legacy she leaves behind after her death.

After an unfortunate accident, Logan finds himself the victim of an upgrade to his entire body. He not only becomes stronger, more focused, and develops more endurance, but his new intelligence puts his former intellect to shame. But the government cannot allow him to be among the masses in his upgraded form. Soon, Logan is running for his life and the lives of everyone on earth. Because the same upgrade he was given is coming for everyone in the belief that smarter people will stop destroying the planet. Only one problem, up to a billion people could die from the upgrade.

Plot
The plotting is expertly done. The author takes on a fast-paced adventure as Logan races against time to save himself, his family, and the world as a whole. There are several amazing twists that were both heartbreaking and stunning. The subplotting is subtle and involves Logan’s family, but it’s so intertwined with the main plot, it almost doesn’t feel like a subplot.

Characters
The characters were fascinating, particularly Logan. His metamorphosis was believable as he evolved, his emotions wholly in synch with what he was experiencing. The rest of the cast were nearly as well developed, even minor characters.

What I Loved About UPGRADE
1. The Science. Crouch does a great job of making the futuristic seem possible and relevant.

2. Pacing. A fast-paced story that only let up long enough to allow us to catch our breath.

3. Plot. The plot was not only interesting, but chilling, and it pulled me in.

4. Theme. While the author is a little heavy with the theme, I think it’s an important one to dissect from all angles and he did a great job of that.

5. Twist. I love a good plot twist, and Blake Crouch had several that were fun as well as surprising.

Bottom Line
A gripping, fast-paced tale about a totally plausible, near-future dystopian Earth.

If you’re a Blake Crouch and Sci-fi fan, this book is for you!
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. .The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I don’t read much sci-fi but Crouch never disappoints! He takes all that science-y stuff and makes it readable & interesting but also human. There’s always an emotional undercurrent to the plot that captures me. This was about two siblings whose mother “upgrades” their genetic code w/o their consent bc she believes it is the key to saving humanity from itself. The siblings find themselves at odds with continuing their mother’s work and what ensues is a cat & mouse game of life between them while also essentially running from the authorities. Another Crouch win for me! 🧬

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I’ve enjoyed the author’s other work. I liked the idea of gene modifications and I can see something like this actually happening (which hopefully it doesn’t). I enjoyed the writing style, the descriptions, and the scientific terminology that is easy to comprehend. I didn’t feel drawn to any characters, but I did enjoy the relationship between Logan & Ava, especially during their chess games.

Logan's mother, a renowned scientist, unwittingly caused a worldwide famine while trying to make a better world through genetic engineering. His work for her landed him in jail while his mother took her own life rather than face the consequences. After serving time, he is now an agent for the Gene Protection Agency, tasked with preventing outlawed genetic research to hopefully prevent another tragedy. He is happily married with a daughter he adores. The world itself is in trouble. Climate change is putting the planet on a perilous course and humanity needs to act to save itself.

When a raid on a suspected genetic lab ends with Logan being injured in an explosion, he finds himself changing in ways he can't understand. And when the government discovers these changes, Logan becomes the object of their study. They discover his genetic code has been hacked and the life that he has known is changed forever. When he is busted out of the government facility by his sister, he discovers that what he thought he knew about his family was wrong.

Logan and his sister find themselves on opposite sides of the genetic debate. His sister believes that by genetically modifying humanity, they can save the world from its eventual demise. Logan however, has seen firsthand that these perceived "upgrades" can cause things to become even worse. As they battle each other both physically and philosophically, time is running out to prevent a disaster that is worse than anyone could believe possible.

This book is a perfect blend of thriller, sci fi, dystopian and philosophy all rolled into one. I think the most unique thing about this book was the way that the battle between good and evil results in many shades of grey. I also loved how the science of genetic engineering is used throughout. It added a layer of reality into the story. Blake Crouch asks some of most important questions of our time, makes a real emotional connection between the characters and the reader, and uses smart writing to keep the pages turning. Having read and loved his previous novels, Upgrade was one I had really been looking forward to, proving yet again that he truly is one of the top sci fi writers of today.

If you’re a Blake Crouch or Sci-fi fan you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Blake Crouch's writing is so different from what I typically read. It's plot-driven, thrill-packed, and science-forward in its sci-fi-ness. The pace is fast and focused on action in a way that feels very cinematic, which always makes for an entertaining read.

Though it was enjoyable and entertaining, this one was rather forgettable for me. The ride was fun, but some substance was missing to make me really care about the characters or their motivations. There wasn't enough setup to make me feel for the people, nor was there much development of the characters throughout. The book's direction felt pretty predictable and resolved itself a bit too easily.

I recommend this to folks looking for a sci-fi, action-movie-esque read. It kept me interested (if not invested) throughout, and I would definitely watch a movie adaptation (which I believe is in the making).

Interested in having an existential crisis brought on by the realization of life's fragility and the impending mortality of our species? Have I got the book for you!

"What do you call a heart that is simultaneously full and breaking? Maybe there's no word for it, but for some reason, it makes me think of rain falling through sunlight."

As ever, Blake Crouch's writing is an assault to the senses. THIS (*insert image of me aggressively pointing to my book*) is how sci-fi is done, people.

What I'm most impressed with is how comprehensible his writing is while still being so elaborately engaging. I might be a little bit biased because I do think I have a more scientifically-oriented mind based on my own studies and experiences, but I still think that Crouch has made his writing as accessible as possible to a huge range of readers. There's something so smooth and fresh about the way the story unfolds that leads to me practically wanting to lick the words right off the page if it means I get to consume them that much faster.

The story itself? Fuck me, if that shit wasn't extraordinary. I was invested from the very first page and only became more invested at every shocking twist and turn. Not only was Logan a compellingly complex character, but his actions and experiences take us on an emotional journey that had me questioning my own morals (and frankly, sobbing like a baby) on more than one occasion. Logan's story triumphantly brings attention to the fate of the world, the relativity of happiness, what it means to be human, and the simple fact that surviving isn't living.

If I could give it 6 stars, I would.

Link to review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4521455016