Upgrade by Black Crouch is a thrilling, science fiction novel set in a not to distant future. Logan Ramsay lives in a world where he knows that the well-intended actions of his mother's team resulted in massive crop failure and the death of over 200 million people. As a direct result, genetic modifications are now significantly regulated and off limits to science outside of the illegal black market. Logan works with the government agency that shuts down illegal operations, but on his latest mission something goes wrong. As he recovers from his injuries, he realizes he is stronger, smarter, needs less sleep, can remember things with a precision that is impossible,,,, and he is in trouble. Logan must discover what has happened to him, who has done, and what are the bigger implications all while evading the government and coming to terms with his past.

The pages of this story basically turn themselves and I found it nearly impossible to put it down once I began to read. The story is entertaining and reads almost like a blockbuster hit, but also manages to make important underlying messages about the way that humans care for each other as a whole and the world we live in and rely on! While I would say this is a dystopian future, it feels pretty realistic and as such is thought provoking.

I would highly recommend for a variety of readers- those who like science fiction thrillers, dystopian futures, people interested in genetics, or just someone looking for a fast paced exciting read. I think this is my favorite Blake Crouch novel yet! Thank you to #NetGalley, Blake Crouch, and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review!

BLAKE CROUCH DOES IT AGAIN. Crouch is legit one of my favorite authors. This book was dense and smart. It took some concentration, but man was the payoff worth it!

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Wow! I loved this book! The futuristic embellishments and the science are a knockout! The story is loaded with flawed, but colorful characters. Crouch’s imaginative world is scary and amazing. I totally recommend this book to readers who want to follow the fantasy and science fiction of this truly gifted author.

QUICK TAKE: Ultimately extremely enjoyable, but definitely reminiscent of films like LIMITLESS and LUCY. The story of a man who is accidentally exposed to a dirty bomb that genetically modifies his DNA is propulsive and entertaining and action-packed, but I would have preferred more insight into the MC's family dynamics with his sister and mother, and I was way more fascinated by the "gene war" and world-building than I was with the central plot. That being said, my review here is meaningless as everyone and their mother is going to read this one!

Blake Crouch is the best at bringing the future into the present. He is also one of the best at opening your mind to deep thought. A lot of his concepts have stuck with me for years after I read his books. This was no exception. I highly recommend it.

If we were smarter,would we be better? Blake Crouch explores this question in "Upgrade" in an action-packed ride packed with enough science facts and fiction to satisfy any fan of near-future thrillers.

This is my first Blake Crouch book and I can honestly say that I will be reading his other books now. Upgrade is a fast-paced sci fi action thriller that grabs you from the premise and doesn’t let go until the last page. I loved the idea of gene editing and the possible places that it can go. Fair warning, you do have to pay attention. If you’re looking for a book to skim through or listen to in the background while you do other things, this might not be that book.
It is easy to see the government’s reaction to a mistake and overreact accordingly. This overreaction led to the creation of the GPA, the gene protection agency, who our protagonist, Logan works for. Logan, unfortunately, is also the son of the renowned geneticist who accidentally killed a large portion of the population when her creation mutated beyond her control. While Logan was conducting a raid, there was an explosion and he was caught in the blast. A month later, his body and mind start changing.
I liked the gradual changes and how Logan adapted to them. Twisted up in all the action and science, there is quite a bit of psychological contemplation going on. What is acceptable to create a possible outcome? What are we willing to lose? All in all, a well written, enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my unbiased opinion.

Global warming has changed how we grow food, our weather, and our health. A brilliant scientist manipulates human DNA to enhance our intelligence and other "important" traits. Genetic manipulation and experimentation are banned by the government. When a man begins noticing changes in himself, what should he do? Logan Ramsay suddenly found himself reading faster, concentrating more easily, and recalling memories vividly. At first, he doesn't really think about it. When he notices changes happening to his body too then he knows something is different. His DNA has been hacked. Who did this? How did they manage to do it? Why is he a target?

Logan's family legacy is tainted by his mother's misguided activities prior to her death. He wonders if he is being targeted. He also wonders whether he is the only one experiencing these changes. What could happen to humanity if someone is secretly manipulating DNA? Knowing what type of enhancements can be made will force Logan to decide whether to warn of the consequences or just enjoy his improvements.

This is an epic story that touches on global warming, genetic manipulation, and government control. It is quick-moving and vividly believable. How far are we from the genetic enhancements becoming something to watch for? The not-too-distant future looks terrifying when seen through Blake Crouch's eyes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an eArc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Upgrade was another exciting thriller full of adventure from Blake Crouch. I’m an absolute sucker for Crouch’s books. They are always such a good time, and Upgrade is no exception.

If you had the power to prevent the extinction of humanity, but still had to murder millions, would you do it? Or do nothing?

Logan Ramsay is the victim of an IED who’s shrapnel imbeds a virus into his body. Weeks later, doctors cannot detect any symptoms and give him a clean bill of health. But Logan starts feeling different. Upgraded. Suddenly he’s reading faster, running harder, and bringing forth memories from years ago. His intelligence, endurance, and stamina have all been upgraded. When he discovers another victim of the virus, they have differing views on what direction they should take. Either inject the virus and save humanity, but killing millions. Or do nothing and let humans die out. Or could there be a third option?

This book was pretty fast paced and exciting. If you’re a fan of his other works, I would recommend this one. This story is a bit heavy on the science. I personally enjoy these types of books, but if you’re the type to be intimidated by scientific jargon and discussions, this may not be for you. Crouch does a fair job of explaining a good portion of the subjects being discussed, but there are a few sections that even I wasn’t sure about. I just used the context to understand what was being discussed.

My thanks to @Ballantine Books, as well as to @NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Upgrade.

“The greatest threat to our species lies within us.”

Very cool book!!! I was grabbed from the beginning when Logan Ramsay finds himself better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep. (I've reached the age where I could use an upgrade!😄) I absolutely loved the relationship Logan had with his daughter. In fact, there was a lot of emotion, as well as massive action in this book!

I must admit that soooo much of the science went over my head. After reading about half the book, I found myself skimming past the science. It was just too much. That worked for me but I'm not sure it would work for everyone. This would have been a 5-star review if the story hadn't been somewhat bogged down by all of the science. Still, it was an intense and enjoyable ride, in my opinion.

Excellent book! The author explains the science very well so I could follow the details easily. This book really stuck with me. I asked myself over and over what I would have chosen. I STILL do not know!
I hope this is turned into a movie or series like Wayward Pines was.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dark Matter and Recursion so had high hopes for Upgrade. While I enjoyed the overall concept of this book, I ended up disappointed by the end. I think this one felt more like a dystopian thriller than an exploration of a mind-bending future technology. Perhaps it is set in a time a little too near the present and the problems of climate change, lack of privacy, and government overreach were a little too close to reality for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me preview Upgrade by Blake Crouch in exchange for an honest review. I would have purchased this book when it came out as I am a long time fan of Crouch's writing. Unfortunately, Upgrade missed the mark for me.

The major issues I had were with the science and the rushed ending. Crouch got very in the weeds with his listing of various genes and their expressions. It was a bit tedious and took me out of the story. Also, the ending/epilogue did not seem earned. It came out of nowhere and felt rushed and out of place. I did like overall conclusion, but the story didn't build up to it properly.

Upgrade has one major theme that I agree with wholeheartedly - humans need compassion for others in order to save ourselves from ruin. Just because those of us privileged enough to be born in America don't see the toll that climate change and overconsumption are having on other parts of the world doesn't mean that people aren't suffering. Crouch is saying something necessary with Upgrade; I just feel the story doesn't live up to that message.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books.

I'd never read anything by Blake Crouch before but I have heard rave reviews so I was thrilled to take a crack at this one.

In a pretty awful near future, gene editing is the rage. Our protagonist Logan is a member of the Genetic protection Agency and on a mission suddenly he starts getting....weird.

This book is very detailed about the genetic stuffs and is asking some pretty big questions!

I really, really enjoyed it.

This was my first experience reading a thriller by Blake Crouch and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Upgrade explores the ramifications of genetic engineering that transforms Blake Ramsey, an agent of GPA (Genetic Protection Agency) into a human with enhanced skills. This science-fiction story also explores family relationships and delves into the science of DNA. It is an action-packed story that keeps you motivated to keep reading. Some readers may not enjoy the intricate details about DNA, but it did not detract from the story. I highly recommend this book for lovers of science fiction.

First let me say that I LOVE Blake Crouch's books. Having said that I did not enjoy this book at all. It was way too detailed and descriptive and it was just plain boring. Sorry.

Blake Crouch returns with another buzz-worthy novel of trippy and smart science fiction, and I'm somehow lucky enough to be graced with an advanced reader's copy. I was going to wait a bit...but I couldn't resist diving in.

Upgrade is the near-future story of Logan Ramsey, an ordinary guy working for the Gene Protection Agency (GPA) who has a hell of a traumatic family history and carries a large amount of guilt. In this near-future world, the planet is careening towards destruction (Lower Manhattan has been reduced to a flooded no man's land inhabited only by the homeless) and gene editing / DNA manipulation has been made common enough to necessitate the creation of an entire agency to crack down on it. Here we meet Logan heading on a raid with his partner, where he's exposed to something that slowly begins to rewire his DNA, making him stronger, colder, more intelligent, and less human. Logan quickly finds himself ensnared in a deadly plan encompassing all of humanity and tied directly into his family trauma.

As with Recursion and Dark Matter before it, Upgrade asks plenty of Big Questions through its science fiction setting. Upgrade settles on a very existential and ponderous tone regarding the nature of humanity and our responsibility as a species in a crumbling world. If given the ability to act unilaterally for the good of the planet and the species, should we take that chance regardless of the cost? Can we have Free Will and still survive? Most importantly, what role has compassion played in the story of Homo Sapiens, and what role should it strive towards in the future?

I can't say you'll be able to definitively answer all of these questions by the end of Upgrade but you'll definitely have a hell of a ride trying to get there with Logan, and your knowledge of what DNA strains are tied to things like cognitive functioning and memory will certainly get a kick in the pants.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Netgalley**

This is a fast paced book with multiple locations. The characters, though never fully developed, have enough flaws for the reader to partially understand their reasoning. This book asks a timely "jurassic Park" question....they were so busy wondering if they could, the never stopped to think if they ShOULD!
With biohacking into our genes and DNA, this book provides a look into the future of gene modificaiton.
While I really like the story, the ending left a lot to be desired.
I felt that the author could have picked any one of a number of things to conclude the book, and it was the same thing that his mother and sister did.
Overall a great book till the last 5%.

Blake Crouch's latest novel is a sci-fi thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat while making you think. I've been interested in reading his books over the years and never did. So I'm very glad I was pre-approved to read Upgrade early. That's never happened to me before, I feel special, haha. I know for sure I'll have to catch up on all that I've missed now.

Set in the near distant future that seems plausible and realistic, gene modification is illegal. This is thanks to Miriam Ramsay's work that while brilliant and well meaning, lead to the deaths of millions. Our protagonist Logan is her son and feels guilt for what his mother did.

Working for the Gene Protection Agency is a way to atone for everything. He is an agent that takes down the people that try to mess with the natural way of things. He's not as brilliant as his mother, he's a normal man. Until the day a raid goes wrong and he's exposed unexpectedly to something. Something that changes him. Upgrades him..

I'm certainly not a genius, I can only grasp mostly the basics in anything STEM related. I mention this as proof that even if this book doesn't totally dumb down the gene stuff, it's still easy to get into. I like that it's not a "cold" scientific story. Upgrade has heart.

It would probably be enough for the plot to just be about Logan being transformed and on the run from the agency he used to work for. But there's other stakes involving the fate of humanity. His opinion differs from others that think upgraded people are the only ones that can fix things. Well, he claims to disagree with their methods anyway.

So I guess the real point of the plot is we've all been indifferent to the effects of climate change for too long. And it takes better people that have overcome the problems in our genes that make us ignore all of our continuing harm to our planet. This doesn't take into account the fact most of the people on this earth aren't to blame and can't really do much to make a real difference.

Overall, I really did enjoy this. I'm glad I was given the chance to read this and that I accepted. And I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't want my genes manipulated in ways that would keep me healthy and make it so I'm sharper and don't really need sleep. But..maybe it's best to leave well enough alone.

Thank you Kathleen Quinlan, Penguin Random House, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

I’m not one to read sci-fi and this book totally blew my mind. It felt very much like a thriller with a heavy emphasis on the science of genetics. The premise was accessible, thought-provoking and honestly quite believable, so don’t be intimidated if you’re not a science person. I wouldn’t even read the story’s synopsis going in.

What’s most fascinating about Upgrade is that it is set in the future. We do not know the exact time period but it includes a world where downtown Manhattan is flooded due to climate change, the cars are all electric, planes move at supersonic speed, security cameras have facial recognition and people eat synthetic meat due to a changes in food supply. In this world, scientists are now banned from altering one’s DNA. The fact that DNA modification is even a thing in this time
period is scary to think about.

In this novel, the main character, Logan Ramsey, is a brilliant scientist who displayed a great amount of empathy and emotion. From the very first page,
the story depicts the struggles between scientific superiority and human ethics. At times, it’s hard to see what is right or wrong and how far one can go to protect the human race.

Read if you like:
🧬 Biology/ genetics
🧬 Thrillers
🧬 Books set in the future
🧬 Exploring the effects of climate change
🧬 Strong character development
🧬 Satisfying endings

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review. Pub date: 7/12/22