Run is Blake Crouch's first novel and this version is a re-release. The book is about a family of four and one day chaos erupts, and violence begins. Jack and his family run for their lives. I really enjoyed it. It was fast-paced, and although the pace slowed a bit in the middle part, most of the time it was very intense. If you want an entertaining, fast-paced apocalyptic thriller, I recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️: 3.5/5

My first reaction to reading this was, “Am I reading an actual horror movie?”

I have to be honest, the plot of this one is pretty close to my worst case, nightmare scenario of the apocalypse. I hate thinking about the collapse of civilization and what modern comforts and securities I’d have to give up in the wake of it. I am truly not someone who would be cut out for surviving a civilization collapse, and the recognition of that makes books like this just so, so stressful to read about for me.

A lot of my complaint about this one were based on comparisons to other Blake Couch books that I’ve read and loved. For instance, this feels like a much less well-formed of an idea, with much less scientific data backing up the “explanation” of the whole thing. The characters also felt less real and emotionally complex than usual for his books. Then I read the author’s note and learned that this was actually Crouch’s first, self-published book before he gained more widespread, commercial notoriety. This being his first novel really explained away some of the issues I had with it, since I was reading it under the assumption this was his latest work. For this reason, I ended up giving it another half star than I originally would have.

The nightmares I have from this one will be so real though.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this eARC for my review!!

Strange lights in the sky that make everyone who sees them, a murderous monster towards the people who didn’t see them? Post apocalyptic survival story, featuring a family on the run THE ENTIRE BOOK? Sign me up. I laughed, I felt comforted, I felt stressed, and I felt proud of these characters!

This book had me STRESSED from page 10 on 😂
Literally non stop chaos and a few jump scares if I’m being honest.
I went in not even remembering what this book was about, and just liking the author (shout out to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this before it’s publishing date, which is later this month!) and that made it so much more thrilling to discover the plot organically haha. Absolutely will recommend, this book was insane.

Blake you beautiful son of a bitch *slow clap*

I was very excited to recieve an ARC of this re-release by Blake Crouch. I flew through another of his, Dark Matter, and this one gave me the same feelings while being a page-turning, anxiety inducing read, despite being a short read.

We follow the Colcloughs, a family of 4 as they escape scene after terrifying scene of people trying to kill them. The apocolyptic setting is thought to have been caused by the effects of those who watched the recent aurora. They are generally vicous, angry and violent people now who kill anyone in their path.

I enjoyed the mix of petrifying chapters while the family was fleeing with the mix of survivalism required by this family who is now off the grid and has to stay hidden to stay alive. However, gIven this was a re-release I'd have loved to see expansion on the family member's affected and a little more at the ending that felt just a bit abrupt.

Goodreads posted on 09/23/2024.
Instagram to be posted in early October

I’ve read several of Blake Crouch’s novels and really enjoyed them so when the opportunity to read an ARC of Run came to me I immediately accepted. I’m so glad that I did! This book started off with a bang and did not stop until it ended! An event similar to Northern lights caused people who saw it to start taking the lives of those who did not. Those who did not ran for their lives and many did not make it. This story follows a family as they try to make it across the border to Canada where they believe they will be safe. I couldn’t put down the book and I believe I will be thinking about it for a while! I just found out that this story was originally published in 2011, but somehow I hadn’t read it.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the digital ARC

Thank you to Random House Publiahing Group for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is out 10/22!

Sci-fi/Dystopian/Thriller. It starts with a cop shooting up a nursing home. Then wide spread school shootings. Then the power and cell towers go out, and names and addresses of people to kill are recited over the emergency broadcast system. When Jack Colclough hears his name, he knows he and his family only have minutes to escape. With few provisions and a tank of gas, Jack and his family head north from Albuquerque, NM in hopes of finding safety. Fleeing increasing large convoys of murderers, decimated cities, and starvation, Run tells the story of what one man is willing to do to save his family.

WOW was this fast paced. It jumps immediately into the story which helps put you into the state of mind of Jack and what happens when the world falls apart. I didn’t realize that this is the first book that Crouch self published, and it stands quite a bit apart from his normally more sci-fi leaning novels (this could even be considered horror). It is very graphic and gory and could totally see this being a crazy action movie (felt similar to the first episode of The Last of Us). Was it a super original plot? Not really, but it was well executed and I could not put it down.

This felt a lot more like a thriller than some of his previous work, but I liked it! Everything felt so high stakes and fast paced. The way Blake Chrouch tells stoies always keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Run by Blake Crouch

Fast paced page turner. The situation makes no sense, the reader is just as perplexed as the characters, learning more page by page. Reminded me of ‘Pines’ in that way. Realized after reading that this book was originally written in 2011 and releasing in US this year.
A suspenseful tale full of surprises, horror, the worst of people, and the best of people all at the same time. Hard to put the book down once you start, be warned! Keep Running, don’t stop! Don’t let them catch you! But who are they, and why are they chasing you?

I loved Dark Matter and Pines by Blake Crouch. Run was also fast-paced, but the characterizations were a bit under-written.

After a strange astral event, an epidemic of rage overtakes the country and random murders start. There is no rhyme or reason; people are killing strangers, neighbors, friends, and even family. When they start reading names of people to target over the radio and Jack Colclough hears his name, he knows he has to pack up his wife and kids and get out of town. They keep running, trying to reach Canada where they learn of refugee camps but will they all stay alive?

Even nearly a week after finishing this book I don't know what I think. I don't know if I liked it, but I didn't hate it as I was fully expecting it to become a DNF. I found it gripping and compelling, but I don't know if I would recommend other people to read it.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me an ARC copy via Netgalley in exchange for my review!

This book had me in a choke hold from the beginning! It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time (in an amazing way). Run was so fast paced, intense, and I could not put it down! My heart was pounding while reading the entire time and towards the end I started sweating because I was so into it. It kept me constantly on edge and was truly an amazing read. I knew I loved Blake Crouch for a reason. His writing is captivating and so easy to read. The story line was amazing and interesting. It left a lot of questions, however I enjoyed the questions I was left with. I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. Absolutely 5/5 stars!!!

*Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

What would you do for your family?

Be warned, this is NOT your usual Blake Crouch sci-fi thriller. If you are squeamish, this is not the one for you. It absolutely leans way more towards horror and was quite jarring. But once we really settle into the genre, it was scary, invigorating, and everything I want from a horror novel. Violence spreads across the country, with a viral "us vs them" mentality that literally kills. My heart raced as the Colclough family fled New Mexico, hunted by armies of rabid killers. Ultimately this is a story about humanity and family in the face of imminent danger and how far you'd go to survive. If that sounds good to you with all of its caveats, then I definitely recommend it.

This book was crazy. Wild from the jump and action packed. The world is ending...people are killing each other. But why? This gives the typical Blake Crouch eerie and unsettling vibes. Unfortunately, I found the story to drag a bit during the middle. The chase and rest. The chase and rest. It did give me anxiety for sure but I think I wanted more. More explanation of why this was happening. And my god some parts were super gory which I was not prepared for! This was still an enjoyable read and I was absolutely rooting for this family to survive and make it through. But the ending - I just wanted to know more. So 3.75 rounded up to 4.

Wow this was incredible.

Fast paced, fascinating story premise. I ate it up.

Blake Crouch did not disappoint with this one. Gave post-apocalyptic/World War Z/Walking Dead vibes.

Blake, Blake, Blake.....I expected more.

I was an instant fan after Wayward Pines and loved Dark Matter. This book had an appealing premise - post-apocalyptic, people killing each other. The people IN this book...ugh, some of those kids needed to GO.

Maybe it's my own fault. I was expecting this to be very character driven - but it was more family centric than I would prefer.

I'm sure people will love this - but not so much me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I received an ARC of this book and at the time I did not realize that is was a re-release of an older title. But I know this author is really popular, so I picked it up and went in pretty blind.

This was just not the book for me. I felt like I was trapped in a Zombie movie, and my issue with it is the same one I have with those movies. I just find it repetitive and overly gory at times. If apocalyptic books or movies are your jam, then this one might be for you. I just kept waiting for the payoff and didn't really feel I got it. The ending seemed abrupt and rushed and didn't really give the answers I was hoping for.

Go into it with the proper expectations and you will probably enjoy it. Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhousepublishinggroup and @ballantinebooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Crouch's self-published apocalyptic work was so much more violent and terrifying than I anticipated. He wrote this work over a decade ago and it is now being published by Ballantine Books. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire read. The central family gave this book so much more depth - this isn't the typical genre with a family-centric narrative, but the family is what gave the story inertia. This isn't the most realistic or compelling thriller, but it is a quick and intense read. For those with weak stomachs, it is incredibly violent. (It probably didn't help that I read this book during Hurricane Helene while trapped in Asheville).

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

What a wild ride this story was. The story jumps right into the action. Jack, his wife Dee and their two children are on the run. America has gone mad. People are killing each other for no reason at all it seems. The story is action packed and anxiety inducing! I was drawn in from page one. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. It was kept interesting by the author slowly revealing what was going on in this apocalyptic world. Definitely different in ways from Crouch’s other sci-fi works, but similar in ways. Overall a gripping, enjoyable read.

I discovered Blake Crouch a few years ago and was blown away by Dark Matter and Recursion. This one is actually his first book that he self published, that is now getting a bigger publication with @randomhouse !
Categorized as an apocalyptic thriller, this story follows Jack, an average college professor in Albuquerque, his wife, and two kids as they make a crazy "road trip" across country trying to avoid death! For some unknown reason, mass numbers of people have suddenly become violent and are killing others. What started as sporadic killings have become organized groups searching out people to kill. Jack and his family try to reach Canada by any means necessary hoping the rumors of refuge camps and safety are true.
I struggled with this one. For one, it's a bit outside of my normal genres. There is a LOT of tension, a lot of violence, a lot of hopelessness, and a tad bit of light/goodness. Secondly, I was reading this when Hurricane Helene hit, and there is a lot of real world devastation and apocalyptic pictures circulating, and still so many people in unimaginable circumstances as I write this review. So although the scenarios were different there was a lot of scariness/hope it never happens reading this book, while also seeing some things really happening in real life (people without power, food, water, etc.)!
I know there are many who will enjoy (and already have enjoyed) this book, and if you're a fan of thrillers, Blake Crouch, or average people overcoming crazy odds, definitely pick this one up. It is set to be published towards the end of next month (22 Oct), so add it to your TBR and get a copy!
Thanks to @netgalley for providing me a free advanced copy to review!
#NetGalley #Run

Run follows a family as they are fleeing from what appears to be random acts of wide spread violence. The world is in chaos and they are desperately trying to find a safe place to hide.

In true Blake Crouch fashion, this was very fast paced and entertaining to read and easy to binge. But there is not much more than that.

The characters are hard to like and feel very one dimensional. The dialogue did not feel like it flowed naturally but felt forced.

The storyline does not feel fully flushed out, rather this read like a plot of a quick movie. We get from point A to point B but there is not a lot of substance in between.

This was an unsettling story with graphic depictions of violence and body horror. So check your trigger warnings.

If you are looking for something a little more cerebral like Dark Matter or Recursion, you won’t find that here. Take this story as it is meant to be, a wild ride.