Fun romance about second or third chances, renovating old houses, furniture and relationships featuring former child stars trying to reestablish themselves. I found this to be a lighthearted read.

I'm a huge Blake Crouch fan and Upgrade didn't disappoint! I wasn't initially as drawn into the premise, as I have been for his other books, but once I started, I was fully immersed into the story. Definitely recommend for Crouch fans and anyone interested in thriller/sci fi. I love learning the details of the slightly alternative/futuristic worlds he creates!

When Logan Ramsey finds himself in the hospital after an explosion, he realizes that his body didn’t just get hit with a little shrapnel. Instead, his entire DNA sequence was modified and everything about him was <b>Upgraded</b>. Suddenly he can recall everything he’s ever read or done instantly, read peoples facial cues and pulses, needs less sleep and a whole lot more. The government that he works for wants to keep him locked up and tested. Until someone breaks him out.

Crouch’s newest novel focuses on the implications of genetic modifications and how they could and would effect the people of the planet. How, if Logan’s Upgraded DNA was introduced to everyone, how the planet may be saved? Is it up to us to be in charge of this viral dispersion?

I found <i>Upgrade</i> to be fast paced and interesting. It posed a lot of ethical questions and was a very intriguing read.

Blake Crouch is about as reliable of an author as you can find. Quite remarkable for a man who hooped around a variety of speculative genre spectrum before settling on his latest passion – science fiction techno-thrillers.
Following in the most impressive footsteps of his recent books, Upgrade is a similar sort of very intense, very dynamic scientifically-fascinating, conceptually-exciting, and thrillingly thrillery sort of a story and this time it’s all about DNA.
All you ever wanted to know about Deoxyribonucleic acid and then some.
Unlocking the secrets of DNA sequencing has been one of the greatest discoveries of modern time and the thing with greatness is that it’s tough to leave it well enough alone. Especially, for a person sufficiently intelligent to manipulate it. Especially, for a person sufficiently intelligent to comprehend the implication of living during the six extinction and wanting to change things. The savior complex kicks in and then all sorts of madness ensue.
This is how it went for Logan Ramsay’s mother. A genius determined to save the world, she inadvertently unleashed a global famine that killed 200 million people and changed the world forever. That has been Logan’s legacy, on top of the fact that he, only being average smart at best, has never really measured up to his mother’s spectacular intellect.
Nevertheless, he has managed to put the past behind him enough to make a nice life for himself. A good job with Gene Protection agency, a loving family, etc.
And then one day, the world explodes around him (literally) and he finds himself upgraded. A concept initially terrifying, but then…something so much more. Now Logan is well on his way to becoming a superhuman, the question remains, though, at what cost? Why him? Is he the only one? Ok, that’s several questions, really.
But this is a novel that gives you extra, so much information, so much science, so much fiction. Such a fascinating speculative concept that while totally suspense and action driven for the fans of those things, is also very clever, thought-provoking and profoundly poignant.
Is the world worth saving? What would you do to save it? Where do you draw the line? What are the acceptable costs? When you are the smartest person in the world, what do you prioritize?
Those are some interesting questions readers might find asking themselves afterwards, but for what Logan Ramsay does…read this book.
It’s so much fun. It’s such a rush. Crouch has perfected his very own brand of pacing, specifically one sentence paragraphs, it’s all very dynamic. If some scenes are too sciency and some too actiony, the overall balance is still just right. A smart, exciting, wildly entertaining read.. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

<i>"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 thing of rain falling through sunlight"</i>

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Upgrade! I’m honored to be one of the first to read a book by an author that I adore! One of the many things I love about Blake Crouch is that he writes believable Sci Fi. His books make you stop and think about the meaning of life. It’s deep. And Upgrade has proven to be no exception. I appreciate the amount of meticulous research that he does to provide real science to support the premise of his novels. The facts are all there, and accessible to the average reader.

Are we on the cusp of the world that Logan Ramsay lives in? Are we going to push the buttons until we destroy the planet and morph our DNA to become something super human? It doesn’t sound so farfetched to me. We meet Logan and his sister Kara, heirs to a legacy of DNA programming that they would rather not acknowledge. The end of humanity seems to be looming on the horizon, but Logan and Kara have different ideas about how that should be handled. The novel explores their battles; as siblings to a mother that altered the history of the entire planet, with each other, and with themselves. It’s typical Crouch, face paced and wild. It has a few twists and turns you didn’t see coming, but perhaps not as many as Wayward Pines or Dark Matter. I relished every word, reading paragraphs more than once, just to soak it in. I'm not sure how I wanted it to end, but I wasn't overwhelmed with the resolution as it seemed counterintuitive, so hence 4 stars. Regardless, still another fabulous read by Blake!

I was thrilled to receive a free ARC of this book from Random House/Ballantine books! One I didn’t even ask for! I did not know Blake Crouch had written a new book coming out in July 2022 so I dropped what I was reading(actually I have been in a book slump) and started reading this right away.

The imagination of Blake Crouch is truly something to behold and this book is no exception. The fact that he has made this story so very relevant to present day makes it feel necessary and important rather than just entertaining. The book is a bit shorter than his others and there is some background that is given short shrift…my main complaint. But Crouch manages to also bring in the personal and romantic element that permeates all his other stories and it makes for some very touching moments, particularly at the end. The book was a very easy read without getting banal, typical of Crouch’s work. You just sort of glide through it without much effort. Some of the genetics concepts were a bit over my head but you can always figure out the gist of what is happening. The descriptions of what were happening in Logan’s mind were pretty fascinating. His attempts to hang on to the essence of his humanity seemed very honest and real. I wish in some ways the book had been longer and explored more of these concepts. I also wish the book had more background and more in-depth character development. Aside from Logan, the other characters are pretty one dimensional. I still have to say I really enjoyed the book immensely. It was action from beginning to end.

Overall a very entertaining and interesting book that reflects on some very important human issues regarding our survival and what it will take to turn around the dangerous course we are currently on. We must heed this advise and quickly. The only thing we have to fear is ourselves.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Upgrade
A Novel
by Blake Crouch

Big thank you to Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. The expected publication date is July 19, 2022.
I am usually a mystery reader, thought it was time to try something new. From all of the advanced reviews, Blake Crouch is a very well-known writer. I dug in and begin to feel a bit uneasy as if my O.C.D. jumped in full red. I did my best to read it all... by 45% I did not finish. I agree his writing is great, with reality and a message. Not his fault for my red flag.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to preview upgrade by BLake Crouch. I have been a fan for years. Loved the Pines books and most of his novels after them. Upgrade is well written and set in a world not so difficult to imagine. A Syfi thriller that grabs you and twists your thinking the unbelievable is believable. Characters are deep and interesting and a plot that will keep you thinking long after you are done.

Review of Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Thank you to Ballantine Books (An Imprint of Random House) for offering me an ARC. I am happy to offer this review.

Mark your calendars for July 12, 2022 (tentatively), for this new sci-fi novel by Blake Crouch. If you have read and enjoyed either Dark Matter or Recursion, like me, you will not be disappointed. I am always a bit nervous when one of my favorite authors has a new novel coming out. I anxiously hope the new offering is equal to or better than previous works. I was not disappointed with Upgrade.

Logan Ramsay is the protagonist of this novel, but actually most of the Ramsay family (mom and sister, anyway) play huge parts in this story. No spoilers here, but I will share likes and dislikes in generalities. The timeline is well-managed. There is nothing difficult to keep up with in this regard. Time does skip forward occasionally (one month later, one year later, etc.) but never back in time. The time jumps are appropriate, make sense, and do not harm the storyline. Family members share stories from the past that are relevant, but these are handled as memories not time jumps.

Logan is a victim. He did not make the choice to be “upgraded.” His choices come after realizing what is happening to him. Logan has difficult choices to make…end-of-the-world kind of choices. No one wants this responsibility. The main theme of this book (to me) is…what do you do with the power that’s been thrust upon you? You have to do something. Doing nothing is also a choice with dire consequences.

As a bit of an aside, I have to say how much I enjoyed the modes of transportation described in Upgrade. I wish I could live long enough to experience these kinds of travel. Be on the lookout for them. Fun!

Logan works for a government entity called the GPA (Gene Protection Agency). Of course, as all government entities, this one can be nefarious. Fortunately, Logan is one of the “good guys,” and he is not the only one. Sometimes differentiating between the good and bad guys is difficult, and sometimes you will be wrong. 😉

In a previous review of Dark Matter or Recursion, I advised readers to push through the tough science narratives and keep reading. I am happy to report that this novel’s science sections were easier for me. Obviously, the book is full of the science of genetics, gene-therapy, and DNA. No, I am not a geneticist, but I do have an iota of working knowledge of genes and DNA. I’ll bet you do, too, especially if you are a parent or a fan of true crime. I found the science interesting and not at all overwhelming. So…as before…stay the course if the science begins to get you down. The story and the results are worth it.

I mentioned likes and dislikes earlier. I cannot think of one dislike. This novel is like Mary Poppins…
”practically perfect in every way.” I read it in a day and a half (and I do have a real work job). I hope you love it as much as I did.

Star rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (5 stars)

Black Crouch does it again! He has created a sci-fi thriller that keeps you guessing! The plot felt fresh, and a not far-off setting made this book a too real thriller. Some scenes are detailed out that I could actually see the action playing out in my head. The only downfall is that I did not find myself rooting for Logan to reconnect with his family. I wish that Crouch had spent more time developing Logan as a father before the upgrade, but the wrapped-up ending almost makes up for this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very interesting and thought-provoking book. The main character is believable, likeable and well-fleshed-out. The other characters complement him nicely.

I was a little overwhelmed with the scientific aspect of the book. While fascinating in a general way, it was easy to glaze over in the eyes when two pages of genetic jargon fills your vision. I'm no dummy, I even know vaguely what some of the stuff meant. But I'll be honest, I skimmed 75 percent of it.

The action sequences are great and the character interplay is well written. It was amazing (and not a little sad) to see the changes take place in the main character and how his entire life changed because of the Upgrade.

I was offered the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, Blake Crouch and Ballantine Books for this opportunity.

I received a free e-ARC of this book through Netgalley.
If you like fast-paced science fiction about DNA manipulation, then this is a good one for you. What would you enhance about yourself if you had a choice? Isn't it a no-brainer that we'd all like to be cancer-resistant, dementia-resistant, in the best shape of our lives without having to put in the physical work? On the flipside, what would we be willing to lose in the process? A thought-provoking and timely book about the dangers we face as we struggle to deal with climate change on a global scale.

I can’t even begin to tell you about this book without TELLING you about this book (no spoilers, I promise). I was knee-deep reading another book when I received an email saying that I had a chance to read an advanced copy of Blake Crouch’s new book, Upgrade. I have never finished a book so fast in my life. I was SO EXCITED to read Upgrade. And it lived up to my internal hype and more. This guy can tell a story. A really, really good story. And they are like nothing that you will read anywhere else. This book blew my mind (I’ll be honest, every book of his blows my mind). It was so well written and so well explained. Do yourself a favor and read it. And then read every other book he ever wrote too. Thank you a million times over to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. I am FOREVER grateful!!!!

“They know you’re changing.”

It all happened so quickly. Following a tip from the GPA, the Gene Protection Agency, they went into the building equipped body armor, hazmat suits and a full SWAT team. He was a scientist, not a soldier. He was going to call his wife in the morning; he was supposed to go home. But a flash, an explosion—and then Logan Ramsay was changed forever. And with him, so was the rest of the world.

The planet has evolved so quickly. What once felt like slow march towards the inevitable has accelerated into a sprint. Logan joined the GPA as a way to make amends for his mother’s role in the gene editing scheme that snowballed into an ecological disaster. The old Logan would have never considered taking part in something like that, and he wouldn’t have had the capacity to. But after the botched raid, Logan is different now, and there’s no telling what he’s willing and capable of doing.

Upgrade is exactly the sort of book that I’ve come to expect from Blake Crouch. A dynamic, fast-paced thriller nestled comfortably between grounded sci-fi and speculative fiction. There’s the ‘regular guy’ protagonist that gets thrust into the center of rapidly unfolding, almost supernaturally daunting events that have to power to shape the world as we know it. And through that vehicle Crouch offers a commentary on what he believes is one of the most pressing issues of our time. In this case, that’s climate change, but a little more broadly it’s human indifference to the effects of climate change and other impending disasters.

For the most part, it’s spectacularly done. Crouch has a way of making the implications of a far-off technological advancement feel like it’s just around the corner. You just can’t help but rip through the pages, desperate to reach the end. Upgrade is the kind of book tailor-made for a big budget movie adaptation, staring whatever 30-40 year-old white leading man is currently in demand.

This was an easy 5 star book for me. Sure, it’s a very American worldview. It’s a white guy on a Save The World™ mission, humanity’s last hope and all that. There’s nothing wrong with being a popcorn thriller with a strong message, despite what some lit snobs might believe. So why, then, does this review have four stars? Well, I cannot tell you without spoilers, so only continue if you’ve read it already!!!!


***SPOILER***
I was all in on this, even in the epilogue, up until that final letter that Logan wrote to his wife and daughter. What a fumble on the 1 yard line (is that right?? idk I don’t do sport metaphors).

Explain to me how you can write an entire novel about the dangers of messing with humanity. About how one tiny change can have devastating, unforeseeable consequences—but you decide to solve the question of humans by once again having an entitled, know-it-all character play god on people against their will. Crouch has completely undermined his entire thesis in just a couple of pages of half-assed grandstanding. The fact that Logan could witness and face the consequences of his mother’s actions as well as literally murdering his sister to prevent her from acting, and then take it upon himself to do the same goddamned thing is a total collapse of his character arc. There’s no coming back from that; he’s now irredeemable.

I don’t even totally disagree with his point that it’s a lack of compassion that has (and will) lead human societies towards our own downfall, but I do vehemently challenge the notion that we all bear the same level of responsibility. It’s not all humans who need to be “upgraded”; it’s the powerful decision makers. There’s ample evidence that when people have been at their lowest and most vulnerable, that the communities who step up and help are the ones who have the least. And those that don’t help aren’t doing so out of apathy, but because they are simply struggling to survive themselves.

So the idea that humanity as a whole needs to be ‘fixed’, by possibly the worst candidate for White Savior since Hollywood decided to sing Imagine for us, is just incorrect. If Crouch was dead-set on this “compassion upgrade”, which I think is in moral opposition to the rest of his novel but whatever it’s his book, he could have aimed it to target a small number of influential people in high-income countries. But making it a contagion, spreading it to people without their knowledge, altering their chemical makeup without their consent, all based off of a technology that only a couple of years before had a 13% mortality rate—are we supposed to clap??
***END SPOILER***


Even with that complaint, though, Upgrade is monstrously entertaining. My reading speed essentially doubled whenever I picked it up, so for that reason I still feel compelled to recommend it. But it’s not going to top the list for me this year, and I can’t help but express disappointment at Crouch’s final word on the subject. I do hope other people read it when they get the opportunity to as I’m very eager to discuss it more.

Family dysfunction meets the ethics of genetic engineering in this great new story from Blake Crouch. He has been one of my favorite authors since the Andrew Thomas/Luther Kite days and his recent forays into scifi thrillers like Dark Matter and Recursion have been an interesting change which continues in Upgrade.

Logan Ramsay is living in the shadow of a worldwide apocalypse caused by his mother until a raid on a rogue DNA lab changes everything for him. Crouch's descriptions of the physical, psychological and emotional changes that Ramsay goes through were played out in fantastic detail. The plot moves pretty swiftly, lagging a little bit halfway through but then picks up quickly and the ending is very satisfying. It wont leave every question answered and leaves lots of room for speculation - but it will make you think.

The science and the ethics of genetic engineering and the action sequences really reminded me of The Dragon Factory which I loved - if you like that series, you should enjoy this book.

“Upgrade” is a very good action/adventure, science fiction novel focusing on the field of genetic engineering. Fans of Michael Crichton may be particularly interested in this story that takes place about a hundred years from now.

Logan Ramsay is the son of Miriam Ramsay, the world’s most brilliant geneticist. Unfortunately, the project he worked with her on as a young intern destroyed the world’s rice crops, causing “The Great Starvation” which killed 200 million people. Miriam drives her car off a California cliff, leaving Logan to serve several years in prison. Upon release, he continues his atonement by working as a law enforcement agent for the U.S. Government’s newly formed Gene Protection Agency.

When Logan and his team raid a property to interdict illegal genetic engineering activity, they set off a booby trap that infects Logan with material designed to change his DNA. At first, it seems the IED was unsuccessful. Logan’s recovery is normal. But then he finds his physical and cognitive capabilities improving. Each day, he gets stronger and smarter.

Who has done this and why? That's the question Logan must answer now, all the while wondering just how much he will improve. Will he become God-like amongst the rest of humankind? Will he lose his empathy, his humanity, his ability to feel? Will he outpace and grow distant from even his family?

It’s a theme that’s been explored in many books and movies, which makes the challenge of offering something fresh and absorbing—the task for any novelist—even more difficult. But author Blake Crouch adeptly meets the challenge with solid writing, interesting characters, creative world-building, and a plot that offers surprises and keeps readers turning the pages.

Mr. Crouch brings a wealth of technical expertise to “Upgrade.” Indeed, there were times that I—a “non-science guy”—found the descriptions regarding DNA and genetics way over my head. But then, thankfully, just as my eyes were beginning to glaze over, Mr. Crouch came to the rescue with an explanation for laymen.

I was particularly impressed by what Mr. Crouch envisions for our future: what happens to some well-known places, some of the inventions and methods of travel.

There were times when I found “Upgrade” a little “preachy” regarding genetic engineering, humanity, and the fate of the planet. And I’m not sure that the solution he offers—if, indeed, he intends to offer a solution—is all that realistic. Then again, other readers may well find what he has to say enlightening, even inspiring. And “preachy” or not, I found that I learned from this novel and that I was invited to consider an area I hadn’t paid much attention to.

All in all, a very interesting, very entertaining reading experience.

Where to start... I was over the moon excited to receive an ARC of Upgrade. I am a huge Blake Crouch fan. Dark Matter and Recursion are two of my favorite books and Sci-Fi is not one of my preferred genres. Maybe that is why I liked Upgrade but I did NOT love it. I couldn't help but compare it to the other two books. It was heavy on the science and not in a fun way! I felt like I was in a classroom listening to a biology lecture at several points. There was a lot of action but the book lacked richness and depth in my opinion. It was unemotional until then end which somewhat redeemed the book but not enough. I needed more of that throughout. This book read like a typical sci-fi movie script and that may appeal to some people. I will say it held my interest enough that I wanted to know how it would end but I was not invested in the characters. I skimmed a lot because the science was boring and somewhat redundant. I forgot the main character's name several times throughout the book! I will still read the next book Crouch writes because Dark Matter and Recursion were just too good not to but overall I was disappointed.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ability to read and review this ARC of Upgrade. I love Blake Crouch's writing - it is fast paced, exciting and there are always twists up ahead that catch even the most seasoned reader by surprise. While there was a lot of science in this book, as I've noticed in his previous writings, it was easy to understand. The story was a fascinating look at what humans will do to save our species and how sometimes with even the best of intentions, catastrophic events can occur. Will recommend to others!

I had never read any books by Blake Crouch before, but this made me a fan.

Crouch whips the reader through a twisty look at a future where genetic editing and experimentation has caused the death of millions and is currently outlawed and investigated by a shady government agency. When one of their own is targeted, he becomes prey instead of the hunter.

This book is highly entertaining, well written and offers surprises at every turn. Additionally, Crouch has created realistic characters I cared about and thought about after I turned the last page. His writing is deft with great action and a fantastic sense of realism in an unreal story.

I am not normally a science fiction reader, but I will be picking up Crouch's other two books as soon as possible.

I don't know what else to say other than that Blake Crouch has got it. I got introduced to him a couple years ago with Dark Matter and Recursion (both of which are excellent sci-fi) and when I heard about Upgrade I knew I would need to drop everything and binge my way through it. One of the things I loved about both Dark Matter and Recursion is that while they're both just plain exhilarating stories, Crouch also probes at the ethical dilemmas at the edges of science. If the multiverse is real and we were able to travel between universes, should we? If time travel were possible, should we? In his latest novel Crouch asks a similar question: if we could hack our own genetic code, should we?

It's tempting when addressing ethical questions through fiction to take a preachy tone, but Crouch mostly avoids that trap by playing out the scenario in all its gritty details. Upgrade follows the path of Logan Ramsay, a government agent in the near future tasked with tracking down black hat genetic hackers. Then in a raid gone wrong, he himself is infected with a gene-modifying material and finds himself turning into something no longer quite human.

A story like this could easily devolve into another boring Marvel-esque superhero who has to follow the hero's journey to take down the latest bigger badder villain. There is a little bit of that vibe to be certain, and I'm not against a good action sequence, but the thing that sung to me about the book was its meditations on the pros and cons of meddling with nature. Would we finally be able to solve climate change, war, and famine if we just upgraded human beings to be a little smarter? On the other hand, what are the unintended, unforeseen consequences we might run into? What are the terrible costs we have to pay for all our good intentions? Upgrade is an extended, action-packed meditation on these deep questions and I highly recommend it.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.