Another Amazing Blake Crouch novel. I can't recommend this book enough! It was so good. The story and characters were fantastic and I was so engaged throughout the whole story

I was torn between 4 and 5 stars for this. I love Blake Crouch. He is one of my favorite authors, and event though Upgrade got pretty technical at times (and this is what kept it from five stars) I never really felt like I needed an 'upgrade' to understand what was happening. I absolutely loved Upgrade and didn't want to put it down.

Upgrade is set in the future. Global warming has erased places and animals off the map. The Great Starvation killed millions. Gene/DNA altering is pretty common place, and thanks to the Great Starvation, it's also illegal.

Logan Ramsey works for the GPA, the agency in charge of tracking down scientists, terrorists, whoever that are still working in this forbidden field. It's not a labor of love for Logan. He's trying to atone for mistakes that were made in his mother's lab while he was an intern.

During what is supposed to be a typical raid, Logan is hurt in an explosion. He's held in quarantine to see if the explosion hit him with biological weapons, or something that would alter his DNA.

A month after the failed raid, Logan starts changing. His intelligence improves, he gets stronger and faster, his senses are heightened. The explosion did get him, and it wasn't an accident.

From there he finds himself in a race to save humanity, which everyone agrees isn't going to last another generation. But is upgrading everyone the right choice, or is there another way?

It's early in the year, but I already know this will be one of my top reads of 2022. I will be buying my own copy when it comes out for sure.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC for my honest review.

Review can be found at goodreads.com/ashreec and instagram.com/happiestwhenimreading

The formula that has made Blake Crouch such a household name is hard at work in "Upgrade:" man encounters technology + goes on the run + must save humanity. Unlike in his prior two works, the technology front and center is not within the realm of make believe: genetics (as opposed to time travel and the multiverse). This creates an unfortunate problem where the reader needs much more handholding to understand the technology at hand, and get buy-in into the plot. I was thoroughly entertained by this book, but found myself skimming through the regular breaks in the story Crouch used to explain to us lowly non-scientists how genetics could be modified to create "upgraded superhumans." A great beach read, but the formula has lost a bit of its shine.

What is going to cause the end of the world? Climate change? War? Global pandemics?
In all likelihood one or a combination of those will see the end of life as we know it in the next couple of centuries.
Climate change isn’t the cause though. Humans are.
We are responsible for the vast majority of the problems that face this planet and despite having a better understanding of those issues than at any point in history, we collectively shirk the responsibility to make the active changes required to save ourselves.
When people start to believe they’re better than everyone, that they alone have the answer, problems arise.
If you knew that the world had to smarten up to make the necessary changes you would try and encourage that wouldn’t you?
With all good intentions is it okay to try and change people, physically, in order to save everybody? What if there is a cost and not everyone could survive? Where is the line drawn? It is at 1% or 20%?

“More human than human.”
This quote from Blade Runner was in my head throughout reading Upgrade, the latest novel by Blake Crouch. The Tyrell Corporation slogan may have been referring to humanoid presenting androids but the statement applies to the ‘upgraded’ version of Homo Sapiens we’re introduced to in this book as well.
Set an undetermined period in our near future, genealogical biology has been almost universally outlawed following an accidental disaster that led to the deaths of over two hundred thousand people and the extinction of multiple species across the globe.
The world has already gone through many of the changes that loom ever closer to us in 2022; the icecaps have melted leaving many former metropolises submerged and pandemics continue to circle the globe evolving as quickly as they’re cured.
While humanity on the whole seems to wilfully ignore making the necessary changes to tackle the worldwide extinction of the human race, the United States has established a new agency, the Gene Protection Agency, to govern the one aspect they feel they can control; shutting down any research into genealogy.
The GPA is tasked with locating and apprehending people still operating illegal laboratories. Criminals who until a handful of years prior were on the bleeding edge of technological and biological advancements have been outlawed and many still feel that drive to pursue their science.
The protagonist of the story is Logan Ramsey, an agent for the GPA who hates his job but is loyal to his agency out of a sense of guilt for his part in an event years past.
Through his first person perspective we learn about the contrast of his professional life and that of his loving family before an inciting incident early on throws the plot into gear and puts the foot down.
Logan starts to notice a change in himself. Subtly at first; he finally able to best his daughter at chess, but quickly this ramps up and the changes become more and more drastic. Not just to his mental and cognitive being but also to his physical abilities. Suspicions are understandably roused at his workplace when it becomes clear that Logan Ramsey has gone through some sort of ‘Upgrade.’

What follows is an impeccably smart, propulsive thriller akin to the likes of Michael Crichtons best work. Scientific and intelligent while still being completely accesible. The techno babble is never in the way of the narrative and written in such a way that anyone can understand the importance of what is being discussed even if the specifics of a particular gene sequence being referred to weren’t covered in your high school science lesson. It is clear that everything has been meticulously researched as well so that the science in this fiction passes the toughest scrutiny on the BS test.
The action has a propulsive energy to it and will leave you on the edge of your seat in the same way as any blockbuster movie will. After being upgraded Logan’s discovery and mastering of his new abilities reminded me a lot of Neo’s awakening in The Matrix. He’s still the man he’s always been, but now with an understanding beyond anything he could previously comprehend.
Equal parts Bourne Identity, Outbreak and Limitless, Blake Crouch has once again proven himself to be a thrilling storyteller who can put together a page turner you won’t want to put down.

Upgrade is available July 12 wherever books are sold.

ANOTHER GREAT BOOK BY BLAKE CROUCH. THE GUY CAN DO NO WRONG. THIS REMINDED ME OF THE MOVIE LIMITLESS RIGHT AWAY AND THEN IT SOARED INTO A GENRE ALL ON ITS OWN.

"Being smart doesn't make people infallible. It just makes them more dangerous."

A smart thriller that draws you in layer by layer. Part reflection on the hubris of humankind, part mad scientist thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book offers a look at what could happen if humans try to push the limits of nature.

Logan Ramsay's got an infamous last name that keeps him constantly proving his loyalty to the government after his stint in jail for his mother's crimes. When genetically modified locusts they released on a field created a famine that killed two hundred million people, his mother committed suicide and left Logan, her eighteen-year-old son, to deal with the consequences. Now Logan's a married father working for the government to track down other scientists working on now-illegal genetic projects.

But a dangerous mission goes wrong, releasing an unknown substance into Logan's body. At first, he thinks the attack didn't work. But then he starts to notice changes. He can remember anything he ever read or saw, and his bones are becoming stronger. He soon begins to suspect that, both physically and mentally, he's becoming a new form of superhuman. He's not sure who was behind the attack, but he thinks it was no coincidence that it happened to Miriam Ramsay's son. When he gets information that someone plans to release the super DNA in virus form, he gets pulled into a fight over the fate of humanity.

Logan's unflinching moral compass and his struggles to grapple with his mother's actions make sure you're rooting for him from the first page. When his sister, military veteran Kara, gets pulled into the plot, too, their heart-breaking interactions drive home how much ideology can separate anyone.

This book is impossible to put down and will keep you thinking about it for a long time afterwards.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a rarity to come across a thriller that I can describe as a beautiful and ruminative work of literature that’s almost poetic in the way words and events mesh together to form the big picture. Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a gem of a novel that speaks to you on a molecular level.

The first person POV narration puts you in the mind of Logan Ramsey, an agent for the Gene Protection Agency. In the near future, gene editing has become frequent and illegal, putting agents like Logan into harm's way of stopping dangerous gene manipulations. On a raid, a mysterious ambush leaves Logan upgraded with faster and better genes. With nebulous, bordering on sinister, forces in the shadows responsible for this act, Logan must quickly work his way to the truth before the fate of humanity is altered forever.

Blake Crouch broaches the topic of transcending intelligence at the cost of forgoing one’s humanity. You can feel the techno-noir colors and sceneries emanating from Crouch’s grimly poetic descriptions of the futuristic environment and characters, on par with the mastery of the futuristic noir-world of Blade Runner movies. Crouch’s detailed research on current technological trends leading into the not-so-distant future makes for a riveting storytelling world where no concept feels too far-fetched and every development and calamity mentioned in the narrative has a high probability of happening. The prospect of advanced but still not yet sentient artificial intelligence grounds the reading experience even more, as if glimpsing into the coming few years through a portal.

Logan Ramsey is one of the most well-written protagonists of recent. Developed from the beginning with inklings of shadowy past and tortured memories, Logan quickly becomes a highly relatable and rootable character whom you follow through some harrowing scenarios and adrenaline-pumping action sequences. His transformation on a cellular level is explored on a scientifically exhilarating platform as well as a more haunting train of thoughts where the prospect of changing a person’s DNA to the point of new identity is nail-bitingly intense to say the least, yet so beautifully and eloquently worded with Crouch’s colorful and flavorful prose.

There’s no denying that an upgrade to Logan’s DNA makes for some brutal and fast-paced action sequences with awesome shootouts involving Logan emptying 12 rounds of FN 5.7 pistol at combatants in a span of 2 seconds. Add some throat-breaking fisticuffs to the mix and you’ve got heart-winning action with a keen eye for tactical and technical details.

Upgrade is a big-brain thriller that not only presents a grim and dark vision of human evolution but also balances it with hopeful and heartfelt subtle commentary on the brighter side of humanity and how to achieve it. It’s a book we desperately need to read today and absorb in all its glory. Coupling intelligent lessons with mind-blowing twists and energetic action, Upgrade is essentially a super-thriller!

Full review will be posted with blurb image on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a Sci-fi thriller set in a near future where genetic modification has been made illegal after causing a large scale famine. Logan is a federal agent enforcing the gene laws as penance for the famine his scientist mother caused. A raid gone wrong leaves him infected with a genetic upgrade making him smarter, faster, stronger and throws him into a race to either save or condemn the human race. Very fast paced and exciting read with high stakes, without being heavy and depressing. Would be a good pick for fans of Andy Weir.

This is the first book I’ve read by Blake Crouch, but it won’t be the last. The book takes place in the not so far future, where a scientist genetically engineers a crop, which had disastrous consequences leading to worldwide famine. The field of genetics was quickly outlawed, scientists were jailed, and genetic engineering went underground.

Logan had studied to be a scientist, but now works at the Genetic Protection Agency investigating genetic manipulation. In a botched raid he is infected by a virus that increases his strength, memory, and intelligence to unprecedented levels. Soon he has to carefully analyze each person’s motives as he tries to avoid capture and searches for answers.

I enjoyed how the author was able to weave the genetic engineering of humans into beings with superior levels of physical strength and intelligence, with the possible effects on human nature/emotions. Included are the concerns about how humans are destroying the world and facing possible extinction, and how do we address those issues. The book combines science, family, and a mad race to save the future.

Thanks to Penguin/Random House & NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book; this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy of this book. I love Blake Crouch. His books are fast paced thrillers with a dash of science/technology writing. While fast reads, they are thought provoking. His previous two books focused more on neuroscience/quantum mechanics, this one focusing on genetic modification. I always enjoy reading different author's takes on how our future will unfold, and was happy to hear that climate change is mentioned and acknowledged.

Upgrade

<b>”We don’t have an intelligence problem. We have a compassion problem. That, more than any other single factor, is what’s driving us toward extinction.”</b>

He’s done it again. What I love about Crouch’s writing is that it’s both smart AND engaging. While it’s clear he thoroughly researches his books and tries to introduce the science in an understandable manner to the average layman, at his core Crouch is a gifted storyteller who is always pushing an existential journey and discussion on what makes us human.

In a way, I viewed Upgrade as more of a thriller and bordering horror at times, yet I could not flip the pages fast enough. I was outright sweating and on the edge of my seat throughout. The horror for me comes in seeing just how close to reality this is.

The idea of genetic wars and the modification of human DNA, the creation of a surveillance world and Genetic Protection Agency that tracks scientists and biological/genetic terrorism is frightening - but is is that far fetched? No. The discussion of climate change and its effects which are just around the corner - flooded major cities, scorched forests, synthetic meat and global famines, is well done AND definitely anxiety inducing. In fact, at times this felt exhausting, but still I couldn’t put it down. Crouch forces readers to confront just how passive we actually are to these realities.

Logan as a brilliant scientist and struggling human was relatable and his arc was interesting to follow. While there is a lot of heavy science, this keeps coming back to Logan’s struggle between scientific superiority and human ethics and what it means to be a human, which I appreciated. Crouch always introduces elements of science that at first sound so appealing and perfect, but peels back the layers to show the trade offs and sacrifices needed in exchange.

<b>”I suspect that, if we all had perfect memory, we would all grieve the older versions of who we used to be the way we grieve departed friends.”</b>

With that said - is this perfect? No, there is definitely more backstory I wanted, especially with Logan’s mother, and it would have been nice to see glimpses of hope and advancements that lie just around the corner in the nearby future. It’s a lot of doom and gloom, rightfully so, but still, some genetic advancements to today’s serious illnesses and conditions would have been a nice treat to see.

All in all though, those felt like minor dings in what is an imaginative story that taps into our most basic morbid curiosity.

But also, sex dolls wrapped in synthetic human muscle and skin, revenge wasps, antibiotic resistant flesh eating bacteria for bullies, FUCK ARE YOU OK BLAKE?! Also, how is it that even in the future the DC metro area has hyperjets and loops to travel the world yet we’re still taking the DC metro? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO ESCAPE THAT MONSTROSITY.

I can’t wait for Crouch’s next book, it’ll be sure to challenge and excite. Thank you so much Penguin Random House for my galley.

When I grow up, I want to write like Blake Crouch. Seriously, this book is brilliant and thought-provoking, by turn frightening, fascinating, and philosophical. Highly recommended.

✨ A MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 READ✨

And it was all I’d hoped it’d be from one of my fave authors! I already know this will be a top read of 2022 for me and I’m beyond excited I got to read it pre-publish thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House.

Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: sci fi / thriller
Mood: adventurous, mysterious, challenging
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Pub Date: July 12, 2022

#readandsiprecommends to read if:
• you don’t think sci fi is your thing but want to give it a try - see below for why
• you were enthralled watching the augmented human experience of Bradley Cooper a la Limitless
• Project Hail Mary was one of your favorite reads of 2021

Review: Crouch’s Dark Matter is one of my all-time favorite books - just bought it for my shelves and thinking about a re-read this year! And I’ve been hard pressed to find something quite like it since reading it years ago (aside from Andy Weir’s space adventures also incredible and top faves of all-time).

Crouch has a way of writing sci fi that’s both high level intellect - and accurate because he collabed with genetic experts - while being digestible to someone without a background in science. While I love learning the science behind, I don’t want to be bogged down by too many details that’ll go over my head and Upgrade strikes that balance for me.

This story is so unique to anything I’ve read and the near-future relevancy to the current state of our humanity is uncanny. And the way Crouch was able to tie the story to bigger picture philosophical implications made it all the more powerful.

The world the main character Logan lives in is already in an apocalyptic state after his genius mother’s genetic work leads to a massive wipe out of the population. Trying to save humanity from extinction altogether his mother worked up a complete genetic upgrade and Logan’s one of the first to receive it. I found myself rooting for Logan’s character from the start, seeing his love for his family and how it’s upended.

It’s up to Logan to find a way to save humanity without losing his humanity. I felt that emotional pull to him and his journey - and yes I even cried a bit.

My only piece of constructive feedback which I’m sharing directly here and not in any reviews is that some transitions felt a little choppy. I found myself going back to re-read to figure out how it got to where I was reading. If there’s a way to smooth those out within the chapters while still keeping the thrill I think it’ll read a little easier !

I pre ordered this book before being approved for the e-ARC and I am happy I’ll have this one on my shelves.

🚨 TW: death of a parent, mentions of torture

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a fun and exciting read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. This was my first encounter with Crouch's novels and it has definitely peeked my interest to read more. Logan Ramsay must figure out who is behind the planned attack on his body that alters his genome. The first and third parts were much better reads for me.. the middle got bogged down with a bit too much science terminology and references. For those that understand or like DNA/genome science, I think would better relate to that part. Overall, a thrilling read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced readers copy.

In the not-too-distant future, Miriam Ramsay, a renowned geneticist, makes a catastrophic error that ends up causing a Great Starvation event that kills 200 million people across the globe. Her son, Logan Ramsay, has lived in her shadow his whole life and is put into a wild position when he and his sister are given a parting gift from their mother that can completely reshape life as they know it (again).

The premise was exciting, especially as someone that adored her Genetics classes back in the day. Even though I've seen previous takes on the whole "unlocking intelligence" concept (primarily the movie Limitless), I still enjoyed this spin on it.

What lost me is that the book didn't feel entirely fleshed out and sometimes felt unbalanced. There was a lot of focus on specific genetic information, but I didn't always feel tension when the whole situation in the book should be the most tense event ever. Boosted Logan, of course, had crazy high intelligence, and he was able to instantly recognize what another character was about to do. It's a cool skill, but there wasn't much anticipation. Some of the relationships also seemed rushed, which made me have a hard time caring for many of the characters.

I think this novel would make a super entertaining movie. Despite my quibbles, this was still a unique book that I'm sure Blake Crouch fans will devour.

To be honest right up front, I didn't like this as much as his last two books. Don't get me wrong, it was still super fun. Blake Crouch's writing is the equivalent of watching a really good prime time sci-fi thriller on Fox or something, but I just found the concept of genetic manipulation to be initially really interesting but not really end up where I was hoping it would. I think a part of that is because I didn't particularly like the protagonist. It's basically the same type of dude that Crouch puts in every book, but he comes off as borderline insufferable every time he goes on about how badass his upgraded DNA has made him. I know it's just him describing what's happening to him, but the way it's written just makes him sound like a pretentious chode sometimes. All that being said, it was still super fun and I would be absolutely shocked if it didn't get adapted by somebody. It's very fast and very visual, so I don't even think it needs to be a show and could easily be a 2+ hour movie and cover the story pretty well. Thanks for the ARC!

Part one of this book is outstanding. It's fast and full of intrigue. Unfortunately it doesn't hold onto that steam through the rest of the book. It is also needlessly science heavy and feels recited by rote. Some science was absolutely needed to make the book but it was just too much and not engaging enough. I'd recommend this to sci-fi lovers but if that's not your jam, maybe give it a miss.

In this episode, I was both impressed and slightly underwhelmed by an excellent thriller…
Friends, friends, friends.

Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress.

When I got an email inviting me to read Blake Crouch’s new thriller, I was cautiously optimistic. I was mesmerized by Dark Matter, but never got around to his next book Recursion. Both of these thrillers seem to focus on time, choices, decisions, and love. Dark Matter was a dark, intense mind-bending thriller that had an immense amount of heart and I feel bad that I never got around to Recursion.

By the time I’d finished reading the premise of Upgrade, I was excited to see what the actual book had to offer. The synopsis had shades of the movie Limitless and that idea of human potential and the numerous pitfalls within really got me excited.

I blazed through the book in about 24 hours and after finishing the book, I had a slightly predictable response: It was a really good book with an intricate exploration of gene editing, personal relationships, and danger. I was invested in protagonist Logan Ramsey’s life and story from the very first chapter. His infamous mother loomed large in the past of this dystopian world where cities like New York were partially underwater. In fact, Logan Ramsey’s past created the wasteland and the chaos that sparked Upgrade.

This book started off in a compelling guns-blazing way. As the layers got peeled back chapter by chapter, I appreciated the incredible nuance and humanity that the author brought to this world and to our main character. The cause of Ramsey’s upgrade and the reasons for his evolution were deeply thought out and a huge part of this story was exploring the pros and cons for unilaterally infecting humanity with a genetic upgrade.

For every protagonist, there is an antagonist, but I can’t discuss spoilers here. The breakneck speed of this book meant that I never really had time to process potential plot developments and that was the best possible choice for this book. Upgrade had plenty of twists and turns, but by the end, I was left cold because this book, like its protagonist, had grown beyond humanity, and certain choices that Logan made left me sad and wistful.\

This book is definitely as philosophical and contemplative in the midst of the chaos as Dark Matter was. However, the dramatic stakes felt small by the end and it was far less vast than I’d hoped when I started reading. Something about unlocking human potential through gene editing felt like it was going to be a vast story with much more of a global impact, but the characters that became the focus weren’t quite as compelling as I’d hoped.

Upgrade, then, was an exciting read with a fabulous premise that just felt a little smaller and contained than I’d hoped. However, I still enjoyed it immensely and I could not put it down.

It comes out on July 12th, and I feel like I’m in a special club to get to read it so far ahead of its release.

I hope you all pre-order and enjoy the ride in July.

Until next time, keep your bookmarks close.

Peace, Love, Pages.

I was so excited to get this ARC of “Upgrade” by Blake Crouch. This is the third book of Crouch’s that I’ve devoured on the edge of my seat.
Logan Ramsey is an ordinary man working for a government agency until his genome is hacked and he begins to upgrade. To say anymore would be a spoiler, so I won’t This is a suspenseful, science fiction read and I look forward to the author’s next novel.

Crouch has an incredible ability to distill complex scientific concepts down to easily understandable ideas. He uses these concepts to explore our humanity (or lack therof) within an incredibly fast-paced and riveting plot. This results in a thriller that you truly cannot put down as you reflect on what makes humanity worth saving.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader's Copy I received in exchange for an unbiased review.**