Thank you to Netgalley, Blake, and Ballantine for an advance copy of Upgrade.

In a future world where biological warfare has become very different than what we think of when we hear that phrase now, there is a gene mutation that elevates everything about human beings. They’re smarter, faster, stronger, need less sleep, less medicine, and less assistance with anything. Logan’s genome has been hacked, but due to his knowledge in gene therapy as the son of a woman who nearly destroyed the world with a failed genetic mutation as well as his work with the government agency, the Gene Protection Agency, he’s able to recognize what’s happening to him after a short time. As he discovers what’s going on and who may be behind it, the terrifying realization of the suspects plan sends him on a mission to reverse his own upgrade and stop a world-changing disaster.

Okay, if you’ve never read a Blake Crouch book, do it. At this point he is an auto-buy, typically five star author for me. He manages to write horrifying speculative fiction, heavy enough in science to be called sci-fi and make me walk away feeling like I’ve learned something and visited an alternate version of our current world while also painting an intimate portrait of the main character(s) and drawing us in to celebrate and mourn alongside them.

Blake does a great job balancing the word vomit of science jargon and making it easily digestible and sprinkled in so that it’s not an info dump that loses people who don’t care as much about the details of the science in the world he’s created. I know the title science fiction can be intimidating and a turn off to some readers, but I feel like if they disregard this book based on that genre, they are truly missing out on a great story full of emotion.

The idea of gene amplification feels so far-fetched and yet somehow also right around the corner in today’s world. Science is such a powerful study with the ability to cause intense destruction or extreme growth, depending on the hands that it is in. Reading this book was like reading a more realistic version of Captain America’s evolution, with much scarier results.

My first Blake Crouch book and he did not disappoint. Hold onto your hats this was a wild ride. Would definitely recommend.

This was good! I like Blake Crouch’s brand of scientific thrillers. I can’t tell you if the science in this story is completely accurate or not but I can tell you that the story was incredibly exciting and I was entertained. I know that I have heard debates about whether we should be altering genes and liked that this book took the possibilities of gene altering to the next level.

I liked Logan a lot. He works for the GPA, Gene Protective Agency, which works to stop rogue scientists from doing work with genes. On a raid, he is knocked out and ends up in the hospital. He goes home and starts to notice that he is able to do things he couldn’t before. Eventually, he finds out that he has been upgraded and seems to be improving every day. That is just the start of things getting weird. This book was really exciting and kept me guessing. Once I started this book, I did not want to stop and ended up finishing it in just a couple of days.

I believe that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to Henry Levya’s narration and I must say that I am impressed. I found his voice very easy to listen to and did just that for hours at a time. I thought that he added a lot of excitement to the story and I liked the character voices that he used. I would not hesitate to listen to this narrator’s work again in the future.

I would recommend this book to others. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Dark Matter or Recursion but I did find it to be a very solid thriller. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Ballantine Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

I am a self proclaimed Blake Crouch super fan! I went into this with extremely high expectations because of how much I loved Dark Matter and the Science Fiction writing with this thriller layer!

In Upgrade we follow Logan Ramsey who, after a raid ends with an explosion, starts experiencing changes. Changes in his physical and mental sense. It starts to feel like he could be a Guinea pig towards something far greater than he could ever think.

I really enjoy how Blake Crouch writes his MCs. They seem to be so loving and feel with their full heart towards their family. Logan had this compelling nature to him, but some of the things he did just didn’t seem like like they made sense as a whole to the story. I had moments of asking why…why were the characters doing this?
It could have been because of how the earth had changed in the time prior to the story that was mentioned. This did not deter from the overall enjoyment of the story I just felt like pieces were missing sometimes.

There was a slight pacing issue in the middle of the book and that could be why I felt things missing.

I count this as a win for Blake Crouch because even with the problems I had I enjoyed myself a lot while reading. Also love a science lesson from his books and not realizing it!

4/5

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review!

Human nature will be the last of Nature to surrender to Man. The battle will then be won. We shall have "taken the thread of life out of the of the hand of Clotho" and be henceforth free to make our species whatever we wish it to be. The battle will indeed be won. Who , precisely, will have won it. C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

To save humanity, I needed my humanity.

I am taking a deep breath because This. just. took. my. breath. away. I am dating myself but when I was in Junior High a new author came into the scene. We didn't have as many books as we do now. Different authors to choose from, different genres. But the book was Carrie, then the Shining and what had taken the bar higher was the Stand by Stephen King. Blake Crouch is his own. I am not comparing his writing style to King but what I am saying is he will take your breath away because it will conjure up many feelings of hope, fear and what the future holds. You will see our world align with the prose of Upgrade and it is horrifying.

The short premise is the future. The world has changed. Climate change, wars, and of course the power struggle. I can say that I felt this was not politically motivated but only stating what is in our current news. One thing that is frightening but has not been in the main news stream is the threat of DNA being used as a weapon. The government is warning not use 23&me for your DNA. This is what the premise is on DNA warfare. The main protagonist Logan Ramsay works for a government branch the Gene Protection Agency. He loves his family above all else. He has paid for his name because of his mother and what she did in the great famine trying to save the world. His daughter never got to meet her because of her untimely death. Logan is in Denver because of a hit of a possible gene interference. The altercation leaves him in a trap and his DNA changed forever. It also takes away his family, his job, and his purpose. It ultimately leads him to find out who is behind changing his DNA, why and what he does to stop it.

This book really makes you think about what we can really change. Do we make things worse with changes. Do we take humanity out with these changes. I look at the world in a Christian world view. I find it interesting that this book did not use God once in the prose but did use a C.S Lewis quotation that I put above. It also was a great reminder for me the reason why Jesus came as a man. He came as a human to save us from ourselves. I don't think Crouch was writing this to solidify why we need Jesus but the simple fact that when we play God, we dehumanize mankind. Whomever you worship, you are forced to answer how are you playing God and in doing so, how do I dehumanize others.

A special thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Blake Crouch never fails to swoon me with the way he can take on a complex scientific subject and make it understandable, intriguing, and most importantly a rich, enjoyable, engaging reading experience. This book is a plea to humanity to do better. I see it as a reflection of our current existence and a possibility of what may come if we keep the status quo. I learned so much about genetics in this book and he has us pondering the question: What does it really mean to be human? Thank you, Blake Crouch, for enlightening me and thrilling me!

Absolutely fantastic. Blake Crouch has done another great job of creating something that keeps you reading.

I was provided a review copy from Blake Crouch's publicist Dyana in exchange for an honest review. Once again, Crouch proves that he is the heir apparent to Michael Crichton in his most science-heavy adventure yet. Another absolute thrill ride where you cannot stop turning the pages. Like Mr. Crichton, he presents the idea of technology that is just right around the corner and present s the question of if this is something humankind should be messing with.

Full video review here: https://youtu.be/1YP389Ums6g

After a raid gone wrong, agent Logan Ramsey’s genome gets a major upgrade, unraveling a plan set to wreak havoc on humanity—in Blake Crouch’s extraordinary thriller, UPGRADE.

Former molecular geneticist Logan Ramsey has spent years atoning for his family’s legacy, working as a government agent in the Gene Protection Agency. When a routine raid goes terribly wrong, he finds himself in a hospital, terrified he may have been exposed to a lethal virus.

What happens, however, is practically the opposite. In the days following the raid, long-ago memories return in vivid detail, his reading speed exponentially increases, he needs less sleep, his body is stronger. Something is happening to him, something that causes him to process the world and those he loves differently.

Logan’s new abilities upend his life, but worse yet, he uncovers he’s the trigger to a terrifying plan which puts humanity at risk… and he’s the only one that can stop it.

Blake Crouch once again delivers a mind-blowing, immersive thriller rife with high-octane action, ratcheting tension, vivid worldbuilding and riveting science. It’s clear the work was meticulously researched, making the premise equal parts fascinating and frightening. Crouch probes the moral complexity and perceived boundaries of ‘playing God’ while buoying the science-heavy narrative (which I love) with surprisingly emotive moments.

One of the best books I’ve read this year.

Logan Ramsay works for the GPA, or the Gene Protection Agency, an agency that works to ensure that people are not altering their genes. While working on a case Logan finds himself in a situation that will alter his life in some strange and interesting ways; he finds himself trapped in a room with a device that, when it detonates, leaves Logan and the GPA unsure of what may have entered his system through the cuts that envelope his body. One thing Logan does know is that he feels different; his mind is sharper and his body is stronger. Unfortunately Logan’s transformation is only the beginning, and he may be the only one who can stop this thing in its tracks.

Upgrade is an action-packed and clever novel that also contains some pertinent messages and lessons about where we are headed as a society and as a planet. I really enjoyed the premise of the novel, as well as the characters. Logan is a sympathetic, likable character, and he is interesting as well. Upgrade is a fast-paced novel that kept me hooked with its twists and turns, as well as the science found throughout. Crouch has done it again with Upgrade, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

This is an in-depth and complex science fiction story that will grab the attention of readers in this genre and ones who are new to it! The story is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes from start to finish! I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next, and I really enjoyed it!

What I love about Blake Crouch’s novels is that I can always count on him for an action-packed, mind blowing read that will completely absorb me from the moment I read that first page. Crouch’s latest sci-fi thriller Upgrade delivers in a big way.

Set in the near future, the story follows Logan Ramsay, a federal agent who works for the Gene Protection Agency or GPA. The GPA was formed after a genetic modification project that was meant to save our species goes terribly wrong and instead leads to famine and mass death. The project was headed up by Logan’s mother, and he has joined the GPA in hopes of preventing similar incidents from ever happening again. When the novel opens, Logan is following up on a tip about an illegal genetics lab. Almost as soon as he enters the lab, he is hit with a bomb. It’s not just any bomb though, as Logan realizes soon after waking up in the hospital. No, this bomb contained a genetic upgrade and Logan can feel himself starting to transform into a much enhanced version of himself.

I very much enjoyed the way this story unfolds. It was fascinating to watch Logan’s transformation and what he’s able to do now that he has been “upgraded.” I also found the story riveting as Logan encounters a few others who have also been upgraded but who are not on his side when it comes to the need for caution regarding genetic research and modification. These encounters are an action-packed adrenaline rush and made for a fast-paced read. It was also mind blowing when it is revealed who is responsible for these genetic upgrades and what their intentions are if they are not stopped.

Aside from the fascinating science and the thrilling action scenes, I also enjoyed that the story had a more personal element to it when it comes to Logan. Logan is a really likeable guy that I couldn’t help but root for. He’s smart, well versed in genetics and genetic modification and the associated dangers of going too far, and he also has a huge conscience. With his GPA job, he’s trying so hard to atone for what he sees as his mother’s sins, and I thought that was very noble of him.

I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll stop here and just say that if you’re in the mood for an action-packed sci-fi thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat but also leave you with plenty of food for thought regarding science, ethics, and the future of our species, Upgrade is the book for you!

Another excellent book from Crouch. It may not be up to the high level of Recursion, but Upgrade is a lot of fun and has some surprising twists and turns. Logan Ramsay is an agent of the Gene Protection Agency (GPA) in a near-future America, which has been ravaged by global warming and "The Great Starvation," a famine which was accidentally created by Logan's mother, a genius scientist who was trying to increase rice production in a remote area of China. But the solution she came up with actually did the reverse and spread to other crops around the world, killing 200 million people, and necessitating the GPA and its hard stance on stopping unregulated and rogue genetic scientists, even those working on good things, like a cure for cancer.

During a raid on a genetics lab in Denver, Logan is caught in an explosion of an ice bomb (frozen water leads to lacerations all over his body) and is put in quarantine for a few weeks. Other than some high temperatures and what looks like a strain of the flu, nothing much happens and he's eventually released. But Logan knows something is different: he's smarter, has a better memory, his muscles are more bulky, etc. He's been "upgraded," by a virus created by his mother, who was thought to have been killed in a car accident. And pretty soon, his colleagues are aware, too, and he's captured and put into a lab where he can be observed as he continues to change.

It turns out that Logan's sister has also been upgraded and she breaks him out and the two of them go on a search for their mother, trying to decide whether to stop her plan to upgrade all of humanity in an attempt to ward off the likely extinction of the human race in another 100-150 years, due to the effects of global warming and other disasters.

This is a very fast-paced novel and a whole lot of fun, with detailed explanations of the science carefully woven into the story. While it might not be as mind-boggling as Crouch's previous novel, Excursion, it's still an excellent read and definite page-turner. I did not want to set it down, reading as quickly as possible. Will definitely be looking forward to whatever Crouch does next.

RUN, don’t walk to pick up this phenomenal book. This one gets allllll the stars and is probably my favorite book from the last two years. Yep. I’m obsessed with it. It’s the kind of book you keep thinking about and try to subtly bring up in conversations because you want to keep talking about it.⁣
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This story is so amazing not only because the writing is outstanding (which it is) but the science is so well explained, relatable, and freakishly something I could actually see happening in our world.⁣
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We genetically modify organisms all the time for the benefit of mankind, but this book takes it further. What if we could edit our DNA to make us immune to diseases? What if we could alter or control our physical features like eye color? What if we could make ourselves into better athletes? What if we could change our bodies to require less sleep or prevent aging? What if all of this power ended up in the wrong hands?⁣
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This story is crazy. It follows a seemingly normal guy, Logan, whose job is to prevent rogue geneticists in a futuristic world where famines are prevalent and the world has been harmed from unforeseen side effects of GMOs. After a big bust, something about him is…different. He becomes sharper…stronger…more perceptive. Soon, he becomes the target in a war he was trying to prevent.⁣
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Even if you aren’t a science person, you NEED to read this book. You don’t have to like science to enjoy this thriller action, dystopian end-of world setting story

Another great Sci-fi thriller from Blake Crouch! If you liked Dark Matter, I don’t think that you will be disappointed by Upgrade.

The story follows Logan, who lives in a world where tampering with evolution and genetics has already caused disasters. Humankind is on the brink of collapse, and know one knows how to fix it…. Without breaking a few laws anyway.

The plot explores familial connections and how the world could be improved by human kind.

4 stars for me, I loved the ride, but not the destination.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc of Upgrade in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a couple other Blake Crouch novels - Dark Matter and Recursion - and his latest, Upgrade, follows a similar formula. The fast pacing makes it a quick read and his books tend to be good intros to the science fiction genre. The main character, Logan's, evolution kept me engaged - not just the genetic evolution, but his emotional development. Despite this, I found myself skimming through most of the parts that brought in the scientific elements, mostly because they were a bit boring and felt like info-dumps. Unlike the other Crouch books I've read, this one was also a bit more predictable. In the end though, I enjoyed Upgrade for the most part as it had a bit more 'heart' than his previous books.

Whaaaaaattt..... Blake Crouch has a way of absolutely blowing my mind with everything he writes. He can take a concept that is so far out in left field and make you believe that it is almost plausible. Genetic manipulation, it can happen, but on this scale? Logan has ended up being exposed to something transforming in a building raid. It has made him think much clearer and remember everything he has ever encountered. He was targeted for these modifications for a reason, and what he does with it will have unparalleled impacts on future generations. This was such a fast-paced, mind-blowing excursion into a world that teeters on what could really happen in reality. I love that Crouch has a way of making me think beyond what is real to wonder if this could ever be possible. His inclusion of current affairs makes it all the more believable. Another winner from Crouch. 5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC. I loved it.

This is personally my favorite Blake Crouch book. The characters in this book are very well fleshed out, and the plot is interesting, while not exactly original. I read this book in just a couple of sittings - it's definitely a page turner! If you've enjoyed Crouch's books in the past then you'll enjoy this one.

And he does it again🎉🎊!!! I want to thank Netgalley for my ebook copy though, which I read weeks ago then bought from BOTM because I had to own it. It's a futuristic thriller that's both fascinating and terrifying. When Logan's genome is hacked, he experienced remarkable cognitive changes. And of course, letter agencies are hot on his heels to "study" him. This one centers around genetics, the very core of our being, and holds none of the super sciency stuff back. Yea, I know, I'm smart in other areas, let's move on😉.

Like Recursion and Dark Matter, Crouch again pushes family values even when those values threaten our very survival. It's fast-paced with action and BOOM BOOM💥 💥 vibes galore. A solid read, my only gripe is the DNA information throughout, it was almost too much at times. The plot was phenomenal though, and Crouch made sure we were too emotionally connected to the characters to step away. A must-read for sure👏👏👏

I stopped reading this book at 34%. I think it’s an interesting idea but it feels very science and information heavy. I just think this book is for smarter people or more science loving people than just the average person