Twisty and fabulous! Congratulations to the author for being the only one who can get me to read Sci Fi. 😀 This is heavy on Science, but has the emotional piece that had me connected to the characters. I was able to follow along with the Science part and didn’t feel like a dumdum. The family drama was interesting and I couldn’t put this one down.

Blake Crouch does it again! I really enjoyed this book and although a lot of the science was way over my head and difficult for me to understand at times- I was still hooked by the story. I’m not sure if I love this one as much as Recursion and Dark Matter but it’s very close behind in comparison. The ending even made me cry and I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

I received a reviewer copy of Upgrade by Blake Crouch from the publisher Ballatine Books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: After an explosion, Logan Ramsey feels sharper suddenly and his focus is better, it turns out his genes have been hacked. And in a society that prosecutes geneticists are viewed as criminals, this makes him a target. But Logan realizes shortly that he has been targeted for this regrade based on his history.

What I Loved: This book is action packed and so that made it fun to read. But on a note to me the following things were well done. I loved the exploration of the impacts of genetic engineering on a futuristic society. It was intriguing to see this response in our current setting of wanting to use these tools to avoid illness and more. I loved the exploration of why this happened to the character and how it altered his family life. As a scientist, the upgrade itself and how it would harm humanity.

What I didn’t like so much: I thought this was quite good and action packed, but at some times I had questions of why here? why there? ETC.

Who Should Read It: People who love propulsive and thought provoking science fiction.

Summary: A propulsive science fiction novel exploring genetic engineering

I like Crouch's science fiction / futuristic stories because I can see them as realistic possibilities with our technology and our world.
This plot was a little more rooted in a warning about how we are living. However, it managed to feel still entertaining, not preachy.
After being part of one failure in over involvement with mother nature, Logan is reluctant to make alterations again. But is not doing anything as bad as doing too much?

"Upgrade" is a sci-fi thriller about a man who is genetically upgraded and tasked with saving humanity. The plot is complicated and has many layers. The novel takes place in the future in which people are trying to survive the ramifications of “the great starvation.” A worthy follow-up to Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter."

This one was absolutely fantastic and reaffirmed why Blake Crouch is one of my all-time favorite authors! Upgrade was tense and action-packed while also getting across a very important message in the process. The epilogue was absolutely everything and really bumped up my overall rating from a 4.5 star to a solid 5 star. I will forever read anything Blake writes and I look forward to his future work.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for providing me with a copy in exchange for my review!

If you've read Blake Crouch you know how well-written his books are and how much of a ride they are. They are always packed with a lot of scientific information, but in such a way that I don't feel lost in the jumble. Upgrade poses questions like how would the human race react to the opportunity to change its course and truly evolve.

Another fantastic book from Blake Crouch, Really enjoyed the subject matter and writing style, and was very grateful to receive an ARC of this amazing book. Highly recommend.

“We were monstrous, thoughgul, selfish, sensitive, fearful, ambitious, loving, hateful, hopeful species. We contained within us the potential for great evin, but also for great good. And we were capable of so much more than this.”

Upgrade is Blake Crouch’s latest novel, and I loved it. It’s probably my favorite because it’s plausable. I can the possiblity of the geneitic mutations and viruses happening in the future. I’m not a huge sci-fi reader, but this is an author that is a must read for me.

There is a lot of scientific words and genetic talk in this book as Logan Ramsay works through changes that are happening to him and people around him. Changes that were started by his mother and then carried on by his sister. Logan can see the need for changes, but does he agree that his mother and sister are on the right path? He needs to find out while the agency he works for is hunting him down.

“Life never really goes the way you want or expect. Usually, even getting exactly what you want turns out not to have been what you really wanted.”

This book is a fast read and really gets you thinking about the future of humanbeings and the future of science. The writing is entertaining and high energy. I just could not put it down!

This is a super interesting premise, as Blake Crouch always produces! It was very suspenseful, kept me at the edge of my seat wanting to read more! I would love to get into the mind of Crouch - I have no idea how he comes up with this stuff! He is truly the sci-fi thriller king! I will say some of the science was too detailed and went over my head.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for honest opinions.

“Upgrade”, by Blake Crouch, is a vigorous, complex, fast-paced thriller that seems tailor made for a big budget box office hit. Although, there are some medical and technical jargon that was sometimes baffling, I was completely enthralled and read this book so quickly. If it seems too much, hang in there. It’s worth it in the end!

Crouch, with his dynamic writing style has a way of making far-fetched biological and technological advancements seem, well, not so far off. It really made me think and it is frightening at times. Crouch reminds us that our future depends on us as humans. How far should we push science and what will be the outcomes of modifying ourselves. What does our future hold?

I always enjoy a book by Blake Crouch, and Upgrade did not disappoint! I was drawn quickly into the characters and story. Having lived a few years in rural northern Montana, I enjoyed the reference to Glasgow in the story. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful novel.

I will read anything Blake Crouch writes. His stories are unique, entertaining and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Loved this one. It was Blake Crouch at his Crouch-iest.

Logan Ramsay starts noticing changes for the better: his memory is sharper, he's better at multitasking, he doesn't need as much sleep. His genome was hacked due to a terrible family secret, and this is part of a larger plot that will force this upgrade onto the rest of humanity. If he's to stop it, he'll have to become something other than human. Is this something to be stopped?

I was drawn in from the beginning, where Logan works for the Genetic Protection Agency and hunts down those geneticists making illegal hacks to DNA. The Agency was created following a global catastrophe that Logan's mother accidentally created with her technology. Ever see the movie Rampage? Scythe is CRISPR on Crack, and viruses had continued to mutate. Logan's still paying penance decades later, and the progressive changes are insidious. In becoming stronger with more clarity of thought, Logan can essentially turn off his emotions and do the expedient thing. This essentially cuts off his humanity, because individuals and sentimentality don't matter, just population genetics at large. The question now becomes why stay ordinary when you can be a more perfect and intelligent version of yourself?

The novel addresses genetic mutations, the responsibility of discovery, advancement in science, morality, and the nature of humanity. These are weighty topics, and science fiction can push the envelope of our reality to explore these topics. This book is beautiful and thought-provoking, making readers question what is human, and how can we fix the problems in our world to secure a better future.

Blake Crouch wowed everyone with his novels Dark Matter and Recursion, and now he is back with a new release that is being described as “mysterious, fascinating, and deeply moving - exploring the very nature of what it means to be human.”

Logan Ramsay feels a change - in his brain, his body, and his overall sense of being. His genome has been hacked, considered an “upgrade”, and there is a reason why he has been picked that can be traced back years and years to a dark part of his family’s past.

This upgrade will eventually affect others and it’s up to Logan to not only fight for others but acknowledge the evolution going on within himself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC copy - published July 12, 2022.

This was a fast paced book that is hard to say much about without giving away too much of the storyline. The main character, Logan, had his genome hacked which results in new abilities, such as thinking faster and physically reacting faster. Some of the DNA and science details were a little less interesting to me but I am not a science person. Details of some of what takes place is scary to imagine that it could happen in the future and this makes you think about appreciating what you have now. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC that I enjoyed.

You are in for a wild ride and a lot of science mumbo jumbo in this book. Upgrade follows Logan Ramsay, a member of the GPA, an organization that seeks out illegal genetic labs. He works for them because of the guilt he still carries around, years after an experiment conducted by his mother went awry and killed millions of people across the globe. After being lead to a supposed lab, Logan becomes the victim of a blast, hit by shrapnel from an unknown device. It's discovered the blast infected him with DNA altering particles, changing and upgrading his intelligence and physical abilities. The question now is, who else knows about his upgrade? And what will they do to obtain it as well?

This is my second book by Blake Crouch. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and didn't mind all the scientific terms the author used throughout. He gives enough context so the reader can understand what the upgrades are and what they do to a person. With just enough story and lots of twists and turns, the story captured my attention. I found it lagged a little about two-thirds of the way in but then wrapped up nicely. A genuinely enjoyable science fiction book, even for those wary of the genre. Crouch creates an alternate world that could possibly become reality, it just depends on how far humanity is willing to go.

In general I'm a fan of Blake. This didn't quite hit the same as DARK MATTER for me, but was still a great read, with a fast, propelling plot and sympathetic characters. i wish that some of the other characters had been as well-developed as the protagonist, but it was still enjoyable and i liked the ending, which i feel like i rarely say or think....

Blake Crouch's mind definitely thinks in ways like no other. Upgrade is yet another book with an inventive storyline that you have to pay close attention to so that the nuances don't slip past you.

Logan Ramsay initially seems like a somewhat normal fellow. However, you quickly learn that he's got serious baggage. You just aren't sure exactly what it is right away. The story evolves pretty quickly and you learn more about where he comes from and the dynamics that make him who he is. Just as you get a handle on who Logan is, things will turn upside down and you'll be left figuring out a new twisty mystery.

This book takes the reader on a journey where Logan (one man) is trying to understand a new science that targets genes before the unthinkable happens. He will desperately try to prevent a catastrophe of epic proportions from befalling the world. But can he succeed or should he even try? There are so many ethical questions at play.

Blake Crouch blends science and mystery so delicately that it's almost an art form. I'm not sure how any one person's brain can think out of the box to this extent but I'm grateful for it because his books are a treat.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Upgrade is more of a sci fi type of book with a futuristic perspective. Not usually something I find interesting but this particular book took off and kept interest throughout. This is an action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can see this happening in the distant future. Agent Logan Ramsay works as a scientist for the Gene Protective Agency (GPA). Gene editing has become a federal crime. We're now a few years out from The Great Starvation in a post famine world. A profound impact has occurred from tampering with and subverting the original intent of a gene's function. Scythe had become a biological DNA modifier system. In the wrong hands, genetic fingerprint labs have the potential to release pathogens like mad terrorists. Logan and his UNESCO partner, Nadine, have gotten a tip on such a lab. As they enter inside, an explosion happens and ice-like particles break through his hazmat suit. As a precaution, Logan is hospitalized and tests are run. Initially, all seems to be well. But eventually, the tests come back with rapid changes to his genetic coding. Logan's fear is one of trust. He's not even sure if he should divulge his newly gained enhanced learning and spatial capabilities along with his higher cognitive function abilities. His mind is speeding at an astounding rate.

Thank you Netgally, Blake Crouch and the publisher for this ARC.