*4-4.5 stars

Set in a near-future world where genetic tinkering is monitored by the GPA--Gene Protection Agency. One of their agents, Logan Ramsey, gets caught in a trap and is infected by a new virus. He finds both his mind and body changing. He is shocked to learn who is the mastermind behind this plot and what they hope to achieve. Logan finds himself with a hard choice--to join them or fight to stop them.

A fusion of scifi and thriller that kept this reader turning pages. Blake Crouch never disappoints.

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

BOOK REVIEW: Upgrade by Blake Crouch
2022 Publication Date: July 12

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️

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Whatever you choose to do... Choose with compassion...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: It is rare that you find a book that checks all the boxes. Highly entertaining, check. Thrilling, check. Insightful, check. Informative, check … Leaves you both feeling hopeful and inspired to raise the bar on your own expectations for what one person can do to change the course of destiny… Check. Check. Check.

And can I just take a moment to acknowledge and applaud the considerable effort it must have taken to research this book? Not to mention the masterful skill it takes to combine complicated scientific data and theories while maintaining a blistering page-turning read? Bravo, bravo, bravo!

Perfect for readers who are looking for a thrilling adventure on the page and inspiration to take an adventurous step in their own life as well.

This is my first Blake Crouch read and I left tread marks running off to grab my next one!

Thank you, Blake Crouch — and all the talented authors — who remain committed to writing stories that urge us forward to a better world.

As you close the final page of this story, it is my sincere hope you will embrace the courage to take action for yourself in support of a better world... A kind world... A sustainable world.

In the words of our protagonist… “You can’t do nothing.”...✨😎✨

Pages: 341
Genre: Science Fiction
Sub-Genre: Fantasy Thriller
Time Period: Present Day Future
Location: Multiple US Locations

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Recursion by Blake Crouch
Movie: Lucy

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Day One... Logan Ramsay doesn't know if anything is different...

Yes, he feels sharper, and better able to concentrate and do things faster.

But when he notices he can now read entire books in one day, recall every detail, function at a higher level with little to no sleep... He soon realizes that something is very different.

Something is happening to his brain and body.

He's starting to see the world in new ways. And every word, memory, and experience is ready to be accessed in a snap.

The truth is, "Logan" has been hacked. His genome, DNA, chromosomes, physical and mental abilities... all upgraded.

And there's a reason why he's been targeted for this upgrade.

There's a dark family legacy behind it all. And Logan's upgrade is just the first step in a larger plan that will affect all of humanity -- but at what cost?

Logan is the only person who can stop it. But he will need to choose... Let go of everything and everyone he has ever loved? Go all-in with his upgrade?

And decide... What does it mean to be human?

Blake Crouch's Upgrade is a tension-filled, action-packed novel that explores the idea of what it means to be human. With lightning-fast narrative and intrigue surrounding every page turn, this book will leave you on edge until its conclusion!

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

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

Holy. WOW.

Blake Crouch first completely captivated my attention and imagination with Dark Matter, which I read basically nonstop from start to finish and thought about for weeks afterwards.

With Upgrade, he gives us a glimpse into what our future may look like: technology having progressed in a realistic way, electric vehicles are the norm, hyperloops connecting the country, genetic editing being not just possible but all too "easily" achieved--and, after an inadvertent mistake that decimated grain crops and directly killed two hundred million people, totally illegal. The world is also slowly destroying itself: climate change has basically flooded Miami and lower Manhattan, the Rockies are barren of snow in January, more of the world is a desert than ever, and natural food is in ever-shortening supply.

Logan, our protagonist, works for the Gene Protection Agency (GPA), a new agency that cracks down on illegal genetic tampering. On a raid of a possible lab for work, he gets blasted with a mystery device, leaving him in the hospital. In the weeks after the accident, he notices that some things are changing about him: he can read faster and comprehend better, he can finally beat his teenage daughter at chess, and his doctor said his bones are denser. This kicks off a high octane adventure to save the world, typical of a Blake Crouch novel. The science is fascinating, the stakes are high, and humanity itself hangs in the balance.

As has become typical in Blake Crouch novels, this one is expertly crafted. Without getting deeper into the plot, this book has the perfect mix of action, sci-fi, and surprising emotional punch. It offers an unsparing look at where humanity currently is, where we could be going, and presents its own ideas about how we may be able to fix it. I haven't read a book that made me think about these issues without coming off as preachy, which Crouch manages to avoid by slipping the philosophy in amongst action, suspense, and cool science. I don't want to know what kind of research he had to do for this novel to sound plausible to my (admittedly far less involved) biology/chemistry background, but I am impressed. I'll let a true biochemist type break down the nitty gritty; to a layperson, the science is grounded but also well explained.

There are also some beautiful bits of prose, such as (best example that doesn't give anything away) "Never before had I seen Homo sapiens so clearly -- a species, at its most fundamental level, of storytellers."

In case my gushing and the stars didn't make it clear, I cannot recommend this book enough. You'll have fun while thinking!

CW: violence, death, suicide, implied sexual assault

This book was simply amazing. I could not put it down! Crouch obviously thinks deeply about our world and our humanity. What a wonderful book.

I haven’t read Blake Crouch before but I have seen his books everywhere. I took a chance on his newest novel, Upgrade, and I was not disappointed. Upgrade is a sci-fi thriller about a world where gene editing is illegal after a well-intended plan to improve food supply results in a mass starvation episode. The main character, Logan Ramsay, is an agent for the Gene Protection Act when his genes are hacked and a new plan for the world is set in motion.

I really like this fast-paced novel. I found this world where gene editing is illegal fascinating, and although there is a futuristic feel to this book, it actually doesn’t seem that far into the future from our current state. Half of this book was great because I liked imagining the possibilities of gene editing while the other half was a lot of action and mystery that kept me guessing. It is a page turner that develops very quickly and will have you on the edge of your seat.

My only complaint is that it all moved too fast. There is a lot that happens in the span of this book and no time is wasted with extra detail. I feel like I didn’t have enough time to empathize with these characters because I was just trying to keep up with the commotion of it all. There is some intense family dynamics in this book but there really isn’t a chance to process it because the stunts never stop.

Overall, it was still a very good read and I found it to be very realistic and therefore that much scarier. I definitely plan to read more by Crouch very soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book.

Pros: Blake Crouch is such a dependable author in the sci fi/thriller genre. Just like with Dark Matter, Upgrade is a fast-paced, plot-driven read that also touches on deeper ethical issues. I appreciated this book’s examination of compassion as it is a very timely topic.

Cons: None really. I think this book does exactly what it sets out to do.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this book.

What a wild ride! You never know exactly what you're going to get with Blake Crouch. There will always be something twisty and speculative going on and you will see humans pushed to their limits of their physical and mental abilities. In this book, humans are literally redesigned and upgraded to be the best of the best, but of course there will be major consequences.

This book grapples with topics that are recent and relevant like viral spread, humanity fighting over limited resources, and genetic manipulation. Everything seems so plausible and within reach that I found myself being more uncomfortable with the possible technology presented. It's easier to feel entertained by topics like cloning and memory manipulation presented in other books. When looking at a world when viruses can be created and spread that affect the global population... it feels so real.

I enjoyed this adventure. It was fast paced, well developed without being overly "science-y", raw and intellectual. Definitely recommend!

Blake Crouch is quickly becoming a new favorite author. This book explores what could happen if humanity was able to alter genomes. Logan the main character was exposed to something that altered his DNA and made him into a super human. I love how Blake crouch manages to incorporate science so realistically that it really makes you think about what could happen if things like this were really possible. I love the action scenes and felt like the science jargon was well placed throughout the story. I look forward to reading many books in the future by Blake Crouch.

Wow, Blake Crouch has done it again. I could not put this down. He has such a skill for taking scientific facts and turning them into a nonstop, edge of your seat thriller. I also like how he adds the family element as well. The topic of this really got me thinking as well…what will eventually save our world and humankind? Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Blake Crouch has done it again! I have read only his more recent sci-fi thrillers, but they gripped me from start to finish, and this one is no different.

In Upgrade, Logan Ramsay is a member of the organization keeping genetic modifications under control. They can range from modified pets to weaponized viruses. After an incident on the job, Logan starts to notice changes, and has to delve into his own past to figure out what is really going on.

I love that the premises of his books are just on this side of believable, enough to be a little frightening and real. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I flew through it to find out what happened. The writing is fast-paced without leaving out too many details. My only critique is that the ending felt a bit abrupt. I really enjoyed thinking about the implications of the genetic upgrades that Crouch describes. Definitely a technological advance with far-reaching and ambiguous repercussions. I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next!

Upgrade is a scorcher of a summer thriller, asking us what we would do to save humanity from itself. Blake Crouch's new science fiction thriller focuses around a central question: what would you be willing to risk to save humanity from itself? Crouch has always proved himself as the master of the science fiction thriller that asks: should we? Upgrade is no different.

Logan Ramsay is trying to live his life outside of his mother's dark shadow, But after a near-death accident during a raid, he feels different. Quicker, smarter, more awake. He can remember the past in vivid detail, and he can remember everything he's ever read. Is he experiencing a fluke thing or is he just the first in a worldwide plan?

Another good, solid read from Blake Crouch. A lot of science stuff that I kind of glossed over at times but I was still able to follow the plot no problem. A lot of action and cliff hangers that kept me moving through this at a brisk pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 12, 2022.

Get ready for another page turner with Crouch’s, latest release, “Upgrade.” I have to be honest that I am not typically a reader of science fiction, yet “Dark Matter” is perhaps one of my favorite books of the last decade, and I liked Crouch so much, I immediately read “Recursion” and had high hopes for it. However, I felt let down a little. While I liked “Recursion” it didn’t quite have the same wow factor for me that “Dark Matter” did. It was missing something. So I wasn’t sure what to expect with this new book.

However, I quickly realized that whatever that missing spark was, ”Upgrade” had it and more. If you loved “Dark Matter,” you will love this book. If you didn’t read “Dark Matter” yet, read that and “Upgrade” immediately! I could hardly put this book down, and each chapter kept you on the edge of your seat revealing more surprises around each corner. It almost reads like a thriller but a thriller that makes you ponder some really huge questions about morality, and what it means to be human.

This book could capture anyone with how it blends so many timely topics into one novel: from concerns for the environment, to questions of ethics- it will make you think, and provide insight from multiple perspectives.

I found myself thinking about it for weeks afterward, which is often the mark of a book that really left its’ impact on me. If you’re looking for a good book to get lost in this summer, this is the one!

Thank you to Random House Group- Ballantine and NetGalley for the Advanced Review Copy that was provided for my review. I can’t wait to see what Crouch comes up with next.

This is a fascinating story set in the future where gene editing is a federal crime and the Gene Protection Agency (GPA) enforces the law. In the past gene editing was used to try to improve crops, but the process went horribly wrong and caused a massive food shortage. Society is in trouble, the environment is dying, and the world will not last another 25 years. Logan, a GPA agent whose mother's genetic work was behind the massive food shortage, tries to make things right, but is injected with a mysterious compound that changes him completely, "upgrading" his intellect and physical abilities. His mother believes that these "upgraded" people will be able to save the world. Logan disagrees, and there lies the conflict comprising the rest of the story. Lots of science bogs down the story a bit, but the action is exciting, the characters believable, and the writing superb. UPGRADE is the author's best book yet. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books for providing an ARC.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is my first book by Blake Crouch, and my first Sci Fi book in quite some time. I enjoyed Blake's writing style and found that it flowed easily. While there is a lot of scientific detail in this book I was able to keep up and understand it all, and it was written in such a way that I never lost interest. I was hooked from the moment I started reading - I liked the characters and the fictional world that seemed so much like the one we currently live in and yet light years different all at the same time. Logan is a man who feels very much like a Jack Reacher type of character, always wanting to do the right thing and able to do it easily. I enjoyed cheering him on and I loved the way his mind worked, especially after his upgrade. There was a very good twist near the end of the book that I had to stop and read twice to understand it. I love it when that happens! The description for this book claims it is 'Intimate in scale yet epic in scope' and I thoroughly agree with this. The end of the book gave me all the feels!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! Just wow. The first book I read by Crouch was Dark Matter. I've been looking for something that challenges my preconceived notions and completely surprised me just like that novel. Upgrade was just that! It is a wonderful sci-fi thriller. I was instantly engaged in the story. What is great is that despite the scientific nature of the story, it's wonderfully accessible. Crouch is incredibly insightful in his approach to the science and questions that are proposed through the story. In addition, I think the themes regarding improvements at the cost of humanity is a real issue and something that hugely applies to our world today.

In all, Upgrade had me thinking and in a magnificent brain hurt kind of way. Well done. I absolutely love it and this will definitely be a book I buy for my library, personal collection and one I will recommend to just about everyone I know.

Big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review Upgrade by Blake Crouch.

It's official. If Blake Crouch writes it, I will read it.

Did I love this book as much as Dark Matter? Nope.
Did I love this book as much as Recursion? Nope.
Did I still love this book? ABSOLUTELY!

Blake Crouch is a master at his craft and a true genius in my humble opinion. He has this way of bringing sci-fi to the masses that I haven't seen in other authors. In addition to writing a truly mind bending sci-fi novel, he's also sharing a STORY. This is a remarkable talent and truly special.

The premise of Upgrade isn't wholly original but it was still enthralling and Crouch found details and nuance that blew my mind.

Logan Ramsay has a sordid reputation being linked to his mother - the scientist who caused The Great Famine killing millions of people around the world. When he gets attacked at a raid and begins to notice major enhancements to his self, it quickly becomes clear he was targeted for a DNA upgrade. As Logan's strength, intelligence, memory, and entire self begin to transform into something nearly super human, Logan sets out to find answers to why he was selected for the upgrade and how to help save the human race from imploding.

DNA alteration is fascinating and honestly doesn't even feel that far off. I love books that are just a few clicks away from reality and Upgrade checks that box and then some.

Crouch really brings sci-fi to the masses. There are definitely parts that went WAY over my head and were too science-y for me to actually understand (or probably fully appreciate), but it didn't take away from the meat or the heart of the story.

The research and care that went into crafting this story was impeccable and it was a true joy to read. As with Crouch's other more recent sci-fi books Dark Matter and Recursion, I will definitely be recommending this to anyone willing to expand their mind and their bookshelves.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC of this! I continue to be absolutely obsessed with this author!

High energy science fiction thriller, this kept me sucked in from beginning to end! I don’t know much about the possibility of gene mutations, but the idea that it could be spread like a virus was uniquely horrifying. I will read anything Blake Crouch puts out.

Upgrade is my first Blake Crouch book and I was not disappointed! A perfect blend of dystopian sci-fi and thriller. Set in the not-too-distant future where lower Manhattan in under water and a famine has killed millions, Logan Ramsay works for the GPA, a government agency tasked with monitoring scientists whose work has been in gene modification, which is now illegal. Ramsay’s past and his family are directly linked to one of the world’s worst gene modifying disasters. After a raid on a potential lab leaves his injured, he begins to realize that his DNA has been modified and upgraded. Ramsay must find out who did this to him and what their plans are all the while running from the very agency he worked for and navigating his upgrade and what really makes us human.

Happy Pub Day to Upgrade by Blake Crouch! I love sci-fi and I love thrillers so I was really excited to get into this book. I haven't read Recursion despite it being on my TBR and kindle for over a year (I'll get to it, I swear!) so I didn't know what to expect from Crouch's writing. That said, I was so happily surprised! You can tell that he is so smart and puts a lot of research into his writing because not only is it gripping but it's so thorough as well. This was the best kind of thriller because it's just a bit off from reality so it actually becomes somewhat haunting. I'm so excited this book is now available because I can't wait to discuss it with people.