Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I got approved for this book and couldn't wait to dig in! I found Blake Crouch way back in 2012 when I came across his book Pines free on Kindle Unlimited. Well, I was sold! I've read most of his books since then and always find them suspenseful , eerie and completely page turning addictive!
This book was excellent ! Crouch has really matured into his writing and research , I am truly impressed ! This book was a different premise from any other that I have read of the dystopian genre. We are set in the future and people have learned how to change DNA of living objects to change the path of evolution. But inevitably things go wrong and people suffer. We jump into the story of Logan Ramsay, the son of the most famous geneticist Miriam Ramsay. He is an agent for the GPA - The Gene Protection Agency and now he is one of the "good guys" hunting down criminal geneticists who are trying to change the world. One day on a raid he is trapped and a bomb implodes containing a gene editing package. Then the fun begins. Logan must try to figure out what he is evolving into and why?

This is a fast paced exciting story set in the future which will give you goosebumps and leave you wondering if it is a glimpse of our future.
A Must Read for fans of Blake Crouch, Sci-Fi and Mystery Thrillers!

This is my first Blake Crouch book and it definitely gave me “limitless” vibes.

Logan Ramsey’s DNA get “hacked” and upgraded and at first he has no idea what is going on but he’s able to read faster, comprehend better, and have a clearer mindset and see moves ahead of what is going to happen.

The reason he is the targeted upgrade goes back to his past that he thought he left behind.

It is a fast paced novel of him trying to stop the upgrade from being unleashed to humankind, although Homo sapiens will seize to exist within a century.

What I wish it had more of is more of how his upgraded DNA made him “see” things. Yes there is some of it but I wish there was more.

I would still recommend you read it if you want a fast paced, tech filled, sci-fi vibe.

Blake Crouch's "Upgrade" is a sci-fi thriller with genes and genetic modification at the forefront in a future world in which Manhattan is underwater, category seven hurricanes are a thing, we can travel rapidly using the "loop" from city to city, and the world has experienced a worldwide famine that has left 200 million dead. While it is very science heavy and technical based about DNA and genes, it is also a narrative on humans impact on the environment and our deep love for our families. The science writing is accessible -- Crouch excels at this. He is able to define and educate the reader without making it sound like a textbook.

"Upgrade" presents us with two blood related humans who have been genetically upgraded in every way possible - physical health, mental stamina, logical reasoning. Crouch presents two characters with vast differences in opinion on what impact it would have on humanity if everyone were to undergo this change. This is much more nuanced and complex than a battle between good and evil. This book has so much heart, and I was cheering for our protagonist Logan the entire time. This is one that you do not want to put down. Highly recommend for the reluctant sci-fi reader!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Blake Crouch for the advanced copy of Upgrade in exchange for my honest review.

Super cool premise - would you take the chance to upgrade yourself, even with the consequences? I love Blake Crouch's writing, and this newest novel did not disappoint. Sci-fi, twists and turns, interesting and original concepts, its hard not to get sucked in!

I really wanted to like this book. I think this book would be great for people with the mental energy to either keep up with or skip over the science bits because the premise is great-- I just couldn't vibe with the writing structure. I will be giving this book another shot perhaps when I'm not juggling work and school and reading in 5 minute bursts, but for now it's not for me.

Are you as excited to see a Blake Crouch title for 2022 as I was? Yes? Then you are in for a treat. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this pre-published copy for review. This is another rollercoaster scifi thriller that takes you on a ride that isn't far from today's world. It is clear the author has taken time over the pandemic to reflect on humanity and this is the result of it. Do you get the action and suspense of Dark Matter? yes. Are there lots of sciencey references? yes. Can you use this for a bookclub? Absolutely! This storyline opens doors for a discussion beyond the story on what is humanity and its purpose which is just a bonus.. Our main character is Logan and he is married with a daughter. His mother orchestrated the biggest scientific disaster in the world and now the world is collapsing as a result of her choice. Logan with his tarnished last name has turned to working with the US government to capture other genetic engineering scientists as this process is now outlawed because of his mother's actions. An opportunity to take down one of the biggest dark science rings presents itself. Logan gets the intel, shows up and then it all goes sideways and the rollercoaster begins. If you liked his first two books, then you need to read this.

What if there was a way you could upgrade yourself just by getting sick? Would you take the plunge and rearrange your DNA to become a "better" person?

Blake Crouch asks these questions and more in his book "Upgrade." This masterpiece of suspense teases out the possibilities of upgrading man/woman, along with the consequences of such a feat. Good, bad, or otherwise, what happens after upgrading may not always be exactly what you had expected.

"Upgrade" follows the life of Logan Ramsay, son of one of the world's most well-known scientists. Overshadowed by his mother's legacy, Logan fights to protect the world he knows, not realizing how close his reality is to becoming something more. And yet when fate twists up his world, it is Logan himself who is destined to become something (or, rather, someone) different altogether.

Based in a world and time just beyond our own, "Upgrade" contains elements of science fiction and fantasy, all blended together with elements of a thriller. James Bond may be a super spy and Wolverine might have undergone some wicked body modification . . . but what if you combined both things in one person?

This reader highly recommends "Upgrade" to anyone looking for a book to pique their interest and play out the fantasy of upgrading yourself to the point that you begin to question what it is to be human. After all, when the improvements are "complete," how do we find the humanity in ourselves? What sets us apart when the playing field is leveled? Read "Upgrade" to find out.

I would describe this as a scientific thriller with heart. There is a fair amount of talk about the genetic code and specific genes, but you don't have to be a scientist to understand - it's important to the story as it pertains to the action, but not so in-depth as to be formidable. The action centers around genetic modification and the ramifications of doing this. There are some interesting theories and viewpoints around this, and is also the main conflict in the story. I don't want to give much away or just re-tell the story, but the upgrade of the title is fascinating and the brother/sister conflict really made me think about how different factions would behave if this were real. This is the second book I've read by this author, and I would say that I've thoroughly enjoyed both. I'd recommend his books to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced read that makes you think and also keeps you interested even if you don't typically read thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to read.

Wow. This was a quick and riveting read that kept me on edge through its conclusion. This isn’t my usual genre and I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Blake Crouch for the advanced copy of Upgrade in exchange for my honest review.

Science Fiction is well and truly not usually my thing, but Upgrade is so well-written and fast paced I tore through it super quickly. There is an immense amount of science presented throughout the book but I thought it was written in such a way that I never felt lost or bogged down by details.

This book reminded me of Inferno by Dan Brown in that it brings up an interesting moral dilemma and kind of challenges the readers to think "what would I do in this situation?" I found I really wasn't sure I could answer the question, and that I'd much rather be an oblivious bystander.

I found the ending to be satisfactory, but also... not...? I won't spoil it but there was what I would consider a pretty contradictory moment. A quote I really loved did come out of it though:

"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 think of rain falling through sunlight."

Upgrade will be on bookshelves July 12!

Blake Crouch does not disappoint. I’ve loved his previous works and this one was on par with Dark Matter and Recursion. If you like science fiction that feels plausible then this book is for you!

Crouch is unparalleled in his ability to turn complicated science into tense action and suspense. This is a lightning quick read, and thoroughly entertaining the entire time. Explores the idea that humanity is doomed and not exactly concerned with doing anything about it. Doesn’t beat you over the head with the science, it’s always in service of the story.

Does humanity need greater intelligence in order to survive? If not, what does humanity need? Blake Crouch's newest novel has few answers but a lot of excitement as Logan Ramsay tries to answer these questions.

After a booby-trapped basement raid goes horribly wrong, Logan Ramsay knows that things are changing. He can feel his mind becoming quicker and different even as he recovers from the blazing fevers and the aches that he alone is suffering through. But why him? and how is this connected to his brilliant but dead mother?

Reading Blake Crouch always makes me feel smarter than I am because of the way he works science into the future plot and the fast-paced action. One of his best!

Loved the story. Characters well developed and science well thought out. Blake Crouch never disappoints.

Blake Crouch has become an auto buy author for me and for a good reason. This sucked me in from the get go and felt like an action packed, thriller of a sci-fi movie while I was reading. There was never a dull moment!

This review has been posted on Goodreads, and will be posted to IG 2 weeks prior to release.

… “You are the next step in human evolution.“ Think about that.

I picked this one up since Dark Matters was an absolute favorite of mine and because Recursion left me so empty I was needing more, much more, Dark Matter.

The beginning of the story grabbed me by the throat, then the middle portion set in, and it got hard to stay engaged, and honestly, awake. The ending, while not great, was certainly better than the middle. I wasn’t in love with the ending. It definitely fell flat for me. I loved the premise, I just didn’t love the resolution. Is it because I am comparing the subsequent work too Dark Matter? Quite possibly!

All in all, would I recommend it? Yes, there will be a number of readers out there who absolutely love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#BallantineBooks #Upgrade #Sci-Fi #Arc #AdvancedReadersCopy #NetGalley #Bookish #Booklovers #Bibliophile #ReadThis #ReadingTime #BooksToRead

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending me an ARC of Upgrade in exchange for an honest review.

Logan Ramsay is a federal agent with the Gene Protection Agency. Gene editing has been banned in the US after “the largest accidental mass killing in human history.” An arrested informant tricks Logan into a basement where an explosion pierces him with a synthetic virus that later improves him physically and mentally. Why would someone target Logan for this upgrade, and what is he expected to do after he’s been changed?

Upgrade is a tale of one possible future of humanity in the upcoming age of gene editing.; a fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi thriller that is hard to put down. This was my first Blake Crouch book and after reading this I am already in the process of getting my hands on more. Highly recommend you do the same!

Loved this book. Blake crouch keeps his intriguing sci-fi writing in this book and brings it to the next level. His concept of unlocking for potential of the brain is brilliant and he doesn’t waist any potential with it!!

As with all other books I've read by Blake Crouch, I was simultaneously riveted and clueless. More science-oriented readers will probably understand this much better than I did, but I'd venture to guess that just about any reader will have a hard time putting it down. Entertaining in the extreme!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Fans of Blake Crouch will be impressed again with Upgrade. A father reviews a genetic upgrade that gives him enhanced physical and mental abilities. The only problem is these enhancements are illegal, and his mother and her experiments are the reason why. It's a fascinating speculative story, and the main characters' love for his wife and daughter add emotional depth to the story.