If you are a Blake Crouch fan then you know he likes to ask “what if” and then tell a story about it. “Upgrade” posits a dystopian era not too distant from today, then introduces the “what if” factor.

This story is very science heavy. There is little romance to speak of and the character development is limited to only a couple of people. We follow the protagonist throughout the story with no other POVs, which is fine by me. There is plenty of action, the premise is interesting, and Crouch did a good job exploring the topic and its philosophical ramifications.

Four stars for “Upgrade”. This was an engaging read that draws on existing science and extrapolates to a plausible science-gone-wrong future. While the author does a great job drawing the reader along, the story seems just a little dry. My thanks to Ballantine Books via Netgalley.

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Upgrade was a page turner for me and I did not want to put this book down.

I loved Logan as a character and found myself cheering for him throughout the book. Cheering for him to “win”. Cheering for him to make the morally right decisions. Cheering for him to find peace.

Beyond the story, this book has left me thinking about how humans can ensure the survival of our species and the philosophy around what humans would do if we could upgrade our DNA - would we use it for good or evil? I think we all know the answer to that.

I love Blake Crouch’s writing and I loved this book. Pick up a copy and read it as soon as it’s available

I have been a fan of Crouches since he was writing with Konrath many years ago, and I found the Pines books amazing and unmistakably original. Dark Matter and Recursion proved he is a writer to be reckoned with. Using the science of genetics, this novels posits man 2.0 if you will, or what it would be like for us to get an upgrade, not of cybernetics but of our own genetics. A fascinating look at science that seems to be within our grasp, if not now then within the next few decades, amazing and frighteningly real.
A perfect blending of Sci Fi and thriller, this will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page is turned or swiped.

While I've read and enjoyed both Recursion and Dark Matter, I left both books feeling like I didn't really know what was going on. Upgrade has a similar brain bending quality, but is slightly easier to wrap your head around. While I don't claim to understand the science behind DNA hacking, I do think Crouch did a great job of discussing it in the style of Andy Weir. This book felt like it could have very easily been ripped from the headlines of the very near future. If you're looking for an unputdownable book this summer, look no further than Upgrade.

4 1/2 stars
The latest science stunner from Blake Crouch has a story that could come out of today's headlines - diabolical DNA researcher takes matters into her own hands unleashing terror and making human hybrids out of her own children. Logan is a good guy who is really trying hard to hide from his famous mother's legacy by working with the gene police but nothing can prepare him for the direction his life has just taken. This is a genetic futuristic Jack Reacher/Jason Bourne/Terminator kind of thriller with a hero we love, super scary science explained in " Genetics For Dummies " writing style and people with freaky super powers. His fans will only be more in awe and I for one will be steering clear of any giant killer wasps I see. Fans of Andy Weir, Ernst Cline and Michael Crichton will be happy. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I have really enjoyed Blake Crouch and his other novels in the past. Though I love sci-fi and fantasy, his books tend to have very particular sciences that can be a little bit more difficult to follow. I read Recursion first and LOVED it, and enjoyed Dark Matter, but not as much.

Upgrade has a very similar feeling to his previous two novels. When reading Crouch, you have to dedicate your whole brain. I occasionally felt confused, which can be frustrating when trying to use reading as a tool to relax.

Overall, this was another hit. Enjoyable, and hits on very relevant topics. But if you haven't liked Crouch's previous novels, this might not be for you.

Wow, wow, wow. This book is engaging, substantial, and thought-provoking. I could not put it down, read through the night good. I have yet to read Dark Matter or Recursion but they have moved up on my TBR. By the end of the book, I was holding back tears and a bit torn on the ending, only because of the age old ethical question: should he or shouldn't he?

I already recommended this to my 14 year old because I do think he would like it. I will be talking to my husband next. It's right up his alley, though he is not a big book reader.

This one kept me clinging to the edge of my seat .. so much anticipation and action. Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.

What would happen if your DNA was hacked?

This is the question Upgrade explores in this mind-bending, fresh and sharp story. The perfect blend of upmarket sci-fi and gripping thriller, I was excited to read Upgrade after reading and absolutely loving Dark Matter. And this one didn’t disappoint.

The story follows Logan, who’s genome has been hacked—and the reason goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrible family legacy. As he becomes something more than human, he struggles with what really makes us human. Does humanity’s only hope lie in engineering its own evolution?

Flawless, surprising, exciting and ingenious, Upgrade explores the nature of what it means to be human in a time when science means that one day we could be something more. I highly recommend!

As a huge fan of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter and Recursion, Upgrade was without a doubt my most anticipated book of 2022. I was definitely not disappointed.

This scientific thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout as Logan tries to save the world. The science is heavy, but as usual with Crouch’s books, I loved it! Upgrade deals with DNA and is kind of a Limitless meets Lucy whereby Logan gets injected with something that upgrades his brain and makes him pretty much the smartest being on the planet.

As usual in Crouch’s books, family is the key and Upgrade is no different. You really feel Logan’s love for his wife and daughter and the sacrifices he makes to keep them safe.

The epilogue was a great ending to the story and left me extremely satisfied with this book.

*Thanks so much to Del Rey and to NetGalley for the advance copy!*

I've read enough environmental fiction at this point that it's hard to be patient with the heavy handed, sermonizing, cheap shot ones such as this. It's a lot of telling rather than showing. This book is basically a lecture to care. The action wasn't fun to follow, the dialogue was bare, the characters flat.

Thanks netgalley and ballantine for a copy to read and review.

It's not hard to imagine a future when genetic engineering has caused a global disaster so that the science of genetic research is forbidden. Ramsey Logan works for the GPA to hunt down genetic science outlaws, but he is the victim of a lab explosion that has a far-reaching effect on him. After his initial recovery from the impact, he notices that all of his senses and his intelligence have become enhanced to a frightening degree, under circumstances that have terrifying implications for humanity. The subplot of Logan's relationships with his late mother and living sister add to the story's complexity and suspense.

If you aren't familiar with Blake Crouch you are certainly missing out. If you, then honestly this book is probably already on your list to read.

Logan Ramsey lives in the near future United States working for a government agency, the GPA, tasked with cracking down on genetic scientists after genetic modifications caused a massive global famine. His mother was the lead scientist behind that famine and so Logan has some heavy emotional baggage with regards to his family.

On a raid gone wrong, Logan is "upgraded" and becomes a superhuman. Who did this to him and why is the main plot of this book. Things are revealed quickly and in typical Crouch fashion, there's tons of action and information but the way it's delivered is all so well done and entertaining.

This book explores being part of a family, and being a human, and how to try and make a better future for all of humanity through genetic science. High 4.5 stars for this one.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Opening lines: We found Henrik Soren at a wine bar in the international terminal, thirty minutes from boarding a hyperjet to Tokyo.

Before tonight, I had only seen him in INTERPOL photographs and CCTV footage. In the flesh, he was less impressive—five and a half feet in his artificially distressed Saint Laurent sneakers with a designer hoodie hiding most of his face. He was sitting at the end of the bar with a book and a bottle of Krug.
Reason I picked up the book: I read Recursion by Blake Crouch for my book club, and really enjoyed it.
And what's this book about?
“You are the next step in human evolution.”

At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.

But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.

The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.

Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.

Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.

And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?

Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys sci-fi or dystopian books, or books about gene editing.
Favorite paragraph: Scythe was the revolutionary, biological DNA modifier system—now extremely illegal—discovered and patented by my mother, Miriam Ramsay. It had been a seismic leap forward that left the previous generations of technologies—ZFNs, TALENs, CRISPR-Cas9—gasping in the dust. Scythe had ushered in a new era of gene editing and delivery, one that brought about catastrophic results. Which is why getting caught using or selling it for germline modification—the making of a new organism—came with a mandatory thirty-year prison sentence.
Something to know: I would love to see this book made into a movie—definitely would be very exciting, and I could probably come up with a dream cast if I thought about it, as well.
What I would have changed: Not sure I would have changed anything.
Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? Click here to pre-order on Amazon—it will be out on July 13, 2022.

If I could give this book ten stars, I would. I loved Dark Matter and Recursion, but Upgrade took my love of Blake Crouch's books to another level. I was glued to this book. I just love his writing style. I respect him for all of the scientific research that went into the development of this story. The science is interwoven in such a way that it doesn't feel like I'm reading about science. I stayed up late and got up early to read this book. Definitely a page turner and lots of suspense. I feel like I just got off of a rollercoaster ride. I said this about Crouch's other books and it applies to this one too...this would be an amazing movie!!! Special thanks to the publisher and author for a free copy of the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my usual genre, but something about the description really intrigued me. I really glad I picked this book up because I was wildly entertained. There was action and thrills with every chapter. Logan’s background influences so much of who he is and I think in a way he gets what he’s looking for in regards to living up to his mother’s legacy. I loved the plot because it really made me think and kept me on the edge of my seat. A great read! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy

Crouch continues to write fast-paced, page-turning thrillers that feel as if you're reading a Hollywood blockbuster. Absolutely loved the plot and had no idea where it was going at each turn. Highly recommend!

If you are already a Crouch fan, this is a must-read. I'd place it slightly below Recursion in my estimation- but it brings up so many excellent (and topical) thoughts for our time. What does it mean to be human? How about superhuman? And do we have an obligation to improve ourselves, even at the level of DNA, to change the world? What are the after-effects of those choices?

These are not small or insignificant questions. I'm not sure Crouch answers them all, but this book certainly takes on the big questions with a rollicking story that is fun to read and well-written. Four and a half stars of contemplative and action-packed (at the same time) sci-fi.

Crouch’s new book, Upgrade, is a fast paced read that is exciting and easy to follow. The writing is very tight and the prose is written well. The dialogue is one of Crouch’s greatest strengths as it feels like characters are talking in an authentic way and not forced.

This is a great book to be able to pick up, read in a week or weekend, and feel a sense of quick enjoyment. I would say Dark Matter is still my favorite work I’ve read of his, but I have not yet read Recursion.

Unfortunately, for me as a reader this book was very easy to predict and did not have the same exciting, fun twists as Dark Matter. I drew many parallels between the two stories but found Upgrade was not executed in a way that left me satisfied and intrigued. I felt the characters were very one dimensional and there was not growth that I could see to root for or see that they were changing other than the ‘upgrades’ they got.

I felt the main point being made in the novel was told to me over and over so the maybe twist towards the end didn’t seem like much that contributed to the book.

Overall, for my reading preference this was about a 3 star read. It was a quick, one-time read. I could see it being a movie or mini-series. I wish Crouch would have focused more on the GPA the main character worked for and less on the plot that ended up going forward. This felt like a superhero or extra human ability story that was predictable and a bit played out in my opinion.

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Just another fantastic book by Crouch, who has cemented his place as one of my favorite authors. Super smart and well-researched. I recommend his books to anyone who asks and this will be another one that I hope I can many customers to read.