GPA = Gene Protection Agency

"I didn't want to become someone's lab rat."

Logan has been targeted with an "upgrade." He could feel his neurons firing, his IQ shot up to at least two hundred, his memory seemed to be preternatural.

"What am I. What am I becoming."

I was really into the fast action on steriods, and could feel Logan's tension as he wondered what he had been infected with and if his genetics were altered. He is having wild dreams, new emotions about the changes he is experiencing. He is filled with ecstasy, euphoria, horror, terror and joy all at once. Can Logan save humanity? Does it all come down to him?

Expect the usual mad science, genre blending, tense, and wild "think outside the box" read that Crouch does so well! The pace does plod a bit in the second half with all the genetic lingo, BUT still a roller coaster story, a little frightening (especially after the real life pandemic), but well worth the read. Go Logan!!

Phew that was intense and crazy!!! From the beginning all the way to the end, this was such a fast, exciting, and insane thrill ride!!!! Having read a few of Blake Crouch’s other books, I was expecting something great and I was thankfully not disappointed.

Logan is our main character and he’s just your average Joe, having medium intelligence and just about everything else. Then the upgrade happens and it gets really intense, really quickly. I don’t want to give too much away, but basically this is a world where genetic engineering is possible in some super wild ways. Apparently our very dna is editable as adults, which is just so crazy to think about. Who knows, maybe we’ll really get there someday.

Anyway, so next thing we know, everyone is after Logan, he’s basically trying to save the world, and his sister thinks she’s saving the world too. Seriously, there are mind blowing realizations one after the other in this book. Like they just keep coming after they start. You will not want to put this book down!!! The characters are interesting, they seem like they could be real, and the plot drags you in all the way!

I can’t say much more without giving it away, but I highly recommend this, especially if you’ve read and loved Crouch’s other books.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Blake Crouch for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion. I love every minute of it!!!

✨ BOOK REVIEW: Upgrade by Blake Crouch ✨

Thank you so much to Blake Crouch @blakecrouch1 , Random House Publishing Group @randomhouse , and NetGalley @netgalley for this e-ARC!

Sci-Fi is something I've found myself enjoying more and more every time I read it, and this book only strengthened that enjoyment for me! I was never really a science-y person growing up (even though the subject in and of itself is super interesting), but Crouch does such an amazing job with catering to the general population, regardless of how much or how little they understand the technicalities of it.

The main character's voice was so unique and continued to evolve throughout the book, giving readers an inside perspective to a changing mind. I breezed through this book because I was just intrigued by how this was all going to resolve itself. While part of the resolution felt anti-climactic (especially after some action-packed scenes), the end of it was worth it -- and was one I strongly resonated with.

This is one to keep an eye out for when it comes out this summer!

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I am a huge fan of Blake Crouch's prior books and I couldn't wait to dive into this one. I don't want to say I was disappointed but I definitely wasn't blown away and didn't feel the magic I felt with his prior two. I found the pacing in this one to be a little off - there were parts that I was so engrossed in and then others that simply dragged. The ending was great but felt a bit rushed and I could have used more explanation of what he had been doing for the last three years. I do love Crouch's writing and he does an amazing job of weaving science into his novels in a way where I don't feel lost even though he's not overexplaining concepts. Overall I'd give this one 3.5 stars and will definitely look out for his future novels!

If you'd like to scare yourself is about the possibilities of using gene therapy to permanently alter humankind, this is the book for you!

Upgrade is set in the near future, when climate change has half of Manhattan and other coastal cities under water, and genetic alterations led to a mass starvation event.

The Great Starvation occurred when Mariam Ramsay genetically altered some locusts to deliver a virus to improve a rice crop. But instead it mutated and killed off crops all over the world.

But Mariam killed herself, and her son Logan works for the GPA (Gene Protection Agency), trying to make amends for her mistakes and his part of it. During a routine arrest, he is lured to a basement and is infected with a gene-altering virus. But instead of hurting him, it has made him smarter, stronger, faster - better in every way.

Soon Logan is running away from his former employers, who want to study his mutations and keep him locked up in a black site. He finds out his mother is still alive, and is the one who infected him. And his sister Kara has gotten the same "upgrade." Now he and Kara have to decide whether to continue their mother's work.

This story definitely makes you think about what limits need to exist in science to keep even well-meaning experiments from leading to grave unintended consequences. It makes some pertinent points about humanity and our lack of effort to curb climate change. And it is a rollicking good thriller to boot!

The only thing that might keep people from enjoying this book is the discussions of genetics. It sometimes gets very technical, which might turn off a casual reader. But I found it fascinating!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this wonderful thriller.

First of all Blake Crouch can do no wrong.. I cannot stop thinking about this book. I have told everyone that they must read it when it comes out. I have already pre-ordered a few copies to hand out as gifts. This book is brilliant.

I love Blake Crouch's writing and am so grateful to have received an advanced reader's copy of Upgrade from @Netgalley and Random House Publishing!

Upgrade is right on par with what you'd expect from Crouch. It's fast-paced, propelling, and intense. His lead character is thoroughly developed and endearing. Like several of Crouch's main characters, Logan is a family man, deeply involved in his family life, he loves his wife and adores his daughter. His past until the accidental death of his mother is rife with self-doubt and expectations he can't reach, all he has ever wanted is to be a light to her instead of a shadow. Several events unfold which propel the story quickly. Government conspiracies, DNA editing, military involvement, not to mention the impending end of the world threat. What's not to love. Crouch's writing style is abrupt and fast-paced, but still, he has the ability to flesh out characters and events in a way that makes you hold your breath to the very last page.

I would highly recommend Crouch to anyone who loves science fiction, especially sci-fi based on legitimate sciences... in some cases, he reminds me more of a theoretical physicist than a fiction author with the way he sees the future. Man, I'm rambling, anyway, pick this up and read it. Or any of his other books. I promise you won't regret it.

In the midst of genetic warfare Logan Ramsay’s genome has been hacked by his own mother, a famous DNA specialist who in a past experiment caused the deaths of 200 million people. Pursuing this woman he believed dead, he is accompanied by his sister Kara who’s demonstrating the same unique abilities he has felt since his body has been tampered with. After finding his mother, Kara attempts to kill him and once again he’s on the run. As he travels throughout America, he witnesses suffering, “grim survival” and evidence of humanity ruining the world with no idea of how to fix it. Kara starts a gene war by planting a fatal virus in a remote section of Montana; she has hopes of thinning the population to correct the problems on earth. Blake Crouch’s novel may find an audience but it will not be this reader. I find a plot weighed down by technological and scientific jargon, along with too many codes and numbers. I was frequently confused and at times disturbed.

This is a wonderfully twisty adventure of a novel!

In Upgrade, Crouch brings us a bit of very dangerous SF. The characters are compelling and sometimes threaten to break your heart.

As for our Upgrade? Our simple genetic upgrade threatens all of humanity – it becomes a roller-coaster ride of an epic story.

A fast paced and very enjoyable read!

• ARC via Publisher

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

Ladies and gentlemen, Blake Crouch has done it again! I knew I had to get my hands on this one as soon as it came out. Dark Matter and Recursion are some of my favorite science fiction novels ever.

A HUGE thanks to Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books for sending me this NetGalley ARC! This was one of my most anticipated books this year.

Summary: Genetic modification went unregulated for too long with disastrous consequences, so in typical government fashion it gets banned and policed. Our main character, Logan Ramsey, is an agent for the Gene Protection Agency. On a government raid he gets exposed to his own dose of gene editing and starts to develop new abilities.

The science of gene editing is so interesting to me! I loved that Blake Crouch mentioned some current genome modification projects and built off that with (in my opinion) pretty sound logical reasoning. I also loved the philosophical aspect of this one in regards to what makes us human. There’s even a bit of a save the planet theme going on.

My only dislike was the less realistic almost action movie like aspects of the plot. It made me think of the movie Lucy where you can unlock all your brain potential.

Overall, Blake Crouch continues to create immersive and accessible science fiction that is palatable even to those less interested by the genre.

#blakecrouch #ARC #advancereadercopy #netgalley #randomhousepublishing #ballantinebooks #sciencefiction #upgrade

Thank you @netgalley & @randomhouse for access to this ARC!! It publishes on July 12th, and you’re going to want to get your hands on it 👏🏼

I now present to you… Blake Crouch’s best work yet!!

I enjoyed Recursion and Dark Matter, but this one was just downright brilliant. Crouch is maybe the most impressive author that I’ve read. The intense scientific research that must go into his stories is just mind-blowing.

I’m not a big sci-fi reader, but I make an exception for his books because the stories are so action-packed and addictive. This one was set in a dystopian USA (which felt eerie because I could absolutely see parts of this happening in our future) and was all about the explosion of genetic mutation.

MC, Logan (unwillingly) received an “upgrade” which basically makes him a super human. We follow him on a mission to stop the outbreak of a worldwide super human upgrade.

At no point during this story was I bored. Despite some of the complex content, I couldn’t put it down. And I really enjoyed the ending. Logan’s solution to saving humanity was great, and everything wrapped up better than I could have hoped.

Even if you’re not a sci-fi reader, you absolutely must pick this up when you get the chance! It’s truly a work of art.

I was introduced to Blake Crouch earlier this year with his book Dark Matter and I immediately fell in love with the way he writes such complex subject matter in an easy to digest way. Upgrade does for cellular biology what Dark Matter did for physics. Now did I think Upgrade was better than Dark Matter? No, but that is a tough one to top. I love science and biology is a favorite subject of mine. I was honestly salivating at all the scientific jargon in this. It’s so well done! It’s like everything we fear about genetic engineering is present in this near future reality that Crouch has created and boy, did he nail it. The status of the world and the descriptions of the new U.S. was so eerie and felt very uncanny valley. I felt in Dark Matter that the science supported the story but it was the opposite in this one, if that makes sense. Personally, I found it well explained without being over-polluted but I’m curious how it will come across to the average reader.

There were a few opportunities. I love how Crouch sets up the opening chapter and dives into right away, it immediately engrossed me. The glimpses of who Logan is and his motivation as a character was great and I especially enjoyed his back story. Despite a strong opening, there was a bit of lull in the middle of the book. After that lull, I really enjoyed the second half of the book but the epilogue left a bad taste in my mouth. That final reveal was so contradictory to Logan’s entire story and I wish Crouch had made a different choice there. Either way, this was an excellent read and I highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of sci-fi thrillers. If you love biology, READ THIS BOOK!

4.5 rating.

Set not too far off in the future, Upgrade follows GPA agent Logan Ramsay. This agency hunts down genetic researchers and materials in a world where gene modification is against the law. Almost all genetic work is now done illegally and researchers work out of underground labs fearing exposure and arrest. Logan is exposed to a virus and as he is recovering he starts noticing changes... soon he discovers that he has been “upgraded”. Now under suspicion for illegal use of genetic technology, Logan goes on the run. Trying to figure out if it was an accident or did someone expose him on purpose?

Lots of twists and turns with science that is 100% plausible. Kept me thinking and engaged. Crouch has another winner here!

What a wild ride! Blake Crouch has done it again, This book was suspenseful, fast-paced, and well-researched, I thought the whole premise of the book was unique and executed well. It was explained in a way I could understand but still read as complex science. The imagery was particularly powerful. His books really read like action movies!

I really enjoyed the moments where Logan reflected on his humanity, I wish there had been a bit more personal connection as I didn’t find myself super emotionally invested. However, I found the epilogue and the passages about humanity to be powerful, I wish there had been more of this and was disappointed his family played such a small role in the book,

I don't typically read science fiction books, but have read other books by the author so I gave this one a chance. It was very well done. I enjoyed the story and plot kept the book moving. It seemed like a struggle for control of the world between good and evil. I really didn't care for how the book ended. It seemed a little too simplistic but it didn't ruin the book for me as I sort of had a feeling it would end that way. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Can Logan save Homo Sapiens from going extinct? The story is a wild ride; it is far-fetching, but it's not that far off. We, as humans, are heading toward gene editing. It all started with the cloning of Dolly. Wars and climate changes are increasing yearly. It is a very intense story and loaded with scientific research that makes this story very real. However, this story does linger on the darker side of humanity. There's no longer any check and balance to any of our governments. The characters are lively and robust. The ending does leave some things for interpretation in a good way. I agree with Logan's decision on how to save Homo Sapiens, but there is a string missing in his thought process. He's missing the greed in humanity. You'll understand what I mean once you've finished reading the book. It's a must-read and I have found another fantastic writer.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read one other of Blake Crouch’s books but he’s by far shown he’s a must read and will not disappoint! Upgrade is another techno thriller/sci fi that will have you hanging by the edge of your seat! It’s an incredibly fast read and easily recommended to anyone who finds thrillers needing a little something extra, Blake definitely delivers!

I am a huge fan of this author and was so excited to get my hands on a review copy of this, his latest book. So much so that I went completely off script and didn't wait to start it. I usually only read a month or so ahead of publication date but here, nope, couldn't wait.
And then I stopped and worried that I wouldn't like it. That it wouldn't meet my expectations. Piffle... of course it would... and it did.
We first meet Logan Ramsay as he suffers a breech in his suit whilst working. He is taken to quarantine where he is treated. Finally he is released but this is where it all starts to get a bit weird... He starts to feel a little strange. His bones feel heavier, stronger. His senses appear sharper, his concentration increased, he remembers more details and appears to need less sleep. Starting off small, these changes soon become more noticeable and more intrusive as he also starts to see the world differently. What on earth is happening... He really needs to find out...
That's pretty much all I am saying about the book as there is stuff you need to find out at the right times. Logan is a complex character with a whole backstory of who he is and, well, his family. What I have said above is scant compared with everything Logan is and does and what is happening to him. Suffice to say it's all a bit scary, not only for him but also for mankind in general and it all become a bit of a race against time to save humanity...
The fun thing about reading this early is that I can sneak it in again just before publication day and experience it all over again - but with the benefit of hindsight. Something I am looking forward to doing. Something I really don't often do. Occasionally, as I also will with this book, I will listen to the audible as a second "read". But I hardly ever re-read!
As with all of the author's main characters I took to Logan right from the start. We connected well and that connection only grew as I got to know him as the book progressed. Other characters were just as well drawn and easy to connect to in some way - good and bad.
The plot was excellent and well executed. Enough of the sciency stuff was explained for me to be well able to follow without getting too bogged down in it all. Remember I am a relative newbie to all this sci-fi stuff! It was also delivered with no superfluous waffle or padding so it got on with itself very well indeed. Culminating in an ending which suited perfectly and which satisfied me wholly.
All in all, a cracking read that I whole heatedly recommend for fans of the genre or who wish to give it a whirl. If you haven't already read his other books, do also give them a crack. They're great too...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Logan Ramsay, a member of the Gene Protection Agency, tracks down people practicing prohibited genetic engineering. Following a lead, he enters a house and a booby trap exposes him to a virus that at first appears to have no effect. But later...

This story is a fun ride that provides an interesting perspective on genetic engineering, but the variations on some basic science fiction themes aren't compelling enough to add up to something special. Normally rating this book book four stars would be extra special, but this book was a lost opportunity to blow me away. like some of his other books, like Dark Matter and Recursion. (both five star books).

I rate most books I read three stars, so I like this book more than most I read, but I recommend reading Crouch's Dark Matter or Recursion before reading this book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from Blake Crouch! I've already been telling people about this book and I know many who are anxiously awaiting the publish date. I wasn't expecting the ending, but it was perfect ❤️ This book will absolutely be in our library.