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

At some point in the unspecified near to moderately near future, Logan Ramsey, a relatively smart but not ridiculously smart dude who works for an agency called the GPA - or Gene Protection Agency - unsuspectingly enters a basement on the hunt for not-so-legal bacteria based on a tip the GPA received. All of a sudden, BOOM! Ramsey's hit with an aerosol explosion and has no idea his life is about to change forever. Hidden within the exploded material are genetic mutations that get into Ramsey's body and slowly (you guessed it) upgrade everything about his being - from his intellect to his bone density to his ability to perceive expressions on other peeps to how fast he can run. In a world where genetic mutation has become a big no-no due to an oopsie Ramsey's ridiculously smart mother accidentally engineered years before, the GPA turns from Ramsey's employer to his oppressor - wanting to cage and study him like a lab rat. But Ramsey ain't got time for that. He's gotta figure out who upgraded him and why. And, you know, save the world.

I've read Dark Matter and Recursion by Crouch (in addition to Upgrade, obviously), and maybe this is a cop out, but I'm having a hard time ranking them with respect to which one I liked the best. They're all written as if they were designed to be the script of an action movie. The premises are fun and interesting, there are elements that don't quite make sense, and the science sounds very sciencey but you know that a lot of it originated in Crouch's brain and isn't real science at all. With respect to Upgrade specifically, a super strong super fast super smart human (or is it humans? No spoilers from me!) lead to an action packed, slightly ridiculous, and tons o' fun finale. Or quasi-finale, I guess, since the Epilogue was more heartfelt and sweet and really tied the whole book together.

Also, I dug the moral dilemmas that were presented in Upgrade. What should we do as a species to save our dying planet? Is complacency worse than trying something that fails? And who ultimately makes that decision? Is gene editing the solution, or is it part of the problem?

An excellent, thought provoking story that kept me captivated from start to finish. Crouch's writing keeps you thinking and guessing in the best way.

Teaser: An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation—and fears that all of humanity may be next.

Upgrade is Blake Crouch’s newest book. If you’re familiar with his other works (Dark Matter and Recursion), this one will feel different, but it’s the same great writing.

Upgrade felt so different because the sci-fi part of this book didn’t feel as out there. This book is about altering genomes to make people more advanced in their ability to process and react. And as I was reading this, I could see a world where this technology exists. I think in some ways it does already exist. The book takes place in a future world that has been impacted by climate change, and that doesn’t feel very far off either.

Upgrade is about good versus evil, but also not always knowing where that line is. It’s about family and sacrifice. It’s about taking chances when the odds are against you. It’s about trusting yourself and learning who around you can be trusted.

If I hold this book up next to Dark Matter, it’s not going to be able to compete, but I haven’t found another book that can. That book left me spinning my wheels for days afterwards and I think that is rare in a book. That being said, Blake Crouch is an auto-buy author for me and everything of his that I’ve read has been good.

A million thank yous to NetGalley for proving me with an free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Logan Ramsey, son of a famous scientist, works for the GPA. The GPA stands for the Gene Protection Agency and they are responsible for detecting and catching those who do gene editing. When following a lead, Logan is involved in an accident in which he is exposed to a virus and is quarantined while the doctors try to figure out what happened but Logan notices he is changing. He soon realizes everything is enhanced, his reading, his thinking, his physical body. But was this an accident?

This is the first Blake Crouch book I have read and I enjoyed it. At times the science was heavy, and a bit much for me, but it didn’t confuse me. It was a fast paced book that kept me going. I recommend this for any thriller lovers and especially sci-fi lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-arc!

Upgrade comes out 7/12

4.5 stars
This book sucked me in right from the beginning and kept me up late, wanting to read just a little bit more! I can’t say that I understood all of the science talk but it was a testament to the author that I didn’t feel like that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. It had echoes of Flowers for Algernon, which I loved! This is the type of book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, working over the moral conundrums and thinking about what you would do in those circumstances!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

~~~

At this point, I will read literally anything that Blake Crouch writes. He is incredible at coming up with high stakes scenarios that are not only enjoyable to read, but also give the reader some interesting concepts to think about along the way. I also find his works to be really accessible to those who are just getting into sci-fi so if that sounds like you, I'd recommend his books for sure.

~~~

Upgrade is the story of Logan Ramsay, an officer with the Gene Protection Agency. His job: identify and take out genetic engineering operations. Reconciling his work and personal identity with his family's legacy becomes the least of his worries when he finds himself compromised after a failed sting. It isn't long before the changes start, forcing Logan to face his family and the events that he's been running from his whole adult life. Who will he be once all is said and done?

~~~

The thing I loved most about this book were the philosophical undertones. This book asks some really interesting questions about humanity, identity, and the age-old debate of logic vs. emotion. I love reading books that give you something to chew on even after you've finished, and this book definitely delivered that for me.
The plot thoroughly captured me from the first chapter. There were some slumps in the middle, which is why it didn't quite make 5-stars, but it really picked up toward the end and wrapped up with quite a satisfying conclusion, regardless.

All things considered, I had a good time with this read and would recommend it to those who enjoy near-future sci-fi + thriller reads that leave you thinking, but also sort of terrify you with their relevance.

As an employee of the GPA (Gene Protection Agency), Logan Ramsay is tasked with tracking down and eliminating rogue gene labs that are being used to either alter human DNA or even create new species. However, when a raid goes wrong, Ramsay awakens in a hospital bed days later in unimaginable pain. Following a barrage of tests designed to determine whether Ramsay himself suffered unexpected gene-altering damage, he is given a clean bill of health.

However as weeks pass, Logan begins to notice changes in both his body and cognitive abilities. Suddenly, he can best his unbeatable daughter in chess, he can remember exact details of every conversation he’s ever had and every line of every book he’s ever read. He feels stronger and no longer has to deal with distractions while trying to concentrate. What exactly is Logan becoming?

Blake Crouch is easily one my favorite authors writing today, which is what makes this review especially difficult. In 2019, I read and loved his last novel Recursion, a story I still think about from time to time. I was sucked in and fascinated by the idea of traveling back through your own consciousness to live your life all over again, knowing what you know now. Sure, there was a lot of hard science in there, but the story had tragic characters and incredibly high stakes that kept me reading long into the night.

While the stakes are just as high in UPGRADE, I didn’t quite feel that connection or that urgency I had felt with RECURSION or even DARK MATTER for that matter. I think much of it came down to my general dislike for Logan and a failure to connect with him. I also felt the hard science behind the gene-altering methods often got in the way and took me out of the story far too often.

I get that you need to show Logan’s progress in his intelligence and abilities, but the more capable he became, the more insufferable and annoying he came across. I’m not sure if that was the point – maybe it was. It was like that episode of The Simpsons where the crayon from Homer’s brain is removed and he becomes annoyingly brilliant, so everyone hates him. It certainly didn’t endear Logan to me and he lost that relatable nature that likely may have had me rooting for him.

Overall this one just didn’t do it for me. Even the last third of the book – which is designed as a race-against-time action thriller – left me skimming large chunks of text, feeling a “get-it-over-with” attitude that I do not expect from a Crouch novel. I had extremely high expectations, however, as UPGRADE, unfortunately, has to exist in the shadow of two very good preceding books.

This was a quick, action-packed, science-filled read and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Logan Ramsay narrates his complex story. The son of an infamous, genius, geneticist mother who caused a worldwide famine, he is wracked with guilt at his own involvement and a desire to protect the world from further genetics accidents. He’s a troubled, but sympathetic, character and I couldn’t help but root for him throughout the book.

Genetics are the constant backdrop throughout the book but in just the right amount. The stars of the book are Logan’s own thoughts and intentions and the constant action as he receives a genetics upgrade and adapts to his new existence while continuing to try to protect humanity from the threats of human-devised adaptations.

The book is full of fascinating science, near-future improvements like super speed travel and dystopian effects of climate change and geopolitical unrest, high-speed action, family dysfunction and heartfelt introspection. Upon reflection, it’s hard to believe the complexities presented in this book that seemed like such a smooth-flowing, captivating read.

First I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I never add spoilers to my reviews so no danger of having the book spoiled! After reading Recursion and Dark Matter I was absolutely blown away by how good those books were and wondered if Blake Crouch could possibly follow those up with another great book or if he even wanted to. I am very pleased to report that he did, its spectacular. The story is set in a near future were a massive tragedy has happened as a result of genetic modification so its now banned. Our protagonist is the son of the person who made the error that was so terrible. He now works for the agency tasked with policing the black market genetic modifications.

Just like Dark Matter once the story really kicks in its a fast paced hold on to the edge of your seat ride to the end. This book got over so quickly for me that I went back and re-read it to make sure I did not somehow skip over a section of the book. The book is not terribly long and that would be my only complaint, I wanted more! This is one of those books that when you are done you will be a little depressed that there is not more to read, its that good. I want to thank Blake Crouch and NetGalley again for allowing me to read this book in advance of its publishing, it was an absolute pleasure to get to read this and I was already dying to do so before I found out that I could possibly get a chance to read it. I have the audiobook on pre-order with audible and when it comes out I look forward to that alternate way of enjoying this story.

I always wondered about those positive pre publishing reviews and now I am leaving one lol! They really said just leave an honest review good or bad, I am really impressed with the process and that they really wanted genuine feedback. Of course I requested books from two of my favorite authors.

#upgrade #netgalley

First let me start by saying thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Upgrade by Blake Crouch.

Now on to the review.

This book grabs your attention from the very beginning and doesn't let go at any time during the story.

In a world where gene editing has gone far beyond what anyone expected Logan Ramsay finds himself in his mother's shadow most of his life. His mother used gene editing technology to try and fix a problem and ended up creating a world changing problem. Logan ended up serving time for his part in her plan and upon getting out ends up working with the GPA who go after people working secret genetic labs which have been banned.

During a raid that turns bad, Logan is infected by a virus that starts changing him in ways he could never imagine. Thus starts the race of a lifetime to prevent another world wide threat that could be the end of society as we know it.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. As is typical with all of Crouch's books he takes you on a whirlwind ride and does not disappoint. I'm looking forward to this books release and will definitely read it again once it is for sale.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝑼𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆
Blake Crouch
Genetic Engineering Thriller
352 Pages

Sᴴᴼᖇᵀ Sʸᴺᴼᴾsᴵs

Logan has been upgraded without his permission. Now he’s determined to figure out what is happening to him, as well as the big picture surrounding it.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

Upgrade really jumps into the technical aspect of genetic engineering. Sometimes it was a little above my head, but I find I skip over the sciency words and it doesn’t affect my understanding of the story.

The family dynamics were intense, especially after the genetic changes grabbed ahold of Logan and his sister, ramping up the misguided use of this science.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for Logan. Through no fault of his own, he ended up stuck in a miserable predicament that cost him too much.

If you enjoy thrillers and genetic engineering, you will most likely enjoy Upgrade.

Fast paced thriller that explores the genetic frontier; and what could go wrong with the ability to change people's DNA....The story is told through the main character Logan Ramsey's perspective. He works in the near future for GPA or the Genetic Protection Agency to keep genetic research under government control On a simple raid things go horribly wrong and Logan must embark on a mission to understand the fallout and what is happening to him. Reminiscence of the Michael Crichton science run amok thrillers like Jurassic Park, Prey, Next, etc.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy!

In our future world, gene editing technology began with the good intention of saving rice crops from ruin. Instead, arrogance mixed with genius led to the death of 200 million people by way of famine. Logan Ramsey has inherited this legacy. He spends his adult life trying to put the genie back in the bottle until he is exposed to a genetic upgrade that turns him into something superhuman. He discovers a plot to help save humanity by giving all humans this upgrade. The only price, the death of 1billion people. Through twists and turns, he must find a way to prevent the upgrade while also saving the world.

This was a wonderful adventure! It kept me on the edge of my seat and nose in the book to find out what happened next. I have already read and loved Recursion by Blake Crouch. He is a must read author for me now!

Four and a half stars.

Damn. Blake Crouch keeps impressing me more and more with each new book. This guy is so smart. Such a big imagination. Just wow. Even though there is a LOT of science to this novel, it works. I won't pretend to understand it, and I have no idea how much is factual. But, again, wow.

I thought the ending was a smidge cheesy. That's what dropped it a half star for me.

Overall, a spectacular book.

Many have been eagerly waiting for "Upgrade" by Blake Crouch and it does not disappoint! This book was a biowarfare page turner I could barely put down. Our story follows ex con Logan Ramsey on a regular work day at the Gene Protection Agency chasing criminals who are into genetic engineering. That day he gets an unexpected upgrade in his DNA which some think could help him save our world. Logan, who did not volunteer for this quest, is not so sure changing what we are made of is a good thing for humanity. He struggles with what to do for the best outcome for all and in doing so gives up much of himself. Logan is a very likeable character and easy to connect with through much of the book. He tried to keep us at arm's reach, but we still root for him. The depiction of this near future world reminds us we need to do all we can to save it ourselves.
The story never stops moving and we meet a few of Logan's family members along the way. Logan works through his troubled relationship with his mother and the complicated relationship he has with his sister through memories and unexpected encounters. The book is quite believable and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout and is SciFi at its finest.

A thrilling read the perfect sci fi for my thriller loving self. Such a great thriller with a lot of science and twists. I was really surprised at how much I learned always fun to learn while reading

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review Blake Crouch's new novel Upgrade. I am not your typical Sci-Fi reader and Crouch has a knack for writing novels that readers like me can read and enjoy. Dark Matter and Recursion are at the top of my list of favorite books I've read outside of my "comfort zone". While I did like Upgrade, I don't think I loved it as much as his previous two novels. The novel started out as a typical Crouch novel but for me the reader - I got a little bit bogged down in the scientific terminology - and the main character Logan Ramsey was a really likeable guy before he was genetically upgraded but after the upgrade - I felt like he was really a robotic type of know it all (which I guess is how the upgrade was designed). The book did have all your typical Crouch thrills, and as I said I got a little lost in the science. I will still be looking forward to reading whatever Blake Crouch writes. Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of Upgrade for my honest review - I would give this one 3 1/2 stars.

I was interested to read this book from the moment I read a description about it. Crouch writing about gene editing was amazing. He wrote about the fallout and how people continue to do it. People living in a world where scientists can be arrested and the future of the world hangs in the balance.

His writing showed that he did his research on the topic. He described enough to be able to follow what the narrator was talking about without feeling bored. It reminded me of ninth grade biology.

Wow, I mean it, just wow. This is one of the most entertaining works I have read in years. I have to say huge thanks to Net Galley for the ARC and the publisher, Ballantine for taking the chance on me. I have felt a little unloved lately, getting notes back from publishers that I’m not really the type reviewer they are looking for, being a regular person and probably not much an influencer. Maybe I will step up my game. Note: added twitter

Anywho, I leave it to others to synopsize books. I’ll tell you what boxes it ticked for me. Science fiction, been a fan since I was a kid, but not just anything will do. Flowers for Algernon, which I read as a kid, instantly came to mind. Bio nerd…Long ago, I had planned to get my Ph.D. in molecular genetics, with a focus on genomic sequencing and evolution. Climate change/environmental disasters, will we decide in time to stop killing our planet? Riveting action, a genius mind, Logan Ramsey is the science fiction Jack Reacher. And finally philosophical thought, what is morality? I have CS Lewis’ Abolition of Man on my reading list now. This links also to transhumanism, that had a similarly chilling near miss in Dan Brown’s Inferno from the Robert Langdon series. If any of my references work for you, I think you will like the book. I will not apologize for lost sleep or productivity you may experience.

Most of the way through the book, I was hoping that there would be a sequel, that it would end not so much with a cliff hanger, but with with some loose ends. And it did, the first time it ended. The epilogue was great, not complaining, it just seems that Crouch has left the matter completely within his control, the ending is satisfying, but something more could come of it. I can’t believe that this won’t be fast tracked for a movie. I can’t wait.

Our book club had read Dark Matter, which was exciting because science fiction hardly ever makes the cut when it is voting time. It was interesting enough, but kind of uneven and it ended up only a three star read for me. I have the Wayward Pines Trilogy on my book shelf, and have been careful not to watch the show. Upgrade was truly an upgrade for Crouch himself because it was over the top fantastic. Publishing July 12, 2022 - get it on your list now!

If your brain and body became supercharged, how would you use the new strength and intelligence?

Miriam Ramsay has spent her life exploring the ways In which genetic engineering can positively impact the environment. Unfortunately, instead of being remembered for her genius, the legacy she leaves is of the Great Starvation, when her miscalculation led to millions of deaths.

Years later, the world’s resources continue to be compromised. (Way too close to home, Crouch.)
Logan Ramsay (Miriam’s son) is working for the government in the GPA (Gene Protection Agency) when injuries incurred during a top secret bust manifest in inexplicable ways. Sharper focus. Ingesting information from multiple sources simultaneously. And he’s finally beating his daughter at chess for the first time in years.

And this is only the beginning. As people around him start to see the difference, his new secret is compromised and he’s on the run with no one to trust and very few answers.

Crouch really blew me away with Dark Matter and he kept me up with this one. Tough to put down, or to easily synopsize, the layers and speed of this were almost too much for me to grasp all at once but I really enjoyed the ride.

Early on, I questioned the assumption that people with this “upgrade” of elevated brain and brawn capacity would concentrate their energy on bettering the world. I truly kept thinking “BS that everyone on the planet would use these new skills to help others.” People are selfish and Miriam didn’t account for that. Saying that, I was incredibly pleased with where this landed and Logan’s goals at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts of the book.