This was a riveting story from the opening pages. Logan Ramsay is as ordinary as they come. Ordinary intelligence, physique, life, but with an extraordinary backstory that unfolds slowly. He is the offspring of one of the world’s most brilliant biotech scientists, who also happens to be disgraces after her discovery led to the death of scores of people across the globe. But that pales in comparison to the legacy she leaves behind after her death.

After an unfortunate accident, Logan finds himself the victim of an upgrade to his entire body. He not only becomes stronger, more focused, and develops more endurance, but his new intelligence puts his former intellect to shame. But the government cannot allow him to be among the masses in his upgraded form. Soon, Logan is running for his life and the lives of everyone on earth. Because the same upgrade he was given is coming for everyone in the belief that smarter people will stop destroying the planet. Only one problem, up to a billion people could die from the upgrade.

Plot
The plotting is expertly done. The author takes on a fast-paced adventure as Logan races against time to save himself, his family, and the world as a whole. There are several amazing twists that were both heartbreaking and stunning. The subplotting is subtle and involves Logan’s family, but it’s so intertwined with the main plot, it almost doesn’t feel like a subplot.

Characters
The characters were fascinating, particularly Logan. His metamorphosis was believable as he evolved, his emotions wholly in synch with what he was experiencing. The rest of the cast were nearly as well developed, even minor characters.

What I Loved About UPGRADE
1. The Science. Crouch does a great job of making the futuristic seem possible and relevant.

2. Pacing. A fast-paced story that only let up long enough to allow us to catch our breath.

3. Plot. The plot was not only interesting, but chilling, and it pulled me in.

4. Theme. While the author is a little heavy with the theme, I think it’s an important one to dissect from all angles and he did a great job of that.

5. Twist. I love a good plot twist, and Blake Crouch had several that were fun as well as surprising.

Bottom Line
A gripping, fast-paced tale about a totally plausible, near-future dystopian Earth.

If you’re a Blake Crouch and Sci-fi fan, this book is for you!
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. .The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I don’t read much sci-fi but Crouch never disappoints! He takes all that science-y stuff and makes it readable & interesting but also human. There’s always an emotional undercurrent to the plot that captures me. This was about two siblings whose mother “upgrades” their genetic code w/o their consent bc she believes it is the key to saving humanity from itself. The siblings find themselves at odds with continuing their mother’s work and what ensues is a cat & mouse game of life between them while also essentially running from the authorities. Another Crouch win for me! 🧬

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I’ve enjoyed the author’s other work. I liked the idea of gene modifications and I can see something like this actually happening (which hopefully it doesn’t). I enjoyed the writing style, the descriptions, and the scientific terminology that is easy to comprehend. I didn’t feel drawn to any characters, but I did enjoy the relationship between Logan & Ava, especially during their chess games.

Logan's mother, a renowned scientist, unwittingly caused a worldwide famine while trying to make a better world through genetic engineering. His work for her landed him in jail while his mother took her own life rather than face the consequences. After serving time, he is now an agent for the Gene Protection Agency, tasked with preventing outlawed genetic research to hopefully prevent another tragedy. He is happily married with a daughter he adores. The world itself is in trouble. Climate change is putting the planet on a perilous course and humanity needs to act to save itself.

When a raid on a suspected genetic lab ends with Logan being injured in an explosion, he finds himself changing in ways he can't understand. And when the government discovers these changes, Logan becomes the object of their study. They discover his genetic code has been hacked and the life that he has known is changed forever. When he is busted out of the government facility by his sister, he discovers that what he thought he knew about his family was wrong.

Logan and his sister find themselves on opposite sides of the genetic debate. His sister believes that by genetically modifying humanity, they can save the world from its eventual demise. Logan however, has seen firsthand that these perceived "upgrades" can cause things to become even worse. As they battle each other both physically and philosophically, time is running out to prevent a disaster that is worse than anyone could believe possible.

This book is a perfect blend of thriller, sci fi, dystopian and philosophy all rolled into one. I think the most unique thing about this book was the way that the battle between good and evil results in many shades of grey. I also loved how the science of genetic engineering is used throughout. It added a layer of reality into the story. Blake Crouch asks some of most important questions of our time, makes a real emotional connection between the characters and the reader, and uses smart writing to keep the pages turning. Having read and loved his previous novels, Upgrade was one I had really been looking forward to, proving yet again that he truly is one of the top sci fi writers of today.

If you’re a Blake Crouch or Sci-fi fan you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Blake Crouch's writing is so different from what I typically read. It's plot-driven, thrill-packed, and science-forward in its sci-fi-ness. The pace is fast and focused on action in a way that feels very cinematic, which always makes for an entertaining read.

Though it was enjoyable and entertaining, this one was rather forgettable for me. The ride was fun, but some substance was missing to make me really care about the characters or their motivations. There wasn't enough setup to make me feel for the people, nor was there much development of the characters throughout. The book's direction felt pretty predictable and resolved itself a bit too easily.

I recommend this to folks looking for a sci-fi, action-movie-esque read. It kept me interested (if not invested) throughout, and I would definitely watch a movie adaptation (which I believe is in the making).

Interested in having an existential crisis brought on by the realization of life's fragility and the impending mortality of our species? Have I got the book for you!

"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."

As ever, Blake Crouch's writing is an assault to the senses. THIS (*insert image of me aggressively pointing to my book*) is how sci-fi is done, people.

What I'm most impressed with is how comprehensible his writing is while still being so elaborately engaging. I might be a little bit biased because I do think I have a more scientifically-oriented mind based on my own studies and experiences, but I still think that Crouch has made his writing as accessible as possible to a huge range of readers. There's something so smooth and fresh about the way the story unfolds that leads to me practically wanting to lick the words right off the page if it means I get to consume them that much faster.

The story itself? Fuck me, if that shit wasn't extraordinary. I was invested from the very first page and only became more invested at every shocking twist and turn. Not only was Logan a compellingly complex character, but his actions and experiences take us on an emotional journey that had me questioning my own morals (and frankly, sobbing like a baby) on more than one occasion. Logan's story triumphantly brings attention to the fate of the world, the relativity of happiness, what it means to be human, and the simple fact that surviving isn't living.

If I could give it 6 stars, I would.

Link to review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4521455016

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

another successful Blake Crouch Sci-fi. The concept on this one is crazy. I felt like everything was expertly executed and I loved the reading experience.

This has to be my favorite Blake Crouch yet. I found the societal commentary accurate without being pushy, the science plausible while still being fiction, and the talent I've come to expect from Blake incredibly present.

Once again, Blake has written a science fiction novel that isn't too niche or intimidating for the masses, and has written a book that I genuinely believe can be enjoyed by anyone. Bonus points if you're a cynic.

This one balanced adrenaline and thriller elements with a repeated narrative of the need to save humanity. I think it's a perfect book for the realists out there who don't have too much anxiety to focus on all the bad in the world (it's me, hi).

You'll like this book if: you like Sci Fi, you don't like Sci Fi but you like thrillers and are a bit of a nerd, you're convinced the planet and our species is doomed, you're convinced there's hope for this planet and our species, you love Blake Crouch, or you eat honey wheat pretzels while drinking the beer from the back of your fridge (don't ask too many questions on that last one, okay?)

This one was definitely out of me usual genre, but I knew I would enjoy a Blake Crouch story! Amazing premise from the beginning...really gets you thinking! It is fast paced and action packed. The second half did get diluted and lost some steam, but overall 3.5 stars!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

The themes in this book, the things it makes me ponder, and the "lessons learned" are all mind-blowing. The book started off very strong for me, wavered a bit in the middle, then picked up again towards the end. I do love that Crouch is able to make his books incredibly readable, despite including a lot of science-y stuff (which definitely isn't my forte).

Upgrade is another strong science fiction story by Blake Crouch. This story explores some really interesting ideas and was a page turner at the same time. Crouch is a must read for me from now on and I look forward to everything he will do in the future as well.

Blake Crouch does it again with Upgrade. This is the author who got me into Sci-fi (sorry Stephen king) and I will forever and always read any words he binds.

Blake Crouch is a starter pack author for sci-fi thrillers. Dark Matter introduced me to this mashup of genres, completely novel and totally engrossing. Upgrade read like a downgraded experience in contrast. Strong and fast-paced at the start, I found myself slogging page to page by the midpoint.

I thought I’d actually written a review for Upgrade months ago but somehow didn’t. Obviously. I loved everything about this read. The ending was incredible and I was so sucked into the characters I had to keep reminding myself they weren’t real.

Recursion is the first book I ever read by Blake Crouch, and it was freakin' masterful. I'm still dipping my toe into Sci-Fi and figuring out what subgenres work for me. Recursion was a home run. S0. Good. So when I got the chance to read Upgrade, I was ready for another mind-blowing ride, but sadly, I was left a little wanting.

It was good. Don't get me wrong. And I still eagerly await Crouch's work. But on the tail of Recursion, Upgrade was missing the tension and mind-bending wow factor I was looking for. The concept was interesting, and I appreciated the moral/ethical arguments presented by it, but something was missing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Blake Crouch never disappoints. This book checks all the boxes for me. One of my 5 star reads for 2022.

I always feel dumber after reading Blake Crouch, but in a good way, if that makes sense? I feel excited to read more sci-fi every time I finish, and this time is no different. I want to understand how technology can be used to alter our lives so significantly. I think the best part of this book is that this DNA altering doesn't feel too far in the future. It seems plausible within the next 50-100 years, which is both scary and exciting. If you can expand your mind, this was a well researched fun ride!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.