This is NOT the type of story you read before bedtime! A very chilling apocalyptic story that will keep you anxious on the edge of your seat until the very very end. Unfortunately it did get a little repetitive at times, but I guess that’s kind of the point of the story? They’re in total and complete chaos. For those who have issues with violence or gun control, this ain’t the story for you. I was hoping for a little more sci-fi as that is what I most know Blake Crouch for. One thing I disliked and I’m unsure if this is just the format it was downloaded in, there are no “chapters”. There are breaks I guess but my kindle told me “5 hours left” in this chapter, but that was also the length of the book. As someone who struggles with putting the book down in the middle of the chapter, this was stressful for me.

I "enjoyed" this story of death and apocalyptic behavior. It was one of those stories that makes your anxiety peak and you can't figure out why until you pick the book back up and immediately feel it. How do. stories do this to us?! I can see this on a screen, definitely written for that. I am now preparing a care package for just this situation ;)

This book had a decent storyline but I felt like it moved so slow for the first 80% of the book where they were just running for their lives and constantly trying to get killed that we could’ve made the book even longer and elaborated on what happened after they crossed over the border like they just wasn’t much we knew they all made it and everything was good and he led them to the gravesite where he was shot and thrown in a pit but his way out of it …… Like I felt the buildup took too long and the end was just cut off it’s done. This book had such great reviews and I’m just not seeing it

Great read from Blake Crouch. This high adrenaline book kept me reading until the very end. Highs, lows and all the suspense! Thanks for the advanced read copy Netgalley!

This was my first Blake Crouch book at it didn’t disappoint! Thrilling and exciting and I could not put it down! I can’t wait to dive into more from Blake Crouch!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this to review in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Republication: October 22, 2024

Rating: Not for me

I loved Crouch’s newer books so when I saw this book up for request, I was very excited! However, the writing style was very jilted and choppy. The plot was an interesting concept but I couldn’t get through this type of writing style.

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Oh my goodness. I’d read so many of Blake Crouch’s books and loved every single one. That said I couldn’t remember if I’d read this one (Goodreads said no) but it still griped me. Definitely not a before bed read.

Blake Crouch's first 3 books all followed a similar formula, and he finally does something a bit different here. Instead of being a pure techno thriller, this novel is much more family-based and rooted in a very real existential threat. It was a welcomed change as I was worried Crouch was becoming a one trick pony.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. This was my first Blake Crouch book, but it certainly won't be my last. The apocalyptic setting was intriguing if not a little unsettling, but it was everything and more to get you in the MC's shoes. I'll certainly be reading Mr. Crouch's previous works now!

A family of four is forced to flee from their home in Albuquerque when the world seems to be going crazy and killing people. Names of those to be killed are broadcast on the emergency broadcast system and the Colclough family’s names are read. They are the family of four - Jack, Dee, Naomi, and Cole. They are on the run and go from one hair raising day to the next, somehow always escaping death. So many things happen and I don’t want to give it all away. It was very suspenseful but I have to say, in my opinion, it was all just overdone. I found it all rather unbelievable and ridiculous at times. The source of all the mayhem and killing is blamed on something but not really explained. I just didn’t find it to be my cup of tea. I’m giving the book 2 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. It is to be published on October 22, 2024.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Let's just rip the bandaid off, this did not work for me. Before this review is over I will tell you, who might like it.

Why it didn't work for me: Run, feels like Mad Max but in a post apocalyptic America where people are senselessly murdering each other (also think Purge style). We follow a family on the run, various groups of people trying to murder them. At the very start of the book we find out that the wife of the family has cheated on her husband. To be fair I DNF'd this about 1/3 of the way in so what I'm about to say may change later in the book but that would have been too late for me to enjoy the book. I wish the story would have had more character development, specifically would have been helpful to go back and forth in time or switch POV's. That's a personal desire as someone who wants to know more backstories about characters. The other thing I struggled with was sense of dread when I was going to pick up the book due to the very graphic and horrendous violence/ death. Not in a "it's a horror look at those creative kills," but in a suffering of humanity way. At the point I stopped reading, I just realized that this isn't for me. Lastly, I know this is in the synopsis but I just got tired of the chasing and running. I knew the story was about a family on the run, I just wanted more emotion and storytelling rather than action (again personal preference).

Who it might be for: if you like fast paced, cat and mouse thrillers. If you want a book that shows the realistic but devastating version of humanity in survival mode, and don't need a lot of character development I think this could be a 5 star read for you.

*3 star rating given due to fairness of me not finishing the book

I’ve said once and I’ll say it again— if the apocalypse comes, I want to go out with the first wave. I do not need this kind of stress.

This is punishingly brutal. The writing is great and the concept is horrifying and compelling but I HATED reading it because it was just so horrible with so little relief. The ending is really moving though, and I don’t regret reading it.

I read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch back in 2021 and gave it 5 stars. I LOVED that book, so I am not sure why I did not pick up another novel by Blake Crouch until now.
I could not get enough of this book. I read through it in two sittings but could've easily done it in one. I liked that the style of writing was a bit different - all of the 'fluff' was cut out and it was straight to the point throughout the whole book, yet it still had enough that I could picture everything that was happening. It was hard to read at times, but I could only think of how this could maybe one day be our reality (although I hope it isn't). My only gripe was how much the parents left the kids alone LOL. Every time they'd leave the kids alone to go check something out, I was screaming internally. Everyone in the book was a potential enemy - I would've never left my kids alone to go do something and risk never returning to them. But everyone makes different choices and I've never been in their shoes, so I guess I can't really say what I would or wouldn't do.
I will definitely be picking up more books by Blake Crouch in the future!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wow! I’m a little late to the Blake Crouch party and I do see what all the fuss is about. This was captivating and off the charts intense. I’m totally worn out after indulging. Fantastic cast of characters that brought a brutal yet tender aspect to the story. Packed with tension and terror.
Thank you NetGalley, Blake Crouch and Penguin Randam House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Readers will tear through this book, much like the Colcloughs tear across the country fighting to survive the apocalyptic hell they are suddenly living in. Fleeing Albuquerque after their names are called to be executed, the family heads north through the mountains in hopes of reaching Canada where they seem to be unaffected by the recent solar event and are taking refugees.

This fast-paced thriller will certainly keep readers turning the pages. This is a rerelease of one of Blake Crouch’s earlier novels. If you are expecting more of a sci-fi thriller, it’s not this book, despite the phenomenon starting from a scientific anomaly. This action-packed story borders very much on the unbelievable (seriously a ridiculous number of close calls the family must face) and is very gory in its descriptions of the human destruction. Regardless, I still had to know how it ended.

Though the premise of Run was extremely interesting, it is obvious this is some of Crouch’s earlier work as the story doesn’t feel fully fleshed out compared to his more recently novels. Still, if you need a quick, albeit gory, thrill Run will do the trick.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballatine Books, and author Blake Crouch for the advanced copy of the book. Run is out again on October 22nd! All opinions are my own.

Blake Crouch is a favorite of mine but this one i just couldn’t get into. It was good for an early work but it didn’t have the science fiction aspect I’ve come to love about his more recent titles.

If you love apocalyptic survival thrillers, this is the book for you. I've never had a book give me so many nightmares... It absolutely permeated my brain. I'll be recommending this to my fellow thriller lovers!

Intriguing premise is the only thing that made me keep reading
Ending was lackluster and anti-climactic
Gory post apocalyptic world with no overall theme or development

Fast paced and quick read. It definitely delivers on the action, though the story itself didn't completely wow me.
But still a good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the advance copy.

Note: This is a rerelease of Crouch's first novel, originally published in 2011.

From the very start of this novel, we are MOVING! It is fast-paced, action-packed, and had my heart racing for this family. Because it moves so fast, it turned out to be a pretty quick read for me.

Unlike Crouch's other novels (that I've read - Dark Matter and Recursion), this book is not steeped in science and reasoning. So, if you want in-depth answers for why we're in this apocalyptic world where much of the population has gone batty, this is not the book for you. We don't get much in the way of why.

I did find the number of times they escaped certain death a little unrealistic or the last minutes saves convenient, but hey not any more so than any tv program out there, so I tried not to let it bother me.

4 stars for pacing worth the knowledge this was his debut novel.