Member Reviews

The first book I have tried to read in a long time that was highly disappointing. In fact, I skimmed most of it and think one star is too much. This story is stuffed with nothing but murder, destruction, mass killings, and no rhyme or reason why. The whole country has dissolved into madness. Enough!

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 25%, very much action packed, which is not what I read for. If you want to hear about people shooting at the main character, then this is for you.

Was this review helpful?

This one had a “wow” factor!
Immediately Post-apocalyptic after an aurora lights event causes viewers to become insanely violent and murderous of those who did NOT see the light.
That premise is pretty far fetched but it’s just the means for the reader to join a family in the fight for their lives - running from the violent outbreaks wreaking serious havoc.
It’s fast paced and thrilling. You definitely root for the main characters to catch a break even though it would make for a duller book. It’s trial after trial, with some devastating hits.
Semi-spoiler - I thought the plot point with the woman’s affair/lover was extraneous.

Was this review helpful?

Blake Crouch's 'Run' offers a rollercoaster of suspense and action that keeps you engaged throughout. The concept is intriguing, exploring themes of identity and reality in a thrilling manner. However, the plot sometimes veers into predictable territory, and certain character motivations feel a bit forced. While the book is entertaining, it isn't nearly as good as his other books. I still enjoyed the read, but I was expecting a little more.

Was this review helpful?

Blake Crouch's "Run" is an exhilarating and pulse-pounding thriller that grabs you from the first page and never lets go. Known for his masterful storytelling and ability to create high-stakes scenarios, Crouch delivers yet another riveting novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

"Run" plunges readers into a world of relentless suspense as the protagonists are thrust into a desperate race for survival. Crouch’s skillful pacing and vivid descriptions create an immersive experience, making every twist and turn feel immediate and visceral. The characters are well-developed and their emotional journeys add depth to the fast-paced action, making their plight both compelling and heart-wrenching.

Crouch’s writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the intensity and urgency of the chase while also exploring deeper themes of family, loyalty, and resilience. The tension is expertly maintained throughout the novel, with each chapter escalating the stakes and drawing readers further into the story. Crouch’s ability to blend relentless action with thoughtful character development sets "Run" apart as a standout thriller.

"Run" is a testament to Blake Crouch's prowess as a master of the thriller genre. It is a must-read for fans of high-octane suspense and anyone looking for a book that will keep them hooked from beginning to end. With its gripping plot and memorable characters, "Run" is a thrilling adventure that will leave readers breathless and eager for more.

Was this review helpful?

Blake Crouch is a mastermind of fast-paced thrillers. On the surface, this is a post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel involving the aftermath of an event dealing with the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). A man on the run with his family from people that will do anything to end their lives.
This book is so hard to put down! The pacing was lightning-fast and the chapters often ended on cliffhangers leaving me with that One More Chapter mentality.
Fast paced thrillers can sometimes lose their luster if you do not empathize with their main characters but that is what makes this novel a little stronger. At it's root RUN is about survival and family. What we hold most dear in this world and the lengths we will go to protect it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Run by Blake Crouch. When I saw it on Netgalley I was so excited to see another book by Blake Crouch that I requested it…not realizing that I had already read it. That being said, this is a great book and it’s the first book I read by Crouch many years ago. My heart was racing within the first few pages as Jack and his family simply have to leave their home immediately. It felt very real for me. The rest of the book is a pulse pounding read. I love his stories! Go read this book as well as all of his others.

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. This is about a virus given to people who witness an aurora light happening one night. The virus causes them to start committing extreme acts of violence against people who were not touched by the “ lights”. The story focuses on one family’s race to the border that has refugee camps set up. Their fight to stay alive is phenomenal and terrifying. I highly recommend this book.


Thank you to Blake Crouch and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

Was this review helpful?

I'm a big fan of Blake Crouch, 'Dark Matter', and 'Recursion'. I think they are just amazing and have them both in my personal library. So, I was excited to get a copy of this ARC of a re-publishing of the book (originally self-published in 2011). I thought the premise sounded interesting, but the execution just didn't do it for me.

Run is an apocalyptic thriller where a husband, wife, and two kids are on the road trying to make their way up north to Canada in the hopes to escape the horror that is taking place around them. An epidemic of rage has taken place, and a portion of the population has taken to murdering anyone they see, including their own families.

Frankly, I found this book so hard to get through despite it being short. I didn't enjoy any of the characters. They were kind of just bland and annoying. I feel like i couldn't tell you one unique thing about their personalities. They just weren't very developed. I also feel like I could have skipped to the end it wouldn't have mattered as the book gets so repetitive in its plot. They are on the run, they run into crazed killers, they escape, repeat. Nothing is learned about how it started or why it stopped. It just ubruptly does. I get that in real life, we don't get a lot of answers, but in my fiction, I tend to like a few answers. A feel like there was a missed opportunity with a certain character who was 'infected' but didn't go on a murder rampage. It just felt like a lot of loose ends to me or as though Crouch didn't have any answers.

I liked that he didn't shy away from the brutality of what was happening with his descriptions. It was gruesome and gut-wrenching.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing ne a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I've read all of Crouch's published works and this wasn't my fave. I understand it's his first novel, rereleased with a publisher instead of self-published. There was nothing "wrong" with it, but it didn't hold the same magic and intrigue of his other works. Maybe it's me, and I just dislike post apocalyptic tales, but this wasn't what I wanted. Lesson learned, no more survival after fallout stories for me. The characters were just okay, the concept was intriguing but the cause for the even was vague and underdeveloped as was the quick end to the story. A fine read, a fast read, but not a great one.

Was this review helpful?

Another incredible book by Blake Crouch. This was action packed and fast paced from beginning to end I did not want to put it down. Loved the characters and their development throughout the book. The premise of Run was interesting and had me trying to put the pieces together. Highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

I definitely enjoyed this one. There were times I got a little lost but it the whole survival plot is exactly what I love in this type of adventure. Some of it though felt too familiar but I still enjoyed it overall.

Was this review helpful?

This was SO good. I wish I could see every Blake Crouch novel turn into a movie/TV series.

I know this is a republication, but I am curious if anything changed in the book from the original story? Regardless, I loved it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Recursion and dark matter. This is definitely different. I think if you go into it knowing that, you’ll love it. It was a fast paced, page turner.

Was this review helpful?

Incredibly tense book that I could not put down. Having read some other works by Crouch I can definitely say this is amongst my favorites. It does feel more horror driven rather than his other more scifi based works but I enjoyed that nonetheless. I truly mean it when I say I would give this more than 5 stars if possible

Was this review helpful?

I’ve really loved Crouch’s previous books but this one missed the mark for me. It started off a bit boring which usually means it’s hard for me to get into the book.

Was this review helpful?

This was a difficult read for me. It took a lot for me to get into this book and even then I NEVER got into the book ☹️
The premise of the book was interesting. I’ve enjoyed post- apocalyptic books, but this one didn’t work for me sadly. This is the first book I ever read from this author. I almost DNF it but, since I was sent the ebook for an honest review I felt like I owed it to read it to the end. Maybe other books are better by this author, it I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for the ARC of Run by Blake Crouch. When Blake Crouch says "Run," he means RUN!
Run is an apocalyptic thriller that keeps you on the edge if your seat. I'm a huge Zombie fan but to be honest the set up of this non-zombie themed book has very similar vibes but smart and coordinated EVIL people. That is much worse in my opinion. I stayed up late into the night to see how Run would all unravel. 5 stars for me!

Was this review helpful?

DNF 65%

I am so disappointed by this book. I loved Blake Crouch's books but this one was just not it for me.

First, I found it incredibly boring. It started off strong and then just fell apart. "Oh no! Danger! Run!" Survival mode for a few pages. "Oh no! More danger!" Survival mode for more pages. Over and over and over again. I kept hoping someone would just die already.

I also did NOT like the writing style for this one I don't know what it was about itml. The sentences were just choppy, each paragraph has some weird breaks in between like it was supposed to be a new chapter, it just didn't flow well for me at all. Not my cup of tea.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a quick read. I reviewed Run on Goodreads. I attached my full review below. I gave it 3 stars. Thank you for the advanced copy. He’s a great author, but this one wasn’t super for me.

Was this review helpful?