This book kept me on my toes! I’m glad I got my hands on it as an ARC.

Just when I thought things were going to be okay… BAM… another mess of chaos and murder. Blake Crouch has a way of making you feel what his characters feel and this story was no different. It was heart-wrenching, nauseating, and beautiful. The thriller/cat and mouse chase elements kept it engaging, but were frustrating at times (though, I think that was the intention). I could definitely see this adapted into a short series and more detail given to the origin of the “affected”.

Run had my attention from the very first page. Maybe it’s because I am firmly in my “apocalyptic thriller girly era,” or maybe it’s because this book was so thoroughly readable that I sailed right through it? I finished it in two days.

This is a story of one family’s survival in the face of unimaginable terror. Knowing that you are on the run from like…just about everyone? Because they just…want to kill you? Wild. Seriously gave me some anxiety.

Is it an epidemic? What is the cause of all of these people committing horrific acts of violence? You don’t really get an idea until about a third of the way into the book.

Do I wish we had a little more explanation on what caused everyone to start acting this way? Yes. The book throws us a theory, but maybe it’s scarier if we don’t really know all the details.

My favorite section of the book is one in which the family finds a brief respite from the horrors that chase them. Truly a lesson in the practice of being present where you are and finding small joys when everything else is falling apart.

The choppiness of this book is jarring. But it served to emphasize that this family was literally surviving day by day, flying by the seat of their pants, with every single moment of every single day counting toward getting to see the next one. Every decision, every moment matters. The choppiness adds a little je ne sais quoi to emphasize the unnerving vibe of the plot.

This is such an excellent read that any fan of Crouch should visit. I was very happy to read this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read the eARC for honest feedback!

The plot elements of this page-turning horror-laden dystopia about an outbreak of horrific violence in North America weren’t all that original, but were delivered in an entertaining way that had you turning the pages with a satisfying amount of tension and adrenalin. Not all aspects were believable, but since you wanted to believe them, at least with respect to the likable hero Jack and his family, it didn’t matter too much. Nevertheless, I thought the ending was rather improbable, which is amusing to myself (or a sad commentary) that I would think that it was more unbelievable than the speculative dystopian hellscape that preceded it.

Final verdict: Enjoyed it a lot, in spite of some nit-picking shortcomings.

Well that was soooky and yet predictable. I cannot decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I enjoyed it but it didn’t do much.

I haven’t inhaled a book this quickly in a long time. I was on the edge of my seat, heart racing. The book isn’t flawless and it’s interesting to see how far Blake Crouch has come with his writing style, but in terms of a page Turner, this was a winner.

Wow!!! Where do I begin? Run by Blake Crouch was such an amazing thrill ride for me. I loved the dynamics of the family from the start. There is angst and drama following a couple having marital issues that are clearly together for the kids. The kids are along for the ride with mom and dad as they escape from New Mexico and head towards what they hear could be safety in Canada. I’ll stop here for a moment, because why not just head south, I asked myself. This is a new take on an apocalyptic ride you will want to take! This book will not leave your hands! I found myself taking breathing breaks because my blood pressure was so high while reading it, and I found myself holding on to each breath even longer! This is such a creative journey that will have you rooting for the characters as they try to survive every horrible thing lurking behind each turn. The story shifted and moved in all of the right ways to keep you on the edge of your seat. Incredible!! Thank you, Blake Crouch, for another mind blowing book. Thank you, Netgalley and Ballantine Books, for the chance to read and review this copy of Run by Blake Crouch.

Blake Crouch is a master. This thrilling book had me on edge the whole time. It reminded me of his earlier works such as Desert Places. In this book he displays his mastery of characters and setting. I can only hope that Blake will continue his mastery of writing and continue to put out books that I just can’t put down.

Interesting concept, made even more interesting by the recent global auroras, but I didn’t love the execution of it. While the fragmented writing was probably done purposely to make the reader feel stressed (it worked) it made the overall story and characters lack depth. I also did not appreciate that there wasn’t a better explanation of why everything had happened. I have really enjoyed this author’s other books though so will continue to follow him.

Thank you to the author, Ballantine Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid book. I enjoy Crouch's writing in this book and I liked the setting up of the world. Very exciting and a highly impactful story

This book gripped me from literally page 1! It was so intense and so suspenseful! There were so many moments that I literally gasped out loud. It took me on an absolutely emotional rollercoaster, while also scaring the shit out of me just thinking about this apocalyptic future! I loved the bonds of family and the themes of courage or survival. I so enjoyed the clever way the author began and ended the story. So powerful!

This was my favorite Blake Crouch so far!

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

When the world quickly falls apart and neighbors start turning on each other with violence, Jack, Dee and their two children make a run for Canada. This book instantly takes off from page one. We start the story with Jack packing up his family in their Blazer to escape town. There are barricades with militia blocking every road out of town. It's a fight for survival and Jack will do anything to keep his family safe from the portion of the population that is hell-bent on killing.

Run by Blake Crouch is fast paced survival story. It doesn't give a full explanation on what is actually happening and focuses on how one family fights their way across the country to find safety. Even though it is not that long of a book, it packs so much into a short amount of time. You barely have time to breath before you move on to the next obstacle. The family dynamic was the heart of the story and despite the grim circumstances, you root for the family to prevail. I really enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because it of the abrupt ending. I wanted just a little bit more closure on the characters.

A bit too brutal with the amount of violence. Very hard to get through in spots. I would recommend more about the event, death tolls, cities affected, global response etc...

Jack and Dee are suddenly on the run with their two children, fourteen year old Naomi and seven year old Cole, after a celestial event affects a large portion of the United States. They hear that there is refuge to be found across the Canadian border, if only they can make it there safely from their home in New Mexico.

This was a heart-pounding thriller with peril on every page. For as fast paced as this book was, the characters had a surprising amount of depth. It was a fun read and it definitely entertained.

All that said, I do have some complaints about plot holes, some of which contain spoilers so skip if you’d like.

SPOILERS AHEAD


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This was a celestial even that was likened to an aurora borealis, which would have been more likely to affect Canada and the upper portion of the US, but this instead affected the lower 48 - why? This was never explained.

They started out from New Mexico, why not head south instead of the north? Maybe I missed if they said Mexico was affected but they just mentioned “the lower 48” several times. Also none of the rest of the world was affected but no one else came to the US’s aid?

What actually happened to the affected? Did it alter their brain chemistry? Why did it last 30 days? These questions were never answered.

Why were radio stations reading names? How did they know they were unaffected? Why the university professors? This was never brought up again.

Blake Crouch writes a dark and mesmerizingly horrifying scenario with real gravitas that cuts to the bone with its chilling narrative and its emotional arc.


Full review to be posted on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain

Review: From the onset this novel follows a family as they escape, er crazy people and it goes like this....."Oh shjt they are trying to kill us!" then a miraculous save and RUN AWAY!!!! They always find peace and respite not to mention convenient gas depots and places to stay. Rinse and repeat this sequence about 70 times and tag, yur it.

Dee was written as an asshat who makes it clear she is fucking another guy, so that is ok. When he tells her that he had a short affair (vs her open and long winded one) she has a tantrum and cries all day. But not without first telling him that he needs to man-up. Huh? There are a few instances where she was better left getting chewed on by coyotes. BUT, somehow through their trials of surviving multiple attacks with two kids in tow (riiiight) they find love again under da sheets.

Despite some character flaws, this was an ok read. I hung in there as the instances that constantly repeat are under different circumstances and settings. Yeah, Dee is tiring with her Super Slut persona, but who wouldn't be, when crazy people that seem normal just want to kill you because they must. Not the best apoc novel I have read as reality dictates a grim outcome for 2 kids and city bred parents. If you want some light entertainment, then this is for you.

p.s. The idea that a POS modern Land Rover could even make it 30 miles overland is stretching the imagination. This hunk of shjt made by TATA survives bullet holes, mountain passes, extreme 4x4 country and 110 mph chases while running over harley bikers. Too funny.

3.0/5

I was so excited to get this galley from Netgalley because Blake Crouch is one of my favorite authors! I love books where the characters are running and hiding and trying to survive. I also love an apocalyptic novel. This one has it all. A few days before the novel opens, an event has happened and since then things have gotten steadily worse in the world. Now they are calling out names over the radio of people who must be killed and now Jacks name is on the list, so he and his family decide to run. Run captured me from the first page and it was hard to put down til the very end! My only qualms with this one is the slight abrupt ending and the way things wrapped up ( or didn’t?). #netgalley #netgalleyreview #run #blakecrouch

I'm so bummed this wasn't a new book by BC but an old one that's republished. I loved Dark Matter and Recursion so I figured I'd like this one too but this was not the same at all. I gave it a shot anyway but it was not for me.

I do think others who like the following will enjoy it though:
-Fast-paced
-Post-apocalyptic
-Thriller/horror

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, and Blake Crouch for the ARC of this republished title.

3.5. This was my first Blake Crouch and I enjoyed it! This was a solid read, that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm now eager to read more Crouch.

Run exceeded all my expectations, showcasing Blake Crouch at his finest. As an avid reader of Crouch’s works, I appreciate how he consistently maintains his distinct writing style while infusing each book with its own unique flair.

This gripping sci-fi thriller follows a family of four in the aftermath of a bizarre event that triggers widespread chaos, including mass murders and violent confrontations.

The plot is straightforward yet compelling, and the well-developed main characters are easy to connect with, enhancing the overall experience.

Thank you Blake Crouch, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

Starting off with this was honestly not what I expected. I loved Recursion and a few others so I jumped into this one without reading the blurb. I enjoyed it, while it was quite like a couple other books i’ve read, it was fast paced and enjoyable. I can’t wait to read more!