I get it. The main characters turn super smart wiow wow…. Yawn. Wow. Never read that before And what grand revelation do the characters do either it? Same short term self interest activities dumb people do… Not clever. Not new. Not worth reading

Could not put this down. Terrifying in that it’s all so plausible.

A fun read but with high end science that I needed an “upgrade” to understand most of the time! Still, I learned something which was pleasantly unexpected

Great book! loved the story and ideas it provoked. Couldn’t put it down. Another great entry in Blake’s growing catalog of fun and entertaining rides! If you like Andy Weir and Blake Crough go read this book!

This is my third Blake Crouch novel I own and have read - I am literally writing this minutes after having finished this novel - and he continues to be one of my favorites out there. I do not have many sci-fi novels, and I am as of recently exploring a little more with book genres, but Crouch's Dark Matter was my introduction to sci-fi and I have been hooked ever since. I love how well he continues to make these sci-fi novels while each still being very independent from one another. This story really stands out to me compared to his others a great way, and actually reminds me of classics like 1984 and Brave New World; This novel has a very relevant theme that while fictionized, seems extremely relevant and real in today's world and where our world is headed. Crouch definitely did his research and had great contacts to help him with this novel. This novel very much makes me feel like it is a very real future for humanity rather than a completely fictionalized story; What is even scarier is it doesn't seem like this is a far-distant future. Regardless, I highly recommend this book, especially those with any type of science background. LOVED.

I haven’t enjoyed a fiction book in a long time but I loved the his book and couldn’t put it down. Read it in two days.

There was science and relationships and futurism and ethical dilemmas and suspense, all in one book. Crouch’s writing style is comfortable to me, and he explains the science well.

Crouch has definitely mastered the Art of the Page Turner. With this book as with the Pines he can engage the Reader with his plot and characters without being cute or cheesy. The good thing about Upgrade is that it is a Sci-Fin Novel that dangles enough Genetic and Weaponry arcana to establish its street cred with lovers of that genre without bogging the rest of us down and keeping us from enjoying the suspense. And there is plenty of that. While I found the finale less than satisfying, I enjoyed the journey and the geography it traversed. I do wish that he had left the sentiments of the epilogue to the Reader so I’ll limit my praise to Four Stars. ****

Overall I enjoyed reading this, but after reading Dark Matter this one just felt a little disappointing. While it was interesting to read about the character’s upgrades, the science and genetics behind it were over my head and it made the character unrelatable. The plot twists were not that exciting either. Overall not a bad read but not his best work.

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Thank you.

Until now, I have loved Crouch’s imaginative thrillers. I could have endured the “climate fiction” in order to enjoy his science fiction - but the climate change went from simple premise to the reason for the book. Too preachy.

I was obsessed with Crouch’s first two book, honestly my two favorite sci-fi books. For some reason this one just did not do it for me. Spent a little too much time explaining the new abilities the main character gains, and not much time actually using his powers. Still a fun read though.

What's it about (in a nutshell): Upgrade by Blake Crouch is an action-packed thriller about a secretly started Genetics War on humanity. Suppose people are made more intelligent, stronger, and faster. Does that mean they will make better decisions on a global scale, or do the forces behind the human upgrade have it all wrong? Initial Expectations (before beginning the book): The cover looks science-like, and the blurb on the back of the book confirms that the story is a sci-fi thriller. I love the premise. I find genetics endlessly fascinating, and it seems like the story will be about upgrading humans on a genetic level. Actual Reading Experience: I loved the premise mostly because I love studying genetics and believe that messing with nature always has unintended consequences ranging from mildly undesirable to catastrophic. So, you can see where a story like this would immediately draw me in. And it definitely did – even when the narration became so technical that it went in one ear and out the other (metaphorically speaking). That just added to the authenticity, which in turn added to the scariness of the story. The pacing was a bit discombobulating for me. It alternated from fast-paced, violent action scenes to almost overwritten in-between periods to a highly technical discussion on genetics. So, sometimes the pages just flew, and other times I got bored with the inaction. Then, I would hit the technical parts. My reading dramatically slowed as I tried to use my most basic genetic knowledge (gleaned from a college class on genetics many moons ago) to grasp what I was being told. However, I found that the family dynamics/story grabbed my attention even more than the gene manipulation story. The family story is more reflective of the human condition. However, the Gene War tale provided an excellent foil that better shined the spotlight on the missing part of the Upgrade plan. To Read or Not to Read: Overall, I found this book endlessly fascinating to read and contemplate. I don't know that I agreed with the main character's conclusion, but it gave me a lot of food for thought about my actual opinions.

Perfect balance between a clever plot from start to finish, and nonstop motion propelling you forward. Impossible to put it down.

Very well done. Couldn’t put it down