Upgrade

Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Thriller, Science Fiction
337 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books, 2022

Synopsis
Upgrade is an interesting, yet disappointing, science fiction novel by Blake Crouch. At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.

But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.
 
The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy. Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.
 
Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.

My review
I’m a huge fan of Blake Crouch novels and he’s a master at delivering creative and mind-bending concepts. While Upgrade has an interesting premise, I felt the execution fell short in delivering a compelling story and the novel quickly became bogged down by repetitive plot points and predictable twists.

The pacing in Upgrade was somewhat uneven, with some sections dragging on while others feel rushed. I also found the characters lacked the depth and sophistication found in Crouch’s other works.

Overall, Upgrade is an okay read for those looking for a quick sci-fi fix, but it doesn’t quite reach the level of excellence found in other works by Crouch.

My recommendation: mixed. This is not a terrible book, but certainly doesn’t match the quality, execution, and complexity I’ve come to expect from Crouch.