nickmbyers 's review for:

Upgrade by Blake Crouch

2.0

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I didn't dislike this novel but overall I'd say it was just kind of blah. The subject is cool, similar to the movie/tv show Limitless but instead of a pill its gene editing. There are a couple points that I think negatively affected my opinion of this book. First, the characterization is bad.

Spoiler

I don't understand why Cara suddenly wants to save the human species. Before the upgrade she wasn't doing anything to help, she was living in the least populated area of the country in a cabin in the woods. I just don't believe that by adding the upgraded DNA would change her aspirations to that degree, felt kind of forced. Crouch had a ready made antagonist already in the protagonist's genius mother, who had the aspiration of saving the planet. But instead he kills her off mere chapters after revealing that she faked her death. The protagonist is also a classic mary sue, basically never does anything wrong and when he does get into trouble there are no lasting repurcussions.

Second, there are so many moments that I know the writer intends to tug at the reader's heartstrings but they just really didn't land, for me at least. Like you can tell Crouch wanted you to think that Logan, the protagonist, is feeling all of these things about being away from his family and stuff but it just doesn't work.

Actually now that I've put all of my thoughts into this review I think I have to change my review from a three star to a two star. This novel has a lot of problems that only revealed themselves to me after thinking back on them.

Final verdict: A blah novel with a mary sue protagonist and weird characterization and plot points.