This was such an interesting, fun and well written book. With characters that just pull you in and make you want to learn more about them - especially Jay and Benny (and Jay's dad - I was curious about him from the very beginning). From the minute that Jay hears the girl scream, I could not put the book down. In fact, I was up all night reading it. There is so much to say about this book that I honestly have no idea where to even begin, which is not a normal thing for me. The only issue I actually and with it was that the end was so clean and "perfect," but that's not really much of a complaint considering I liked the end. Well done.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Jay Brooks has had a bad year. His mom died and his dad withdrew from him, spending most of his time painting and acting strange. Luckily Jay has his best friend Benny Welch to stand by his side. Well, in a figurative sense since Benny is in a wheelchair. When Jay witnesses what he believes to be a murder and something even weirder immediately after that he runs to Benny with the evidence he has recorded. Benny, a wiz at anything computer-related, attempts to figure out what’s going on. They have no idea that what they’ve stumbled upon is so much more than they could ever imagine.

This story is one hell of a ride. Told from mostly Jay and Benny’s POV this fast-paced thriller reminds me of that scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom where Indy & Co. take off in a mine cart to escape the big baddies, picking up speed, careening around obstacles and then…the brake handle comes off. Faster and faster this tale took me until the final scene, leaving me not with smoking feet, but with dripping tear ducts.

My only complaint is that the ending fell a little too neatly into place, but it’s a small complaint. The writing is top notch, the characters are wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I followed Jay and Benny. The twists and turns were appropriately mysterious and kept me wondering what the hell was going on and the end game makes me wonder if this type of technology is all in the author’s head or if it’s actually, even if only slightly, viable. Just the thought makes the hair on the back of my neck rise up. So glad I would never even consider that kind of surgical correction. *shudders* All-in-all a kickass ride. 

*Spoiler clearly tagged.

4.5 stars.


You say words like “virtual” and “reality” and I get pretty excited. The truth is that we all seek escapism in some way. Some exercise, some bake, some drink, some meditate and some read. But what if you could escape into an entire virtual world? A world where you could do anything, have anything and be anything? A world of your own making. Would you have any qualms about leaving your old life behind? For those of us who have loved ones, the decision wouldn’t be so cut & dried. For the loner MC of Upload, the decision was a fairly easy one.