Growth

Set in a near future that feels uncomfortably close to our own, the novel centers on Lifio, an energy drink built with CRISPR gene-editing technology. Each sip triggers a genetic change that seems to reverse aging and clear away every illness. Demand becomes frenzied, and within months Lifio is selling briskly across the planet. Before long, though, the change proves permanent after a single serving, and the people it has altered begin to grow.

The story spans a decade and follows a group of scientists, public health specialists, and software engineers working to halt the mutation before food shortages spread across the world. Their effort is guided by President Williamson, an American leader who is both inspiring and level-headed. As they try to contain the crisis, the future of humanity hangs in the balance, and only one thing keeps expanding without limit.

The book is a techno-thriller about a committed team trying to rein in technology that has run out of control, but it also weaves in political drama and scientific discovery. It explores the American dream, unchecked excess, and the costs of progress, all within a future that feels disturbingly plausible.