Thank you so much @HTP and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC!

I'm a huge fan of John Marrs books!  I couldn't wait to read The Family Experiment an engaging sci-fi thriller.
 
This book is about several couples who are given the opportunity on a reality TV show to raise a virtual 'Meta Baby" through a virtual headset in the Metaverse.
These couples are competing for a chance to either keep their child or win the money to assist them in starting a family in the real world.
 
This book touches on AI which controls the couple's life more than they realize which is pretty scary. I could see our future taken over by AI.  I enjoyed the competition aspect of the book. How it tested the couples making them think about the real-world responsibility while trying to raise an AI human. You also see what reality TV is and what it is becoming. There are so many moments in the book you don’t see coming.
 
The book was very interesting I enjoyed the short chapters that ended on cliffhangers. There were a lot of twists and turns. I like that we see a mix of interviews, chat rooms, and news clips which kept me engaged. There were times when it was hard to keep track of everyone there, so many characters & storylines. So, pay close attention to all the characters in the book.
I don’t even want to talk about the ending whoever read this book already will understand me. My mouth drops! The secrets these couples kept in their real life I didn’t see any of it!
 
Can't wait for his next book I'm very intrigued to find out what his next book will be about!!!

3.5*
Reminiscent of the once popular Tamagotchi digital pets that children loved to care for, this novel takes virtual caregiving to the next level. The novel is set in England, in a world where overpopulation is a real problem and having a child is cost-prohibitive. A commercial enterprise is offering a program called Virtual Children that offers selected couples the chance to raise a child in the Metaverse. They will get an AI digital infant whose growth will be accelerated and within 9 months, the ultimate winner will have the option to keep their virtual child or take a cash amount that could be used to start a biological family.

Each couple is strikingly different such as a gay couple, a couple who lost their own child and even a single dad. Viewers watch the interactions of these parents with their Metaverse babies and vote on who they like best. Viewers can also put obstacles in the couple’s paths, complicating the parenting experience. The audience subscribers watch with delight as parenting skills are revealed and one by one, couples are eliminated.

Marrs hits on many timely topics such as reality tv, influencers, AI, and the public’s obsession with popularity. There are also complications that arise such as jealousy, mental illness and greed. The book starts out with so much promise, but somehow it falters a bit, once the individual contestant stories bring in more background and conflict. Certain participants stand out as memorable, but with audience voting and unforeseen events popping up, it might not be the most deserving who are the ultimate winners. There’s also the reality that as parents are dropped, their virtual child abruptly ceases to exist.

Marrs book is clever and touches on our culture’s obsession with competition, reality tv, and all things digital. It highlights potential abuses in a world where parenting becomes a competitive sport and real lives impact the Metaverse.

John Marrs does it again, with another propulsive and slightly terrifying look at a near-future world in which VR and AI let parents have a Metaverse baby that feels fully real—down to physically being able to feel the baby, thanks to special suits.

Marrs ends every chapter like a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put the book down! I read it in two sittings.

The book is highly entertaining while also really thought-provoking and discussible. Just because we CAN do things with technology, should we? Should people be charged with crimes for killing people who aren’t technically real, but feel very real to their families? What makes a family a family?

Marrs is a hit-or-miss author for me, but I always pick up his latest to see how far he’s decided to go there.

He deals out speculative fiction with a heavy hand that’s perfect for Black Mirror fans like me, but like the episodes of that series, sometimes the details become too convoluted.

In many regards, his sci-fi borderlines horror because it gets right up close to what could be true for the future, and dangit if it’s not scary.

In this instance, Marrs introduces a situation where you can design your own metaverse baby, and have your experience televised as part of a game show where audiences can vote on whether they think you’re doing a good job or not.

If they don’t like how you’re acting, the thumbs down can make your life a living hell. While, on the other hand, if they deem you worthy, your baby will be straight-up angelic.

Oh, and then if you win, you can choose to keep the prize money or destroy your baby. Some may buckle under the pressure and not take full accountability for a metaverse baby. Others may parlay their exposure into baby brand partnerships.

Curating your life to elicit the virtual “likes” of others, and feeling let down when they don’t agree with your choices? Sounds creepily familiar.

4.5 rounded up

Should you read this book?
Yes, if… you love John Marrs’s speculative fiction books and want a book with so many small plot twists along the way
No, if… you can’t follow a big cast. There are a lot of character names to remember
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Sigh, I like this author and have read many of his books but this was a slog. I was very bored. The story format was too similar to previous books and had too many characters. Additionally, their stories weren't intriguing at all. I was not curious about their secrets and found the attempts at mystery and intrigue very forced. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

Okay, first I need to say that I LOVE this “series.” I say “series” because technically you can read them out of order but they all are mixed into the same futuristic artificial intelligence (AI) storyline. The Family Experiment is book five.
Imagine being able to raise a child that only exists in the Metaverse. The Family Experiment is a reality TV show with contestants competing by raising children in the Metaverse. And in good ol’ John Marrs fashion, it is a wild ride. Within the first few minutes I was left with my jaw on the floor and trying to read as fast as I could. When I say it starts off explosive, I mean it! There are some wild twists that actually left me thinking “that was an impressive move, Mr. Marrs!” Loved it! Easy 5 stars!!
Thank you John Marrs, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC edition for review.

I thought this book was so interesting -- especially as someone passionate about computer science and interested in the impacts of AI. The pacing is super good and this was well written, There were times when I got confused but overall, the book was good. John Marrs' commentary on emerging technology was interesting and refreshing. Recommend!

The Family Experiment by John Marrs
.
In a world where AI is more advanced, a new reality show is starting called The Family Experiment. People will take care of their own virtual child and compete for a chance to start a family of their own.
.
What I liked:
-There are six competitors in this book and we get POVs from all of them. It really helped you get a good background of the players.
-Crazy plot with shocking twists!
-This book could easily be binge read in a day or two.
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t want to say more and spoil anything, but if you love speculative fiction or thrillers then you should read this.

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs is a captivating exploration of the complexities of familial relationships and the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic manipulation. Marrs crafts an intriguing narrative, blending suspense and thought-provoking themes that keep readers engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own unique perspectives and struggles, making it easy to become invested in their journeys.

The pacing is generally strong, though there are moments where the story lags slightly, causing a brief disconnect from the otherwise gripping plot. Nonetheless, the emotional depth and moral questions posed throughout the book make it a worthwhile read. Marrs' ability to weave together science fiction with real-world issues is commendable, and he leaves readers contemplating the implications of his story long after the final page.

Overall, "The Family Experiment" is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that deserves a solid four stars for its creativity and emotional resonance.

Read if you like:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
📺 Reality TV
🫥 Immersive AI Experiences
🥽 Virtual Reality
🤰🏼 Tomagotchis for Kids
📖 Short Chapters

Much like Marrs’ other books in this unofficial series this book tackles issues with deception and deceit of information that leads to another option for people to use technology in their daily lives, this time, with having and raising a child in a virtual reality setting for those that can’t afford to have a child for whatever reason. So like, a tomagotchi for kids as John so beautifully said in this book for all the 90’s kids like me that lost their tomagotchi’s and have all the guilt of killing their pets 😂

I love the style that John writes with, with his quick movement from one pov to another, short chapters, cliffhangers, suspense and mystery that has you at the edge of your seat, and social discussions on technology and social media.

The one area that fell a bit flat for me, was the way the wrap up was done as the book felt like the wind stopped pushing the plot along once we got to the last 10% and the pacing just felt a bit off for that last part of the book, other than that, I really enjoyed this one just like John’s other books!

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was my 1st book by John Marrs. It started out good, but my only issue was there was too many characters/ contestants. It was hard to follow along and I kept getting them confused.

John Marrs has done it again! I loved this book! As always I was hooked right from the beginning!
You won’t believe the twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down.

4.8⭐️🎧
Page turner!!! My 2nd John Marrs, and just like his novels “The One” and “The Marriage Act,” it’s set in the same (somewhat) futurist world with lots of thought-provoking situations about the potential benefits and horrific sides of AI.

🌎 In this universe, not only can you find your perfect match through DNA testing, but if for any reason you are unable to have a child, you can now design and raise your own virtual AI baby, complete with sound/smell to tap into your senses, and upgrade packages for things like their level of education, and such. (Because let’s be real, this is just another way for “The Corporation” to profit on people’s vulnerabilities.)

🎥 The Family Experiment is a reality game show that launches the AI baby offering into the world with a contest. Multiple couples, and one single Father sign-up to compete, and raise an AI child for 9 months (from infancy to teen) while being scrutinized from the public eye on real-time video. At the end the winner must choose whether to keep their virtual child, that they’ve raised and bonded with, or to vanish to child into virtual air, and take a cash payout instead.

🎯 John nails every aspect of human behavior in this book. Fans obsessing over the live feed and losing sleep, social media feeding into the gossip and their opinions on how other’s are raising their virtual children, competitors doing what it takes to win, the difficulties of being a reality personality, and all the aspects of how AI effects people’s lives (everything from career and education to moral topics like how to police and handle neglect, murder, etc. in the AI world - because it’s not real…right?)

🧠 This book leaves me with SO many thoughts and questions. Like, should we start training our youth now, to go into a field of Virtual Law?

📰 I like how he sprinkles in news headlines, social media conversations, and the like, to incorporate the public's reactions to everything happening in the experiment. It’s so realistic, and comes through really well in the audio book with news background music and such.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and John Marrs for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review. This was a fun read!

This was so interesting, and different than any other book I’ve read. I couldn’t imagine going through an experiment like this knowing at the end I could lose everything

I'm so disappointed that I did not enjoy this. I even contemplated not finishing because I didn't really care for any of the characters and I wasn't hooked like I usually am with Marrs' other books.

Another five-star read from John Marrs! I really enjoy how he blends the sci-fi and thriller genres. I thought this book was a really interesting and unique concept. I felt that the characters were well developed and dynamic.

This book really made me think because its so complex and has really interesting concepts and societal implications.

This was my first book that I have read my John Marrs. It was difficult to get intro at first but a few chapters in it was easy to follow along. There was a lot of characters in this book to keep up with which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I think the idea of making it a tv show and having the “real world” citizens judge the parenting was a smart idea. I didn’t realize that there was 2 other books about this universe but I’m very interested to read those as well. I give this book 3 stars and I recommend if you are into a sci-fi world building book this is the one for you.

The Family Experiment is a sci/fi thriller novel that takes place in a near-distant future UK, where there is overpopulation, overcrowding, and an economic crisis. It follows multiple points of view of parents taking part in a competition to raise an artificially intelligent child for the chance to have the family they weren’t able to before.

I think this was a well-crafted novel with a lot of exciting twists and turns. The concept was super unique, and the ending twist was a nice touch. My favorite part about this book was how complex each character was. No one character was good or bad, and it takes a good writer to make you care about morally grey characters with dubious goals, not to mention several. It was really cool to see the different forms a family took and how love can be both a blessing and a curse.

Overall, this is among my favorites of Marrs’ books so far. I think the book accomplished what it set out to and held considerable intrigue throughout to keep the reader guessing. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi thrillers with a societal message and complex points of view.

There should be a warning on this book about the sensitive nature. I thought the premise sounded really interesting but when the book opens with infanticide, whether real or virtual, it can be triggering and difficult for people to push past.