Man, John Marrs just does not miss. If you love sci-fi/speculative thrillers like I do, add this to your TBR now.

Similar to Harlan Coben, John Marrs has such a talent for introducing seemingly disparate characters and then making your jaw drop to the floor when you start piecing together how they might all be connected to one another.

I was waking up early and staying up late for this one. I was on the edge of my seat and just couldn’t wait to see how it’d end, especially once the action really picked up.

The Family Experiment explored the idea of virtual family planning by allowing families to raise an AI child via VR headset. To make matters more intense and to gain public and media traction on this new virtual parenting opportunity, the launch is made via a reality show in which 10 couples will attempt to raise their child over a condensed time period for the chance to win a cash prize or keep their virtual child.
This book was very entertaining and I enjoyed reading it until a certain point. I am of the opinion that this book could have ended earlier than it did and with a stronger cut off if the author hadn't decided to move past this and proceed to explain each POV rather than just let the suspense settle and leave the readers’ imaginations to run their course. I think with better editing this book could have been revised to have a more jaw-dropping conclusion.

Unfortunately this one was just not for me. It started off ok and toward the middle of the book I just was not into it anymore. I have loved all of the other John Marrs books I have read, but this one just didn't keep me going like the others.

I feel like John Marrs knows something we don’t about the future. This book was insane! They way we follow the characters and their diffrent yet similar lifestyles with Artificial intelligence is something that gets you thinking that this could be our “regular” in a near future! I mean we’ve seen movies read books, about what happens when you mess with AI. Marrs gives us an incredible storyline and he makes sure we know to what lengths some humans will go to have a “family”. It also makes you question who and what you confident family. Really makes you think is blood really thicker than water?

I didn't find Marr's writing as strong in this novel as I did in The One. I think it might have to do with the story being a bit more drawn out than I would have liked. That said, The Family Experiment is an interesting story that tackles some what ifs that don't seem so far fetched. This novel is great for fans of Black Mirror. I'll be coming back to Marrs' work again in the future.

I am obsessed! John Marrs has yet to disappoint me, and this book was no exception!
A new game show it's beginning. A handful of people are selected to participate in raising a virtual reality child. Whoever wins, can choose to keep the child or receive money to begin their journey to starting a family.
This book was interesting to see from all the multiple points of view. Each family has theories l their own reason for wanting a part of the action... but they all have their secrets too.
This book calories my attention, made me hate or love the characters, and introduced a concept I have not read which was half the fun!

Everything this author writes is amazing. The twists the turns, the depth, so so so good. I loved this one so much. I could not put this book down. Highly recommend.

I just love John Marrs, and this book didnt disappoint. It's written in different POV's which I'm a big fan of. I also love a good reality TV angle so this book just checked all the boxes!

This was my first book by John Marrs and I loved it! The concept of this book is amazing and kept me interested the entire time. I loved that the POVs kept going back and forth between the couples and additionally information from The Family Experiment show host. I was not expecting the ending and have been talking about this book for the past five days because it is THAT good!

Where do I even start?!?!!? I'm not sure how to even characterize this book. Dystopian? Thriller? Mystery? Fantasy? Suspense? I don't know but wow this blew my mind. Marrs is such a creative writer. This story was unique, futuristic, yet so relatable to today. It's actually quite scary how relatable it is. Could this actually happen in our future? I wouldn't be surprised if it did. I will say, the beginning was a bit difficult to get my bearings because of all the different characters introduced but I eventually latched on and it wasn't that bad. Some people DNF-ed early on for this reason and I would urge you to stick with it. I highly recommend this book! Must. Read. All. Marrs. Books....

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I am a big John Marrs fan. His latest dark, twisty thriller, The Family Experiment, is set in the same universe as his other novels: The One & The Marriage Act.

The Family Experiment follows 10 couples as they create and raise a virtual child (90's kids, think Tamagotchi) from 0-18 in a span of 9 months. The prize is the right to keep their child, or risk it all for a real live baby. While the book is specultaive fiction, I still found the concept very unsettling. With the way our society and younger generations cling to and rely on technology, and a looming irreversible financial crisis, it is not hard to imagine a world where "virtual children" exist as an alternative to flesh and blood. It may be a good "training tool" to get an idea of what parenthood is like, but I find the idea of virtual children creepy.

One of the major characters is Hudson. He is participating in The Family Experiment as a single dad, but his story is largely told in the past twelve years earlier. I like the book in that the contestants all have interesting stories and roles that all tie together in different ways. Hudson’s chapters are the most compelling to me, but also the most disturbing. This book went to a lot of dark places (trafficking, pedophilia, abuse, etc.) not to mention the violations of privacy programs like this must commit to exist. Yikes.

The book was very dark & twisty and kept me guessing until the very last page. A bingeable read for sure., and A must-read for any thriller lover!

In true John Marrs fashion I was kept on the edge of my seat and was blown away by the twists and revelations! I adore his speculative thrillers and this one was another masterpiece! Thank you HTP for this arc! 🫶🏻

Thank You NetGalley for the ARC. John Marrs can do no wrong. A1 is actually making life better.... or is it? A marketing strategy in the form of a tv reality show to launch metaverse babies who are supposed to serve as a solution/comfort to people who want children. This book was fast paced and jaw dropping. I loved it.

The Family Experiment is John Marrs' most recent thriller set in the same dystopian world as his previous books The Passengers, The One, and The Marriage Act. Five couples and one singleton compete in a reality show where viewers livestream the competition and vote on the winner(s). The competitors are given $250,000 to use toward raising an AI child in the ‘Metaverse’ over a sped-up period of growth of 18 years in the span of 9 months. The winner can either keep what is left from the money they were given to raise their AI child AND keep their AI child, or they can choose to receive another $250,000 to use toward starting a family in the real world, but their AI child will be unplugged/destroyed.

I have read The One and The Marriage Act, which were entertaining, however, The Family Experiment is my favorite out of the three. The book is incredibly entertaining, and each couple has their own shocking secret that make the book even more exciting. The chapters are short and there are plenty of twists. The book itself is less than 300 pages, so I flew through it. There was only one couple that I did not find as entertaining as the rest. Also, while the last 30 pages tied all the stories up, I found that it dragged on for me. Overall, it is a great read for someone who enjoys dystopian/sci-fi thrillers with multiple POV’s and short chapters. I would read it again and recommend it to anyone interested in the genre.

Do you have to read the other books first? Some readers say one should read John Marrs’ previous books before delving into this one, however, I do not think that is entirely true. I think this book can be read as a stand-alone if you aren’t interested in the others, as the characters in this book and their situations are independent from characters in The One and The Marriage Act.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and @hanoversquarepress Square Press for the pleasure of reading this e-book via @netgalley All thoughts are entirely my own: instagram.com/bookslug_

I’m a huge fan of the author so I always get excited when a new book of his appears on the netgalley shelves. Having enjoyed The Marriage Act, I was ready to settle in and get lost in this world for a while, and get lost in this I did but not in a good way at some points. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite live up to his others for me, but I think it’s more of a me thing and less the book. That being said, the book is very confusing and very Meta so be prepared to take notes going in to be able to keep up with who’s who and when and where stuff is taking place or you’ll quickly find yourself losing track.
A reality show about families of all types who have 9 months to raise a virtual child who’s age progresses years each month so that by the time the 9 months is up they are adults and the contestants have to decide if they want to keep the child or have the prize money to have a child in the real world. You use a VR headset and enter a separate universe to spend time with the child and then you take it off and you’re back in the real world. Each family dynamic was different-there were traditional families, single parents, etc, but none of them were exceptionally likable which made it hard to root for any of them.
It’s an interesting concept and totally John Marrs’ style so if you like his work, you may want to check this one out.
Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Anything that John Marrs writes is something I immediately add to my TBR list. This book, The Family Experiment, was so captivating, so intriguing, that I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved the futuristic vibes it gives, and the premise of virtual reality and AI was extremely cool. I loved this book so much.

This takes place in the near future world and apparently in the same metaverse as some of the other books by this author. It was really cool actually. It follows 5 different couples and the ability to have like a AI child, you can create your own child and have it look like you and your partner and you raise it from birth until adulthood.

John Marrs’ The Family Experiment is a read that fans of his previous work will especially enjoy. This novel explores a high-stakes experiment where participants get a chance to "reset" their lives by entering an idealized family simulation. It’s a fascinating look at the complexities of family dynamics and ethical dilemmas.

What stands out is how Marrs weaves in elements from his earlier books. If you’re familiar with The One or What Lies Between Us, you’ll spot some familiar themes and clever nods. The book continues Marrs’ exploration of technology’s impact on human relationships but takes it in a fresh direction with the family experiment.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, which keeps the suspense tight and the plot twists unpredictable. The characters are well-developed and add depth to the narrative, especially Evelyn, who grapples with her own past while navigating the experiment’s moral challenges.

Overall, The Family Experiment is a gripping read that balances suspense with thought-provoking themes. It’s a great pick for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a twist. I enjoyed picking up on the small nods to his previous books.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press in exchange for my honest review

THIS BOOK! Marrs is a master, and this? THIS?? This was further evidence of that. He always leaves you with something that haunts you. The story is always tied up nicely, but there's always some gristle on the bone at the end too. Like what??? The intrigue! The storytelling! The way he made me feel something for every character?? The premise was gold, and I'm normally a bigger fan of his intimate, domestic thrillers over this high-concept, but this changed that. It was so. Good. SO GOOD. Read it. Solid, solid 5!

If you have never read a John Marrs book, this one would give you a very good idea of his writing style, at times unfathomable it boggles the mind. A television station is showing a reality show, The Family Experiment, shows 5 couples and 1 single father as they via for a prize that would enable them to pursue raising a family. They are given the task of raising a virtual child through several development staged, newborn through 18, the child will 'jump' ahead in development at certain points, from newborn to 9 months, the contestants are aware of the jumps but as the child grows the development catches some unaware (the single father is raising a daughter, when she reaches puberty and suddenly has breasts he's taken aback). The story follows each couple and the single man through the development jumps, there are also chat room conversations that follow the show and can send red or black hearts to the contestant, too many black hearts and the couple faces elimination. A flashback involving a young boy that had been trafficked to an unknown location where is his kept in a secure building and has to complete certain tasks, those that don't do well are shown the door on the left and are not seen again. Each of the couples have issues that they hadn't disclosed during the interview process, one couple had a child, and they keep that child in a locked room in the basement of their house after she had been accused of killing a roommate. All of the secrets are eventually brought to life. This is a very good book John Marrs is one of my favorite authors, his previous books, The Passengers and The One are also both very good and aspects of those two are mentioned in this one. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Hanover Square Press for the ARC.