Ten couples compete in a reality show to raise a virtual AI child from birth to age eighteen, but condensed into nine months. If they win, they can either keep the prize money and their virtual child, or keep a portion of the prize money and have a ‘real world’ child.

This futuristic world that John Marrs has created is both fascinating and terrifying; it’s a near future that is entirely plausible. Each chapter follows a different couple, (and a single dad) with each contestant harboring dark secrets. They each have their reasons for entering the competition and they aren’t as straightforward as you’d think. With adverts, news bulletins, and social media chats mixed in, this fast paced thriller was hard to put down! By the time I got caught up with one couple, I wanted to know what was going on with the next!

The concept of parenting a virtual AI child is both appealing and disturbing. I could see it being an excellent way to train new parents, but also an outlet for people to do despicable things with little consequences because they aren’t “real” children. There is so much here that could be discussed. Yes this is a speculative techno thriller/sci fi, and kept me riveted, but wow does it cover some hard hitting topics at the same time! There were a few surprises along the way and some horrifying revelations! John Marrs has a WILD imagination and yet he’s zeroed in on real and relevant issues; he’s quickly become an auto-read author for me!
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Thank you John Marrs, The Hive and HTP Books for the gifted copy. All opinions are mine.

Potential spoiler content warnings below.







































⚠️Content Warnings: language, infertility, loss of a child, grief, human trafficking, child slave labor, manipulation, Mention of: infidelity, child abuse, false imprisonment, torture, drug use and addiction

I know John Marks is an excellent storyteller. This book however just wasn't my favorite. I really struggled with parts of it. I am not a fa of reality TV so maybe that is part of the issue. I thought reading it would be better than watching.

What a CRAZY ride…..that seems like it could actually be plausible in the not too distant future. Terrifying!!

I enjoyed this book, though I had hesitations too. I really appreciated the unique premise. The opportunity to help a family grow. The new twist on reality tv. It was a great idea. And all in all I really liked it.

My main cautions are just the graphic parts - I did not expect it when I picked up the book. Especially at the beginning. I had difficulty continuing reading after it, I was absolutely heartbreaking. I’m glad I did read the entire book, it was interesting. But, I would recommend caution to others as there is some violence included.

All in all, an interesting read. Engaging. Twisty, and full of mystery. Definitely a unique thriller! I just may not have been the target audience for this one.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I felt bored and couldn’t connect with the characters. I felt like there were too many stories going on too.

I pushed through to finish but I probably should’ve DNFed it.

I hope others love this one.

I'm giving this one a 3.75 stars, rounding up! Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is only my second John Marrs book, and I was surprised to find out The Family Experiment takes place in the same dystopian world as The One (and others of his, apparently.) I love the concept of his books. In The Family Experiment, couples are competing in a reality TV show-type experiment where they take on a virtual child. This AI baby will grow quickly, and over the course of the show, the couples will experience every life stage from newborn to 18 years old. All of John Marrs' books seem to give off a very Black Mirror vibe and contain multiple POVs and storylines. This one was a bit hard to keep up with all the names and storylines, especially as they began to intertwine. The plot was so interesting and very well-written, but this one definitely moved much slower for me than The One. Go into this not expecting a thriller but more interconnected drama and mystery.

Overall, a very solid read! I need to go back and read the other books that are part of this universe now!

My favorite thing about John Marrs’ sci-fi has got to be how perfect technological innovation seems till he pulls the rag from under your feet and you are left feeling like “oh I shouldn’t have been excited too quickly”.

This is a fun, quick read. As with most of Marrs' books, there is a very large cast of characters at first and it's not always easy to remember who is who (and what their secrets are). After I was able to keep them straight, my experience with the book was a good one. There are many ethical dilemmas brought to the surface that might become issues sometime in the (not-so distant) future. Such as--what "rights" does a virtual being have? Deserve?

This is a twisty book sure to please fans of Marrs and others looking for something unique and original. If you haven't read the books listed above, I suggest you do read them first even though this book stands alone. It will really give you a more enjoyable experience.

Another hit from Marrs! I do recommend reading some of his other sci fi books first as they kind of lead up to this story (The One, The Marriage Pact). So fascinating and unputdownable!

This was something else! It really had me questioning humanity and how dangerous AI (is?) could be. There were a lot of characters so sometimes I got confused with which character belonged to which storyline. Otherwise, a very good book!

Wow! John Marrs has quite the imagination! The Family Experiment is the name of a reality show that takes place in a futuristic world where artificial intelligence and computer technology play a big part of everyday life. In the show, couples and one single man enter the Metaverse where they can experience parenthood and take care of a virtual child they have created. They raise this child from birth to age eighteen, but over a sped up 9 month period. The world is watching as their time in the Metaverse is always live-streamed. The teams face challenges, and viewers vote regularly for their favorites. At the end of the show, there's a cash prize and more for the winners. It sounds like a fabulous experience; however, it's harder than expected, and there are lots of secrets, drama and feelings that come out during the game.

This book had me asking all sorts of questions and would be a wonderful book club pick or make for an interesting class discussion. At what point does artificial intelligence become dangerous? Does advanced technology give certain people power and control over others? How much are people willing to sacrifice to win? The Family Experiment looks at the human condition - psychology, emotions, temptations, addictions, aspirations, the power of money and more. This book is great, but at first, I did struggle to keep things straight as there are so many characters and storylines at the beginning. I kept notes on my phone which helped. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for the digital ARC.

3.5 stars:

This book made me uncomfortable, but I think that was the point. It made me think about how quickly technology is advancing and that the legislation can’t keep up. It’s only a matter of time before a company takes it too far and something very similar could happen in our near future. If you like realistic futuristic fiction, give this book a try!

In a world facing overpopulation and economic hardship, some families are turning to a new alternative for parenthood. A company offers clients the opportunity to create and raise a virtual child through a VR headset in the Metaverse for a monthly subscription fee. The company has launched a reality TV show called The Family Experiment, where ten couples will raise a Virtual Child in a condensed nine-month time period, with the prize being the right to keep their virtual child or risk it all for the chance of a real child.

This incredible book exceeded my expectation! As a photographer, I have been grappling with the impact of AI programs infiltrating our social media interactions. It's not just photographers who are affected, but also book writers, editors, designers...

The depth of thought put into this book is evident, especially with the poignant mention of previous work from the author. The first half of the story introduces us to the characters involved in the contest, while the second half unravels with unexpected twists and reveals. Just when you think the story is over, more surprises await, keeping the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. This book is captivating, clever, and completely realistic. It is both engaging and emotional, making it easy to read yet thought-provoking. While reading other works by the author may enhance understanding of the fictional world, it is not necessary as this book stands on its own.

I couldn't put this book down and found myself shouting out loud with each new revelation. It is, without a doubt, the best book I have read in 2024 - cleverly planned and executed. Well done to the author, and I am excited to recommend this exceptional read!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for my digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Happy publication week to The Family Experiment!

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”I don’t think this is a social experiment any more…”

John Marrs is the master of twisty dystopian thrillers that don’t seem all that implausible, and this one is no exception. If you enjoyed The Passengers or The Marriage Act, you’ll love this. They’re all set in the same fictional world, not too many years into our future, where technology has advanced and society has devolved past the point of traditional ethics.

”Should AI be used at all? If so, how and in what measured way?”

In The Family Experiment, a new reality show offers prospective parents a chance to create a new kind of family—one with AI children, raised entirely inside of the Metaverse. It’s like The Sims or a Tamagotchi on steroids, and the moral dilemmas are fascinating.

”AI needs to understand suffering in order to progress.”

Are AI people really people? Do they have a soul? Are they entitled to rights of their own, or do they exist purely for our own entertainment? And worse: how do we train the AI to fully comprehend the human experience, filled as it is with pain & suffering, without requiring someone to suffer in some way? Is forced-tragedy okay, if it’s for the sake of progress?

”They were designed to prepare intended parents for all eventualities, but they hadn’t covered how they might respond if a MetaChild developed self-awareness…”

Gahhhh. I could ask myself these questions for days and get completely lost in an ethical black hole. I want to discuss this one with a book club immediately. The writing was a little clunky, and the characters were a little hard to keep track of, but the concepts were so fascinating that I didn’t even care. Bring me everything on John Marrs’ backlist; I want my brain to stay this fried forever.

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A huge thank you to John Marrs, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love John Marrs and will now read anything that he writes. The Family Experiment continues the universe of The One, The Passengers and The Marriage Act. While this is a standalone book, it definitely helps to have read his previous books to understand all the references that take place throughout this speculative universe.

The Family Experiment centers around a reality show with several couples raising a virtual child. The prize: the winning couple chooses between keeping their child or receiving a very large sum of money. We get to know each of the contestants, their back story and their motivations for participating in the reality show.

Thankfully, I read this book on vacation because I could not put it down! The author does a great job of developing each of the characters and the plot is very fast-paced. As with his other books, John Marrs sheds light on humanity's flaws and challenges in our society, which there are many.

I can't wait for his next book!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. Due to overcrowding and a financial crisis, an ever-increasing number of people cannot afford to start families. As an alternative, in the U.K., a company has created virtual children to raise in the Metaverse. To advertise this product, the company launches a reality TV show that follows 10 couples raising virtual children while competing to win the right to keep their virtual child or be given the money to raise a real baby. Marrs’ use of short chapters that frequently end with cliffhangers propels the story along, and his premise feels all too real. He also addresses our obsession with reality TV and its impact on society, as well as our mental health. This unique plot line kept me captivated.

This did a good job of blurring current technology with future/possible technology. I enjoyed the authors’s note on the idea behind the book as well. I’d recommend to fans of UPLOAD (Amazon Prime).

Hold on tight — you are about to re-enter the world of John Marrs as he continues to entertain and scare us a bit with a story about creating families in the Metaverse.

Although not part of a series, this novel of speculative fiction is connected to his previous books so you will see references to them. I love how he ties it all together!

In a not-so-distant future, people are facing economic crises, and many can't afford to have children. Finally, an alternative! Several lucky couples have been selected to take part in a new reality television show where they will be given and be allowed to take care of their personally chosen and designed virtual child in a special Metaverse where viewers can watch them parent 24/7 and eventually vote for the winner. Who's the best parent(s)? - the winner will be allowed to keep this virtual child or have the opportunity to create a real baby with the money they win. Everything starts out so well!

The narrative shifts between points of view of the different parents who are participating in the reality show. Each is unique and though at first a bit hard to keep track of, eventually they become quite distinct in the story. This was quite a dark and twisty thriller, and it kept me turning the pages as the challenges unfolded. The emphasis on the uncertainty of AI and all of the potential for both good and bad gives the reader much to think about or discuss with a book club.

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The male and female narrators did a decent job, but it was hard to differentiate between so many different characters. The nuances in voice and tone were not obvious and distinct enough in many cases. The sound effects were appreciated. It was a nice way to augment my enjoyment of the novel.

3.5⭐️

Really interesting premise, and I loved that it was set in the same timeline as his other books. It did take awhile for me to keep track of all of the characters and once I did it was a lot easier to follow along. Somewhat of a slow burn, but lots of twists throughout to keep me on my toes. Check trigger warnings because some parts hard to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

How have I not read all the books set in this world yet!? In fairness, I own them both, and I didn't actually know they were connected to this one- and you don't have to read them first, either! Though they're set in the same world, I was completely fine reading this guy as a standalone- but I absolutely will be reading the rest as soon as I can! (Also- the synopsis doesn't tell you this, but Passengers is set in this world too- and there are some Easter eggs and callbacks for all the books, though like I said, you can definitely read them on their own as you can see by my rating!)

In this one, parents are competing for a chance to basically win money for IVF/fertility treatments by going on this reality show and raising AI babies at warp speed. And yes, it is absolutely as batshit as it sounds, in the very best way! The six families are of various makeups: there is a gay couple, a single father, a few hetero-presenting couples, and they all have various motivations and backstories that will become quite pertinent to the story.

Even though there are quite a few people to keep track of, it really wasn't all that difficult. One couple is eliminated fairly early, and so it's just five to really balance. There are so many twists and turns that I could not put the book down, I wanted all the answers. And the whole concept is so wild, but also so frighteningly plausible (which is why I love a John Marrs book, honestly) that I was next-level compelled to keep turning the pages.

Bottom Line: Another incredibly twisty, incredibly thought provoking novel from Marrs!

Solid 3.5 stars. I love the imagination of John Marrs. His books are so unique and interesting. This book was no exception. Can't wait to see what this talented author comes up with next!