I love this near future world that John Marrs has created and the Family Experiment didn’t disappoint. although somewhat slow paced this is a thought provoking story with a lot of twists through out and especially in the last few chapters

The Family Experiment is the third book in this futuristic timeline, alongside The One and The Marriage Act.

A number of couples have signed on to be a part of a reality show where they are raising this AI child in the metaverse. Whoever is deemed the best parents gets to decide if they keep their AI child or if they will delete them and get enough money to have a biological child through IVF or IUI. Tune in any time of day to watch a live stream of the couples and send red/black hearts to let them know how they are doing.

I've really enjoyed these semi-futuristic books that John Marrs has been putting out. I had a hard time connecting with this one despite how much the author tried. I could not see how someone could become connected to a virtual child.

Like his other books, we get to see multiple POVS from a handful of couples who all have their secrets. I enjoyed getting to spend time with each one.

In the U.K. , a growing number of people can no longer afford to raise a family. But for those who are desperate to experience parenthood, there is an affordable alternative...for a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

This book is set in the same universe as his novels The One and The Marriage Act, Once again John Marrs has touched on my deepest fears about AI and the dangers it imposes, and the fine line between safe and dangerous in the metaverse and how hard it is to tell when you have crossed that line. This book had me captivated from the very first page, and I didn't want to put it down until I was finished. It is told in the views of the different contestants, with VR ads and chats for The Substitute sprinkled throughout the book. Every time something major happened a chat popped up with people discussing what they just witnessed and, just like in real life, passing judgement on those people. As his books always do, I am left feeling a little unsettled, because something like this truly could be in our future and that scares me. I can't wait for his next book to come out!

To what lengths would you go to have a baby? If you wanted a baby so badly, so passionately... how about, putting your whole life out there, in public, to be in a reality show to win a chance to have a baby!

This is the premise to this sci-fi, dystopian thriller- set in the futuristic virtual reality, desperate clients are chosen for the most anticipated virtual reality tv show. This story was hands down, my fav of 2024. Each client has this dark secret which made it so hard to put down. Had to keep turning the page to see who or what is going to happen next.
Another thing I loved is how the "audience chat" was included so you were really immersed from the tv show , producer, production level to the audience level.

Any book in the John Marrs futuristic universe is a must read for me, so I was extremely excited to receive an ARC of this book. Similarly to his other books in this category, this felt like reading a Black Mirror episode. This story explores the depths of the Metaverse, and (as always in his books) the dangers and complications that come along with the advancement of this technology. We follow 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 money to assist them in starting a family in the real world. Between the rising cost of child care, pregnancy/IVF costs, and other motives - the idea is appealing to a variety of different people who we meet and follow as contestants. My one small roadblock was towards the very beginning with keeping the couples, their back stories, and children all straight, but once you get into the book you become invested and it becomes easier to distinguish and remember these characters. If you love John Marrs and his other sci-fi stories in this same universe, The Family Experiment is a must read. My only complaint is I was looking forward to this book so much and now that it's done, I'm not sure when we will get another from him! Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Another solid sci-fi/dystopian novel by John Marrs! I have read a few of his books and have been intrigued by the concepts behind them all - The Family Experiment is no different with its all-too-soon imagining of AI and its impact on our lives and families.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a unique and wild ride! The Family Experiment had me hooked from the start. The concept of the story was so much fun and I could NOT wait to see how things would unfold. We follow. A cast of very unlikable characters, all with their own secrets. This was a twisty-turny book that kept me in the edge of my seat!

Wow! I really liked this one... Marrs does a fabulous job building worlds that are just far enough in the future to feel plausible - and then filling them with tech disasters you can see coming from a mile away yet still can't wait to watch unfold.

I will admit upfront that AI and VR freak me out. I was a Wargames-era kid, which may explain some of my inherent squeamishness about the dangers of the machines taking over, but I also get worried at how willing everyone seems to increasingly be to abandon the physical world for the digital. Marrs captures that tension and plays with it like a virtuoso, tackling family and loss and the very nature of reality in a mind-bending tale about reality TV gone bad (as though there were another way for it to go).

The story plows through characters and plot lines, yet never feels overwhelming or confusing. I found the various "families" fascinating and the underpinning backstory (which, if you've ever read him before, you *knew* was coming) was compelling and horrible and fabulous all at once. I liked the nods to his previous work and found the whole book to be a fantastic ride.

*Thank you NetGalley for this book*
Wow, not what I was expecting at all! A very intense (and not too far fetched) take on the future of AI. It took a while for me to get into this one, but once I did I was hooked.
Will definitely be readying more of this author's books based on this one. I understand there are more that take place in this universe, so I will have to check those out

Five couples and one single man are slated for a new reality show, The Family Experiment. In this new show the couples will raise a child to adulthood in the Metaverse over the course of 9 months. They will be given suits and headers that will allow them to enter and interact with their child as if the child were a real person. At the end of the show based on audience votes, the last people/person standing will either get to choose a cash prize they can use to start a family in the real world or they can keep the child in the Metaverse.

John Marrs completely freaks me out. The way his mind thinks is insane. He takes a concept like AI and elevates it to the freakiest level possible. There were so many characters and storylines in this book, which I usually hate, but he pulls it off. I was invested in every story and finished the book with my head spinning! Shew!

'The Family Experiment' is based in the same MetaVerse as 'The One' and 'The Marriage Act' but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. The premise was so unique, and although a work of futuristic fiction, definitely feels like it could be something the world sees in the future. This book definitely gave off the old school Tamogachi vibes mixed with the futuristic elements of 'The Hunger Games'. The simple fact that John Marrs inspiration for this book came from a newspaper article about something similar and AI is just crazy to think about. It was eerie, thrilling, and definitely something I recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, John Marrs, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a complete surprise to me. Although John Marrs writes incredible novels, I never expected this. It started out slightly confusing trying to remember and keep track of the different contestants on the reality show.. After I caught on to the various groups what a ride. Each group had so many hidden secrets, it was like a rollercoaster ride. Not to mention the ethical issues that were thrown into the story. I loved this futuristic thriller. I would absolutely recommend this book. John Marrs has done it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC .

The concept and plot of this were very interesting. I loved reading about the metaverse and how it worked. I kept getting the couples mixed up though and none really stood out for me. there were a lot of twists I was not expecting.

The Family Experiment follows a group of people who all want children and have agreed to be on this reality tv show where they’ll be responsible for raising an AI baby from birth until 18 years of age. of course everyone has their secrets and with the media watching your every move, things can only stay hidden for so long.

i love John Marrs’ books and how seamlessly he weaves the scifi elements into his thrillers. personally, im not a fan of kids so i didn’t think the concept of this one would hold my interest but i was proven wrong cause the short chapters that all end on a cliffhanger kept me at the edge of my seat. there were some povs that were more interesting than the others but either way this was a wild ride that definitely leaves you thinking. i also liked that there were little easter eggs from the author’s other books as well since they’re basically all connected.

John Marrs mind is like no other!!! His futuristic novels always leaves ethical questions in your mind. This story is no different with artificial intelligence and if it is truly making our world better and if so at what cost?!!!

The Family Experiment is a family novel addressing the world population soaring and the breaking point of families not being able to afford to start a family. For the desperate there is an alternative to create a life like child they can create and raise via the Metaverse. To launch 10 couples will raise a metaverse child via VR in a reality tv based competition.

The couples each seemed likable until they weren’t, one from The Passengers that still is just unbelievable the worst. Hints of secrets to be revealed and you could have never guessed them. I enjoyed the short chapters. There were articles, tv advertisements, and internet chats to show the interaction of the viewers be the affects the show was having on the world. There was nothing to not like about this story for me and John is definitely becoming an auto buy/read author for me and I still have back catalog to catch up on.

My only issue wasn’t the story but the format of the ARC. The passages would be broken up in the middle of sentences with the authors name and name of the story.

Just when you think John Marrs has reached the pinnacle of speculative thrillers, he produces the gut-wrenching story of The Family Experiment.
Are you ready to raise a child in the metaverse? Are you ready to do it on a reality show? Are you ready to choose between the money or their “life”?
Both real and virtual families are put to the test - and pushed to their limits - in this dark tale of want vs need.
The story will draw you in and bleed you dry. Nobody does it as well as Marrs.

A dark, dystopian thriller about a reality show that gives families the chance to raise AI children in the metaverse | Deeply thought provoking and a true page turner | At times, it was hard to keep track of all the different characters and time jumps, but in the end it all came together in a brilliant way | Can’t wait for this story to be adapted for TV | My first John Marrs book and I’ll be back for more

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, John Marrs and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book as an advance copy.

Review posted on 6/30/2024

A timely and well crafted story interweaving the lives of multiple complex characters and addressing philosophical questions surrounding AI.

Thank you NetGalley for helping me get an ARC of The Family Game

Okay folks, I'm still reeling from this experience. I had to put it down a few times due to the boundaries of ethics it pushes. How would you like to have a chance at entering a game, experiencing an AI child over a nine month period with very summarized milestones for you to enjoy. If you win, you get the choice of keeping your AI child or you can delete them in the second choice of a large cash sum to start your own real world family! You will be streamed constantly when you're wearing your VR headset and special immersion suit that helps you feel every single emotion and tactile sensation as you would if it were in real life. You can experience the carrying and birthing process. All depends on you! If viewers like how you interact with your child, you get red hearts and a higher rating. If you are being scrutinized though, you'll see black hearts in real time and be down-voted. Viewers will surely dictate how you parent and put pressure on the choices you ultimately make on a daily, or even minute-by-minute decision.
Are you stressed out yet?! OMG this author goes there. Think of a scenario for judged parenting, it happens. This story really delves into the pressures of parenting in society and now on live stream media. We're heading in that direction now in the real-real world and Marrs is holding up the mirror! Are we becoming desensitized? Are corrupt corporations doing whatever they can to be the first to launch? It's all here. Intertwining plausible future reality with waves of seriously effed up dystopian foundations. Marrs has also succinctly drawn in some of his other publications creating a Marrs verse when he references The One and The Passengers. Luckily I was familiar with these books and took the veins easily. I would strongly recommend reading them before this one if you want the full effect, but it's not a do or die kind of thing. And besides, they're really good!

I can't wait to see reviews come in after the release date. How differently will parents to non-parents rate and interpret this novel?! I'm a parent of 2 and it his me so hard in the feels.

Passages:
-The technology behind each MetaChild will evolve and adapt to its world in its own way, so that can become a product of its surroundings.
-She hoped that one day, maternity leave would be an option for the parents of MetaChildren.
-Try taking a break from social media for five minutes and you can spend all the time you want with him, Gabriel thought.
-Once you feel their heartbeat against your chest and they smile at you for the first time, it's no different to having a child in the Real World.
-"Can't you just enjoy the moment instead of trying to monetize it?"
-...the challenge remained because pushing parents to the edge made for better viewing, more publicity and more subscriptions for when MetaChildren programme launched commercially later in the year.
-'Do you ever wonder if there's more to it than that?' 'Such as?' 'Such as - and don't laugh at me - but could these kids have souls?'
-Viewers were clearly in favour of a confrontational, not an intellectual, approach.

I could go on. There are some really great added elements in here I think a lot of readers are going to enjoy, like the expansive metaverse where people can travel literally anywhere and any when for education, or a vacation.

Get ready for The Family Experiment July 9th this year 2024!!

Rating: five stars!!!!
🧬 cliffhangers in every chapter
🎮 multiple povs
👾 Hunger Games vibes

A reality show where couples compete to be the best parents and viewers can send black hearts if they don’t agree with your parenting style. At the end of the competition, winners choose to keep their AI child or kill them to fund their own real world family.

THIS BOOK WAS MESSY to say the least and I literally couldn’t put it down. If you read The One by John Marrs and loved it, this is the same futuristic/dystopian type society. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Omw to read everything else John Marrs has written.
Thank you so much for this arc!