I love how creative John Marrs is with his speculative thrillers. He also wonderfully sprinkles the easter eggs in from his previous books - The One, The Passengers, The Marriage Act. (You don't have to read those books to enjoy this one, but it helps!)

The Family Experiment is a reality TV show with 5 couples and one single guy who take on the experiment of parenting a child over 9 months through virtual reality (aka the metaverse) as everyone watches. The child jumps in age each month with the final, ninth month at 18 years old. The 'parents' are all so different, and (of course) they all have secrets. They parent their virtual children in different ways with the public loving and/or hating what they do. How would you like your parenting to be displayed for everyone to see? The crying, the tantrums, the anger.

A large cast of characters with different POV's, but once you get them down, the stories are easy to follow. You just need to focus and pay attention with this one. And as their secrets come out little by little, you grow to dislike them all. No one is perfect, but these folks are beyond likeable.

It's another book that will make you think about the technology out there and what the world could possibly do with it. I can't wait to see where his mind goes next!

⭐️4.25

Unsettling feeling. That is what you get from a John Marrs story. and I am here for it.

My one criticism is the amount of characters had me confused at times, so I had to pay attention.

Here’s what I loved:
-references to his previous books
-subject of AI is so top of mind
-gave me a vision into the future
-I can’t stop thinking about this book-so much that I was talking about it over dinner last night.

If you like the matrix, hunger games or intercepts, you will love the family experiment.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: July 9, 2024

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6264653713

“But it’s not as innocent as it seems because this show has a dangerous pretext.”

I don’t EVER want to hear men say how “messy” women can be because John Marrs is the definition of messy IMO…LOL.

This book was EVERYTHING! From the exploration of AI and machine-learning and how it can (and quite possibly will) impact our daily lives to bringing forth the conversation of people developing emotional attachments to inanimate objects and programs.

My favorite questions/thoughts/etc that were mentioned in the book are:
1. If someone does something to harm a MetaChild does that mean they are also capable of harming a Real World child? Was it “easier” for them because they KNOW the MetaChild is a program versus they understand the consequences of harming a Real World child?
2. If avatars are programmed to display feelings, emotions, wants, needs, and desires like Real World people, then do they deserve the same rights and protections?
3. WHY TF IS THE COST OF LIVING SO DAMN EXPENSIVE?!?!
4. Is it morally wrong for companies to program scenarios that allow people to live out their darkest (and sickest) desires if it means they are not causing harm to Real World people?

I loved everything about this book. There is so much to unpack in this story and I am here for it! I loved how Marrs tied up every character in the book in the end but I do think some mystery for certain characters would have been exciting. My favorite ending was Selena’s. It was seemingly small but the messaging was HUGE (IYKYK)!

If you want a fast-paced, drama-filled, page-turning, morality exploring book, then this is the one for you!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I’ve read a few works from John Marrs before, and personally really enjoyed The Passengers. His writing reads a lot like an extended Black Mirror episode, and I’ve found the content can be hit or miss.

This one was unfortunately a miss for me. With the amount of POVs we were switching between, it was pretty difficult to follow who was who. The characters felt pretty flat as well and played a lot into typical archetypes (e.g. vapid influencer) without offering any nuance or depth.

I think what’s worked better for me before is feeling like the story is rooted in some type of future reality, like how The Passengers follows the repercussions of fully autonomous vehicles. This one just felt a bit too far-fetched for me and hard to believe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the e-ARC!

4.5/5⭐️

This book was unlike any other I have read - and I absolutely LOVED it! It literally had me up until 4am reading last night because I could not put it down!

The way that John Marrs is able to take a sci-fi concept and combine it with a thriller aspect is absolutely mind blowing. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming and other things about AI that were completely new information for me. The concept surrounding this book and surrounding having an AI/metaverse child is such a unique concept that I have not read about before. I loved being able to see relationships form between AI and “real world” people in these unique ways.

There were many unanswered questions throughout the book, but I have to commend John Marrs as ALL of those questions were answered by the last page.

GREAT read!

The premise of this book was extremely alluring and I couldn't wait to dive in! This book gives us a glimpse of what AI could turn into in the future... scary to think about!

However, the book as a whole fell a bit short for me. I never felt a real connection to the characters and the relationships between the couples felt generic and flat. The emotional aspect was just lacking. It was hard to keep track of who was who, especially within the first 40-50% of the book. It seemed like every single chapter ended super abruptly on some sort of "cliff hanger". At the end of each cliff hanger, we had to cycle through 4-5 different character's stories, so by the time I got answers to said cliff hanger, I basically forgot where the story ended and didn't care anymore, because I was never really emotionally involved in the characters to begin with.

The plot was predictable as the story went on, and the last part of the book dragged on. There was never a full "aha" moment of resolution at the end... it just kind of... tapered off and ended?

Pretty disappointed in this read, but definitely enjoyed some other of Marrs' works. He's done an excellent job in other works with multiple storylines and POV's, but this one just didn't do it for me.

Holy moly, @johnmarrs.author just keeps getting better and better with each new release. This is another speculative fiction stunner that takes place in the same universe as “The Passengers”, “The One”, etc. and even has some crossover characters. Told in his trademark structure highlighting multiple characters and slowly revealing how they’re all connected, this one had me hooked immediately. I love how each chapter ends in a cliffhanger (even if it makes me a zombie the next day for lack of sleep) and would highly recommend this if you’re in a reading slump. Having said that, I do think it’s a good idea to read some of the other books in this “series” first, as this story references them several times. I sincerely hope Marrs isn’t done writing within this world. As long as he keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading them.

Damn! I loved the book, but none of these characters are likable and honestly the whole book scared me, but it was a really good read. The topic just was intense and a little bit scary for me.

3.5 stars! This book blends family drama with psychological thriller. The premise was definitely unique: a reality show where people raise virtual children. John's books tend to be thought-provoking and this could make a great book club selection. It was a little tough keeping track of all the characters at times but it kept me engaged for sure. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - pub day is 7/9/24!

What an incredible book! This was the 3rd book I’ve read by John Marrs, but was easily my favorite! Set in the same world as The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment brings us to the next level where due to economic crisis the cost of starting and raising a family is too high, so the alternative is to start a family in The Metaverse with Virtual Children. So many ethical dilemmas are brought up in his books and this was no exception. I finished this book in less than 36 hours because I could not stop reading it. Be warned, it is dark and not for the faint of heart, but a fantastic journey! Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for this ARC!

John Marre has a very creative mind. His new book The Family Experiment is another fun futuristic read. Parents are participating in a trial 9 month reality show with meta children. they are hooked up in a AI world with avatars and haptics to fully experience the child rearing process. The lives of these children are sped up so they can experience various ages. Viewers can vote their favorites and also vote to have hardships placed on parents. At the end of the experiment the winner can choose to keep their meta child or be given funding in order to try traditional ways (IVF, etc. ) to have a real child. What an interesting concept. A great read.

“Why leave it to chance or genetics when you can have the perfect baby you’ve always dreamed of?”

The family experiment is a new reality tv show where eleven contestants compete virtually raising children. For nine months their lives will be broadcasted twenty four hours a day for viewers to see how they’re handling being a parent to an AI child. The prize for winning this competition is one of two choices, they can choose to keep their virtual child alive or pull the plug on them and use the earnings from winning to finally starting a family in real life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Although I did enjoy this book I think it was a bit too long,I do appreciate everything being explained and thought out well.

This is the first book in months that I’ve been able to finish without it feeling like a chore,so for that I thank John Marrs.

There were some good twists I didn’t see coming and overall I think it’s a fun read. I won’t lie this made me really sad,the story itself ended on a light note but now I just want to go hug my kid super tight.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I got this ARC having never read a John Marrs book, but I quickly realized that this book expands on a world created in other books. I went back and read The One and The Marriage Act which were both referenced in this story. The Passengers is also referenced, but I have not yet read that one and did not feel lost. This followed the same format as the other books in this world where there were several different points of view alternating throughout the book that take you through twists and turns until it all comes together in the end. I liked the futuristic aspect and I definitely did not know what was going to happen at all in any POV until the end. It does get a little dark at parts so check your trigger warnings. Overall it was an entertaining read that continued on from the other books in this “world.” Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital ARC! Another fantastic speculative thriller from John Marrs. The perfect mix of what happens when you elevate the importance of the virtual world in the real world. Families compete against once another while raising a virtual child. Will they win and accept that child as their own? Or will an outside force interfere with their plans? The Easter eggs from Marrs’ other speculative thrillers make for an added amount of enjoyment although it is not necessary to read those first. This was an amazing book with lots of slow burn action and thought provoking ideas.

Great book! John Marrs never disappoints. It was written from a futuristic point and very different from his other types of books.

This was a slow burn that took me a while to get into. Knowing John Marrs’s work, I powered through and I’m so glad I did! Once the premise of the game was set and you learned about all of the families, it became easier to be invested in everyone’s secrets and finding out what drove Awakening Entertainment to create this reality game show in the first place. I loved the unique concept of the book and all of the twists that just kept on coming. I appreciated the connection between the author’s past books into this one. It was like little Easter eggs to find while reading! Definitely recommend the read! Four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4 stars-There are kind of 2 worlds in this book, the reality show and the lead up to the creation/plot to expose the media company. The second wasn’t as interesting to me, but I see how it needed to be included. Now for the good parts…the general premise is that in the metaverse (the internet in 3d) people who cannot afford to have children among others, have Metachildren. They put on suits with sensors and link to apps to allow them to create a home, buy things for their nursery, and have experiences together as a family. There is so much to unpack here in terms of what is possible and what might become of the metaverse. Is killing someone in the metaverse going to be governed by laws? Will society just retreat into itself abs live only virtually, leaving the mv only to eat, shower, and use the bathroom? The moral questions are unlimited. This was a very thought provoking read that makes for a very interesting discussion about the future of AI. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another fantastic speculative fiction book by John Marrs. I loved that this novel is set in the same universe as “The One” and “The Marriage Act” as well as “The Passengers.” I did enjoy the references to those three books as well even though it is a standalone.
Reality TV show where couples are raising a virtual baby in the hope of winning a life changing sum of money. The viewers vote who stays and who goes. The winner can choose to keep their virtual child at the end or get a sum of money to start their own family.
I have read all of John’s books and couldn’t wait for this one. I enjoyed this one and it did keep me guessing. This book does not disappoint!!


Thank you so much to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked this book but 3.5 stars because it was too long. While I enjoyed all the elements of the story it dragged on for much longer than necessary.

The Family Experiment explores the world of AI and Metaverse by casting 6 couples and one single person as contestants in a new fan-fueled reality TV show. Each contestant/couple is desperate for a child but because of circumstances beyond their control, they’re unable to conceive naturally. The show allows them to raise a Meta [AI] child over 9 months in the Metaverse. The winner, [chosen partially by viewers and popularity] will receive 250 euros and the chance to keep the Meta child alive or use the money to have a human child in the real world.

As we meet each couple we learn that they all have hidden secrets that threaten to eliminate them from the game. The secrets are quite scandalous and along the way, we find it’s someone on a mission to take down each contestant and perhaps the show itself.

This is an excellent speculative fiction that makes you consider how AI and Meta technology can impact life as we know it.

I enjoyed the premise of the story and the presentation which made reading it more interesting and interactive.

Overall it’s a good story but could have been about 100 pages shorter.

WOW! This sci-fi thriller will have you skipping all of your responsibilities to read!

Set in a futuristic society, multiple couples will be raising a child (newborn to 18 years old) in a reality competition show called “The Family Experiment”. However, this is not your traditional child, it is an artificial intelligence, virtual child. The entire world can tune in to watch each couple raise their children in an accelerated 9 month time frame. The “winner” of the The Family Experiment gets the option of keeping their virtual child or having the chance to have a real baby.

Multiple POV’s made it a little difficult to keep the characters straight, however, Marrs does an extraordinary job creating distinct and evolving characters. I highly recommend this book!