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!

Not only my first ever John Marrs book, but also my first Sci-Fi book. I was taken on a rollercoaster ride with this one!! Kept me on my toes and I had/still have no idea who to trust. Think if The Sims and Tamagotchi had a baby in the black mirror universe!

I thought the plot was awesome. This one was unique and very creative. This author has a great imagination and his plots are so different and thought provoking but this one just didn’t do it for me. All of the characters made it hard for ME to keep track of everybody. I think it was a little too long and a little complex and including topics from some of his other books without much background makes it hard for some as well. Thank you so much! I rate it 3.5 I’ve added the link to my Booktok where I don’t give my rating but discuss the book. It has over 3,000 views.

The Family Experiment
by John Marrs
Pub Date: Jul 09 2024
One more month and this crazy ride will be out!
Imagine Survivor but with couples raising an AI child for 9 months (but each month includes a time leap so that at the end of the 9 months the AI child is 18)...oh, and everyone in the world is watching 24/7. Challenges can be given at anytime (colicky baby, bullying at school, teen dabbling in drugs, etc.) and the world votes on how you are doing (like we all want the world seeing our parenting screwups!😬) This is all in effort to promote the newest in child rearing coming soon! AI children!
The winners can choose to keep their AI child for free or terminate the child and receive the funds to start their own live family.
Among the competiting couples are an influencer and his partner, a couple who made headlines when their real son was lost in a bog and never found, a couple who's been thinking about having a child but haven't made that leap yet, a couple whose first child has issues, and a single father out to prove a family doesn't have to have two parents.
But, true to Marrs' style, there's something much more sinister going on beneath the surface...real children have been disappearing at an alarming rate while everyone is busy watching the virtual world. Twists, twists and more twists!
#TheFamilyExperiment
#JohnMarrs
#Netgalley

John Marrs doesn’t disappoint in this new novel. Marrs has a way of writing about science fiction topics that hit very close to home. The Experiment kept me completely captivated. I loved every part of it. I thought about this book for a long time after I read it.

Solid 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Family Experiment is a thriller set in the future where a reality show is taking place featuring multiple families trying out a new technology in which they have to care for children in virtual reality. The family that wins the publics favor gets to chose whether they keep their virtual child or get a cash prize to use to start a family in the real world. The premise was intriguing and what got me to read the book and it delivered. It was crazy to think about a world in which VR and AI gets this intricate and real. There were twists that kept the story interesting. I would recommend reading other John Marrs futuristic books, though it’s not necessary to read this one, there were references and characters to previous books that had me feel like I was missing something. But this was definitely a solid psychological thriller with a interesting premise which touches on themes of parenthood and the impact of technology.

I enjoyed reading this book. I've only read John's thrillers up until now, so I knew this would be a little different. I was pleased! It kept my attention, and had some neat little twists. A bonus- there was a character with my name and spelling! That never happens, so I was pretty excited haha!

I feel so honored to have been selected to get an ARC of this one. I’ve been a Marrs fan for several years after joining the Psychological Thriller Readers group on FB.

This book did not disappoint. Set in the same world as The One (which is also amazing) already had me intrigued from page 1. I loved the shifting perspectives and all the different characters, which is not typically something I enjoy but he makes it very easy to follow and also leaves you on the edge of a cliff lots of times throughout the book. It was a hard book to put down because it was so good and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Well done, again!

The Family Experiment 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Pub Date: July 9, 2024

John Marrs is back with another book set in the same world as “The One”. In this world, starting a family is very difficult and VERY expensive. When a new reality show allows several couples to compete in raising a virtual baby in the metaverse, it will allow the winners of the show the financial help to start their family. But we all know how Marrs’ works, nothing in this speculative fiction story ever comes as it seems.

I am a sucker for anything Marrs writes in this genre. I think it’s fascinating to think about what could be, and how I think I would react to these technological advances. Like always, we have several viewpoints through the eyes of each of the several couples chosen to compete in raising their virtual baby. I do enjoy the rotating narrators, as well as how he almost always ends the chapter on a cliff hanger. Because there were SO many characters, I did have a hard time remembering who was who, and could have used a little more character development to know these people beyond the “why” of why they wanted to compete. I did enjoy this and thought the premise was interesting, especially thinking about what it would be like to have a virtual kid, and the morality that come along with it. It definitely did remind me of my tamagotchi days, except a lot more realistic.

The ending was pretty good and I felt wrapped up all the important pieces. As I find Marrs’ usually does, there’s always that extra bit added on at the end, that we don’t necessarily need for the story, but still fits and works. If you enjoyed The One, or any of his other speculative works, I think this would be a fun one to dive back into that world with!

John Marrs hits it out the park again in his latest book "The Family Experiment". This book really makes you feel like your watching a reality show. The,character development is very good and twist after twist will have you flying through this book. With AI becoming more prevalent in today's world this story will really make you think about all it could do both the good and the bad. Highly recommend all thriller junkies read this one.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 9, 2024
“The Family Experiment” by John Marrs is a no-holds-barred, five-star thrilling read about AI, reality TV and the lengths people would go to have a family of their own, even if it isn’t real.
In the U.K, where overpopulation is at its peak, people are growing more and more desperate, unable to afford the basic things in life which means many are putting off having a family. For those who have the means, and the desire, a monthly subscription fee can bring them into the metaverse- where they have the opportunity to raise a virtual child of their own. Of course, the entertainment industry chooses to capitalize on this and hosts a competition- where viewers can choose from a group of virtual parents and decide who “wins” in a new show called “The Family Experiment”. The winner will get enough money to start a family of their own while the losers will see their virtual child, literally, disappear before their eyes.
“Experiment” introduces us to the families competing in the virtual competition- Rufus and Kitty, Woody and Tina, Cadman and Gabriel, Dmitri and Zoe and Hudson, the only single parent competitor. Each character gets equal billing in the storytelling (except for Rufus and Kitty who are disqualified early on), and although none of them are particularly likable, they are not deplorable and their dynamics make for an entertaining read.
Marrs’ novel is a mind-bending thriller that I quickly sunk my teeth into. Although I know of Marrs’ former works, I haven’t read them, but that is a mistake I intend on rectifying ASAP. With the controversy that AI is bringing to our modern world, “Experiment” is not only relevant but haunting. What lengths will people go to for fame? For family? From reality TV to social media manipulation to “crafted” babies, nothing in Marrs’ novel is too unrealistic, which makes the story line hit in a provocative and emotional way.
Each character gets a satisfying and complete conclusion, with no unanswered questions, and the ending had me cheering.
I was blown away by the creativity of Marrs’ AI generated universe and his desperate yet realistic characters. His plot line is not at all far-fetched, making “The Family Experiment” one of those stories that stick with you long after the final pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

So I came into this book blind, having not read anything else that is set in this universe, but I don't feel that that impacted my enjoyment of the book. The book was well written and having individual plots and twists for each contestant helped really build up feelings towards them, and then you really went like 'oh shit' when those twists happened! The little hints and plot points that got revealed subtlety well well done and you can piece a few things together as the story unravels. The entire concept of this metaverse was also so wild, it was immersive and fun to read about the technology behind the creation of this (and the, uh, unethical things behind the creation of the show, too). It was interesting towards the end where honestly, no one deserved to win. It was also nice to see where people were at after the show was over, because there were DEFINITELY some things left unanswered had it just stopped there.

This story is one that is set in the future, but one of those not-so-distant futures that make you feel like it could be real and happening at any time. The family experiment follows six couples (and one single dad), who long to be able to create their own families but for some reason or another they are not able to. Insert a competition that allows one couple to win the ultimate prize. The couples will raise a child from birth to 18 in the metaverse, yes, a virtual child. The public will decide the winner, very much like Big Brother, the cameras are rolling 24/7. The prize you ask the funds/ability to start a family of their own or to keep the child they have created in the Metaverse. Though for these couples not everything is as it seems.

With short chapters, multiple POV, this dark psychological thriller will keep you guessing. The twists will make sure you do not know the ending until it is time to know. The world that Marrs has worked to creates really shines through with mentions to his previous novels as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and John Marrs for the advanced copy of this book*

This. Book. Set your timers, call out of work because this book is one that once you start, you will NOT PUT DOWN. The format of course is very consistent with John Marrs other books: short chapters, multiple POVs, references to his previous works. That being said, it’s definitely helpful if you’ve read his prior works, just so you understand some of the references he makes, but it’s not necessary.

This read is a “five minutes into the future” type of book, meaning it feels very now, but with some interesting takes on how technology will be in the upcoming years. We follow five couples as they compete in a livestream competition to care for an avatar child throughout its development from newborn to 18. The public then can give the couples challenges and at the end, the winner will receive money or a chance to keep their avatar child. I won’t go further than that, but let me tell you, there are twist and turns that will blow your mind. I was on a flight home near completion of the book and a twist made me audibly gasp, causing people to look at me like “what you doing, sis”. This is definitely a must read.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs. I have read several John Marrs books and he is going to make you get to know the characters before everything becomes a dumpster fire. This book was no exception. Everything I thought I knew, I didn't. The ended was shocking. SO many twists and turns all throughout the book. I love finding a truly unique book and this book fits the bill!

This one was weird! Very dark with more (spoiler) murder than expected. About a dystopian future in which AI generated “babies” are raised by humans logged into the metaverse in a “reality” show that runs 24/7. It starts with I think 7 families but there are natural contestant eliminations along the way. It is an interesting concept with lots of twists. A major theme is whether or not the AI babies/children can feel when they are turned off/“killed”, and whether or not they have the same rights as humans. I was happy to read an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Family Experiment continues the themes from Marrs' other books including The One and The Passengers. Six sets of parents (including one single dad) are tasked with raising virtual children, who grow to adulthood in a matter of nine months. The prize for the best parents is prize money so that they can start a family in the real world. Who will win and who will crack under the pressure?