Having never read any of John Marrs' books before, I had no idea of the wild ride I was in for in this novel. After finishing the book in a single sitting, I looked up from my e-reader and said, "WHAT did I just read?" It was a thought-provoking, brain-sizzling story and I couldn't wait to read more of this author's work.

The book is extremely fast-paced with short but mesmerizing chapters. The downside to this is that for the first 20% of the book I found it considerably difficult to keep track of the numerous characters involved. (Grab a pen and journal, you're going to need a mind map to start!) But after a bit of flipping back and forth, I soon figured out who was who and settled in for a dramatic, non-stop, read.

Each of the contestants in the reality TV series have their own set of secrets and Marrs takes us from one jaw-dropping scene to another. While the book is dystopian / speculative fiction, it's also something that feels entirely plausible with the rise of AI and virtual reality. The book feels fresh, unique, and completely immersive, and forces us to think critically about the role, dangers, and uses of technology like this in society.

Although this is part of the same universe of Marrs' previous novels, it can be read as a standalone. (There are some Easter Eggs for those who've read his other books.) After finishing The Family Experiment, I immediately put Marrs' book, The One on hold and quickly devoured it as well -- and that is absolutely a testament to how much I enjoyed this read.

All in all, The Family Experiment is a really dark and intelligent read that is sure to leave you thinking! Whether you love science fiction, dystopian thrillers, or just a really solid, twisty read, this book is definitely one to add to your TBR shelf this summer!

I had this John Marrs on my To Be Read list for a previous book, so when The Family Experiment became available for an advanced reading, I was excited to pick it up. It did not disappoint and reaffirmed all the good things I've read about the author's work. It is speculative fiction at its best, complete with advanced technology that feels only a few years away from reality. However, as this novel shows us, advances such as these usually should come with a stark warning.

The novel's premise is intriguing, and the formatting is unique. Basically, presenting transcripts of interviews of the "contestants" was clever. It made me feel like I was watching rather than reading. It also helped with character development, helping set a foundation in my mind for them in the beginning before the author weaved more layers throughout the book. I cared about many of them as the story progressed.

In the beginning, it took me a little longer to remember all of the contestants involved. I'm not sure if it was the larger number or their unique presentation that caused me trouble. But that was only a small speed bump, as the rest of the novel delivered.

Reading this new book has caused me to move a couple of John Marrs' previous books up my TBR list more quickly! I'm excited to read more of his work and to see the accolades that The Family Experiment will surely receive.

I gave this book 4 stars. I really like this author and this book did not disappoint. The storyline was the most original I have read in awhile and made me think about what the future may look like.

4.5 stars!

I was SO invested in this book! John Marrs is easily one of my favorite authors. The ideas, plots, and UNIQUE concepts for his books are so intriguing and the way this story came together and how things were revealed throughout were *chef's kiss*. I had so much fun reading this book! This book takes place in the same realm as a few of his other stories which is a nice touch if you have read those as well. A main theme in this book is the development and power of AI which was so cool to read about given how AI is slowly becoming an integral part of our world! The realm of this futuristic society is so interesting to read about and reading the POV from multiple characters kept the story moving and with a good pace. It did take me a little bit to keep track of the couples and who their child was since you do follow a handful of characters but it totally made sense and is easier as you go along. So many small twists and turns along the way in this one! I DEFINITELY recommend this book if you're looking for a unique and addicting read!

If you liked The Truman Show, but think it needs an Kardashian-style update, then this book is for you. What a fascinating that was brilliantly executed by the author. He is able to capture both our voyeuristic obsession in modern society along with our desire to be mean to one another. I also liked how all the characters in this story were flawed, every last one of them.

The only thing that I did not prefer was the need to wrap things up with the epilogue/coda, as I found it unnecessary. The story was over with and I didn't really need the "here's what happened afterwards" part, even when they explained how Hudson did what he did or what really happened to Adam. I am fine with a little unresolved mystery in life.

Other than that, an entertaining, if somewhat disturbingly prescient, read.

John Marrs is a great author. His books are so enthralling. They always keep you guessing until the very end. This book was a bit different from his usual thriller, but I still enjoyed it.

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs is a compelling exploration of the moral dilemmas surrounding genetic engineering and familial relationships. Marrs skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, each exploring different facets of the consequences of manipulating human DNA.

One of the standout aspects of this book is Marrs' ability to create complex characters with relatable motivations. As the characters grapple with the implications of their choices, readers are taken on an emotional journey that keeps them engaged from start to finish.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with each chapter leaving me eager to uncover what would happen next. Marrs manages to maintain a sense of suspense and tension throughout, making it difficult to put the book down.

Moreover, "The Family Experiment" raises thought-provoking questions about the ethics of genetic engineering and the nature of identity. Marrs doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of these technologies, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the potential consequences of playing with human DNA.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC, I loved reading The Family Experiment. It is an extremely compelling read. The characters and the way their journeys intersected with the plot was thrilling. Everyone has skeletons in their closets, and now they are on reality tv, competing through raising a virtual child. There were so many twists and turns, and the ending was a complete roller coaster.

This book follows the story of people competing on a parenting reality tv show in the near future where AI and VR are all present in society. This book is extremely compelling, it had me hooked from the start of the competition. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat! It's masterful, the way that the reader is left with these questions that fully get answered. Every one of those reveals only made me more excited to see how it would go. 5/5 stars.

The first 50% of this book was just okay. There’s a lot of characters I had a hard time keeping track. I didn’t know where the story was going I felt like there wasn’t a clear direction. But at like the 60% mark, the story really started to pick up and I couldn’t put it down. 3.5 stars it was overall good just took a long time to get into the story and understand the characters

This is such a great look at what life could be like if AI is allowed to take over. It didn't even occur to me until I was about halfway through the book. I was sucked into this world where real life and the metaverse are two different places. In the metaverse, you can go anywhere and experience anything - AI can make it happen. But how does AI learn about human interaction? The same way that humans learned about animals? It's such an interesting read that I was captivated. I highly recommend.

First let me start out by saying The One is one of my favorite books ever, so I was beyond excited to get an advanced copy of this book. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this opportunity.

Imagine your childhood tamagotchi meets the Hunger Games.

What if you could no longer afford to keep your child? Would you sell him to traffickers to pay off your debt?

What if you couldn’t have a child, would you raise one in the Metaverse?

Here, five couples are given the chance to compete on a game show that involves raising a child in an unconventional way. Only things are not as they seem and their world are ripped apart before everyone’s eyes.

This book was not as good as The One but definitely worth the read.

Most Popular Books of 2024 So Far

30Heidi G.
My Books
Browse ▾
Community ▾

Heidi rated a book it was amazing
less than a minute ago
The Family Experiment by John Marrs
The Family Experiment
by John Marrs (Goodreads Author)
Read
The title and the snippet about the book really caught my attention. AI is quickly advancing and many people are spending endless hours in this alternate reality.
Cost for raising kids is a price that many can't afford, but how about if you were paid to raise a virtual child? Several couples and a single man are selected to try this experiment and it will be broadcast worldwide.
Learning about the skeletons in the closets of the contestants made me want to keep on reading as they are given 9 months to raise a child from birth to adulthood.
There are also many twists and turns throughout the book. It even had me rooting for my favorite.
This was my first, but will not be the last book that I will read by John Marrs.
(I read an advanced copy thanks to Net Galley).

I tried to leave a review on Amazon but it won't let me review the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for an ARC of The Family Experiment!

WOW! This book is absolutely fantastic. It's super smartly written and intricate, without being confusing. From start to finish you're left guessing what's really going on and who the "good guys" really are. And the details that are included in this book are just astounding. You almost feel like you are reading a real life account from the not-so-far-future.

For a long time "The One" was my favorite speculative thriller by Marrs, but I think this is now my new favorite! If you're a fan of John Marrs you don't want to miss this one!

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

I am a huge John Marrs fan and this book did not disappoint! He is fantastic at writing domestic and speculative thrillers, The Family Experiment being the latter. This books only flaw for me was the amount of characters, I prefer stories told with multiple pov's but this was just a little bit to much for me and at times I had trouble following along.

What I loved about this book was the character development, John Marrs is a master at creating unlikable characters. I disliked these characters so strongly!! I love when a book can suck you in so completely that you can hate a fictional person so vividly, all in all this is another John Marrs thriller and for me another 5 star read!

Entertaining and unique. Enjoyed how it connected with The One amd The Passengers. Kept me interested but also felt the end was a little rushed.

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!