What a twisted, addicting novel. My first by John Marrs but definitely not my last. Marrs took two things I actively avoid (AI and reality TV) and made a compelling novel that starts out innocuous enough but grows in depth and darkness.

Similar to The One, The Family Experiment follows a lot of characters, weaving their tangled webs in short chapters, revealing breadcrumbs along the way. Something about this one worked less for me. There were a few too many perspectives and it was tricky for me to keep track of them. And the storylines were kept a bit too close to the chest for too long. Of course the twists and the ending were shocking in their own right and gave you alot to think about regarding the state of the world and having children.

3.5/5 or 3.75/5

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion

to everyone who says this is Sci-Fi or far-off dystopia, I don't think so, I think this is closer to reality than we all like to admit unfortunately

the premise of this book is that 11 contestants (5 couples and a single dad) get to experience having their meta ( hyperrealistic baby) where they wear their VR sets and haptic suits and experience every little feeling and whimper. for 9 months they would be broadcast live, and the months have development leaps, that by the end the child would be 16 years old. whoever wins gets, either 200K to help them have a real baby, or get to keep their meta child.

PROS:
1- the idea is new, fresh, interesting, and close to our soon-to-be reality ( I hope not)

2- the book keeps you going because you would like to know what happens, but also because of the great way John Marrs managed to include small reveals at the end of every chapter, he managed to keep me just hooked and eager to know more.

3- as mentioned, there are multiple reveals , and a good backstory for every character/couple that keeps you interested, but nothing jaw-dropping, or a massive twist! which is understandable! even the "biggest twist", I honestly saw it coming halfway through the book, the last chapter revealed a character that was a happy surprise.

4- my favorite was the mixed media in the book, and the most favorite was the live chat of the audience commenting on what was going on!

5- I liked the dark theme in the book, that one big idea that relates to child trafficking and everything else that has to do with the "show" and the people behind it.

CONS:
1- the book is slower than most, and it dragged especially the ending, it felt like a Hercule Poirot ending (where he explains exactly how they did it) however, it was useless, we could easily guess what happened, and/or a few sentences by the end of that relative chapter would have done the job!

2- there were too many characters, and I did post about how it took me a while to remember who is who ( about 40% in), it could be a 'Me' problem!

3- I disliked all characters, and did not feel or root for anyone! surprisingly the only side character I wanted to know more about was Issy (the locked child)!

4-also much of each development stage showed us bonding, and i honestly did not care much about that, i know it is part of the premise, and the plot to make us understand how the parents act and all, but it simply did not do it for me!

A very realistic and gripping dystopian thriller! This was my first book by John Marrs and will not be my last. With the uptick in AI, the plot of this book felt very much like it could really happen. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. His writing style was really great, and there were lots of twists and turns I didn’t see coming.

John Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The Passengers, The Marriage Act, The One, etc., and I'm really glad I started at the beginning of publication with those books to fully appreciate the dystopian world-building that is going on across the board. There are also easter eggs that are not to be missed throughout! The Family Experiment looked at what could happen if we had the ability to create AI children in a metaverse and using a VR headset actually parent these children. It happens in an accelerated timeframe on reality TV, but the concept is there and it's scary to think about with AI being so prominent these days.

The layout of the book screams for a full cast on the audiobook, so I was happy that that is exactly what we got! Clare Corbett, Clifford Samuel, Eilidh Beaton, Joshua Riley, Justin Avoth, Thomas Judd, & Nneka Okoye all did an incredible job and even though there are a lot of characters, I think the audio is the way to go and I was never confused. Along with mixed media that brought fantastic sound effects with the audio, we also have viewpoints from the various couples as well as others. There were some great jaw-dropping moments and twisty twists, and it made me think about that Tamagotchi I had a million years ago as a kid. If you enjoy dystopian worlds, thrillers, sci-fi, and a dash of speculative fiction this is the book for you, and I highly recommend starting with the oldest publication dates and working your way through!

As the world population soars and economic crises increase, a growing number of people can barely afford to support their families, with some even resorting to illegal means like trafficking their children to pay off debts. In the middle of this crisis, companies find another way to protect the sanctity of family life.

After reading "The One" in 2020, I knew I had to consume everything John Marrs wrote. Just like his others, this is smart and interesting and keeps you at the edge of your seat. His writing is incredibly interesting, well-thought out and feels like an episode of Black Mirror - just possible enough that it's creepy, but you have to know more.

My first John Marrs book. This is definitely an interesting take on AI. I would read more of his books.

This book had such an interesting premise. In a society where raising children is super expensive, a group of couples and one single person compete on a reality show to raise an AI child from birth to a teenager. The winning contestant(s) choose between their AI child or a cash prize to start a family in the "real world."

Being a fan of Marrs' work, I had high hopes, but this one was a little underwhelming. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, though the plot itself kept me hooked. Of course, each contestant had secrets and those were revealed at a good clip. My only other real complaint is the pacing felt slow at times. Recommend for fans of speculative fiction.

My thanks to Hanover Square, John Marrs, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This was a dark read but I enjoyed the plot and seeing it through until the end. Tying everything together at the end was the best part and I did not want to put this book down. Great writing and character development while also keeping you guessing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to review.

I am such a huge fan of sci fi thrillers lately. This was definitely no exception.

These near future AI stories always have my mind spinning and constantly thinking of the what ifs and what could bes. This book has you always seriously questioning humanity!!

There were a lot of characters to follow and at the beginning I was getting a little lost. But I seriously flew through this book and the end… omg!! 😱

Honestly, John Marrs could be one of my most fav authors.

I enjoy his thriller/suspense books, but I think his speculative fictions are my favorite. In The Family Experiment, we are dumped back into the time when every move is controlled by the government. Except this time, we are watching people compete with a fake, AI child. Of course, each couple has their secrets. And Marrs releases them in the most careful way.

I could not put this one down once I started, and I highly recommend like I do 98% of his other books!

A unique twist for a book and I loved it. I am no stranger to books by John Marrs and I was thrilled to get a copy of this lately thriller. Definitely recommend this novel. It will have you hooked to the very end, with many twists, turns, chills and thrills along the way.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press for the digital copy to review.

Oh my. This is only my second read by Marrs and it was a doozy, in a great and terrifying but bloody brilliant way. I mean, I could actually see this happening at some point IRL for one thing, and for another, this is exactly why virtual reality / AI makes me nervous. But that’s all I will say. This was perfect going in blind as I had no idea what to expect and it was most certainly not this. I was blown away by both the concept and the execution, and the ending was absolute perfection. There is a bit of sci fi in here but this is definitely worth the read, and I cannot wait to read more of his backlist.

In true John Marrs fashion, I was blown away by the ingenuity and unpredictable twists and turns this book took on. I really enjoyed the premise of AI in the future, and how it could all actually happen. There are a lot of characters to follow, but I was glad to have each POV in different chapters so that it didn't get overwhelming. The ending was *chef's kiss* and I'm looking forward to reading more of John's books set in the same universe.

🔮 *The Family Experiment* is a fascinating psychological thriller that thrusts you into the chaotic world of reality TV, where characters compete to raise a virtual AI child! 📺✨ John Marrs masterfully challenges us to confront the moral dilemmas of technology, making you question the very essence of humanity.

🤖 While the diverse perspectives kept me intrigued, I found it hard to connect with any single character amid the chaos. The story slowed a bit as they juggled their lives in the Real World and the Metaverse, and I felt it could have benefited from a tighter narrative.

⏳ Despite that, the suspense kept me turning pages, eager to see where the madness would lead. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the early reader copy in exchange for my honest review! If you’re a fan of mind-bending thrillers, this one’s for you! 🔍💥

John Marrs has done it again with The Family Experiment, a thrilling ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Set in a not-so-distant future where technology is both fascinating and terrifying, this novel is a must-read for fans of The Perfect Marriage and The Passengers.

The multiple POVs create such a rich mix of characters, each with their own secrets and twists that keep you guessing. Seriously, just when you think you’ve figured it out, Marrs pulls you right back in with jaw-dropping twists. You will NOT be able to put it down!

The tech in this story is both mind-blowing and a little creepy, raising questions that feel super relevant today. 🔍 If you’re into fast-paced thrillers packed with suspense and psychological drama, don’t sleep on this one! It’s a rollercoaster from start to finish—blink and you might miss something epic! Can’t wait to see what Marrs does next! 🚀✨

“Each journey into grief was individual, and the lives of those left behind were never ever the same.”

The world population has become out of control. So out of control that in the UK people can no longer afford to have children, let alone raise them if they do. For a lucky few however, they have been chosen to be part of a reality tv show to promote Virtual Children. Whoever wins the show can either keep their virtual child, or use the won money for a chance to have a real child. For all others, their child disappears.

PHEW does John Marrs throw some crazy shit our way or what? Based in the same world as The One, and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a way to test these parents with a virtual child. It is at one point referred to as the Ultimate Tamagotchi and honestly, it’s not wrong! We follow along with each of the 6 sets of parents on the reality show and learn why they want a child, and what lead them to this point. The twists kept me on my toes for sure, but honestly, I just could not stop listening to this one! Marrs has built a very unique world here and I cannot wait to see what he adds next!

Thank you to @hanoversquarepress for my gifted copy of this book!

AI is terrifying. I'm just going to go out there and say that. This was my first John Marrs novel and it was so creepy because it feels like a not-so-distant reality. I don't think you necessarily need to read his other books, The One and The Passengers, but you would have more context and understanding of Marrs' world.

There's a lot going on here, but it comes down to our draw to reality television and the ethics behind AI. The Family Experiment is a virtual reality game show where people who participate have a child they raise in the metaverse. There is so much messed up stuff that goes on with this, but the backbones of the story involve how the AI children are developed using trafficked real children.

I didn't feel like this was too smart for me to get because AI is so prevalent now. If a book like this came about 10 years ago, I think it would be harder to grasp, but since AI is becoming more and more a part of our lives, it wasn't hard to envision this scenario actually happening. Which is what makes this book so creepy!!

INSANITY!

This book has all the twists, turns, surprises and connections you could ask for. The families compete on a reality tv show that they spend 9 months raising AI from newborn to young adult - they get a choice of IVF or keeping the baby if they win!!

I think the way these families interacted and blended together was great - the characters were written so well! I really enjoyed this one.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for this advance copy of John Marrs’s new speculative work The Family Experiment. This one is available now!

I. Freaking. Love. John. Marrs. His thrillers are fun and fast to read, but in my opinion, his speculative fiction stands out - he’s so unique with his story lines and I can honestly say his stories are nothing like I’ve read before. After feeling middle of the road on The Marriage Pact last year, I’m so thrilled that The Family Experiment provided me with everything I was looking for - fast chapters, questionable characters and plot lines that really make you think. If you’re not fully convinced on a totally “sci-fi” world, I would definitely recommend Marrs’ books, because they provide a perfect blend of real world and metaverse content.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this review - highly recommend you check this one out!