I honestly love everything that John Marrs writes and these dystopian sci-fi books really scratch an itch my brain didn't know it had.

I wasnt able to read The Family Experiment before its publish date but now that I have read it I gave it 3.5 stars.

I’m new to dystopian thrillers and I loved this one! It truly creeped me out and it was so believable which made it even more scary! I love reality tv so the premise of this book was super intriguing to me. The characters, the twists and turns, it was all so wild!

I love John Marrs. This was my first sci-fi by him and I enjoyed it so much! It was so twisty, entertaining, and had me on the edge of my seat. Can't wait to read more of him!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This may very well be my all-time favorite John Marrs reads. (Even though I recall saying that when I finished The One. And I’ll likely be saying it again when he releases his next

This was my first John Marrs novel. I was so excited to try him out. This might not have been the best one to start with, (The One might have been a better choice, as it’s kind of the start of this universe) but I was still glad I picked it up! I love the theoretical questions it posed- if something *feels* real, how do you start to differentiate between that and real life? - but made into a bit of a suspense novel, made it all the more fun. If you’re into speculative fiction, and love suspense, John Marrs seems like a great place to start. I definitely want to read more by him now!

John Marrs novel always make me want to read them.

This one was a little odd and wasn't his best novel. It was ok but not something i would recommend. It did not keep me engaged and i really just wanted to DNF and I have never done that with a John Marrs novel.

I will continue to read from this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

One of the blurbs on the cover of the book said “Nobody does scarily plausible near-future like Marrs. This—his best yet—is an unsettling and immersive rollercoaster which hurtles towards a chilling denouement. A truly thought-provoking, single-sitting thriller. Loved it.”

I agree wholeheartedly. This book broke me out of my book slump. Loved it. 4.5 stars.

John Marrs is always good for a fast paced thriller and this book is no different. Thank you for an advanced copy!

What a super interesting concept! I enjoyed the way this was told in multiple POVs (but was sometimes confused by the many characters) and the different formats of tv show host, online chat, etc. I would definitely recommend the audiobook and I thought the twists were really good too!

Unpopular opinion, but I have yet to be able to get through a John Marrs book. I DNF at 30-50% in. These are just not for me. This has been a NetGalley arc that I just cannot get through despite months of trying. The entire premise is too ridiculous for me. There’s way too many characters to keep track of. Honestly it was just boring. I will not attempt anything else from this author as he is clearly not for me.

John Marrs is second to none in weaving the craziest tales and characters with ease. While you would think it would be hard to keep track of everyone involved, it plays out so beautifully and well-written. Just when you think the twist has been exposed, you're introduced to an even crazier twist. I loved this book, as I love everything I've read by John Marrs. This is an interesting concept in that it's in the future and most families are unable to afford having children of their own as well as overpopulation concerns. Contestants take part in The Family Experiment, a reality show where the contestants are each given a virtual child that ages to 18 quickly. They are voted for by the audience. Don't miss this book or anything by John Marrs for that matter. He's amazing!

With Metababies, you have the opportunity to customize every aspect of your child. This groundbreaking concept will be introduced through The Family Experiment TV program, hosted by Autumn Taylor. Over nine months, eleven childless couples will engage in raising interactive children within the Metaverse, navigating challenges where viewers can reward or penalize their parenting efforts. The ultimate reward? The option to keep their virtual child or the chance to welcome a real baby.

John Marrs consistently delivers innovative and thought-provoking narratives. If you’ve read The One and The Passengers, you can expect a similarly engaging experience with this latest work. The scenarios presented are chillingly plausible, raising important ethical questions and urging us to approach this evolving landscape with caution.

The story is conveyed through the distinct perspectives of the selected parents, each possessing rich and complex backstories. Readers will find themselves empathizing with some while observing the distressing unraveling of others' lives. The tension is expertly crafted, featuring moments that elicit both suspense and surprise.

One character, in particular, is both intriguing and enigmatic, drawing readers deeper into their narrative. As the plot unfolds, the question of the ultimate objective remains compelling, with unexpected twists that keep the audience engaged. Additionally, the clever and humorous inserts throughout provide insightful social commentary, enhancing the overall reading experience.

This books is a great blend of dystopian world and reality show elements. We are following different couples raising computer generated kids, and the cherry on top is that its being streamed live by the whole world.
John Marrs always has the most unique ideas and the implementation is done well. The changing povs and the exciting story building kept me hooked.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs is a standalone science fiction thriller which takes virtual reality to a new level with A.I. and shows it all on a reality tv show. While this book is technically a stand alone it is set in the same world as the author’s previous titles and does have some elements carry over into the story but can be enjoyed on it’s own. The story in The Family Experiment is one that changes the point of view between multiple characters in the present timeline with a slight bit of looking back into their pasts over the course of the book.

The Family Experiment is a reality television show that is going to give it’s lucky participants the chance to win either their own A.I. child or the opportunity to have their own child in the real world. The group of couples, and one single father, are going to be raising their virtual child with all the trials and tribulations regular parents endure but only in a virtual world with the eyes of the world upon them while doing so. The experiment has been shortened to nine months with the virtual children progressing from infants to eighteen in that time frame and for those involved this is their last grasp at having their own families.

I was slightly hesitant to pick up The Family Experiment by John Marrs to begin with hearing that there is ties to his other books which I have not read but hearing so many good things about the book it really got my curiosity piqued. I really didn’t need to worry though as the story was perfectly understandable not knowing what I was missing with my rating only lowered a bit as it’s a slow starter getting to know so many characters in the book. Definitely a page turner though as it goes on and one I’d recommend checking out if the future of A.I. is of interest to you.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

John Marrs did it again! Another very Black Mirror-like book that had me fully entertained the whole time. There was so much drama and so many secrets in each family, I would def recommend this book!

I tried to give it a chance but the AI was too real and freaked me out. Also the child dying in the first chapter was a little much for me. Didnt get past 20%.

This was my first novel by John Marrs and it was so freaking good!! I don't know how he comes up with his plots, but they're addictive. I love his take on AI and reality TV, it starts out harmless and then takes a serious turn.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs is speculative fiction at its very best - original, dark and wickedly clever. I was utterly captivated by the way Marrs melded reality TV, AI and a terrifyingly plausible future

What I particularly loved about this book was the way Marrs incorporated issues that are very much an issue in the present day, and carefully twisted them to make them part of a speculative future. He's created a terrifyingly plausible world and I'm excited to read more of this books that inhabit that world.

The world building, the characters, the reveals and the twists are so well done that this book is crying out for a Netflix adaptation.

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

I read The Passengers by Marrs a few years ago but it still feels like yesterday with how much of an impact it left. So, when I saw a new novel called The Family Experiment was coming out I had to request it. I love speculative fiction and Marrs hasn’t let me down. Just like the first novel I read by him, I just know this plot isn’t going to leave me anytime soon. I’ll definitely be thinking of this story weeks from now wishing I was still in this world. As our AI tech and possibilities grow, scenarios like Marrs has crafted are possible, which is scary. 10/10 will read again and look for more by Marrs.