The Family Experiment is another chilling, speculative thriller from John Marrs, set in a future that feels disturbingly close to reality. In a world where the economy is crashing and families are struggling, a company offers the option to raise a virtual child via the Metaverse, with the chance to win a real baby or cash through a reality TV competition. The premise is undeniably unique, blending technological innovation with the emotional challenges of parenthood.

What I loved most about this book is how Marrs taps into real-world anxieties—overcrowding, financial strain, and the potential for technology to cross ethical lines. The reality show format adds an extra layer of drama and suspense, as we watch contestants struggle not only with their virtual children but also with the secrets they’re hiding from each other and the world.

The large cast of characters makes for a lot to keep track of, but Marrs does a great job giving each one their distinct motivations and backgrounds. The pacing is quick, and the twists come hard and fast, making it a gripping read from start to finish. While not every character is likable, their flaws make the story feel even more intense and real.

If you enjoy speculative fiction that questions the boundaries of technology and family, The Family Experiment is definitely one to check out.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This took me forever to get through because I wasn’t in the right mood. It’s good, really good. Probably my second favorite of the series. I love the return of Cademan. Really enjoy the series even though it’s outside of my most typical style.

This book was pure dystopian thriller perfection. I love the changing narratives and I could not put this book down. It pairs perfectly with his other thrillers with the Easter Eggs and I hope to see more of these!!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

I LOVED John Marrs' The One and was so excited to read The Family Experiment. Maybe I got myself too hyper up for this book, but I ended up being a little disappointed.

I do like multi POV books, but this one had too many. It took me almost the entire book to remember which characters were which. Because of this, I felt like the book dragged for most of it. I kept picking it up to read it and ending up reading something else instead. I came back to this book several times before forcing myself to read it in its entirety. Once I did finally get into it, it was a pretty quick read. But if I have to come back to a book that many times, I can't give it more than 3 stars.

It was a fantastic book! Kept me on my toes throughout the whole book. Quick paced and completely enthralling. I definitely would recommend it. I will warn readers that is can be a bit confusing at the beginning with all the different point of views.

This is a solid story that keeps you engaged, and I genuinely enjoyed it and the characters, all of whom felt unique and whose motivations felt genuine. That said, the themes of the book, looking at concepts like VR, AI and para social relationships, stick to ground that's already fairly well trod. Additionally, some of the twists worked well, while others relied on a level of coincidence that pushed me out of the story.

What an interesting book! I've read Marrs' The One and really enjoyed it, so I was very happy to receive an ARC of The Family Experiment. The premise of the story was fascinating, both the VR aspect and the reality show aspect of it. The story was very well paced and I liked how it went from person to person, I never got bored of any of the storylines. I've already recommended this to many people and will continue to do so. Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for this ARC!

This was my first John Marrs book and I was not disappointed! Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read! I loved it!

I was excited about another dystopian book from John Marrs since I really enjoyed “The One”! With infertility rates growing, humanity searches for a family planning solution. Enter a reality tv show competition live-streaming parents raising “virtual” children in the metaverse. Viewers are torn between its controversial message and its addictive storylines. Points for creativity, but I found it hard to keep the stories straight between the FIVE (!!) alternating POVs. The nonstop cliffhangers felt gimmicky and the ending went totally off the rails. Despite it being sold as a “thriller” I was incredibly bored in the last 100 pages *sigh*

2 stars ⭐️⭐️

What a brilliant read and astonishing concept! In this world, the population is constantly growing and it's created a problem of over population and crowded cities. People can no longer afford to have a family or raise a family. There are- of course- many desperate to have children but cannot.
Enter, the Virtual Child. A reality TV show will stream 24 hours a day as 6 wannabe parents compete against each other while raising their Virtual Child. The parents can feel their child with virtual reality and AI.
Terrifying! The prize to the winning parent(s)? They get to keep their virtual child or have a chance to start a real family. The audience holds a lot of power, there are online chats and social media polls. It is ultimately, perfect timing for such a unique and enthralling read. What a ride!
Highly recommend. 5 stars.

*The Family Experiment* by John Marrs is an enthralling and emotionally charged novel that expertly delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the ethical challenges posed by modern science. Marrs’ storytelling is both gripping and thought-provoking, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries of love, loyalty, and morality are tested in unexpected ways. The characters are intricately developed, each with their own distinct motivations and struggles, making it easy to become deeply invested in their journeys. The plot is packed with suspense and surprising twists that keep you eagerly turning the pages, all while exploring profound questions about what truly defines a family.

What sets *The Family Experiment* apart is Marrs’ ability to weave deep ethical dilemmas into a narrative that remains engaging and relatable. As the characters navigate the consequences of their choices, the novel challenges readers to reflect on their own beliefs about family, identity, and the limits of scientific intervention. Marrs handles these heavy themes with care, ensuring the story remains accessible while still prompting meaningful reflection. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers that leave a lasting impact, both emotionally and intellectually.

Such a great read! It’s very futuristic, in the same sense as The Marriage Act, The One, and The Passengers. Keeps you on the edge of your seat with an crazy twist at the end!

This was a fun and kind of scary book to read! It raises issues that I am sure could be reality sooner rather than later. Not only was it a contest live reality with couples trying to raise virtual kids in the metaverse while being judged all the time by the viewers (and of course the trolls who judge everything you do as wrong) on their methods but it dealt with what should be the rights of these digital kids who only exist in the metaverse but seem so lifelike with the AI learning all the time. I think that is the scariest part because we do badly enough with real people. Do those kids have souls or is it all just code? So, the book really got me thinking about that while I followed along as the families (5 couples and one single) deal with a very sped up version of babies turning to kids and then finally turning 18 by the end of the contest, those that survived anyways. You have couples that cash in on the kid, getting free stuff from companies for advertising, to ones that are replacing a real kid of their that died, Some that aren't fully committed because face it, raising a digital kid would be weird, and some with big secrets like who is in the basement? It makes for a fast read, almost as fast as the digital kid reaches new milestones.

The couples weren't all that likeable (there is a reason for this) but were very lifelike in their struggles in the Real World (with raising costs and all) and raising their digital kids. All have secrets and by the end it is all revealed along with the contest winner and a big Real World reveal. It is all connected but I don't want to ruin the twist.

So, yes, a really good book with an interesting definitely could be a real future and a bit scary but I enjoyed it and now I want to read other books by John Marrs as this book did make connections (just on the off hand and you can still read an understand this book just fine).

Enjoyed reading this book, liked the many twists and turns. May need a character list to keep up with the many characters throughout the book, great read still!

I'm a big John Marrs fan, and The Family Experiment did not disappoint. It had all the exploration of moral dilemmas and consequences of new kinds of technology I expected, plus Marrs's signature twist at the end.

The only reason it wasn't a five-star read for me was that I found the final pages after the climax a bit stilted and not quite as satisfying as the rest. However, I wholeheartedly enjoyed it and will recommend it widely.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

The Family Experiment

I absolutely devoured this book. In John Marrs’ newest thriller, overpopulation is driving people desperate to be parents to abandon the idea of raising biological children and to raise AI children in a virtual world. It was so unsettling and made me feel like I was reading a Black Mirror episode. I also really enjoyed his book The One and can’t wait to read more of his work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
This book was an interesting one. It was torally different than anything I had ever read. It makes you wonder how things will look in the future and if we are heading that route!
The story line was captivating, the in-between chapters with advertising and chats were great to make it even more realistic. The characters in the story were likeable and unlikeable as expected. The protagonist, and not wanting to give away any spoilers, totally took me by surprise. Thr ending was another surprise that was totally unexpected.
While I typically do not like futuristic books, this one caught my attention and drew me in. It was hard to put down and I wanted to keep on reading to find out what will happen 5 🌟 read!

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

A unique premise that flows how one would expect a reality TV show to flow. The story catches ones attention right away and the realization that this could be a show right now is more than a little frightening.

Another great novel by John Marrs

I really enjoyed The Family Experiment by John Marrs. I was a little skeptical at first, but the VR aspect of the book really drew me in. As a gamer, I thought the premise of the story was interesting and actually pretty plausible in today's world. The idea that people could raise a virtual child in a sped-up virtual world so they can experience everything from newborn all the way up until the child turns 18, all within a very shortened time span is very Sims-like. But to be able to physically hold your child and create a real bond, also very reminiscent of AI dolls, yet still only virtual. Marrs provides enough twists and turns to keep the story moving, and by the end, when you realize the BIG twist, it really brings the entire story together in a way that you won't predict. I think fans of Neal Shusterman might appreciate this book.

This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

John Marrs always hits the spot. I loved The One by this author, and was excited to find out that this story is set in the same world, just some years after. The story is multiple POV and follows 5 families who were chosen to be on a reality TV show. For this show, each of the contestants will raise a virtual AI baby, and the winner will be able to keep their AI child in the virtual world, or wine money to start a family in the real world. At its core, this story explores families and the ethics behind AI (will we except a Westworld type of situation, or will laws be put in place to protect AI people).

Like other thrillers by this author, there are lots of twists and unexpected crazy things that occur. I really enjoyed The Family experiment, and if you liked The One, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too.