4 stars because the book was unlike anything I’ve read so far and had a unique storyline for a thriller. I did feel that after the game show portion had ended, there was an excessive amount of explaining and I think it would’ve been 5 stars for me if more of that had been mixed in throughout instead of trying to tie up all the loose ends in the last several chapters.
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I’m still left wondering how far away this is in reality? I also see how everyone went crazy except for Leo since he was also an AI character. Imagine essentially living in a VR world for a year and thinking it’s real. I wasn’t surprised at all about Jaden’s secret children after hearing of his gambling issues. I thought it was very odd that Zoe kept a replica of her son, Adam in a suitcase to soothed herself especially after finding out that they had sold him. I was wondering why Hudson was allowed to be a part of the experiment when he was the only AI person, but the explanation for AI to take over and sabotaging towards the end made it all make sense. I thought it was kind of excessive that Adam was Hudson and Leo pretended to be Hudson and even had his dog tags branded to his hand. I wasn’t surprised that Issy was protected by Woody and she didn’t actually accomplish the murder she had attempted even though she believes through the end that she did it.

John Marrs is back with his latest book, set in the same universe as “The One”, “The Marriage Act”, and “The Passengers” .

In this World, the U.K.’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economy where a growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those DESPERATE to experience parenthood, there is an alternative-

A company behind Virtual Children has created an interactive REALITY TV show which will steam 24/7 as it pits five couples and one single father against each other, as they raise a “Virtual Child “ programmed by AI.

For the sake of the show, the children will age at an accelerated rate from birth to the age of eighteen- condensed into a nine-month time period-Month 1️⃣ Newborn stage, Month 2️⃣ Nine months old, Month 3️⃣ Two years old, Month 4️⃣ Five years old, Month 5️⃣ Eight Years old, Month 6️⃣ Twelve years old, Month 7️⃣ Fourteen years old, Month 8️⃣ Sixteen years old, Month 9️⃣ Eighteen years old.

Parents will strap on virtual reality headsets, and haptic suits which will allow them to interact with their virtual children in the Metaverse, and feel everything a biological parent would.

And, of course, what would a reality TV show be without viewers who will VOTE on who is parenting the best, and who should be eliminated each month.

Viewers who see something they approve of can award red hearts ❤️ to the parents-but if they see parenting that they disagree with-you can send black hearts instead! 🖤

THE PRIZE: The right to either KEEP the “virtual child” they raised OR the chance to take the prize money instead, so that they can have a chance to start a family in the real World.

Your contestants:

Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou (Metachild, son Lenny)
Woody and Tina Finn (Metachild, daughter Belle)
Cadman N’Yu & Gabriel Macmillan (Metachild, son River)
Selena & Jaden Wilson (Metachild, son Malachi)
Rufus Green & Kitty Carter (Metachild: daughter, Olivia
Single Dad-Hudson Wright (Metachild, daughter Alice)

WHO WILL YOU BE ROOTING FOR?

Peppered with online CHATS, “Through the Grapevine” news reports and Insta Polls, this is another fast paced and ADDICTIVE thriller which warns of a potentially terrifying future to come!

And, WHAT IS BEHIND the door 🚪 on the left?
I’m not telling-but you can find out on July 9, 2024.

Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

John Marrs has written some excellent novels about a near future that feels just close enough to current events to feel very real. Set in the same universe as The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment hits that perfect balance as well. I am enjoying these series of novels and felt this latest one was an extremely satisfying continuation.

With the world having embraced the metaverse, Awakening Entertainment is launching a 9 month reality show to follow couples and one single dad raise a meta child to bring awareness and publicity to their new launch for families who can’t afford a child in the real world. The prize is for the winner(s) to either keep their meta child and the remainder of funds they are given to raise said child or to get prize money to go towards a potential real world child that would be assisted through surrogacy, adoption, or IVF. The contestants all have different motivations for entering the contest, from fresh publicity and brand deals for a familiar character from The Passengers to a chance for a do over and even more mysterious reasons.

This novel explored themes around the affordability and protection of children in the future as well as the realities we spin up for ourselves. But ultimately at its heart this is another look at humanity and what we can likely become - maybe even are - and preserve as we have more technology and more opportunities for corruption and temptation. The couples we follow in multiple points of view are all fascinating and the underlying mystery which we eventually discover was there all along is unexpected but amazing, as are the twists that go with it.

I’m not surprised this was another excellent and must read novel by John Marrs, I encourage fans of all interests to pick this one up as Marrs writing has universal appeal and is easy to read and get overly engaged with!

Omg this book was so good the twists in this book kept me up late trying to see what happened next. John Marrs is the absolute best writer of thrillers. Would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Wow. First of all, what a crazy ride. What a fun book to read about a Metaverse alternative reality to virtually raise a baby. I loved the writing style of this book where it goes from tv show captions to messages between audience back to the main characters. John Marrs knows how to keep you entertained and wanting more. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more from him.

I will never understand how his brain comes up with this stuff. This whole universe is incredibly creative and haunting. Immediately upon entering this world I am filled with unease and then the horrors of human nature simply add into it.

My brain did feel overloaded a few times trying to understand everything and piece it all together. It really makes you think. I loved the subtle hints and plot twists about each contestant sprinkled in throughout the book.

The ending was perfect. It typically isn’t my favorite type of ending but I think it was just what this particular story needed.

I am a huge fan of John Marrs! This book was so entertaining. From the first page I was hooked. I loved the concept of this “black mirror” style thriller. I love how each of the characters had their own storylines each twisted in their own regard. I definitely didn’t see the reveal at the end coming. This was a longer book, however because of the multiple character storylines it didn’t feel like it. Much like Marrs’ other novels, I loved it and highly recommend it!

4.5 Stars!
Enter, Re:Born, a company that allows couples to design and purchase MetaBabies in the Metaverse (eerie concept right off the bat).

The Family Experiment is a reality show launching soon to promote this new service for couples to experience parenthood. We get to follow a multitude of couples and a single 22 year old man as they embark on this journey as contestants into raising AI children. What could go wrong?

This book left me more so asking, what else COULD go wrong?

In typical John Marrs fashion this was a thought-provoking and sometimes disturbing look into a not so far fetched dystopian future where technology is taking over. JM’s futuristic sci-fi books are among my favourite of his because they just feel a little too… real! The deeper story within this story that unraveled toward the end had me staying up far too late to finish and see what happened. And now I’m left with some deep thoughts of how I feel with the morality and ethics of AI and the sinister side of their potential wrapped up with capitalism in our own future.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the whole book’s concept and the references to The Passengers, which was also a book I loved. I’ve heard even some of his other books are referenced here. A huge quality of this author is that he blends science fiction and mystery and thriller in a unique way, where technological advancements aren’t that far ahead of real life. The issues dealt with are some that we might have to deal with not so far into the future. An example of this is the moment where there is an argument over whether or not virtual, AI-designed humans have rights. This will be a heavily debated topic in the near future. Again this is a strength of John Marrs, as, despite the science fiction components, readers can still feel connected to the stories and feel concerned or touched by the ethical issues mentioned. Because of this proximity, we as readers keep imagining how we would act in the same situations as the characters.

The pacing is right, neither too fast nor too slow. I loved the developments in the lives of the various adults/parents, and the reveals toward the end about the dark secret of how the company managed to make this technology ahead of its competition. The book explored well the implications of metaverse children, especially its impacts on the different families. Every parent throughout the book feels relevant and they have interesting, unique backstories that make the reader want to keep reading. Each adds to the overall story.

Also, upon reading, it's clear the author has done his research, and he's done it well. This is my favourite book by John Marrs. I read it within a day. My review could’ve gone way longer enumerating all the positive aspects. There is really no weakness or negative thing I find to say about this book. Easiest 5 stars in months. I would recommend to anyone, newer readers, more experienced readers, those who read these genres, and even those who usually don't read these genres.

Characters: 5🌟
Writing: 5🌟
Plot: 5🌟
Pacing: 5🌟
Unputdownability: 5🌟
Enjoyment: 5🌟
Originality: 5🌟
Overall: 5🌟

The Family Experiment is the latest in the universe of Match DNA. When I tell you I never anticipate the depths humanity’s darkness can go, John Marrs always manages to up the ante.

Each time I enter the world of John Marrs, I expect to be horrified and intrigued, but The Family Experiment took it to another level. The intro made me pause for a moment and think, “Wow, this is dark, even for Marrs.” But don’t let that darkness deter you. His writing is crispy, intense and brilliant. He is a masterful storyteller and has managed to craft a realistic futuristic world.

This book can be read as a standalone, and I think you’d have a blast with it, but I highly recommend the entire universe first. (The One, The Passengers, The Minders, The Marriage Act, then The Family Experiment). I promise, you’ll inhale them and your entire worldview will change, and you’ll start to think everyone you speak to on the internet is AI. No? Just me?

As always, I’ll end my review of a Marrs book and ask:

John Marrs, are you okay?

Stunning. I vastly prefer John Marrs' science fiction and dystopian books. I never quite know what to expect despite the synopsis, and that is perfect. Fans of Heather Gudenkauf's recent book Everyone is Watching will enjoythis, as well as speculative fiction fans. There were also similarities in pacing to Lucy Foley and Simone St. James, which will keep readers invested. A definite add to a library collection!

I finally have my first 5⭐️ read in 2024!! I have been keeping a close eye on NetGalley waiting for this to drop, and I downloaded and started it immediately and could not put it down.

It’s set up similar to The One and The Marriage Act, we follow 11 couples as they begin a realty show set in the Metaverse and streaming 24 hrs a day. I did struggle to keep the characters straight early on, I would have loved a character list or the show intro for them all on one page, but I managed with a bookmark on my kindle to the intro of each couple. I loved the use of mixed media, the comment sections about the show were my fav, and the charts and ads were a great way to break up some of the chapters. The pacing in this was steady to fast, and absolutely held my interest from start to finish.

There are references to his past speculative fiction books but you could read this as a standalone. However, I do highly recommend them all so you should definitely add them to your TBR even if you read out of order!

Loved it, absolutely recommend it and I’ll be not so patiently waiting to see what wild things he has in store for this world next. A huge thank you to HTP Books, Hanover Square Press and John Marrs for the ARC! This will be out in the US on July 9!

5⭐️! Ummmm oh my god?! This was amazing. One of my favorite books of all time is The One by him, and this is in the same world as that book (strongly suggest you read that one first and the marriage act!) this was ALMOST as good as the one!

Sci fi thrillers have quickly become a genre that I love. I need to find more like this one, because it’s so fun to read! This reminded me of a future version of the game “the sims” that I loved as a kid! The reason this book was so good is because it’s super possible for the stuff in this book to actually become a reality with the advances in technology.

I am obsessed with John Marrs writing in these near future books, I love the short chapters that leave on cliffhangers. The multiple POV’s took me a bit to catch on, given its couples instead of one person, but that’s my only complaint. This book was perfection!

A fantastic dystopian thriller from a favorite author that I highly recommend! It’s full of suspense and twists.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One of the easiest 5 star reviews I’ve ever given. This book was SO FREAKING GOOD! I was addicted from the beginning and didn’t want it to end!

This story is disturbing in the best way. In the not so distant future, a reality show airs featuring contestants that are desperate for a family of their own but unable to afford it. With the help of AI, they are given the chance to have that family in the Metaverse. The contestant(s) that gain the most support from viewers streaming the show 24/7, will win the chance to either keep their Metachild or a cash prize to start their own family in the Real World. The losers lose their Metachildren forever. What could go wrong??

There are so many sinister twists and secrets exposed. The scariest part though is that I can actually see this happening in the future. It’s eye opening and disturbing and wildly entertaining!

My first of MANY John Marrs books! 🙌🏻

Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have never been angrier at a pile of unfolded laundry because all I wanted to do was read THE FAMILY EXPERIMENT! Ya’ll John Marrs did it again. His speculative thrillers are some of my favorite - The One, The Passengers, The Marriage Act. And now you can add this to the list. (His psychological thrillers aren’t bad either!)

With a number of POVs, this story follows five couples and a single parent as they compete in a 24-hour live stream reality show that takes place in the Metaverse. The goal - to successfully raise a virtual child from a baby to an eighteen year old in a condensed period of time. The prize - either keep your virtual child or delete it forever in exchange for money to help create a baby in the real world.

While this book can be read as a standalone,
I highly recommend reading Marrs’ other speculative fiction thrillers as this one had fun Easter eggs sprinkled in. The Family Experiment followed the same formula as the previous - several POVs, short chapters, and mini cliffhangers throughout. I had to jot down notes to differentiate all the couples but once I had them down, I was quickly flipping pages to find out the secrets behind each storyline. And super frustrated when real life responsibilities got in the way! Marrs delivers another fun, fast-paced, and unforgettable thriller that once again leaves you wondering - what would I do? Highly recommend. 5/5

If you enjoyed The One by John Marrs, then you definitely need to read this. This book grips you right from the start and will keep you guessing until the last page. Sometimes switching povs can be confusing, but he did it in a way that makes it flow so well. Once I started this book I could not put it down!!

4.5 ⭐️

ꭲꮋꭼ Fꭺꮇꮖꮮy ꭼxꮲꭼꭱꮖꮇꭼnꭲ
ᏼy John Marrs
Release Date 05/09/2024


This book is unputdownable!

Quick Summary -
The book follows 10 couples hoping for a change for a baby - all are doing the experiment for different reasons. Some really are yearning for a family and most have salacious secrets they’re trying to keep hidden.

My thoughts —

It’s really hard to write this review without spoiling the book.
I wanted to tell you you’d read about characters from Marrs previous books - but then you’d have to explain how and who - and I’d spoil it too much
And how you had a hunch about a character from a previous book, and it was confirmed in this one.
Or describe in detail
the ten couples that this book focuses on. But you can’t explain one without the backstory. Or their new story.
I will say that this is 100% going to be a best seller. No, seriously - which network will make this into a movie / series 🎥🎬!! ??
Marrs is on fire, and I can’t wait for the next! 🙌🏼

5 S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#unputdownablebook
💗#hanoversquarepress #macmillianpublishing
#netgalleyreader #suspensebooks #thrillerreads #bookshelves #bookblogging #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #igreads #instareads #5starbook #pageturner #johnmarrs#amazonpublishing

Addictive, disturbing and scarily believable!
The Family Experiment, the ultimate reality tv, broadcast worldwide and the most watched program in the world.
Each couple, plus one single dad who enter the experiment get to create a MetaBaby and raise it in the Metaverse. A totally digital world accessed via virtual reality headsets, along with masks, gloves and full-body suits that feel like a second skin allowing them to be fully immersed with touch, smell and sound.
They get to bring up the MetaChild as if it were a real life child, experiencing from a baby up until the child reaches 18 in a condensed 9 month period. All whilst being live-streamed to the world.
The public can also get involved by entering a prize draw to spend time with one of the MetaChildren and commenting on the contestants parenting skills.
At the end of the competition the winning contestants, voted for by the public, can either choose to keep their virtual child or essentially pull the plug on the child and take the prize money to potentially start a real life family.
But that’s not everything, each contestant has been hand picked for a specific reason unbeknown to anyone, even themselves. Because on this show everyone has something to hide!
As always the book is written brilliantly and completely pulls you into that world and everyone will end up routing for a specific family.
I love this world that John Marrs has created and have read all his books and this one is up there with some of his best work. It is definitely a book that you cannot put down once you have been sucked in from the very start. I absolutely loved it but I already knew I would.
If you are new to his other books set in this near future world then you are really missing out. But saying that, you don’t need to have read the previous books to get a fully immersive, compelling read from this one alone.
It has all the ingredients you need for a brilliant thriller. Fully fleshed out characters, some you love and some you love to hate. Suspense as there is no telling what is going to happen next and plot twists that will leave you shocked.
This is hands down an easy five star read and an ultimate contender for book of the year!
The Family Experiment will be published on the 9 May 2024 in the UK and on June 18, 2024 in the USA and is available to preorder now