He’s done it again!! The Family Experiment follows along the same lines as Marrs previous books (The One, Passengers, and The Marriage Act). It’s become too expensive for many in London to have a real child, but never fear, soon they will have the opportunity to raise a metachild. With the creation of a 24/7 reality TV show, the concept of the virtual child is introduced. Five couples and a single father are vying for the win that will give them the chance to keep the virtual child they raised or to take the money and start a family in the real world. Each couple has a secret though, something that could eliminate them if found out, as the weeks go on, those secrets slowing enfold, with some mighty good twists. Marrs keeps the reader riveted as they root for their favorite couple in the Metaverse. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was such a page turner and one in which I couldn't put down. It really makes you think about what AI could become in the future. I felt like I was in the game show watching all the different couples involved evolve throughout the book and you never knew what was going to happen next. John Marrs was a new author to me and now I can't wait to read his other books!

I have this book a 2.5/5 ⭐️. There were some parts in this book that were entertaining, but I felt like some parts dragged on and were confusing. I feel like there was soo much going on and it was hard to follow. I didn’t enjoy this book, but I still plan to read more by this author in the future. I feel like if there were less families , it would be easier to remember each situation that was going on with each family. I really wanted to like this book, but maybe I’ll like another of his books.

This is my first John Marrs book I’ve read. It was a good book and the concept was very interesting. It has multiple points of views and can be a little difficult to keep up with when first starting the book. Lots of twists and turns.
Although the book was good, I felt that it was hard for me to get through because I was getting bored.
However I will still read another John Mars book in the future.

Whew, this book was rough to get through
A for creativity but overall.. surprised I didn't dnr this one

Imagine getting a second chance to become a parent through AI availability where the kid looks like you and has your DNA traits.
You get to spend time with your kid in the meta world. Every few months, your child in the meta world becomes a different age
Now this is a competition and may the best parent win
The prize will be 250k, where you can use to spend building your own family, or you can keep the cash and the meta version of your child
What will happen to all the constants. You will get eliminated. Only one set of parents/meta child will win

John Marrs simply never misses. Fast paced, quick chapters, a huge cast of characters, and a storyline sure to blow your mind. This one felt unique, creative, and futuristic. 4.5 stars.

This was an interesting read that brought up a lot of questions. Several families are chosen to take part in a reality show where they are given a child to raise. The catch is that the child isn't real; it is created by AI and can only be interacted with while in the virtual world. Childhood is sped up and all children reach adulthood within a year. Any couple that leaves the show has their "child" erased, and the winning couple gets to choose to keep their AI child or receive money to assist with a natural pregnancy.

The premise is incredibly interesting and I love the philosophical questions raised around AI and what constitutes a human being. On the other hand, I didn't like ANY of the characters. Most were just jerks. Even the "hero" at the end wasn't appealing to me. I take back my previous statement... I did like a couple of the characters, but they were some of the AI "children" that had been created, lol. A solid three stars for me.

Thank you so much @HTP and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC!

I'm a huge fan of John Marrs books!  I couldn't wait to read The Family Experiment an engaging sci-fi thriller.
 
This book is about several couples who are given the opportunity on a reality TV show to raise a virtual 'Meta Baby" through a virtual headset in the Metaverse.
These couples are competing for a chance to either keep their child or win the money to assist them in starting a family in the real world.
 
This book touches on AI which controls the couple's life more than they realize which is pretty scary. I could see our future taken over by AI.  I enjoyed the competition aspect of the book. How it tested the couples making them think about the real-world responsibility while trying to raise an AI human. You also see what reality TV is and what it is becoming. There are so many moments in the book you don’t see coming.
 
The book was very interesting I enjoyed the short chapters that ended on cliffhangers. There were a lot of twists and turns. I like that we see a mix of interviews, chat rooms, and news clips which kept me engaged. There were times when it was hard to keep track of everyone there, so many characters & storylines. So, pay close attention to all the characters in the book.
I don’t even want to talk about the ending whoever read this book already will understand me. My mouth drops! The secrets these couples kept in their real life I didn’t see any of it!
 
Can't wait for his next book I'm very intrigued to find out what his next book will be about!!!

3.5*
Reminiscent of the once popular Tamagotchi digital pets that children loved to care for, this novel takes virtual caregiving to the next level. The novel is set in England, in a world where overpopulation is a real problem and having a child is cost-prohibitive. A commercial enterprise is offering a program called Virtual Children that offers selected couples the chance to raise a child in the Metaverse. They will get an AI digital infant whose growth will be accelerated and within 9 months, the ultimate winner will have the option to keep their virtual child or take a cash amount that could be used to start a biological family.

Each couple is strikingly different such as a gay couple, a couple who lost their own child and even a single dad. Viewers watch the interactions of these parents with their Metaverse babies and vote on who they like best. Viewers can also put obstacles in the couple’s paths, complicating the parenting experience. The audience subscribers watch with delight as parenting skills are revealed and one by one, couples are eliminated.

Marrs hits on many timely topics such as reality tv, influencers, AI, and the public’s obsession with popularity. There are also complications that arise such as jealousy, mental illness and greed. The book starts out with so much promise, but somehow it falters a bit, once the individual contestant stories bring in more background and conflict. Certain participants stand out as memorable, but with audience voting and unforeseen events popping up, it might not be the most deserving who are the ultimate winners. There’s also the reality that as parents are dropped, their virtual child abruptly ceases to exist.

Marrs book is clever and touches on our culture’s obsession with competition, reality tv, and all things digital. It highlights potential abuses in a world where parenting becomes a competitive sport and real lives impact the Metaverse.

John Marrs does it again, with another propulsive and slightly terrifying look at a near-future world in which VR and AI let parents have a Metaverse baby that feels fully real—down to physically being able to feel the baby, thanks to special suits.

Marrs ends every chapter like a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put the book down! I read it in two sittings.

The book is highly entertaining while also really thought-provoking and discussible. Just because we CAN do things with technology, should we? Should people be charged with crimes for killing people who aren’t technically real, but feel very real to their families? What makes a family a family?

Marrs is a hit-or-miss author for me, but I always pick up his latest to see how far he’s decided to go there.

He deals out speculative fiction with a heavy hand that’s perfect for Black Mirror fans like me, but like the episodes of that series, sometimes the details become too convoluted.

In many regards, his sci-fi borderlines horror because it gets right up close to what could be true for the future, and dangit if it’s not scary.

In this instance, Marrs introduces a situation where you can design your own metaverse baby, and have your experience televised as part of a game show where audiences can vote on whether they think you’re doing a good job or not.

If they don’t like how you’re acting, the thumbs down can make your life a living hell. While, on the other hand, if they deem you worthy, your baby will be straight-up angelic.

Oh, and then if you win, you can choose to keep the prize money or destroy your baby. Some may buckle under the pressure and not take full accountability for a metaverse baby. Others may parlay their exposure into baby brand partnerships.

Curating your life to elicit the virtual “likes” of others, and feeling let down when they don’t agree with your choices? Sounds creepily familiar.

4.5 rounded up

Should you read this book?
Yes, if… you love John Marrs’s speculative fiction books and want a book with so many small plot twists along the way
No, if… you can’t follow a big cast. There are a lot of character names to remember
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Sigh, I like this author and have read many of his books but this was a slog. I was very bored. The story format was too similar to previous books and had too many characters. Additionally, their stories weren't intriguing at all. I was not curious about their secrets and found the attempts at mystery and intrigue very forced. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

Okay, first I need to say that I LOVE this “series.” I say “series” because technically you can read them out of order but they all are mixed into the same futuristic artificial intelligence (AI) storyline. The Family Experiment is book five.
Imagine being able to raise a child that only exists in the Metaverse. The Family Experiment is a reality TV show with contestants competing by raising children in the Metaverse. And in good ol’ John Marrs fashion, it is a wild ride. Within the first few minutes I was left with my jaw on the floor and trying to read as fast as I could. When I say it starts off explosive, I mean it! There are some wild twists that actually left me thinking “that was an impressive move, Mr. Marrs!” Loved it! Easy 5 stars!!
Thank you John Marrs, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC edition for review.

I thought this book was so interesting -- especially as someone passionate about computer science and interested in the impacts of AI. The pacing is super good and this was well written, There were times when I got confused but overall, the book was good. John Marrs' commentary on emerging technology was interesting and refreshing. Recommend!

The Family Experiment by John Marrs
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In a world where AI is more advanced, a new reality show is starting called The Family Experiment. People will take care of their own virtual child and compete for a chance to start a family of their own.
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What I liked:
-There are six competitors in this book and we get POVs from all of them. It really helped you get a good background of the players.
-Crazy plot with shocking twists!
-This book could easily be binge read in a day or two.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t want to say more and spoil anything, but if you love speculative fiction or thrillers then you should read this.

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs is a captivating exploration of the complexities of familial relationships and the ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic manipulation. Marrs crafts an intriguing narrative, blending suspense and thought-provoking themes that keep readers engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own unique perspectives and struggles, making it easy to become invested in their journeys.

The pacing is generally strong, though there are moments where the story lags slightly, causing a brief disconnect from the otherwise gripping plot. Nonetheless, the emotional depth and moral questions posed throughout the book make it a worthwhile read. Marrs' ability to weave together science fiction with real-world issues is commendable, and he leaves readers contemplating the implications of his story long after the final page.

Overall, "The Family Experiment" is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that deserves a solid four stars for its creativity and emotional resonance.

Read if you like:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
📺 Reality TV
🫥 Immersive AI Experiences
🥽 Virtual Reality
🤰🏼 Tomagotchis for Kids
📖 Short Chapters

Much like Marrs’ other books in this unofficial series this book tackles issues with deception and deceit of information that leads to another option for people to use technology in their daily lives, this time, with having and raising a child in a virtual reality setting for those that can’t afford to have a child for whatever reason. So like, a tomagotchi for kids as John so beautifully said in this book for all the 90’s kids like me that lost their tomagotchi’s and have all the guilt of killing their pets 😂

I love the style that John writes with, with his quick movement from one pov to another, short chapters, cliffhangers, suspense and mystery that has you at the edge of your seat, and social discussions on technology and social media.

The one area that fell a bit flat for me, was the way the wrap up was done as the book felt like the wind stopped pushing the plot along once we got to the last 10% and the pacing just felt a bit off for that last part of the book, other than that, I really enjoyed this one just like John’s other books!

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was my 1st book by John Marrs. It started out good, but my only issue was there was too many characters/ contestants. It was hard to follow along and I kept getting them confused.

John Marrs has done it again! I loved this book! As always I was hooked right from the beginning!
You won’t believe the twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down.