I read The Family Experiment by John Marrs back in summer last year but I can't recall posting about it even though I remember writing my review ... unless I dreamed it because 2024 was a blur.

Anyway, this was my first Marrs book and I was so impressed! I'd heard good things about the backlist so was happy to pick this one up and give it a go on my holiday. I'm not a huge thriller reader but the premise of this one intrigued me. The plot revolved around several people/couples who are essentially given a virtual baby to look after on a reality TV show so you get viewpoints of the contestants and the viewers.

Bonkers but increasingly page turning. I had mixed feelings about some of the characters (even going so far as to say I really didn't like them) and I honestly didn't have a clue how everything was going to unravel and end.

I still think about this book to this day which is a big win for me and I've just reminded myself to pick up another. I believe some of his books are linked which always impresses me, I like the little Easter eggs and honestly any author capable of writing such intricate tech blows my mind, I love being surprised.

John Marrs’ speculative thrillers are literally genius! I find it almost creepy how realistic they could actually end up being!

In The Family Experiment, a TV show is being launched of the same name, where the participants (mostly couples but with one single dad) enter the Metaverse through special suits and VR headsets, to parent a ‘child’ through several months - with each month marking a new development point. Over the course of the series, we see the child grow from a newborn to a teenager. The idea is that this is something that is going to be rolled out to the public, where they can become parents to virtual children. So crazy but something that I could seriously see happening in the future!!

Nearly all of the participants are hiding some kind of secret, which gradually unravel as the show goes on…I felt like every single chapter ended on some kind of cliffhanger and I was just desperate to keep reading and see how things were going to play out. I feel that, as with all of John Marrs’ books, he knows how to keep a reader on the edge of the seat in anticipation. I was completed hooked, fully invested in the storylines of the characters, and just completely immersed in this futuristic version of the world.

A very clever plot…I absolutely LOVED the last chapter - of all the heartache that the experiment brought, some good came out of it. Twists and turns galore, I never could have guessed them. A really, really great read and I am in awe of John Marrs’ brain for coming up with such an intriguingly brilliant plot (again!!).

John Marrs is a very talented author, and I am one of his biggest fans. This book was another thrilling read, and you just can't stop after one page, you just have to finish it! Hoping for many more to come.

Very interesting concept which I expect from this author. This is my third book of there's and it did not disappoint. The only reason it dropped a few stars is I did predict what was going to happen at a few points and it did have a couple slow chapters. Highly recommend this read though if you want some entertainment

My thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for a copy of “ The Family Experiment “ for an honest review.

What a brilliant read !
I’ve loved all of John Marrs’ previous books and he just seems to get better and better..I loved the fact that events from his previous books are included into the story. That being said I’m sure it wouldn’t stop anyone’s enjoyment reading this without knowledge of the other titles.. I usually struggle with books that have so many names , but John Marrs writes such well rounded characters that it’s easy to keep track of who is who.
Although the story is set in the future, a lot of what “ progressions “ and “ advancements “ have been made all seem totally believable and ominous.
I read a lot of books , most of which fade in my memory, but John Marrs writes such clever and thought provoking novels that stay with me, and makes him one of my most recommended authors.

John Marrs is one of my favorite thriller's writer and i'll always read his books like it's the first time around. The Family Experiment does not let you down. The concept of the book is very clever and turns the plot a lot darker than expected. I kept wondering if this could happen in real life which made it even more suspenseful. It'll make you question a lot about technology and specially about the concept of family.

You can feel the struggles of the characters, their desires and secrets which helps depth and complexity to the story. It felt like i was reading 1984, because of the proximity to reality. We are reading a thriller that can possibly became a possibility. It raised some ethical questions and put a few things in perspective.

In the end, the tension and twists of the book kept me hooked and i read this in one setting. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys thrillers and like to give it a thought on how far reality is from fiction.

Another brilliant book for John Marrs, you will never be disappointed if you pick up one of his book!!

11 contestants take part in a new reality TV show 'The Family Experiment'. The rules are that they must spend the next nine months raising an AI child in the metaverse. The winner will win the chance to either keep their child within the metaverse or put the winnings, £250,000, towards having their own biological child. The losers will all have their AI child 'switched off'. However it soon becomes clear that all of the contestants have their own secrets that they are keeping, and everyone knows a secret never stays hidden!!!! Who will survive until the end of the show? What will their decision be?

This is a great concept and it is a very much dark and clever thriller. I found myself drawn into the lives of the contestants from the very first page. What makes it even more scary is the fact that is this a possibility in the world we are living in!! If you love a good thriller and are a fan of reality TV then this is definitely one for you. Just know you can't go wrong with a John Marrs book and I look forward to seeing what he comes out with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a digital copy of this book.

Everything John marrs touches is gold. This is another example of his incredible speculative fiction, which leans into exactly what the world could be. Fantastic writing and terrifying storytelling

Well what can I can, I really enjoyed this! It plays on reality TV with futuristic AI themes, while sticking as close to what could actually happen in real life. It shows what people are capable of and how people react to different situations. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way and I would definitely read another book by John Marrs. It was nice to read something a little bit different, that used different ideas to the typical Thriller.
I would definitely recommend.

I will never ever ever not enjoy a John Marrs book - I honestly recommend them to everyone and this one is no different! Engaging characters, scarily realistic situations and so gripping and engaging as always!

The Family Experiment by John Marrs blew me away. Marrs has crafted a story that’s as unsettling as it is captivating, forcing you to confront big questions about technology, parenthood, and what it truly means to be a family.

The premise is both fascinating and terrifying. Set in a near-future UK dealing with overpopulation and economic crisis, the government introduces MetaBabies—virtual children accessed through VR headsets. These “babies” are designed to fulfill the emotional needs of would-be parents without the complications of real children. The twist? A reality show called The Family Experiment pits ten couples against each other to raise a virtual child over the course of nine months, simulating everything from infancy to adulthood. At the end, the winning couple faces a life-changing choice: keep their virtual child or risk it all for a chance to have a real baby.

Marrs is a master at juggling multiple perspectives, and here he doesn’t disappoint. Each couple in the experiment has their own unique struggles, desires, and secrets, which makes the story deeply personal and emotionally charged. From the couple who views the experiment as a second chance to heal their marriage, to the pair driven solely by ambition, each story adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

What really struck me was how plausible it all felt. Marrs paints a chillingly believable picture of a world where technology has infiltrated even the most intimate aspects of our lives. The ethical dilemmas raised in the book kept me thinking long after I finished it—how far would we go to satisfy our desires, and at what cost?

The tension builds steadily throughout, with unexpected twists that kept me hooked. By the time I reached the end, I was genuinely torn about the choices the characters had to make, which is a testament to Marrs’ ability to create such a compelling and morally complex story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable read about a reality tv experiment in the future. Here couples compete for votes in order to get a cash prize or keep their avatar child in the Metaverse.
Very different kind of read. Good characters and and enjoyable story. Recommended

Up to date A1 and futuristic at its best I really liked this one. John Marrs is a prolific author and I know I’ve not liked one or two of his book but absolutely was hooked with this one.

I love John Marrs' other books and this was no exception!

So much fun, this book kept me thrilled until the end. I loved the writing, the characters, the creepiness and chapter endings. I really liked the concept, it's different compared to his other books. Overall, would recommend this author if you're looking for some quick thrillers to pick up. Read this in a day!

A chilling and terrifying alternate reality that feels like it could become genuine reality down the line. There are a lot of characters, which is hard to keep track of initially. There are lots of references to the author's other books and the alternate futures is those, which feels clever nods. Lots of twists and turns and great fleshing out of the characters.

4.5 Stars
A very terrifying outlook on what our reality could look like in a matter of years/decades. Couples unable to afford children anymore but so desperately wanting to have them that they start to raise Meta Children. AI kids! It’s a frightening thought, and even more so because of the way the world is going now, it’s easy to see how quickly this could become a reality. An incredibly thought-provoking book and a great story. There were twists and turns at every point and I was super interested in how all of this was going to play out. Initially I was a little confused with how many characters we were following, but I quickly got on board and also invested. I really enjoyed the audiobook as well, super engaging and really brought the reality TV side of the story to life too. I definitely want to read more from John Marrs and explore this world more in The One and The Marriage Act.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book follows 4 couples and a single dad as they navigate raising a child in the virtual reality world of Metaverse. Being filmed for a reality tv show they must compete for the chance of keeping their virtual child or winning a cash prize to help fund treatments for their own child.

This is John Marrs at his best, there’s so many twists and turns that means that you want to read this all in one sitting.

The characters are always well fleshed out and although none of them are particularly likeable you are desperate to learn more about them.

I would recommend only reading this after you have read the other books in this universe (the one, the passengers, minders and the marriage act) as it does have little spoilers and they are all fantastic books.

I cannot recommend John Marrs enough.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for gifting me a copy of this book for review.

As with all John Marrs titles, there's twists and turns and a killer concept. A titan in the world of high-concept speculative fiction, I will always pick up a John Marrs book.

What would you do to have a family? In the not too distant future, the population in the UK is rising and as a result 'virtual children' have become a new development to curb the explosion in people and give those who can't afford to raise children the chance to create a family. To jump start the initiative, a new reality programme aims to give 5 couples the chance to 'win' a real life baby by gaining the votes of the public in exchange for raising a virtual child from birth to age 18. But not everyone is cut out to be a parent, or rather they shouldn't be...

Like a lot of John Marrs books that I've previously read, this was exactly the science fiction, dystopian thriller I was looking for. Easy to read (highly recommend the full cast audio to help differentiate between the couples), and full of early twists slsnd turns I found myself speeding through this in two days. Once you get your head around the concept of 'virtual children', it was easy to immerse myself in the world and begin to guess what each of the couples were hiding from the public during their 'real' life and how it differed from their onscreen/virtual life. I also liked the social dilemmas and issues that were discussed. How real can a virtual baby be if it looks like you and you've raised it from newborn? Does an AI generated being have a right to exist?

Woody and Tina became my early favourite couple. They seem ideal parents in the virtual world, nurturing daughter Belle into a sweet and caring child. However, in the real world they're hiding a much bigger secret. One that they've taken great lengths to hide. I also became really intrigued by Dmitri and Zoe. They're looking for a second chance at parenthood after the tragic loss of their son, however both of them are hiding things from each other which threaten to destroy their marriage.

All in all this was a clever dystopian thriller, set in the same world and in a similar vein to The One and The Marriage Act. I'd recommend you read those two first in order to really immerse yourself in this world and see how the impact of those two books really shaped this one. However, you could still read this first if you wanted too. If you're into twisty science fiction, I'd highly recommend.

3.5 Stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pam Macmillan for an eArc of this book in return for an honest review.

As the world's population grows, many people cannot afford to raise or start families. Enter a new virtual reality programme where you can have a child without so much cost. To launch it a reality TV show is run - where six families have an opportunity to raise a child on a more rapid timeline. The winning couple can keep their VR child, or get money to start a 'real world family'.

The premise of this is SO good, and I was really excited to pick it up, but unfortunately it didn't quite meet up to my expectations. There is a lot of black mirror esque moments - including the ethics of 'killing' one of these VR children. The novel is portrayed as a thriller but with quite a cushety premise, and I think I just wasn't expecting it to be quite as dark as it was, or go in the direction that it did so I didn't enjoy it as much as I was expecting a 'lighter' thriller.

I didn't really like any of the couples, and found it hard to route for any of them, and I need someone I route for in a book. I also saw the main twist coming I think there were quite a lot of clues to it, so I didn't even get that OMG thriller twist experience.

All of this to say, I did actually enjoy it, and would recommend reading it, however go into it expecting to read a black mirror episode and you will enjoy it more than I did.