Thank you Netgalley & Pan MacMillan for the opportunity to read this title.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs is a sci-fi thriller with dystopian undertones, throughout the book we follow 11 contestants all participating in a reality game show that follows their journey as they partake on their roles as parents…. to ‘meta babies’ aka virtual babies that you can feel, feed, interact with just as much as a biological child.

‘Why leave it to chance or genetics when you can have the perfect baby you've always dreamed of?’

As the story unfolds we learn of each contestants personal choice on why they wanted to participate, some brilliant twists show us that not all as it seems. We also discover how the technology has been able to develop to such an advanced level.

John is an incredible author and this book doesn’t disappoint, I especially enjoyed his reference to his past novels within this one, as usual, this novel is written very well at a brilliant pace with plenty of intrigue to keep us on our toes throughout.

I highly recommend The Family Experiment (as-well as Johns other novels) especially if you’re a fan of eerie sci-fi like Black Mirror. -K.

I have been a John Marrs fan since the first book I picked up of his, and this read only further solidified him as one of my favourite authors of all time. It was impossible to put this book down, with all of the twists and drama, I constantly wanted to find out all of the secrets. I enjoyed the premise of MetaChildren and thought there was a really good diversity with the contestants, their backgrounds, and their storylines. The ending was extremely satisfying and I’m looking forward to rereading it in the future. I would recommend this book to everyone (but read his other speculative thrillers first)

John Marrs is one of my favourite authors - the ideas he comes up with are always so fascinating and frighteningly plausible for the future. This one focuses on AI and the meta verse and raising a virtual child. I find AI really interesting and also terrifying so the subject matter was right up my ally and definitely raises a few ethical issues that get you thinking. Like many of his books there are a few different POVs to keep track of and I would say compared to his other books I wasn’t as interested in the characters as much and so it was a little harder to be invested in the overall story. 3.5 for me.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Just finished The Family Experiment by John Marrs, and it was quite the journey. The concept grabbed me right from the start, offering a mix of dystopian and reality TV elements that's both unique and bold. This book, the third in a series, ventures into new territory, and while it's a bit of a puzzle to keep all the pieces straight, it showcases Marrs's knack for ambitious storytelling. Though it didn’t quite capture my heart like the previous entries, its intricate plot and the moral dilemmas it presents were definitely thought-provoking. Gave it a solid three stars 🌟🌟🌟 - it’s a testament to Marrs's creativity, even if it didn't top my list of favorites.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, NatGalley and of course John Marrs for allowing me to read and review this upcoming release of ‘The Family Experiment’

I would literally read anything that John Marrs’ writes, and I have read everything so far and his speculative fiction is definitely my favourite. He is one of my favourite authors of the moment and I hope we get many, many more books from him over the coming years. The Family Experiment is just that, speculative fiction that sometimes leaves us feeling creeped out because it’s so close to home. His books about DNA matches, self drive cars, Marriage Agreements, and of course the inevitable downfall of Great Britain are all bordering on fact rather than fiction these days. As a fan of Black Mirror and such I find John’s books absolutely enthralling and I barely sleep until I’ve finished reading. I love the way that the books are connected and it makes you feel comfortable with the characters and the world because it’s one you’ve already visited. This book explores the subject of AI, of Metaverse babies and the question that is often asked - Do they have souls? It’s a page turner and with a big unique set of characters you find yourself rooting for them or hoping for their failure. There is suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, a bit of heartache to make you feel for them, as well as some gore to keep you grossed out. What more could you want? This was definitely one of my favourites I’ve read and I can’t wait to read more soon.

Another brilliant near-future thriller from John Marrs. Great characters and incredible world-building. Has prompted lots of philosophical discussions in my household - while at the same time being a great read. Definitely does not disappoint!

Oh my GOD this book was incredible. I am just obsessed by anything John Marrs writes I think now. I have found a new favourite author. I was so hooked on this and finished this so quickly, so a big thank you to Net Galley for my copy of this. 
 
The book introduces the reader to a selection of contestants (couples and one single parent) who are competing to win a 9-month competition called The Family Experiment, in which they have to raise a virtual child from birth to a young adult in this timeframe accessed in the Metaverse via a VR headset. Not only is this a competition, it's also live streamed as a reality TV show for the world to watch! If they win, they can either choose to keep their virtual child or win some money to conceive their own child in real life. 
 
The plot behind this book is honestly incredible yet slightly terrifying when you think about the concept, and as I was reading it I was just thinking this is such a clever book and I never want it to be over! I felt so invested in some of the couples' storylines, and considering there are a lot of characters to remember, each one is developed perfectly and as the reader you really get to know them all equally.  
 
If you want something with dystopian feels that is super twisty and fast-paced, then this is the book for you. It made me think oh my god this is literally what the future could look like! It gave me Black Mirror, Big Brother and Hunger Games vibes and was a very thought-provoking read. I think speculative fiction is a new genre for me, that I am definitely going to read more of!

Wow. I really don’t know what to say in this review. This book was something else.

The concept of the story was different, strange and left me feeling uncomfortable yet I don’t doubt that this is a possibility in the future with the way AI is going and technology. We are in for some big changes.

The characters (there were a lot) but it wasn’t off putting. They each had a story and an ulterior motive - each hiding something sinister.

Each of the characters have their own voices throughout and believe me, we heard them loud and clear. I had myself rooting for couples that I then couldn’t believe I fell for their act. My head was absolutely fried with the twists, turns and more. It was a roller coaster of a ride.

I did find it disturbing to think that this premise could be in our future, a subscription free and you can get a virtual child…? It’s not out of the realms of possibility for modern day humanity. AI will take over eventually.

But, I digress, the story was immaculate, twisted, dark and so very sinister. It was unputdownable from start to finish and that twist at the end, terrifying. You’ve some mind, John Marrs! Well done.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marrs and Pan Macmillan for allowing me this ARC.

Another great book by John Marrs whom is fast becoming my go to author each time a new book comes out.
Written in the style of each chapter following the various ‘families’ competing in the family experiment it was easy to follow.
There is some reference to The One and The Marriage Act in the book but there is no need to have read these before but for me it enhanced the book that I had read those books.
This book is easily a read in one sitting book if time allows.
Can’t wait for the next book written by John Marrs.

I would like to start me review by saying that futuristic and sci fi are not my usual gendre ,or i should say weren't.

i loved this book, and was fortunate to have received it as an ARC. for which I am giving my unbiased review.

This is a book set in the future and is about the lives of approximately ten people. You get to follow their lives set in the future and then learn their back stories. This really is fast paced and twistey and turney as prromised all the characters seemed very real, like people you know. I thought it was well written and easy to read. I will most definitely recommend it.

I really didn't enjoy this overall. The concept drew me to the book, but I thought the characterisation was poor and the tying up of the story at the end was too neat and unbelievable.

John Marrs is one of my go-to authors and having just inhaled the audiobook of The Stranger in Her House, I was keen to dive into The Family Experiment.
This is the latest in Marrs’ speculative thrillers, set in a future not so very far away. I have read all of them bar The Passengers and was glad I had, as I was already familiar with the futuristic world he has so masterfully created.
The Family Experiment takes reality TV shows to a whole new level, with couples competing to raise a virtual child to the age of eighteen, their every decision, every action, pored over by millions of viewers.
As with Marrs’ other speculative novels, the chapters jump from couple to couple so it takes a while to get to know everyone’s personalities and, more importantly, their motivations.
Because, as you would expect, not everything is as it seems, and everyone has their own agendas for wanting to win.
But once you’ve got to grips with the characters you’re taken on a thrilling, fast-paced ride that is scarily close to our AI-obsessed world. In fact, in the acknowledgements, Marrs says his inspiration for the book came from a newspaper article suggesting that in a few years’ time it’ll be commonplace for people to start families in the Metaverse.
Until then, you can live a meta life vicariously in this excellent, page-turner of a novel.
Oh, and I loved the webuyanyavatar advert. Inspired! (IYKYK).

This is such a good thriller. I was hooked. I read it in one go. The short chapters and excellent characters made me have to find out what was going on. Parts were predictable but in the best of ways. Great for a summer read.

This is book 3 in what I see as an unofficial series. First book being The One.
I've loved the 2 previous books set within this "world". Each one showing a dystopian reality that could one day be possible.

The synopsis of this was very intriguing. I went into this wondering just what this world could look like. Turns out it's worrying.

I found myself gripped to this story. While it did feel a little slow at times I still wanted to see where this would go. What secrets everyone was hiding.

The Family Experiment is a dystopian thriller following a new technological advancement claiming to make parenthood more accessible with the introduction of virtual children. It is multi-POV, jumping between the stories of people competing to become parents in the metaverse. These stories weave together as strange and shocking things are uncovered and secrets are revealed.

John Marrs always manages to create dystopian societies that are so sinister and yet so realistic and eerily close to the world we know today. It feels like a glimpse into what could be on the horizon, which makes it thrilling and at times horrifying. The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as some of the author's other books, some years after the events of The One and with some references to The Marriage Act. It is a standalone novel so you won't miss out on anything important if you haven't read them, but those who have will enjoy some easter eggs and references.

Highly recommended to fans of The One and The Marriage Act; if you liked them, this is very much in the same vein. Also recommended to fans of realistic dystopian fiction and suspenseful thrillers.

From the dystopian world of The One and The Marriage act. The Family Experiment was a book I couldn't wait to read as a John Marrs fan. However this one disappointed me. It just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

It's based on the concept on a reality TV show The Family Experiment. The game lasts 9 months and the baby will progress in leaps up to the age of 18 by the time the finale comes around. The winner has the opportunity to keep their metaverse child or win a cash prize.

There are a few twists along the way, most I found predictable, but there was one I didn't guess. It was a little monotonous at times, but enjoyable overall. It won't dissuade me from picking up whatever John Marrs writes next!

You don't have to have read any of the authors other books (although I have!) to fall straight into this one. Some back references are made to plots in earlier novels but in depth knowledge is not required.
This books plays into the obsessions so many people have with reality TV and the increasing use of AI in many aspects of life to bring you a virtual child, who you can care for as much or as little as you like!
Contestants in the reality show are given a child in the metaverse to bring up in an accelerated timeframe with a view to a big cash prize for those who stay the distance.
Each of the families have unique circumstances and approaches and as the competition progresses more comes to light about them all, and it is not necessarily a positive light.
My favourite Marrs book to date!

This is my first book of John Marrs', although I have heard of some of the others, so I'll be interested to read them. This book is set in the same universe as a couple of his others (The One, and The Marriage Act) and so I'm sure if you've read them that you would get something else out of reading this one. But going in blind, I never felt at a disadvantage. Sure, there are things alluded to, but it doesn't stop any enjoyment of reading this book first-time round.

It's like 'Big Brother' on steroids. There's shocks and surprises round every corner, most of which I could never have predicted. It's so fast paced but never feels rushed; it gives us time to get to know everyone and get involved in the story, but never feels slow or stilted.

All the dialogue felt natural. If I'm honest, most books, even by well-known experienced authors, have at least one line of quite unbelievable dialogue, but I couldn't find any in this. It feels so real. All of it does. There's this bereft feeling the reader gets when you end it that's similar to that felt of the characters.

What's becoming scary is these futuristic fictional sci-fi topics are becoming more and more feasible in the real world. I hope we never get to the stage it is in this book, but it does give you food for thought. Is there anything we aren't willing to monetise or put on social media or the telly, if it means money or success?

It is so addictive; I read it in one sitting. It's unlike anything I've read before. It's sad but uplifting, scary but comforting, unique but familiar, bold but quiet. It's everything it could be. Like the characters, you start growing attached to the children like they're real, you become part of the simulation, and that's when the fear of AI becomes real.

There are quite a number of characters - too many to get into here; it flits from one couple to the next and so on and back and forth. This could have been really complicated and confusing and jarring, but it works really well. You're immediately invested in whatever character you're currently reading about. Everyone is different enough to be interesting, but similar enough to flow together well.

It is not without its difficult topics: miscarriage, child loss, bereavement, death, drug abuse, abduction, trafficking, mental illness, affairs, financial issues, debt, and of course, the ethical problems raised by AI children - are they ''real'? Should they be given the same rights as humans?

It is a psychological thriller, yes. I found it more moving than I expected it to be. Thrillers generally don't make me sad, they make me thrilled...but this was really quite moving and I felt a lump in my throat on a number of occasions. This is definitely a recommended read.

Wow…what a book! I’ve shamefully never read a John Marrs book (but now have many saved in my TBR pile after this) and confess that speculative fiction isn’t a genre I usually like, but this was an incredible read and I flew through it.

A new reality show allows selected couples to raise a virtual child for 18 years accelerated over 9 months, and the company behind the show is preparing to launch a subscription service for other would-be parents of virtual children. There are so many twists and stories behind the contestants, I couldn’t wait to read on what happened next. Absolutely spellbinding from start to finish.

With thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Well well well, this is unexpected! My new favourite John Marrs book. I didn’t think he would ever top The One but this book was everything and more. The twists from chapter to chapter ensured I was unable to put it down. Wow! What more can I say. A fantastic read from start to finish. No one dominates sci-fi thrillers the way John Marrs does!