The Family Experiment by John Marrs
4.5 ⭐️

Synopsis: The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, breaking point has arrived. 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. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality tv show. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child or risk it all for the chance of a real baby...

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I'm quickly turning into a big, big fan of John Marrs. I was lucky to get an ARC of this book on NetGalley and devoured it in two days!

This book is so different to anything I've read before and set in a dystopian future (although a future you can absolutely see happening!) which terrified me a little bit.

Huge fan of the short chapters and alternating point of view between each couple. Each couple has their own story and own twists which I really enjoyed.

This book is set in the same universe as other Marrs novels such as the One, the Passengers and the Marriage Act. There is reference to these novels in this one but it doesn't spoil it. Definitely going to give these a read next!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I downloaded it instantly , and page 1 had me audibly saying WTF!! and that was how I knew I was going to love this one. And I did👏🏽. The subject of the book felt scarily real throughout and then reading that John’s inspiration was from an article about meta babies, this cemented that fact that one day, this could actually be a possibility😳. I really enjoyed how each family had their own story throughout. It added so many layers to the story and kept me engaged. I absolutely loved the twist at the end! I did have some inkling because of the name but it was still brilliant. I won’t say too much as to not spoil it.

Overall, this is a brilliant read and one everyone should be adding to their tbr on release!

The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as John Marrs' other novels The One, The Passenger, The Minders and The Marriage Act, so has all the futuristic elements within them in this book too. Such as the driverless cars, the marriage act, the DNA soul mate match as well as “15 Minute Cities” where everyone lives within just a 15 minute walk away from everything residents would need such as shops, workplaces, and healthcare. In this world there are still “pandemic lockdowns” occurring on a fairly regular basis so most people work from home. The virtual reality world and AI have made even more advancements, there is a company called Re:born and they actually have an advert advertising their upcoming service. They are a company where you can order a metaverse baby. It can be a 'new' baby, or a duplicate of your current child at an age of your choosing or more eerily a replacement for a loss.
You can pick & choose age, sex, eye & hair colour, skin tone, body shape, their accent, interests & speed of growth. Re:born advertise that "Designers can create the perfect blend of you & your partner just like mother nature intended"
These children have a digital memory, they have photo realistic faces & bodies that can react to you, the parent by using facial tracking & voice recognition. There is a deposit payable and then a monthly subscription fee of £19.99
Re:born is part of a larger company called Awakening Entertainment who also own the new TV Reality show called The Family Experiment. 11 contestants who have been through a lengthy application and vetting process. These prospective parents will wear a slimline headset which are about the size of normal sunglasses and a special “Haptic suit” which have thousands of tactile sensors which allow its wearer to feel every sensation of whatever they are doing in the MetaVerse. Over the next 9 months the contestants compete with each other, bringing up their child that will grow much rapidly than a normal child. The MetaBabies start out as newborns for the first month and jump quite a few years at a time until the final month when they are 18 years old and grown adults. Viewers can watch these parents with their MetaBabies 24 hours a day! The viewers get to vote which parents have to face the monthly challenge such as croup or chicken pox, despite the fact it has been eradicated in the real world.

Theres In App purchases for the viewers which mean you can spend time in the same room as the contestants and MetaBabies without the contestants knowing and literally watch the action as it unfolds. A monthly lottery is also held that allows the winner to interact & enjoy spending one on one time with the MetaChildren themselves.

As for the contestants they are given £250,000 the amount needed to raise a RealWorld child from birth to eighteen. However, it is up to the parents if/how they use it. It can be spent on education, health care, entertainment, travel & immersive experiences and other in App purchases to be used within the MetaVerse.

The Family Experiment is a very interactive for both contestants and viewers. The viewers’ interaction is encouraged and they become very judgmental using a system of red hearts if they approve of what the parents are doing and black hearts if they don’t. The viewers also get to vote for an ultimate winner after the 9 months is done. It is a very black and white ending as the losers see their MetaChild permanently switched off and also lose any of the £250,000 they still have at that time. The Winners are given a choice, they can keep any of the £250,000 they have left and their MetaChild, Or pull the plug on their MetaChild and receive a quarter of a million pounds to start a family in the real world. The money will be paid on the live birth of their child whether that child is conceived by traditional means, IVF, surrogacy or adoption.

It soon becomes apparent that each contestant has a past, a secret they are desperately trying to hide from the viewers. All the contestants have issues/problems to hide or overcome. They all have their unique reasons as to why they want to take part, to have the MetaChild, or to have a final goal of being able to afford a real world child, and some are taking part to further careers and simply make money. Newspapers report on The Family Experiment, saying that it is the return of the original great social experiments.

The book is very cleverly presented in different types of chapters and sections. There’s the “show” parts that Autumn Taylor presents. There’s adverts for Re;Born, then statistics 'information' on the individual parents such as ages, jobs, and backgrounds. There are also the online chat parts where viewers speak to each other about what is currently happening and what they think. At times the viewers in this chat are more aware in some cases than us the reader. As online chat know who Adam is, when Zoe accidentally calls Lenny, Adam. It is through the chats that more facts are revealed to the reader.
There are also the chapters telling you what is happening with the contestants both in the MetaVerse with their MetaChild and in the real world with their relationships and how they are coping with the virtual and real-world balance.
I really enjoyed the references to the other books such as the driverless car hijacking in The Passengers, the finding your one true soul mate partner in The One, and the family dynamics in The Marriage Contract. There were also some character crossovers too within the book but you don’t have to have read all the other books to be able to read and thoroughly enjoy this one. There is so much packed into this one book with all the different contestants, their reasons for wanting to take part in the reality show, the secrets they are hiding and why they are wishing to hide them. The contestants may all be in the same experiment but they all handle the situation differently. For example, Cadman, uses sponsorship to generate more interest and earn money at every single stage of their MetaChild growing up, from the baby clothes and other outfits as the child grows to the furniture in both their virtual and real world apartments. Slowly but surely the secrets of the contestants are revealed and they are eliminated from the show until there are just two contestants left, and there is one heck of a twist as one contestant divulges some shock revelations about the company behind the show and his treatment at their hands. The ugly truth of how the technology behind The Family Experiment show was made and finessed.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were, Wow.....just wow! A fantastic, well thought out, highly detailed plot with likeable, relatable characters all in a futuristic, yet believable world.....loved it!

Summing up, if you love speculative, futuristic fiction that makes you stop and think wow that’s crazy, but at the same time wow that could actually happen then this is a must read book for you!

I am a huge John Marrs fan and was super excited to read this. Yet again I am super impressed by this author. Another fantastic dystopian novel that terrifying and realistic. Highly recommended wirh all John Marrs books 📚 👌 👍 👏 😀

Wow! John Marrs has gone and done it again! What another excellent storyline - extremely modern and relevant with the inclusion of AI and virtual reality worlds. I really enjoyed this book and some of the characters were great! I also loved how it incorporated online forums/news articles as felt it just added to the modern/future vibe. I thought I had the ending worked out about 60% through but I was wrong! John Marrs really knows how to twist and turn his storylines, tricking the reader into thinking they have it all worked out when actually they don't! Another 5 star read from this author!

Firstly thank you to MacMillan for my early access in exchange for a honest review.
Johns books never disappoint!
Set in the future and with advanced technology it certainly seems unnerving .
His stories are scientific ,dystopian but with the human element of people’s flaws .
In this case it’s the need /greed for children .
Excellent plot with a peek into the unknown for us in 2024!

Fast paced , exciting , interesting and incredibly morally questionable.

My first piece of advice regarding this book: read the author's other speculative fiction books in order prior to diving into this one, it will make far more sense and you will understand the characters personality traits and how their life experience influence decisions they make.

So, in order: The One, The Passengers, The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment.

It's been a few months since I read The Marriage Act, and even longer since I've read the other books, so I had to dig deep to recall some of the returning characters, but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of this latest book from John Marrs. In a nutshell, this novel follows the contestants who have been signed up for a reality TV show called The Family Experiment. As detailed in the description of the book, these 11 people are the chosen ones who are competing to have a virtual child of their own, with cameras following their attempts to nurture a child from birth to 18 years of age but condensed into a nine-month period. Viewers get to vote on the highs and lows of their experiences, the losing competitors have their "child" dissolved into the millions of pixels that construct them. Harsh, and heartbreaking in equal measure.

It quickly becomes obvious that not everyone is cut out to be a parent, and that some of the contestants have their own agenda, whether that is as the couple they are part of, or as individuals. The cash prize is all that some of them are chasing, whereas for others it's a way to raise their own on-line profile and popularity. Is there a single one of the contestants who signed up with the pure intention of having a child of their own, which would not have been possible otherwise? This is just one of many questions you'll be asking yourself along the way.

The chapters gradually peel back the layers of secrets, lies, and deception that seem to be an inherent part of the contestants lives and there are shocks aplenty along the way as we have come to expect from Mr Marrs. For me this book worked so much better than its predecessor and, with hindsight, it feels to me like the author had to create the world needed for this novel by writing The Marriage Act. As a series the whole thing works brilliantly and my intention is to re-read the whole series from the start at some point as it is so impressive and I want to try and pick up on some of the more subtle details which I'm sure I missed on my first reading of the books. Knowing how the world is going to progress in future books will make the earlier books feel completely different a second time around, I think.

I would say that this would make for a brilliant TV mini-series, but having experienced Netflix's attempt to televise The One, I know I would be disappointed so I'll stick to reading the books and trying to encourage everyone to share the experience with me.

Up on Goodreads now, live on the blog on 6 May:

Hi and welcome to my review of The Family Experiment!

I’m a massive John Marrs fan in general, but most of all, I love his series (and I use that term very loosely) set in a not that far off future. I use the term “series” because these books are all set in the same future and they reference each other, in The Family Experiment for instance, the DNA matching technology from The One is mentioned, there’s a character we met in The Passengers, and the act from The Marriage Act is referred to. Still, these are all standalones and although I would strongly advise you to read the whole bunch because they are all fantastic, you need not have read any of the others to feel right at home with The Family Experiment.

I love all sorts of thrillers but I will admit (and have admitted many times before) to a certain weakness for thrillers with futuristic tech / dystopian angle. In The Family Experiment, that angle is AI babies. As in babies who do not exist in real life, only in the Metaverse. By wearing the necessary equipment, real people can parent such a virtual child, live with them in a virtual world and experience all the things parents with flesh and blood children do. But can you love a virtual child like you would a real one? Can they love you? Do they even have feelings? Do they have a soul? To call it thought-provoking would be an understatement.

Besides that fascinating technological story element, The Family Experiment also has the typical thriller elements that somehow never get old. Basically all the candidates who are competing in the family experiment reality TV show are carefully guarding their secrets in real life. A weird but very intriguing origin story, a secret in the attic and one in the basement, and quite a few other ones that were never meant to come out, including a really sordid one I did not see coming at all. And one person who knows them all, and for reasons of their own, wants them all out in the open.

I had the absolute best time with The Family Experiment. My expectations were sky-high but they were met without a doubt. The Family Experiment is an absorbing, thought-provoking tech thriller I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

The Family Experiment is out in digital formats, audio and hardcover on 9 May, with the paperback to follow next year.

Massive thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for allowing to read this ARC.

In a world not too far from our own, families compete in a virtual competition, as they seek to look after an AI baby for a cash prize. After the nine months is up, and they’re child has reached adulthood, only one family can win, as voted for by a reality-obsessed population. Will they delete or keep their virtual child? Each family has their own secrets that they have gone to extreme lengths to hide. However, someone out there is working against them. And they may be hiding in plain sight.

This might just be my favourite book I’ve read this year! I went into this with an open mind, having not read Marrs’ similar titles in the universe. After being given an insight into the universe with this outstanding book, I definitely can say I’m going to read the other titles. I didn’t expect anything that happened. It was so well developed with every single character having their own dark back story. This is unlike anything I’ve read before, and is my favourite Marrs’ work yet. Great short chapters, and I feel satisfied at the end because no stone was left unturned. There was an explanation behind everything, and these twists were in no short supply.

A possible six star read! You must read it when it comes out

This was wonderfully dark and thought provoking, both on the concept of reality tv shows and of the idea of raising a child in the metaverse. Set in the same universe as The One, The Passengers and The Marriage Act, this is a Black Mirror style concept where there's a deeper, darker secret that reflects corporate greed in the modern day. Take any idea and when discussing pros and cons, don't forget to ask yourself who's making money from it. This is particularly important at the moment, as AI is on the rise and it's becoming a major part of our lives. A fascinating read and I can't recommend the books in this series highly enough.

The Family Experiment is a gripping futuristic novel set around the premise of Artificial Intelligence helping couples become parents in virtual reality. Planned around a reality TV show in world crippled by recession and continuation of the cost of living crisis, we learn the story and plights of six couples and their quest to raise a child from birth to 18 in just 9 months. The losers lose their child, the winners either get to keep their virtual child, or win money to start a real family - an image beyond many in the future as the cost of doing so is too high.

The book takes a while to settle as it switches between each couple and child. It needs a blitz of reading initially or you lose who is who. But the book is gripping and draws you in. A fantasy story, but one that is scary possible at times. Another great book from this author, who wrote a similar novel The Passengers recently.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Went into this one completely blind to start with (I read the synopsis after being approved and was so glad I requested it when I read that the family experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate ‘tamagotchi’) I absolutely love the AI concept and found it really interesting.
Over the course of the book the past of each of the contestants came to life. Each one of them was hiding something sinister which let’s be honest who doesn’t love a sinister backstory! I did not expect the twists that took place and I loved the little added extras throughout and felt that they really added to the experience of the story.

Wow, another cleverly written book by John Marrs- it amazes me how he comes up with these storylines and plots! I don’t even know how to write this review without giving lots away so I’m not going to! Highly recommend reading to find out more!

There were some serious Black Mirror vibes going on here - and I LOVED it.

My notes as I was reading this one simply say ‘interesting concept, twists and turns, very satisfying’ - and honestly need I say more?!

I am notorious for having split POVs (because I usually don’t find they work for me) but I will happily eat my proverbial hat with this one. The split perspectives was genius and so cleverly done. Each chapter we jump to one of the various families taking part in the competition and while at the very beginning it wasn’t the easiest to keep track of everyone, each character and relationship dynamic is so distinctive it doesn’t take long for you have everyone straight in your head.

Apart from managing to create numerous distinct voices very clearly, Marrs so clever in making me utterly invested in each and every character. I was on absolute tender hooks trying to see both what would happen next to each situation, but also what mysteries we were about to uncover. The cliffhangers were just perfectly incorporated. I just thought the whole concept and execution was flawless.

This was immersive, suspense-ful, and a complete page turner. On top of all that there were some genuinely thought-provoking concepts and topics being interwoven here which just added a really valuable layer or interest and complexity. Overall this was brilliant read and I can safely say that after reading The Family Experiment I am now on my way to read everything Marrs has put out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

Another brilliant book from John Marrs. I have already read 'The One' which is in my top ten favourite books of all time. I hadn't read any of the previous novels set in the same universe but when I saw this available as a pre read I could not resist. This did not disappoint at all. Following various couple taking part on a new realist show where they have to bring up and nurture an AI baby. As you would expect with John Marrs there was a lot of back story with each couple and one single guy that lead to some great twists and turns. I read this in a couple of nights as I just could not put it down. As futuristic as this story is it is written in such a way that it is completely believable and I warmed to the characters.
Another hit from John Marrs.

Wow this really is a book to give you nightmares but also an amazing read. It’s so scary to read because if we are not careful I can see us ended up with shows on tv like this and hopefully this book may open some eyes but wow what a book this is one that will stay with me for a long time I think. Loved it!

Loved the story in this book. Really enjoyed imagining how life could be in a world of Virtual children and how it worked for the couples in the story. I couldn't put the book down, loved the characters the story and the ending.

I'm a huge John Marrs fan & was delighted to receive a copy of this and it did not disappoint.
I finished this really quickly as I couldn't put it down.
Such an interesting read and scarily it seems like the topic isn't too implausible.
I liked the reality TV setting & the different contestants and enjoyed how as the story progressed we found out more of their backgrounds. Hudson was my favourite character.
I enjoyed how the separate stories all came together in the end after a few shocks and surprises.
Brilliant.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC in return for my honest review.

I’ll be brutally honest, I nearly gave up on this after the 1st few chapters as I thought the genre wasn’t for me, the futurist element and AI aspects near.y turned me off, however I persevered and I’m so glad I did. I was thoroughly invested in each of the specific families, veering from love to hate with every changing of age. The back stories were well developed and surprising. I actually couldn’t wait to get to the final and when I did and the narrative continued it was yet another twist in the story to blindside me. Suffice to say, I loved it.

Sadly I remain unconvinced by the writing of Mr Marrs - I keep hoping to see the same thing others do in his writing but it just doesn't happen.

This book is well written, incredibly detailed, with a plot which should grip me yet at 19% of the way in I find myself skim reading in a desperate hope to move it along!