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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.

The Family Experiment by John Marrs
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John Marrs is always a fantastic read and someone I reach for the moment it’s been published.
This first of its kind AI experiment gave contestants the chance to have their own child in the meta universe. Virtually attending to the needs of their children whilst competing in a game show.
A really interesting concept. I love how John Marrs writes these futuristic books in a realistic way like this could really happen. It gives insight as to the way our world could go.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Marrs and Pan MacMillan for this ARC in return for an honest review.
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#books #booknerd #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstack #bookchallenge #booklover #reader #readersofinstagram #reading #bookswithcookandacuppa #netgalley #2024reads #JohnMarrs #TheFamilyExperiment

A truly wonderful book that has me on the edge of my seat by a talented author who I love to read. This is always an author I'll pick up as his stories never disappoint

AI has come a long way and now people who can't have children, or can't afford IVF are able to have their child created in the metaverse. But at what price?

Big Brother meets Battle Royal

We follow several couples in the novel as they navigate having a child in the Metaverse. But their lives aren't all they seem in the real world and soon personal secrets will come out.

This novel has a unique concept with a genre of science fiction mixed in with thriller. Each chapter is written per character / couple which left me wanting more after each page.

This is my first read by John Marrs and it won't be my last.

I've read a few books by John Marrs now, and I like every single one of them. This book, The Family Experiment, revolves around an intriguing premise where families are put to the ultimate test in a social experiment designed to examine the limits of loyalty and love.

In a world that is overpopulated, raising a child has become something that lots of people cannot afford anymore. But, there is the alternative, the experiment. An experiment to be able to experience having a child, a virtual child. This experiment will follow ten couples as they raise a virtual child from birth to the age of eighteen, but only in a nine-month time period. They all compete for the prize - the right to keep their virtual child or risk it all for the chance of an actual baby.

As I've become used to with the books by Marrs, the characters are richly developed. The tension builds as they confront moral dilemmas that challenge their bonds. The exploration of themes like trust, betrayal, and the complexity of familial relationships makes for a gripping read. Marrs skillfully weaves suspense and emotion, keeping readers invested in each character's fate. As the experiment intensifies, the characters are forced to face not just their relationships with each other but also their own identities. Overall, it's a compelling blend of psychological drama and social commentary.

5/5⭐️

Another great unique book by John Marrs. It kept me reading quickly and there were some good twists. Even though the book is meant to be 'futuristic'... with the way VR and AI technology seema to be 'taking over', you could totally see this actually being a realistic thing that could happen one day. A must-read for thriller fans, AI fans and those who love creepy / Black Mirror type vibes. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, is this review long overdue? Yes, was it worth the wait? 100% yes. My first John Marrs book and I totally get the hype for him and can't wait to read more.

This story follows a reality tv contest in which a selecvton of families must raise a virtual child in a hyper-realistic VR environment. If they win, they get to either keep their virtual child they've spent montsh raising, or take the prize money to start a real world family. But true to thriller form there are plenty of twists and mysterys along the way and none of the contestants are what they seem.

The most impressive thinga botu this story to me was the pacing, never once did I feel bored or like we were at "the slow bit" there were a consitent pace of reveals and developments that never felt rushed and had a good amount of time tob reathe and leave us in suspense. Aiding this is the number of pov characters, meaning that when we get an end of chapter reveal we switch to the next family and must wait to see the fallout.

Another thing to commend are the characters. Every familiy were interesting and compelling, some more morally dubious than others but all fascinating with plenty of secrets to reveal.

Suffice to say I adored this book and I can't wait to read more John Marrs.

Great thriller kept me hooked the whole way through. Great writing and plot. Love this authors work and unpredictable till the ending

Truly incredible, John Marrs has done it again. This book was like watching a Black Mirror episode, the whole social experiment of messed up was just amazing. How these ideas come to John is so messed up, but I love it! Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this one and posted a full review on my instagram!

Very creepy futuristic vibes!

I didnt see the ending coming and was really surprised with the twist!

I adore this authors work, and this book didn’t disappoint, a thrilling and gripping read and I highly recommend.

I say it every time I read one of his books + I’ll say it again.. John Marrs is the absolute KING of thrillers. Every plot he comes up with is more creative than the last 🙌🏽 If I could give this book ten stars, I would.

This latest thriller, set in the same universe as 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 + 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵 (his best work imo) is such a wildly unique concept that is twisty, shocking, super fast paced + utterly addictive.

We follow eleven characters, all with completely unique backgrounds, which may sound a lot, but Marrs has fleshed out each individual’s characterisation so flawlessly, it’s super easy to keep track of who’s who. The mixed media inc websites, chat forums + ads throughout the plot made the reading experience immersive + engaging and there were so many mind-bending + thought provoking plot points that I honestly couldn’t read quick enough.

Marrs’ speculative thrillers are terrifying because they are terrifyingly plausible and don’t feel that far outside the realms of possibility. This was a complete ROLLERCOASTER of a book that had it all: jaw dropping twists, an incredibly original premise, short snappy chapters + a super satisfying ending.

This could be read as a standalone but 1) it would let slip some spoilers from the other books set in this universe and 2) I cannot recommend picking up one of Marrs’ books if you haven’t already. He never fails to deliver a dark, captivating + addictive thriller, so if there’s one thing you do before the end of this year, PLEASE make it to read some of his work 👏🏽

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑃𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑛, 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 & 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐼𝐺 (@𝑟𝑒𝑑ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙), 𝐺𝑅 & 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ.

Llegué a The Family Experiment un poco por casualidad, John Marrs no es un autor que haya pasado cerca de mi radar, algo de lo que me arrepiento porque al menos esta obra me ha cautivado. Se podría categorizar más como thriller que como ciencia ficción, pero es indudable su valor especulativo y su proyección del Reino Unido en un futuro cercano que es tan frustrante y desesperanzador como plausible.


En lo primero en que me gustaría hacer hincapié es en los extraordinarios valores de producción del audiolibro, ya que no han faltado medios para disponer de diversos narradores para cada punto de vista, e incluso hay intervalos musicales, sonidos FX y demás parafernalia para hacer de la audición una experiencia muy inmersiva.

The Family Experiment es el nombre de un nuevo reality show que ofrecerá a los participantes la oportunidad de criar un hijo virtual, con crecimiento acelerado durante los meses que dure el concurso pudiendo obtener como premio la permanencia de esa descendencia virtual o un jugoso premio económico que se podría destinar a tratamientos de fertilidad. Como en todo reality show que se precie, los concursantes pasan por un proceso de criba que busca los que mas impacto puedan causar en el espectador para conseguir la máxima audiencia posible. Hasta aquí nada nuevo.

Lo que nos ofrece Marrs es una especulación sobre los extremos a los que son capaces de llegar los humanos cuando se enfrentan a situaciones límite y, sobre todo, cuando no se cuenta con el apoyo de un Estado del bienestar que amortigüe los impactos. Como terrible trasfondo, la venta de niños hacia Europa por parte de padres desesperados que no pueden hacerse cargo de su manutención, la adicción a las drogas de diseño, la absoluta falta de moral de las empresas que desarrollan la IA con el sufrimiento humano y más y más depravaciones que resuenan en nuestro cerebro como falsas, pero creíbles. La denuncia social vestida de entretenimiento para masas es una baza que el autor de Northamptonshire utiliza de forma muy acertada.

El ritmo es excelente desde el principio, in crescendo conforme se van conociendo el pasado de los participantes, que obviamente es bastante más turbio de lo que su fachada exterior podría dar a suponer. El libro funciona como una obra de relojería, aumentando la tensión conforme van quedando menos familias en la contienda, como todo concurso de popularidad que se precie. Y hay que admitir que el autor no deja nada sin explicar, con unos capítulos finales en los que seremos testigos del modus operandi aplicado en cada caso, dando una solución tan perfecta y ajustada que la verdad, le quita un poco de alma al libro.

The Family Experiment ha sido toda una sorpresa para mí y además una muy agradable.

I should start by saying that I have loved every book by the author & went in with very high hopes this would be the same but sadly it didn’t live up to the hype.
I loved the setting, the themes coveted, the links to the one and the world it’s set in. As always it’s scary to think that some of this may be the future.

I struggled with the pace of this book, the characters whilst interesting were sometimes a little too similar to keep track of. Maybe it’s because they were couples rather than individuals? Finally, I felt like I was being told the story, rather than feeling it. I also sadly didn’t rate the ausiobook. It may be intentional but it sounded like it was read by AI voices and lacked allll emotion.

Imagine living in a metaverse with the goal of gaining a prize .
How far would you go to win the prize ?

Each section a couple disappears and we get to know each story.

Who will win the prize and survive ?

I enjoyed the book but struggled to get into it at first .

This was such a gripping read! It gave me dystopian, sci-fi, thriller vibes from start to finish. Written in the format of a reality TV show, jumping from each contestant plus using social media chat groups, it was very hard to put down! Very clever, quite scary, and really does make you question what you’d do in some situations they faced. My first book by this author and it won’t be my last!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this delightful book! 😍

This compulsively readable Sci-fi thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end ! In this novel, we’re following five couples (and even one single dad) who can’t have children or want to test it out before committing to the real deal. They thus participate in a reality-TV show where they get tasked to look after a Metachild, an AI-generated child that looks and feels just like a regular child thanks to haptic suits and gloves.

The contestants are awarded £250 000 to take care of their child. They can choose how much money they allocate to school, activities, clothes, medical care… but every move is carefully observed and dissected by the viewers. They thus have to be really careful about their parenting ! Watchers around the world will decide who wins by giving red and back hearts to the players. Every bad decision leads to a black heart, and every good action leads to a red one.

The winners can decide to keep the money they have left and the child or deactivate the child and earn even more money to pursue IVF or any kind of birth method of their choosing, while losers get eliminated and their baby’s life gets terminated.

This novel magnificently critisises society and our relationship to money, social media and our virtual life. It also poses the question: Can AI have feelings ? Do metachildren have feelings, and can they be considered children, or are they just objects ready to be discarded at any moment ?

I don’t know if I can say I enjoyed this book as most of the characters are pretty unlikeable, and it gets quite dark at times, but I can safely say it will most likely make it to my top books for this year, and I have already started recommending it to clients and friends! ❤️ Now I just have to read everything else John Maars has published 😉

And finally: the twists are TWISTING.😱