WOW The Family Experiment by John Marrs ia a dark futuristic absolutely amazing thriller. This is my first time reading a book by John Marrs and I was not disappointed.

The Family Experiment is about a reality television show which is going to rocket television ratings sky high and is available in one hundred and forty eight countries. Couples participating have to raise a child in the metaverse for nine months and the winner gets to either keep the child or take the prize money to start a traditional family in the real world.

Some contestants enrol in order to clear their outstanding debts, some couples who can not have children of their own get to experience an A1 child in the metaverse and can go back and forth into the real world and the metarverse.

I loved this line from the author which is a quote by Jim Morrison a singer who is no longer with us. "Whoever controls the media controls the mind." This is a very apt quote to describe The Family Experiment.

There is a dark and sinister aspect of The Family Experiment which the organisers do not want to rreveal until one day a whistleblower and his covert team expose the participants via a background check which will stipulate their misdemeanours.

There are chromatics, panoptical versions of cells but beware of the left door of no return.

Contact Re:Born if you want that perfect baby…… Metababies you can select and choose every detail. It is about to launch itself upon the world via The Family Experiment TV programme hosted by Autumn Taylor which will be a reality TV show like no other. Here, over a period of nine months, 11 childless couples will raise the first interactive children in the Metaverse. Each set of parents will undertake a series of challenges and viewers can reward them if they are performing well or vice versa. The prize is to either keep their virtual child or to have the chance of a human baby. Follow the experiences of these parents with their Tamagotchi style child, but be warned, this may damage your health.

Oh. My. Goodness. What I love about John Marrs books is that he always brings something different to the table and if you’ve read The One and The Passengers, which is set in the same world, then you’ll know this. You would therefore expect, and be 100% correct, that this is as twisty as, since it comes from this author’s fertile and creative imagination. Yet nothing here is beyond the realms of possibility, and that’s what makes it even scarier in my opinion as part of this is VERY thought provoking as it raises issues that just have to be considered. It makes the point that we should not step into this world blindly.

The story is told via the parents selected, and this is done so well, as each has their own unique voice, their individual issues and all bar none have a backstory and a half. You root for a couple of them and for the others you watch in horror as their lives implode in front of millions of viewers. it’s clever, taut with tension when your heart is in your mouth, it’s crazy in a good way, shocking and a blood freezing chiller of a thriller. Some scenes really jolt you and your jaw thunders to the deck in disbelief. Talk about a derailing …… One character is very perplexing and highly intriguing and I become very invested in their life. All the way to the brilliant ending, I’m asking the question, what’s the endgame? When you see it all play out the dramatic surprises keep on coming. I love the clever, funny inserts, some are very tongue in cheek and others are just good social commentary.

Overall, it’s an outstanding and utterly immersive page turner, which I can highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this, i’ve only read one other book but this author which was “The One” which i also really loved so i was excited to read this, it had me hooked from page 1. I loved the writing style so much, John Maars’ writing is one that definitely keeps you wanting to keep reading and not put the book down. Definitely going to read all of his previous books.

The Family Experiment
A thrilling ride of intrigue and horror, I was gripped throughout as each character took chapter turns to continue their story, playing in a reality show when it’s a matter of life or death. In true Marrs style, the story makes you question your moral values, what’s right or wrong, what’s real or just a figment of your virtual reality. Scary at times, making you question is this the way our future is heading? Quite possibly! And what then? Is science moving to quickly? Let’s hope Big Brother isn’t watching this one!
Brilliant 5* gripping.

This is one to pre-order. It's gripping, terrifying and utterly compulsive reading. Just as each "pair" reach a monumental moment, we are taken to the next pair: repeatedly!

It's going to be a great bookckub read. There's so much to discuss, so much "do you think ...." and "what if ...."

We're in a slightly futuristic world where reality TV shows are taking place in the Metaverse. 10 households compete to raise an AI baby in the Metaverse. The winning couple are given enough money to start their own real family. The world decides who gets the monthly challenge and how bad it will be. It has all the hallmarks of a reality TV show and all the trials & tribulations of parenthood.

Everyone is safe in the Metaverse. It's not actually real. Nobody can die.....or can they?

I’ve always heard good things about John Marrs, but hadn’t picked up one of his books yet. I saw this on NetGalley and thought “if I get a copy, no better time to try than now” Boy am I thankful I got an eArc. This book blew me away.

There are quite a few characters in the family experiment, but it’s not hard to follow at all. There are fun pages that show web forums, or news articles that make the reading experience fun. The story is honestly so gripping. I did not want to put it down.

While I did guess some of the reveals, I never could guess all of them, nor could I guess the WHYs. I think even seasoned Thriller readers will enjoy this.

I am definitely going to get more Marrs books and move them up my TBR: I believe the hype :)

What can I say.....it's John Marrs....it's weird and wonderful ......it's another winner! I've read all John Marrs' books and they just get better and better. Strange, scary, hopefully unbelievable but getting more credible every year. John's books are often about topics that technically will be possible just a few years in the future. Frighteningly close and frighteningly possible. I loved every single crazy twist. I just couldn't put it down. Personally I'm not a big fan of social media or reality TV but lots of people are and I can see how easily society could fall down this particular rabbit hole. A definite 5* recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐬
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 | 𝐒𝐜𝐢-𝐅𝐢
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟓 ⭐️
I don’t know how to put how brilliant this book is. 1000000% recommend!!!

One of those books that consumes your daily thoughts and all you want to do is read it. I was sad to finish it.

Told in John Marrs’ dystopian future, not too far from our own in all honesty which is a scary thought. This is a very thought provoking read.

‘The Family Experiment’ is a reality tv show that follows 10 couples who are raising a virtual child from birth to 18 years old but over a 9 month period.
The prize for the winner: the right to keep their virtual child OR risk it all for a chance of a real baby.

It reminded me of Big Brother mixed with Animal Crossing 😅(iykyk), you have a ‘tamagotchi’ child to look after!

I devoured this, I found it twisty and thrilling. If you have read Marrs’ other works you’ll recognise some of the references throughout, little Easter eggs.

Thanks so much to @netgalley, @panmacmillan & of course @johnmarrs.author for this eArc!!

Don’t forget this is released 9th May 2024!!

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"The Family Experiment" is a thought-provoking and innovative exploration of the future of parenthood in a world plagued by overpopulation and economic challenges. Set in a near-future UK on the brink of collapse, the novel introduces a groundbreaking concept that challenges the traditional notions of family and parenting.

The premise of creating virtual children through a subscription service offers a unique solution for those unable to afford or access traditional family planning. Marrs skillfully weaves a complex narrative that follows ten couples as they participate in a reality TV show to raise virtual children in a condensed timeline, leading to a dramatic showdown where they must choose between their virtual family or the chance for a real child.

Through compelling storytelling and sharp social commentary, Marrs raises important questions about the ethics of technology, the meaning of parenthood, and the impact of virtual realities on human relationships. The characters are intricately developed, each facing personal struggles and moral dilemmas that add depth to the narrative and challenge readers to reflect on their own beliefs and values.

"The Family Experiment" is a masterfully crafted novel that pushes the boundaries of speculative fiction, blending themes of love, sacrifice, and the quest for fulfillment in a world teetering on the edge of change. Marrs' compelling narrative, rich world-building, and engaging plot twists make this novel a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and thought-provoking speculative storytelling. "The Family Experiment" is a captivating and immersive journey that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

John Marrs is always an auto-request for me as I just love his dystopian plots that usually connect to one another. I was especially interested in the plot of The Family Experiment specifically, being 7 months pregnant personally. There are quite a lot of characters to start with and I was unsure how I'd be able to keep up but this does become easier as you progress through the book for a few reasons. As is typical with a John Marrs, none of the characters are who they seem to be and it's hard to trust or even warm to anyone.

The plot tackles an array of fascinating subjects, several of which many of us will recognise in the present day but giving them a futuristic twist. It's actually quite terrifying considering how similar our world could look to that of the one from the authors imagination. The Metaverse was absolutely fascinating as a concept, one of those you'd like to try out yourself but then equally wouldn't want to step foot in. I also really liked the use of social media, new stories and advertisements that broke up the contestants stories.

Overall this is a very dark book that took me back at times although I enjoyed the twists expertly peppered throughout, many of which I did not see coming. Would thoroughly recommend and look forward to the next book!

4.25

Another great book by a brilliant author.

This was a very clever book. This author has a marvellous mind and the way that he writes about technology in the future is both clever and captivating. I loved how his past books were either mentioned in passing or featured interlinking characters.

The concept of the story was interesting and scarily enough could be something that would happen in the future. My only criticism would be that each chapter flitted between characters and I often found myself a little bit confused as to who was who. The book was largely featured around children and babies something which is a little difficult for me to read about at the minute due to my own situation however, I still managed to enjoy the book and I would most definetely recomend it.

Where do I start.

This is a real page turner, leaving you gasping in shock from one chapter to the next.

A brilliant story by an author at the top of his game.

One I just could not put down.

Satirical rather than suspenseful, this dystopian novel poses terrifying questions about fertility, artificial intelligence, reality TV popularity contests and social media.
Several people participate in TV show to raise virtual reality children. The winners, chosen by viewers, get to keep their VR child or undergo fertility treatment to have a real baby. One contestant, Hudson, had a, page-turning backstory, and I liked the twist.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Population growth can't be sustained, towns and cities are at breaking point and people can't afford to live let alone feed and clothe children. Artificial Intelligence has the answer - just a small monthly subscription fee can get you your very own metachild. Why leave it to chance or genetics when you can design and have the perfect baby you’ve always dreamed of? One that can live in the metaverse and be switched off when you get bored with it.

I love John Marrs novels, just a step away from reality they're a scary look at what without restriction on AI development the future could look like,

Jumping straight on the bandwagon of this latest AI development comes reality TV with 'A Family Experiment', a prime time reality contest that follows 11 people, 5 couples and 1 single male raising their very own virtual child over an 9 month accelerated growth period. Throw in a live feed, a few challenges decided by the viewer vote, a chance for audience participation and in this crazy world you've got yourself a hit TV show.

This wasn't the easiest novel to get into, with many characters and a storyline that jumped between past and present I found myself re-reading the initial chapters more than once but it was so worth the effort - a rewarding and thought provoking read.

This one spooked me reading this! It felt like a Black Mirror episode and with AI being so advanced now it wouldn't shock me if AI to create new avatars for people, and then to make it a reality show - everyone would've seen it coming!

I loved reading this though as it made me feel like I was one of the viewers watching parents look after their AI babies and rooting for those I liked hoping they don't mess up. It was such an enjoyable read with twists and turns and the idea in general was chilling but incredibly gripping

John Marrs has done it again. I would love to have an insight on how his brain works because, WOW. His near future thrillers are scarily realistic and are the real horror. Well done Mr. Marrs, you never miss!

The cliffhangers in this book were so so amazing!! John Marrs never disappoints with his books and I imagine this one will be extremely popular this year. I felt so shocked during the plot twists and did not see them coming!

I am the BIGGEST John Marrs fan so I knew I was going to love this as soon as it was announced.

His dystopian thrillers are SO clever and well written. The plot had me hooked from the absolute get go. The characters were all incredible, the experiment was absolutely insane but in a way that was also terrifying because how NOT completely far fetched it was.

The twists and reveals had me shocked and open mouthed for a good while!

The only thing that I struggled with it keeping up with who is who! It’s the same for all his dystopian thrillers so part of me thinks you are MEANT to start off confused and I actually don’t mind it because I know the pay off will be great - and it was 😂

When I tell you John Mars has snuck up on me; damn! I’ve always enjoyed his writing, but recently his talent for crafting the most twisted versions of reality is honestly concerning and I can’t get enough of it.

The Family Experiment is a warped portrait that captures the zeitgeist of todays world; the frustrations, the impossibility of affording a happy life, the crushing depression and the subtle but powerful grabs for control and power from oppressors - it’s like looking through a broken mirror out to the world in a way that’s frighteningly possible, building on the broken Britain created in “The Marriage Act.” Mars crafts the setting to feel so familiar to truth so everything just feels that much more uncomfortable, complete with adverts and media from this odd version of the world showing a technologically advanced society full of possibility but moving further from humanity; slowly shifting from a sense of mundanity into something suspicious and suffocating where every part of your life is controlled and up for sale.

We follow five couples, and single dad Hudson on their own individual journeys, jumping between their stories with quick chapters - but each perspective was so distinct that it was so easy to follow and get attached to every single one of them after we figure out who is who. As the competition progresses, each little chapter offers slices of life that felt almost like scrolling through reels or TikTok of our favourite reality TV show, short form snippets, little moments of daily life to see before moving on.

But then secrets, lies and plots start to move to the surface and the stories begin to crash together in an explosive way; suspicion being thrown everywhere with the players lives falling apart seemingly at random and the mysterious producers still being just a figment in the computer, watching with us as the threads of these stories weave together until the true motives are revealed and I can tell you I WAS SCREAMING.

Get ready to meet the most disturbing Tamagotchi in existence, and play The Family Experiment.

The Family Experiment is a new reality TV show where over 9 months, eleven contestants, 5 couples and a single man, compete to raise the world’s first fully interactive children in the Metaverse. They are given £250,000 each to raise the children and if they win, they get to keep whatever is left of this and their MetaChild or ‘pull the plug’ on their child and take a quarter of a million!

This book pulls you in from the very beginning. I read it in about seven hours, as literally couldn’t put it down.

It is set in the same near future world as his other Speculative Thrillers and there is so much going on. Each chapter follows different contestants and wow, the amount of cliff hangers that leave you desperate to get to the next instalment of their story!

John Marrs speculative thrillers usually weave their way into my brain, but they don’t usually emotionally affect me this much. I cried for the trafficked children, for the metababies, for the characters who lost so much, so many emotions, so many thought provoking scenarios. It was scary, shocking, challenging, but above all - AMAZING!

The only problem is, I don’t know how he can top this one 🤯

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and @johnmarrs.author for this eARC

Pub Date: 9 May 2024