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Dark Future #3
The Family Experiment
ŷ Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2024)From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.
Some families are virtually perfect�
The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the 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 called The Substitute. 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�
Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.
Some families are virtually perfect�
The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the 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 called The Substitute. 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�
Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2024
3,691 people are currently reading
86.6k people want to read
About the author
John Marrs
26books22kfollowersJohn Marrs is the author of #1 bestsellers including The One, The Good Samaritan, When You Disappeared, The Family Experiment, The Marriage Act, The Passengers, What Lies Between Us, Keep It In The Family and The Stranger In Her House. His next book, You Killed Me First, is out in March 2025.
What Lies won the International Thriller Writers' Best Paperback of 2021 award.
The One is a million-copy seller and has been translated into 35 different languages. It was also a Number One Netflix series.
After working as a journalist for 25-years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time writer.
Follow him on Twitter @johnmarrs1 Facebook: @johnmarrsauthor Instagram: @johnmarrs.author website: johnmarrsauthor.co.uk
What Lies won the International Thriller Writers' Best Paperback of 2021 award.
The One is a million-copy seller and has been translated into 35 different languages. It was also a Number One Netflix series.
After working as a journalist for 25-years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time writer.
Follow him on Twitter @johnmarrs1 Facebook: @johnmarrsauthor Instagram: @johnmarrs.author website: johnmarrsauthor.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,313 reviews
July 20, 2024
HE DID IT AGAIN FOLKS. REVIEW TO COME
March 9, 2025
If you want your remaining brain cells to sizzle like charcoal, just flip through the pages of any John Marrs book and feel the ground shake under your feet as the smoke of your burning cells fills the air. His works are truly spectacular, some even more intelligent and mind-bending than episodes of Black Mirror. What's most horrific is that the scenarios described in these books, questioning the revolutionary progression of technology and AI controlling lifestyle, could all become true. If an author can imagine such an ugly truth, then the creators of the technology can too.
"The One" marks the beginning of Marrs' mind-bending tech saga, followed by my favorite sci-fi thrillers "Passengers," "Minders," and "Marriage Act." I recommend starting with these to better understand "The Family Experiment." Some characters, like Cadman N’Yu, appeared in "Passengers," and there's a storyline about an auto-controlled car accident related to other characters. To piece together the puzzle and get a clearer picture, start with the saga where people find their loved ones via DNA testing, which connects the stories of how the government shapes modern British families with regulations in the Marriage Act. Finally, in this book, we find out how genetics and technology change the way of parenting in the Metaverse Universe.
As the world population soars and economic crises increase, a growing number of people can barely afford to support their families, with some even resorting to illegal means like trafficking their children to pay off debts. In the middle of this crisis, companies find another way to protect the sanctity of family life.
Can you imagine having a child called “MetaBabies�? Pre-ordered children exist only in a virtual world called “Metaverse� where parents can pick and choose the age, sex, and design their appearances from eye to hair color, skin tone, body shape, accent, interests, and speed of their growth.
Awakening Entertainment company uses this technology for their latest reality show called “Family Experiment� where six couples are tasked with looking after children in different phases, from newborns to fully grown up. The AI-based created children are programmed to grow like real children, their experiences determined by the nurturing they receive from each parent.
Viewers can watch every moment the families experience in the Metaverse, and one lucky selected viewer can even join them for a limited time to meet the children. The participants will be pushed to the limits with monthly challenges to learn the difficulties of parenting, with virtual black and red hearts on the screen showing the viewers� live responses to their actions and conversations with their children. Of course, there’s a big prize at the end, and the decision for the parents to keep their virtual baby or terminate the avatar to raise their own child with financial support for IVF treatments.
We are introduced to couples including Rufus and Kitty who left the competition shortly after a tragic event occurred during the live streaming.
I can honestly say none of the characters are likable, but of course, there’s a reason behind all these irritating character developments that serve the big picture.
Woody, a drone pilot, and Tina, a euthanasia nurse in 36 seem like a peaceful couple with their daughter Belle, but they hide something very dangerous in the basement. Is there a person? Are they putting someone there trapped without letting go?
Cadman N’Yu, a social media influencer in 36, and Gabriel Macmillan in 26, PA, are the only gay people. It seems like their financial inequalities and age differences have turned Cadman into the controlling man in their relationship, and he has leverage that turns Gabriel into the obedient one. Unfortunately, Cadman acts like their son River is a cash cow by monetizing his milestones in life with influencing business.
Dimitri & Zoe Taylor Georgiou, a couple in their late forties, already had and lost a son before. Both of them hide something from each other behind closed doors and are threatened by somebody who knows their secrets from the outside world but who?
Selena, a data analyst, and Jaden Wilson, her husband, a personal trainer, both in their early thirties, had hiccups in their marriage because of Jaden’s financial secrets. Now they have another chance to be a family. But Selena couldn’t relate to their child as much as Jaden did, and a dangerous stalker starts terrorizing their life that may open a can of worms revealing more truth that may risk their entire relationship.
And Hudson Wright, single, 22, raising Alice alone is the most controversial parent who needs to prove he can shoulder both parents� roles in the family. Interestingly, Hudson is not in the contest for the prize. He has another motivation to raise awareness. But what is it?
As the competition continues, the secrets of the contestants start revealing, the tragic incidents keep occurring, and everything will change, from your perspective to the realities and the AI technology that may affect people’s lives more than you imagine.
Overall, my mind exploded. I only downgraded half a star because after the shocking twist of the book, the aftermath that shows each contestant’s lives was too long and lowered the tension of the entire settlement, even though they consisted of other small twists like Easter eggs you found hidden in the grass.
I’m still rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 mind-bending stars and raising my glass to the extremely intelligent mind of John Marrs! Looking forward to reading his next journey in this heart-throbbing, grey cell-exploding saga!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for sharing this wonderful sci-fi journey’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
"The One" marks the beginning of Marrs' mind-bending tech saga, followed by my favorite sci-fi thrillers "Passengers," "Minders," and "Marriage Act." I recommend starting with these to better understand "The Family Experiment." Some characters, like Cadman N’Yu, appeared in "Passengers," and there's a storyline about an auto-controlled car accident related to other characters. To piece together the puzzle and get a clearer picture, start with the saga where people find their loved ones via DNA testing, which connects the stories of how the government shapes modern British families with regulations in the Marriage Act. Finally, in this book, we find out how genetics and technology change the way of parenting in the Metaverse Universe.
As the world population soars and economic crises increase, a growing number of people can barely afford to support their families, with some even resorting to illegal means like trafficking their children to pay off debts. In the middle of this crisis, companies find another way to protect the sanctity of family life.
Can you imagine having a child called “MetaBabies�? Pre-ordered children exist only in a virtual world called “Metaverse� where parents can pick and choose the age, sex, and design their appearances from eye to hair color, skin tone, body shape, accent, interests, and speed of their growth.
Awakening Entertainment company uses this technology for their latest reality show called “Family Experiment� where six couples are tasked with looking after children in different phases, from newborns to fully grown up. The AI-based created children are programmed to grow like real children, their experiences determined by the nurturing they receive from each parent.
Viewers can watch every moment the families experience in the Metaverse, and one lucky selected viewer can even join them for a limited time to meet the children. The participants will be pushed to the limits with monthly challenges to learn the difficulties of parenting, with virtual black and red hearts on the screen showing the viewers� live responses to their actions and conversations with their children. Of course, there’s a big prize at the end, and the decision for the parents to keep their virtual baby or terminate the avatar to raise their own child with financial support for IVF treatments.
We are introduced to couples including Rufus and Kitty who left the competition shortly after a tragic event occurred during the live streaming.
I can honestly say none of the characters are likable, but of course, there’s a reason behind all these irritating character developments that serve the big picture.
Woody, a drone pilot, and Tina, a euthanasia nurse in 36 seem like a peaceful couple with their daughter Belle, but they hide something very dangerous in the basement. Is there a person? Are they putting someone there trapped without letting go?
Cadman N’Yu, a social media influencer in 36, and Gabriel Macmillan in 26, PA, are the only gay people. It seems like their financial inequalities and age differences have turned Cadman into the controlling man in their relationship, and he has leverage that turns Gabriel into the obedient one. Unfortunately, Cadman acts like their son River is a cash cow by monetizing his milestones in life with influencing business.
Dimitri & Zoe Taylor Georgiou, a couple in their late forties, already had and lost a son before. Both of them hide something from each other behind closed doors and are threatened by somebody who knows their secrets from the outside world but who?
Selena, a data analyst, and Jaden Wilson, her husband, a personal trainer, both in their early thirties, had hiccups in their marriage because of Jaden’s financial secrets. Now they have another chance to be a family. But Selena couldn’t relate to their child as much as Jaden did, and a dangerous stalker starts terrorizing their life that may open a can of worms revealing more truth that may risk their entire relationship.
And Hudson Wright, single, 22, raising Alice alone is the most controversial parent who needs to prove he can shoulder both parents� roles in the family. Interestingly, Hudson is not in the contest for the prize. He has another motivation to raise awareness. But what is it?
As the competition continues, the secrets of the contestants start revealing, the tragic incidents keep occurring, and everything will change, from your perspective to the realities and the AI technology that may affect people’s lives more than you imagine.
Overall, my mind exploded. I only downgraded half a star because after the shocking twist of the book, the aftermath that shows each contestant’s lives was too long and lowered the tension of the entire settlement, even though they consisted of other small twists like Easter eggs you found hidden in the grass.
I’m still rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 mind-bending stars and raising my glass to the extremely intelligent mind of John Marrs! Looking forward to reading his next journey in this heart-throbbing, grey cell-exploding saga!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for sharing this wonderful sci-fi journey’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 9, 2024
John Marrs is back with his latest book, set in the same universe as “The One�, “The Marriage Act�, and “The Passengers� .
In this World, the U.K.’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economy where 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-
A company for “Virtual Children� has created an interactive REALITY TV show which will stream 24/7 as it pits five couples and one single father against each other, as they raise a “Virtual Child � programmed by AI.
For the sake of the show, the children will age at an accelerated rate from birth to the age of eighteen- condensed into a nine-month time period-Month 1️⃣ Newborn stage, Month 2️⃣ Nine months old, Month 3️⃣ Two years old, Month 4️⃣ Five years old, Month 5️⃣ Eight Years old, Month 6️⃣ Twelve years old, Month 7️⃣ Fourteen years old, Month 8️⃣ Sixteen years old, Month 9️⃣ Eighteen years old.
Parents will strap on virtual reality headsets, and haptic suits which will allow them to interact with their virtual children in the Metaverse, and feel everything a biological parent would.
And, of course, what would a reality TV show be without viewers who will VOTE on who is parenting the best, and who should be eliminated each month.
Viewers who see something they approve of can award red hearts ❤️ to the parents-but if they see parenting that they disagree with-you can send black hearts instead! 🖤
THE PRIZE: The right to either KEEP the “virtual child� they raised OR the chance to take the prize money instead, so that they can have a chance to start a family in the real World.
Your contestants:
Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou (Metachild, son Lenny)
Woody and Tina Finn (Metachild, daughter Belle)
Cadman N’Yu & Gabriel Macmillan (Metachild, son River)
Selena & Jaden Wilson (Metachild, son Malachi)
Rufus Green & Kitty Carter (Metachild: daughter, Olivia
Single Dad-Hudson Wright (Metachild, daughter Alice)
WHO WILL YOU BE ROOTING FOR?
Peppered with online CHATS, “Through the Grapevine� news reports and Insta Polls, this is another fast paced and ADDICTIVE thriller which warns of a potentially terrifying future to come!
And, WHAT IS BEHIND the door 🚪 on the left?
I’m not telling-but you can now find out! It’s AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
In this World, the U.K.’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economy where 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-
A company for “Virtual Children� has created an interactive REALITY TV show which will stream 24/7 as it pits five couples and one single father against each other, as they raise a “Virtual Child � programmed by AI.
For the sake of the show, the children will age at an accelerated rate from birth to the age of eighteen- condensed into a nine-month time period-Month 1️⃣ Newborn stage, Month 2️⃣ Nine months old, Month 3️⃣ Two years old, Month 4️⃣ Five years old, Month 5️⃣ Eight Years old, Month 6️⃣ Twelve years old, Month 7️⃣ Fourteen years old, Month 8️⃣ Sixteen years old, Month 9️⃣ Eighteen years old.
Parents will strap on virtual reality headsets, and haptic suits which will allow them to interact with their virtual children in the Metaverse, and feel everything a biological parent would.
And, of course, what would a reality TV show be without viewers who will VOTE on who is parenting the best, and who should be eliminated each month.
Viewers who see something they approve of can award red hearts ❤️ to the parents-but if they see parenting that they disagree with-you can send black hearts instead! 🖤
THE PRIZE: The right to either KEEP the “virtual child� they raised OR the chance to take the prize money instead, so that they can have a chance to start a family in the real World.
Your contestants:
Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou (Metachild, son Lenny)
Woody and Tina Finn (Metachild, daughter Belle)
Cadman N’Yu & Gabriel Macmillan (Metachild, son River)
Selena & Jaden Wilson (Metachild, son Malachi)
Rufus Green & Kitty Carter (Metachild: daughter, Olivia
Single Dad-Hudson Wright (Metachild, daughter Alice)
WHO WILL YOU BE ROOTING FOR?
Peppered with online CHATS, “Through the Grapevine� news reports and Insta Polls, this is another fast paced and ADDICTIVE thriller which warns of a potentially terrifying future to come!
And, WHAT IS BEHIND the door 🚪 on the left?
I’m not telling-but you can now find out! It’s AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
April 2, 2025
John Marrs� The Family Experiment plugs readers into a glitchy, high-stakes reality where parenting isn’t just a challenge, it’s programmed for disaster. In a world running low on resources but high on desperation, ten couples enter the ultimate trial version of parenthood, raising a digital child in the metaverse for a shot at either keeping their pixelated progeny or risking a total system crash in pursuit of the real thing. Set in the same universe as The One and The Marriage Act, this speculative thriller blurs the line between love, technology, and morality, and trust me, you won’t want to log out.
At first glance, The Family Experiment seems like an artificial solution to a very real problem, overpopulation, economic collapse, and the growing inability of people to start families. But Marrs takes this concept and uploads it into a dark and disturbing reality show called The Substitute, where the audience’s votes mean everything, and the consequences of losing are truly gut-wrenching.
This book downloads twist after twist, ensuring readers never feel too comfortable before the next shocking revelation reboots their expectations. The contestants are complex, some desperate, some devious, and others downright despicable, making it impossible to know who to root for. The ethics of AI parenting, the voyeuristic grip of reality TV, and the terrifyingly plausible future Marrs envisions all collide in a narrative that is as thrilling as it is unsettling.
If you think the idea of raising a Tamagotchi baby in the metaverse is ridiculous, just wait, Marrs makes it terrifyingly believable. With sinister secrets, moral dilemmas, and enough tension to make your hard drive crash, this book is an absolute must-stream. It's the kind of novel that forces you to ask: What if the future is closer than we think?
👶👶👶👶👶-Five out of five virtual babies because this book rewires reality TV, parenting, and ethics into a thriller you can’t log out of. 🔄📺 SO GOOD!
At first glance, The Family Experiment seems like an artificial solution to a very real problem, overpopulation, economic collapse, and the growing inability of people to start families. But Marrs takes this concept and uploads it into a dark and disturbing reality show called The Substitute, where the audience’s votes mean everything, and the consequences of losing are truly gut-wrenching.
This book downloads twist after twist, ensuring readers never feel too comfortable before the next shocking revelation reboots their expectations. The contestants are complex, some desperate, some devious, and others downright despicable, making it impossible to know who to root for. The ethics of AI parenting, the voyeuristic grip of reality TV, and the terrifyingly plausible future Marrs envisions all collide in a narrative that is as thrilling as it is unsettling.
If you think the idea of raising a Tamagotchi baby in the metaverse is ridiculous, just wait, Marrs makes it terrifyingly believable. With sinister secrets, moral dilemmas, and enough tension to make your hard drive crash, this book is an absolute must-stream. It's the kind of novel that forces you to ask: What if the future is closer than we think?
👶👶👶👶👶-Five out of five virtual babies because this book rewires reality TV, parenting, and ethics into a thriller you can’t log out of. 🔄📺 SO GOOD!
May 20, 2024
4.5⭐️ how did I miss news about the release? 😭
my favourite thing about John Marrs� sci-fi has got to be how perfect technological innovation seems till he pulls the rag from under your feet and you are left feeling like “oh I shouldn’t have been excited too quickly�
this concept/plot was just as fascinating and brilliant as the other books in this universe where it seems artificial intelligence is making life better, but really, is it?
a marketing strategy in the form of a tv reality show to launch metaverse babies who are supposed to serve as a solution/comfort to people who wantthe perfect baby created by AI a baby. the public get to weigh in on how every parent is doing on the show and who deserves to win cash to start their own family after the show.
only thing is, the couples and the companies involved in this advancement have deep, dark secrets and someone is willing to risk it all to tell it all.
my favourite thing about John Marrs� sci-fi has got to be how perfect technological innovation seems till he pulls the rag from under your feet and you are left feeling like “oh I shouldn’t have been excited too quickly�
this concept/plot was just as fascinating and brilliant as the other books in this universe where it seems artificial intelligence is making life better, but really, is it?
a marketing strategy in the form of a tv reality show to launch metaverse babies who are supposed to serve as a solution/comfort to people who want
only thing is, the couples and the companies involved in this advancement have deep, dark secrets and someone is willing to risk it all to tell it all.
May 11, 2024
Marrs is finally back where he belongs. Futuristic novels with an AI theme is just his thing, and I hope he will stick with it from now on. In the family experiment we follow a reality show where families compete for the chance to win money that ultimately can give them the family they long for. There are many POVs (maybe too many) and for me that worked well. I must admit it scared me, since AI is already here with its fake news and deep fakes. The plot convincingly showed how the extreme variants of an AI future might look like, and it makes me want to hide under the duvet. I especially loved the last chapters, where you got the full picture.
May 12, 2024
John Marrs is Thee King of Speculative Fiction!!!!!!
Pass me my inhaler because this one took my breath away! 😮�
In The Family Experiment, the economy is in crisis, the world's population is soaring and for those couples who would like to start a family its virtually impossible! But fear not because there is an alternative! A reality tv show where you can create a virtual child from scratch and access via the metaverse and a VR headset has been created and we have 10 couples who are participating. They raise the metaverse child from birth to eighteen years in a 9 month period with a too good to be true prize for the winning couple
⋆｡°�WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°�
� Short chapters
� Evenly paced
� The plot was brilliant and felt almost too real!
� The characters and their backstories
� The DRAAAAAMMMAAAA!
� Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger that has you screaming 'wait... what!?'
� The mixed media was brilliant
� Highly entertaining but thought provoking too
� The twist, turns and reveals! Can you say whiplash!!!?
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDNT LIKE⋆｡°�
� There is a LOT of characters!
� some minor plot holes
� The book finished.
whewww this was sooo damn fun! After initially feeling like i would have to create a spider chart with all the characters and their metachild , I eventually found my footing and remembered who was who, what their backstory was and their current intentions. Some of the characters i was more invested in than others, but ultimately i was sitting with my popcorn inhaling all the drama! I would have loved too see more emphasis on the interactions the viewers were able to have with the show (challenges and meet and greets).
If you haven't read The Marriage Act, The Passengers and The One, I would highly advice too as this book makes references to those books and it will help you understand the book better.
There was times when reading, i was like 'could you imagine, if this really happens in the future', and it felt quite dark and eerie thinking about it. It really reminded me of the Black Mirror episodes 'Nosedive' and 'Striking Vapors'.
The mixed media of the 'public' watching and commenting about the show had me cracking up, because its no different to the world we are living now, how we feel so compelled and involved in reality tv shows and peoples lives!
It's hard to speak more on the plot without ruining or exposing information. All I will say is that John Marrs imma need for you too stay in your speculative fiction bag and keep more of these coming because I am OBSESSED!
4.5 �
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°�
Eeek Happy Release Day to one of my favourite authors! 😁
Excuse me while I try and devour this book in one sitting! 💖
Pass me my inhaler because this one took my breath away! 😮�
In The Family Experiment, the economy is in crisis, the world's population is soaring and for those couples who would like to start a family its virtually impossible! But fear not because there is an alternative! A reality tv show where you can create a virtual child from scratch and access via the metaverse and a VR headset has been created and we have 10 couples who are participating. They raise the metaverse child from birth to eighteen years in a 9 month period with a too good to be true prize for the winning couple
⋆｡°�WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°�
� Short chapters
� Evenly paced
� The plot was brilliant and felt almost too real!
� The characters and their backstories
� The DRAAAAAMMMAAAA!
� Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger that has you screaming 'wait... what!?'
� The mixed media was brilliant
� Highly entertaining but thought provoking too
� The twist, turns and reveals! Can you say whiplash!!!?
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDNT LIKE⋆｡°�
� There is a LOT of characters!
� some minor plot holes
� The book finished.
whewww this was sooo damn fun! After initially feeling like i would have to create a spider chart with all the characters and their metachild , I eventually found my footing and remembered who was who, what their backstory was and their current intentions. Some of the characters i was more invested in than others, but ultimately i was sitting with my popcorn inhaling all the drama! I would have loved too see more emphasis on the interactions the viewers were able to have with the show (challenges and meet and greets).
If you haven't read The Marriage Act, The Passengers and The One, I would highly advice too as this book makes references to those books and it will help you understand the book better.
There was times when reading, i was like 'could you imagine, if this really happens in the future', and it felt quite dark and eerie thinking about it. It really reminded me of the Black Mirror episodes 'Nosedive' and 'Striking Vapors'.
The mixed media of the 'public' watching and commenting about the show had me cracking up, because its no different to the world we are living now, how we feel so compelled and involved in reality tv shows and peoples lives!
It's hard to speak more on the plot without ruining or exposing information. All I will say is that John Marrs imma need for you too stay in your speculative fiction bag and keep more of these coming because I am OBSESSED!
4.5 �
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°�
Eeek Happy Release Day to one of my favourite authors! 😁
Excuse me while I try and devour this book in one sitting! 💖
July 8, 2024
I thought it was pretty entertaining once I could keep everyone straight.
This book is set in the same world as , , , and . Although it's not necessary to have read those books before this one, I think it greatly enhances your reading experience (and this book has a huge nod to The Passengers at the end). This is set in a near-future society where AI enhancements are commonplace.
A group of people--mostly couples and one single parent--are selected to participate in a reality show called The Family Experiment. These parents will, over the course of nine months, parent a child through various life stages, all in the virtual realm. The prize at the end? Either a chance to keep your virtual child or receive money to fund having a child in the real world. The stakes are high, and for many of these people, it is their only opportunity to be a parent. But every one of them has secrets they hope that no one finds out...
This is a fun, quick read. As with most of Marrs' books, there is a very large cast of characters at first and it's not always easy to remember who is who (and what their secrets are). After I was able to keep them straight, my experience with the book was a good one. There are many ethical dilemmas brought to the surface that might become issues sometime in the (not-so distant) future. Such as--what "rights" does a virtual being have? Deserve?
This is a twisty book sure to please fans of Marrs and others looking for something unique and original. If you haven't read the books listed above, I suggest you do read them first even though this book stands alone. It will really give you a more enjoyable experience.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book is set in the same world as , , , and . Although it's not necessary to have read those books before this one, I think it greatly enhances your reading experience (and this book has a huge nod to The Passengers at the end). This is set in a near-future society where AI enhancements are commonplace.
A group of people--mostly couples and one single parent--are selected to participate in a reality show called The Family Experiment. These parents will, over the course of nine months, parent a child through various life stages, all in the virtual realm. The prize at the end? Either a chance to keep your virtual child or receive money to fund having a child in the real world. The stakes are high, and for many of these people, it is their only opportunity to be a parent. But every one of them has secrets they hope that no one finds out...
This is a fun, quick read. As with most of Marrs' books, there is a very large cast of characters at first and it's not always easy to remember who is who (and what their secrets are). After I was able to keep them straight, my experience with the book was a good one. There are many ethical dilemmas brought to the surface that might become issues sometime in the (not-so distant) future. Such as--what "rights" does a virtual being have? Deserve?
This is a twisty book sure to please fans of Marrs and others looking for something unique and original. If you haven't read the books listed above, I suggest you do read them first even though this book stands alone. It will really give you a more enjoyable experience.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 9, 2024
Brilliant! Once again John Marrs left me speechless!🙌
Are you ready to enter the Meta-verse? Where anything you want can be yours? Any experience you’ve dreamed of is at your fingertips?
Want to raise a family, but unable to due to financial or physical limitations? Well, how about a meta-child in the meta-verse?
In order to get the public behind this new craze…I mean technology, it’s offered up to the masses as a live stream reality show.
A show where different couples and one single man will raise an AI baby who leaps through milestones to adulthood in months rather than years.
The public votes on the winner who can then opt to either walk away with money to start their own true family, or keep their Meta-child.
How does he do it? How does John Marrs come up with the most creative and unique premises?
I was all in right from the start, relishing every delicious page all the way to the end! Even with a large cast of characters I had no issue at all keeping the couples and their stories straight. So if I can do it�.
Shock after shock! I can’t tell you how many times my jaw dropped.
This may very well be my all-time favorite John Marrs reads. (Even though I recall saying that when I finished The One. And I’ll likely be saying it again when he releases his next!😂
One of my favorite thrillers for 2024! Is it on your list? Well, it should be!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing
Are you ready to enter the Meta-verse? Where anything you want can be yours? Any experience you’ve dreamed of is at your fingertips?
Want to raise a family, but unable to due to financial or physical limitations? Well, how about a meta-child in the meta-verse?
In order to get the public behind this new craze…I mean technology, it’s offered up to the masses as a live stream reality show.
A show where different couples and one single man will raise an AI baby who leaps through milestones to adulthood in months rather than years.
The public votes on the winner who can then opt to either walk away with money to start their own true family, or keep their Meta-child.
How does he do it? How does John Marrs come up with the most creative and unique premises?
I was all in right from the start, relishing every delicious page all the way to the end! Even with a large cast of characters I had no issue at all keeping the couples and their stories straight. So if I can do it�.
Shock after shock! I can’t tell you how many times my jaw dropped.
This may very well be my all-time favorite John Marrs reads. (Even though I recall saying that when I finished The One. And I’ll likely be saying it again when he releases his next!😂
One of my favorite thrillers for 2024! Is it on your list? Well, it should be!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing
March 21, 2024
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.
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.
August 7, 2024
The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the 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 called The Substitute. 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�
Gasp! What a true mind f*** of a book! A dark and twisted tale based on real world concerns, The Family Experiment took me into the disturbing realm of artificial intelligence in all of its potential horror. From its even pace to explosive climax, the plot was brilliantly written in all of its well-plotted glory. Trust me when I say that there wasn’t a thing missing from this mind-bending speculative thriller. Time after time, a cliffhanger chapter had me shouting “Wait, WHAT?!� into the night as I pushed on to finish this nearly 400 page book in just a single evening.
Told through round-robin multiple POVs, the character list made the plot come alive. With persona after persona filled with secrets deftly hidden from sight, I didn’t know who to trust as the game got underway. And believe me, this was wholeheartedly a game. By the end, the reality TV show feel simply oozed from the pages. But it was the dynamic backstories demonstrated through easily interwoven flashbacks that made each character into fully fleshed out individuals. Running the gamut from unexpected hero to evil villain, each and every one played their role to perfection.
The strongest piece to this five star narrative, however, was easily the deep dive into AI. Mixing together a very real Black Mirror premise with Marrs’s standard fast-paced, thought-provoking drama, all of my worries about what the tech bros newest toy could do to our world utterly came to life. While perhaps it wouldn’t occur in quite such a colorful way, all of the alarming qualities were still there in black and white. For that reason, I think this would be a dynamite pick for a book club book. After all, there would be so very much to discuss.
There were only a couple of teeny, tiny flies in the ointment. One would be the long list of characters at the outset of this novel. Additionally, the ending left something to be desired. Not in the outcome, but instead the slow rollout of facts in the conclusion. Maybe a bit of editing was needed? Despite this, however, it still didn’t ruin this one for me in the slightest.
All said and done, Marrs has clearly done it again. The fifth book set in his near-future world fully doused in warning, be sure to check out The Marriage Act, The Passengers, The Minders, and The One. Already an auto-buy author for me, the short chapters, mixed media format, and jaw-dropping twists merely confirmed for me that this was Marrs yet again at his best. From the non-stop suspense to the intricate plot, I was wholly consumed as I binged this book from beginning to end. So be sure to grab this one ASAP. It’s sure to be one of 2024’s most buzzed about thrillers. Rating of 5 stars.
Thank you to John Marrs, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: controlling relationship, loss of a child, mention of: gambling addiction, drug use, infidelity, cancer
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 called The Substitute. 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�
Gasp! What a true mind f*** of a book! A dark and twisted tale based on real world concerns, The Family Experiment took me into the disturbing realm of artificial intelligence in all of its potential horror. From its even pace to explosive climax, the plot was brilliantly written in all of its well-plotted glory. Trust me when I say that there wasn’t a thing missing from this mind-bending speculative thriller. Time after time, a cliffhanger chapter had me shouting “Wait, WHAT?!� into the night as I pushed on to finish this nearly 400 page book in just a single evening.
Told through round-robin multiple POVs, the character list made the plot come alive. With persona after persona filled with secrets deftly hidden from sight, I didn’t know who to trust as the game got underway. And believe me, this was wholeheartedly a game. By the end, the reality TV show feel simply oozed from the pages. But it was the dynamic backstories demonstrated through easily interwoven flashbacks that made each character into fully fleshed out individuals. Running the gamut from unexpected hero to evil villain, each and every one played their role to perfection.
The strongest piece to this five star narrative, however, was easily the deep dive into AI. Mixing together a very real Black Mirror premise with Marrs’s standard fast-paced, thought-provoking drama, all of my worries about what the tech bros newest toy could do to our world utterly came to life. While perhaps it wouldn’t occur in quite such a colorful way, all of the alarming qualities were still there in black and white. For that reason, I think this would be a dynamite pick for a book club book. After all, there would be so very much to discuss.
There were only a couple of teeny, tiny flies in the ointment. One would be the long list of characters at the outset of this novel. Additionally, the ending left something to be desired. Not in the outcome, but instead the slow rollout of facts in the conclusion. Maybe a bit of editing was needed? Despite this, however, it still didn’t ruin this one for me in the slightest.
All said and done, Marrs has clearly done it again. The fifth book set in his near-future world fully doused in warning, be sure to check out The Marriage Act, The Passengers, The Minders, and The One. Already an auto-buy author for me, the short chapters, mixed media format, and jaw-dropping twists merely confirmed for me that this was Marrs yet again at his best. From the non-stop suspense to the intricate plot, I was wholly consumed as I binged this book from beginning to end. So be sure to grab this one ASAP. It’s sure to be one of 2024’s most buzzed about thrillers. Rating of 5 stars.
Thank you to John Marrs, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: controlling relationship, loss of a child, mention of: gambling addiction, drug use, infidelity, cancer
July 25, 2024
John Marrs always gets high marks from me for his highly unique, gripping and thought-provoking books. John Marrs has delivered another riveting, original, well thought out, and shocking book! I had no idea where this book would ultimately lead but I was happy to follow.
takes place in the future, during a time that not everyone can afford to start a family. But there is an alternative! People can have meta babies! There is even a reality TV show called “The Family Experiment� that follows 11 people (5 couples and 1 single man) as they raise their virtual 'child' over the course of 9 months. During those 9 months, their AI child will go from a newborn to a young adult. Viewers at home get to watch from home and react to what they see. At the end of the show, the winning person or couple gets the choice to keep their virtual child or receive money to put toward having their own biological child.
Whew! No one can say that John Marrs is not imaginative! He comes up with some interesting plots and characters. I was dazzled, impressed, a little concerned, and shocked while reading this book. It's a wild and captivating ride. Readers observe the parents going through all kinds of situations with their meta child.
**I listened to the audiobook and my only issue with this book was not with the story but with one of the female narrators who spoke very fast. I had to slow down her speaking parts due to her sounding like a chipmunk.
Well written, well thought out, shocking, gripping and unique!
Read more of my reviews at 📖
takes place in the future, during a time that not everyone can afford to start a family. But there is an alternative! People can have meta babies! There is even a reality TV show called “The Family Experiment� that follows 11 people (5 couples and 1 single man) as they raise their virtual 'child' over the course of 9 months. During those 9 months, their AI child will go from a newborn to a young adult. Viewers at home get to watch from home and react to what they see. At the end of the show, the winning person or couple gets the choice to keep their virtual child or receive money to put toward having their own biological child.
Whew! No one can say that John Marrs is not imaginative! He comes up with some interesting plots and characters. I was dazzled, impressed, a little concerned, and shocked while reading this book. It's a wild and captivating ride. Readers observe the parents going through all kinds of situations with their meta child.
**I listened to the audiobook and my only issue with this book was not with the story but with one of the female narrators who spoke very fast. I had to slow down her speaking parts due to her sounding like a chipmunk.
Well written, well thought out, shocking, gripping and unique!
Read more of my reviews at 📖
June 3, 2024
The Family Experiment definitely posed many an ethical question!
It’s the most explosive. addictive reality show to hit British television � live-streaming around the world � welcome to The Family Experiment!
11 contestants � 5 couples, 1 single parent � each challenged to raise a virtual child in the metaverse from birth to 18 years.
Duration of the experiment � 9 months, 9 life stages.
The viewing public will be there for it all � watching, dissecting, judging, voting � twenty-four-seven.
Only one family will win.
The losers� meta-children will be terminated.
After all, they’re not real!
John Marrs� latest futuristic techno thriller set in the same universe as The One (2016), The Passengers (2019), and The Marriage Act (2023) was certainly hard hitting and disconcerting, especially considering a version of this could potentially be our future given the alarming pace and rise in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, designer babies, and genetic engineering. Not to mention the global demand for the most controversial, dramatic and sensationalised reality TV possible, which I’m contributing to as shows like Selling Sunset and Married at First Sight Australia are my guilty pleasure. As a psychological suspense thriller, The Family Experiment more than met all my requirements - it was shocking, dark, exciting, fast-paced, addictive, and contained a multitude of gasp-worthy twists. As a drama it was chock full of toxic relationships, backstabbing and betrayal, emotional upheaval, and juicy secrets galore.
As mentioned above the nine months of the reality show unfolded in nine parts each containing chapters from the eleven parents/contestants POV’s. There were also flashbacks to twelve years earlier, breaking news stories, live chats from viewers at home, chapters following the fallout and outcry after the conclusion of the show, and narrators that need to remain anonymous.
During Part One which covered month one of The Family Experiment I struggled to keep all the parents and babies straight, which is rare for me. I think it was because the parents were dealing with newborns, and all the POV’s consisted of crying babies, nappy changes, etc, so not much to distinguish one from the other. But, once month two (nine months old) rolled around, along with the beginning of revealed past secrets, and relationship dynamics, I was home and hosed, and never forgot who-was-who, nor who was narrating after that. Also, in the opening chapters I struggled to get my head around all the technobabble being thrown around, as words like metaverse are largely outside my experience since I’m not an online gamer. I used to play The Sims in the early 2000’s, and the metaverse the meta-children inhabited in this novel, which their parents were able to visit, experience, create, and explore did remind me of that game, which helped me make sense of it all going forward. The age jumps, designing your dream home and dream life, and escaping-from-reality, were also reminiscent of The Sims and similar role-playing games. Of course, this virtual world was much more advanced, and realistic � and of course, much scarier!
The audiobook was masterful � performed to perfection. All the narrators excelled, and the bonus sound effects and music elevated my listening experiences. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
It seems John Marrs can do no wrong in my book no matter what genre he writes!
It’s the most explosive. addictive reality show to hit British television � live-streaming around the world � welcome to The Family Experiment!
11 contestants � 5 couples, 1 single parent � each challenged to raise a virtual child in the metaverse from birth to 18 years.
Duration of the experiment � 9 months, 9 life stages.
The viewing public will be there for it all � watching, dissecting, judging, voting � twenty-four-seven.
Only one family will win.
The losers� meta-children will be terminated.
After all, they’re not real!
John Marrs� latest futuristic techno thriller set in the same universe as The One (2016), The Passengers (2019), and The Marriage Act (2023) was certainly hard hitting and disconcerting, especially considering a version of this could potentially be our future given the alarming pace and rise in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, designer babies, and genetic engineering. Not to mention the global demand for the most controversial, dramatic and sensationalised reality TV possible, which I’m contributing to as shows like Selling Sunset and Married at First Sight Australia are my guilty pleasure. As a psychological suspense thriller, The Family Experiment more than met all my requirements - it was shocking, dark, exciting, fast-paced, addictive, and contained a multitude of gasp-worthy twists. As a drama it was chock full of toxic relationships, backstabbing and betrayal, emotional upheaval, and juicy secrets galore.
As mentioned above the nine months of the reality show unfolded in nine parts each containing chapters from the eleven parents/contestants POV’s. There were also flashbacks to twelve years earlier, breaking news stories, live chats from viewers at home, chapters following the fallout and outcry after the conclusion of the show, and narrators that need to remain anonymous.
During Part One which covered month one of The Family Experiment I struggled to keep all the parents and babies straight, which is rare for me. I think it was because the parents were dealing with newborns, and all the POV’s consisted of crying babies, nappy changes, etc, so not much to distinguish one from the other. But, once month two (nine months old) rolled around, along with the beginning of revealed past secrets, and relationship dynamics, I was home and hosed, and never forgot who-was-who, nor who was narrating after that. Also, in the opening chapters I struggled to get my head around all the technobabble being thrown around, as words like metaverse are largely outside my experience since I’m not an online gamer. I used to play The Sims in the early 2000’s, and the metaverse the meta-children inhabited in this novel, which their parents were able to visit, experience, create, and explore did remind me of that game, which helped me make sense of it all going forward. The age jumps, designing your dream home and dream life, and escaping-from-reality, were also reminiscent of The Sims and similar role-playing games. Of course, this virtual world was much more advanced, and realistic � and of course, much scarier!
The audiobook was masterful � performed to perfection. All the narrators excelled, and the bonus sound effects and music elevated my listening experiences. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
It seems John Marrs can do no wrong in my book no matter what genre he writes!
August 26, 2024
4-4.5 stars, NO ONE does dystopian thrillers like John Marrs 👏🏼🙌🏼 the creativity and suspense of this was incredible.
it’s for fans of THE ONE and THE PASSANGERS as it’s set in the same futuristic universe. THE ONE is my favorite book of his (and an all time fave thriller) so it’s always a treat when i get to step back into that world. the author so seamlessly weaves his stories together and i love the crossovers we get! hello little Easter eggs!
this story is so eerily believable and that was my fave part. as we enter into this new world with AI, it’s scary to imagine where it can go. this books takes it to an extreme and creates a world where people have AI babies and families—by entering a Metaverse they step into a world with their “child.� it’s mainly for families that struggle to have children or want a second chance but it’s set in a reality TV setting and it gets WILD!!!
there were a bit too many characters for me to keep everything as straight and easy to follow as i wanted to esp in the front half, but i flewwww through the back half! and the ending was so good—it’s a bit more tied up than i like my thrillers but i think it really worked here and i wouldn’t have wanted any other ending!
deff recommend this one - another slam dunk thriller from John! he remains as one of my auto buy and fave thriller authors :)
it’s for fans of THE ONE and THE PASSANGERS as it’s set in the same futuristic universe. THE ONE is my favorite book of his (and an all time fave thriller) so it’s always a treat when i get to step back into that world. the author so seamlessly weaves his stories together and i love the crossovers we get! hello little Easter eggs!
this story is so eerily believable and that was my fave part. as we enter into this new world with AI, it’s scary to imagine where it can go. this books takes it to an extreme and creates a world where people have AI babies and families—by entering a Metaverse they step into a world with their “child.� it’s mainly for families that struggle to have children or want a second chance but it’s set in a reality TV setting and it gets WILD!!!
there were a bit too many characters for me to keep everything as straight and easy to follow as i wanted to esp in the front half, but i flewwww through the back half! and the ending was so good—it’s a bit more tied up than i like my thrillers but i think it really worked here and i wouldn’t have wanted any other ending!
deff recommend this one - another slam dunk thriller from John! he remains as one of my auto buy and fave thriller authors :)
July 9, 2024
Why leave it to chance or genetics when you can have the perfect baby you’ve always dreamed of?
Re:Born: where you can order children that exist in the Metaverse. You can choose your MetaBaby’s age, sex and appearance; their body shape and interests.
The Metababies have digital memories and realistic bodies. They grow up, just like real-world babies.
Re:Born is for every one: New parents or parents who have lost their child or the ones who are unable to conceive.
The only downside: The babies aren’t really real and you should have access to them in the Metaversa and via a VR headset.
Wherever you are in life, we can tailor a package that suits you.
There is even a reality TV show ‘The Family Experiment� in which couples would be competing in raising their Metababy from birth and winning the favor of the audience and thus the ultimate prize.
If you think this is just a virtual game and nothing could go wrong, think again!
Re:Born: where you can order children that exist in the Metaverse. You can choose your MetaBaby’s age, sex and appearance; their body shape and interests.
The Metababies have digital memories and realistic bodies. They grow up, just like real-world babies.
Re:Born is for every one: New parents or parents who have lost their child or the ones who are unable to conceive.
The only downside: The babies aren’t really real and you should have access to them in the Metaversa and via a VR headset.
Wherever you are in life, we can tailor a package that suits you.
There is even a reality TV show ‘The Family Experiment� in which couples would be competing in raising their Metababy from birth and winning the favor of the audience and thus the ultimate prize.
If you think this is just a virtual game and nothing could go wrong, think again!
March 25, 2024
John Marrs, you have done it again *clap*.
The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as ‘The One, The Passengers & The Marriage Act�, think 10 years in the future, Black Mirror esque. The cost of living is now so high (lol, is this the future?) people can no longer afford to have children and raise them. BUT FEAR NOT, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, you can create a virtual child from scratch who lives in the metaverse and is accessed by a VR headset and body suit giving the simulation of real word parenting. From there you can spend as much or as little time with your virtual child as you like. Tamagotchi???
To celebrate the launch of these virtual babies, a TV show, The Family Experiment has just been launched where couples compete to raise their virtual child over a 9 month period. The winning couple get to keep their virtual child or the money to start a real family of their own.
If you were a fan of ‘The One� (best book ever), I know you will love this. It’s set out in the same format, where each chapter is one of the couples POV then ends on a massive cliffhanger so you have to keep reading! There’s a lot of use of graphics too which I enjoyed, such as showing ‘live� polls from the people watching.
If you haven’t read ‘The One, The Passengers & The Marriage Act� yet, I would recommend doing so before reading this. Whilst you don’t HAVE to, there are a lot of easter eggs throughout that refer to the other books.
Mr Marrs I would like to live in your brain because HOW do you think of this stuff?
Honestly this book was SO much fun, I KNOW it will be in my best books of 2024!
The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as ‘The One, The Passengers & The Marriage Act�, think 10 years in the future, Black Mirror esque. The cost of living is now so high (lol, is this the future?) people can no longer afford to have children and raise them. BUT FEAR NOT, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, you can create a virtual child from scratch who lives in the metaverse and is accessed by a VR headset and body suit giving the simulation of real word parenting. From there you can spend as much or as little time with your virtual child as you like. Tamagotchi???
To celebrate the launch of these virtual babies, a TV show, The Family Experiment has just been launched where couples compete to raise their virtual child over a 9 month period. The winning couple get to keep their virtual child or the money to start a real family of their own.
If you were a fan of ‘The One� (best book ever), I know you will love this. It’s set out in the same format, where each chapter is one of the couples POV then ends on a massive cliffhanger so you have to keep reading! There’s a lot of use of graphics too which I enjoyed, such as showing ‘live� polls from the people watching.
If you haven’t read ‘The One, The Passengers & The Marriage Act� yet, I would recommend doing so before reading this. Whilst you don’t HAVE to, there are a lot of easter eggs throughout that refer to the other books.
Mr Marrs I would like to live in your brain because HOW do you think of this stuff?
Honestly this book was SO much fun, I KNOW it will be in my best books of 2024!
June 17, 2024
The Family Experiment is another unique story from the very creative mind of John Marrs. The world building was spectacular and I could easily picture the dystopian setting. The chapters end on a cliffhanger which keep the reader wanting more. I love a good twist and The Family Experiment has a major earth shattering ending that I loved.
My only issue is that I struggled to keep up with all of the characters. There are 5 couples/11 contestants and I kept getting them all confused. But I still really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.
The Family Experiment is set in the future world of Marrs prior novels The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act. You don’t have to read those three to enjoy this one but I do think having knowledge of this prior works will give the reader a better understanding.
The Family Experiment by John Marrs will be available on July 9. Many thanks to HTP and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
My only issue is that I struggled to keep up with all of the characters. There are 5 couples/11 contestants and I kept getting them all confused. But I still really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.
The Family Experiment is set in the future world of Marrs prior novels The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act. You don’t have to read those three to enjoy this one but I do think having knowledge of this prior works will give the reader a better understanding.
The Family Experiment by John Marrs will be available on July 9. Many thanks to HTP and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
May 5, 2024
Get ready for a wild ride through a world on the brink! In John Marrs's latest masterpiece, "The Family Experiment," the UK is in crisis mode with overpopulation and economic woes. But fear not, because there's a solution: virtual parenthood!
Picture this: for a monthly fee, folks can create their own virtual kiddos, accessible through VR headsets. And to kick things up a notch, there's a reality TV show following ten couples raising virtual tykes from birth to adulthood in just nine months. The catch? Risk it all for a chance at the real deal! Set in the same universe as Marrs's hits "The One" and "The Marriage Act," this book dives into the dark and twisted world of virtual parenting. I totally pictured "The Sims".
Marrs nails it with his storytelling, giving each parent their own unique voice and backstory. Plus, he keeps things fresh with different narrative formats that'll keep you hooked until the very end.
But here's the kicker: sometimes the cast feels a bit crowded, which can bog things down. Still, Marrs is a master of world-building, and his mix of past and present storytelling is spot-on.
So, if you're ready for a rollercoaster ride, buckle up and dive into "The Family Experiment"! Big thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for letting me peek behind the curtain and share my thoughts on this gripping ARC. Marrs, you've done it again—keep 'em coming!
Picture this: for a monthly fee, folks can create their own virtual kiddos, accessible through VR headsets. And to kick things up a notch, there's a reality TV show following ten couples raising virtual tykes from birth to adulthood in just nine months. The catch? Risk it all for a chance at the real deal! Set in the same universe as Marrs's hits "The One" and "The Marriage Act," this book dives into the dark and twisted world of virtual parenting. I totally pictured "The Sims".
Marrs nails it with his storytelling, giving each parent their own unique voice and backstory. Plus, he keeps things fresh with different narrative formats that'll keep you hooked until the very end.
But here's the kicker: sometimes the cast feels a bit crowded, which can bog things down. Still, Marrs is a master of world-building, and his mix of past and present storytelling is spot-on.
So, if you're ready for a rollercoaster ride, buckle up and dive into "The Family Experiment"! Big thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for letting me peek behind the curtain and share my thoughts on this gripping ARC. Marrs, you've done it again—keep 'em coming!
May 27, 2024
Test Results.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting John Marrs newest ‘The Family Experiment� not just because I adore the author but because it’s being equated with ‘The One� in superiority by other reviewers.
I wasn’t to be disappointed as this coup in the thriller genre is sensationally clever in addition to thought provoking at a deeper level.
As with The One, this story encompasses several characters with varying back stories impacting the plot going forward. The chapters were captivating and I loved the unwinding of each protagonist's secrets - some quite sinister.
The plot centers around a reality TV show titled ‘The Family Experiment� and follows five couples and a single as they compete to begin their own family - either with a natural born child or a meta child.
So, it’s a reality show based on artificial intelligence, a faux baby, and real people as contestants who live in two environments, true and imagined. Real and not real. Get it? Then you’re faring better than me because I sure didn’t at times.
Overall, I found this brilliant, well researched, and “smart�. My imagination was stretched as I tried to comprehend bouncing back and forth between reality and living in the metaverse with deciphering the possibilities turning me inside out mentally at times.
While I admire the imagination and skill of the author’s writing, I don’t know how much I enjoyed the book because I felt sad while reading it. It’s the future though.
Fascinating, terrifying, and highly recommended.
Hardback purchased at Blackwells.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting John Marrs newest ‘The Family Experiment� not just because I adore the author but because it’s being equated with ‘The One� in superiority by other reviewers.
I wasn’t to be disappointed as this coup in the thriller genre is sensationally clever in addition to thought provoking at a deeper level.
As with The One, this story encompasses several characters with varying back stories impacting the plot going forward. The chapters were captivating and I loved the unwinding of each protagonist's secrets - some quite sinister.
The plot centers around a reality TV show titled ‘The Family Experiment� and follows five couples and a single as they compete to begin their own family - either with a natural born child or a meta child.
So, it’s a reality show based on artificial intelligence, a faux baby, and real people as contestants who live in two environments, true and imagined. Real and not real. Get it? Then you’re faring better than me because I sure didn’t at times.
Overall, I found this brilliant, well researched, and “smart�. My imagination was stretched as I tried to comprehend bouncing back and forth between reality and living in the metaverse with deciphering the possibilities turning me inside out mentally at times.
While I admire the imagination and skill of the author’s writing, I don’t know how much I enjoyed the book because I felt sad while reading it. It’s the future though.
Fascinating, terrifying, and highly recommended.
Hardback purchased at Blackwells.
August 31, 2024
Just a brief comment:
Simply brilliant!
How engrossing!
How thought provoking!
How imaginative!
How entertaining!
The writing and storytelling are terrific!
The development of the storyline has a wonderful flow and I didn’t want to put this book down.
This is probably my favourite book of “The One� universe.
Don’t miss them:
“The One� (2016)
“The Passengers� (2019)
“The Minders� (2020)
“The Marriage Act� (2023)
“The Family Experiment� (2024)
These books take place in the same futuristic universe. They're standalone novels but I would advise reading them by their publication date.
ebook (Kobo): 310 pages (default), 96k words, 83 chapters
Hardcover (Hanover Square Press): 384 pages
Simply brilliant!
How engrossing!
How thought provoking!
How imaginative!
How entertaining!
The writing and storytelling are terrific!
The development of the storyline has a wonderful flow and I didn’t want to put this book down.
This is probably my favourite book of “The One� universe.
Don’t miss them:
“The One� (2016)
“The Passengers� (2019)
“The Minders� (2020)
“The Marriage Act� (2023)
“The Family Experiment� (2024)
These books take place in the same futuristic universe. They're standalone novels but I would advise reading them by their publication date.
ebook (Kobo): 310 pages (default), 96k words, 83 chapters
Hardcover (Hanover Square Press): 384 pages
April 26, 2024
Wow! John Marrs has one creative mind! Once again, this story is the 5th book in his speculative fiction series. If you have read any of the others then you know you’re in for quite a ride!
There is a new reality show called The Family Experiment. Five couples and one single father are the contestants. They are given the opportunity to raise a virtual child through a virtual headset in the Metaverse. The children grow at a rapid speed within nine months total. The viewers vote for who stays and who goes.
This one was a little harder to keep up with due to all the many characters. Plus, all the sci-fi futuristic stuff. I still enjoyed it and oh boy once again a wild ending that will blow your mind!!! 😱
Huge thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley and the ever so talented John Marrs for the opportunity!
Publication date July 9, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is a new reality show called The Family Experiment. Five couples and one single father are the contestants. They are given the opportunity to raise a virtual child through a virtual headset in the Metaverse. The children grow at a rapid speed within nine months total. The viewers vote for who stays and who goes.
This one was a little harder to keep up with due to all the many characters. Plus, all the sci-fi futuristic stuff. I still enjoyed it and oh boy once again a wild ending that will blow your mind!!! 😱
Huge thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley and the ever so talented John Marrs for the opportunity!
Publication date July 9, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 11, 2024
As with most John Marrs stories, this one feels like it's written with the sole intention of being made into a movie or TV drama, and as usual there's a large cast of characters, many of them not particularly distinct from one another, and all unlikeable.
This one is set in the universe of The One and The Passengers, and though the concept of AI children is fascinating, the book wasn't. I found the execution dull and kind of shallow, a quick read, but not in a good way, 2.5 stars rounded up.
This one is set in the universe of The One and The Passengers, and though the concept of AI children is fascinating, the book wasn't. I found the execution dull and kind of shallow, a quick read, but not in a good way, 2.5 stars rounded up.
August 27, 2024
Thoughts -
John Marrs book ranking video:
John Marrs book ranking video:
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July 1, 2024Review to come tomorrow I’m so 😴😴😴
Thanks for the buddy read Krysta 🍔💖
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review�
Thanks for the buddy read Krysta 🍔💖
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review�
February 8, 2025
I liked this one more than I thought I would! Initially I considered this book’s main draw its commentary on parenting and how parenting can be more difficult than what we promoted on social media (e.g., people make it out to be all fun and rainbows, though parenting is really tough). But, the ending won me over with its twisty vibe and its astute commentary on AI. I also appreciated that some of the characters, like Selena and Gabriel and Cadman, got the chance to grow by the end of the book.
While there were times the writing didn’t amaze me and sometimes some of the violence felt a bit unnecessary, I’d give this one a shot if you want an overall well-written sci-fi/thriller.
While there were times the writing didn’t amaze me and sometimes some of the violence felt a bit unnecessary, I’d give this one a shot if you want an overall well-written sci-fi/thriller.
June 30, 2024
The Family Experiment follows a group of people who all want children and have agreed to be on this reality tv show where they’ll be responsible for raising an AI baby from birth until 18 years of age. of course everyone has their secrets and with the media watching your every move, things can only stay hidden for so long.
i love John Marrs� books and how seamlessly he weaves the scifi elements into his thrillers. personally, im not a fan of kids so i didn’t think the concept of this one would hold my interest but i was proven wrong cause the short chapters that all end on a cliffhanger kept me at the edge of my seat. there were some povs that were more interesting than the others but either way this was a wild ride that definitely leaves you thinking. i also liked that there were little easter eggs from the author’s other books as well since they’re basically all connected.
- buddy read with Meagan 🤍
� many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i love John Marrs� books and how seamlessly he weaves the scifi elements into his thrillers. personally, im not a fan of kids so i didn’t think the concept of this one would hold my interest but i was proven wrong cause the short chapters that all end on a cliffhanger kept me at the edge of my seat. there were some povs that were more interesting than the others but either way this was a wild ride that definitely leaves you thinking. i also liked that there were little easter eggs from the author’s other books as well since they’re basically all connected.
- buddy read with Meagan 🤍
� many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
May 10, 2024
Are you a a John Marrs fan? This book is just brilliant.if you haven’t read this author before what are you doing with your life?! Seriously, you are missing out. The Family Experiment is a twisted, dark page turner that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. It is like a long extended episode of Black Mirror� yep it is insane!!
Imagine a time in the not so distant future where you can be a parent to a virtual child. Yep� a metaverse kid. The Family Experiment is a new reality TV show that runs 24/7 and allows the public to comment and vote on what they are seeing. 5 couples and one single man compete to raise their AI child in front of the whole world. The winner will get to keep their child or win prize money to pay for raising a real world child.
Now things are not simple, they never are. These contestants all have something that they don’t want the public to know about. Being a parent is are, even in the metaverse.
This book is full of shocking twists, cliff hanging chapter endings and some very unlikeable characters. You just have to read this to believe it, set in the same universe as previous books, John Marrs shows us a scary insight to what our future could very easily look like,
Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing for my advanced copy of this book to read. US release date July 9th.
Imagine a time in the not so distant future where you can be a parent to a virtual child. Yep� a metaverse kid. The Family Experiment is a new reality TV show that runs 24/7 and allows the public to comment and vote on what they are seeing. 5 couples and one single man compete to raise their AI child in front of the whole world. The winner will get to keep their child or win prize money to pay for raising a real world child.
Now things are not simple, they never are. These contestants all have something that they don’t want the public to know about. Being a parent is are, even in the metaverse.
This book is full of shocking twists, cliff hanging chapter endings and some very unlikeable characters. You just have to read this to believe it, set in the same universe as previous books, John Marrs shows us a scary insight to what our future could very easily look like,
Thanks so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing for my advanced copy of this book to read. US release date July 9th.
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December 20, 2024I read all ten finalists in the sci-fi category of the GoodReads Choice Awards for a reading vlog! Watch it here:
Written review to come!
Written review to come!
July 12, 2024
5 Fan-girling ⭐️s for John Marrs� latest release. This man can write no wrong in my book!
Like his previous novels, this book starts with a “what the F is going on� scene. (I am a sucker for whatever he baits his opening chapter hooks with.) Chapter 1, and I’m already invested in the characters, something many writers fail to achieve through the length of an entire book.
Then he flips the script, and you’re introduced interview-style to the contestants in the AI, live-streamed game show, The Family Experiment. If you feel like you’re drowning in character soup (because there are a lot of them), don’t panic! He throws you a life preserver with how distinct and uniquely crafted each character and their storyline is. You’ll be able to tell who is who soon enough, I promise.
What I love about John Marrs� characters: even the “good guys� are at least 1% bad, and even the worst person is at least 1% “just misunderstood.� I find them so much more relatable than pure-of-heart heroes and evil-to-the-core villains.
The final chapters are stacked with layered reveal after reveal. They took me through a full range of reactions: YES! NO! What??? Ohhhhh�
While never directly asked, this book raises the question: Are technological advances actually advancing society, or are they setting our humanity back? When we feel void in human connection, we fill it with connection to the internet. How well does that work, and should it work at all?
Like his previous novels, this book starts with a “what the F is going on� scene. (I am a sucker for whatever he baits his opening chapter hooks with.) Chapter 1, and I’m already invested in the characters, something many writers fail to achieve through the length of an entire book.
Then he flips the script, and you’re introduced interview-style to the contestants in the AI, live-streamed game show, The Family Experiment. If you feel like you’re drowning in character soup (because there are a lot of them), don’t panic! He throws you a life preserver with how distinct and uniquely crafted each character and their storyline is. You’ll be able to tell who is who soon enough, I promise.
What I love about John Marrs� characters: even the “good guys� are at least 1% bad, and even the worst person is at least 1% “just misunderstood.� I find them so much more relatable than pure-of-heart heroes and evil-to-the-core villains.
The final chapters are stacked with layered reveal after reveal. They took me through a full range of reactions: YES! NO! What??? Ohhhhh�
While never directly asked, this book raises the question: Are technological advances actually advancing society, or are they setting our humanity back? When we feel void in human connection, we fill it with connection to the internet. How well does that work, and should it work at all?
May 25, 2024
ADDICTIVE, MIND-BENDING, BRILLIANT...I went into this book blindly and I was speechless. John Marrs wrote a creative and mind-bending story that kept you immersed in the DRAMA that occured at every turn. Every time you thought you knew what was going on, Marrs would come with twists and turns that went the complete opposite way. I can say this is one of my favorite John Marrs books so far...such a clever and compelling story.
THE PLOT
In a world where the economy is in crisis, making it hard for families to afford children of their own, a reality tv show The Family Experiment has made an alternative solution possible. Over nine months we follow 11 contestants as they compete to raise Metababies in the Metaverse. Metababies are virtual children and you can pick and choose the sex of your child, how the child looks, their accent, their interests, and the speed of their growth. The tv show follows the contestants while pushing them to the limits and giving viewers the ability to watch livestream and vote on their favorites. The winner will face a tough decision to keep whats left of the $250,000 they were given to raise their MetaChild and keep their MetaChild, or pull the plug on their Metachild and get a quarter of a million pounds to start a family in the real world.
For each month the contestants are on the show they go through a different age point such as newborn, 2 years, 5 years, etc. We follow the contestants as they go through different parenting experiences. Viewers can even vote to give contestants "monthly challenges" to make the parents experiences harder, trying to push the conestants to their breaking points. Meanwhile, we also get to learn about the contestants lives in the real world. John Marrs is a genius at speculative fiction and I promise this story is a WILD RIDE!!!
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and John Marrs for granting me access to this e-arc on NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
THE PLOT
In a world where the economy is in crisis, making it hard for families to afford children of their own, a reality tv show The Family Experiment has made an alternative solution possible. Over nine months we follow 11 contestants as they compete to raise Metababies in the Metaverse. Metababies are virtual children and you can pick and choose the sex of your child, how the child looks, their accent, their interests, and the speed of their growth. The tv show follows the contestants while pushing them to the limits and giving viewers the ability to watch livestream and vote on their favorites. The winner will face a tough decision to keep whats left of the $250,000 they were given to raise their MetaChild and keep their MetaChild, or pull the plug on their Metachild and get a quarter of a million pounds to start a family in the real world.
For each month the contestants are on the show they go through a different age point such as newborn, 2 years, 5 years, etc. We follow the contestants as they go through different parenting experiences. Viewers can even vote to give contestants "monthly challenges" to make the parents experiences harder, trying to push the conestants to their breaking points. Meanwhile, we also get to learn about the contestants lives in the real world. John Marrs is a genius at speculative fiction and I promise this story is a WILD RIDE!!!
"I don't know who's better off, me for remembering what I've lost or you for not remembering anything."
"Because if viewers don't like us, we can spend the next nine months loving and raising this little man only to have him taken away from us at the end."
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and John Marrs for granting me access to this e-arc on NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
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