This was a fun and kind of scary book to read! It raises issues that I am sure could be reality sooner rather than later. Not only was it a contest live reality with couples trying to raise virtual kids in the metaverse while being judged all the time by the viewers (and of course the trolls who judge everything you do as wrong) on their methods but it dealt with what should be the rights of these digital kids who only exist in the metaverse but seem so lifelike with the AI learning all the time. I think that is the scariest part because we do badly enough with real people. Do those kids have souls or is it all just code? So, the book really got me thinking about that while I followed along as the families (5 couples and one single) deal with a very sped up version of babies turning to kids and then finally turning 18 by the end of the contest, those that survived anyways. You have couples that cash in on the kid, getting free stuff from companies for advertising, to ones that are replacing a real kid of their that died, Some that aren't fully committed because face it, raising a digital kid would be weird, and some with big secrets like who is in the basement? It makes for a fast read, almost as fast as the digital kid reaches new milestones.

The couples weren't all that likeable (there is a reason for this) but were very lifelike in their struggles in the Real World (with raising costs and all) and raising their digital kids. All have secrets and by the end it is all revealed along with the contest winner and a big Real World reveal. It is all connected but I don't want to ruin the twist.

So, yes, a really good book with an interesting definitely could be a real future and a bit scary but I enjoyed it and now I want to read other books by John Marrs as this book did make connections (just on the off hand and you can still read an understand this book just fine).

Enjoyed reading this book, liked the many twists and turns. May need a character list to keep up with the many characters throughout the book, great read still!

I'm a big John Marrs fan, and The Family Experiment did not disappoint. It had all the exploration of moral dilemmas and consequences of new kinds of technology I expected, plus Marrs's signature twist at the end.

The only reason it wasn't a five-star read for me was that I found the final pages after the climax a bit stilted and not quite as satisfying as the rest. However, I wholeheartedly enjoyed it and will recommend it widely.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

The Family Experiment

I absolutely devoured this book. In John Marrs’ newest thriller, overpopulation is driving people desperate to be parents to abandon the idea of raising biological children and to raise AI children in a virtual world. It was so unsettling and made me feel like I was reading a Black Mirror episode. I also really enjoyed his book The One and can’t wait to read more of his work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
This book was an interesting one. It was torally different than anything I had ever read. It makes you wonder how things will look in the future and if we are heading that route!
The story line was captivating, the in-between chapters with advertising and chats were great to make it even more realistic. The characters in the story were likeable and unlikeable as expected. The protagonist, and not wanting to give away any spoilers, totally took me by surprise. Thr ending was another surprise that was totally unexpected.
While I typically do not like futuristic books, this one caught my attention and drew me in. It was hard to put down and I wanted to keep on reading to find out what will happen 5 🌟 read!

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

A unique premise that flows how one would expect a reality TV show to flow. The story catches ones attention right away and the realization that this could be a show right now is more than a little frightening.

Another great novel by John Marrs

I really enjoyed The Family Experiment by John Marrs. I was a little skeptical at first, but the VR aspect of the book really drew me in. As a gamer, I thought the premise of the story was interesting and actually pretty plausible in today's world. The idea that people could raise a virtual child in a sped-up virtual world so they can experience everything from newborn all the way up until the child turns 18, all within a very shortened time span is very Sims-like. But to be able to physically hold your child and create a real bond, also very reminiscent of AI dolls, yet still only virtual. Marrs provides enough twists and turns to keep the story moving, and by the end, when you realize the BIG twist, it really brings the entire story together in a way that you won't predict. I think fans of Neal Shusterman might appreciate this book.

This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

John Marrs always hits the spot. I loved The One by this author, and was excited to find out that this story is set in the same world, just some years after. The story is multiple POV and follows 5 families who were chosen to be on a reality TV show. For this show, each of the contestants will raise a virtual AI baby, and the winner will be able to keep their AI child in the virtual world, or wine money to start a family in the real world. At its core, this story explores families and the ethics behind AI (will we except a Westworld type of situation, or will laws be put in place to protect AI people).

Like other thrillers by this author, there are lots of twists and unexpected crazy things that occur. I really enjoyed The Family experiment, and if you liked The One, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one too.

Gah! What a ride.

I’m generally neither a dystopian nor a thriller reader, but somehow John Marrs blends them together, making me a fan of both genres.

The vivid world building, the meaty characters, and the cliffy chapters kept me up reading well into the night.

My only criticism is with my own brain. There were so many characters to keep track of, my peri-menopausal noodle had to work to keep them all straight.

I’ve read and loved The One, now, to round out this Unholy Trinity, I’ve got to go back and read The Marriage Act. Cannot wait.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

John Marrs crafted one powerhouse of a story in his most recent release, The Family Experiment. While the initial premise of a reality TV show a where parents compete to raise Meta Children in the not-so-near future is what attracted me to the novel, Marrs's storytelling and characterization is what made me love the book. At the beginning of the story, there are admittedly a lot of characters - so many, in fact, that I initially feared I wouldn't be able to keep up with them all. However, Marrs ensures that every character is unique and their plotlines distinctive. I also enjoyed how complex the characters were, and how morally grey the cast is in the pursuit of the grand prize of money or a Meta Child. Although the topic is never directly addressed, the complexity of characters' morality and ethics draws questions of whether or not such a technologically advanced society is beneficial to humankind.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was that there were so many alternate plotlines and mysteries concerning the contestants, and watching how Marrs slowly hinted and then unwrapped each revelation was extremely satisfying and kept me on the edge of my seat. The storytelling and plotting, though, is next level. There was never a dull moment throughout the entire book, yet nothing felt forced or rushed. All the reveals made sense, and I wasn't left scratching my head thinking about loose ends. Overall, The Family Experiment was an intriguing dystopian-eque thriller that provides the space for contemplation and commentary on the role of technology and AI in modern society.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Family Experiment by John Marrs in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.

This was HEAVY, but still has the Marrs twists you expect. Lots of POVs. Please check tw/cw as this one might be trickier to navigate. The AI discussions really make you think. There is a lot of triggers and conversations around children and trauma in this one (hence... Heavy). As always, lots of Easter eggs to his previous books.

First John Marrs book and was not disappointed at all! Thank you so much for this opportunity to read! Loved it

Wow. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I requested this book. I was so wrong and so happy I was. This book had more twists and turns then aF-1 race. I loved every second of it. John Marrs has a large following in the physiological thrillers Facebook group so when this book appeared I knew I had to give it a shot.

I will be reading the rest of the books he has written in this universe.

This book was different than most thrillers I read. While it was interesting, I did find the multiple viewpoint story lines a little hard to follow/remember.

This book had a good idea and concept but it fell a little short for me. It felt as though it did not go through a very good editing process and could have been made much better. I did Read it fast and enjoy reading it for the most part.

This is by far my favorite book this year! In the reality TV show called The Family Experiment, selected couples raise their MetaBaby over nine months, with viewers influencing the outcome through votes. The winning couple faces a poignant choice: keep their MetaBaby or delete it for a chance to start a real-world family. The novel delves into themes of parental love, societal pressures, and the ethical implications of virtual reality. As the couples navigate the challenges of virtual parenting, secrets are exposed, and the true nature of family is questioned.

I REALLY wanted to love what I read of this. I didn’t finish the book, and in time I might go back and give it another try. I thoroughly enjoyed The Marriage Act, and this book ties in with that, now with its take on adding in children and that of a reality television take. The premise is incredibly intriguing, but I had a very difficult time trying to keep up with each couples story because of how often things jump back and forth, so it was hard for me to digest everything with the pacing.

This audiobook has a full cast. The story was interesting. It's good to see social media presented with both sides because most of the time I'm on one side. The story was told in the present and back to the past through a recollection and then a tell all in the end. There were twists and lots of secrets. I enjoyed each couple's secrets. I'm a bit disappointed that there's no view of the bad guy. This is my first read from the author and it won't be my last.

This story revolved about The Family Experiment, a tv show that is livestream 24/7 with contestants and it's located in the virtual reality. Each contestant has a second chance at parenting to win money to start a real life family. The baby grows up quick in the metaverse. But each couple has a different approach to taking care of their baby. In the real world, each contestant has a secret of their own. Then there's one contestant who tells a story behind the scenes, one he experienced when at first he didn't understand what was happening until a reveal at the end.

Thank you HTPHive and HTPBooks for the auto-approval on NetGalley. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review. I also listened to an audiobook via Libby App

4.25 STARS
This is my first read by this author, and I was very impressed! A deadly, soul-sucking, combination of AI and Reality TV. And what is scary, is that I could see this happening not too far in the future.
This book takes the reader on a wild, scary ride of what could happen when you combine parenthood, AI, and reality TV.
You are introduced to a group of couples, and one single parent who are competing on the stage of the world wide web. Are any of these people worthy of parenthood? That question will be answered by the keyboard warriors who spend their time obsessed with this reality show competition. The competitors are not the only ones with questionable ethics and souls.

I co-read and listened to the audio version. The audio version is excellent! The narration is top notch and I appreciate the entertaining depiction of the advertisements and online chatter.

I will check out more books by this author. I am adding this author to my auto-buy list.

John Marrs is definitely one of my favorite thriller authors. I’ve never picked up one of his books & not enjoyed it. I don't know what he puts into his books but I love every second of it. Fast-paced thriller, short chapters, tons of plot twists, on top of an already really cool concept. There's not much more I'd want in a thriller. One of the only downsides was how many characters there are which made it hard for me to keep up at first but once I understood it wasn't an issue anymore. Even the audiobook of this was entertaining which says a lot because I can never barely on audiobooks. I highly recommend this book & anything by John Marrs. He will continue to be an auto buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!