The Family Experiment
Books | Fiction / Literary
3.9
John Marrs
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.Don't miss other suspenseful reads from John Marrs (you'll never see the twists coming!): The Marriage Act The Vacation The Family Experiment The One
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More Details:
Author
John Marrs
Pages
384
Publisher
Harlequin
Published Date
2024-07-09
ISBN
036974697X 9780369746979
Community ReviewsSee all
"John Marrs does not disappoint!
The Family Experiment is set in the same universe as "The One" and "The Marriage Act".
It is set in a Britain where raising children has become so expensive, parents sometimes sell their children to get out of debt.
It is a Britain where a child who commits murder can be placed on house arrest instead of going to jail.
It is a Britain where the multiverse is a thing- heptic suits allow people to experience things as though they are really there.
The Family Experiment is a reality TV contest where 5 sets of parents and 1 single parent compete by raising a virtual child. The winner has the choice of keeping their avatar child at the end or getting money for staring a real family.
Each family competing has something to hide.
I had a more difficult time following the different story lines in The Family Experiment than in other Marrs books that I have read.
The characters are all well developed. Their secrets come out slowly over time. Even when you thought you knew, Marrs managed to add a twist that took you by surprise.
Not all characters are likeable but they are all relatable.
The Family Experiment makes you really think about the future of AI.
A great read with lots of discussion points. Definitely recommended. (You do not have to read Marr's other books first. )"
Brandi Always Reading
"I enjoyed the idea of the story. I felt the end just re-capped the entire book and was not needed. "
Grace Z
"This book had such an interesting premise. In a society where raising children is super expensive, a group of couples and one single person compete on a reality show to raise an AI child from birth to a teenager. The winning contestant(s) choose between their AI child or a cash prize to start a family in the "real world."<br/><br/>Being a fan of Marrs' work, I had high hopes, but this one was a little underwhelming. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, though the plot itself kept me hooked. Of course, each contestant had secrets and those were revealed at a good clip. My only other real complaint is the pacing felt slow at times. Recommend for fans of speculative fiction. <br/><br/>My thanks to Hanover Square, John Marrs, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own."
C H
Chris Hicks
"MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER RN IS CALLED: “Parable of the Sower” By Octavia E Butler -if you’re into dystopian realities and good character plots, this is the one."
N T
Natalia Tamayo
"4.25"
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