"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs is a phenomenal and thought-provoking speculative thriller about families, virtual reality, and ethical issues.

Set in a near-future UK plagued by economic crisis and overpopulation, many people cannot afford to start a family. Enter a company offering Virtual Children. They launch a so-called social experiment, a reality TV show called 'The Substitute', where five couples and one single parent compete for the right to be parents. They will raise a virtual child in the MetaVerse from birth to the age of eighteen over nine-month period. Through virtual reality headsets, masks, gloves, and haptic suits, the participants will experience everything a biological parent feels. The winner (voted by the public as the best parent) can either keep the virtual child or use the prize money to start a family. Meet:

- Rufus Green & Kitty Carte - entrepreneur and accounts manager.
- Woody and Tina Finn - a drone pilot and a euthanasia nurse
- Cadman NY'u (a social media influencer) & Gabriel Macmillan a gay couple
- Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou - A mortgage advisor and a teacher.
- Hudson Wright - a single dad and a freelance software developer.
- Selena & Jaden Wilson - a data analyst and a personal trainer.

The characters in the book are an interesting mix. Almost all have secrets, most are detestable, and all are determined to win at any cost. The game begins as we follow the contestants both in the MetaVerse and the real world.

This is the first book by the author that I have read, and I absolutely loved it! The story is written from a third-person point of view, alternating between the contestants, news articles, and talkbacks. The concept is brilliant, creative, and original. And the scary part? It isn't that far-fetched from reality. The twists were shocking, and although I started to suspect where it was going toward the end, it was more than I had imagined. The book is definitely deeper than other thrillers of its kind and gave me a lot of food for thought

At first, I found it hard to keep track of the large cast of characters, but as the story unfolded, I became more familiar with them. Each character is carefully described, helping you to feel like you really know each individual. I liked the details describing their every move and their backstories. The way the scenes were described made me feel like I was actually there with them. My favorite contestants were Hudson, Selena, and Gabriel.

The novel is impressive, innovative, and exciting. It pulls you from one scene to the next without letting up. This keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next to our characters. It tackles many themes such as family, choices, moral dilemmas, fallible human nature, and AI tech and all it encompasses. As a parent, I was shocked by some of the choices and couldn't relate to some of the characters. I didn't buy their weak justification for their actions. The virtual babies (AI really taught to think, feel, and act like humans) are indeed the "ultimate Tamagotchi", and it raises interesting questions such as can one grow attached to them, can they replace real babies, and the morality beyond the advanced tech.

"The Family Experiment" is a futuristic, thought-provoking thrill ride from start to finish. The author writes well, fluidly, and in a style that keeps the reader turning the pages. All in all, a  well-written, hugely impactful book with a great story, dynamic characters, and a complex plot. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and can't recommend it enough. If you are looking for a great read with a lot of panache, don't miss this book!

*  Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Family Experiment" by John Marrs