Published by Macmillan audio Genres: Dystopian, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, thriller
Format: Audiobook
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.
The Family Experiment 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!
