A game of hide and seek becomes a deadly battle for survival. I love Lisa Unger books but this one wasn't my favorite. It's about influencers doing absolutely anything to get more followers and a mother trying to provide for her family.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC .
Publishing date is February 25, 2025.

Such an interesting look at social media and how it can be just a highlight reel and not show the truth of someones life.
Lisa Unger painted a beautiful picture of the lengths a mother will go to for her children.

Add in a missing husband and a child's hidden online life and you've got yourself quite the mystery!

Are you ready for an unforgettable game of hide-and-seek on a remote, abandoned island, where the stakes are a whopping one million dollars? "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" is an exhilarating thriller that weaves together the crazy world of social media with a locked-room mystery set against the eerie backdrop of an abandoned and crumbling resort on the remote Falcao Island.

Meet Maverick, a daring influencer and extreme adventurer who organized this highly controversial event despite ominous warnings from the local community and a massive storm on the horizon. His thrill-seeking spirit makes for good entertainment, but the real drama unfolds when the players arrive.

Then there's Adele, a single mother drowning in debt after her husband walked out. She's willing to leave her kids for a few days with the chance to change her family’s future hanging in the balance. What could go wrong? Adele is fit, ready, and determined to win, but once she steps on the island and the game starts, she starts questioning her decision.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and Park Row Books, I had the opportunity to dive into the ebook and audiobook versions of this gripping tale. Experiencing the story while listening to it adds a new layer of depth, enhancing the thrill! I've admired the narrator, who brings characters to life with her talent.

Unger is one of my favorite authors, and I try to grab early copies of her books whenever possible. This book might not reach the heights of some of her earlier works, but it still delivers a heart-pounding survival thriller that will keep you engrossed.

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This atmospheric thriller had a fun concept, but I found the execution to be slightly lacking.

Influencers are invited to play extreme hide and seek on an island for a cash prize, and of course things go badly wrong. From a giant storm to locals wanting them to leave to secrets in the Extreme team hosting the challenge, if it can go wrong it surely does.

I loved the island setting and thought single mom Adele was a pretty badass character. The concept poked fun at YouTubers and the wild things they do for views and likes, and I enjoyed all of that.

Overall, I think there were too many different storylines going on and none of them felt fully developed. The book also skipped around so much that it confused me several times- a character would be running to hide one chapter, then sitting by their tent in the next. The continuity was off, making things unclear. There were side storylines that really didn’t add much to the story as well, adding extra length but not additional substance.

Thank you to HTP for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Adele is a single mom influencer who agrees to participate in a social media challenge on an isolated island. Maverick runs the challenge, but there’s a lot of mystery and controversy surrounding him.

I’ve enjoyed several books by this author so I was excited about the premise and setting of this one. Unfortunately, it turned out to be rather lackluster. I enjoyed Adele’s grit and determination to fight for her kids in the face of her circumstances, but there were so many characters/POVs there wasn’t enough time to fully explore her character. In addition, there were so many storylines I was hoping would converge but the ending just felt rushed and incomplete. Around the halfway mark, the story picked up steam and I found myself wanting to keep reading for answers but I was ultimately disappointed.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing a free ARC for review via NetGalley.

This book had plenty of suspense but I felt like the random little plot lines weren’t fleshed out. I loved the idea of the Shaman and thought there would be more with her storyline than what was actually happening (and the most predictable). Unger did a great job with the atmosphere of the book and the detailing of the creepy island. I do wish it leaned more in that direction than focusing solely on the streaming show. The book started off strong and I was definitely intrigued but again, it felt like random little plots that kind of were brushed under the rug.

There was a lot of repeated detail on the backstory of the characters (that really felt unnecessary to the story and who they were). The writing also felt kind of all over the place. There are a LOT of storylines and characters to keep up with and sometimes it felt like it just ended there and we didn’t get more reasoning of why or what this character was doing? Just felt very muddled and rushed at times.

I think that the premise of this book is super intriguing I just wish we got a little more thrill and twists! Overall it was a good read, but just didn’t quite live up its potential!

In an extreme game of hide and seek, a group of contestants compete on a desolate Island where a storm is bearing down on them, making the game even more deadly.

Daredevil Maverick Dillan runs the social media game live, in a game where the contestants hide, and the last won found wins the million dollar prize.

Adele decides to join the game on the advice from her son. She desperately needs the money, since her husband Miles has absconded with all the money from his business leaving her to face the wrath of their town, and losing everything they owned.

But the game she has entered is not what she has signed up for. The lies and deception from the crew and the contestants has her fighting to survive, and she is determined to get back to her children.

I thought this was a fun fast paced read. It almost felt like there were two separate stories going on with this one. The back story of Adele’s ex-husband and the game itself, although it all ended tying in together in the end.

if you’re a fan of survival game shows, this is the perfect read!

Thank you to Net Galley, Park Row Publishers, and the author, Lisa Unger, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maverick Dillon, an extreme adventurer with a large social media following has invited contestants to an island for the ultimate game of hide and seek. Be the last one found and collect a one million dollar prize. Contestants head to the remote Falcao Island. There they set up for the game in an abandoned and condemned resort. What could go wrong?

A contestant from his last hide and seek game, Chloe, has been missing for over a year. Her friend is among the new contestants hoping to find the truth.

Adele, a single mother to two teenagers, decides to participate in this deadly game. Her husband, who has made some shady choices and is currently in the run from the FBI. She needs the prize money to support her children.

As the game is supposed to start, in rolls a huge storm trapping them in the island.

This book had a cast of characters from the locals, to the contestants, to Maverick’s staff. While multiple characters and POVs are not usually an issue for me, I found myself getting some of them confused.

I wanted to love this book, but found the first half slow. The second half did pick up.

Known for psychological suspense novels such as “Confessions on the 7:45,” “In the Blood” and “Last Girl Ghosted,” New York Times and internationally bestselling author Lisa Unger returns with another white-knuckle survival thriller. In “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” (Park Row, $30), a seemingly innocent childhood game turns into a deadly nightmare.

When extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites contestants to a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on a remote island, Adele, a struggling single mother, joins the competition, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. As a raging storm cuts them off from the world, the game becomes a crooked battle against unseen threats. Twists arrive relentlessly, keeping readers on edge and guessing until the final, breath-stealing twist. “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” proves that sometimes the real threat is hiding in plain sight​.

initial thoughts: our library system will definitely purchase this book, as Lisa Unger is a popular author and her books are always requested. however, overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I wanted more of Adele’s story (and the other “hiders”) and less of the drama between the Extreme members. the setting — and premise — were interesting, but I felt the story focused on the wrong group of individuals.

a big thank you to NetGalley and Park Row books for the ARC.

This book didn't do it for me. It took me until about halfway through to follow all of the different characters and perspectives. I kept waiting for the plot line with Adele's husband to be bigger than it was (e.g. was he hiding out on the island, involved in the hide-and-seek game in some way, etc.) but the plot line just kind of fell flat with him just showing up and turning himself in. I also just found the whole thing to be generally unbelievable - the premise of the game itself and that Adele would risk her life as a single mother for the chance at $1M.

I did not enjoy this book. There were too many characters, it was drawn out, and unrealistic. Disappointed.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I was drawn to this book because I love reality series shows like survivor and alone and this reminded me of them. I have also seen some extreme hide and seek shows and been fascinated with them and the ingenuity that contestants possess (look it up!). This book was a solid whodunit, I wouldn't say I was wowed, but it was definitely a page turner.

Social media influencers are invited to play an intense game of hide and seek in an abandoned hotel. The winner gets a million dollars if they can get out alive. Multiple POVs and timelines make this story interesting to say the least. I haven’t been this entertained by a thriller in a long time!

Thanks to Lisa Unger, Net Galley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! Pub date 2/25/25!

It is funny how a no entry/forbidden/danger sign actually does the opposite of what it is designed for, making it irresistible for people to try and see what is on the other side. It does provide many thrills, with an abandoned and decrepit hotel the next hot place for Maverick and his company, Extreme, to host an epic hide and seek contest with a million dollars as the prize for the last one found. Sounds exciting and also very sus! But it makes for a thrilling story with secrets, lies, dead bodies, criminals on the run, and survivors trying to put things back together. While a big chunk of the story is about Adele and her kids, you also get to see what Maverick and Angeline are going through too. I was a little disappointed that the hide and seek portion kinda got pushed to the sideline amid the storm, deception, corruption, and showdown but it was still exciting and suspenseful trying to decide who was going to survive that scary night and if human compassion could shine through all the darkness.

So, lots of thrills, and a nicely spooky location to create a vivid background for all the action. I had fun reading it and found it hard to put down with all that happened so quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book!

What an adventurous thriller this was. It’s a mind bender. This book is all about secrets and lies. I felt really bad for Adele. She keeps getting caught up in other people’s lies. This book was fascinating. It delves into online gaming and podcasts and influencers. The writing is wonderful and used the island imagery to set the scene to perfection. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a high-stakes thriller where a YouTube personality turns a simple game of hide-and-seek into a competition with a life-changing million-dollar prize. For Adele, winning could mean outrunning her past and securing a future for her kids. But when a deadly storm rolls in and a murderer joins the game, it quickly shifts from a contest to a desperate fight for survival.

Fast-paced and full of twists, this book keeps you on edge until the very last page. Perfect for fans of intense thrillers, it’s a gripping mix of strategy, suspense, and survival—where winning might be the only way to stay alive.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC for an honest review.

Adele Crane is a single mom struggling to make ends meet after her husband flees the FBI on embezzlement charges. She has a small following on WeWatch as a health influencer.

Maverick Dillion is the face of Extreme, an extreme sports and challenge channel on WeWatch.

Adele is chosen to compete in Mav's next Extreme Hide and Seek Challenge for a million dollars on Falcon Island. But things start to go awry as soon as the contestants arrive. Is Adele willing to risk it all for the money. Will she make it out alive?

We also have a surprise cameo from Haley Granger as he probes into the disappearance of Chloe Miranda a former Extreme contestant.

I enjoyed the insertion of Harley and I hope we see a stand alone story for him in the future.

Loved this book! Such an original plot. This is told from many different viewpoints and really kept me on my toes. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Character development was great, and I really got in tune with all the characters through the different viewpoints. Definitely recommend!

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a powerful tale about Adele Crane, a woman whose life is shattered when her husband, Miller, a biotech engineer and company CEO, is accused of embezzling money and stealing ideas; Miller is on the FBI list of most wanted. His actions force their daughter Violet and son Blake to leave their comfortable home and move in with their grandparents while their mother struggles to balance work and school. Blake is being bullied at school, while Violet is more outspoken. Despite these challenges, Adele, with unwavering determination, has been using a punching bag to work out all the stress in her life, lose weight, get in shape, and become a social influencer. Adele connects with her children, Blake & Violet, by watching WeWatcher. A group of gamers, including Maverick Dillan, Hector Cruz, Gustavo Bello, Alex Tang, and Angelina Alba, came up with extreme hide-and-seek. The games have millions of viewers, and mixing other social influencers raises the views. The Extreme group has set up a new game on Falco Island, where Adele Crane, Maalinka Nicqui, and Wild Cody will be playing for a million dollars.
"I'm gonna get my thrills before this crazy spinning orb implodes." "You play your games, people get hurt, and now Chloe Miranda has gone missing, says Moms against Mav."

Who will win the game? Listen to Harley Granger, the True- Crime Podcaster, Stranger than Fiction, to find out all the details on who won the game and what happened on Falco Island.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten is my first Lisa Unger book. The story took a while to start, and I wasn't sure where it was going, but it's a good story of survival and what happens when the lines between reality and social media distortion are blurred.