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.

Okay, so imagine signing up for an epic, high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, but then—plot twist!—it turns into an actual fight for survival. Yeah, that’s basically the deal here. A bunch of contestants, including a super-determined single mom, head to this remote island thinking they’re in for a wild reality show stunt, only to realize things are way more unhinged than expected. Add in a brewing storm, some serious trust issues, and a host who may or may not care if anyone makes it out alive, and you've got the makings of a thriller that keeps you turning the pages.

The tension? Oh, it’s there. The eerie island vibes? Solid. The twists? Mostly effective, though some felt a bit predictable. The main character’s motivation—providing for her kids—is totally compelling, and you can’t help but root for her, even when she makes some questionable choices. There’s also a juicy commentary on social media and how far people will go for fame and fortune, which definitely adds an extra layer to the story.

On the downside, there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and some of them felt more like filler than actual contenders. Plus, a few intriguing subplots didn’t really go anywhere, which was kind of a bummer. And while the premise is super fun (in a yikes kind of way), the execution sometimes leaned a little too predictable.

Overall? A solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars. It’s fast-paced, entertaining, and delivers on the thrills, even if it doesn’t completely blow your mind. If you like survival stories with a reality TV twist, this one’s worth a shot.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I am a big fan of Lisa Unger's books, she has a way of immersing the reader into the story with her highly descriptive prose. However this was not my favourite book of hers, unfortunately I felt it meandered in the middle and I was expecting more explosives twists and turns. I absolutely loved the premise of an extreme adult version of hide and seek on an isolated island but I felt it actually needed more of the actual tense game instead of the backstory.

Read this if you like:
-reality game thrillers
-locked room mysteries especially on stranded island trope
-atmospheric descriptive prose with a tropical island setting complete with an abandoned crumbling luxury hotel
-multiple POVs with multiple timelines
-complex, flawed and unreliable characters
-the world of influencers and social media
-adult version of hide and seek
-themes of overcoming your past, adversity, redemption, family, corruption, price of fame, and core beliefs and principles
-pod casts, media posts and texts to add dimension to story

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC that will be released February 25 2025.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of trust, secrets, and the fine line between obsession and love. The story follows Annie, a woman trying to piece together her life after a traumatic incident. As she uncovers the tangled web of secrets surrounding her, Annie must confront her past, the people she once trusted, and her own perceptions of reality. The novel delves into the mind of its protagonist, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and how our past shapes the choices we make in the present.

Things I Liked:
1. Atmospheric Writing: Lisa Unger does an excellent job of building suspense through her atmospheric writing. The tone of the book is tense, and the dark, brooding ambiance is maintained throughout. From the first page, I felt drawn into the eerie and unsettling world she created, which helped immerse me in the mystery and intrigue of the story.
2. Twisty Plot: The novel's plot is packed with unexpected turns and revelations. The mystery surrounding Annie's past and the people involved kept me hooked from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed how the book kept me guessing, with each chapter revealing a little more about the truth while simultaneously introducing new questions. Unger masterfully builds tension and intrigue, making it hard to put the book down.
3. Complex Characters: The characters are multifaceted and compelling. Annie, in particular, is a well-crafted protagonist, whose emotional struggles and conflicting desires make her a believable and relatable character. The supporting cast, with their own layers of secrets and hidden motivations, adds depth to the story, making it clear that no one is entirely trustworthy.
4. Exploration of Psychological Themes: The book does a great job of exploring psychological themes, such as obsession, guilt, and trauma. Annie's internal conflict and the way her mind unravels as she uncovers more about herself and her past felt real and raw. The emotional depth added a layer of complexity to the thriller, making it more than just a mystery.

Things I Didn’t Like:
1. Pacing Issues: While the plot was intriguing, there were moments when the pacing slowed down significantly. Certain sections of the book felt repetitive, and the suspense built up too slowly, causing me to lose a bit of interest in the middle chapters. I think tightening the pacing in the second half of the book would have helped maintain the tension and kept the momentum going.
2. Predictability in Some Plot Points: Although the book had plenty of twists, there were moments where some of the plot developments felt a bit predictable. I saw certain revelations coming from a mile away, which took some of the excitement out of the more dramatic moments. A few more surprises or red herrings would have kept me on my toes more effectively.
3. Underdeveloped Secondary Characters: While the main characters were well fleshed out, I felt that some of the secondary characters could have been developed more. Some of the supporting cast felt one-dimensional or too stereotypical, which diminished the impact of their roles in the plot. A deeper exploration of their motivations could have added more layers to the story and made the book even more immersive.
4. Ending Felt Too Neat: The conclusion of the book, while satisfying in some ways, wrapped up a little too neatly. Given the dark, complex nature of the narrative, I was hoping for an ending that felt a bit more ambiguous or open-ended. Instead, everything seemed to come together a bit too easily, which reduced the emotional weight of the resolution.

Feedback and Recommendations for Improvement:
• Pacing: The book could benefit from tightening the pacing, particularly in the middle section, where the suspense wanes a little. Fewer repetitive moments and more continuous action or discovery could help maintain the sense of urgency.
• Surprise Elements: More unexpected twists or misdirection could enhance the thrill factor and keep readers engaged. The story had a lot of potential for shocking moments, but some of the plot developments were too predictable, which dampened the excitement.
• Secondary Character Development: Giving more attention to secondary characters and fleshing out their backgrounds and motivations would add depth to the story. It would make their involvement in the plot feel more meaningful and allow for more complex interpersonal dynamics.
• Ending Ambiguity: While the ending is clear and satisfying, a slightly more ambiguous or open-ended conclusion could have left a more lasting impact. It would have allowed readers to reflect on the themes of the book in a more profound way.

Conclusion:
While it has its flaws, particularly in pacing and predictability, the book offers a compelling exploration of the human psyche and the consequences of our past actions. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a strong emotional core and dark themes, this is definitely worth a read. However, if you prefer stories with more unpredictable twists and a faster pace, you may find some sections of the book dragging.

I’m not even sure what I just read. I understand it’s an advanced reader copy, but this read like it was the 1st draft of the author notes. Hard to follow, limited character development and too much going on.

I loved the idea behind the book: remote island and adult version of hide and seek, mixed with live feeds and influencer engagement, but that’s where it ended for me. There was to many themes thrown in (survival, family, identity, corruption, crime) and not enough about the actual game itself. If you are looking for a quick thriller, this one is not it. While I loved the authors writing style and vivid descriptions, as a millennial, I don’t think I am the right audience. I feel Gen Z would be more appropriate and might be able to connect with some characters/contestants better.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Book publication date: February 25, 2025*
*Reviewed February 9, 2025*

Great story but unfortunately an ending that left me wanting more. I loved the premise of the hide and seek game but only 3(4 technically) players and one day of “seeking”. It’s like the side story took over and the thrilling part of the story took second place. Still good just not what the outline made me believe.