🏃‍♀️🙈🏚Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger🏚🙈🏃‍♀️
Genre: Thriller
Length: 373 pages
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025

Thank you to @netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Adele's husband picked up and left her and their two teenage children years ago, leaving them with confusion, shame, and debt. Blake, their son, hears about an extreme hide-and-seek competition sponsored by Extreme, a thrill-seeking social media company, and convinces Adele to enter for a possible $1,000,000 prize.

Adele is taken to far-away Falcão Island with two other outdoorsy influencers and Extreme star, Maverick Dillan, for the live streaming of the competition. There is a terrible tropical storm brewing, but Mav, his team of friends/crew, and the contestants go ahead with the event much to the islands' inhabitants' warnings. Seeking shelter in a dilapidated old resort building on the precipice of crumbling, everything starts to go wayward when the storm comes in at full blast. Something is amiss with Mav and his crew, as secrets in their past seem to have chased them down as well... Who will win, or more importantly, who will survive Extreme hide-and-seek??

Opinion:
I love a good locked-room/stuck-on-an-island thriller, and this didn't disappoint! There was actually a lot going on here, not only with each contestant, but with each of Extreme's crew, which made this a pretty interesting plot. Topping this off with the brutality of mother nature also gave everything that extra bit of suspense and fear. I loved the FMC, Adele, and how she had battled back from her own struggles to really be a strong woman who was a force to be reckoned with. I kind of suspected who was behind Mav's internet trolling, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. Great read that I couldn't put it down!

2.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oof, this one was not for me. I read through it quickly because I had hope that it would get better. In spite of a premise that seemed interesting enough, I found the plot to be confusing. There were too many changes between present/past/future and switching of character POV. Unfortunately, the characters are either all unlikable or underdeveloped so I never really found myself rooting for anyone. I guess that's fortunate because after having a story based on a contest, there were no winners in the end.
I'm sure there's a discussion to be had about the obsession people have with watching influencer content and sharing every part of our lives online - however, whatever message the novel was trying to send about that didn't seem to land.

This will still be a purchase for the library collection because Lisa Unger is a popular author. Pass along to those looking for a thriller.

I went into this book blind thinking it was going to be a survivalist thriller focused on the events of the "games" so it took me a while to grasp what was happening and who the characters were. I do think the setting was well done and a good pick for the story but felt as if the tension could've felt higher in the high-stakes chapters of the book. I did like getting a glance at characters outside of the game but the way that the chapters were mixed in made the timeline of events slightly confusing. The ending also seemed to start dragging on, as once the full picture came into view there was still about 15-20% of the book remaining which felt like a bit too much filler for me. I do think many people will enjoy this novel and it's partially my fault for not reading the entire synopsis before diving into this book.

Such a great read! Never read anything by this author before, was a little predictable. But that’s okay, but I loved that she didn’t leave you hanging, like most books and has you questioning the end. Such a quick read as well, love the fact that it was a game show type themed book but with a murder twist, definitely a must read for 2025!

It’s Lisa Unger’s turn to put her spin on the reality-game-on-a-deserted-island-gone-wrong story (Ruth Ware’s terrific “One Perfect Couple” is part of this locked room mystery sub-genre). This time it’s “Extreme Hide and Seek” on an island with a shuttered, derelict luxury hotel. Our primary contestant is likable Adele, a forty-something whose millionaire businessman/con man/husband has been on the run from the FBI for five years, leaving her nothing but mounting debts and two teenagers: video game obsessed and bullied Blake and volatile Violet. Blake convinces Adele to apply for the million dollar prize — her self-care therapy for the past few years has been being an influencer on a streaming channel, chronicling her physical and mental comeback from the betrayal of a fugitive CEO spouse. The perfect resume for a survival show.

Once we meet the event organizers of Extreme, Inc, you get immediate Fyre Festival calamity vibes, except that disasters have already apparently happened (including a previous contestant who hid and was never found). The showrunner is Maverick/Mav, a manboy who really needs family therapy, surrounded by co-workers/lackeys who worry a lot but do not question enough.

The other contestants are “Wild Cody,” an older and previously disgraced outdoorsman; and Malinka, a Russian model/uber-influencer who has conquered the Seven Summits — just three “hiders” (which, narrative-wise, makes the plot easier to follow). Each of them seems to believe in advance that the show is rigged and each is being subtly pressured — a planned game trick or a malevolent other?

There are more outside factors to complicate the game — the contestants and producers are actually connected to the multiverse — doing live feeds, commenting on the status of other players and hosts, being “stalked” and “tracked” by all sorts of unseen eyes via social channels. And, of course there’s a ghastly storm heading their way and since it’s a volcanic island (what’s that constant rumbling sound?), what are the chances that lava will be spewing?

If you loved Ruth Ware’s “One Perfect Couple,” you’ll be experiencing a different reality game thriller. In this one, the creators (Mav, Angeline, Gustavo, etc) have as big a part as the game contestants. And “Close Your Eyes” is actually all about how many “views” the streaming feeds are getting instead of the sense of isolation of trying to survive on an inhospitable island. Both books are great stories of reality shows gone wild.

The plot is entertaining, suspenseful and twisty, but it does meander a bit with the missing dad sub-plot. But “Close your Eyes and Count to 10” will definitely keep you turning pages all night long and telling yourself that you would never want to be a reality contestant, even if there’s really a million dollar prize. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Petra, the town elder, the hot Stepford mom robots in the Death Knell game, and Angeline (“smoky green hazel”) all have green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Falcão Island (a fictional place) is “famous” for its wild hydrangeas.

Thank you to Park Row/ Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

sigh…I feel like I’m forever chasing the high that Confessions on the 7:45 gave me.

This book was fine. I’m not really a fan of natural disasters getting in the way of a good murder but I feel like the tropical storm did a good job of adding to the tension of the plot. The rest of the plot seemed a bit all over the place; from the jumping to different povs and timelines, and the big cast of characters on the island and back on the mainland- there were times that I didn’t know what mystery we were supposed to solve. And not to mention the fact that we still didn’t get answers to one of the main deaths.

I liked some of the characters. Adele was easy to root for and Cody really grew on me, the rest….not so much.

The ending felt satisfying (I do love comeuppance) but it also felt open ended in a way that is still bothering me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: 2/25

After committing a crime, Adele's husband, Miller, left her and their children, Violet and Blake. The FBI has followed her for years, thinking she knows where he is. She doesn't, and her family is struggling. When her son, Blake, recommends that Adele, who has a WeWatch following, go to an extreme hide-and-seek event to win a million dollars, she does. What could go wrong?

This thriller is as much about Adele's family as it is about the game, which goes horribly wrong. It's tense and fast-paced, and I enjoyed it.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a fast-paced, action-packed and atmospheric read. The concept was unique and the synopsis barely scratched the surface of what happened in the story.

There was a lot going on within this book, which I had some conflicting feelings about. On one hand, it was extremely entertaining and I wasn’t bored for a single second. But, on the other hand, it was hard to follow. I found myself having to stop and reorient myself to the various characters’ storylines along the way.

I liked some characters more than others, but I think that’s exactly what the author intended. Adele Crane was my personal favorite and I admired her strength and resilience despite all the challenges she faced. [3.5 stars rounded up to 4].

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

Read if you like:

✨Competition shows
✨Reality TV
✨Influencers
✨Toxic relationships

This book was....okay? Fine? Middle of the line? Take your pick, or add a few more - the bottom line is, it's the epitome of a popcorn thriller. It was written well enough to hold my interest and make me want to know how it ended, but I know without a doubt I won't remember a word of it by the end of the month, let alone the year. This is my third book by Unger, and all of them have gotten three stars; I think from now on I'm just going to skip her books.

Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ sʜᴏᴡs, sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴠɪʙᴇs ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ʟɪsᴀ ᴜɴɢᴇʀ's ɴᴇᴡᴇsᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.

Tʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ɪs ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ!

I'ᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ Lɪsᴀ's ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜs ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀɴᴛɪᴄɪᴘᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇs ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ.

Tʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴᴛ ғʟᴏᴡ ᴡᴇʟʟ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ sɪᴅᴇ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀᴅᴅɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs.

Tʜᴇ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʟᴀᴘɪᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ ᴏɴ ᴀɴ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴘᴏᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ. Aʟsᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪɢ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴀʙʀᴜᴘᴛ/ʀᴜsʜᴇᴅ.

I ᴡɪʟʟ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙʏ Lɪsᴀ. Sʜᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ɪ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴀɴᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. I ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is the first book I've read by Lisa Unger, and it did not disappoint. This gripping psychological thriller keeps readers on edge from start to finish.

The novel masterfully weaves suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists, pulling us into the mind of a protagonist who is both fragile and determined. With atmospheric writing and a plot that unfolds like a slow-burning mystery, the story explores themes of memory and the blurred lines between reality and perception.

Unger's vivid descriptions immerse you in the world of the contestants, making you feel their fear, tension, and uncertainty as if you were experiencing it alongside them.

The book freshly delves into the perils that can come with being a social media influencer, revealing the dangers of online exposure, curated identities, and the unsettling consequences of living in the public eye. A chilling and immersive read for those who love psychological depth mixed with a haunting storyline.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story is told in different POVs and the timeline goes back and forth between present time (the game of hide and seek) and the past. Although it was slow paced, there was a good amount of mystery and suspense that keeps you entertained. We also get to see the impact social media can have on people's choices. I did think some of the storylines were unnecessary and distracting, and I wish the actual game of hide and seek had been different.

Single mom Adele goes to a remote island to take part in an extreme game of hide and seek sponsored by a social media daredevil, hoping to win a cash prize for her family.

What I liked: I loved the description of Falcao Island and the crumbling hotel where the game takes place. The atmosphere of excitement and menace is palpable. Adele and her kids are likable and sympathetic, easy characters to root for. The book is a compelling, quick read, never feeling boring or draggy.

What I didn't like: The description of the online game Red World feels more like what an adult who doesn't really play games thinks games are like, and the social media antics get a little over the top towards the end.

Overall: A compulsively-readable, exciting adventure of a book.

Thanks to and NetGalley for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

For book recommendations and reviews, follow me on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@whileireadwithkatiedodrill?si=jxOMZ3BPnlH5ofeU

I was able to enjoy this from @htp_hive @htpbooks & @harlequin_audio and it was a wild read for winter escape! Put this on your radar for the February 25th pub date!

This is a spectacularly catastrophic reality show event, bringing together a cast of wild characters that examines the growing need to be seen.

I don't like to say much, but this does give many perspectives of the people involved in the reality show, as well as a closer personal look into the life of one contestant in particular. This multi POV was at times a bit harder to hold onto, but having my ears and eyes on it helped. It actually feels like it would make a fantastic screen option!

I enjoy the journey Unger takes me in her stories. This one did make me think about the social media culture and how we monetize ourselves. It was a very entertaining way to consider!

I really liked the concept of this book, as I haven’t read another thriller with the same premise. However, I found this story line to be slow, with alot of great plot lines that didn’t seem to flesh out and tie together like I hoped they would. This is a quick and easy read and it held my attention throughout despite being a slower burn than anticipated.

A group of influencers play extreme hide and seek at a remote island for a million dollar prize. Contestant Adele has the support of her two teens, but she’s added to her debt to buy challenge supplies. Besides a brewing storm, locals who want them gone, and a contestant with a secret agenda, there’s a murderer in the mix.

My favorite thing about the story is the video game Red World that several of the characters play. Red World provides an alternate landscape for interaction while furthering the plot. The game version they prefer and the avatars they use provide clues to their personalties. The various social media venues such as WeWatch, similar to YouTube, and Photogram, similar to Instagram, play a big role in the story as does the hustle of being a celebrity or an influencer.

The story is told though a number of perspectives including Adele, her two kids, another player, and the people who are part of the company that set up the challenge, Maverick’s Extreme Games and Insane Challenges. Of the characters, I particularly enjoyed Adele, her daughter Violet, and Wild Cody, a player who hoped participating would help redeem him after being canceled. I felt less connected to the members of Maverick’s Extreme, but they each played a critical role in the plot.

As always Unger delivers a solid story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Park Row Books, an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises ULC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maverick is an infamous influencer known for his Jackass like stunts and extreme adventuring lifestyle. He announces a million dollar payday for the winner of his game of hide and go seek on a desolate island in an old abandoned mega hotel and resort. Three influencers arrive ready to take part and capture the mega-payday: single mother Adele, disgraced former adventurer turned environmentalist Cody, and hiker extraordinaire and business owner Malinka. All have their secrets and haunted pasts that they are trying to outrun. When they arrive they are warned by a local elder that the land doesn’t want them and that the impending tropical storm cannot be weathered at the game site. When bodies start turning up and the dangers keep piling up will they all get outlive?

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is an extremely entertaining page turner that serves up undulating storylines that keep the reader guessing. The characters are clever, believable and interesting. 4.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I just don’t think Lisa’s writing is for me. This was my 2nd book of hers and I really struggled to get through it. The plot was all over the place & there was no big character development

I really enjoyed this book. The mysterious island, a contest, what's not to love. The descriptions and characterization kept me engaged the entire time. The first part is a slow but stick with it. The second half is amazing.

Many thanks for my gifted copy. This review will be shared shortly to my Instagram account.

3⭐️s - split on this one. It had the perfect backdrop: remote island with with a raging storm. Dark thriller with reality show vibes. I just wasn’t a huge fan of that cast of characters and the story going in the direction that was most obvious. But I can see others liking the reality show gone bad with fun influencers.

Expected release: 2/25/25

✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.