Close your eyes and count to 10 was a typical twisty mystery. It was Pretty easy to figure out but I enjoyed the story. It’s a good reminder everyone we see online is only letting us see what they want us to see.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a fun thriller about a game of hide and seek. Influencers battle it out in this game of hide and seek that turns deadly. Fans of Lisa Unger’s previous books will enjoy this one.

Although this is marketed toward adults, and one of the main characters is a single mom, I still think this has a lot of YA qualities to it. There are a few scenes that are a little too much for my students, so I couldn't recommend this to them, but overall I think this could resonate more with a slightly younger audience. Mav gives Paul brother or Mr. Beast energy, and it was interesting to see things from his (and the Extreme crew's) perspective. The entire time I thought the premise of the "hide and seek" game felt low-stakes on it's own. I wasn't sure how exactly it was supposed to be engaging content (if not for what ended up actually happening). Despite the endings for each character, I still somehow felt unsatisfied. I am rating this book 4 stars overall, though, because there was a lot that was fun about this novel, and a lot that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, although I would have liked more from Miller and the Extreme guys. I didn't really think Blake AND Violet needed their own POVs. I didn't think the podcaster's parts were really needed, because the one big reveal they "found" could have been explained in two lines by the characters at the end. I liked the obstacle of the island natives, and Tavo's seemingly inner conflict regarding this. I wish there was a little more of this element explored at the very end, but it seems this became mostly forgotten after the "rescue" (which- came out of nowhere considering all prior behaviors from these characters). The ending felt a little too convenient, and therefore as I said, unsatisfying. However, this was overall fun and fast-paced, and I think anyone who is a gamer or moderately online might really enjoy it.

I listened to the audio book version of this book. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Lisa Unger utterly kept me captivated with her storytelling, and the characters were so diverse and interesting. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. I thought this was such a good book. And the twist... it was so well done. I am so glad I got the chance to read this book. I think that Lisa is in a class of her own. I can't wait for more from her. I highly recommend this book to other thriller/mystery readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin, and Lisa Unger

This is an intense and suspenseful novel filled with secrets and lies. What starts out as a way to win money in a high-stakes game turns into a fight for survival against an unseen threat, and Mother Nature.

Unger pulls us into Adele’s world, and her struggles, straight away-pulling at the heartstrings of the reader, and spurring us on to root for her to win. Adele is a fighter, a loving mother, and is willing to do whatever it takes to give her family a chance to come out on top. she refuses to let her husband’s choices dictate her and her children’s outcome.

Juxtaposed to her is Maverick-the intense and cocky owner of Extreme. He’s the master of false fronts and smooth words. He will also do whatever it takes to keep his business going, even if that means lying about how well his business is doing, and putting the contestants in danger. He will not quit. A part of you wants to like him, given his past and pain, but another part of you can’t square with his recklessness and refusal to think about others before making decisions.

Unger does a good job of laying on the tension and unease almost straight away. She lays the groundwork for something to go wrong; you’re just not sure what it is. Turns out, it’s multiple things. And event go awry quickly, leaving the contestants scrambling to figure out what is going on. Is the game still on? Where are the Extreme employees? Are they going to survive the storm and make it off the island?

They are also having to contend with a mysterious person following them. Who is this person? What do they want? Am I safe from them? As they wrestle with these questions on one part of the island, Maverick and his crew are dealing with their own problems. The cracks are showing, lines are being drawn, and everything is coming to a head.

As a whole, this was a decent thriller with good suspense and twists. I will say that I didn’t really care for Maverick or his girlfriend. They were not likable, IMO. I also could see some of the reveals coming, but it didn’t take away from me enjoying the book. 3.75 stars

Close your eyes and count to 10

Adele is off in an adventure when she joins a reality show for influencers that is marketed as extreme hide and seek. She’s leaving her teen kids for a chance at a million dollars and a fresh start after her husband committed fraud and went into hiding 5 years earlier.

She receives text messages warning her about the reality show. The host island is where an abandoned hotel used to be and rumors of it being haunted are rampant. Not to mention the sketchy host who is over promising on the experience and was at the center of a missing girl in a different contest. His crew is following apart and his past is creeping up on him.

Oh yes, and a big storm is coming in because of course it is !!

This reminded me of One Perfect Couple, I liked the reality show thriller, corporate corruption, and paranormal sprinkled in. Would’ve liked more of the survival elements and them actually playing the game, but was still enjoyable !

It was strange the first part of the book was heavily focused on Adele and her experience and then that all pushed to the background and focus shifted to Mav, the show host and that sub plot.


Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 2/25/25.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
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In an old building on an island, social media influencers gather for a game of extreme hide and seek. The host is Maverick and he has recently been under stress due to threats and the investigation into a girl who went missing in a previous challenge.
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What I liked:
-There were so many secrets! I didn’t know who was telling the truth and who was lying.
-I loved the setting: an old building on an island, and what’s this? A sudden storm is coming? Loved.
-Adele’s character. She brought great mama bear vibes to the story.
-I got to listen to the audio and the narrator was great. It was easy to fall into listening to this story and forget the real world.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story really sucked me in and I couldn’t stop.

I love a thriller set inside a game that goes wrong and the premise of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is just that. This story is creepy, atmospheric, and has social media and gaming element. The jumps in the timeline and POV kept me on my toes and eager to find out more! Thank you Park Row and NetGalley for my copy!

EAdele, mother to two teens and a fitness/motivational
influencer, has been invited to join an extreme hide and seek
game, where along with other influencers, she has a chance at
winning one million dollars. Since Adele's husband went
missing a few years ago, she's been struggling financially, and
this game could be the answer to her prayers. As soon as she
arrives at the remote island location for the game, the weather
turns stormy, and honestly, the book takes a nose-dive along
with it. There were way too many sub-plots and characters in
this book (missing husband, missing influencer, controversial
adventurer, online gaming, real-life teenage bullying, murder,
stealing, adultery, etc) and most were completely irrelevant. I
tried to figure out how they'd all connect, and disappointingly,
they didn't. This thriller had potential, but it needed to tighten
down the narrative to really be a solid read.

This was a fun book with a lot of promise at first. I thought the premise was interesting! There were so many characters and POVs but it didn’t bog the story down! The pacing was good, but as the story went on very little drama unfolded. I wanted a lot more from Unger, as I have loved her previous books. It just felt very predictable and a little boring. The idea of influencers on an island and a reality show has been done so many times, it needs a lot more to make it interesting!

Love Lisa Unger’s writing! Love the gorgeous cover. But… I need to stop giving contest based books a try.

I automatically requested this book because, well, Lisa Unger! I love her writing style. I highlighted several one-liners, and even full paragraphs, on my Kindle during my read that wow’d me. I wish that “wow” feeling carried through the actual plot. I just don’t connect well with books with these storylines. In 2024 I read my share of reality tv contest plots and this was similar but with social media/going “live” spin.

The Extreme Team and contestants are on an isolated island for an influencer game of Extreme Hide and Seek. The actual game doesn’t actually start until the 70% mark. Up until then, it was a lot of character introductions, POVs, and background info. Too much was going on, while also feeling like not much was happening. I had trouble keeping the times of day straight and what was going on with each character. All the characters were very well developed and came with their own unique baggage, but it was soooo much. Too much. This made it a struggle to connect with the characters or care about the eventual outcomes.

The writing rating: 4 ⭐️
The plot/story rating: 2⭐️
My overall rating: 3 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Feb 25 2025

I just finished Lisa Unger's latest thriller and I cant stop thinking about it. This book had me hooked from the start with its intriguing premise: a survival game on a small island in an old, run-down hotel during a massive storm. What could possibly go wrong, right?

I loved how Unger incorporated modern elements like social media influencers and various media platforms into the classic "locked room" mystery genre. It felt fresh and relevant. Adele the main character was badass and loveable making you want her to come out on top.

The short chapters were addictive, and I found myself constantly saying, "Just one more!" before I knew it, I'd devoured the book in just a few sittings. While I was hoping for more focus on the hide-and-seek game itself, I still enjoyed uncovering the shady practices of the "Extreme" company and delving into the characters' backstories.

One of my favorite aspects was the diverse storytelling methods. From multiple viewpoints to social media posts and even a few true crime podcast chapters, the variety kept me engaged throughout.

Although I wished for more game-centric content, this was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's cemented Lisa Unger's place on my "must-read" author list. If you're looking for a binge-worthy thriller to add to your TBR pile, mark your calendar for February 25th when this book hits the shelves. Unger has done it again!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I dare you NOT to read Lisa Unger’s "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" in ONE sitting; this one should carry the trigger warning, "This book might make you late for work" .

Lisa Unger is one of my favorite psychological thriller authors, and this mesmerizing and psychologically rich thriller is a fine example of her best work.

This story skillfully explores the intricate dance between bravado, skill, and intuition.

This story follows Adele, a single mother who enters the ultimate cat and mouse game - her life could depend on the outcome...

Unger’s masterful storytelling shines through in her portrayal of Adele's involvement in a deadly game that will require every bit of her intelligence, intuition, and bravery to stay alive.

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" is a gripping and emotionally resonant novel that will leave readers breathless.

Lisa Unger’s ability to blend psychological depth with suspenseful storytelling makes this book a standout in the thriller genre.

I was loving Lisa Unger's Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, and then somewhere in the middle things got a little muddy for me. I liked the way things wrapped up at the end.

The premise of this one was such a fun idea. If you enjoy reality tv contest shows and are intrigued by influencers then this slow burn mystery may be the one for you! I loved the isolated Portuguese island with a decrepit hotel as the location. I also loved that Adele was such a devoted mom and the love there for her kids felt genuine. There are quite a few moving pieces with this one, so pay close attention!

I requested this ARC because the title was intriguing and I've heard good things about the author, but other than that I went in blind. I think the premise and storyline is a unique idea, a reality TV game show of extreme hide and seek with a $1 million prize sounds enticing. The first half of the book was pretty slow and hard to get into, then picked up a bit towards the second half/end of the book. Overall, I'd say it was a fun read.

I had no idea what this was about and solely picked it up because I love the author. What a pleasant surprise to find this was about a reality game challenge turned deadly. The beginning was action packed whereas the middle dragged a little too much for my liking. However the ending tied it all together which I was pleased with. There are ALOT of characters and povs which can be overwhelming for some but I promise the payout is worth it

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is Lisa Unger's gripping new thriller about three adventure seekers who sign up for an extreme game of hide and seek on a remote island. Adele is a single mom thanks to the disappearance of her husband Miller, who is on the run from authorities after embezzling money not only from his business but also from their neighbors and friends. Blake and Violet, Adele's teenagers, encourage Adele to join the competition and the lure of the prize money convinces her that they're right.

Cue the storms, the lies and the extreme danger.

Maverick and his entourage are determined to make this another wildly popular social media hit. When people start disappearing and the town elder warns Maverick to leave, he doubles down and decides that this will be the most epic challenge yet, no matter what the consequences are....

Adele is a single mother who is encouraged by her children to participate in an extreme hide and seek challenge with a widely known influencer, Maverick. Adele is attracted to this game, the cash prize is 1 million dollars, and Adele and her children could really use the money since her estranged husband left their family behind. Adele enters the game, but she doesn't know just how twisted things are going to get.

This book had an interesting plot, extreme hide and seek. But it was a little drawn out for me. I wish the plot would have been a little more focused on the extreme hide and seek instead of making the story mostly about the shady influencer, Maverick. It's not a bad read, I just wanted more from this one. This is a quick read, enjoyable at times. The ending fell a little flat for me.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10
By Lisa Unger
Publish Date February 25, 2025
4.0

Review:

If you like hide and seek as a kid, would you like to play it as an adult? For Adele, a single mother, she doesn’t have a choice. She would do anything for her children, wouldn’t you?

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance reader. If you have never read a book by Lisa Unger, then you have been missing out. Lisa should be on your list to look out for.


Description:

When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.