Close your eyes 👀 and count to ten for this extreme game of hide and seek. Adele’s husband disappears without a trace, leaving her and their children behind. He’s on the FBI watch list, suspected of embezzlement. Adele sees an opportunity to earn a million dollars joining Maverick Dillion’s extreme game of hide and seek on Falco island to take care of her family. The prior years contestant Chloe has disappeared never to be found. Will the same thing happen this year? It’s a race to stay alive and win when treacherous storms hit the island. Thank you @netgalley for the fast past locked door mystery.

"An extreme game of hide and go seek turns deadly", yes please! The competition takes place in an abandoned hotel on a remote island with a dangerous storm coming in that is keeping everyone trapped from entering or leaving. What starts as a social media stunt turns into a game of survival between its competitors and a deadly threat. The main characters are Maverick, Adele and Angeline.
The game is hosted by Maverick, a well known charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer (and his friends at Extreme). Adele, a single mother of two signs up this competition for a chance to win one million dollars, because she will stop at nothing to protect her children.
I enjoyed the blurred lines between reality and spectacle and the vibes of competition reality tv. Definitely a slow burn mystery, took me a while to finish. Found myself picking up and blowing through other books before I finished this one. But, with that being said, the last 25-30% of this book had me hooked! The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the overuse of FUBAR, made me cringe every time I saw it after the first.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy for an honest review of this book.

An extreme game of hide-and-seek on a remote island - with 1 million dollars as the prize. Would you do it? Throw your name in the pot?

Adele is still reeling from her husband disappearing after stealing money from his company. She's remade herself into an influencer - a bada$$ mom of 2. Her kids convince her to throw her name into this contest and the million dollars is an alluring prize.

Maverick is the host and finder in this game. There's a lot of controversy around him. On one of his last games, one of the contestants went missing and he's been fighting the on-line trolls and instigators since - the ones that believe he had something to do with the girl going missing.

There are a few more POV in this story and they round the details out so you know what's happening on and off the island. It's an interesting mystery but not necessarily one that will keep you up late, flipping the pages. It's a slower burn, as you learn everyone's secrets, and slowly build your own opinions of everyone. Although I felt a few of the twists were easy to guess, I did love how it all played out. It was a great ending. And the cover - just perfect! 🤌🏼

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This story had such a great premise and I was so excited to read it. The book was good but it really could have been great. There were too many POVs and just as you got to an exciting part, the next chapter would start and onto the next story. It took me out of the story too many times and really took away from the excitement building in the story. It felt slow and too choppy due to all the POVs. If you like multiple POVs, give this one a try.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. The premise sounded so interesting, I love the idea of a reality show hide and seek game in an abandoned resort. There were too many storylines and they moved slowly so m it hard to follow and stay interested in. Not my favorite by Lisa Unger but I still enjoy her writing and will continue to read her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Typically, when I read a thriller, I am looking for an escape. This book definitely provided that. It was fun and fast paced. I enjoyed Adele and her kids. Adele is a mom trying to make ends meet for her kids. She makes some bad decisions, but she is still a relatable mom. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I would highly recommend it

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 just goes to show why Lisa Unger is such a popular name in thriller fiction. I have read a few of her other books, and I have enjoyed every one. My decision to download this one was a no-brainer; I know I can always count on Lisa Unger for an entertaining read that will have me racing through the pages to find out what is going to happen next. Leave it to her to take something like a childhood game of hide and seek and turn it into an addictive game that you can't help but watch. The coastal setting and storm mirror the tension that occurs throughout the story, and I think this one is the perfect summer read. Adele and Maverick were great leads. As a mom of three myself, I really related to Adele and the lengths she went to in order to protect and defend her kids. It really made me think and wonder what I would do if I were in her situation. Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book!

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.

Adele is a great character, even if she makes some dumb decisions…heck the whole book is full of dumb decisions. I wonder why I finished it? Because there is something about the location and the build up that kept me reading. I loved the intensity surrounding the storm and I enjoyed the remote location.

Lisa Unger has some really great books. However, this one is not my favorite. I, apparently, am not a fan of adult games. This is the second book I have read with this premise and I did not like that one either. In other words, take what I say with a grain of salt. Not everyone can like every book and this one fell short for me.

Another reason I stuck with this novel is the narrator. This is narrated by Vivienne Leheny and I like her! She kept this book moving for me.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a fun and exciting read… but a LONG one. It was one of those novels where several chapters/pages of detail could have been omitted and the book would still have made sense and been atmospheric. It only had 384 pages but certainly felt like a 500-pager! It was also wildly predictable. While I did like the timeline jumps and the podcast transcripts sporadically placed, The 2 “mystery characters” were very obvious, so I wouldn’t exactly call this “twisty” or “shocking”

That said: I really wanted to know how it ended!

Adele is a mother of 2, her family has been disgraced and abandoned by her husband when he was caught embezzling from his tech company - and vanished. Adele was left to pick up the pieces. She’s struggling to make ends meet, when her son‘s gamer friend suggest she do this extreme hide and seek contest, where the grand prize is a cool $1 million.

2 other contestants are on the island, and although they’re Adele’s competition in the challenge, they all quickly form bonds.

Once the challenge starts, everything that could go wrong, does. Everything is live streamed on a fictional version of Instagram. And I mean everything. I’m talking spelunking down flooded elevator shafts while live-streaming.

The ending seemed a bit rushed (especially after how long the build up was), but it did give closure without a big, red “happy ending” bow (which i like! Real life isn’t perfect, so I hate when books end perfectly haha)

A solid 4 for Unger on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC!!
Prepare yourself for a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you gripping the edge of your seat. What begins as a high-stakes game of hide and seek—offering the promise of adventure and life-changing money—quickly spirals into a deadly social media spectacle.

Adele, a single mother with a complex past, is desperate to protect her children and make ends meet. When she gets the chance to join this extreme adventure on a secluded island, it seems like the perfect opportunity. But as contestants start to vanish without a trace, the atmosphere shifts, especially with a looming storm that casts a dark shadow over the game. The line between reality and a staged publicity stunt blurs, forcing Adele to shift her focus from competition to mere survival.

Explore the dark underbelly of social media and reality TV, filled with unexpected twists and intricate side stories that weave a compelling narrative.

I'm a huge fan of Lisa Unger, and was thrilled to receive a copy of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 in exchange for an honest review. The story follows Adele, whose husband falls into legal trouble and abandons his family. Adele is left to pick up the pieces, struggling to make ends meet. The one thing that gets her through is exercise, and she's built a following online for it. When Maverick, an influencer, launches a new live stream of a game similar to Survivor--people come to a place, handle a challenge, trying to be the last one left--all for a bunch of money that would fix all their income problems--Adele decides to do it. But nothing is as it seems. Lots of tension and fast paced action.

The premise of this book sounded so interesting and I really wanted to like it, but I feel like it fell short. First, I didn’t get as much of the “hide and seek” aspect that I was hoping for. Second, I’m all for multiple POVs - I feel like it gives the story depth and clarity. However, there were too many POVs to really keep up and be cohesive. At times the story dragged on and there were unnecessary details/chapters throughout. I feel as though I was left with some questions that were answered at the end, while also the ending was slightly rushed. I will say that I liked the idea of bringing social media into the story and having snippets of comments.. I almost wish there was more of that throughout. I will say, there were some good twists and turns towards the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

This one was not quite what I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it. I thought given there was a reality extreme hide-and-seek competition, it would focus more on the competition aspect. But it’s more about the creators/producers of the competition. I think if you go into this book knowing more of that, and expecting less twists, you might enjoy it more. I like the way Lisa Unger writes, but it’s almost more of a drama than a major thriller. Still very enjoyable, but I can see how others might be let down.

I read this in tandem with the audio. After restarting twice and on the third try having to stop multitasking and focus on the audio I threw in the towel. DNF @ 32%(x3) I love thriller and I’m on a big kick with it right now but this just didn’t work. The story was compelling at the beginning but I quickly lost interest.

A High-Stakes Thriller That Loses Steam at the Finish Line

“Whether you want to pay or not, the bill will come due.”

Lisa Unger’s Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 has all the ingredients for a five-star thriller—an extreme game of hide and seek, a supposedly haunted property, and a life-changing cash prize. The novel unfolds through multiple perspectives, each character carrying their own burdens, secrets, and motives. At the center is Adele, a mother still reeling from a scandal that shattered her family. When the chance to compete in this high-stakes game arises, she hesitantly applies—and gets selected. Meanwhile, Angeline, a former contestant turned lover of the CEO of Extreme, raises suspicions as the organization continues to grapple with the mysterious disappearance of a past player, Chloe. As the competition intensifies and a tropical storm looms, the question isn’t just who will win—but who is truly in control.

The betrayal, the tension, and the intricate web of mysteries kept me eagerly turning the pages, but the payoff didn’t quite match the buildup. Despite the gripping premise and solid character development, the ending felt rushed, leaving the resolution unsatisfying. As much as I anticipated this release and typically love Lisa Unger’s work, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 ultimately didn’t deliver the thrilling, jaw-dropping conclusion I was hoping for. With that in mind, I have to give this one a solid 2.5 stars.

Social Media Influencer and extreme gamer Maverick Dillan, creates a game of hide and seek on an abandoned island resort. Adele, a single mom of two teenagers is one of the main characters who readers will root for. I think the novel could have been a bit tighter if it had focused more on Adele’s story. There were quite a few POV’s and the ending was tied up, but struck me as a bit ludicrous. All in all, not a terrible read, but not completely sastifactory.

As a reader who consumes quite a lot of thrillers I tend to rate them a bit tougher than other books that I read. A great thriller for me tends to be one that hooks and compels me to keep reading and I love when I can't figure out the plot twist or figure it out last minute right before the reveal.

That being said, this one is a thriller I think may be good for those that don't read thrillers often. The premise of the story was compelling with the narrative around social media and perceptions we have of people based on what they present online. The idea of a hide and seek game in the remote wilderness is something I also liked about the story. I appreciated that the story was being told primarily from Adele's POV, a single mom competing in the hide and seek challenge for the cash prize to support her children due to life circumstances. As a mom myself and someone who remembers time before social media was what it is today, it was nice that the challenge contestants represented a mom and older contestants (Wild Cody another contestant). However, Adele's backstory plotline with her husband felt out of place and unrelated to the story aside from simply providing the narrative around why she was in the position to participate in the first place.

The pacing was a bit slower than I tend to like with the vast majority of the action taking place towards the end of the book. It started off strong capturing me with the compelling storyline but as it unfolded I found that I was drifting further away from being invested in the story and the overall conclusion. Unfortunately, for me I also found the book to be predictable and did not have the shock when the twist was revealed. Again, I think this would be a solid read for readers who don't pick up thrillers often.

ARC copy is important to note since I am reviewing after publication!
(4.5 rounded up due to how engaging it is)
Lisa Unger's Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a captivating and thrilling read that weaves together mystery, scandal, and the tension of a high-stakes game. The story follows Adele Crane, a woman whose life is turned upside down when her husband is embroiled in legal trouble, ultimately abandoning his family. Left to pick up the pieces, Adele struggles to make ends meet, selling their home and living paycheck to paycheck. However, she finds solace in her online fitness videos, which give her a modest following.
Blake, her son, is an avid gamer who discovers that Maverick Dillan, a controversial influencer, is launching a new live-streamed game of Hide and Seek on Falcao Island. Blake insists that Adele join the game, hoping to win big. However, her daughter, Violet, is hesitant, given Dillan's company's recent scandals.
The book is divided between the tension of the game itself and the moments leading up to it, creating a unique pacing that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The layers of mystery surrounding Maverick Dillan, his company, and the game itself, mixed with the personal struggles of Adele's family, create a story full of intrigue. As a reader, you can't help but be drawn into the narrative, eagerly turning pages to find out what will happen next. While the book could easily be classified as a psychological thriller, it also delves into themes of family, trust, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Overall, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a fun, fast-paced, and engaging read that you won’t want to put down. With its intriguing premise and suspenseful plot, it’s a thrilling journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

I am super harsh with my thrillers. I don’t hold them to a higher standard – but I think creating a believable book in this genre is incredibly difficult. That being said, nothing about this book was believable. The plot was fun. Conceiving a YouTube star would create extreme games of hide-and-seek worldwide for cash prizes isn’t far-fetched (a la Mr. Beast). But the remote island, a random single mom with an FBI-wanted missing husband, a missing girl, only three contestants for this extreme game, tsunami-type weather during the 12 hours of the game in a 40-year abandoned hotel that finally chooses to collapse in this 12-hour window? All of it was too much. I just couldn’t. I do not recommend this book.

Quick recap without spoilers:
Adele is a single mom of two teens after her husband abandoned them to avoid his arrest five years prior. She has a small online presence through her participation in fit challenges. When her son, Blake, hears about an extreme game of hide-and-seek with a million-dollar prize, he begs his mom to participate. Adele leaves her two teens and travels to a remote island to compete with two other social media stars under the rules set by Maverick Dillan, an extreme adventurer. The island makes it clear that interlopers are not welcome. Will everyone make it home safely?

This thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. A high stakes hide and seek game where you think will be adventure and a chance to win money that can change your life but ends up more of a social media stunt that turns deadly.
Adele is a single mother with a complicated background that is just trying to survive and protect her children. The chance to play this game on a remote island by this extreme adventurer sounds like a great opportunity until contestants start going missing. A creeping storm comes to give the whole game a sinister vibe that causes you to wonder whats real and what’s a stunt for more fame. Adele ends up just trying to survive the games instead of participating in them. Dark side of social media/reality tv is examined and lots of twists and side stories to weave the whole story together.