This story depicts all of the highs and lows of social media. A successful company headed by founder Maverick Dillian hosts online challenges around the world. His company Extreme is made up of his best friends and girlfriend. They use their profits for good, for their followers and for themselves. His latest stunt is an extreme game of hide and seek on an island in the middle of the Atlantic. Single mother Adele, decides to enter the contest in hope of winning the one million dollar prize that will help her struggling family. She finds herself immersed in a more dangerous game than she ever imagined.

The premise and idea for this story was so good. The back stories of the characters were also very interesting. The story starts off slowly as the characters stories begin to develop and we are shown gradually their secrets. Then the story kind of got a little murky. I was left with too many “whys.” Most of the characters were pretty unlikable so that might be part of it. I just wasn’t invested in their story.

3 ⭐️

While the idea for this book sounded intriguing, this book was just alright in my eyes. I had hard time following what was happening at times and was not finding myself excited about reading it to find out the ending, though I was interested enough in the plot to want to know how it ended. The narration did a great job of trying to change the voice for different characters.

This story had multiple POVs that were hard to follow at times and sometimes didn’t make sense on how they fit together in the story. There were too many side plot lines going on throughout the story and I felt that for how much they talked about the extreme hide and seek game, the actual event itself was barely a focus point in the story. The ending also felt very rushed and while it made sense, I felt more details could have been given to wrap up several of the different story lines.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a fun, mysterious, and a little suspenseful popcorn thriller about an extreme game of hide and seek with influencers and master gamers as the contestants. Set on a remote island in an old abandoned hotel. Of course, being highly centered around social media, and their sponsors, the game is being live streamed and documented by the hosts and each contestant. Told through multiple POVs including a true crimes podcast, social media posts, and viewers comments.

I was worried this was going to be a book that has already been done multiple times, but it was actually more of a behind the scenes of the game leading up to the start of the game, instead of the game itself, which was interesting. I thought it was a good representation of how social media and/or gaming tend to be a big focus in our lives and how some feel like they have to post everything they do, the good, the bad and the ugly, hoping to go viral usually for views and fame. I will say, I giggled at the names given in replace of real life social media names.

A lot of POVs and a lot of secrets but pretty predictable. I really enjoyed the story and was completely immersed but I kept waiting for a twist or reveal that never really came. There were so many ways it could have gone but I felt like it went the most predictable way. And of course, like in most remote island thrillers, before the game actually gets started, a tropical storm hits the island…but I felt like the story was missing the dark and stormy atmospheric vibes.

The narrator did a great job with giving the characters their own distinct voices making it easy to follow and giving an entertaining performance from start to finish.

This book was filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing what will happen next. I liked the closeness that this contest held to reality shows like Fear Factor or Survivor, and the relevant influencer/social media aspects included in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this one. The narration was decent but as there were multiple perspectives from many characters sometimes it took me a second to figure out what was going on even with the character name being at the beginning of each change. I enjoyed the premise of this one quite a lot and thought it would be a fun fast-paced ride. Instead, it was pretty much a drag the entire way through. The use of flash-forward for some parts of the novel was interesting but then I felt like nothing paid off when it arrived. And I saw the ending coming from a million miles away to the point where I didn't understand how the characters themselves didn't see it coming. I think this one had a lot of moving parts and perspectives none of which were as defined as they needed to be and it made for a confusing, jumbled story. The characters felt very two dimensional and I struggled to care about what was happening. The setting for the majority of this book was awesome and probably my favorite part of the entire experience.

I enjoyed the building tension and suspense with Adele setting out to win an ultimate hide and seek challenge in a remote location surrounded by a dilapidated hotel on a remote island with a tropical storm rolling in. Then you add in the tumultuous relationships amongst the owners of the extreme adventure company and Adele’s backstory with a missing husband on the run and kids to support. With so much going on and all the players, I was immersed in the story, needing to know how it would play out.

This was quite the game of hide and seek. I enjoyed the characters over all, but I though the twists were a tad easy to figure out. I wanted more of a game and less of a mystery.

3/5 Stars

"Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" is a solid but unremarkable entry in the mystery/thriller genre. Lisa Unger delivers an entertaining read with a well-paced plot and some suspenseful moments, but it doesn’t particularly stand out in a crowded field. While it kept my attention, it lacked the depth or uniqueness to make it memorable. A decent pick if you’re in the mood for a quick, engaging thriller, but nothing groundbreaking.

This book had a lot going on. At first, I was intrigued by the setup a game of hide and seek with a storm rolling in, but then the story kept piling on more and more plotlines. There's blackmail, a missing girl (and a true crime podcast about missing girl), a missing husband, the pressures of social media, hints of a haunted island, and some underlying themes of girl power. With so many elements in play, I struggled to pinpoint the book’s main theme. Was it a thriller? A commentary on fame? A supernatural mystery? It felt like it wanted to be all of them at once.

On top of that, the large cast of characters made it even harder to stay engaged. And after all the twists and turns, everything wrapped up a little too neatly, which left me feeling unsatisfied.

I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately, the narration didn’t help. The accents and tone just didn’t fit the story, making it even harder to connect with the characters.

Overall, while Count to Ten had potential, it was too chaotic for me to fully enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin audio for an ARC

I’m sad to say that I couldn’t finish the audiobook. The premise was so promising— a group of influencers playing an extreme game of hide-and-seek on a remote island, despite warnings from a creepy old woman and her bodyguards, not to mention the disappearance of a girl during the last round of the game. It had all the makings of an intense, gripping thriller.

Unfortunately, there were too many characters to keep track of, each with their own backstory and motive, making the plot feel chaotic and difficult to follow. By the time I reached 51%, I had lost interest. Another major drawback was the narrator—her monotone delivery and lackluster attempts at accents made it hard to stay engaged.

I’m truly disappointed because I wanted to love this book, but in the end, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC.

Interesting premise, it’s giving Mr.Beast games meets survivor. Now, do I actually know what Mr.Beast games are….no. But I imagine it to be just like the plot of this book. Minus the murder. (I hope).
Not my favorite from this author, but I think it may appeal to a younger audience.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A group of influencers is brought to a remote island to play the ultimate game of hide and seek for a cash prize. But what starts as a thrilling competition quickly turns into a fight for survival as a brewing storm rolls in. And it’s not just the weather creating tension—an angry storm of social media viewers is also watching, fueled by the mystery of a young girl who disappeared during the last game and was never found.

While the story is packed with suspense, it felt like a slow burn to me. The numerous side stories were a bit distracting and, at times, predictable. With so many directions this plot could have taken, the ending felt a little too clean-cut for my taste.

That being said, it definitely kept me on my toes—I couldn’t wait to see how it would all unfold. Lisa Unger came up with such a great premise!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller about a deadly game of hide-and-seek on a remote island
This was a slow burn locked room thriller. If you love reality tv game shows such as Survivor this is will hook you in.

Maverick Dillan, a social media star, invites contestants to a game of extreme hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. The game turns into a survival challenge when a storm hits and a deadly threat stalks the contestants. Single mother Adele joins the game and becomes caught up in a web of deception and intrigue

Read this story if you like :
* Multiple POV's
* Reality TV Game Shows
* Secluded Island Vibes
* Secrets

I was looking forward to this book, as I love locked room thriller, especially a remote island setting during a storm. However, the multiple POV's in this book were a little too much, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job, however I felt lost at times. There was no flow and the story felt a little to mixed-up. I normally enjoy multiple POV's if done right, in this situation I felt it confused the reader. I think this book would have been better done as a single POV and focusing more on the contestants playing the game it would have added more thrill to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for allowing me to listen to this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: When an extreme adventure internet star invites players to an abandoned island resort for a game of extreme hide-and-seek, it quickly turns deadly.

Thoughts: While this book has a fun concept, the execution didn’t totally work for me. I was entertained, and I enjoyed the atmospheric setting and interesting characters. I just felt like there were so many interesting directions it could have taken but none ended up feeling fully fleshed out. A note on the audio: I am an audiobook girl, but this one I think may have been better if I had eyeball read it. The way the POVs jump around came across a bit confusing, and it was difficult to keep track of what was happening when.

Read this if you like:
🎥 reality tv/youtube/influencers
🎥 remote island setting
🎥 locked room mystery
🎥 multiple pov

Thank you @htpbooks @parkrowbooks for the free digital arc and alc!

A single mom whose husband went missing after a financial scandal travels to an isolated island for a social media driven competition. With a disastrous storm looming and a girl that disappeared from the last competition, what could go wrong?

This thriller was very atmospheric with the crumbling ruins, isolated island and impending storm. The missing person aspect was also intriguing. However, I felt the plot was pretty predictable and I didn’t care for a lot of the characters and their annoying bro talk. I would recommend this one for the atmosphere/entertainment, but don’t expect any shocking plot twists.

Rating 3⭐️

Social Media famous adventurer Maverick and his Extreme team host an "extreme" game of hide and seek on a remote island. Adele, a single mom, is one of the competitors, hoping to set her and her kids up better. A storm and other mysterious events turn what was meant to be a fun game into a challenge of survival.

I felt like this book was trying to be too many things at once. There were so many POVs and plotlines it was hard to keep track and I felt they all were underdeveloped as a result. I feel like there were good ideas here, but the execution just lacked something.

Tropes:
* Multiple POVs
* Social Media Influencers
* Competition for $1M
* Corruption
* Toxic relationships
* Locked room vibes

2.5 stars

In Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, Lisa Unger delivers a gripping thriller that intertwines the perils of social media fame with a high-stakes game of survival. Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites participants to Falcao Island for the ultimate game of hide-and-seek, promising a substantial prize. However, as a fierce storm descends and an unseen menace begins targeting contestants, the event devolves into a harrowing fight for life. Adele, a single mother determined to secure a better future for her children, becomes ensnared in this deadly contest, confronting a labyrinth of deception and danger.

Unger escalates tension, immersing readers in a narrative where the boundaries between virtual personas and reality blur ominously. The story evokes a sense of dread, compelling readers to question the authenticity of online identities and the lengths individuals will go to for notoriety. As secrets unravel and alliances shift, the novel maintains a relentless pace, ensuring an enthralling experience.

This novel is recommended for enthusiasts of psychological thrillers and suspenseful narratives that delve into the dark facets of human ambition and the digital age's influence. Fans of works exploring survival under extreme conditions will find Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 particularly captivating. The book leaves a lasting impression, prompting reflection on the potential dangers of social media stardom and the unpredictable nature of human behavior when pushed to the brink.

Lisa Unger is always an immediate read author for me. While this wasn't one of my most favorite of her books, the audiobook was still mildly entertaining. I'm not sure if I would feel the same way if I were reading it with my eyes though. The audiobook narrators made it much more engaging.

I definitely loved the slow burn thriller vibe of this book, however I didn't think it needed to be as long as it was. Some parts were more of a drag, and if I hadn't been listening to it on audio, I probably would've felt way more withdrawn from the story. I did really enjoy different character perspectives, but sometimes it got me a little confused.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the audiobook arc!

Adele Crane, a single mother determined to protect her children at all costs after her husband embezzeled from his company and then left his family high and dry, can't pass up the million dollar prize promised by an extreme game of hide-and-seek run by Maverick Dillan's company Extreme Games. But she quickly finds herself embroiled in more than just a game, and it may cost people their lives.

I loved the premise of this book, and I loved Adele. She's a strong, no-nonsense mom who put herself back together after her husband's betrayal. She stays true to herself throughout the whole book.

The place where this went wrong for me is that there's just a lot going on, and, paired with multiple timelines that weren't always clearly called out, I found the narrative to be a bit confusing at times. It was especially difficult when the book moved between the players doing re-con prior to the game starting and the events during the game without realizing the timelines had jumped.

Another issue I had was with the game itself. This extreme hide-and-seek game is being held to increase Maverick's following. So why then are there only 4 participants selected? And with so few participants, Adele seemed like a highly unlikely choice for one of them.

Despite it adding a bit to the chaos, I did like how Unger incorporated narratives of some of the live feeds and related podcasts into the story.

I listened to this one on audio. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, wasn't my favorite. I understand that in the world of social media, there are a lot of masks and fake people, but I felt like she made some of the characters sound overly and obnoxiously fake. I did appreciate, however, that she did a good job creating separate and easily identifiable voices for each of the many characters.

Read if you like:
Multi-POV
Multiple timelines
Lies and betrayal
Social media and podcasting
Remote setting
Locked room mystery/thriller

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 352 / Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Audiobook Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Duration: 11 hours 34 minutes
Release Date: February 25, 2025

Adele is a single mother of two teenagers. After her husband abandoned them, she reinvented herself online, building a following based on parenting and motivational advice. Her son encourages her to enter a reality game show, where she plays extreme hide-and-seek on a remote island. All she has to do is survive the night without being found and she wins a million dollars. But then the game turns deadly when a violent storm hits the island and someone is stalking the contestants.

Besides the storyline with Adele and her family, there were the other contestants and the complicated founders of the game, so there was a lot going on and it all came across a bit disjointed. Instead of thrilling, I found it rather tiresome.

Thank you, @HTP_Hive, @Harlequin_Audio, and @NetGalley for my free copy of the audiobook. I also actually won this book in a @GoodReads contest (yay) but never actually received it (boo).