Close Your Eyes And Count To 10 by @launger

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted audiobook and HTP Books/ Park Row for the e-ARC.

Let me preface this by saying that I am newer to audiobooks that are fiction. So please know that it takes me some time to get used to. I usually do audio memoirs.

The synopsis alone says this is an extreme game of hide-and-seek. However, I felt the excitement didn’t hit the mark for me until the last 25% of the book. We have many POV. Everyone is struggling with something. I usually can follow a big cast but I seemed to struggle with keeping up.

One thing that bothered me was how Adele was an influencer who wanted to make it big. Stream with your followers that you’re on an isolated island in a high stakes game? 😳 All the chat and emoji references were a bit too much for me. That’s just me.

A highly anticipated slow burn thriller. If you’re a Lisa Unger fan and enjoy slow burns, you just might like this one. Please read other reviews, as many have loved it.

Pub date 2/25/2025
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall it was an interesting mystery that moved at a good pace. It was engaging. It jumped around a lot which was a bit frustrating. I was hoping for more of the actual game but the twists made up for that. The husband story line was predictable. It was a quick good read!

Listening to the audiobook version of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger was an exhilarating and immersive experience. Narrated by the incredibly talented Julia Whelan, the audiobook brings this suspenseful thriller to life in a way that is both captivating and chilling.

Julia Whelan’s narration is nothing short of spectacular. Her ability to convey the tension and emotion of each scene is remarkable, making it easy to get lost in the story. She masterfully differentiates between characters, adding depth and personality to each one, which enhances the overall listening experience.

The story itself is a gripping blend of real and virtual worlds colliding in a high-stakes game of survival. Adele Crane, a single mother, finds herself participating in a reality competition called Extreme Hide and Seek on the remote Falcão Island. What starts as a thrilling adventure quickly turns into a deadly game, filled with twists and turns that keep listeners on the edge of their seats.

Lisa Unger’s writing is sharp and engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that unfolds at a relentless pace. The audiobook format amplifies the suspense, making every moment feel immediate and intense. The combination of Unger’s storytelling and Whelan’s narration creates an unforgettable experience that is hard to pause.

Overall, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a must-listen for fans of thrillers and suspense. The audiobook delivers a perfect blend of tension, intrigue, and emotion, making it a standout in the genre. I highly recommend this audiobook for its exceptional narration and gripping story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for sending me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my copy of CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10. This one publishes on 2/25.

This one was one of the slowest burn books, but with lots of characters who are easy to confuse with each other and also with their own side issues to keep track of. I had a really hard time getting my brain around all the people and keeping up with the story. I feel like this could have been edited down a little more and it would have been much better. I don't recommend this one.

Lisa Unger's Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten presents an interesting concept, but ultimately, the execution left me wanting more. The plot, while intriguing on paper, was lackluster and felt a bit too choppy to maintain a consistent level of suspense. Maverick Dillan, the charismatic daredevil at the center of this high-stakes game, initially promises a thrilling experience, but the story quickly loses steam as it dives deeper into its convoluted twists.

The tension of the storm and the deadly game on Falcao Island could have made for a gripping read, but I found the pacing uneven and the character development lacking. Adele, the single mother with a heart of steel, is a character I wanted to root for, but I struggled to connect with her journey amidst the chaotic backdrop. The blurring of reality and social media stunts was an interesting angle, but it didn't quite have the emotional depth it needed to be truly impactful.

Overall, the book's premise had potential, but the execution felt rushed and sometimes disjointed. While I didn't completely dislike it, I couldn't shake the feeling that Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten missed the mark on delivering a truly immersive, edge-of-your-seat experience.

I know I can depend on Lisa Unger for a solid thriller, and Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was no different than her previous great reads.

This was fast paced, kept my interest, and had a solid plot. I was invested till the end, and overall really happy with this read. I liked that it continued Unger's trend of complex characters and an ending that was deliciously not neat, but still provided overall closure. I think what I like most about Unger is she delivers such a satisfying read while still poking edges of discomfort that leave you with an eerie feeling that the story could get worse still despite the book being over. She has definitely honed her craft, and you can tell in the writing.

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

** spoiler alert ** A reality show on a remote island that had creepy vibes, count me in. We have the host, Maverick, that is known for crazy stunts and selected influencers to join in a survivor style game that is broadcasted. One of the main POV that intrigued me was Adele, a single mom who joined wont hopes to win the big cash prize.

The story is told in multiple POV, I wished the narration was told by multiple narrators. Vivienne Leheny did a good job but it would've been a more enriched experience with different narrators.

One part of the story that really bothered me was that Adele left her kids alone. I can't recall how old they were but leaving time for a time would not be something I would be comfortable doing in real life. I also didn't like that the dad appears and has a change of heart all of a sudden. It felt so forced to be part of the story.

Thank you @parkrowbooks @htp_hive for a copy of the audiobook.

An extreme game of hide and seek at a creepy abandoned building all while being live steamed?! Count me in!!! The narration was spot on and really brought the book to life. Bravo! The multiple POV was hard to follow at times but overall I really enjoyed this book. I feel there were some missed opportunities of what “could have happened”. Definitely give this a read when it releases February 25!

3.5 stars

A Survivor-style game of hide and seek in an abandoned and decrepit luxury hotel sets the stage for this thriller. Full of eerie and haunting imagery, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a captivating new read from Lisa Unger.

I overall enjoyed the book and was definitely hooked throughout the story, but I feel like there were too many plotlines fighting for your attention. Maybe that wouldn't have been so confusing if it has been written in third person, but the first person chapters from the many characters and switching in and out of the game was distracting. I understand the overall purpose and see where the author was going with it, but it left me confused more than once. I had a hard time getting track of the characters.

Because of the many characters and switching POV's, I would've loved to hear this as a multi-cast narration. However, the single narrator did an excellent job with narrating the story and driving the urgency of the plot.

Thank you Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the gifted ALC and ARC.

The cover and title and summary are extremely captivating.

Unfortunately that was about all I enjoyed about this. There were a lot of characters and everything was so slow moving and just felt like there really wasn't a lot happening.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for a honest review.

Are you ready for an unforgettable game of hide-and-seek on a remote, abandoned island, where the stakes are a whopping one million dollars? "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" is an exhilarating thriller that weaves together the crazy world of social media with a locked-room mystery set against the eerie backdrop of an abandoned and crumbling resort on the remote Falcao Island.

Meet Maverick, a daring influencer and extreme adventurer who organized this highly controversial event despite ominous warnings from the local community and a massive storm on the horizon. His thrill-seeking spirit makes for good entertainment, but the real drama unfolds when the players arrive.

Then there's Adele, a single mother drowning in debt after her husband walked out. She's willing to leave her kids for a few days with the chance to change her family’s future hanging in the balance. What could go wrong? Adele is fit, ready, and determined to win, but once she steps on the island and the game starts, she starts questioning her decision.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and Park Row Books, I had the opportunity to dive into the ebook and audiobook versions of this gripping tale. Experiencing the story while listening to it adds a new layer of depth, enhancing the thrill! I've admired the narrator, who brings characters to life with her talent.

Unger is one of my favorite authors, and I try to grab early copies of her books whenever possible. This book might not reach the heights of some of her earlier works, but it still delivers a heart-pounding survival thriller that will keep you engrossed.

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Adele is barely making ends meet after her husband ran off after embezzling money from his company so when her 14 year old son suggests she apply to play extreme hide and seek to win 1 million dollars on daredevil Maverick Dillan's social media channel (think Mr. Beast) she jumps at the chance. But the game is being played on a secluded island that's home to a defunct resort and there's more than just one storm brewing on Falcao Island. This was a quick listen and I enjoyed the narration but it was just way too confusing for me. A character would be somewhere doing something then all the sudden with no warning it would jump back to a scene that led to the one you were just reading. There are a ton of characters to keep straight but they all lacked the depth to make me care about them. I usually love this authors books and I'm still excited to read whatever she comes up with next. Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my ALC.

This atmospheric thriller had a fun concept, but I found the execution to be slightly lacking.

Influencers are invited to play extreme hide and seek on an island for a cash prize, and of course things go badly wrong. From a giant storm to locals wanting them to leave to secrets in the Extreme team hosting the challenge, if it can go wrong it surely does.

I loved the island setting and thought single mom Adele was a pretty badass character. The concept poked fun at YouTubers and the wild things they do for views and likes, and I enjoyed all of that.

Overall, I think there were too many different storylines going on and none of them felt fully developed. The book also skipped around so much that it confused me several times- a character would be running to hide one chapter, then sitting by their tent in the next. The continuity was off, making things unclear. There were side storylines that really didn’t add much to the story as well, adding extra length but not additional substance.

The audiobook narrator had a huge task in front of her, narrating so many POVs along with internet comments and podcasts. Due to the continuity issues mentioned above, I ended up switching to reading this one with my eyes instead of my ears, as it got confusing to listen to. This is no fault of the narrator, who does a great job voicing so many characters.

Thank you to HTP for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I would probably rate this closer to a 3.5. I loved the premise and the shifting between point of views. However, the later half of the book felt too predictable and not quite suspenseful or thriller enough to actually keep me guessing compared to other titles by this author. They are masterful at juggling multiple characters with equal emphasis which is enjoyable!

Maverick Dillian has always been about pushing the limits, and now he’s taking it to a whole new level with an insane hide and seek challenge in a remote location. This isn’t his first time hosting one of these wild events, but there’s definitely some drama surrounding this one. Last time, one player was never found, and it caused quite a stir. This time, he’s brought together four influencers from all over to battle it out for a jaw dropping $1 million prize. The latest challenge is happening on Falcao Island— an island that definitely doesn’t want them there, but Maverick is determined to make it happen. Will they all make it out in one piece? And who’s going to walk away with the grand prize? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved this book! Absolutely thrilling!!! I loved learning about the characters and what made them tick. Learning why each person wanted to be there and seeing them all grow so much

I DNF at 52% . I tried picking this up multiple times but it was confusing and so far fetched I couldn’t continue .

It was so much the narrator but the story line itself.

Lisa Unger is always an author that I look forward to reading, so her latest novel "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" was no different! Unger knows how to thread stories between one another and make readers keep guessing until the end, and this deserted island/reality livestream contest was an intriguing premise!

I enjoyed this novel overall, but it did take me awhile to get into it. There were a lot of characters to learn, and their alternating viewpoints took me a bit to straighten out. Once I had everything down, the story flowed much better for me. The characters were well-developed, I thought, with a lot of complex backgrounds. There were some areas of the book that I felt slowed down a bit more than necessary. The setting of the novel was a character in and of itself, lots of descriptions that made me feel like I knew the island they were on.

My final reaction: A dark, twisty mystery from talented Lisa Unger that I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. 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.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for a review copy. This was a fun twisty listen centered around social media influencing. Good standard thriller fair with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. There were a few different story lines unraveling at once, but I enjoyed them all. I thought the main characters were easy to like. Somehow this was my first Lisa Unger novel, but I'll be coming back for more.

thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the free ARC!

i really enjoyed this lisa unger novel, and the audiobook narrator was fantastic. this story had a different vibe from my usual thriller/mystery reads—leaning into a locked-room mystery with multiple povs that added depth and propelled the plot forward.

the characters are flawed, desperate, and deeply complex. the book feels modern and timely without coming across as forced or cringey. unger masterfully explores the question of why, diving into each character’s background to provide a rich understanding of their motivations and thought processes.

i’d definitely read more from lisa unger and would love to listen to more audiobooks by this narrator!