This is a fun, suspenseful book with all the twists and turns we expect from Lisa Unger. Although it starts out a bit fanciful (mother of two flying to a far way island to participate in a social media extreme game), keep reading. The story becomes richer and the characters become more believable. I read this book in two days, start to finish because I wanted to know what was next. In true Lisa Unger fashion, it was always unexpected. I enjoyed the video game aspect as well, when I thought at first that this was a world I wasn’t interested in. Looking forward to Unger’s next book.
Thank you NetGalley for a ARC.

Thrilling in all the best ways. Unger's assessment of influencer culture and what we do for money or likes is on target. Entertaining, even if it started a bit slow.

Just finished reading Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger and let me tell you, it was one wild ride. I was lucky enough to snag an advanced copy and it did not disappoint. Lisa Unger is always an auto-buy author for me and she definitely lived up to her reputation with this one. The story follows Maverick, a daring adventurer who invites 10 contestants to a remote island for a high stakes game of hide and seek. But what they didn’t expect was the deadly weather and a potential murderer on the loose. Talk about a thrill a minute, edge of your seat read! I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. Who knew a simple game could turn into a fight for survival? Definitely add this one to your must-read list for this fall.

This book is riveting. Lisa Unger does it again. I couldn't wait for another book to read from her after reading The New Couple in 5B. She lived up to my expectations and I couldn't put this book down. I will continue to read anything she puts out.

The premise is so intriguing, but I found the book itself to drag. I wasn’t really invested in any of the characters either, they seemed to blend together and it was difficult to differentiate. Overall, not a thriller I would include in my recommendations.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

For fans of Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf, Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is the story of three contestants in the ultimate hide-and-seek game.to try to win a million dollar prize. Inspired by true events experienced by the author, this book has a lot of suspense (a crumbling island and impending storm) and a satisfying ending. It was a little choppy at times, but was a fun, slow burn.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Unger and I felt the premise of this book showed promise -- a reality tv show + a game of hide and seek = the perfect thriller novel. This book had so much potential, but didn't live up to it for me. It was a slow burn that I had such hard time completing and took me over a month to finish because I just couldn't get into it and I read several books in that same span of time.
I felt like there were three different storylines going at the same time. .The actual game part of this was extremely rushed and not playing out that well at all. The other two stories were very predictable, with no real "shocker" at the end.

I appreciate the ARC and will be purchasing this title for our public library.

In this gripping new thriller by Lisa Unger an adult game of hide and seek quickly turns to a game of survivor. Despite the rumors about the Island of Falcao being cursed, contestants flock to the island for a chance to win big money. Main character Adele is one of the contestants. She is hoping the prize money will free her struggles with debt and she and her two children can finally relax about money. What was supposed to be a fun competition soon becomes dangerous. Threats of a dangerous storm along with the questionable ethics of the host, Maverick and his team, the competition turns sinister.

This was such a fun, twisty read. It was told from multiple POV'S but was well written so you knew who each character was and some of their background. Lisa Unger proves yet again she is a master at writing a thriller. I highly recommend this especially if you're into all the survivor type shows

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 - Lisa Unger
Pub Date - February 18, 2025
Media - Ebook
Rating - 3/5

Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked the premise of this book -- a reality tv show + a game of hide and seek = the perfect thriller novel. This book had so much potential, but didn't live up to it for me. It was a slow burn that I had a really hard time completing and took me almost a week because I just couldn't get into it.
I felt like the author had three different storylines going at the same time, which...is fine, but usually they merge into something that makes the reader gasp. That was....not the case here. I felt like the actual game part of this was extremely rushed and not really playing out at all. The other two stories were very predictable, with no real "shocker" at the end.

Overall, entertaining novel, but nothing special.

I liked this book but I didn’t love it. I thought there were too many point of views in the story and it took away from the focus of the story. I did like the idea of the story.. reality tv, stormy weather, remote island.. it is a spooky setting that I loved! I wanted to keep reading because I had to know how it ended,
Overall it was a good book but could have been better if there were limited point of views and didn’t stray for reality show theme.

Another Lisa Unger!! I had high hopes, but was very disappointed. I found it difficult to follow along with the story. I could not bring myself to like the book, despite enjoying her previous books. 2 stars

I can always rely on Lisa Unger for a great thriller read. This one is a slow burn, but I was so engrossed in the characters and story that I found it hard to put down.

I am super intrigued because there is an "Eaton House" in upstate NY as part of the story. I googled and no such places exists as far as I can tell. However, I grew up in a similar victorian home to the one described and it was in Eaton, NY. So every time this part of the story came up, the visualization I had down to the creepy basement and woods out back was very real! This was definitely a surprise bonus element added to the story that really enhanced my reading experience.

The setting was great and had definite creepy vibes. There were twists that I never saw coming. The added suspense of an impending storm and being trapped on the island really added to the story. This gave survivor vibes and I loved every second of it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Could I put this book down, nope! Another Lisa Unger book that I devoured! The twists and turns kept coming all the way until the end, and it kept me guessing.

There were multiple POV, but it was easy to keep track of, which is not always the case. I enjoyed the suspense of this novel.

The only downfall for me was that I was hoping there was more to the game.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the ARC.

In Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, a game of hide and seek turns deathly. WeWatch (essentially YouTube) superstar Maverick is going all out with his new challenge- a high stakes game of hide and seek where the winner takes home a cash prize and likely thousands of new subscribers. For single mom Adele, winning the game could make all the difference. But can Maverick and his cohorts keep the contestants safe? After all a storm is coming and their last hide and seek game ended with the disappearance of a young woman.
There’s a lot to like in this book. Adele and her children are easy to root for, and the twist turns keep the book engaging. For me, however, I found that there were a few too many subplots that kept me from getting fully invested in the main action. I also felt that several times along the way the plot points felt a bit unlikely (like the mysterious shaman with the private army warning Maverick and the contestants away from the island). That being said, it was an interesting read if you’re willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride.
3.5 rounded to 4

A well written thriller, once again from Lisa Unger! It was easy to read, as it was SO well written! Adele is desperate for money, after her husband defrauded his own company and went on the run. As Adele spent a year cleaning herself up and getting fit, she decides to apply for an extreme game of hide and seek that her son Blake brought to her attention. The adventure there is wild, as is what happens with her kids at home. Well told, I was hooked from the start!

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat ride that expertly weaves together multiple storylines. Each character brings a unique perspective, adding layers of suspense and intrigue. From mysterious disappearances to dark family secrets, the plot twists keep you guessing at every turn.

Lisa Unger masterfully jumps between timelines, creating a sense of urgency that keeps you hooked. While some moments feel a bit fragmented, the way everything ties together in the end is both satisfying and unexpected. Fast-paced, intense, and full of surprises—this is an easy 4-star must-read!

As an extreme game of hide and seek quickly turned from stunt to survival, I held my breath as the plot twisted and turned to its dramatic conclusion. Pacy and gripping, I couldn’t read fast enough. Take it on holiday and savor every deliciously dark page

This has been one of several thrillers I have read recently about secluded reality show contests gone bad--it seems to be a new subgenre. This one was good--not the best but not the worse either. I'm not entirely sure that the subplot of the husband who disappeared fit in with the overall story. It seemed like its only purpose was to give the main character motivation for appearing on the show and was a little distracting. The plot was a little slow going but ramped up about two thirds of the way into the book, and I didn't particularly care for the jumping around timeline. It relied heavily on virtual reality/social media as part of the action. Maybe because I don't care for those topics it was harder for me to relate or get into the story.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is another great thriller by Lisa Unger. The story is engaging and the characters relatable. It was a fast read that Unger fans will devour.

This was what I expected, and a little more interesting with the side stories of Chloe Miranda and Miller. I found the switch between Tavo and Gustavo to be confusing, and it felt like it ended a little quickly for me. Other than that, enjoyed and will recommend!