I have read a couple of books recently billed as thrillers placed into extreme ‘’hunger’ game style competitions. In this one Adele, a single mother as her husband literally vanished after some fraud deal decides to compete, at her kids urging for a dubious Tiktok celebrity organizing another extreme challenge for big money. On a small island. Of course there is a major storm. Of course there are other competitors with secrets. Sometimes interesting, mostly one dimensional. Enjoyed other LisaUnger books more than this one but other fans may love it

A slow that turns into a fast paced thriller of hide and seek. I could not put this book down and as a mother I found my heart pounding through my chest with each page. Lisa Unger literally does no wrong and “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” locks you in. Great for readers who enjoy multiple POVs. Can’t wait to hear this on audio!

The dark side of influencer culture and one mother’s quest to secure financial stability for her family collide in a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on a dangerous secluded island.

Adele is a single mother struggling to provide for her two teenaged children after their father leaves them high and dry and becomes a fugitive on the run from the FBI. Her son introduces Adele to the latest challenge by daredevil and influencer Maverick Dillan, an extreme game with a large monetary prize that may solve all their problems, but at what risk? Because Mav and his crew are banking on this competition more than they are letting on, and are willing to go to great lengths for views. As tensions rise and an impending storm threaten the safety of the competitors, the game quickly becomes more than any of them bargained for.

What I enjoyed:
Adele’s character- Adele is well-developed, her motivations are clear, and she is relatable as a mother and person. She has a healthy relationship with her kids and refuses to crumble in the aftermath of their tragedy.

I liked how the dark side of influencer culture is explored- the ruthlessness of the commenters, the continued chasing of views, and the lack of real human connection resulting in emptiness and loneliness. Mav’s relationship with social media is downright toxic, and his continued willingness to push the line for views added a great dynamic to the competition and plot. The impacts of cancel culture are depicted with the “Wild Cody” character.

The setting- the secluded island and abandoned resort are extremely effective. The hotel is personified as if it was a real player in the game and is genuinely creepy. Local superstitions and a looming tropical storm also add a sense of foreboding. The cover art depicts this atmosphere well and will draw readers in instantly.

What I wanted more from:
Adele’s storyline- Adele begins as the main character but gets a sidelined midway through in favor of Mav and his crew. I felt like this was a disservice to her character arc that the first half of the story took great time to get the reader invested in. The storyline with her husband is unresolved and felt like a missed opportunity.

The setting and competition- The atmosphere and the game are interesting and the strongest aspects of the story, but they feel like a footnote for most of the book. It builds up to an extreme game of hide-and-seek, but in reality, the characters spend very little time playing the game.

The twists & turns- I am by no means a mastermind, but the twists and turns felt obvious and therefore the reveals underwhelming. Many of the character’s motivations are made completely clear from the beginning so it wasn’t a surprise when they acted on those desires.

Dialog choices- Some of the dialog choices feel like a caricature, in particular Blake’s POV and the many “bruh’s” between Mav and his crew. Additionally, the back and forth between Gustavo and “Tavo” feel unnecessarily confusing when the reader is already attempting to keep track of multiple POVs and characters.

Overall, this hits as an okay read for me. Adele’s storyline, the premise of the social media competition, and the atmospheric abandoned resort kept me turning the pages, but the shifts in story focus, loose ends, and underwhelming reveals detracted from making it a five-star read.

This one was a lot of fun! I have really enjoyed everything I’ve read by Lisa Unger and I look forward to more! This story was an exciting, twisty, thriller! There was so much anxiety though wanting to know what was going to happen! Definitely page turner!!!!!

Another amazing story from this author! I will say, it did take a little bit in the beginning to get me hooked but I knew once I gave it a chance I would not be disappointed! The twists she kept throwing in had me on the edge of my seat and I had no way of which the story was going to go. I love how the story followed mainly about Adele and her family's struggles, but also included a whole other story line as well feeling like multiple amazing stories in one. Lisa Unger did a great job with all of the different POVs. I wasn't confused at any point with what was going on and I love how she can do that. Every time I would think I had a grasp on what was coming she threw me for a loop and I couldn't put this book down! This was such a thrilling read! It is definitely one to pick up when you need something to keep you on the edge of your seat while reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the early copy!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is Unger’s strongest book to date! The tension simmers throughout and there are truly terrifying moments. Adele is the best type of character, courageous, determined and with a troubling history. I loved how the multiple POV’s gave us full entry into this thrilling world. If you thought hide and seek was a kids game, you’re going to want to read this and see how Unger can flip this game on its head.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was an absorbing thriller that doesn’t (just) focus on domestic strife but grips you with a fairly unique story line that plays out nicely with the tension you expect from Lisa Unger.

Opening with Adele, a mom whose husband has effectively screwed over her whole town and left her and her two kids high and dry, she can’t help but go for a thrill seeking competition of hide and seek for influencers that her son brings to her. With a prize of a million dollars quite a few emerging influencers and has been stake part in the game on a moody island, and while that alone spells trouble the cursed hotel they play at and the less than upstanding organizers are key elements that make this more than just spooky. I love the characters that joined into the games adding some emotion and more mystery to the going ons. The side plot of Adele’s kids also tethered this novel to a bit of an escape so that the game’s mysteries didn’t get to be too much. While this could have easily gone sideways with the vapidness that influencer life can easily bring, I felt that everything played out well and appealed to my thriller sensibilities. Pick this one up if you like a thriller plot but want to experience it in a unique way.

This book was just ok for me. I recently read Stranded and loved it and maybe I couldn’t help myself comparing them. This was much slower paced with so much build up, I was really losing interest and almost gave up until about 3/4 of the way through. Even then, it was just “fine”. I enjoy books with multiple POVs when they were done well. This one wasn’t done well. It could easily have been written from Adele’s perspective and been far more streamlined.

I do think others will enjoy this, and think maybe the trapped on and island, in a hotel, one-by-one picked off thing is something I need a little break from to cleanse my palette.

This latest by Lisa Unger was fabulous. I will read anything she writes forever!! Highly recommend and will purchase for my library locations.

*Close Your Eyes and Count to 10* by Lisa Unger is a gripping and intense read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story starts with Maverick Dillan, a daredevil and extreme adventurer, inviting people to play the ultimate game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. What begins as a fun social media challenge quickly turns into a dangerous test of survival as a deadly threat hunts the contestants.

The main character, Adele, is a single mother with a strong will to protect her children. She enters the game not knowing the real danger she’s about to face. As the storm rages and the competition becomes more fierce, Adele must use all her strength and smarts to survive and make it back home to her family.

Lisa Unger does a great job of creating tension and suspense throughout the story. The mix of adventure, danger, and the twisty plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-written, especially Adele, who is both brave and relatable.

*Close Your Eyes and Count to 10* is a thrilling, fast-paced novel that blends the excitement of a survival game with the intensity of a suspenseful mystery. If you enjoy stories where the line between reality and danger gets blurred, this book is definitely for you!

#CloseYourEyesandCountto10 #NetGalley

This is a slow burn, locked room thriller with multiple points of view. Adele is a single mom struggling to make ends meet and provide for her two teenagers. Her son Blake encourages her to apply for reality game show and a cash prize of a million dollars. She leaves her teenagers alone to go to remote island with abandoned hotel to compete.

The game is an extreme game of hide and seek. The island and hotel give it a creepy vibe. A storm is coming and puts everyone in danger.

The multiple points of view were hard to follow at times. I had a lot of questions at the end of things that happened and I like things to be wrapped up in a bow.

Lisa Unger is consistently one of my favorite authors. Her stories are always fast-paced and super interesting and every time you think you have it figured out there’s a new twist coming. In this book, a game of extreme hide and seek goes terribly wrong as everybody involved has major secrets that can cause catastrophic harm. Maverick has been hiding behind his public persona for so many years. He’s not even really sure who he actually is anymore, Adele is a single mom after her husband disappears after embezzling money and ruining her and her kids life, and Chloe went missing on one of Maverick’s other extreme challenges, but her memory haunts everybody on the team. As they go to a remote island, which the author says was inspired by the Azores, to play extreme game of hide and seek mother nature and seemingly the island itself, don’t want them there as the reader through various points of view and jumps, you learn more and more about the people there. This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” by Lisa Unger is a gripping thriller that explores the dark side of extreme influencer competitions (think of a more extreme version of Mr. Beast’s videos) and the lengths people will go for fame and fortune. The story centers on Adele, a resilient single mother who joins a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek on the remote and ominous Falcao Island. Hosted by the charismatic but morally ambiguous Maverick Dillan, the game promises a million-dollar prize, but as a deadly storm approaches and contestants begin to disappear, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary game and the secrets of the Extreme company come to light.

Adele’s motivation is clear from the start—she’s struggling to provide a better life for her children after being abandoned by her fugitive husband. Her backstory and determination to win the prize money to secure a fresh start for her family are some of the book’s strongest elements. I actually enjoyed the focus on Adele more than the main plot at times. Unger does an excellent job of portraying Adele as a complex and determined character, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her children.

However, while Adele is ostensibly the main character, the story often shifts focus to the perspectives of other contestants and members of the Extreme company, the organization behind the game. These multiple POVs add depth to the story, but they can also be overwhelming, making the plot feel chaotic at times, especially since a lot of these different perspectives seemed to take over when I just wanted to focus on Adele. I was expecting more from Adele and her part in the plot, but the story shifted to mainly focus on the Extreme perspective while Adele was put on the sidelines. It just wasn’t what I was expecting based on the synopsis.

The book starts with a slow burn, gradually building tension as the contestants arrive on the island and the sinister atmosphere begins to take hold. Unger excels at creating a sense of dread, with the island itself feeling like a character, filled with secrets and dangers lurking in every shadow. I absolutely loved the island setting, especially with the descriptions of the abandoned hotel. However, the pacing was a bit uneven; the actual hide-and-seek game doesn’t start until about 70% into the book, leaving the earlier sections feeling a bit drawn out. The hide-and-seek game is also revolved very quickly.

Despite this, the last 30% of the novel is fast-paced and intense, delivering a thrilling and action-packed conclusion. The twists and turns in this section keep you on the edge of your seat. There were a couple plot twists that I honestly wasn’t expecting. The conclusion wraps up the various plot threads neatly, especially with Adele’s perspective, which I appreciated.

One of the book’s more intriguing aspects is its commentary on social media and the influencer culture, reminiscent of current trends in extreme online challenges. This book reminded me of Mr. Beast and his challenges, though this may not be a great comparison at the moment due to the current controversy going on with Mr. Beast. This backdrop of the influencer competition adds a layer of relevance to the story, though some of the dialogue, particularly the slang used by the characters, can feel cringey and forced. I can’t believe so many people would regularly use the word “brah” in their speech, including grown adults.

Overall, “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” is a compelling read, especially for fans of locked-room-style mysteries and thrillers set in secluded, eerie locations. While the book has its flaws—mainly in pacing and character focus—it still offers a satisfying, suspenseful experience. Adele’s story, in particular, is one that resonates, making this book worth picking up for those who enjoy thrillers with a touch of social commentary.

I got lost in this book! A fast paced page turner with interesting characters, moody locale, and lots of cultural insights pertaining to our collective TikTok culture. The blur between what is real and what is show heightens the tension in this riveting thriller.
I could not put it down! Absolutely loved it and will definitely read it again.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me access to read this book early. I’m always thankful when I get to read and review books early.

However… I was not a fan of this one. Nothing really happens until 70% of the way in. It’s very slow and a lot of build up. Honestly, I was expecting more out of this one since her last book was so good.

It also took me forever to finish reading this because I took a break from reading it because it was extremely slow and hard to get into.

Interesting premise! I did not love the influencer theme because that isn’t really my thing, but I thought the characters were developed and dynamic. I really enjoyed the storyline of Adele’s husband and thought that the author also did a good job writing the characters of the children. Very fast paced and surprising.

This is a slow-burn thriller with some edge of your seats moments and some really fun twists. This isn't your typical locked room thriller because the room is an island, plus there's so much history to learn about all of the characters that you're not stuck on the island the whole time. The setting feels much more expansive.

The flash forwards (with social lives) almost seem like they start too soon in the book and I felt like they took me out of enjoying the start of the game and the setup. For a hide and seek game, there's very little time spent on the hiding portion...and the seeking? Well...you'll see. It would have been fun to feel more "in the game" with the contestants.

The multiple points of view were really fun to read, and there are characters you'll love, ones you'll question, ones that bug you, and certainly ones you'll be wrong about. The end seemed to wrap everything up a little too quickly/neatly, but it did leave me satisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are my own.

Lisa Unger chose to take a stab at the recently popular locked room/remote location, reality show genre and I’m SO glad she did - she absolutely knocked this one out of the park! This was for sure my favorite book I’ve read in this genre and definitely one of my favorite of hers! She is one of my all time favorite thriller authors, I’ve loved ALL of her books and this one was no exception! Her incredible writing style will draw you in immediately and keep you hooked until the end. This was such a perfectly paced, heart pounding, popcorn thriller and I couldn’t get enough. I loved the multiple POV and the strong female MC. I loved the ending and just had so much fun reading this book. And can we talk about how incredible and stunning that cover is, as always?! Lisa Unger continues to be one of my favorites and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and HTP Books/Park Row for my early digital copy and I can’t wait to pick up a finished copy when it releases!

I enjoyed the setting and getting to know the characters. I was really intrigued by the different points of view. It will be interesting to take an excerpt and share with students as a discussion into social media and the type of behaviors we see others exhibit online. I think it could lead to many interesting thoughts on influencers, para social relationships, and how money and viral fame can change people. I found the ending a bit convoluted and rushed. The motivations of the antagonists ultimately fell flat and could have tied in more with the social media aspect of it. Fun characters and great pacing. Overall enjoyable read with a rushed ending. 2.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great book!! Such a good thriller/mystery! Perfect writing style and that plot twist!! PERFECT!!