Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row Books for early access to Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 in exchange for my honest opinion. And thanks to the random Books A Million in Beaufort, South Carolina, I stopped into while waiting for my friend to make a work call, because they had the book out early so I could take this picture!
The plot of the book is that Extreme Hide and Seek for Influencers is happening on the site of an abandoned hotel on an island in an area similar to the Azores. Now, I have trouble fully understanding how hide and seek could be an extreme sport, but I tried not to dwell on that issue while reading. The land seems “unwell” and the weather is predicted to be bad, and pretty much everything that could go wrong does go wrong. The action is jam-packed, but at the same time it was a little boring, as the tension was lacking.
I’ve only read a couple previous books by the author, but this wasn’t a new favorite. I’ll still keep reading her work, though! There is a LOT going on in this book, and all of the characters are various amounts of unlikeable. I stuck with it, but the book felt too long for what it was. And while there was a lot of crazy going on, I really just didn’t care all that much about how it ended or the big reveal. However, just because this didn’t feel like the right book for me, maybe it may be the right edge-of-your-seat thriller for you. Perhaps the audiobook will do a better job capturing the tension of the story. It will be available tomorrow everywhere - or maybe you can find a copy out early like I did!

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.

What do you get when you gather all the top talked about influencers onto a private island for an extreme game of hide and seek? Well prime reality television entertainment of course. But when the lines between what’s real and what’s a facade for tv theatrics becomes incredibly blurred each contestant finds they must fight for survival if they ever hope to leave the secluded social media driven hell they have unwittingly entered.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten boosts a unique twist on the secluded locked room/trapped thriller genre with its reality tv gone wrong aspect. As someone who has watched their fair share of reality tv and reality show competitions I was immediately drawn to this added plot narrative. However while I found the overall premise to be extremely intriguing I began to struggle with feelings of not getting fully invested in the slow burn mystery. I attribute this to the fact of the immense amount of multiple POVs. Making connecting to any one of them difficult. And while each character does have interesting pasts with their own secrets and skeletons the overall amount of POVs just made keeping track of each and every single one of them a daunting task. Ultimately making the reading experience feel more like work rather than the thriller escapism that I was hoping for. I did still end up enjoying the last wild 100 pages tho despite the disconnect I felt from the characters. Overall this was a quick read that while not being a complete love for me still managed to keep me turning pages despite a few bumps in the reading experience.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten comes out February 25th, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

Told in multiple POV with a lot of characters there was a bit of a slower start as everyone was being introduced. Even still, you could feel the underlaying tension which kept me invested. The last third is where the action truly hit which was exciting but I sort of wish there had been a bigger bang.

This was more than just a popcorn thriller as it dove deeper into themes such as the dark side of social medias and how far a mother would go for her children.

This was my second by Lisa Unger and well it wasn’t a five star I’m still becoming a fan of hers. I’ll definitely be working my way through her backlist.

Read if you love:
📺 Reality TV
🏝️ Remote island
🍿 Popcorn thriller
👥 Multiple POV

NYT bestselling author Lisa Unger (favorite author) returns following The New Couple in 5B with her latest, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10—a twisty, intense, and engrossing atmospheric thriller.

The narrative is so gripping that it feels like you're part of an extreme hide-and-seek that turns into a deadly game of survival.

Who will make it to the count of 10?

About...

Maverick, a charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer, is hosting the ultimate game of hide-and-seek on the remote Falcao Island for his Extreme Games and Insane Challenges show. The hotel Enchantments was once grand and luxurious.

Adele, a single mom to two teens, Violet and Blake— desperately needs to support her family after being abandoned by her fugitive husband.

She has a new career as an influencer and decides to join Maverick's game, and her kids support her chance at the million-dollar prize.

There was a plan. Plots were hatched. Agendas run. Deception. A game. It was a stunning betrayal. A murder. All the things that people do best. Then comes a storm to wash away everything that does not belong.

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.

Between herself and the other contestants, the atmosphere is thick with tension on this remote island and the local warnings about the island's curse. Then contestants vanish, sinister things occur, and the devastating storm turns into a twisty and dangerous survival game.

How will she ever escape?

My thoughts...

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 is intense and adrenaline-fueled, keeping you glued to the pages with the chilling setting, with fears, suspicion, mystery, and suspense. The strong character development makes you feel connected and invested in the story.

Unger demonstrates her storytelling prowess in CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10. She deftly handles the characters, weaving their stories together in a compelling narrative like a rock star. Her commentary on the impact of social media adds a thought-provoking layer to the story.

Is the internet and social media changing how we live our daily lives? Are we all performed, cropped, edited, and filtered? How does it affect your relationships, family, and people skills if you are always in front of the camera worried about the followers, sponsorships, etc.?

Heart-pounding and gripping readers will root for Adele and the lengths she will go to protect her children in this compelling tale of survival and resilience in this twisted web of deception, a treacherous storm, and relentless competition.

The author ratchets up the suspense with the sinister backdrop, the disappearances, not knowing whom to trust, the impending danger, and the dark sense of doom lurking with each page turn.

I have been a fan of Lisa Unger for many years and have read all her books. Each book is an adventure, and CLOSE YOUR EYES is an action-packed locked room mystery that will leave you breathless. I enjoyed the author's note and the inspiration behind the novel, which would make for an ideal book club pick.

Recs...

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 is for Unger fans and those who enjoy reality TV and shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Challenge, and Big Brother. (showcasing the dark side of reality TV).

You will enjoy Lisa's latest survival game if you enjoy rocked-room atmospheric psychological suspense and works by authors Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, Sarah Pearse, Lisa Jewell, and Alice Feeney.

Many thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReachBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 25, 2025
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I wouldn't say this was my favorite by Unger but it was definitely twisty, with a group of influencers travelling to a remote island for a reality competition only to have the bodies start piling up. Told from multiple POVs, it was at times difficult to keep track of who was who but certain characters stood out more than others and I had one in particular I was rooting for. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Ruth Ware or Alice Feeney. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

What to expect in Close Your Eyes and Count to 10:
- An isolated setting
- Shady main characters
- Fraud and money laundering motivations
- Strong female lead
- Influencers galore

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

In this multiple perspective slow burn mystery, we are following Adele--a single mom, and a cast of influencers. The story begins with Adele casting herself into a Hide and Seek game sponsored by Extremists (a social media account that promotes extreme adventure and life threating stunts) on an isolated island in the Atlantic. Adele cannot resist this challenge since the winner will walk away with a million dollars. She and her two kids are struggling after their father was found doing money laundering and has been on the run. So, naturally Adele flies off to the island but while there, things begin to go terribly wrong. A powerful tropical storm tears apart the hotel and buildings for the Hide and Seekers putting everyone in grave danger. The Extremist organizers face challenges of their own and the entire game takes a catastrophic turn.

Most of the plot developed at a slow pace, and I enjoyed the multiple points of view as it added layers to revealing the story. For the characters, my favorite by far was Adele. She had gumption and stopped at nothing to take care of her two children. Unger's writing has a dark and mysterious undertone and adds some lore to the island's backstory. I found this interesting, but it also wasn't flushed out completely. There is a local islander involved in several pivotal scenes who ends up going away and isn't involved with how the story ends.

What fell flat for me was how this book is promoted. I was under the impression that most of the story revolves around Adele and her fight to care for her family. This is not entirely the case. There are several influencer characters that take up the majority of the plot. Also, I anticipated the Hide and Seek game to take the book in a different genre direction and become more of a survival thriller. The ending tied up everything nicely, and was expected.

This is a classic slow-burn reveal mystery, and I had a good time, but wouldn't say this is my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row publishing for this digital ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for a copy of this ARC. Rounded up from 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the storyline and I liked the characters. I liked the multi-POV but I just felt like the storyline fell a little flat for me towards the end. It felt mysterious and scary at first but as things are revealed, I felt like I lost the steam to keep pushing along. I feel like the Miller plot line just gave up along the way and i thought it was going to be stronger and scarier. Overall im still happy I read it but I just feel like there was an element missing for me.

Close Your Eyes & Count to 10 immediately hooked me with its eerie atmosphere. Set on a remote island, the abandoned luxury resort—once exclusive to the wealthy—creates the perfect backdrop for suspense. The story unfolding through multiple perspectives, shifting between different characters and timelines and featuring a podcaster analyzing past events, added an extra layer of intrigue. What really stood out to me was the uniqueness of the plot—I’ve never read a mystery thriller centered around a game of hide-and-seek. If you’re looking for something fresh and gripping, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger is an intense atmospheric thriller that will have you racing to figure out what is going on in this twisted game of extreme hide and seek.

When Adele's son Blake poses the idea of applying to compete in a new social media game with a cash prize of $1 million, Adele decides why not? She is struggling to make ends meet after her husband Miller disappeared having embezzled millions of dollars. That prize money could go a long way and as an up and coming influencer Adele knows that her fan base will want to see her participate. The game is hosted by Maverick a popular WeWatch influencer. Having created his Extreme team and performing daring stunts and hosting live challenges, he has amassed fame and fortune. But this challenge is crucial because only Mav knows that the company isn't as successful as everyone thinks. He absolutely needs this game to be a success but it goes completely "FUBAR" from the start.

I absolutely love Lisa Unger's novels and this thriller is no exception! Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a great new take on the social media/reality trope that has become very popular. The plot was original enough that I was immediately invested. A creepy island with a crumbling old and decrepit hotel made for the perfect background. Fast paced and immersive, this thriller is definitely one you don't want to miss!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Unger, and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row Books for this ARC. Expected publication date is February 25th 2025

I thought this was going to be something completely different than what we got, but ultimately I did enjoy this, The setting was perfect. I didn't really care for the focus on Adele's missing husband and would have preferred more time with the contestants. I think the mystery around Chloe and the conclusion around that was stupid. But I did love the drama within the 'Extreme' group, and watching how it all played out. I think this is entertaining enough, but suffers maybe from a little too much going on.
I do absolutely still recommend it!

60% in, I didn’t connect with a single character or feel anything was going on. How many more times would the author repeat that the two hostages were unknown and never found? Or mention how Luke was so good and great even though he became a hostage kidnapper/murderer and abandoned his family for 7+ years? Cam out here waiting 40 min at his coordinates? Couldn’t be me, girl. Wish I had quit it at that halfway point, this was a total miss for me.

A remote island. A devastating storm. Social media influencers. A missing person. An intense game of hide and seek. What could go wrong? Lisa Unger delivers another thrilling read from multiple points of view and unreliable narrators. Slow to start and a little underwhelming at times… but the last 100 pages make up for it!

Thank you NetGalley, HTP and Lisa Unger for the arc!

Guys, I am all in for an atmospheric, locked room-ish, everyone is suspect, deep dark secrets kind of drama. And this one really tried to check all the boxes to deliver an edge-of-your-seat experience … but somewhere along the way it fell a little flat for me. Ugh.

It was ok & I definitely recommend it for a few hours of popcorn thriller fun … but I think it could of packed a bit more punch, ya know? I can’t really explain why I felt a little bored with the story without spilling all the tea … but I will say maybe a little more time spent in actual game & a little deeper dive into some of the main characters would have helped the disconnected feeling I came away with. But hey, that’s just me! Give it a read & see what ya’ll think!

I will also end this little review by saying that Lisa Unger has been a very entertaining author for me in the past with such great mystery & suspense … this one unfortunately didn’t hook me like her other books. Still can’t wait for more from this amazing writer!

Thank you NetGalley ARC for getting a copy of this early to read! It was a fun thriller with multiple points of view. The book’s premise was unique, an extreme game of hide and seek, but it focused more on the back story of every character, what got them to that point and if they could be redeemed or not. It was less about the game and more about the people who ran the game. Which was different than I thought, but still fun!

This book was just ok for me. It suffered from sooo many POVs. A couple of them, I felt, were unnecessary and if they had been cut would have allowed more time to get to know the other characters on a deeper level. I just wasn't super invested in anyone as a person and not just a "contestant". The game aspect was an interesting take on a thriller concept that feels popular. It would make an interesting show/movie so I'm thinking the audio version might be the way to go with this one. I'll recommend it to people who love survival thrillers in an atmospheric setting.

Big thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing (Park Row) for the advanced copy of this new novel coming tomorrow, 2/25!!

While I did find this enjoyable, it felt like there was a ton going on. There are a lot of characters and they are all doing quite a bit throughout the story. I did also find this to be a storyline that we've read before from other authors, but I liked how Unger added a certain aspect here (don't want to give it away in my review!). It reminded me a bit of a movie, but in book form!

I think this is a fun read for sure and a little bit of a different spin for this particular storyline, but it was just overall okay for me.
It may hit you differently though so I always suggest you give every book a chance!

Well, I will probably be in the minority here but this just didn’t do it for me. There premise was strong as I love a good game inside a thriller but ultimately it was a letdown. This suffered from too many POVs - I feel like you didn’t get to know any characters very well since it bounced around so much. The team running the game were incredibly annoying and unlikable. Adele’s backstory was unnecessary (like, what did this add to the plot?!) Maybe you will have a better time though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Thrilling Premise That Fell Short

I was so excited for this book—the concept of a high-stakes, extreme hide-and-seek game on a storm-ridden island sounded like the perfect mix of suspense and survival. However, the execution didn’t quite meet my expectations.

One of my biggest issues was the multiple POVs. Some perspectives didn’t feel necessary, while others I was really hoping for were missing. This made it difficult to fully connect with certain characters and left lingering “why” questions by the end. The story had potential for deeper tension and intrigue, but some moments felt underdeveloped.

That said, the atmosphere was engaging, and I think the book may read better as an audiobook, where the tension could be heightened with narration. While it wasn’t a perfect read for me, those who enjoy survival thrillers with a reality TV twist might still find it entertaining.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be: Unpredictable

‘We’re worthy of life and love because of who we are, not because of what we do.’
In this thrilling ride, Maverick Dillian, an influencer with a massive following, convinces other influencers to participate in a high-stakes game of hide and seek, where the prize is a cool million dollars. Among the competitors is Adele, a single mother of two teens, who's desperately in need of cash. With her husband on the run from the FBI, Adele seizes the opportunity to join the challenge. Alongside fellow contestants Malinka and Cody, Adele heads to a remote island with a dark, haunting history. But as the game unfolds, it becomes clear that this isn't your typical reality show, as the organizers have their own set of problems that will keep everyone on edge.

This book had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing is spot on, and every page is filled with unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The premise is incredibly unique—finally, a YouTube challenge-inspired thriller we didn’t know we needed! The characters are well-developed and fun to follow, with even the side characters having interesting backstories that add depth to the story. The setting of the crumbling, abandoned hotel added a perfect touch of eerie atmosphere, creating a locked-room vibe as the characters fight for their futures. But what I loved most were the dynamics between Adele and her children—such a strong, relatable connection.

I adored this book! The idea of a social media-driven, high-stakes game set in a desolate hotel was so captivating. The non-linear timeline intensified the suspense, with each twist hitting harder as I pieced everything together. This is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers packed with suspense, unexpected turns, and a dash of social commentary. Highly recommend!

I’m so excited to be attending Lisa Unger’s author talk at Oxford Exchange on March 2, 2025! I’m really looking forward to it!

Extreme hide & seek? Yes, please! I enjoyed the plot & characters. There were multiple POV’s which kept me engaged and wondering what twists I was in store for. Overall, I really enjoyed it.