Close Your Eyes And Count To 10 by Lisa Unger
Book 35 📚✨️
Release date: 2/24/2025

After enjoying Lisa Unger's Christmas Presents, I was eager to read the ARC of Close Your Eyes And Count To 10. Although it didn't exceed my expectations, the book remained an enjoyable read. The author's use of third-person POV added existential depth to the narrative. I appreciated Adele's character, especially her commitment to motherhood, and her growth throughout the story was satisfying. Although the ending felt rushed – especially regarding the actual escape from the island – and an additional elaboration would have been beneficial, the final page changed my overall perspective of the novel, and I gave it 3 stars.

Thank you #netgalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the ARC ✨️

This reminded me of Beast Games! My 9-year-old just made me watch it. 😂 Maverick Dillan (the Mr. Beast of the operation) is hosting an extreme game of hide and seek on an abandoned island. There are several contestants that make the trip to Falcao Island, Portugal to compete for one million dollars. Chaos ensues almost immediately and nothing goes as planned. This was a fun locked room popcorn thriller. The characters were a little one dimensional, but overall, this was a solid 3.5 for the pacing and the entertaining plot.

A reality show game of hide and seek turns deadly

Adele Blake's life is a struggle in which no matter how hard she works her savings dwindle and her future and that of her two children looks increasingly uncertain, Five years ago her husband Miller, who ran a successful biotechnology firm that was a major employer in their town and provided their family with a very comfortable life, disappeared just steps ahead of federal investigators; he took with him millions of dollars of the firm's money, leaving the company bankrupt and the employees unemployed and deprived of any investments or benefits. Adele, daughter Violet, and son Blake have had to start over in a town where most people continue to blame them for Miller's actions and direct their anger onto them. Blake, who has largely retreated into the world of online gaming since his former friends turned against him and bully him regularly, comes up with a situation to their money woes...one of his online heroes is Maverick Dillan, a superstar influencer on the WeWatch platform who founded Maverick's Extreme Games and Insane Challenges along with his friends, who is launching a new game with a $1 million prize. Maverick is inviting influencers to submit applications to compete in a streamed reality show game of hide and seek set in a crumbling resort on a remote island....and whichever one stays hidden longest wins the cash prize. Adele used to be a great athlete back in the day, and has been making her own foray into the world of influencers as she posts about her journey back to fitness and empowerment She initially rejects it out of hand, but the money is a huge temptation as is the opportunity to show the world that she is not a victim but a winner, and she impulsively submits her application. Soon she is on a plane headed to Falcāo Island, a tiny speck in the middle of the Atlantic that has become a destination for adventure tourists in the summer and where a dilapidated hotel and resort known as Esperança (or as Maverick has rechristened it, Enchantments) is located to compete for the prize that could stabilize her family's life. But all is not well....Maverick's company is having financial problems as well as PR issues (a contestant in the last game hid and remains missing, just for starters); a local shaman is opposed to the contest being filmed and broadcast from their island and warns of extreme danger, and it seems that everyone is hiding secrets from the rest of the crew and participants. When a major storm hits the island as the game commences, the question becomes...will anyone survive long enough to claim the prize?
Author Lisa Unger is known for her twisty thrillers, and this latest offering delivers on that reputation. Main protagonist Adele is an intriguing woman, one who found herself a corporate wife and mother when she married a charming and dynamic older man and is now questioning decisions she made then as she tries to reclaim herself. There is the cocky Maverick, whose athletic prowess and charisma have formed the base of a successful brand but whose inner self doesn't always match his external projections, and his circle of friends whose varying skill sets and personalities round out the management of the company. As the reader sees the threats and animosity directed toward Maverick and his enterprise, there are plenty of choices for who the villain (or villains) might be. With an underlying theme contemplating the temptations and dangers of social media s well as the challenges of mental wellness and cancel culture, there is a lot going on. At times I felt that the continually shifting multiple POV's detracted from the flow of the story and the middle of the tale got a bit bogged down, but the characters were an interesting mix (though most weren't exactly likable) and the sense of tension in the remote location was solid. I'd rate in a 3.5 ⭐️ out of 5 overall, rounded up to a 4, and would say that fans of Lisa Unger as well as those who read Ruth Ware, Tana French and Andrea Bartz might find it an enticing read. My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for allowing me early access to this enjoyable thriller.

Would you play extreme hide and seek? Go to an abandoned site and hide with a chance to win a million dollars and more views on social media. Adele is a single mother whose husband has disappeared after being accused of embezzling money from his company. Her son Blake believes she can win this which would solve their money problems. When she arrives at the island the site has been falling apart for years and a storm is brewing. What has she gotten herself into? Is more view as an influencer worth it?

This is an exciting read. Each of the contestants has a reason for wanting to win. The Extreme team needs this to go well because they need money. How far will the company go to make sure hide and seek happens? You will be wondering what could possible happen next? What at read!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #LisaUnger, and #ParkRow for a copy of this book.
#CloseYourEyesandCountto10

#CloseYourEyesandCountto10 #NetGalley
"Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. 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.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves."
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I requested this book as I am a Lisa Unger Fan and she does not disappoint. To me the story started slowly and yet touched on all things important in 2025. The lure of fast money, extreme adventure, social media "influencers", climate change, throw in a murder, a bit of mystery and some romance, and you've got a great book.

The destruction of beautiful islands in the name of development and adventure, the CGI generated pictures that ruin peoples careers, the teens who live in a video game inside a video game world, was scary and different for me and that is what I think also made it a different but interesting read for me. Overall a solid 3.5 stars from me.

Lisa Unger just doesn't seem to be the author for me. Ive tried several times and always love the idea, but then I'm underwhelmed by the execution.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was…fine. I didn’t hats it, I didn’t love it. It was a fast paced, adventurous, thriller. The story follows Adele, a strong, single mom whose goal in life is to make sure her children have it all. After her husband disappears following a scandal, life is a struggle. She gets the opportunity to join an extreme hide and seek challenge for a million dollars. What’s the catch? It’s on a decrepit and haunted island, and it’s ran by Maverick, an extreme challenge celebrity who is also a liar and a fraud. People are after him when a girl goes missing from
His previous challenge, and the hope is that this next challenge will save him. This was quite predictable and alot of the characters were insufferable, but overall it was an okay story. I feel as if people are either going to love it, or feel indifferent.

This book was all over the place. I think there were too many storylines and characters thrown in. Sadly I would not recommend but this book, but I have enjoyed this author’s work in the past and will continue to read her!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger is a thriller about a reality podcast game. 

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Extreme Games is the brainchild of the charismatic daredevil Maverick Dillan, and he's about to host another game, with the prize money of $1million.  It will be a game of hide-and-seek, with the participants brought to Falcao Island, where they will be able to hide in the old abandoned (and said to be haunted), Enchanted hotel.  This isn't the first hide-and-seek game he has hosted, and someone went missing the last time.

But who can resist the lure of that money?

Adele is a single mother of two.  Her husband built a thriving company, which went belly-up, and neither he, nor all the money has been seen for years.  The FBI is still looking for him.  Adele was left with nothing.  But she has been working hard.  Once upon a time she ran marathons.  She has gotten herself back in shape, and has shared her journey online.  When her son Blake suggested she sign up for this hide and seek challenge, she feels strong enough to win.  He and her daughter Violet both feel she can do it.

But Adele is entering into a game she knows nothing about.  A lot is going on behind the scenes, and one of the contestants hasn't been honest.  Mind you, neither have the production crew.  There is a lot riding on this "game".

And when a storm pops up that could bring down the hotel, everyone is in danger..


My Opinions:
First, I can't believe I picked another "reality" anything to read.  I really have to read the blurbs before grabbing a book just because I like the author.  Reality tv is not my cup of tea, so reality podcasts are not really either....well, the true crime might be.  Sorry, getting side-tracked.  I'm not into the whole social media "influencers" plot-lines.  

So, although the plot was not really anything  I was interested in, the characters did win me over.  I loved Adele and her family.  Even Miller was okay.  I also really liked Cody and Petra - who was a really interesting character.  The story-lines for all these people were really good.  The rest of the characters were all "iffy".

There were a number of twists in this book, which made it interesting, and kept it entertaining, and the atmosphere of an abandoned hotel that is literally falling down was quite good.  I do wish that more of the actual "game" had come into play, as that was one of the things that drew me to the book.  Who doesn't like a good game of hide-and-seek?

After all my complaints, it was still a good book, and I look forward to whatever Lisa Unger has in store for us next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy. The premise sounded so good but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Sometimes multiple POV’s work just fine but here it felt like too many and I just didn’t like any of them. I also wish there had been a bigger focus on the game of hide and seek. I’ll still check out more of this authors work but this was a miss.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
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I love Lisa Unger! When I was able to get a copy, I was so excited. Last Girl Ghosted was absolutely amazing.

This is a thriller based on an island off Portugal. Influencers were invited to play the ultimate game of hide-and-seek for a cash prize. Hosted by extreme adventurer Maverick, the players gather and it turns into a game of survival. When the players arrive, a huge storm is coming, and tensions are high because a player went missing during the last game. There are many secrets amongst all the people on the island.

I enjoyed the plot of the story, I thought it was unique and pretty fast paced. Truthfully, I didn’t feel too connected to any character. It was hard to care for them, and halfway through I started to lose interest.

I feel like some ideas weren’t too flushed out. One of the stories had potential, but I felt like it didn’t really connect or go anywhere.

Overall, it was interesting but it wasn’t my favorite. I’m not the biggest fan of locked room mysteries, but I’m still glad I read it!

Thanks to @htp_hive and @netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. It comes out February 25!

This one missed the mark for me. I did not care for it and it did not hold my attention. Most of the characters were blah and didn't stand out in any way. I could not stand Mav or any of the people working with him. The storyline on the island dragged and was not suspenseful. The storylines of the husband being missing (not a spoiler) and the bullying of the teenage boy did not connect in a meaningful way. I was glad to get to the end of this one.

Thank you to the publishers for an early copy of this book! I really liked the premise of this one and the characters. I loved that this shifted between multiple points of view and that the story was told from a lot of different perspectives. I thought that this was very current and really makes you think about social media and influencer culture. There were times I felt like this got repetitive, or a little slow. Overall I really enjoyed this!

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" really took its time getting into gear, but once it did? The suspense was 🔥! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t fully hooked until about 55-60% into the book, but once it picked up, I was intrigued. This one is a slow burn with multiple POVs, so it took a bit to weave everything together.

The premise had me intrigued right off the bat—an intense game of hide-and-seek on a remote island for a cash prize? Spy Kids meets Survivor vibes all the way, but I was hoping for a bit more... action, I guess? The plot is pretty busy with a ton of characters and subplots, and I’ll admit, there were several loose ends that didn’t quite get tied up. It’s one of those books where the drama keeps you entertained, but you still want more at the end.

But let me tell you, the last 25%? That’s where it truly shines. The twists came at me left and right, and there were even some emotional, heartwarming moments (maybe even a tad cheesy, but who cares, it worked).

Bottom line: "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" is perfect for fans of reality TV, multiple POVs, and isolated island settings. It’s got drama, secrets, and twists—just don’t expect a fast paced thriller. I gave it 3 stars, mostly because it was entertaining, but the story didn’t quite live up to its full potential for me.

There was a LOT going on with this one. Perhaps…too much? The premise had me really intrigued - “Extreme Hide and Seek, at an abandoned hotel on some remote island.” However, the “game” didn’t start until about 60% of the way through the book. There were soooo many characters to keep track of (even though only three contestants in the actual game), I kept getting some of them mixed up. There was the game, then the scandals with the company putting on the game, then a missing persons case, then a podcast, oh and the FBI is looking for one of the main characters husbands, also a spooky shaman who is warning them about the island and has her own private security. I’m sure I missed a few things. Idk, this just felt like it was trying to do too much and it didn’t work together for me.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

Thank You NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a complimentary copy of this novel!
If you like extreme reality style TV game shows, then this novel is for you!!! A few years back, Adele’s husband fled when he embezzled a lot of money from the company he worked at. He’s been missing since. Now, Adele is a single mom with two teenage kids – Violet and Blake. She is struggling to make ends meet for them. Enter the extreme game of hide and seek on Falcao Island. The game is being led by Maverick who is full of his own self. Adele decides to become one of the contestants in the hopes of winning the 1 million prize money and increasing her followers since she’s an influencer. However, the game becomes hindered by a few things. There’s an impending storm brewing that could very well flood a major portion of the island and abandoned location being used for the game. There’s also Petra with a mercenary group who tries to warn Maverick and his group they should leave because the building is unstable. Then there’s the girl, Chloe, who went missing from a previous game and Maverick is being blamed for her disappearance. With the water rising, the three contestants – Adele, Cody, and Malinka – must band together if they are to survive this extreme game of hide and seek!!! Who will make it out alive in time before it’s too late?
This novel is a bit of a slow burn, but there was enough intrigue to want to find out what happens!!! I definitely recommend this novel and you can look for it when it comes out February 25, 2025!!! 4 stars

I just learned that even an auto-read author may not always put out the right book for me, and that is ok. I should have read the description more before requesting this ARC instead of just submitting based on the author. It's not the right thriller/suspense plot for me and I DNFed at 25%. Perhaps you will enjoy it more than I did.

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.

I was so intrigued by the premise of this book: an extreme hide-and-seek reality show. Unfortunately, this book failed to keep my attention. I made it 30% in and they still hadn't officially started the game yet. It seemed strange that all the participants were able to meet and keep their phones. I just wasn't convinced so I had to give up. I would consider trying again if this gets released as an audiobook.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.