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.

Attention all my thriller lovers, here's a fun psychological thriller for you! There's a narcissistic, egotistical thrill seeking internet celebrity and his posse hosting an extreme hide and seek game, a scandal involving a missing girl from a past contest, 3 new contestants desperate for a fresh start and money, a remote island, a crumbling abandoned hotel, and a huge life threatening storm headed their way. What could possibly go wrong?

This one was packed full of page turning drama, suspense, deep rooted secrets and lies, and tons of deception which made it an incredibly entertaining read. It's also a multiple pov read, giving you a view into each characters minds and giving insight into their motivations and lives. It's got a slow burn pace and the twists and reveals weren't super shocking to me, but despite that, it was still fun and enjoyable. This was my first Unger book and I'm definitely going to check out her other works!

Blurb:
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 to The Hive for the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions and thoughts are my own.

3.5 ⭐️
The premise of the book reeled me in- an extreme game of hide and seek turned deadly.
This was a fun, easy read. I just wish there was an actual game played… However, this is perfect for fans of survival thrillers and mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

“What did they need with a game like this? But, of course, there was only one answer ever: money. People, she learned, would do just about any asinine thing for it, especially if they didn’t have to actually earn it.”

What would you do for followers? Me? Nothing. 😂😂

Extreme hide and seek…but with influencers. Oh my haha. This book started off rather slow for a thriller. Although it did pick up as the games begin there are a plethora of characters and that may have been a deterrent. It is told from multiple pov which keeps the suspense up but ultimately I enjoy a faster paced thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley, Park Row Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Very suspenseful and intriguing. What I thought was the initial story and premise of the story ended up taking a backseat to a completely different plot line. While related, they easily could have been two separate books. The bouncing around between characters and timeliness was exhausting at times, but overall, I'm glad I read it.

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!