Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of trust, secrets, and the fine line between obsession and love. The story follows Annie, a woman trying to piece together her life after a traumatic incident. As she uncovers the tangled web of secrets surrounding her, Annie must confront her past, the people she once trusted, and her own perceptions of reality. The novel delves into the mind of its protagonist, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and how our past shapes the choices we make in the present.

Things I Liked:
1. Atmospheric Writing: Lisa Unger does an excellent job of building suspense through her atmospheric writing. The tone of the book is tense, and the dark, brooding ambiance is maintained throughout. From the first page, I felt drawn into the eerie and unsettling world she created, which helped immerse me in the mystery and intrigue of the story.
2. Twisty Plot: The novel's plot is packed with unexpected turns and revelations. The mystery surrounding Annie's past and the people involved kept me hooked from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed how the book kept me guessing, with each chapter revealing a little more about the truth while simultaneously introducing new questions. Unger masterfully builds tension and intrigue, making it hard to put the book down.
3. Complex Characters: The characters are multifaceted and compelling. Annie, in particular, is a well-crafted protagonist, whose emotional struggles and conflicting desires make her a believable and relatable character. The supporting cast, with their own layers of secrets and hidden motivations, adds depth to the story, making it clear that no one is entirely trustworthy.
4. Exploration of Psychological Themes: The book does a great job of exploring psychological themes, such as obsession, guilt, and trauma. Annie's internal conflict and the way her mind unravels as she uncovers more about herself and her past felt real and raw. The emotional depth added a layer of complexity to the thriller, making it more than just a mystery.

Things I Didn’t Like:
1. Pacing Issues: While the plot was intriguing, there were moments when the pacing slowed down significantly. Certain sections of the book felt repetitive, and the suspense built up too slowly, causing me to lose a bit of interest in the middle chapters. I think tightening the pacing in the second half of the book would have helped maintain the tension and kept the momentum going.
2. Predictability in Some Plot Points: Although the book had plenty of twists, there were moments where some of the plot developments felt a bit predictable. I saw certain revelations coming from a mile away, which took some of the excitement out of the more dramatic moments. A few more surprises or red herrings would have kept me on my toes more effectively.
3. Underdeveloped Secondary Characters: While the main characters were well fleshed out, I felt that some of the secondary characters could have been developed more. Some of the supporting cast felt one-dimensional or too stereotypical, which diminished the impact of their roles in the plot. A deeper exploration of their motivations could have added more layers to the story and made the book even more immersive.
4. Ending Felt Too Neat: The conclusion of the book, while satisfying in some ways, wrapped up a little too neatly. Given the dark, complex nature of the narrative, I was hoping for an ending that felt a bit more ambiguous or open-ended. Instead, everything seemed to come together a bit too easily, which reduced the emotional weight of the resolution.

Feedback and Recommendations for Improvement:
• Pacing: The book could benefit from tightening the pacing, particularly in the middle section, where the suspense wanes a little. Fewer repetitive moments and more continuous action or discovery could help maintain the sense of urgency.
• Surprise Elements: More unexpected twists or misdirection could enhance the thrill factor and keep readers engaged. The story had a lot of potential for shocking moments, but some of the plot developments were too predictable, which dampened the excitement.
• Secondary Character Development: Giving more attention to secondary characters and fleshing out their backgrounds and motivations would add depth to the story. It would make their involvement in the plot feel more meaningful and allow for more complex interpersonal dynamics.
• Ending Ambiguity: While the ending is clear and satisfying, a slightly more ambiguous or open-ended conclusion could have left a more lasting impact. It would have allowed readers to reflect on the themes of the book in a more profound way.

Conclusion:
While it has its flaws, particularly in pacing and predictability, the book offers a compelling exploration of the human psyche and the consequences of our past actions. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a strong emotional core and dark themes, this is definitely worth a read. However, if you prefer stories with more unpredictable twists and a faster pace, you may find some sections of the book dragging.

I’m not even sure what I just read. I understand it’s an advanced reader copy, but this read like it was the 1st draft of the author notes. Hard to follow, limited character development and too much going on.

I loved the idea behind the book: remote island and adult version of hide and seek, mixed with live feeds and influencer engagement, but that’s where it ended for me. There was to many themes thrown in (survival, family, identity, corruption, crime) and not enough about the actual game itself. If you are looking for a quick thriller, this one is not it. While I loved the authors writing style and vivid descriptions, as a millennial, I don’t think I am the right audience. I feel Gen Z would be more appropriate and might be able to connect with some characters/contestants better.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Book publication date: February 25, 2025*
*Reviewed February 9, 2025*

Great story but unfortunately an ending that left me wanting more. I loved the premise of the hide and seek game but only 3(4 technically) players and one day of “seeking”. It’s like the side story took over and the thrilling part of the story took second place. Still good just not what the outline made me believe.

🏃‍♀️🙈🏚Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger🏚🙈🏃‍♀️
Genre: Thriller
Length: 373 pages
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025

Thank you to @netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Adele's husband picked up and left her and their two teenage children years ago, leaving them with confusion, shame, and debt. Blake, their son, hears about an extreme hide-and-seek competition sponsored by Extreme, a thrill-seeking social media company, and convinces Adele to enter for a possible $1,000,000 prize.

Adele is taken to far-away Falcão Island with two other outdoorsy influencers and Extreme star, Maverick Dillan, for the live streaming of the competition. There is a terrible tropical storm brewing, but Mav, his team of friends/crew, and the contestants go ahead with the event much to the islands' inhabitants' warnings. Seeking shelter in a dilapidated old resort building on the precipice of crumbling, everything starts to go wayward when the storm comes in at full blast. Something is amiss with Mav and his crew, as secrets in their past seem to have chased them down as well... Who will win, or more importantly, who will survive Extreme hide-and-seek??

Opinion:
I love a good locked-room/stuck-on-an-island thriller, and this didn't disappoint! There was actually a lot going on here, not only with each contestant, but with each of Extreme's crew, which made this a pretty interesting plot. Topping this off with the brutality of mother nature also gave everything that extra bit of suspense and fear. I loved the FMC, Adele, and how she had battled back from her own struggles to really be a strong woman who was a force to be reckoned with. I kind of suspected who was behind Mav's internet trolling, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. Great read that I couldn't put it down!

2.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oof, this one was not for me. I read through it quickly because I had hope that it would get better. In spite of a premise that seemed interesting enough, I found the plot to be confusing. There were too many changes between present/past/future and switching of character POV. Unfortunately, the characters are either all unlikable or underdeveloped so I never really found myself rooting for anyone. I guess that's fortunate because after having a story based on a contest, there were no winners in the end.
I'm sure there's a discussion to be had about the obsession people have with watching influencer content and sharing every part of our lives online - however, whatever message the novel was trying to send about that didn't seem to land.

This will still be a purchase for the library collection because Lisa Unger is a popular author. Pass along to those looking for a thriller.

I went into this book blind thinking it was going to be a survivalist thriller focused on the events of the "games" so it took me a while to grasp what was happening and who the characters were. I do think the setting was well done and a good pick for the story but felt as if the tension could've felt higher in the high-stakes chapters of the book. I did like getting a glance at characters outside of the game but the way that the chapters were mixed in made the timeline of events slightly confusing. The ending also seemed to start dragging on, as once the full picture came into view there was still about 15-20% of the book remaining which felt like a bit too much filler for me. I do think many people will enjoy this novel and it's partially my fault for not reading the entire synopsis before diving into this book.

Such a great read! Never read anything by this author before, was a little predictable. But that’s okay, but I loved that she didn’t leave you hanging, like most books and has you questioning the end. Such a quick read as well, love the fact that it was a game show type themed book but with a murder twist, definitely a must read for 2025!

It’s Lisa Unger’s turn to put her spin on the reality-game-on-a-deserted-island-gone-wrong story (Ruth Ware’s terrific “One Perfect Couple” is part of this locked room mystery sub-genre). This time it’s “Extreme Hide and Seek” on an island with a shuttered, derelict luxury hotel. Our primary contestant is likable Adele, a forty-something whose millionaire businessman/con man/husband has been on the run from the FBI for five years, leaving her nothing but mounting debts and two teenagers: video game obsessed and bullied Blake and volatile Violet. Blake convinces Adele to apply for the million dollar prize — her self-care therapy for the past few years has been being an influencer on a streaming channel, chronicling her physical and mental comeback from the betrayal of a fugitive CEO spouse. The perfect resume for a survival show.

Once we meet the event organizers of Extreme, Inc, you get immediate Fyre Festival calamity vibes, except that disasters have already apparently happened (including a previous contestant who hid and was never found). The showrunner is Maverick/Mav, a manboy who really needs family therapy, surrounded by co-workers/lackeys who worry a lot but do not question enough.

The other contestants are “Wild Cody,” an older and previously disgraced outdoorsman; and Malinka, a Russian model/uber-influencer who has conquered the Seven Summits — just three “hiders” (which, narrative-wise, makes the plot easier to follow). Each of them seems to believe in advance that the show is rigged and each is being subtly pressured — a planned game trick or a malevolent other?

There are more outside factors to complicate the game — the contestants and producers are actually connected to the multiverse — doing live feeds, commenting on the status of other players and hosts, being “stalked” and “tracked” by all sorts of unseen eyes via social channels. And, of course there’s a ghastly storm heading their way and since it’s a volcanic island (what’s that constant rumbling sound?), what are the chances that lava will be spewing?

If you loved Ruth Ware’s “One Perfect Couple,” you’ll be experiencing a different reality game thriller. In this one, the creators (Mav, Angeline, Gustavo, etc) have as big a part as the game contestants. And “Close Your Eyes” is actually all about how many “views” the streaming feeds are getting instead of the sense of isolation of trying to survive on an inhospitable island. Both books are great stories of reality shows gone wild.

The plot is entertaining, suspenseful and twisty, but it does meander a bit with the missing dad sub-plot. But “Close your Eyes and Count to 10” will definitely keep you turning pages all night long and telling yourself that you would never want to be a reality contestant, even if there’s really a million dollar prize. 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Petra, the town elder, the hot Stepford mom robots in the Death Knell game, and Angeline (“smoky green hazel”) all have green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Falcão Island (a fictional place) is “famous” for its wild hydrangeas.

Thank you to Park Row/ Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

sigh…I feel like I’m forever chasing the high that Confessions on the 7:45 gave me.

This book was fine. I’m not really a fan of natural disasters getting in the way of a good murder but I feel like the tropical storm did a good job of adding to the tension of the plot. The rest of the plot seemed a bit all over the place; from the jumping to different povs and timelines, and the big cast of characters on the island and back on the mainland- there were times that I didn’t know what mystery we were supposed to solve. And not to mention the fact that we still didn’t get answers to one of the main deaths.

I liked some of the characters. Adele was easy to root for and Cody really grew on me, the rest….not so much.

The ending felt satisfying (I do love comeuppance) but it also felt open ended in a way that is still bothering me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: 2/25

After committing a crime, Adele's husband, Miller, left her and their children, Violet and Blake. The FBI has followed her for years, thinking she knows where he is. She doesn't, and her family is struggling. When her son, Blake, recommends that Adele, who has a WeWatch following, go to an extreme hide-and-seek event to win a million dollars, she does. What could go wrong?

This thriller is as much about Adele's family as it is about the game, which goes horribly wrong. It's tense and fast-paced, and I enjoyed it.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a fast-paced, action-packed and atmospheric read. The concept was unique and the synopsis barely scratched the surface of what happened in the story.

There was a lot going on within this book, which I had some conflicting feelings about. On one hand, it was extremely entertaining and I wasn’t bored for a single second. But, on the other hand, it was hard to follow. I found myself having to stop and reorient myself to the various characters’ storylines along the way.

I liked some characters more than others, but I think that’s exactly what the author intended. Adele Crane was my personal favorite and I admired her strength and resilience despite all the challenges she faced. [3.5 stars rounded up to 4].

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

Read if you like:

✨Competition shows
✨Reality TV
✨Influencers
✨Toxic relationships

This book was....okay? Fine? Middle of the line? Take your pick, or add a few more - the bottom line is, it's the epitome of a popcorn thriller. It was written well enough to hold my interest and make me want to know how it ended, but I know without a doubt I won't remember a word of it by the end of the month, let alone the year. This is my third book by Unger, and all of them have gotten three stars; I think from now on I'm just going to skip her books.

Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ sʜᴏᴡs, sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴠɪʙᴇs ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ʟɪsᴀ ᴜɴɢᴇʀ's ɴᴇᴡᴇsᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ.

Tʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ɪs ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ!

I'ᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ Lɪsᴀ's ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜs ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀɴᴛɪᴄɪᴘᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇs ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ.

Tʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴᴛ ғʟᴏᴡ ᴡᴇʟʟ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ sɪᴅᴇ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀᴅᴅɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs.

Tʜᴇ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʟᴀᴘɪᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴛᴇʟ ᴏɴ ᴀɴ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴘᴏᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ. Aʟsᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪɢ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴀʙʀᴜᴘᴛ/ʀᴜsʜᴇᴅ.

I ᴡɪʟʟ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙʏ Lɪsᴀ. Sʜᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ɪ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴀɴᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. I ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is the first book I've read by Lisa Unger, and it did not disappoint. This gripping psychological thriller keeps readers on edge from start to finish.

The novel masterfully weaves suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists, pulling us into the mind of a protagonist who is both fragile and determined. With atmospheric writing and a plot that unfolds like a slow-burning mystery, the story explores themes of memory and the blurred lines between reality and perception.

Unger's vivid descriptions immerse you in the world of the contestants, making you feel their fear, tension, and uncertainty as if you were experiencing it alongside them.

The book freshly delves into the perils that can come with being a social media influencer, revealing the dangers of online exposure, curated identities, and the unsettling consequences of living in the public eye. A chilling and immersive read for those who love psychological depth mixed with a haunting storyline.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story is told in different POVs and the timeline goes back and forth between present time (the game of hide and seek) and the past. Although it was slow paced, there was a good amount of mystery and suspense that keeps you entertained. We also get to see the impact social media can have on people's choices. I did think some of the storylines were unnecessary and distracting, and I wish the actual game of hide and seek had been different.

Single mom Adele goes to a remote island to take part in an extreme game of hide and seek sponsored by a social media daredevil, hoping to win a cash prize for her family.

What I liked: I loved the description of Falcao Island and the crumbling hotel where the game takes place. The atmosphere of excitement and menace is palpable. Adele and her kids are likable and sympathetic, easy characters to root for. The book is a compelling, quick read, never feeling boring or draggy.

What I didn't like: The description of the online game Red World feels more like what an adult who doesn't really play games thinks games are like, and the social media antics get a little over the top towards the end.

Overall: A compulsively-readable, exciting adventure of a book.

Thanks to and NetGalley for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

For book recommendations and reviews, follow me on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@whileireadwithkatiedodrill?si=jxOMZ3BPnlH5ofeU

I was able to enjoy this from @htp_hive @htpbooks & @harlequin_audio and it was a wild read for winter escape! Put this on your radar for the February 25th pub date!

This is a spectacularly catastrophic reality show event, bringing together a cast of wild characters that examines the growing need to be seen.

I don't like to say much, but this does give many perspectives of the people involved in the reality show, as well as a closer personal look into the life of one contestant in particular. This multi POV was at times a bit harder to hold onto, but having my ears and eyes on it helped. It actually feels like it would make a fantastic screen option!

I enjoy the journey Unger takes me in her stories. This one did make me think about the social media culture and how we monetize ourselves. It was a very entertaining way to consider!

I really liked the concept of this book, as I haven’t read another thriller with the same premise. However, I found this story line to be slow, with alot of great plot lines that didn’t seem to flesh out and tie together like I hoped they would. This is a quick and easy read and it held my attention throughout despite being a slower burn than anticipated.

A group of influencers play extreme hide and seek at a remote island for a million dollar prize. Contestant Adele has the support of her two teens, but she’s added to her debt to buy challenge supplies. Besides a brewing storm, locals who want them gone, and a contestant with a secret agenda, there’s a murderer in the mix.

My favorite thing about the story is the video game Red World that several of the characters play. Red World provides an alternate landscape for interaction while furthering the plot. The game version they prefer and the avatars they use provide clues to their personalties. The various social media venues such as WeWatch, similar to YouTube, and Photogram, similar to Instagram, play a big role in the story as does the hustle of being a celebrity or an influencer.

The story is told though a number of perspectives including Adele, her two kids, another player, and the people who are part of the company that set up the challenge, Maverick’s Extreme Games and Insane Challenges. Of the characters, I particularly enjoyed Adele, her daughter Violet, and Wild Cody, a player who hoped participating would help redeem him after being canceled. I felt less connected to the members of Maverick’s Extreme, but they each played a critical role in the plot.

As always Unger delivers a solid story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Park Row Books, an imprint of Harlequin Enterprises ULC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.