As players gather on Falcao Island for an extreme game of hide and seek with a high stakes prize, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A tropical storm rages, making everything more treacherous. With every man (or woman) for themselves, it becomes not just about the money, but a matter of survival.

I usually really enjoy this author's books, but this one just didn't work for me. I love locked-in mysteries, so this book should have been perfect for me. I think part of it was the fact that the story was told in the viewpoint of the different players as well as those running the game, and the children of one of the contestants. All of the contestants were influencers, so a lot of their chapters were filled with them producing footage for their audience, no matter how fake the situation, and feedback from their fans, and I just found that to be tedious, and it took me out of the story. I was more interested in an exciting game of hide and seek, but it felt like most of the book was those social media influencers posting for views. I guess this just wasn't as exciting as I had hoped it would be. This won't stop me from reading her next book, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

As someone well outside the target demographic for influencer culture, I found the premise of this novel both intriguing and slightly bewildering. The main character, Adele, finds herself drawn into a high-stakes game hosted by Maverick, a wildly popular WeWatch influencer whose extravagant stunts and live challenges have amassed him a massive following. While the concept will likely resonate with younger readers or those familiar with the world of online personalities, it may not land as well for a more mature audience unfamiliar with these themes.

Adele, along with Blake and Violet, is facing a personal and financial crisis. Over a year ago, her husband disappeared, leaving her drowning in debt and entangled in an FBI investigation over the millions he embezzled. With options running out, Adele reluctantly agrees to participate in a bizarre, live-streamed hide-and-seek game with a million-dollar prize—an offer presented by Blake. The game takes place on an ominous, isolated island, complete with a looming storm, eerie atmosphere, and even a murder. But is this all part of the spectacle, or is something far more sinister at play?

The novel is undeniably fast-paced, and the tension kept me engaged. However, I struggled to connect with the story’s reliance on influencer culture as a central theme. The idea of a desperate woman risking her life in a YouTube-esque survival game for cash felt more outlandish than compelling. While thrillers often require some suspension of disbelief, this one occasionally stretched it too far.

That said, fans of Lisa Unger’s signature blend of mystery and suspense may still find plenty to enjoy, especially if they’re willing to embrace its modern, internet-fueled premise.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance copy—I appreciate the chance to listen and share my thoughts.

This popcorn thriller has lots of great ideas, but seemed to take the path of most predictable. I loved Adele's character and I felt that her husband's backstory could have played a more prominent role. I also felt more time could have been spent on the playing of the actual game. I have so many questions about side characters left unanswered. It's a quick read with a fun premise.

DNF at 50%, this one was unfortunately not for me, the characters were super unlikable, the main character you should root for is just so unlikable, the premise was not for me

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! What a story full of twists and turns! Really makes you look at the world of these “reality survivor” type shows with a different eye. I wanted a bit more from some of the characters and the storyline, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Overall, I think the premise of the story is great, building up the suspense and making you side eye a lot of the characters.

3.5 rounded up. Immersive, a little claustrophobic at points, but a compelling story. Intriguing premise with social media influencers and a competition on a remote island. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book is billed as an extreme game of hide and seek that turns deadly. But, for me this really only held true for the last quarter of the book. There was a big cast of characters, with multiple POVs, and everyone had something to hide. This made for a few good mysteries weaved throughout this narrative. However, it was hard to focus on the main plot, when there were often abrupt breaks that threw you into the subplots. It was definitely an interesting take on social media influencers and that style of life that they live, constantly online despite being in dangerous situations… anything for the views! I feel like there were so many creepy and interesting ideas that were started towards the beginning of this book, but that they were fully developed, and seemed to just flutter away towards the end, leaving a fairly straightforward ending and reveal. Overall, this was a decent, slow burn thriller, that offers a good perspective on the influencers culture.

Ready or not, here I come, the old familiar schoolyard refrain takes on a whole new meaning in Close Your Eyes and Count to 10.
Maverick is the influencer behind Extreme, a social platform that started with him performing extreme stunts to one that has extreme hide and seek challenges. Monies received from sponsors and his many viewers are supposedly given to charities. What we find out is that his reality show is fraught with lots of secrets and controversy.
His latest endeavour is a hide and seek competition on an island in an abandoned hotel that is crumbling and guarded by a spooky dignitary.
Enter 3 contestants who all have their own pasts that are controversial. The main character is Adele, a mom and fitness influencer who will do anything to provide for her children after her husband left her and the kids with debt due to an embezzlement charge in the past. The other contestants are Wild Bill Cody and Malinka, two other social influencers with pasts that have left them disgraced.
I found myself rooting for Adele right from the very beginning. The whole story made me feel like I was a watcher caught up in the intrigue and the suspense as a storm sets in, and choices have to be made all with different consequences. I did find the ending to be just a tad predictable but it was a page turner to be sure. It really did give new meaning to the old adage, you can run but you can't hide.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing who provided me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Huge thanks to HTP Hive, Park Row, and Lisa Unger for this ARC!

🎭 Extreme hide-and-seek on a secluded island… hosted by a shady daredevil influencer who only cares about clout? What could possibly go wrong? 🤯 As players arrive, secrets start unraveling, and soon, the stakes turn deadly.

🌴 What I Loved Most:
🔄 The multiple POVs worked so well! Seeing the story unfold through different perspectives kept me guessing—who was telling the truth? Who had secrets?
📱 The social media commentary was spot-on! From influencer culture to the blurred line between reality and online personas, this book had some sharp observations on how far people will go for views, fame, and validation.
🌊 The isolated setting was chilling. You could feel the claustrophobia, the rising tension, and the looming danger creeping in like an incoming storm.

📌 What to Expect:
🐢 Slow-burn tension that explodes into chaos
📖 Short, bingeable chapters
📱 Dark social media & influencer themes
🏝️ High-stakes survival on a remote island

⏳ How Was the Pace?
The beginning was a slow burn, but just like the gathering storm, tension steadily built until all hell broke loose. Once the action kicked in, it was fast, intense, and impossible to put down.

⭐ Final Verdict:
If you love psychological thrillers with a mix of survival horror, reality TV gone wrong, and influencer drama, this one’s for you. The social commentary, unreliable narrators, and high-stakes tension made for a gripping read. Lisa Unger delivers again! 🔥

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is my 2nd book by Lisa Unger and I found this isolated game concept really good. This story is told through various perspectives but it was necessary to get different view. It was supposed to be a game but soon turns into a survival game.

We get Adele’s point of view where she is willing to do anything to save her children, the stakes are higher but really enjoyable. I loved this premise.

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" by Lisa Unger is a 3-star read. Adele is a single mother struggling to make ends meet when she enters a high-stakes hide-and-seek competition hosted by Extreme on Falcao Island. Maverick Dillan, Extreme’s CEO and a world-famous social media influencer, oversees the event. But trouble soon arrives in two forms—human interference and a major storm. Can Adele and her fellow contestants make it out alive?

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. While it will likely appeal to readers interested in social media, influencers, and podcasts, it just wasn’t for me. Nearly every character gets a dedicated chapter to share their story, which made the pacing feel slow. If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers with a “trapped while trying to escape” element, this book might be a good fit for you. There are a few twists that were somewhat surprising, and the action picks up near the end, but I still found myself just wanting to finish it.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Lisa Unger, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

When extreme adventurer and influence Maverick Dillian hosts a hide and seek competition on Falcao island, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, the challengers will be faced with more than they can chew with danger lurking around every corner.

When I received the notification that I was selected for an early copy of this book, I was excited. The premise is amazing, but I was disappointed in the execution of the story. It wasn’t what I thought it would be. There were some plot points that I felt fell short or things that weren’t fleshed out as much as they couldn’t been. It was also pretty clear early on what the twist was going to be.

Out of all the characters, I would pick Adele as my favorite because she was the most down to Earth. The other ones (especially Maverick) were pretty infuriating with the choices they made.

All in all, this was an interesting read and will hold your attention if you’re a fan of slow-burn books.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the opportunity**

“There’s nothing more brutally organic than the human mind and all its diabolical inventions.”

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten
⭐️

I can’t even tell you who this book is for because I did not enjoy it at all. The characters were all unlikable, the plot felt too all over the place to keep my attention and there was not a turn was I shocked about. The premise of the book was there, but lacked execution for me.

A locked island thriller and a game where the winner gets $1 million- but they have to survive. Adele needs the cash because she's got kids to support and her husband well, the less said the better. Maverick, who is sponsoring the hide and seek has his own secret problems. And so do the others. This is an unflattering portrait of influencers and it's a bit implausible but it's also a page turner made for travel or a snowy weekend. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Entertaining.

Thank you to Lisa Unger, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Lisa Unger's "Close your eyes and count to 10."

Imagine a real-life game of hide-and-seek in a remote location with the top survivalists on the planet. That's where Unger drops us in her newest thriller. Our main competitor, Adele, is a newly single mother after her husband disappeared. Adele's teenage children have mixed emotions about her competing—the winnings would set them up for success, but this game, run by Maverick Dillan, is dangerous. A competitor from a previous season went missing, and there are still zero leads on her whereabouts or condition.

Unger does a great job setting the scene and making the reader feel the remote nature of the island. Some other individuals are on the island, but because of an impending storm (of course), the officials demand the game pack up and leave. But like any good thriller, the game does not stop.

The characters are where the story fell flat to me. Influencer-type characters feel fatigued to me - they're popping up everywhere. Also, the social network name changes felt cringey. I suppose that's due to Copyright.

Close Your Eyes And Count To 10 by @launger

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted audiobook and HTP Books/ Park Row for the e-ARC. I rotated the digital arc with audio.

Let me preface this by saying that I am newer to audiobooks that are fiction. So please know that it takes me some time to get used to. I usually do audio memoirs.

The synopsis alone says this is an extreme game of hide-and-seek. However, I felt the excitement didn’t hit the mark for me until the last 25% of the book. We have many POV. Everyone is struggling with something. I usually can follow a big cast but I seemed to struggle with keeping up.

One thing that bothered me was how Adele was an influencer who wanted to make it big. Stream with your followers that you’re on an isolated island in a high stakes game? 😳 All the chat and emoji references were a bit too much for me. That’s just me.

A highly anticipated slow burn thriller. If you’re a Lisa Unger fan and enjoy slow burns, you just might like this one. Please read other reviews, as many have loved it.

Pub date 2/25/2025
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a slow burn for me. While not extremely action packed or crammed with twists and turns, this book still held my attention and kept me wanting more. I found myself rooting for the characters and reading on to find out what happened to them. This is told from a multi-person perspective and it works so well because of it! The character development in the novel is superb. Even the abandoned building itself seems to become a menacing character. My first Lisa Unger book will definitely not be my last!

This was a fast paced novel that involves a "reality show" for a game of "hide and seek" on a remote island in the Atlantic, where things go very wrong. This was the second novel I've read involving a reality show setting (Ruth Ware's One Perfect Couple), and both novels involved a natural disaster - this one was a hurricane. The story had multiple characters to follow, and it begins with a young mom who signs up for the game as as way to hopefully eliminate a financial disaster she found her self in after her husband disappeared in the wake of a white collar crime five years previously. The "game" itself was also a social media stunt of sorts, as a way to make a quick buck with sponsors. Like many books, the various storylines managed to come together at the end.

The novel has a lot of different spins and characters, I enjoyed it, but did not love it.

Thank you to HTP Books for my copy of CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10. This one publishes on 2/25.

This one was one of the slowest burn books, but with lots of characters who are easy to confuse with each other and also with their own side issues to keep track of. I had a really hard time getting my brain around all the people and keeping up with the story. I feel like this could have been edited down a little more and it would have been much better. I don't recommend this one.

3.5 stars, rounded up!

This was a quick read, a thriller with some unexpected twists and red herrings. Three influencers are invited to participate in the ultimate hide and seek game for a large cash prize. Of course, a perfect storm emerges both literally (a tropical storm bears down on the property) and figuratively (missing persons, local opposition, potential murder, embezzlement, etc, etc). I found this book entertaining but it also somehow fell flat. I think there were just too many characters, and none of their stories really got fleshed out enough? Also, the game, the premise of the book, was really not a factor in the story. I think this book could have really been amazing, but instead, it's a quick, entertaining, but ultimately forgettable read.