I always enjoy Unger’s books and this one was a thrilling, high stakes, action packed account of a reality contest gone wrong.

I thought that the hide and seek premise of a reality show where the prize is 1 million dollars was so fun! It didn’t quite pan out how I thought it would, but not necessarily in a bad way. I thought it would be more of a fight for survival amongst the contestants and while there was that element, it was ended up being more about the showrunners and their corruption than the actual game. We only get 3 contestants and the focus was mostly on the mother in the group, Adele, and her backstory. I did love her resiliency as a mother as she strives to make a better life for her kids after her husband leaves her abandoned and in debt.

The island setting itself was incredibly atmospheric and chilling. I loved the folklorish element from the local residents.

Overall I would have preferred more focus on the game but did really appreciate the thought provoking layer the author embedded into this story when it comes to fame, exploitation, and social media.
If you enjoy survival stories with well developed character backstories, I think you will enjoy this! I look forward to what Unger has in store for us next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP for my #gifted ARC!

This book had such a unique premise—an extreme, high-stakes game of hide and seek featuring social media influencers? I was immediately intrigued. Add in a mother fighting for her family’s survival, and I was all in.

The main character, a mom of two teenagers, had such a compelling arc. With her husband missing after embezzling money and leaving them in financial ruin, she decides to train, build her strength, and enter the competition in hopes of winning the prize money. I loved watching her determination grow as the stakes got higher.

There were a lot of characters and POVs, which sometimes made things feel chaotic. At times, I had to go back and reread to keep track of how everyone was connected. The biggest drawback for me was the pacing—some sections dragged, and the level of detail about every character’s backstory and thoughts slowed things down when I just wanted to get back to the action.

That said, once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. If you enjoy competition-based thrillers with strategy, survival, and deception at their core, this one is definitely worth a read!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

Thank you to the author and @netgalley for an advance reader copy of this book.

I will start off by saying that I’m not a triller reader. I needed a break from my typical historical fiction/fiction and heard good things about Lisa Unger’s books.

This is a hide and seek game gone wrong. 3 contestants travel to a remote island to play a game of hide and seek on a reality tv show where the winner takes home $1M. During the course of the game things go wildly wrong. This story closely follows the main character, Adele, a bad-ass mom who has literally been thru it, on her plight to get off the island and literally save her life.

I will admit that at times the book went a little slow for me. It took forever to “get to the good part.” So to speak. It started strong and ended strong, with perhaps a bit of lag in between.

I gave this one 3.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up to 4. I can tell that Lisa Ungar is a talented writer, and I will now research her books and pick out the one with the best ratings to add to my tbr list. Of course, I am open to your suggestions.

I am probably in the minority here, but I just thought this book went on and on and nothing really ever happened. It was super boring. I am upset because usually Lisa Unger is a really good writer. I would still be interested in reading more books by her, but unfortunately this one was not for me. I did like the audiobook narrator though!

Many thanks to the publisher for the arc and alc!

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 in exchange for my honest review.

The more recent Lisa Unger books are hit or miss for me. The parts with Violet, Blake and the video game kept my interest, but the story on the island dragged.

Overall the book could have been 50 pages shorter.

Close Your Eyes And Count To 10
By Lisa Unger
Pub date: February 25, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my advanced copy.
All opinions are my own.

The premise is simple: a game of hide-and-seek in an abandoned hotel on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. Winner gets $1M.

The players: a pro wilderness explorer, a young influencer and a mom trying to prove her grit.

The problem: there is no money, the company is bankrupt and the shareholders are theives, murderers, and backstabbers. And as the game begins, the storm of the season rolls in and makes the simple game a life-and-death fight for survival.

On an alternate timeline, a woman is missing from the last round of extreme hide-and-seek.

This book has all the makings of a NYT best seller. The peek behind the curtain, so to speak, of the influencer and gaming cultures made for a plot line that was consistent through all the back stories.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I appreciate that not everything was figured out, but for the most part karma came due.

This was a fun read! I really enjoyed the multiple points of view, the podcast elements, and the way several storylines all weaved together. With an atmospheric setting and plenty of building tension, this book was one I didn’t want to put down!

Lisa Unger takes a bit of a departure in Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, offering a thriller that unfolds at a different pace than her previous works. While the initial chapters felt somewhat slow to me, the narrative found its footing during the high-stakes "game" of hide and seek. The tension started to build as the competition intensified, and the desperate measures the characters took to win the grand prize kept me engaged. While the overall story was intriguing, the slow burn at the beginning prevented me from fully connecting with the characters and plot initially but I did get there about 1/2 way through. A solid read for thriller fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this new release in exchange for my honest review. To be published February 25, 2025. Looking forward to Lisa’s next book as I love them all!!!!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger delivers a unique and timely thriller with Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, blending reality TV spectacle, social media obsession, and survival horror. The premise—a deadly hide-and-seek competition on an isolated island—feels fresh and gripping, pulling readers into a world where the quest for internet fame turns into a fight for survival.

While the concept is strong, the execution stumbles in a few places. The nonlinear timeline, combined with multiple POVs, made the narrative feel disjointed at times. A more straightforward timeline with multiple perspectives might have worked better, or even a single, tension-building prologue before diving into the competition. The storm trapping the contestants added a “locked room mystery” vibe, which heightened the stakes, but some elements—like the shaman character—felt underdeveloped. She could have added an intriguing layer of mysticism or insight but remained more of a background figure.

The book effectively taps into the darker side of influencer culture—where people will risk everything for views—and the dangers of live-streaming real-time events. The combination of social media spectacle and actual life-or-death stakes is chilling, but at times, the story stretches believability. That said, it’s still an entertaining, fast-paced read for fans of thrillers with a modern, tech-driven twist.

I received this ARC through netgalley for my review.

For me this book started out slow. It took me some time to really get into it but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. There are a lot of characters in this book and we are able to read from a lot of their perspectives. Because there were so many people, there were a couple times I was confused and had to go back and reread a section. Overall, I liked this book and will always pick up a book by Lisa Unger. Give this one a read if you like a mystery and games.

I am a huge reality TV fan so the premise of this one really appealed to me.

A game of hide and seek on a remote island with a huge cash prize put on by Mav Dillan is bound to attract some influencers.

Adele is a single mother struggling to give her kids the best life she can. Their father was accused of some white collar crimes and fled, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She's added influencing as a new part time career and, with encouragement of her gamer son Blake, she decides to enter this game and try to win the million dollar prize.

She arrives at Falcao Island and immediately feels the tension. The locals warn the team putting on the show and the contestants about the island's curse and give them the option to leave. They stay. Mav has some accusations against him from prior competitions. When people start to vanish, it becomes more about survival then winning the big prize money.

I loved Adele and her spunk. The action really picked up in the second half of the book. The audio narration by Vivienne Leheny really portrays the tension felt on the island. Very enjoyable remote location, reality tv inspired read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an ALC and HTP/Park Row for an eARC.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten By Lisa Unger will be released on February 25th. This read is an excellent psychological thriller, including tropes such as hide and seek gone wrong, multiple POVs, secluded island, social media, twisty, and whodunit. I recommend this read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so excited to see this one pop up for me! One of my favorite authors and this book didn’t disappoint!! I started this book late last night and ended up not getting any sleep!!

This novel is a heart-pounding thriller that combines the high-stakes tension of a survival game with the dark underbelly of social media spectacle. Maverick Dillan, a charismatic adventurer, invites contestants to a dangerous game of hide-and-seek on the remote and storm-lashed Falcao Island, promising fame and a million-dollar prize. What begins as an exhilarating social media event quickly spirals into a chilling fight for survival as sinister forces come into play.

At the story’s center is Adele, a resilient single mother desperate to provide a better future for her children after her fugitive husband abandoned them. Balancing her new life as an influencer and her financial struggles, Adele sees Maverick’s game as an opportunity she can’t pass up. But once on the cursed island, it becomes clear that survival, not winning, is the ultimate goal.

The novel excels in crafting a suspenseful, immersive atmosphere. The warnings from locals, Maverick’s questionable ethics, and the island’s haunting isolation create an air of dread that grows with each chapter. As contestants start vanishing and the storm intensifies, the story transforms into a relentless, adrenaline-fueled battle. The constant threats—both from the environment and an unseen predator—keep readers on edge.

Adele is the novel’s greatest strength. Her fierce determination to protect her children and her emotional depth make her a compelling and relatable protagonist. Her maternal instincts and resilience shine as the situation becomes increasingly dire. The dynamic between her and her children adds emotional weight to the story, elevating it beyond a typical survival tale.

While the pacing starts slow, with multiple characters and backstories introduced, the narrative picks up rapidly in the second half. The action-packed sequences and psychological tension keep the story engaging, even though some subplots, like Adele’s estranged husband, remain unresolved. The book’s commentary on the exploitation of personal struggles for entertainment and the dangers of social media fame adds a thought-provoking layer.

In conclusion, this novel is a gripping blend of survival horror and social commentary, exploring the lengths a mother will go to protect her family. With a chilling setting, vivid characters, and relentless tension, it’s a must-read for fans of thrillers and survival stories. Despite minor pacing issues, it delivers a satisfying, edge-of-your-seat experience from start to finish. Thankyou NetGalley for my ARC

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten
Author: Lisa Unger

ARC review! Thank you Netgalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishng for this ARC! As with all of Lisa Ungers books I have read, I really enjoyed this one. I was in the mood for a thriller read, and this releases next Tuesday 2/25 so it was the perfect time to start! A mother named Adele, that’s also a social media influencer, decides to join a deadly game of hide and seek on a private island. The game is broadcast live, and she thinks it’s the perfect way to gain followers for her social media. Maverick is the mastermind behind the games. Also, there was a missing girl from a previous game that is presumed to be dead. Adele’s husband has also been MIA leaving her alone with her two kids to raise by herself. What the heck is going on? Lots of random twists and turns, and multiple character POVs. Will we solve the mystery of the missing girl, Adele’s husband, and Mavericks messed up ways? Will more people turn up dead this game? Should the games be shut down? If this sounds interesting to you pick up this read. Lisa Unger is a great thriller author and I’m so grateful for the copy! Also can we have a moment of appreciation for the cover of this?

When extreme adventurer, Maverick Dillan announces his next game of hide and seek, the location is a scary one. Adele is a struggling single mother in desperate need of cash and with a million dollar prize, she’s all in. Upon arrival on the island things start to unravel quickly and a simple game of hide and seek is about to turn deadly. This was not my favorite of Unger’s books. An OK read, but not her best. Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

An extreme, high-stakes game of hide and seek with social media influencers? That’s not something you come across every day. Add in a determined mother fighting for her family’s future, and I was all in.

The main character, a mom of two teenagers, had a compelling arc. With her husband missing after embezzling money and leaving their family in shambles, she decides to train, build her strength, and enter the competition to win the prize money.

There were a lot of characters and side stories to keep up with, which sometimes made things feel a little chaotic. But overall, it was interesting to see how they were all connected in the end.

My biggest gripe was the pacing. Some sections just dragged. There were over-explanations, and the level of detail about every character’s backstory, thoughts, and motivations made certain chapters feel like they went on forever. I found myself wanting to skim just to get back to the action.

If you’re into competition-based thrillers with a mix of strategy, survival, and deception, this one is worth checking out.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for a chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

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.