Thank you for the ARC.
I liked the tension in the book and the characters. Felt a little over done at times is all. Wanted some more twists and thrill.

I’m a big Lisa Unger fan. I’ve enjoyed all of her books. Thus far this one was a little bit, lacking due to the similarity from something else that I had read about a lot of silence and contest I give her three out of five stars..

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 delivers an intense, atmospheric premise—complete with a literal storm, masked intruders, hidden motives, and betrayals worthy of a reality TV finale. The tone is suspenseful, and the writing is strong, but the pacing leaves something to be desired. Much of the first half is spent unraveling character backstories, which slows the momentum significantly. Readers may find themselves eager for the real action to begin.

When the twist finally arrives, it lacks the impact one might expect—it enters quietly rather than delivering a shocking reveal. The ending, similarly, feels underwhelming and abrupt, leaving more of a “that’s it?” impression than a satisfying conclusion.

While this isn’t Lisa Unger’s most gripping work, the novel still offers enough intrigue and drama to appeal to fans of stormy thrillers and influencer culture narratives. It may not be a standout, but it has its moments.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

I was not able to read and review this book before its publishing date. However, now that I have I gave it 3.5 stars.

Lisa Unger never fails to deliver a story that grips you from the start, shocks you at every turn, and gives you characters to root for AND hate.

The premise of this story surprised me because I love a reality show trope, especially when it’s as nefarious as this.

I love all of Lisa’s books and this bumped up to top 3!

This was fun! I recently attended an interview where Lisa talked about her inspiration and I loved it! It followed a trip to the Azores in Portugal and i was here for it. She is a magician in her trade and this one had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

I enjoy a good psychological thriller, and Lisa Unger knows how to deliver one! At the center of this novel is a woman whose traumatic childhood memories begin to surface after a seemingly minor event triggers buried truths. It's an emotional mystery that had me turning the pages. The suspense builds beautifully.

This book/story delves into trauma, and the protagonist's journey is not just about solving a mystery, but also reclaiming identity in the face of long-suppressed pain. It's a haunting thriller that lingers long after you read the last page.

If you're looking for a dark and twisty read, this is the book for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ms. Unger for a digital copy to read for review. Highly recommended for thriller fans. Have you read it?

Very well written, kept me on the edge of my seat . There are some twists thoughoutbthe story! Gist... creepy hide and seek!! Definitely pick this up if you need a good thriller!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Intriguing Premise, Uneven Execution

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten had all the ingredients for a chilling psychological thriller—childhood trauma, buried secrets, and a haunting mystery that begs to be unraveled. Lisa Unger sets the tone well and pulls readers into a dark and emotionally charged story.

The book starts strong, with a gripping premise that immediately piques curiosity. Unger’s writing is atmospheric and at times beautifully introspective, and the psychological elements are compelling. However, the pacing felt inconsistent, and certain plot threads seemed to meander without clear resolution. Some characters lacked the depth needed to make their emotional arcs fully believable, and the twists—while surprising—didn’t always feel earned.

It’s an interesting read with flashes of brilliance, but it didn’t quite come together for me in the way I hoped.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger.
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a mystery suspense novel about a reality hide and seek challenge. I felt that there was a lot Lisa Unger could have done with this mystery and was disappointed with the ending. Unger kept things too neat and tidy while at the same time trying to create emotional twists. An easy, slightly entertaining read that left me wanting more.

In Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, Lisa Unger delivers a fast-paced psychological thriller centered around a woman haunted by past trauma who finds herself entangled in a chilling mystery. When a series of violent events begin to echo a dark moment from her childhood, she’s forced to confront long-buried memories and unravel a truth that’s been hidden for years. As danger creeps closer, she must determine who she can trust—and how far she’s willing to go to protect herself and those she loves.
This was a quick, bingeable thriller that kept me turning the pages. Lisa Unger knows how to craft suspense and keep the tension high, making it an easy book to race through in a day or two. While I enjoyed the pacing and atmosphere, I didn’t find it particularly memorable once I finished. The story was entertaining in the moment but lacked the kind of emotional or narrative depth that tends to stick with me. Still, it's a solid pick if you're in the mood for something gripping, dark, and easy to get lost in for a few hours.

My biggest issue was that I was bored. The characters lacked depth and melded together in an unfortunate way that I couldn't tell them apart. I kept this book currently reading for way too long and I'm just not going to finish it.

I’ve been reading books from Lisa Unger for years. And this latest may not be one of my top favorites but it is a good solid thriller and I look forward to her next. I wish it was longer for sure but I love her books. The plot comes with a storm (literally), masked figures, hidden agendas, and more betrayal than a season finale of Love on The Island, it’s tense. The real action doesn’t hit until later, and by then, you may already be mentally packing your bags. Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 has a solid premise and strong writing. It's not Lisa Unger’s strongest, but if you're in the mood for a popcorn thriller with mystical vibes. Its worth it though I don't regret it.

All I could think of while reading Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was that this was modeled off of Mr. Beast and his extreme games, except a more dangerous and twisted version. Once I had that stuck in my head, it was hard to look past it. The premise of an extreme game of hide and seek sounded good, but the plot really fell short for me. I wanted more twists, but it felt predictable. It was an okay read for me.

Thank you HTP Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy this author, so this one gets four stars from me. It was fast paced, a bit wild and twisted and full of untrustworthy characters.

The twists were nothing mind blowing, but I did feel like they were well placed and added to the story. It was a very entertaining read. Think high stakes game of hide and go seek for money, except in this game everything that could go wrong, does. Each character has a back story and a past and a reason for wanting to participate in the game which, for me, added to the story. I would recommend giving this one a try!

This was a solid thriller, but I wasn't as connected with the story or characters as I wanted to be. I really enjoyed the writing style, though, and would be interested in reading more from this author!

After really loving Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six and loving it, I really wanted to love this one but I just couldn’t get into it. I tried but dnf’ed at 20%

This was okay. The premise was too far fetched. The characters were too much. There was too much of too many of the negatives to be as enjoyable as most of Unger’s other books

I always enjoy this authors books! I don't know that you could offer me enough money to willing engage in hide-and-seek, in an old hotel, on an island. This just sounds like a recipe for disaster. But, that is what our characters are up to! This story is told from multiple points of view. And, as usual, the twist at the end surprised me. I will always be willing to read one of Lisa Unger's books!

A thrill ride from the start as this novel takes you to an Island with a little twist. The twist is that you need to last all night in a haunted house as you play hide and seek with other contestants. Adele is a single mom seeking a way to earn some money to help her with her financial struggles. Her son convinces her to become a new internet influencer, as he follows the extreme adventure of Mavrick Dillian online. What starts as a publicity stunt to get rich for Mavrick and Adle quickly turns into a fight to survive. As her son communicates with her across the ocean, she will have to give all she has to get to the end of this game. A fun read with an interesting concept that isn't far off in today's reality TV shows. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a thrill seeker.