Social media influencers are invited to play an intense game of hide and seek in an abandoned hotel. The winner gets a million dollars if they can get out alive. Multiple POVs and timelines make this story interesting to say the least. I haven’t been this entertained by a thriller in a long time!

Thanks to Lisa Unger, Net Galley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! Pub date 2/25/25!

It is funny how a no entry/forbidden/danger sign actually does the opposite of what it is designed for, making it irresistible for people to try and see what is on the other side. It does provide many thrills, with an abandoned and decrepit hotel the next hot place for Maverick and his company, Extreme, to host an epic hide and seek contest with a million dollars as the prize for the last one found. Sounds exciting and also very sus! But it makes for a thrilling story with secrets, lies, dead bodies, criminals on the run, and survivors trying to put things back together. While a big chunk of the story is about Adele and her kids, you also get to see what Maverick and Angeline are going through too. I was a little disappointed that the hide and seek portion kinda got pushed to the sideline amid the storm, deception, corruption, and showdown but it was still exciting and suspenseful trying to decide who was going to survive that scary night and if human compassion could shine through all the darkness.

So, lots of thrills, and a nicely spooky location to create a vivid background for all the action. I had fun reading it and found it hard to put down with all that happened so quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book!

What an adventurous thriller this was. It’s a mind bender. This book is all about secrets and lies. I felt really bad for Adele. She keeps getting caught up in other people’s lies. This book was fascinating. It delves into online gaming and podcasts and influencers. The writing is wonderful and used the island imagery to set the scene to perfection. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a high-stakes thriller where a YouTube personality turns a simple game of hide-and-seek into a competition with a life-changing million-dollar prize. For Adele, winning could mean outrunning her past and securing a future for her kids. But when a deadly storm rolls in and a murderer joins the game, it quickly shifts from a contest to a desperate fight for survival.

Fast-paced and full of twists, this book keeps you on edge until the very last page. Perfect for fans of intense thrillers, it’s a gripping mix of strategy, suspense, and survival—where winning might be the only way to stay alive.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC for an honest review.

Adele Crane is a single mom struggling to make ends meet after her husband flees the FBI on embezzlement charges. She has a small following on WeWatch as a health influencer.

Maverick Dillion is the face of Extreme, an extreme sports and challenge channel on WeWatch.

Adele is chosen to compete in Mav's next Extreme Hide and Seek Challenge for a million dollars on Falcon Island. But things start to go awry as soon as the contestants arrive. Is Adele willing to risk it all for the money. Will she make it out alive?

We also have a surprise cameo from Haley Granger as he probes into the disappearance of Chloe Miranda a former Extreme contestant.

I enjoyed the insertion of Harley and I hope we see a stand alone story for him in the future.

Loved this book! Such an original plot. This is told from many different viewpoints and really kept me on my toes. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Character development was great, and I really got in tune with all the characters through the different viewpoints. Definitely recommend!

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a powerful tale about Adele Crane, a woman whose life is shattered when her husband, Miller, a biotech engineer and company CEO, is accused of embezzling money and stealing ideas; Miller is on the FBI list of most wanted. His actions force their daughter Violet and son Blake to leave their comfortable home and move in with their grandparents while their mother struggles to balance work and school. Blake is being bullied at school, while Violet is more outspoken. Despite these challenges, Adele, with unwavering determination, has been using a punching bag to work out all the stress in her life, lose weight, get in shape, and become a social influencer. Adele connects with her children, Blake & Violet, by watching WeWatcher. A group of gamers, including Maverick Dillan, Hector Cruz, Gustavo Bello, Alex Tang, and Angelina Alba, came up with extreme hide-and-seek. The games have millions of viewers, and mixing other social influencers raises the views. The Extreme group has set up a new game on Falco Island, where Adele Crane, Maalinka Nicqui, and Wild Cody will be playing for a million dollars.
"I'm gonna get my thrills before this crazy spinning orb implodes." "You play your games, people get hurt, and now Chloe Miranda has gone missing, says Moms against Mav."

Who will win the game? Listen to Harley Granger, the True- Crime Podcaster, Stranger than Fiction, to find out all the details on who won the game and what happened on Falco Island.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten is my first Lisa Unger book. The story took a while to start, and I wasn't sure where it was going, but it's a good story of survival and what happens when the lines between reality and social media distortion are blurred.

Okay, so imagine signing up for an epic, high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, but then—plot twist!—it turns into an actual fight for survival. Yeah, that’s basically the deal here. A bunch of contestants, including a super-determined single mom, head to this remote island thinking they’re in for a wild reality show stunt, only to realize things are way more unhinged than expected. Add in a brewing storm, some serious trust issues, and a host who may or may not care if anyone makes it out alive, and you've got the makings of a thriller that keeps you turning the pages.

The tension? Oh, it’s there. The eerie island vibes? Solid. The twists? Mostly effective, though some felt a bit predictable. The main character’s motivation—providing for her kids—is totally compelling, and you can’t help but root for her, even when she makes some questionable choices. There’s also a juicy commentary on social media and how far people will go for fame and fortune, which definitely adds an extra layer to the story.

On the downside, there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and some of them felt more like filler than actual contenders. Plus, a few intriguing subplots didn’t really go anywhere, which was kind of a bummer. And while the premise is super fun (in a yikes kind of way), the execution sometimes leaned a little too predictable.

Overall? A solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars. It’s fast-paced, entertaining, and delivers on the thrills, even if it doesn’t completely blow your mind. If you like survival stories with a reality TV twist, this one’s worth a shot.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I am a big fan of Lisa Unger's books, she has a way of immersing the reader into the story with her highly descriptive prose. However this was not my favourite book of hers, unfortunately I felt it meandered in the middle and I was expecting more explosives twists and turns. I absolutely loved the premise of an extreme adult version of hide and seek on an isolated island but I felt it actually needed more of the actual tense game instead of the backstory.

Read this if you like:
-reality game thrillers
-locked room mysteries especially on stranded island trope
-atmospheric descriptive prose with a tropical island setting complete with an abandoned crumbling luxury hotel
-multiple POVs with multiple timelines
-complex, flawed and unreliable characters
-the world of influencers and social media
-adult version of hide and seek
-themes of overcoming your past, adversity, redemption, family, corruption, price of fame, and core beliefs and principles
-pod casts, media posts and texts to add dimension to story

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC that will be released February 25 2025.

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