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.

Maverick is an infamous influencer known for his Jackass like stunts and extreme adventuring lifestyle. He announces a million dollar payday for the winner of his game of hide and go seek on a desolate island in an old abandoned mega hotel and resort. Three influencers arrive ready to take part and capture the mega-payday: single mother Adele, disgraced former adventurer turned environmentalist Cody, and hiker extraordinaire and business owner Malinka. All have their secrets and haunted pasts that they are trying to outrun. When they arrive they are warned by a local elder that the land doesn’t want them and that the impending tropical storm cannot be weathered at the game site. When bodies start turning up and the dangers keep piling up will they all get outlive?

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is an extremely entertaining page turner that serves up undulating storylines that keep the reader guessing. The characters are clever, believable and interesting. 4.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

I just don’t think Lisa’s writing is for me. This was my 2nd book of hers and I really struggled to get through it. The plot was all over the place & there was no big character development

I really enjoyed this book. The mysterious island, a contest, what's not to love. The descriptions and characterization kept me engaged the entire time. The first part is a slow but stick with it. The second half is amazing.

Many thanks for my gifted copy. This review will be shared shortly to my Instagram account.

3⭐️s - split on this one. It had the perfect backdrop: remote island with with a raging storm. Dark thriller with reality show vibes. I just wasn’t a huge fan of that cast of characters and the story going in the direction that was most obvious. But I can see others liking the reality show gone bad with fun influencers.

Expected release: 2/25/25

✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
A remote island, a group of influencers, a game of hide-and-seek that turns into a game of survival, and a storm brewing…what could go wrong?? At the last game of hide-and-seek something went terribly wrong, and a girl disappeared and was never found. Surely history won’t repeat itself, or will it? As the storm intensifies and people start disappearing from the island, fingers are pointed and suspicions brew. Is the island cursed?
This was a fun read full of adrenaline and suspense, although I would say it is a slow burn, it definitely grabs the readers attentions with the different characters and their backstories. I loved how Unger painted the eerie, isolated, remote setting of the island which left me feeling claustrophobic throughout. If you enjoy a game of hide-and-seek, a reality tv show gone wrong, and the ultimate game of survival then this one is for you! However, the flaw for me was the fact that the story ended up being predictable. There are several different ways this could have played out that would have left me feeling shocked, but instead it was too neatly wrapped up, fleshed out, and predictable. It had all the potential to be a five star read, but because of this factor it fell a bit flat for me.


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Remote and isolated settings
✦Influencers, a game of hide-and-seek, and the ultimate survival game
✦Reality tv shows
✦Lots of different characters
✦A predictable ending

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5

What in the Mr. Beast fan fic did I just read?? This whole book reads to me like “What if we talked about Mr. Beast, but made him evil?” It’s giving Squid Games vibes. Honestly wasn’t bad, but was a very slowwww burn for me and it took me a while to get into it. Thank you to The Hive and HTP for the advanced copy! Releases Feb 15th!

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on February 6th, 2025. Links provided.

In Lisa Unger’s new thriller, a competition for a million dollars involving a game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island takes a dark turn when a storm strikes and a hidden danger begins to target the group. Maverick Dillan, a social media star and daring adventurer, has organized the hide-and-seek game as a live social media event in an effort to draw in millions of eyes and dollars. But, things quickly spiral out of control as drama among Maverick and his crew, as well as an impending storm, threaten their plans. Among the contestants is Adele, a single mother who unknowingly steps into a dangerous game filled with secrets and betrayal. As the storm intensifies and secrets emerge, Adele must rely on her wits and determination to survive and find a way back to her children, all while navigating the uncertainty of whether this is all just a ploy for virtual views or real life danger.

I was definitely initially intrigued by this book, especially with the premise of an extreme game of hide and seek on a remote island. It sounded like an exciting concept and excellent setting for a suspenseful thriller, but unfortunately it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While I did enjoy the setting of the book, I honestly felt like a large portion of the story dragged in its pacing and I found it difficult to get invested in the characters. I liked Adele for the most part, but almost every other character in the novel was either not very memorable or not very likable. Also, I usually love books with multiple points of view, but it did not work for me in this book. With the multiple points of view, there was often a jump in the timeline of the story as well, yet there was never any indication of a change in time (as in “before," “day 1," or even time stamps like 12 hours before the start etc.). Due to the jumping back and forth in the timeline, I found it difficult to really get hooked as each portion seemed underdeveloped. I was also disappointed in the way this book was presented. While the premise makes it seem like the majority of the book will be about a high stakes game of hide-and-seek, the game doesn’t even really happen at all (and there’s only three people who are playing??) and so much of the story is actually about the history of the people running the event or about Adele’s family. It seemed like the book tried to have three different plots to make it more exciting but it just led to me being less invested altogether. The twists weren’t very surprising, and the climax felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic. Overall, while the idea behind the book was solid, the end result didn’t quite hit the mark for me, and I never really got fully engrossed in the story.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 in return for my honest review.

Would you go to a remote island in an old abandoned hotel to play a game of hide-and-seek to try to win a million dollars? Our story starts with Adele, a mother of two teenagers who's been abandoned by her husband who's wanted by the FBI for fraud. He left her holding the bag with very little money to take care of their kids. The story starts out solely about her and her kids and then takes a turn and becomes about the Extreme app's owners and creators. They are hosting the game that Adele has signed up to participate in. I found parts of this book confusing, wasn't sure if it was current day or flashing back. I found parts to be slow building up to the action on the island. I think maybe it was a bit to long and could ended sooner.

Lisa Unger delivers an addictive read that I tore through in no time! The story dives into the dark side of internet fame, exploring just how far influencers will go for clout—and whether the real issue lies with them or the audience fueling their rise.

While the concept isn’t entirely new, the execution kept me hooked. The multiple characters and subplots added depth without making things confusing, and the pacing made it an effortless weekend binge. If you’re looking for a fast, thought-provoking thriller, this one’s worth picking up!

Although it took a bit to get me into this one, I did end up enjoying the concept of this story. I do think it could have been refined a little more but overall it was a fun locked room type mystery. It did keep me guessing so that was fun for me as well.

2.5/5

A locked-room thriller with an intriguing premise but a lackluster execution.

This book dragged so much, making it extremely difficult to get attached or interested in the storylines or the characters. And all the characters felt very flat while also being annoying and unlikable.

This book is slow and that is emphasized by nothing really happening for the first nearly three-quarters of the book.

Spooky island games sounds like so much fun! That made this all the more disappointing. I think I've just come to the conclusion that Lisa Unger's writing isn't for me. Sorry, Lisa.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.