Wow! This was probably my favourite Lisa Ugner books. I also feel like I said that about her last book, but this one definitely tops the last one. There was so much happening in this every complex thriller with multiple POVs and many different stories to follow.
The main premise of the story is that social media influencers go to remote island for a hide & seek reality show game. The host is an eccentric online thrill seeker who was involved with a missing contestant from a previous event. Since then a cloud of scrutiny has been following him. The island itself was an interesting setting and gave another layer of mystery and intrigue to the story.
This book was fast-paced and kept me at the end of my seat with all the secrets, lies and deception.

I was curious to see how the online coverage of the island would unfold, almost like a survey. I thought it would offer some insightful and organized details, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. The entire process seemed rushed, and it lacked the depth I was hoping for.

While the coverage was quick, which was a plus, there was a lot of confusion throughout. The information felt disorganized, and I found myself constantly trying to piece things together. I was hoping for a more reliable and clear experience that would provide consistent updates.

In the end, while it didn't take up too much time, the lack of clarity and reliability made it less enjoyable. It was definitely not what I had in mind when I first started, but at least it was over quickly.

Maverick is a daredevil who likes to create extreme games for influencers to participate in. His latest game is hide and seek near the remains of a crumbling resort on a remote island said to be cursed. Adele is a mom of two, down on her luck and desperate for the extra cash winning this challenge would provide. A childlike game of hide and seek turns into a game of survival as people start to go missing, and the truth comes out.

Thoughts 💭
The premise and atmosphere set the creepy tone that permeates the story. The island itself seems to be alive and collects souls who dare enter. We are first introduced to Adele, who is a mom of two, struggling to make ends meet after her husband skips town. But, even her background creates mystery and intrigue that makes you question how everything will tie together. I was honestly a little disappointed that her husband didn't make more of an appearance during the game. I thought he would somehow be connected to it.

The story is chaotic to read. There are multiple POVs from almost every character and even characters who don't have a main role in the story. You jump between points of view and different time frames, so it's hard to understand what's going on and when since there isn't a solid base to go off of. I think the intent was to make a crazy story seem even more disjointed but I would've loved to have it told in a more linear format with more time spent on the actual game that was being talked about. Instead, it was a lot of behind the scenes action. The game itself was actually such a small part of the story, and most of the characters were not really likable. The atmosphere and premise were great, but the execution fell a little short for me.

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

Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me. I usually love this author’s books but I just didn’t connect with this one. I think I am over the “reality show” type plots. I will definitely read her next book, as I said I usually really enjoy them, but this one didn’t work for me.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC. “Close Your Eyes and Count to 10” releases February 25, 2025.

When single mom, Adele enters an extreme reality game of hide and seek, hosted by extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan, she hopes to win the million dollar prize. This would go a long way in getting her and her children back on their feet after her husband vanished, running from police for committing fraud and embezzlement. The game takes place on a basically deserted island, and all hell breaks loose with an oncoming storm, natives who want them off the island, and some unknown person who seems to be stalking the game and Maverick. This was a rollercoaster ride, and I loved every minute of it! This is a pulse-pounding adrenaline rush of a read!

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a twist and turn thriller. Maverick Dillan, a famous adventurer, hosts an ultimate hide and seek game and the winner will earn a $1 million dollar prize. The contestants, social media influencers, gather on Falcao Island and the event quickly spirals into a test of survival.

The premise for the book is intriguing. There are multiple point of views which at times was tough to follow —perhaps even too many POVs. I felt that the book didn’t really have a flow and struggled to read it. I love Lisa Unger books and really wanted to like it more.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Park Row for the Advanced Reader Copy.

This unfortunately didn't work for me, and I'm not quite sure why. I didn't like the characters very much and the story felt so incredibly disjointed. I think I wish it would've leaned into some story points and backed off on others. I was hooked at the beginning but my interest quickly tapered off.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this E-ARC.

I love Lisa Unger. Her books are always so suspenseful. A wild ride yet extremely easy to follow. I can cruise through one of her books in 48 hours and feel like I ran a marathon. A lot of things happen at the same time but I never feel confused. I don’t feel like the books are too long with too much information. They are just perfect. I love them!

Adele had everything she ever wanted. A happy marriage to a man that was extremely wealthy. With two beautiful children that she loves. Until she finds out that her husband embezzled money and has disappeared. 5 years later she had no money. Is struggling to keep up financially. She’s still happy and still has her kids but doesn’t have the money anymore. Until her son shows her a hide and seek challenge on an island that can make her the winner of 1 million dollars. All she has to do is stay hidden and be the last person found.

Everything will be live streamed. Influencers galore. There’s only 4 players. How hard can it be? Except that it seems kind of dangerous. And there was that one girl who was never found from a previous challenge. But still 1/4 chance to win a million? She can do that! Right?
Read and find out.

Hide and seek reality tv game on a secluded island! It’s a fast paced book. The cast and characters were all very interesting and made the read so captivating. I loved the multiple point of view of a few of the players. Lots of secrets and twists. The storm and atmosphere of the island really amped up the experience with this story. I recommend going in blind to just experience the game and book.

Close your eyes and count to 10 was a typical twisty mystery. It was Pretty easy to figure out but I enjoyed the story. It’s a good reminder everyone we see online is only letting us see what they want us to see.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a fun thriller about a game of hide and seek. Influencers battle it out in this game of hide and seek that turns deadly. Fans of Lisa Unger’s previous books will enjoy this one.

Although this is marketed toward adults, and one of the main characters is a single mom, I still think this has a lot of YA qualities to it. There are a few scenes that are a little too much for my students, so I couldn't recommend this to them, but overall I think this could resonate more with a slightly younger audience. Mav gives Paul brother or Mr. Beast energy, and it was interesting to see things from his (and the Extreme crew's) perspective. The entire time I thought the premise of the "hide and seek" game felt low-stakes on it's own. I wasn't sure how exactly it was supposed to be engaging content (if not for what ended up actually happening). Despite the endings for each character, I still somehow felt unsatisfied. I am rating this book 4 stars overall, though, because there was a lot that was fun about this novel, and a lot that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, although I would have liked more from Miller and the Extreme guys. I didn't really think Blake AND Violet needed their own POVs. I didn't think the podcaster's parts were really needed, because the one big reveal they "found" could have been explained in two lines by the characters at the end. I liked the obstacle of the island natives, and Tavo's seemingly inner conflict regarding this. I wish there was a little more of this element explored at the very end, but it seems this became mostly forgotten after the "rescue" (which- came out of nowhere considering all prior behaviors from these characters). The ending felt a little too convenient, and therefore as I said, unsatisfying. However, this was overall fun and fast-paced, and I think anyone who is a gamer or moderately online might really enjoy it.

I listened to the audio book version of this book. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Lisa Unger utterly kept me captivated with her storytelling, and the characters were so diverse and interesting. I was hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down. I thought this was such a good book. And the twist... it was so well done. I am so glad I got the chance to read this book. I think that Lisa is in a class of her own. I can't wait for more from her. I highly recommend this book to other thriller/mystery readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin, and Lisa Unger

This is an intense and suspenseful novel filled with secrets and lies. What starts out as a way to win money in a high-stakes game turns into a fight for survival against an unseen threat, and Mother Nature.

Unger pulls us into Adele’s world, and her struggles, straight away-pulling at the heartstrings of the reader, and spurring us on to root for her to win. Adele is a fighter, a loving mother, and is willing to do whatever it takes to give her family a chance to come out on top. she refuses to let her husband’s choices dictate her and her children’s outcome.

Juxtaposed to her is Maverick-the intense and cocky owner of Extreme. He’s the master of false fronts and smooth words. He will also do whatever it takes to keep his business going, even if that means lying about how well his business is doing, and putting the contestants in danger. He will not quit. A part of you wants to like him, given his past and pain, but another part of you can’t square with his recklessness and refusal to think about others before making decisions.

Unger does a good job of laying on the tension and unease almost straight away. She lays the groundwork for something to go wrong; you’re just not sure what it is. Turns out, it’s multiple things. And event go awry quickly, leaving the contestants scrambling to figure out what is going on. Is the game still on? Where are the Extreme employees? Are they going to survive the storm and make it off the island?

They are also having to contend with a mysterious person following them. Who is this person? What do they want? Am I safe from them? As they wrestle with these questions on one part of the island, Maverick and his crew are dealing with their own problems. The cracks are showing, lines are being drawn, and everything is coming to a head.

As a whole, this was a decent thriller with good suspense and twists. I will say that I didn’t really care for Maverick or his girlfriend. They were not likable, IMO. I also could see some of the reveals coming, but it didn’t take away from me enjoying the book. 3.75 stars

Close your eyes and count to 10

Adele is off in an adventure when she joins a reality show for influencers that is marketed as extreme hide and seek. She’s leaving her teen kids for a chance at a million dollars and a fresh start after her husband committed fraud and went into hiding 5 years earlier.

She receives text messages warning her about the reality show. The host island is where an abandoned hotel used to be and rumors of it being haunted are rampant. Not to mention the sketchy host who is over promising on the experience and was at the center of a missing girl in a different contest. His crew is following apart and his past is creeping up on him.

Oh yes, and a big storm is coming in because of course it is !!

This reminded me of One Perfect Couple, I liked the reality show thriller, corporate corruption, and paranormal sprinkled in. Would’ve liked more of the survival elements and them actually playing the game, but was still enjoyable !

It was strange the first part of the book was heavily focused on Adele and her experience and then that all pushed to the background and focus shifted to Mav, the show host and that sub plot.


Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 2/25/25.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
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In an old building on an island, social media influencers gather for a game of extreme hide and seek. The host is Maverick and he has recently been under stress due to threats and the investigation into a girl who went missing in a previous challenge.
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What I liked:
-There were so many secrets! I didn’t know who was telling the truth and who was lying.
-I loved the setting: an old building on an island, and what’s this? A sudden storm is coming? Loved.
-Adele’s character. She brought great mama bear vibes to the story.
-I got to listen to the audio and the narrator was great. It was easy to fall into listening to this story and forget the real world.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story really sucked me in and I couldn’t stop.

I love a thriller set inside a game that goes wrong and the premise of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is just that. This story is creepy, atmospheric, and has social media and gaming element. The jumps in the timeline and POV kept me on my toes and eager to find out more! Thank you Park Row and NetGalley for my copy!

EAdele, mother to two teens and a fitness/motivational
influencer, has been invited to join an extreme hide and seek
game, where along with other influencers, she has a chance at
winning one million dollars. Since Adele's husband went
missing a few years ago, she's been struggling financially, and
this game could be the answer to her prayers. As soon as she
arrives at the remote island location for the game, the weather
turns stormy, and honestly, the book takes a nose-dive along
with it. There were way too many sub-plots and characters in
this book (missing husband, missing influencer, controversial
adventurer, online gaming, real-life teenage bullying, murder,
stealing, adultery, etc) and most were completely irrelevant. I
tried to figure out how they'd all connect, and disappointingly,
they didn't. This thriller had potential, but it needed to tighten
down the narrative to really be a solid read.

This was a fun book with a lot of promise at first. I thought the premise was interesting! There were so many characters and POVs but it didn’t bog the story down! The pacing was good, but as the story went on very little drama unfolded. I wanted a lot more from Unger, as I have loved her previous books. It just felt very predictable and a little boring. The idea of influencers on an island and a reality show has been done so many times, it needs a lot more to make it interesting!

Love Lisa Unger’s writing! Love the gorgeous cover. But… I need to stop giving contest based books a try.

I automatically requested this book because, well, Lisa Unger! I love her writing style. I highlighted several one-liners, and even full paragraphs, on my Kindle during my read that wow’d me. I wish that “wow” feeling carried through the actual plot. I just don’t connect well with books with these storylines. In 2024 I read my share of reality tv contest plots and this was similar but with social media/going “live” spin.

The Extreme Team and contestants are on an isolated island for an influencer game of Extreme Hide and Seek. The actual game doesn’t actually start until the 70% mark. Up until then, it was a lot of character introductions, POVs, and background info. Too much was going on, while also feeling like not much was happening. I had trouble keeping the times of day straight and what was going on with each character. All the characters were very well developed and came with their own unique baggage, but it was soooo much. Too much. This made it a struggle to connect with the characters or care about the eventual outcomes.

The writing rating: 4 ⭐️
The plot/story rating: 2⭐️
My overall rating: 3 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Feb 25 2025