This book has gotten so much hype, and rightfully so! I went into it a little trepidatious because I've been burned by overly hyped books before. This did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. I thought I knew what would happen next, but of course, I was wrong (and in the best way). Loved it!

I'm having trouble figuring out how to rate this book. On one hand, I mostly enjoyed the book while I was reading it but on the other, the second I thought about anything further, nothing made sense. The characters weren't very developed, there were too many storylines, not enough suspense, everything was predictable and yet no one acted realistically. The "game" at the center of the plot never really even happened and nothing ended satisfying. The potential was there but this was just not the book I wanted to be reading.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I was so invested in finding out what happened with Adele's husband and who was wreaking havoc during the extreme hide and seek game. Overall this is such a great suspenseful read!

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was clear from the beginning that Mav and Angeline were jerks- never once did I feel any sympathy for them and/or their respective situations. **spoiler: I’m not even remotely surprised that the Extreme employees turned on him. On the opposite hand, I loved Adele, Malika, and Cody. Blake and Violet were also likeable and I enjoyed their character development. Killer felt like a pointless side plot.

I feel like this book was fairly predictable but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

4/5 stars.

This book was ok. I guess I was expecting a more cat and mouse game. The story follows a group of people at a deserted hotel who are there to play a hide and seek game with the hopes of winning money. The story has multiple Povs and you get to see the impact social media has in today's world.

Lisa Unger delivers another pulse-pounding thriller with Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten. The story kicks off with a chilling premise: a group of strangers finds themselves trapped in an isolated, remote location, forced to play an extreme and deadly game of hide-and-seek. As the stakes escalate, dark secrets come to light, and survival becomes a desperate, all-consuming focus.

From the first page, Unger grips you tight and doesn’t let go. The novel is relentlessly propulsive—just like the deadly game at its center, it’s teeming with drama and tension, and you simply can’t look away. Unger’s mastery of atmosphere adds an extra layer of dread to this locked-room mystery, making every chapter feel claustrophobic and urgent.

Told through multiple perspectives, the story cleverly unfolds in a way that constantly shifts your perception of who can be trusted. Each twist feels earned, and the sense of unease only deepens as the characters’ personal histories and motives are slowly revealed. This is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just entertain—it gets under your skin.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes read that blends psychological suspense with a chilling survival scenario, Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten is one you won’t want to miss.

This was truly an atmospheric thriller. It felt dark, and gritty and rainy and like I could just imagine being on this island. I thought it was interesting that Lisa Unger mixed two worlds social media / video games and the real world and how they tend to overlap at times. It was definitely unique. I did figure out the main twist halfway through the book, and really felt like all the characters other than Adele and her kids were pretty crappy people. I didn't feel myself rooting for many of them. This was my first Lisa Unger book and probably wouldn't rush out to read more, but would also keep the others on my TBR. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: thriller/myster📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I love a good secluded island setting and while this one was intriguing I was hoping for a little more.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Extreme survival games
Social media influencer dynamic
Isolated island settings
Psychological thrillers
Reality TV-style competitions
Character-driven narratives

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Unique game concept
Atmospheric and eerie setting
I feel like the motherhood aspect made the FMC more relatable

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Pacing felt slow at times
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters
Some predictable plot twists
It wasn’t as creepy as I was hoping it would be

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “When the game starts, the masks come off.”
★ “Survival isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about who you trust when everything’s stripped away.”
★ “The island keeps its secrets. It’s the players you have to watch.”

This was an enticing read with a few plot holes.
The biggest was around the hide and seek game, which was supposed to be televised. They didn’t outfit the contestants with cameras and the contestants were under the impression there would not be cameras on the property - how was the audience supposed to view this?? The guy running it is supposed to be some sort of Mr. Beast anti-hero with his shady gang of friends/business partners and it gives the impression there are no adults in charge.
I enjoyed the book and found it to be twist-y (there’s a mysterious island matriarch who may or may not be anamorphic) and the ending was pretty satisfying but would’ve loved some more attention to the hide and seek broadcast logistics which, since not fleshed out, served as a hollow plot device.

I recently finished Close Your Eyes and Count to 19 by Lisa Unger, and while the premise was thrilling, I found myself struggling to connect with the story at times due to the overwhelming number of points of view. The novel follows several characters, including Maverick Dillan, the charismatic daredevil behind the deadly game, and Adele, a single mother fighting to protect her children. The plot, which starts as a seemingly harmless game of hide-and-seek on a remote island, quickly escalates into a survival challenge against a lurking threat.

The shifting perspectives, however, made the pacing feel disjointed. Just when I thought I was getting a grip on the storyline, the narrative would jump to another character, and I found myself having to recalibrate. Instead of building suspense, the constant switching pulled me out of the story and left me feeling confused about the overall direction. The characters themselves were compelling, especially Adele, but I struggled to fully invest in their journeys with so many voices competing for attention.

While the book certainly had moments of intrigue and tension, the complexity of the narrative structure made it hard for me to follow the plot's progression smoothly. There was potential for a tight, suspenseful story, but for me, the multiple perspectives distracted from the core tension and made it harder to stay engaged

Thank you NetGalley and HTP for the advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was excited, because I love locked door thrillers. Unfortunately I found this to be quite the challenge to get through. It was too long, the many POVs were jarring and took me out of the story, and ultimately I found it quite boring.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I’ve never read a book by Lisa Unger before and I had high hopes. Unfortunately this was a huge disappointment. A slow and boring story, I expected way more to happen

Lisa Unger writes fabulous thrillers and this one adds a locked room element tangled with a mysterious disappearance. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the storyline of an abandoned wife and kids and an online viewing platform of extreme adventure but the chilling setting made for a great backdrop for fear and dread. I enjoyed how parts of the two subplots intersected however, I was expecting a little more tie in.

I typically love Lisa's books. She is one of my must-read authors. Unfortunately, even with my love for Lisa's writing and the story having elements that I enjoy, this book is my least favorite of Lisa's books. I normally love thrillers with beautiful, but remote settings. I also loved the idea of a hide & seek challenge. However, I guessed a lot of the twists in this one, so it was just ok for me. I'm still looking forward to reading more by Lisa and would recommend this one for someone who does not read a lot of thrillers.

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger is a propulsive story about a mother who will do anything for her children, including becoming an influencer, and signing up for an extreme competition that’s risky in the best circumstances. But this certainly isn’t a best circumstances situation…

I really enjoyed the multi POV approach to this novel, which allows the reader to see things from other POVs aside from the main character. They deliver pertinent information at just the right time, leaving the reader beyond curious, and turning the page.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced copy.

Really enjoyed this! This was different from the thrillers I would normally read but it was a nice change. Not sure I would classify it a thriller for myself but it kept you reading

Thank you to Park Row Books for the digital copy to review.

I loved the premise of this one, an extreme game of hide-and-seek on a remote island off the Atlantic Ocean, where the winner gets a million dollars, and it really started off strong. As it went on, I struggled to stay engaged, and the ending felt a bit rushed to me. I read the ebook for this and I’m not sure if that helped or hurt as I usually do audio, but with all the live followers and comments I don’t know how that would have come across on audio. I am a huge fan of this author’s work and while this was not my favorite, I cannot wait to she what she has in store for us next.

Maverick is a daredevil and extreme adventurer who is hosting an extreme game of hide-and-seek on Falco Island. As the players gather, the game quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival as a storm rages and a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the game into something far more sinister. Adele is a single mother who is determined to protect her children at any cost. This game of hide-and-seek is the entry point to a web of deceptions and intrigue… will she be able to make it through the game and return to her family?

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 is a book that was high on my list of anticipated reads, but unfortunately, did not live up to my expectations.

That said, let’s get into what worked and what didn’t. I really enjoyed the isolated and atmospheric setting of Falco Island. Add in the concept of a high stakes reality TV show premise with a seemingly underdog main character, and it sounds like you have a winner. Tension quickly builds from the outset and the inclement weather adds another dimension to the eerie setting, making Falco Island feel like a character in its own merit.

Adele is the main character, and narrator, of this novel with alternate chapters in other key characters’ viewpoints. Each character is vivid, well-defined, and realistic, but Adele is the most tangible. Her determination and courage were evident and inspiring. She’s also very relatable, making it easy to become immersed in her POV.

I enjoyed the critique on social media and its impact, particularly the exploitation of one’s struggles for entertainment, that’s explored within these pages. The plot is action-packed with short chapters that served to hold my interest right until the end. There’s also plenty of drama and lies spread through the novel, serving to up the tension. I did find the middle part of the book is where it bogged down, but it soon picks up, leading to a very intriguing ending.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Park Row, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

A quick, fun, easy read. Exactly what I needed after reading a couple duds. Slightly predictable, but still engaging and enjoyable!

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 10 by Lisa Unger

A multilayered thriller about a single mother who joins a high-stakes hide-and-seek influencer competition on a remote island, only to realize the game has deadly consequences. This eerie, atmospheric story is equal parts mystery and commentary on influencer culture. While it's not my favorite from Unger, it's still definitely worth the read!