3.5/5

Thank you @parkrowbooks @htp_hive #partner for the gifted eARC!

This one is a high stakes game of adult hide and seek! Yep! You heard me right. 😅 Maverick Dillan (epic name!) is an extreme adventurist and he’s invited players to Falcao Island as a part of social media challenge that turns quite deadly quick. There is an impending storm which adds even more stress to the game. One of the main characters, Adele is quite possibly one of there most dedicated and determined person in this book as she has a one and only shot to try and dig herself out of the debt her ex-husband left her in. That is, before he just up and left her high and dry one day never to be heard from again. This competition is a way out of that mess and she puts on a brave face to try and outsmart, out wit and win the game! It turns out to be a high stakes competition of survival and she doesn’t know who she can trust!

First things first, can we talk about how amazing this cover art is?! It’s gorgeous! Sold on that alone! I have been a long time fan of Lisa Ungers so jumped at the chance to read this one! This book is made for people who are fans of locked room thrillers, the show survival or any one who likes adventure game shows! The things I loved about this book was the premise of the hide and seek game, I liked the eerie locals and the operation itself how it seemed so loosely put together and not to be trusted! The part I felt like I struggled a bit with was the amount of characters POVs and I had a hard time keeping them straight. I feel like a little more depth with the characters could have made it easier to keep track of and maybe a little more interesting. Overall, I love Ungers books and although this one wasn’t my favorite by her I will absolutely continue to grab them and read them!

There is a lot going on in this book, a podcast, a mystery, reality tv and a game show. A surprise ending will be a hit with Lisa Unger fans.

The book starts out a little bit slow – more than that, as I was reading the first 10% or so, I was kind of confused. Am I really reading the book I was supposed to be reading? Is it really the same book – the one with the blurb I just read? But it all falls into pieces later on. The beginning makes sense, and it sets the scene. And then the speed picks up and the book turns into a claustrophobic whirlwind of EVERYTHING. And somehow, as I kept reading it, this turned into something way better than I expected it to be.

A reality game on an island. What could go wrong? I feel this was definitely more character driven. Adele felt like the main focus of this book, her need to protect her kids as things went crazy. Overall, I really enjoyed it!!

Book review 📖

📜Close Your Eyes And Count To 10
✍️Lisa Unger
📠Harlequin Trade/Park Row
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: February 25, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @parkrowbooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨Maverick Dillan invites you to a survivor-like extreme game of hide-and-seek. Originally intended as a social media stunt, it’s quickly become the ultimate game of survival as a storm blankets the island and an even deadlier threat stalks the contestants.

✨Adele, single mom, enters the challenge as a means to an end. Tired of her son being bullied in school and figuring this is a way to make a large sum of money if she wins, Adele has no idea the ride she’s in for and that soon she’ll be fighting for her life.

✨I felt like the book moved a little slowly, especially towards the beginning when other characters have their POV narrations—takes away from the suspense.

#netgalley #closeyoureyesandcountto10 #lisaunger #harlequintradepublishing #parkrow #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #winterreleases #thrillerfiction

This was a very exciting book. It gripped me right from the start. It says a lot about the times we are living in with social media, virtual reality and extreme reality shows coming into question. The story really has two protagonists; Adele a single mom of two teenaged children who’s husband has gone missing after being wanted by the FBI for fraud and embezzlement and Maverick Dillan a “WeWatch” celebrity who has several extreme challenges and reality shows. He and his friends/employees are setting up for one last extreme challenge. Adele has a WeWatch channel of her own and does what she can to make money since her husband left.
Adele’s teenage son, Blake suggests that she joins Maverick’s latest challenge taking place in an abandoned resort far away on an island in the middle of the ocean. She agrees because the prize is 1 Million dollars and she needs money for her family. The challenge is to be the last among the contestants to be found on the island. Her son Blake gets bullied and he escapes in a virtual reality game where he has more power than real life.
Lots and lots of things go wrong of course. A major storm is about to hit the island and a wise old woman and her strong men warn them to leave or else bad things will happen. Maverick has lots of demons and his body has taken some beatings. As the game is about to begin lots unfolds among Maverick and his staff and Adele and the other contestants.
There is a question of whether or not anyone will survive before the game even begins. Loyalties are questioned and death is only a wrong move away. All while being broadcast on social media. The book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I enjoyed this ARC very much. Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books.

Thank you Park Row Books for the gifted digital ARC!

This one unfortunately wasn't my fave from Lisa Unger. I'm kinda over the whole influencers doing bad things storyline, it seems to be popping up in thrillers constantly these days.

The plot was entertaining enough that I didn't ever feel like DNF'ing, so that is one positive. Without spoiling anything, there were what I would consider to be two different storylines, and I kept expecting them to intertwine in some way, and they never really did. There's also something that happens at the end that seemingly came with no explanation at all.

Ultimately I still can't wait to see what Unger comes up with next!

A new genre of thrillers is emerging and Lisa Unger’s “Close Your Eyes And Count To 10” is an amazing example of this. With a fresh storyline surrounding a reality adventure game show set in a remote place in an old and condemned hotel; this locked door mystery kept me in the edge of my seat.

I absolutely loved this book and the idea of a social media/influencer company hosting a dangerous game of hide and seek. The game contestants are social media influencers, each with their own agenda and things to hide.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I highly recommend this book and expect it to make the list of top thrillers in 2025. #CloseYourEyesandCountto10 #NetGalley.

I was a little torn at first on how to rate this one but I’m confident with giving 4⭐️

The story is told from multiple POV’s but I found it easy to figure out who was who very early on. I love the idea of mixing reality TV with books because I love a good trashy reality show. I did figure out one of the twists about halfway through but there were others that took me by surprise. There was also a story line that I found to be unnecessary. All in all a good read!

I've read many of Unger's books so enjoy her writing style. This book, though, fell a little flat for me. Was a bit more YA than I was expecting and I didn't feel like the characters were well developed. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.

Lisa Unger's "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that masterfully blends the high-stakes world of reality television with a deadly game of survival. Set to release on February 18, 2025, the novel follows Adele, a single mother who enters an extreme hide-and-seek competition on the remote Falcao Island, hoping to win a million-dollar prize.
The novel's premise is brilliantly crafted, centering on a reality show hosted by charismatic daredevil Maverick Dillan. What begins as an adrenaline-fueled competition quickly transforms into a terrifying fight for survival as a mysterious threat emerges and a deadly storm bears down on the island.
Unger's writing shines through her multi-perspective narrative, which allows readers to experience the mounting tension from various viewpoints. The characters are vividly drawn, with Adele emerging as a particularly compelling protagonist - a fierce mother whose determination to protect her children drives the narrative forward.
Critics have praised the book's atmospheric tension and unpredictable plot twists. Kirkus Reviews highlighted Unger's skill in "weaving together multiple points of view" and "ratcheting up the physical terrors of the challenge." The novel effectively blurs the lines between virtual and real danger, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
While some reviewers noted the book's length might feel slightly drawn out, most agreed that the suspense and intricate plot more than compensate for any pacing issues. The locked-room thriller style, combined with the reality show backdrop, offers a fresh take on the genre.
Fans of high-octane thrillers with strong female leads will devour this book. Unger continues to prove why she's considered a master of psychological suspense, delivering a novel that is both a heart-pounding adventure and a nuanced exploration of survival.
"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" is set to be a must-read for thriller enthusiasts, promising a wild ride that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Lisa Unger delivered another fantastic book for audiences. It was suspenseful, fast-paced, and kept you guessing through the book. The characters were relatable and interesting. It is a very enjoyable book that was difficult to put down. I would absolutely recommend.

Fantastic twists and turns in this suspenseful, survival game show on a remote island. I could not put it down, and highly recommend.

A mom who has lost everything because of her husband embezzled and tan agrees to take part in a dangerous game of hide and seek to try to get some money for her and her children. The game’s creator and his crew are dishonest and keeping secrets. Lots of action and side plots going on. This book will keep you thinking!

Lisa Unger’s version of a reality TV competition set novel; I’m a bit over this trope in the thriller world. This book didn’t really work for me but I still love her writing and can’t wait for the next one!

“A bolt of lightning cuts a jagged line in the night sky, casting the abandoned hotel in a brief white-hot flash. ”
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:

Hide and Seek - multiple players arrive to play a game of Hide and Seek organized by Extreme Adventurer Maverick
Island - But the island has some interesting history, and the players all have different motivations for playing
Storm - Plus a destructive storm is coming straight for them, and this could cause some interesting consequences

In this book we follow quite a few points of view, and thankfully the way the characters are introduced, it doesn’t really become too complicated. I appreciate that. But while this book is super fast paced, and most of the characters are shady or hiding things, I felt a little unsatisfied. I really wish I saw more of the players' interactions with each other, the history of the Island and it’s natives, and maybe just simplified the plot twists a bit. To be clear, this is entertaining and the mystery does compel you to finish, so in that case it may appeal to those who love thrillers.

I would like this a lot more if I didn’t still have SO many questions. I don’t need everything tied up into a neat bow but there are many a loose thread here. I really enjoyed the family in this story. I feel as if we got to know them fairly well. Maverick was well developed, too. The rest of the characters fell pretty flat for me. The story itself was over the top and interesting, yet it all kind of built up to nothing. I will still read Unger’s books but I hope the next one has less moving parts so that we can focus on the story.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a thrilling and fast paced read. I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. I found myself rooting for Adele to win the hide and seek challenge and get her life back but also rooting for the other two players as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

Dnf unfortunately! I just was really bored and couldn’t continue but I liked the plot! Maybe I’ll go back to this at some point but putting it down for now. It’s very hit or miss with this author for me

Unger is great in this twisting, mysterious thriller set on an isolated island. This has been a common trope recently, but Unger add the layer of how the lens of social media can skew perception and how one responds to difficulties. I enjoyed the entire ride and loved how now everything was as it seemed and the gloss of influencers fell away to ambition and greed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.