In Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, Lisa Unger delivers a gripping thriller that intertwines the perils of social media fame with a high-stakes game of survival. Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites participants to Falcao Island for the ultimate game of hide-and-seek, promising a substantial prize. However, as a fierce storm descends and an unseen menace begins targeting contestants, the event devolves into a harrowing fight for life. Adele, a single mother determined to secure a better future for her children, becomes ensnared in this deadly contest, confronting a labyrinth of deception and danger.

Unger escalates tension, immersing readers in a narrative where the boundaries between virtual personas and reality blur ominously. The story evokes a sense of dread, compelling readers to question the authenticity of online identities and the lengths individuals will go to for notoriety. As secrets unravel and alliances shift, the novel maintains a relentless pace, ensuring an enthralling experience.

This novel is recommended for enthusiasts of psychological thrillers and suspenseful narratives that delve into the dark facets of human ambition and the digital age's influence. Fans of works exploring survival under extreme conditions will find Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 particularly captivating. The book leaves a lasting impression, prompting reflection on the potential dangers of social media stardom and the unpredictable nature of human behavior when pushed to the brink.

Lisa Unger is always an immediate read author for me. While this wasn't one of my most favorite of her books, the audiobook was still mildly entertaining. I'm not sure if I would feel the same way if I were reading it with my eyes though. The audiobook narrators made it much more engaging.

I definitely loved the slow burn thriller vibe of this book, however I didn't think it needed to be as long as it was. Some parts were more of a drag, and if I hadn't been listening to it on audio, I probably would've felt way more withdrawn from the story. I did really enjoy different character perspectives, but sometimes it got me a little confused.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the audiobook arc!

Adele Crane, a single mother determined to protect her children at all costs after her husband embezzeled from his company and then left his family high and dry, can't pass up the million dollar prize promised by an extreme game of hide-and-seek run by Maverick Dillan's company Extreme Games. But she quickly finds herself embroiled in more than just a game, and it may cost people their lives.

I loved the premise of this book, and I loved Adele. She's a strong, no-nonsense mom who put herself back together after her husband's betrayal. She stays true to herself throughout the whole book.

The place where this went wrong for me is that there's just a lot going on, and, paired with multiple timelines that weren't always clearly called out, I found the narrative to be a bit confusing at times. It was especially difficult when the book moved between the players doing re-con prior to the game starting and the events during the game without realizing the timelines had jumped.

Another issue I had was with the game itself. This extreme hide-and-seek game is being held to increase Maverick's following. So why then are there only 4 participants selected? And with so few participants, Adele seemed like a highly unlikely choice for one of them.

Despite it adding a bit to the chaos, I did like how Unger incorporated narratives of some of the live feeds and related podcasts into the story.

I listened to this one on audio. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, wasn't my favorite. I understand that in the world of social media, there are a lot of masks and fake people, but I felt like she made some of the characters sound overly and obnoxiously fake. I did appreciate, however, that she did a good job creating separate and easily identifiable voices for each of the many characters.

Read if you like:
Multi-POV
Multiple timelines
Lies and betrayal
Social media and podcasting
Remote setting
Locked room mystery/thriller

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 352 / Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Audiobook Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Duration: 11 hours 34 minutes
Release Date: February 25, 2025

Adele is a single mother of two teenagers. After her husband abandoned them, she reinvented herself online, building a following based on parenting and motivational advice. Her son encourages her to enter a reality game show, where she plays extreme hide-and-seek on a remote island. All she has to do is survive the night without being found and she wins a million dollars. But then the game turns deadly when a violent storm hits the island and someone is stalking the contestants.

Besides the storyline with Adele and her family, there were the other contestants and the complicated founders of the game, so there was a lot going on and it all came across a bit disjointed. Instead of thrilling, I found it rather tiresome.

Thank you, @HTP_Hive, @Harlequin_Audio, and @NetGalley for my free copy of the audiobook. I also actually won this book in a @GoodReads contest (yay) but never actually received it (boo).

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 2/25
•
A social media influencer comes up with a game of extreme hide-and-seek for 1 million dollars. Single mom Adele and two other contestants head to a remote island to play. When a storm comes in both the literal and figurative sense things start to get dicy.
•
The game wasn’t exactly what I expected as there wasn’t really much to the actual hide-and-seek game as I felt like most of book focused more on revenge/exposing secrets; which lets be real - is still really awesome. Unger makes it even more appealing by adding in live feeds from the game and podcasts.
•
A slow-to-steady burn with plenty of twists thrown in, you will constantly be looking from one person to the next. Buckle up because this one is a wild ride. I love that this was basically a cat-and-mouse, a psychological thriller and a locked room mystery. There was plenty of suspense throughout the story.
•
I listened to this one via audiobook while reading my eARC. Vivienne Leheny was perfect for this narration. I love what she did with all of the podcasts and live streams as well. This was an easy to follow audiobook. Highly recommend if you are an audiobook fan!
•
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 was a highly anticipated read for me. I love Ungers work and this was no exception. I recommend this one to my Lisa Unger fans, to my psychological thriller fans and locked room mysteries.

The premise of this book initially intrigued me, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I struggled to connect with the main character, likely due to underdeveloped character depth. That said, I’m still curious to explore more of this author’s work in the future.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the gifted book!

This book is the ultimate game of hide and seek....Maverick invites influencers to his island for a high stakes game of hide and seek on his Falco Island. But things aren't as they seem and do not go according to plan. What starts as a social media game ends up a game of survival. While a storm rages on, the characters start to fear for their lives. This was more of a slow burn book and a decent thriller..nothing too original or amazing, but was still a decent thrill ride.

ARC REVIEW (2/25/25): close your eyes and count to 10 by lisa unger 💦 when the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

I listened to this popcorn thriller in a 20 hour timespan and regret nothing! I loved getting multi pov chapters through this cast of characters but adele stood out from the pack, a badass mom (with questionable decisions) that will never stop fighting for her kids 🥊

what a FUN premise: an extreme game of hide-and-seek that turns deadly 🌊 my biggest gripe is that I wish we got more of the actual hide-and-seek game opposed to the baggage all of the characters were carrying. the game is merely the concept that brings these characters together.

I typically love an added podcast element but the ending is info dumped to us through an interview instead of living the revelations with the characters which was a bummer. there were so many ways the ending could’ve gone involving the land they were competing on and the decrepit hotel they were within but unfortunately, it went with the straightforward explanation 👀

thank you harlequin audio for an early copy! anyone want to play hide-and-seek? 🎧 3 stars!

In this book, a single mom signs up for a challenge on an island to win a large cash prize in an extreme game of hide-and-seek.

I've heard great things about Lisa Unger's novels and was really curious about this new release. The name of the book got me intrigued! In this book, Adele and her kids are always expecting the worse. And I really admired this strong single mom character in the story. The novel started off with an interesting plot and multiple POVs that added great dimension. But soon things kind of went off the tracks for me with the story line. The focus shifted to the drama among the organizers of the challenge and left Andele and two other potentially interesting characters / challenge participants, pretty much out of the story.

I would have loved to see more of the challenge itself in the novel. There was so much potential for the page-turning thrill ride that unfortunately was missed. Regardless, I really enjoyed Adele and her kids's characters!

Give it a shot, friends, if you enjoy novels about influencers and YouTube challenges/quests and the drama that goes behind the scenes.

I enjoyed this story! I did find that my interest was more geared toward Adele & Blake. All of the other timelines seemed to fizzle the tension instead of prolonging it. Between all of the viewpoints and jumping timelines it became very disjointed. Again, the story was great and maybe a rework would blow this into a 5 star read.

I always enjoy Unger’s books and this one was a thrilling, high stakes, action packed account of a reality contest gone wrong.

I thought that the hide and seek premise of a reality show where the prize is 1 million dollars was so fun! It didn’t quite pan out how I thought it would, but not necessarily in a bad way. I thought it would be more of a fight for survival amongst the contestants and while there was that element, it was ended up being more about the showrunners and their corruption than the actual game. We only get 3 contestants and the focus was mostly on the mother in the group, Adele, and her backstory. I did love her resiliency as a mother as she strives to make a better life for her kids after her husband leaves her abandoned and in debt.

The island setting itself was incredibly atmospheric and chilling. I loved the folklorish element from the local residents.

Overall I would have preferred more focus on the game but did really appreciate the thought provoking layer the author embedded into this story when it comes to fame, exploitation, and social media.
If you enjoy survival stories with well developed character backstories, I think you will enjoy this! The audiobook was well narrated and I appreciated the differentiation between characters!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP for my #gifted ALC!

I loved the idea of this book with the game on an island but I was kind of lost in the middle and was wondering when something else was going to happen. Still overall a great book!

Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger delivers a gripping blend of The Hunger Games and Survivor, but with a psychological depth that takes the story to a whole new level.
The high-stakes "game" at its core pushes the limits of human desperation, forcing players to confront just how far they're willing to go for money.
From start to finish, the tension never lets up, and while some plot points stretched believability, the strong writing and intricate twists kept me fully engaged. It's a dark, thought-provoking thriller that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am probably in the minority here, but I just thought this book went on and on and nothing really ever happened. It was super boring. I am upset because usually Lisa Unger is a really good writer. I would still be interested in reading more books by her, but unfortunately this one was not for me. I did like the audiobook narrator though!

Many thanks to the publisher for the arc and alc!

Lisa Unger delivers another gripping psychological thriller in Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, a tense and immersive audiobook experience that keeps listeners on edge from start to finish. Known for her intricate storytelling and deeply layered characters, Unger masterfully weaves a narrative that blurs the lines between reality and perception, leaving audiences questioning everything.

The audiobook format enhances the suspense, drawing listeners into the protagonist’s unraveling journey with expert narration that captures every nuance of fear, doubt, and revelation. Unger’s signature psychological depth shines through as she explores themes of trauma, memory, and the hidden forces that shape our lives.

With a plot packed with unexpected twists and a protagonist whose psyche is as compelling as the mystery itself, Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten is a must-listen for fans of psychological suspense. The pacing is impeccable, the tension never lets up, and the ending delivers the kind of satisfying payoff Unger’s readers have come to expect.

For thriller enthusiasts and audiobook lovers alike, this is a riveting and expertly crafted listen that lingers long after the final chapter.

📚Review: Close Your Eyes And Count To 10
I was really hoping to like this book a little more than I did. This is the second book I’ve read by this author that was just okay to me. Maybe she’s just not for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As with the first book I read by her, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, I thought the premise was so cool, but what started off good, quickly unraveled for me. (And not in a good way)
What I noticed with the last book I read and with this one, is that there is a good idea for a storyline, but then too many other things are going on as well. It’s like there’s a good main story, but then too many other characters and side storylines are brought in and it takes away from how the story started off. Anyway, that’s what killed it for me. Too many other things going on. It made it a little confusing to follow at times. At least for the audio version it did anyway.
About the story itself, it’s about a single mother of two, who could use some help financially. Her kids tell her about a game from this well known influencer, of hide and seek. Where there are contestants who will try to survive the ultimate game of hide and seek, and then if they do, there is a million dollar prize. But a storm is looming once the game starts, and the contestants are in trouble from the storm and a number of other things too. I don’t want to say too much about it. But how cool does that sound right!? I thought it sounded like it would be like Survivor meets The Hunger Games and that it was going to be such a cool book, but for me, that just wasn’t the case. It was just okay for me. It had so much potential, but then just got too crazy for me. I wish it stayed with one POV and no side stories. I think I would’ve liked it better. This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me! But if this sounds interesting to you, don’t let me keep you from it. Maybe you will like it better than I did. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have you read or listened to this one yet? What were your thoughts?

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequin_audio for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: February 25, 2025

The premise was intriguing - an extreme game of hide & seek in a remote island for a cash prize. The contestants when their own reasons for participating. Add in a tropical storm and social media storm and everyone is fighting to survive.

It was a quick read but left me wanting more especially with the ending (which was easy to figure out). I liked this book it’s not my favorite by Lisa Unger. Vivienne Leheny did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge reality TV fan so the premise of this one really appealed to me.

A game of hide and seek on a remote island with a huge cash prize put on by Mav Dillan is bound to attract some influencers.

Adele is a single mother struggling to give her kids the best life she can. Their father was accused of some white collar crimes and fled, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She's added influencing as a new part time career and, with encouragement of her gamer son Blake, she decides to enter this game and try to win the million dollar prize.

She arrives at Falcao Island and immediately feels the tension. The locals warn the team putting on the show and the contestants about the island's curse and give them the option to leave. They stay. Mav has some accusations against him from prior competitions. When people start to vanish, it becomes more about survival then winning the big prize money.

I loved Adele and her spunk. The action really picked up in the second half of the book. The audio narration by Vivienne Leheny really portrays the tension felt on the island. Very enjoyable remote location, reality tv inspired read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an ALC and HTP/Park Row for an eARC.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten
Author: Lisa Unger

ARC review! Thank you Netgalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishng for this ARC! As with all of Lisa Ungers books I have read, I really enjoyed this one. I was in the mood for a thriller read, and this releases next Tuesday 2/25 so it was the perfect time to start! A mother named Adele, that’s also a social media influencer, decides to join a deadly game of hide and seek on a private island. The game is broadcast live, and she thinks it’s the perfect way to gain followers for her social media. Maverick is the mastermind behind the games. Also, there was a missing girl from a previous game that is presumed to be dead. Adele’s husband has also been MIA leaving her alone with her two kids to raise by herself. What the heck is going on? Lots of random twists and turns, and multiple character POVs. Will we solve the mystery of the missing girl, Adele’s husband, and Mavericks messed up ways? Will more people turn up dead this game? Should the games be shut down? If this sounds interesting to you pick up this read. Lisa Unger is a great thriller author and I’m so grateful for the copy!

This book was an action-packed, thought-provoking thrill ride! The alternating POVs, while potentially tricky in other books, were handled beautifully here. Each character was distinct and well-developed, with enough backstory to make their motivations and struggles feel compelling.

The plot revolves around “Extreme,” an online streaming platform run by Maverick, a former extreme sports star turned influencer. His latest contest, “Extreme Hide and Seek,” takes place on a storm-ravaged island, where contestants hide in an abandoned hotel for a $1 million prize. The sinister twist? A contestant from the previous season is still missing, adding a chilling undertone to the game.

Adele, a mother of two, stood out as a deeply relatable character. After her husband’s embezzlement scandal left her penniless and ostracized, Adele’s determination to win for her children brought real emotional stakes to the story. Her resilience and drive made her a character worth rooting for.

What impressed me most was the book’s commentary on social media and influencer culture. It explores not just the toxicity but also the deeper reasons people are drawn to this world, questioning whether the real problem lies with influencers or the audiences that fuel them.

The ending tied everything together perfectly, with a glimpse into the characters’ lives post-contest. I loved Mav and Angeline’s arcs and am still curious about the mystery surrounding Alex—please message me if you’ve read it so we can discuss!

Fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with twists, this book balances gripping action with meaningful commentary. It’s a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers and social insight. Absolutely loved it!