Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, is a new thriller coming out at the end of this month by Lisa Unger. Several influencers are invited to take play an extreme version of hide and seek where the prize is one million dollars. With so many large personalities, and a scandal from a prior game looming, can you really trust anyone when it comes to money? The game occurs on an island at an abandoned (creepy) resort, you can’t help but just feel something is not right. This is told through multiple povs, and we get to know these characters pretty well. I did find myself rooting for some more than others, and wanted more to happen to certain ones. The suspense was pretty good and this game quickly turned into one of survival. I thought this was pretty enjoyable but had a few pacing issues towards the end. I hoped this would go a couple different ways but ultimately had a predictable ending. I read this and listened to the audio version, that was narrated by Vivienne Leheny, and she did an amazing job! Vivienne brought these characters, their eagerness and worries to life. Lisa knows how to keep things in suspense and this kept me entertained from start to finish. This would be enjoyable for fans of survival thrillers and the not so glamorous side of reality tv.

Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row Books, HTP for providing me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There is a lot going on in this book with twisty plot points seemingly unconnected. It was a little hard to keep everything straight with so much switching between timelines and characters. Overall, this was an interesting premise of a mystery with most ends tied up in the end.

Thank you, Lisa Unger, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this audiobook! The sound quality was excellent. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did a great job bringing the characters to life.

**What worked well:**
- A tense, high-stakes premise
- An eerie, storm-ravaged island setting
- A mix of survival thriller and corporate intrigue

Lisa Unger sets up an enticing locked-room mystery with a social media-driven game of hide-and-seek gone horribly wrong. The isolated island, dangerous weather, and shifting alliances create a solid foundation for suspense. The concept feels fresh, blending elements of virtual challenges with real-world danger, and there’s a strong sense of unease as the stakes become deadly.

However, the execution doesn’t fully deliver on the setup. The pacing is uneven, slowing down when the tension should be mounting, and racing through moments that could have had a stronger impact. Character development, particularly for Adele, feels surface-level, making it harder to connect with her struggle. Instead of the classic one-by-one elimination I expected, much of the story revolves around the behind-the-scenes operators of the game, which shifts the focus away from the players’ fight for survival.

While the writing is immersive and the atmosphere is well-crafted, the climax lacks the payoff needed to make this a standout thriller.. It's a solid read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers, but not quite as gripping as it could have been. -- the audio book narration was excellent.

A single parent and inspo to many via socials, Adele is keeping it together. Barely. High-stakes games in exchange for a million dollars feels like a no-brainer! 🙈

What I loved:
🔍 who dunnit
👯‍♀️ contestant comraderie
🎮 interwoven virtual elements

This is a multifaceted story: past betrayals made fresh, parallel crime timelines, romantic entanglements, and life-and-death conditions in a forboding setting. Fans of Riley Sager, and Gillian McAllister will want to check this out!📖

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 really curious about the online coverage of the island, almost like a survey, and I was eager to see what would unfold. However, it wasn't quite what I expected. The experience was fast, which could’ve been a good thing, but it lacked the depth and clarity I had hoped for.

Though it didn’t take up much time, there was a fair amount of confusion along the way. The information seemed disorganized, and I found myself having to piece things together. I was really hoping for something more reliable and straightforward, something I could easily follow and trust.

In the end, while the process was quick, the lack of reliability and clarity left me a bit disappointed. It wasn’t the experience I was hoping for, but at least it didn’t drag on.

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars (Meh)
Setting: Falcao Island (An isolated, dark, and tense island where the game takes place)
Genre: Psychological Thriller

Lisa Unger’s latest book, Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, sets up an intriguing concept—an extreme game of hide-and-seek that morphs into a deadly fight for survival. The stormy island setting and the mystery surrounding Maverick Dillan’s twisted competition create a suspenseful atmosphere, and the book initially teases high stakes and pulse-pounding tension.

Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the premise. The characters, particularly Adele, have potential, but their development feels shallow, making it hard to fully connect with their struggles. The pacing is uneven, dragging in places where tension should be building and then rushing through critical moments. The plot twists are predictable, and instead of delivering shocking revelations, they often feel formulaic or forced.

The biggest letdown is the climax, which lacks the payoff the story promises. The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving too many loose ends and not enough emotional impact. While Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten has flashes of excitement, it ultimately falls flat, making it a frustrating read for those expecting a truly gripping survival thriller. #netgalley

Lisa Unger’s Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is an engaging, atmospheric thriller that blends social media spectacle with high-stakes survival. The premise—a high-profile hide-and-seek competition on a remote island—immediately draws you in, but the tension truly ignites when the game takes a sinister turn. As a storm rages and contestants begin disappearing, what was meant to be a viral stunt transforms into a desperate fight for survival.

Adele, a single mother determined to make it back to her children, is a compelling protagonist. Unger expertly layers her character with grit, vulnerability, and an unwavering instinct to survive. As she navigates the treacherous island and the shifting dynamics among the contestants, the suspense steadily builds.

Unger’s writing style is as immersive as ever, weaving psychological depth into a fast-paced plot. The story keeps you guessing, with unexpected twists and shifting alliances adding to the tension. While some moments stretch believability and a few secondary characters could have been more developed, the overall experience is gripping.

A solid four-star read, this thriller delivers suspense, strong character work, and a cleverly executed premise. Fans of Unger’s work will find plenty to enjoy.

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.

The audiobook is narrated by Vivienne Leheny. Such an easy audiobook to listen to and follow even with all the various characters. I found the story really captivating.

A game of hide-and-seek where you can win $1 million? Say less, I was hooked! This read was an absolute blast, filled with adrenaline-pumping twists and turns. Not only do you have the wild game of hide-and-seek, but there's also a video game challenge thrown into the mix with Adele's son—talk about a chaotic thrill ride!

While the plot was packed with excitement, I did feel like we were left hanging on some details. Nonetheless, it was superbly written and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're up for a rollercoaster of a story, this one’s definitely worth the ride! I really enjoyed the narrator!

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio review: The audio is a fine way to take in the story. No complaints. I will say a full cast narration would have been cool but this book is so darn good it's not needed!

Review: This book has already went on my favorites list for 2025 and will be in my top books of the year. That being said, I'm not sure if this book will be well received across the board. It just happened to check every box for me. I think it's important to know this story isn't really about a hide n seek on an island (that doesn't happen until the last third of the book). This is the story of a failing company, a cold case murder, family drama, island protections, and just comprised with morally grey characters.

This story goes back and forth in time and place. I am not going to rehash the synopsis, hopefully you've read that before reviews. If not go read the book then come back. I'm just going to make a list of things I loved about this book because I'm not sure how else to do it.

In no particular order:
1) a single Mom fighting for children
2) teenagers back home using technology and live streaming to follow their Mom's time on the island
3) a creepy island with dedicated natives who protect and honor the land
4) morally grey characters with their villain origin stories included
5) lying, cheating, murder
6) social media and influence culture is heavily used
7) extreme sports and an interesting, new premise used within the island trope
8) mixed media, multiple POV, multiple timeline to keep the story moving at an interesting and exciting pace
9) a virtual reality game used by teenagers back home who are being bullied and live another life within it
10) book contains so much more than the premise
11) true crime podcast episodes
12) dangerous weather... cuz duh

This book was just such a hit for me. I can't wait to read it again. There is so much going on, but not too much were you feel like it's filled with things that aren't relevant. Everything feels like it's placed with a purpose and packs a punch. I hope that you will give this book a try! Gosh I loved it so much. I can't wait to read it again, even knowing the ending.

Fight for survival ensues during a supposed to be tv show. Full of twists and turns on a very creepy island. I will recommend. But all and all kind of a forgettable read.

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.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I love mystery/thriller audiobooks because I feel like I get more immersed in the story if the narration is done well. I did enjoy it here. Vivienne Leheny did a great job, particularly with different accents for various characters. With how many different POVs were featured across individual chapters, I do wish there had been at least one additional narrator to help differentiate between them a bit better. If I happened to miss a chapter intro it would take me a bit to catch the context clues needed to figure out which POV I was in.

As for the story, the premise of extreme hide and seek was so intriguing to me. The location and atmosphere with a literal storm brewing as the metaphorical storm amped up was a perfect setting for the game. I wanted more of the actual game though. There were a lot of side/backstories and histories that ended up creating most of the plot. They were all interesting and I was never bored with them, but I was looking forward to some intensity surrounding the main event that never really got to play out. The way the story was told was very well done though and even for the reveals that didn’t surprise me, the lead up and execution were wonderfully crafted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

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

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 Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 2/25/25.

Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger
.
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.
.
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.
.
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!

The narrator did a great job with a huge cast of characters.

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. Audio was a great
way to consume this one, and I enjoyed the narrator.

A newly single mom joins an extreme game of hide and seek in a dilapidated hotel on an island in the middle of nowhere. The prize is 1 million dollars, money this mom desperately needs after her husband has absconded with most of the money from the offices of the town's major employer. The company running the contest is shady, at best, and conditions at the hotel are extremely dangerous. This is a thrill a minute, propulsive, impossible to put down book