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3.11 AVERAGE
3.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
I finished it, but the whole thing felt oddly low stakes for a story that revolves around a company called Extreme and a couple of missing people.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is Mav Mr. Beast?
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I was so excited for Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger — the idea of an extreme hide-and-seek game on a remote island sounded like the perfect recipe for a tense, high-stakes thriller. The story definitely kicks off strong, pulling you into the setup right away.
But as the book went on, the momentum started to slip. There were so many plot threads — corporate scandals, influencer drama, island lore — that it started to feel like the story didn’t know exactly which direction it wanted to go. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way — a lot of other readers also mentioned that the middle got a little crowded and muddled.
I kept wanting more of Adele’s personal journey and the hide-and-seek game itself, but the focus often shifted toward Maverick and his enterprise. While Adele’s motivation to get back to her kids gave the story heart, it sometimes got lost under all the other chaos happening around her. The constant shifts in perspective didn’t help either — it made the pacing feel jumpy, and I found myself wishing for a little more breathing room between all the characters’ stories.
The setting — a crumbling resort in the middle of a storm — had so much potential, but it stayed mostly surface-level. I would have loved to feel more of the creeping dread of being trapped there during the game.
In the end, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 has a compelling concept and some sharp commentary about social media and fame, but it tries to do a little too much at once. It’s a fast read and an interesting one, especially if you like messy, high-concept thrillers — but for me, the heart of the story got a little lost along the way.
Rating: 3.75 stars
But as the book went on, the momentum started to slip. There were so many plot threads — corporate scandals, influencer drama, island lore — that it started to feel like the story didn’t know exactly which direction it wanted to go. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way — a lot of other readers also mentioned that the middle got a little crowded and muddled.
I kept wanting more of Adele’s personal journey and the hide-and-seek game itself, but the focus often shifted toward Maverick and his enterprise. While Adele’s motivation to get back to her kids gave the story heart, it sometimes got lost under all the other chaos happening around her. The constant shifts in perspective didn’t help either — it made the pacing feel jumpy, and I found myself wishing for a little more breathing room between all the characters’ stories.
The setting — a crumbling resort in the middle of a storm — had so much potential, but it stayed mostly surface-level. I would have loved to feel more of the creeping dread of being trapped there during the game.
In the end, Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 has a compelling concept and some sharp commentary about social media and fame, but it tries to do a little too much at once. It’s a fast read and an interesting one, especially if you like messy, high-concept thrillers — but for me, the heart of the story got a little lost along the way.
Rating: 3.75 stars
I just couldn’t get into it. People were waiting for the digital copy and one of my holds came available.
The one thing I admire about Lisa Unger is that nearly every book of hers is a completely different style, but unfortunately the last 2 just haven't been very good. Honestly, this one is just a much less interesting version of Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes