What would you do if your entire world crumbled around you?
Adele never expected her husband to vanish without a word. Only after he disappeared did she learn the truth. He’d been embezzling from his company and was now a fugitive, leaving Adele behind with two kids, no money, and a mountain of questions. With Violet and Blake depending on her, Adele did what any mother would—she kept going. She began posting about her life online, sharing fitness tips, budget-friendly recipes, and her experiences as a single mother. Slowly, she built a following. It wasn’t enough to pay the bills yet, but with a bit of luck, maybe it could be.
That’s how she ends up on Falco Island, one of several influencers invited to compete in a high-stakes game of hide and seek hosted by Maverick Dillan, a social media mogul known for his flashy contests, huge payouts, and questionable ethics. The prize money could change everything for Adele and her kids, but she’s unaware of the dark rumors swirling around Maverick’s last event, the one where a contestant vanished without a trace. What begins as a quirky competition for fame and fortune quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. And as Adele soon learns, not everyone came to the island to play fair.
I first encountered Lisa Unger’s writing through her holiday-themed novella Christmas Presents, a story that showcased her knack for clever plots, affable characters, and tantalizing twists. With Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, Unger cranks that formula up to eleven. Adele is the emotional anchor of the story, but Unger enriches the narrative by alternating perspectives—jumping between Adele, her two children, Maverick, and his business partner and lover. The result is a propulsive, layered thriller where we see motivations and revelations unfold in real time, often before the characters themselves do.
Though I spotted a few twists ahead of time, Unger still surprised me with the direction she took things. The thrills come fast, but they’re grounded in emotional nuance—especially around themes of parenthood, identity, and navigating a life shaped by social media. It’s a summer read that packs a punch. Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is entertaining, fast-paced, and full of unexpected heart. It's a rollicking good time.
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(2025, 58)
