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With Love, Cindy

Letters from a soft and slow life by the sea

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Audiobook Review: Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger 🎧🔍

February 27, 2025

Close Your eyes and count to 10

🌀 Multiple POVs. Twisting secrets. A slow burn that creeps under your skin. Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is a thriller that doesn’t just tell a story—it unravels one, piece by piece. Lisa Unger delivers a layered, psychological mystery where different perspectives pull you in, making you question who to trust and what’s real.

That said, while the multiple POVs kept me hooked, some storylines felt unfinished—maybe intentionally. There were moments where I wanted more closure, but perhaps that’s part of the unease Unger wanted to leave behind. Either way, it left me thinking about the book long after I finished.


A Story That Shifts With Every POV 🖤📖

This isn’t a straightforward thriller—it’s a puzzle. Through different points of view, the narrative builds suspense organically, revealing just enough to keep you hooked but never quite giving away the full picture.

Each character’s perspective adds another layer of doubt, intrigue, or revelation. One chapter has you convinced you know what’s happening—then the next flips everything on its head. It’s the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning pages (or, in this case, listening well past bedtime).

At the heart of it all is a dark mystery that connects past and present in unexpected ways. However, some threads feel deliberately left hanging, which may frustrate readers looking for tight resolutions.


The Audiobook Narration: A Perfect Match for the Twists 🎙️✨

Some books feel made for audio, and this is one of them. Vivienne Leheny’s narration doesn’t just read the story—she performs it.

🎭 Each POV feels distinct – She gives each character a unique voice, making it easy to follow the shifting perspectives.
🎙️ Suspenseful pacing – The slow reveals and eerie undertones feel even sharper in audio format.
🔥 Tension that lingers – Her delivery makes the unsettling moments stick with you.

Because of the way this story is told, the audiobook experience feels even more immersive than reading it in print. If you love thrillers that play with perception and reality, this is the format to choose.


What I Loved (and What Had Me Questioning Everything) 🤯📚

✔️ The multiple POVs – Each voice added depth and layers to the mystery.
✔️ Unpredictable twists – Just when I thought I had it figured out… nope.
✔️ A slow-burn tension – The story builds in a way that keeps you uneasy but completely hooked.
✔️ Dark, atmospheric storytelling – Lisa Unger knows how to set a mood.
✔️ The audiobook narration – Vivienne Leheny owned this performance.

❌ Some storylines felt unfinished – Maybe intentional, but I wanted more closure.
❌ A bit slow in places – Some sections dragged, though the payoff was solid.
❌ Unreliable narrator vibes – A love-it-or-hate-it element. I enjoyed it, but some might find it frustrating.


Final Rating: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📖 Reading the book? Great choice for those who love layered, psychological mysteries.
🎧 Listening to the audiobook? Even better.

If you love:
✔️ Multiple POV thrillers
✔️ Dark secrets unraveling piece by piece
✔️ Tension that builds until you’re on edge
✔️ Audiobooks that make the story feel alive

… then Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is one you don’t want to miss.

📚 Final Verdict: A slow-burning, multi-layered thriller that shines in audio—just be prepared for some loose ends.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

*Don’t forget to check out my other book reviews!


Have you read (or listened to) this one? Let’s talk theories in the comments!

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February Notes

Close Your eyes and count to 10

Audiobook Review: Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 by Lisa Unger 🎧🔍

✨ This is your sign, bestie! ✨⁣
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If you’re craving more cozy vibes, crafty moments, and a little more joy in your life — you NEED to be part of the Soft & Slow Craft Club.⁣
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Every week, I’m dropping a little love note in your inbox with ways to slow down, get creative, and make life way more fun. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s do this.⁣
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💛 Join the club — your seat is waiting!⁣
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[Link in bio!]
March roundup - a little photo buffet. A lot of cr March roundup - a little photo buffet. A lot of creativity, gardening, cozy comforts and time with friends. 🪴 🎨 🌊 ❤️
Fast forward… and now we’re here. Not hustling Fast forward… and now we’re here.
Not hustling. Not performing.
Just living a life that feels soft, slow, and mine.

Books I actually read.
Crafts that bring me joy.
Beach walks. Messy mornings.
Laughter. Quiet. Time that stretches.
It’s not perfect — but it’s real.

I’m not here to teach you how to do it.
Just holding the door open,
in case you need a reminder that it’s possible.

A little softer. A little slower.
A little more like you.

If you’re craving that too —
The Soft & Slow Club is your place.
When you sign up, and you’ll get weekly love notes from me (books, crafts, small joys, all of it).

Come get comfy — the link’s in my bio.
POV: You started living for the little moments — POV: You started living for the little moments — and they made life feel big again.⁣
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Because it’s not always about doing more.⁣
Sometimes it’s about noticing what’s already here.⁣
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The sound of laughter from the other room.⁣
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The way your hands move when you’re ⁣
creating something just for fun.⁣
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That feeling of peace when you stop rushing and let the moment stretch out a little longer.⁣
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These aren’t just filler moments — they’re the ones that make up a life.⁣
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The good stuff isn’t always loud or flashy.⁣
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Sometimes it’s soft, quiet, and tucked into the corners of your day.⁣
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Maybe it’s about noticing the daily glimmers, the little luxuries, the small sparks of joy that light us up — and letting those be enough.⁣
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How lucky am I?⁣ 🍀 (blessed, really) ⁣ Luck How lucky am I?⁣ 🍀 (blessed, really)
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Lucky to make memories with the people I love.⁣
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Lucky that my kid still thinks I’m cool (I’m holding onto that like gold).⁣
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Lucky for morning coffee and the quiet ritual of starting fresh.⁣
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That little sigh when the day begins and it’s just… mine for a moment.⁣
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Lucky for walks in the sunshine, digging my hands in the dirt, and remembering what it feels like to be grounded.⁣
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Lucky to make time for joy — to create, to play, to chase what makes me feel alive, instead of waiting for some mythical “later.”⁣
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Lucky to live a life that’s not perfect, but mine — full of softness, effort, hope, and meaning.⁣
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The ones who add that little razzle dazzle, that sparkle, that oh yeah, this is what it’s all about.⁣
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If you’re in a season of noticing the good stuff — even in the middle of the mess — I see you.⁣
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We’re lucky to feel it. To live it.⁣
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What’s something you’re lucky for lately?
What even *is* this magical life?✨ ⁣ ⁣ Hones What even *is* this magical life?✨ ⁣
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Honestly? Last week dragged harder than my feet on a Monday morning… but somehow, it was still full of those sparkly little moments that make life feel *weirdly* magical.⁣
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Board games? Always a yes—especially when I win (which I did, obviously). ⁣
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Turning travel days into treat-yourself adventures? Say less. ⁣
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Sunshine and digging around in the garden? Literal heaven. ⁣
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And don’t even get me started on that blood moon under a sky full of stars—main character energy.⁣
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Somehow, even in the chaos, there’s still space to dream, play, and romanticize the little things.⁣
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Because let’s be real—a magical life isn’t always a big moment... sometimes it’s just snacks, stargazing, and pretending your errands are a rom-com montage.⁣
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