Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

“Never let the things you want make you forget about the things you have”

If you enjoyed The Menu (minus all the unaliving), this is a book for you!!!

Jane and Dan had been married for 19 years. They went to one of the fanciest restaurants to celebrate their anniversary. What Dan didn’t expect was Jane bringing up divorce during dinner. To make things worse, their dinner was interrupted by a group of activist basically putting everyone in the restaurant in a hostage situation. And because things aren’t weird enough, Jane feels like she is living the plot of her published book (literally) as the night continues to progress and she notices that their kidnappers are following the storyline of her popular mystery book.

This is honestly a must read for those feeling like they’re in a midlife crisis and the sentiment was handled effectively but also with a side of humor so it wasnt a heavy read.

This is also a marriage in crisis trope and I find myself listening more to the audiobook because it just brings up Jane’s POV to life.

It was also very nice to know that there’s such thing as a climate change anxiety support group 😅 The book has such an overall comic relief that you dont even notice it to be slightly political. Also, I cant believe that there are people who could afford spending millions of money for a desset 😂

Overall, I really did enjoy this one! It has humor, heart, twists, and a very interesting plot!! This book comes out March 11th! Highly recommend!

💭 Are you a foodie? Do you like trying out restaurants?
☕️ I do but dining out is expensive nowadays, I’m really avoiding eating out a lot 😂

This book was so fun and fast-paced, it gripped me immediately and had to keep reading to find out what happened!

If you enjoy the movies Big Trouble and Date Night, you will enjoy this comedy about a couple on the brink of divorce surviving a terrorist attack on the restaurant they are dining at. And - plot twist - the events of the evening happen to follow the plot of the book the main female character wrote.

I thought this book - along with the action - really highlighted the experience of being married, having kids, and having to reimagine who you are without them. The running jokes and references throughout this book were entertaining and ending of the book was wrapped up so perfectly - it was such a satisfying ending.

This is a perfect book for when you need something that will entertain you, hold your attention, and also give you moments to self reflect.

I’d love to hear this book in audio format (and also it would be a hilarious movie).

Note: There was a reference to Harry Potter that wasn’t necessary to the plot. I would recommend removing in solidarity for our trans community.

I am a fan of the author, but this one wasn't for me. It was part quirky and part emotionally resonant and part thriller and not enough of something for me to latch onto. Reading it made me feel a little anxious.

This novel was bizarre, but in an excellent way! I've read several of Oakley's books, and this one feels very different from previous stories. Again, not a bad thing. The premise is so unique and imaginative! I can't imagine the amount of research the author had to do for this book. The humor woven throughout the incredibly tense situations was perfect. I was impressed with the character development, given that the majority of the book took place in one room and situation. This is not just another chick lit love story - this one has drama and loads of surprises. Will definitely recommend it!

Jane and Dan go out for their anniversary. Jane and Dan choose a very posh restaurant. Jane surprises Dan by announcing she wants a divorce. Then eco-terrorists appear and their actions mysteriously follow the plot of Jane's failed book. Jane and Dan are screwed.

I want to start by saying, this book is not speculative. I went in thinking it would be which was my own mistake. This is really a book about middle marriage and parenting that just happens to be set during a hostage situation to raise the stakes. There were some funny moments and the relationship between Jane and Dan as well as their musings on marriage felt very relatable. However, I never felt invested in their outcome and the story felt like it was spinning its wheels at multiple points. I was never drawn back to reading the book when I put it down.

Fans of other character driven, messy mid-life books, like The Amazing Grace Adams, might enjoy this one but it was just okay for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reader copy. Jane and Dan at the End of the World releases March 11, 2025.

The marriage was the heart of the story, as while you Jane was frustrated with Dan, you could tell through the adversity that she really loved him. There was a lot of humor in the story, especially for married couples and those that understand the frustrations of marriage. Parts were slow for me.

This book is SO. GOOD. It’s my first book by Oakley, but definitely not my last. It explores real life issues in long term marriages, it’s about not only surviving, but thriving, and is about being grateful. It’s truly a fantastic book.

Jane is a failed author whose only book sold fewer than 500 copies. But tonight she’s dining with her husband Dan at La Fin du Monde, one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world.

He thinks they are celebrating their 20th anniversary. She plans to ask him for a divorce on their 19th anniversary. Before they finish the second course, they are part of hostage situation, one that is suspiciously similar to Jane’s failed book.

This book has a lot of surprise twists and to be honest some of them seem too unlikely to be real, but that’s part of what makes this crazy story so much fun. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free copy of this book and access to the ARC #berkley #berkleypartner

This book had me smiling and laughing aloud at the main characters, Jane and Dan, who are navigating being parents to teenagers and a 19-year marriage. At their anniversary dinner things go array and the couple find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation. When events start to unfold, Jane begins to realize that the activists are using her failed novel as their playbook! Jane and Dan proceed to try to stop the ending of Jane’s fictional book from becoming a reality which results in some outlandish and funny situations throughout!

This book started off really strong, dragged just a little bit in the middle and then was full steam ahead at the end! It was just what I needed after an exhausting week and was a delight to read!

A married couple find themselves in a hostage situation during their anniversary dinner that strangely mirrors the plot of the wife’s failed novel in this hilarious quick read. I could totally picture this as a movie with like Steve Carrell and Jennifer Aniston or something. Loved it!

Colleen Oakley is back with another phenomenal story. This one in particular is witty, entertaining, hilarious, and also filled with life-affirming moments. It really just felt like a riot of a book, one that will make you snort laugh your way through. It was also highly emotional! I loved how vulnerable and sentimental it was about family, relationships, and everything in between. Jane and Dan felt like real people to me; their worries, concerns, and doubts all hit me really hard and I empathized with them the whole way through. It made the story that much more engrossing and personal for me. I think this has the perfect level of emotion and humor, and Colleen Oakely’s writing style kept me hooked the whole way through. Absolutely LOVED! Start reading the first page, and I swear you’ll have the time of your life!!

Nope, not for me. Way too cutsey. I should’ve known. It’s a case of “It’s not you it’s me”, this book is just not my normal genre and I should’ve known better

What’s meant to be a celebratory dinner at an absurdly expensive and exclusive restaurant shockingly turns into a hostage situation

It’s the 19th, or maybe 20th, year of Jane and Dan’s marriage. They’ve had a nice, if dull, life. Two kids, his career as a podiatrist, her writing career stalled after her only book flops.

They’ve won a reservation at La Fin du Monde, but while Dan is celebrating their anniversary he doesn’t realize Jane is considering it a last night out pre divorce.

The meal is barely underway before the restaurant is stormed and taken over by activists. Their identities and intentions are unclear, but the primary objective seems to be stealing a fortune from fellow diner Otto St Claire
He might not be *quite* the worst tech CEO, but he is solidly in second place

Most strangely, the crew seems to be following the plot of Jane’s novel. If they continue that way, things are not looking good for any of the staff or diners.

Things get a little wild as a maze of motives and connections are revealed - it’s all very messy and convoluted but in an entertaining way
As long as you can keep yourself from getting too caught up in “What are the chances of *insert each new reveal here*??” you’ll have a blast! Just kind of a suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride

There’s the peril of the hostage situation, social commentary, and relationship drama, but there’s also a good deal of humor in between which helps balance the story from being too heavy

The ending wraps up cleanly - possibly a bit too easily? - but I liked the epilogue settling how everything landed in the end

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

They wanted a nice anniversary dinner at the fanciest and most expensive restaurant around. She had just dropped a bomb on her husband when all hell breaks loose around them. The disturbance is a siege of the restaurant at the top of the world because they are trying to get to someone and he was supposed to be eating there but he hasn't yet arrived.. Now what.?
While there were lots of serious and funny moments, I really wish that we would have been given a whole back story on the couple and their kids . Plus while some of the people in the group that took over the restaurant were known by the diners we didn't know much about them.
I did enjoy the epilogue telling us what happened in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was such an interesting concept for a book! I devoured Oakley's last book and couldn't wait to start this one! Jane and Dan are your typical couple that has been married for ages and stuck in a rut. My biggest issue with them was communication. It absolutely drove me bonkers that they wouldn't just communicate with each other. At first I thought the whole "restaurant takeover" was too much but I slowly grew to really like it. It definitely had it's laugh out loud moments. I think this is a book that you really have to suspend reality in order to read it because it is just so bizarre. Overall, this was a solid read with a great comedic punch.

Sooo fun! 3.5 stars rounded to 4. I loved this premise and the fact that it was a comedy at heart, despite the grim events!

I really liked Jane’s character and thought she was so funny. I’m just so glad for her that at least one person read her book haha!

I do think it got a little long in the middle (I think the whole part where they’re in the van could have been removed) but the pace was quick and snappy.

My first book by this author and I’m a fan!

Figure the odds you win reservations at the fanciest restaurant around and it's taken over by ecoterrorists. Even less likely, one of the terrorists is none other than your daughter and another is one of a handful of people who has read, and loved, your novel.

From the beginning Jane feels deja vu over the way the events take place. It's all a little too close to the plot of her failed book. Dan thinks she's being a bit egotistical. As the events of the evening unfold Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce, a diner is shot though they weren't supposed to have real ammunition, Dan sets the record straight, and inept police escalate the situation. The billionaire the terrorists are after doesn't show up until well after the terrorists were supposed to be gone. Dan, a proctologist, is called upon to provide medical help to the injured chef. He also faces the fact that he's not the hero type. Until he actually is. Who knew!?!

I found the story entertaining and very imaginative. There was a ton of action, lots of emotions and people facing their own character traits and flaws. It all wraps up in a satisfying way.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story follows married couple Jane and Dan, who are going to celebrate their 19th anniversary. Jane, who is tired of the monotonous life of raising her kids and having an unsuccessful writing career, feels like she doesn't think they will make it to their 20th and wants to get a divorce. She plans on telling Dan at their anniversary dinner, which Dan had won a certificate to a super fancy, exclusive, isolated restaurant: La Fin Du Monde. As they are at dinner, Jane drops the bomb on Dan that she thinks they should get divorced. Dan is in total shock and refuses, but Jane refutes him stating that she knows he is cheating on her. Unfortunately before they can discuss what is going on, in storms climate activists taking the entire restaurant hostage. As the events unfurl, Jane begins to feel dejavu as the things that are said or being done seem like scenes from the one book she has published, which was not a popular book. Of course when she tries to tell Dan that she thinks they are taking all of this from her novel, he dismisses her and says some pretty hurtful things. As the couple goes through this hostage situation, both partners start realizing how much they care for one another.

The book was alright for me, it was funny at times, but underwhelming. I liked how the author discussed the struggles of being in a long term relationship and having a feeling like you haven't achieved much in life, dreams getting waylaid. Even at the beginning the hostage stuff was interesting and captivating, but deeper into the plot things got very muddled and some of the situations were so batshit insane. It is definitely an easy read though.

I loved this one! Read it in practically one sitting, I was so caught up with the characters and the story, I could not stop. Jane and Dan are relatable and fully fleshed out characters, the plot is quirky and exciting, the stakes are real, and the pacing is flawless. No notes, just go order it already.

Jane and Dan have been married for 19 years and Jane wants a divorce. Which she tells Dan just before the first course at their anniversary dinner at an uber-chic uber-pricey restaurant, just before the restaurant is taken over by climate activists who take the diners hostage following a plot that turns out to be suspiciously similar to Jane's novel, read by nearly no one (or so she thought). This book is funny, tender, and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4.5 stars

Thank you to the publishers and author for providing an ARC thru NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.