This is my first and will not be my last book by Colleen Oakley. I’m not usually a fan of divorce stories, but this was very unique and I loved it. Middle marriage is not easy and Oakley brought to light many familiar feelings but in a way that made them easy to process through. The humor definitely helped with that. The family dynamics were another part I was particularly interested in as my kids are in similar stages.

This was my first time reading a Colleen Oakley book and it was kind of a miss for me. It wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it’s not for you. I put it down several times because it just wasn’t holding my attention. The premise of the book sounded very intriguing and funny, but once reading it, it just felt long?

Jane and Dan are out to dinner for the 19th (or 20th?) anniversary at a very boujee restaurant. Before their food is even served Jane asks for a divorce, as she believes Dan is cheating on her. While still in shock after receiving their first course a group of people come into the restaurant and take it hostage, only something about the way things are going is too familiar to Jane. She wrote a book years ago and this is playing out just like her book.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Colleen Oakley for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve read and enjoyed Colleen Oakley’s books in the past, so I was looking forward to this one. However, it missed the mark for me.

Sure, it was entertaining at times, but I found the entire plot to just be wildly far fetched that I couldn’t really like the characters because it was just all so over the top.

It was like one of those really badly acted Netflix movies that you watch just for entertainment because you know going in it will have zero substance.

A heartwarming and life affirming book that made me smile and laugh. Well plotted, entertaining, cute
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I gave Jane and Dan at the End of the World 3.75 stars / 5.
I found the book to be a delightful insight to marriage, motherhood, and just the general disappointment of getting older and feeling unaccomplished in life. Jane’s internal monologue felt very real, and her dynamic with Dan made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions (because of course her husband doesn’t know what a pressure cooker looks like or how to leave the toilet lid up).
I found the plot unique and JUST detailed enough. I was pleasantly surprised by the little twist at the end!

I think this will be a perfect beach read this summer!

This was fun. I burned through it and finished it in 24 hours. It was very meta - an author who has to live out the plot of her novel. It was light, funny, but also has the stakes of a thriller with the hostage situation as the main plot. It definitely hooked me from the first chapter.

The plot also bounced around a lot (in a good way), which kept me engaged. Even though it’s set over the course of just a few hours, I didn’t get bored. This book was made to become a movie. It has all the energy of a big action film with an ensemble of comedic actors.

Overall, would absolutely recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy. It’s out March 11. Opinions are my own

Jane and Dan have been married for 19 years and plan to celebrate with dinner at the fanciest restaurant on the west coast. Jane is bored with her mediocre life and also plans on asking Dan for a divorce during this dinner. Wild right? Well, one course in and the restaurant is taken hostage by a group of armed masked men. Wilder right? This book only gets crazier from there. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. This has to be one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read and I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. This would be a perfect pick for a book club read.
Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary ARC. I loved it so much that I ordered a hardcopy for my collection.

I LOVE Colleen's books! Frick was one of my faves, taking it back a handful of years. Starting with the novel before this one, her style has become more "quirky" and I'm not so sure I'm that same audience as her earlier works. I prefered her last over this one.

The concept sounded great! I love books about books! The execution fell flat for me. The beginning humor was entertaining and felt relatable -- a mom and wife at the stage of, "what do I do now that my daughter is grown and flown?" But from the moment she and Dan entered the restaurant, I completely lost all interest. The situation that unfolded was completely abrupt and over-the-top for one thing -- but then when I wanted something big to happen, the reason behind being kept hostage was so out of left field that my eyes rolled. (I get that the plot followed the book that Jane wrote -- but it was too benign.) And then the ending was completely unbelievable.

I don't know...I actually feel sad about feeling this way. That's how much I enjoy her books! It genuinely bums me out! :(

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an eArc
.

Thank you @BerkleyPub for my free book and thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted listening copy of Jane and Dan at the End of the World! #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #berkleypub #JaneandDanattheEndoftheWorld #colleenoakley

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐚𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

I have not laughed out loud while reading a book like I laughed out loud while reading this one in a VERY long time. This book was nothing what I expected to be in the BEST possible way, and I loved it! This book is about marriage and parenting and a date night gone wrong. But it’s so much more than that. It is full of the BEST characters that are so quirky and it is just an utter delight. Seriously, if you like to laugh while reading books, you are going to love this one. Stephen and the 1 Star Goodreads Review is still one I am laughing about to this day!

Jane has published one novel that has sold less than 500 copies and she’s pretty sure her husband, Dan, is cheating on her. The two have reservations at an upscale restaurant, La Fin du Monde, to celebrate their anniversary, and Jane plans to tell Dan she wants a divorce. While there, an underground climate activist group bursts into the restaurant and takes everyone hostage. Jane and Dan are shocked (because it’s a hostage situation) because it’s the same plot as Jane’s failed book. Which means only Jane and Dan are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next.

🎧I alternated between the physical book and the audiobook, which was narrated by Hillary Huber. Huber was the PERFECT voice for this book. I just found her to be such a mature voice for the characters, yet at the same time she was hilarious to listen to and I loved how she was able to bring her humor in the characters at the right time, if that makes sense. She was just perfect and I loved my time listening to her narrate this book. Her performance was 𝟓★!

Posted on Goodreads on March 5, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around March 5, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on March 11, 2025
**-will post on designated date

Jane and Dan have been married for 19 years but their marriage is failing. Jane is pretty sure Dan is cheating on her as well. When the two go out for dinner at an upscale restaurant, they are taken hostage by a climate activist group.

The strangest part is that everything the terrorists do is directly out of Jane's failed book which sold less than 200 copies. Only she and Dan know what is going to happen next, so it is up to them to save everyone.

Why Jackie loves it

This book is such an interesting look at marriage while being hilarious at the same time. I laughed out loud at certain moments. It is also a look at parenthood and the changes that come as we get older and our kids get older as well. Colleen Oakley does a wonderful job in exploring imperfect relationships and making her characters are relatable.

This was a romance unlike any other I’ve read.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this one, but it was a wild ride. Calling it a romance feels a little weird just because I wouldn’t really call this book romantic in a typical way. That said, it was about a couple in their 50s looking back on their marriage and assessing where they went wrong and right, all within the setting of a hostage situation.

As for the hostage situation aspect, it definitely kept the action going. There were a few times where things felt repetitive, but the multiple POV and a twist I didn’t at all expect made things interesting. Did I have to suspend belief a little bit in order to follow this plot? Sure, but that didn’t bother me; I’m reading for the story, not necessarily for something “believable”.

The ending was surprisingly touching, and makes you think more about romance in the long-run. Overall this was interesting, fast paced, and I enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley when my book club read it last year, so when I was offered an early copy of Colleen Oakley's new novel, Jane and Dan at the End of the World, I accepted immediately, and found myself absolutely in love with this book.

When Jane and Dan decided to celebrate their anniversary at the uber-expensive restaurant Le Fin du la Monde, they could not anticipate the evening that is in store. From Jane's announcement that she wants a divorce to the terrorists that storm the restaurant and take everyone hostage, the evening is not your typical festive event. This absolute joyride of a heist novel reminded me of a favorite of mine, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, with surprises galore and a group of terrorists that are somewhat less than terrifying.

Colleen Oakley has absolutely nailed the ups and downs of a 20ish year marriage and parenthood of teenaged children in Jane and Dan. Jane's discontent with her boring, dependable husband will strike a chord with anyone who has wondered, 'Is this all there is?' and her doubts as a mother are universal. Some of the situations the couple encounter during the evening had me giggling as I could picture their exasperation with each other.

The terrorists and their caper were equally entertaining, with a crew that had planned for most contingencies and were faced with unexpected realities. There were enough twists to the plot to keep me guessing and the way the plan came together was so much fun!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the digital ARC of Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley. The opinions in this review are my own.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
JANE & DAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: mystery/romance
📖 368 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🔫🍽️📖✍🏼💕💰🚁🔌🚐💣🔍🪙
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 3/11/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ dual POV
◽️ hostage situations
◽️ blackmail
◽️ second chance romance/reigniting the spark

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

Thank you @berkleypub @prhaudio for the free #gifted copy!

This book was an absolute blast! Packed with action, humor, & a touch of second chance romance, it had everything to keep me hooked. The story gave me strong FINLAY DONOVAN vibes, which was a huge plus. From the start, I was full of questions, eagerly trying to piece together how everything would unfold. The unexpected twists kept things exciting, making for an engaging & unpredictable read.

While the large cast of characters felt overwhelming at first, it didn’t take long to sort out who was who, & I enjoyed seeing how their stories intertwined. Jane, the main character, was a bit insufferable at first—her erratic behavior made her hard to connect with—but over time, she grew on me. The book’s fast pace & intriguing mystery kept me turning pages, making for an entertaining & unique read!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Jane & Dan’s 19-year marriage is on the rocks, & Jane is ready to ask for a divorce. Her writing career has stalled, her teenagers don’t seem to need her, & she suspects Dan is cheating. Their anniversary dinner at La Fin du Monde takes a shocking turn when a group of clumsy climate activists bursts in, taking everyone hostage. To Jane’s horror, their actions mirror the plot of her failed novel—one Dan surprisingly remembers. Now, the couple must work together to stop the chaos, proving that if they can survive this, maybe their marriage still has a chance.

I requested and downloaded this book many months ago. Needless to say, in that time I completely forgot what it was about.

I enjoyed that it was a surprise a lot, and it kept me guessing all along the way.

I was quite annoyed at both Jane & Dan for most of the story. They were just a typical couple, I'm sure, but reading their story made them both unlikable, until they were likeable. Whew.

Who knew Frisbee golf would come in so handy??

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jane and Dan’s marriage is on its last legs—so what better time for a fancy anniversary dinner where Jane plans to ask for a divorce? Nineteen years in, she’s feeling invisible to her teenagers, her writing career is dead on arrival (her one novel sold fewer copies than a local garage sale), and to top it all off, she suspects Dan is cheating. But before she can serve him the breakup speech, an underground climate activist group storms the restaurant, turning their awkward evening into a full-blown hostage situation. Even weirder? The whole thing is playing out exactly like Jane’s failed book. As in, word-for-word. Even Dan—who Jane was pretty sure never read her book—can’t deny the eerie similarities. Now, instead of arguing over their crumbling marriage, they’re the only ones who might be able to predict what happens next…and stop it. This wasn’t the “’til death do us part” Jane had in mind, but if they can survive this mess, maybe their marriage isn’t beyond saving after all.

Beyond the absurdly entertaining premise, the book packs a surprising emotional punch, tackling marriage, parenting, unfulfilled dreams, and the existential dread of getting older. It’s got witty banter, high-stakes action, and enough twists to keep you flipping pages. Sure, you’ll have to suspend disbelief a bit, but when a book is this fun, who cares?

If you love dark humor, relationship drama, and heists gone horribly wrong, this one’s for you.

I absolutely loved this book! I even did extra loads of laundry just to keep listening. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just maybe don’t read it on your anniversary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley has interesting characters and an action-packed plot. However, the story seemed to unfold a little too predictably to me. Jane and Dan at the End of the World will appeal to readers who have enjoyed books with strong female protagonists and other books by Oakley. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

1.5★

this was a miss for me 😩

i found none of the characters to be likable and the plot seemed silly from the beginning. the kicker is i am still not 100% certain that that was intentional. it seemed like it was serious at some parts, and then seemed like it was kind of a parody at some parts. i don’t know. this is probably a me problem.

the third person writing style was distracting at some parts for me. this is very oddly specific, but if an author uses the characters’ names too often instead of “he” or “she”, then i start noticing it and i become hyperaware of it. again, just a me preference probably!

i will admit that i was entertained enough throughout the book to finish it, but the plot of the hostage situation was very strange and confusing to me at parts. some parts i had to pause and just wonder… why? i also think the plot of jane and dan’s marriage troubles seemed like it was slightly unnecessary. it felt like such a subplot to me, it almost felt like the point of that was to throw in a theme of “it’s okay to be boring and comfortable in your marriage” in the epilogue. also the miscommunication of dan’s secret texts that jane found and what was really going on with that was craaaaazy to me.

overall the reveals and the ending were anticlimactic (to me!) and i personally don’t think this would be worth the read. if anyone has read anything else by colleen oakley that they think i would like more based on my review, please let me know! i’m all for giving authors a second chance.

thank you berkley and netgalley for the free eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Colleen Oakley, and Berkley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

LOVED!! I had high hopes for this because I ate up Oakley’s previous book, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, last year. And it totally delivered!! I find Oakley’s writing to be truly witty, funny, and fresh; it feels original and like she is never trying too hard. This read is silly and unrealistic from the start, but it always stays charming rather than annoying. I was hooked into Jane and Dan’s relationship and seeing the antics of the hostage situation unfold. There were quite a few reveals I didn’t see coming, and I stayed on my toes until the very end! It felt like watching a movie while I was reading, and I would love to see this get an adaptation. The overall messaging is poignant and thoughtful, and I ended the book feeling fulfilled from a fun reading experience. Is this book life changing? No, but it’s fun and quick and the perfect cozy read!

4.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Berkley for the advanced reading copy!

I had no idea what to expect going into this one, and it was a really pleasant surprise. Ended up listening to it on audio and glad I did — Hillary Huber is the best and nailed this one.

Jane and Dan are at their 19th (or is it 20th??) anniversary dinner when suddenly they find themselves in a hostage situation that is… eerily familiar. Jane instantly recognizes the situation as straight out of her debut (and only) novel, publisher years ago. What ensues is hilarity — I laughed out loud a few times — drama and suspense.

I really had no clue where this was going but the journey and destination were so entertaining. Some great twists and unexpected events throughout. There were some exceptionally clever moments in this book — like all the ways Jane & Dan’s perspectives were interwoven, even at much different times in the book.

I really enjoyed this one and would gladly read more by Colleen Oakley again!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 3/11

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my free e-copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This book was such a fun, unexpected ride! It’s a hilarious and heartfelt look at marriage, midlife crises, and second chances—all wrapped up in a totally chaotic hostage situation.

Jane and Dan have been married for 20 years, but their relationship is hanging by a thread. Jane feels invisible, her writing career is a flop, and she’s pretty sure Dan is cheating. So, she plans to use their fancy anniversary dinner at La Fin du Monde to drop the divorce bomb. But before she can, a group of clumsy climate activists storms the restaurant, and things spiral fast. The wildest part? Their plan sounds suspiciously like the plot of Jane’s failed novel. And since Jane and Dan seem to be the only ones who know what’s coming next, they have to figure out how to stop it—if they don’t kill each other first.

While the hostage plot is a fun, unpredictable ride, the real heart of the book is Jane and Dan’s relationship. Their banter is sharp, their struggles feel real, and watching them rediscover each other is both funny and touching. The writing is super engaging, witty, and full of personality.

I loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise so much and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Oakley’s newest book! If you like character-driven stories with humor, heart, and a little bit of chaos, you’ll love this one!