This is such a wonderfully unique story! Yes, the plot is implausible but it's so well-written that I was all in. I related to Jane and Dan's relationship and laughed out loud at some of the things they go through. I could totally see this book as a movie and would be first in line to watch.

Thanks to Berkley for the copy to review.

This is a fun action filled story of a couple trying to experience a one in a lifetime Michelin meal, and then being held hostage in a manner similar to a book the wife had written. A few teeny twists, some laughs etc. A bit far fetched of course but a fast read.

Long-time married couple Jane & Dan win a reservation at a high end restaurant that just happens to coincide with their 19th anniversary. However, Jane is dissatisfied with her marriage and her failures as an author so she decides to ask for a divorce at the dinner. Before Dan can process what Jane just said, the restaurant is taken over by eco-terrorists and the night is unfolding like the plot of Jane's one failed novel. Crazy premise, even crazier that it kind of works as long as you suspend some rational thinking while reading. Overall an enjoyable ride, even if Jane is a bit abrasive and Dan is kind of meh.

This book was super cute and fun to read but I found it childish/very YA. I think people would enjoy this reading on the beach with a drink in hand.

I don't know, I'm not sure this is really that good but I'm giving it a 5 because it was unique and hilarious and it felt original. Such an odd plot -- how can these terrorists know so much about Jane's book, which she doesn't even think her husband ever read? And why does that terrorist look so familiar? This all takes place in a short time and the time just raced by reading it, leaving me with a bemused smile for the rest of the day.

so much fun, i love colleen oakley!! this book was so original, and the characters felt SO realistic - which can be hard to come by these days! such a fun plot and read overall, thank you netgalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in return for my honest review. I read this book in 2 days as I wanted to know what was going to happen. Jane and Dan go to a fancy restaurant to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. While there, a group of activists arrive and take all of the patrons hostage. The scenario of the hostage takeover is very similar to Jane's recent novel, that was not a hit. In addition to this storyline, Jane and Dan are having marital problems, which Jane brings up at the beginning of the fancy dinner.

I wanted to really love this story but I had a hard time following parts of it. It is listed as a funny novel, but I really didn't laugh while reading it. The ending wasn't my favorite either. It's a quick read and I'd say quirky story.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley is a wildly original, laugh-out-loud, and unexpectedly tender novel about love, regret, and second chances—set against the backdrop of a hostage situation that feels ripped from a fever dream. Jane and Dan’s anniversary dinner gone wrong turns into a hilarious and heartfelt reckoning with their marriage, their past, and the bizarre realization that the chaos unfolding mirrors Jane’s own failed novel.

Oakley masterfully blends sharp wit with emotional depth, creating a story that’s both absurdly entertaining and deeply human. If you love character-driven stories with a twist of chaos and a whole lot of heart, this one’s a must-read.

Very interesting concept! A lot of fun to read too! I really love how original Colleen Oakley’s books are. This one is my fav of hers yet. Pacing and the funny banter between Jane and Dan was so captivating to read.

This was good fun. Jane is an unknown, unsuccessful writer who starts to realize the situation she's in has been lifted straight out of the book she authored. The plot's a funny mashup--an examination of midlife, marital malaise, and letting go of grown kids--set during a madcap hostage situation in a distinctive, upscale restaurant (modeled on one I've actually been to!). I did not quite love it as I did her previous, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. But it's entertaining and a distraction, entertaining to both listen to and read in print!

Whatever ideas I had about how this book would play out were challenged at every turn and I could not have loved it more.

Jane, a struggling author-mother-wife, and her husband go to the most expensive restaurant in the area to celebrate their - number undetermined by said couple - anniversary. And that's the only thing that goes according to plans or expectation.

As the story unfolds, readers are brought into a heist that feels all too familiar to Jane ... as if someone is recreating her singular published book IRL! Her terror that their evening will play out exactly as she wrote it is compounded when she and her husband make another shocking discovery during the evening that they must keep to themselves and fix ASAP!

I truly enjoyed this adventurous novel! It was as predictably unpredictable and enjoyable as I love these novels to be - especially when every threads comes together to create a beautiful tapestry of creativity!

So thankful to have had the opportunity to experience this work!

3.5 rounded up

This is the fourth book by Colleen Oakley I've read and I've really enjoyed them all. I listened to this one on audio and it was a fun listen. I'm pretty picky when it comes to narrators and I liked this one's performance.

You'll have to suspend your disbelief for this story, so go into it knowing that outrageous things will happen and just enjoy the ride. The story had some twists that surprised me and it made me laugh out loud several times. I liked that it is from a few different perspectives – mainly Jane's, but also a bit of Dan's as well as a few others. The ending/epilogue didn't quite feel right to me, but I'm not sure I know what I would have preferred in its place.

Overall it was a fun read for a road trip.

Colleen Oakley has written some of my favorite books over the years and I was so excited to get my hands on Jane and Dan at the End of the World. This story is a bit more kitschy/quirky than some of her other novels, but still very enjoyable for me. Jane and Dan are celebrating their anniversary and all is not as wonderful as it may seem on the outsiders, but what happens at this dinner certainly takes everyone for a surprise. The story is absolutely ludicrous but that's what kept me reading and reading and next thing I knew I had finished the book in a few hours. It was kooky and funny but also explored deeper themes like the evolution of marriage and motherhood. The author did an amazing job finding that balance between chaos and relatability. I was committed to the craze but also to Jane & Dans well being and rediscovery of self.

I was very skeptical of this one in the beginning, it started out slow and I was worried it was gonna be a dud. But about thirty or so pages in it took a sharp left turn into a wildly outlandish, over the top caper that I am totally here for! The plot, an author on the verge of divorce goes out to dinner for her wedding anniversary and ends up in a hostage situation suspiciously similar to one she’s published in a book, is so unbelievable that you have to be willing to suspend all disbelief for it to work. But Oakley leans into the ridiculousness of it all so hard that instead of coming off as well, ridiculous, it’s absolutely hilarious! Can you imagine being in a high stakes game of read my lips with your spouse and instead of feeling scared of the man with a weapon you’re just annoyed that your spouse can’t seem to get it together! While the plot was fantastical, the main characters were grounded with very realistic reactions and down to earth Everyman type problems which offered a great balance to the book. So while it started slow, I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

I liked this story but didn't love it. I finished the book and waited a few days to write my review because I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about it. I was a fan of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise so I was excited to check this one out. The premise sounded unique and like a lot of fun. I will say that the story kept me very curious as to where it was going but some of the parts felt very over to top to me and had me rolling my eyes a bit. I liked this but I wanted to like it more than I did. It felt a little flat to me.

Thank you for the eArc!

This book was very entertaining BUT I must say that the genre/sub-genre might be listed a little bit incorrectly. While it is a work of (contemporary) fiction, I would classify this as a suspense MUCH more than a romance. The premise of the book begins with a date between two married people and the status of their marriage comes up a few times. But really, the primary plot here has nothing to do with romance. So, with that being said ... this would be good for fans of Amanda Eyre Ward, off the top of my head. Enjoy!

How can a hostage situation stage a rom-com? I’m still not sure how Colleen pulled that off, but she did! I laughed out loud at situations Jane had with Dan that eerily followed my own life! There were some character behaviors (one of the hostage takers in particular) that I was not there for, but I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. Everyone in our book club discussion recommends!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Jane and Dan are headed to dinner at a super fancy and expensive restaurant to celebrate their 19th anniversary. Little does Dan know, but Jane is going to use this dinner to announce she wants a divorce. Just then, a group of armed climate activists barge in and take the entire restaurant hostage. As the evening goes on, Jane starts to realize everything seems a bit familiar, and then realizes they are basically following the plot of her book. Being that Jane knows the ending, she feels like she needs to save everyone before something really bad happens.

This book is quirky and the pacing is perfect. I devoured it in two days only because I had to force myself to put it down so I could sleep. I have never read anything quite like this and I just really didn't know where it was going to end up! I loved how the characters were all described, and honestly, the group of activists cracked me up. That was the most dysfunctional criminal group I think I've read about! However, although this book has it's lighter moments, there are definitely some more serious undertones and made me wonder what kind of ending I was heading towards.

I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded so interesting, along with it having an excellent recommendation from a friend whose book taste I trust. This book just missed the mark for me. It's like it had an identity crisis of sorts. Was it a thriller? A romance? Contemporary? I feel like this book was just as confused as I was on what it wanted to be. The characters also fell super flat, and the pacing was super strange. Choppy, rushed, and disorganized. Still giving it some stars for a great idea.. I just wish the story was executed better.

This book has a very creative premise that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. Jane has pretty much had it with Dan and their marriage. She's feeling restless, as an author who has written just one novel, some years ago, she's struggling with her career direction too. Jane and Dan go out to dinner one night, and they are caught in a crime -- a hostage situation that is pretty serious and scary. Little by little, it dawns on Jane that the criminals are following the plot of her novel, pretty much exactly. So, Jane and Dan are the only ones who know what is going to happen next. Great story with fun, relatable characters.