Colleen Oakley is a fav and this one did not disappoint! Jane and Dan are married and are going to Fin de lu Monte for their anniversary. However, Jane isn't 100% about their marriage... and having doubts. Also, Jane somewhat struggles with their 18 year old daughter. While Jane and Dan are out to eat, there is an active shooter situation and takes everyone by surprise/shock. This book was very relatable as a parent and as a married person, I found it funny and the plot moved right along!

I liked this book, I didn't love it. I can't stop thinking about how good it COULD have been.

Jane and Dan are going to Fin de lu Monte for their 19th anniversary. She isn't sure about their marriage and if she wants to stay married. Jane is always at odds with her 18 year old daughter and thinks often of the road not traveled. But when they are dining, the restaurant becomes an active shooter/bomb threat/terrorist hostage situation. A lot of convenient plot devices allow the narrative to move along. The thing is, the situation is playing out exactly as happened in a novel that Jane wrote 6 years earlier.

The themes in this book are so good, but in execution, they just fizzle out and don't deliver. I have been married for 20 years and I appreciate the way marriage changes after your kids don't need you as much anymore. I liked the banter between Dan and Jane and I wanted more of the love and second chance love story. I wanted so much more from the theme of capitalism and oligarchy and

That said, they are good characters and the book was genuinely funny. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book to be released March 11, 2025.

3 stars

I've heard such great things about Colleen Oakley's books. I was very excited to see my "wish" granted. Unfortunately, this particular book fell short of the hype. Premise was cute, but the story dragged. I didn't particularly like Jane. Also, many of her actions in response to the hostage situation seemed totally out of character.

I won't judge Colleen Oakley's books by this one. I'll happily give other of her books a go. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Ooooooh myyyy gooooosh
I could not put this down!
What even is this book?
Colleen Oakley, you beautiful genius! I went into this book a CO fan, but with no context for the plot or anything. I was su surprised by the premise but lioved every minute. Truly fantastic! Will 100% recommend!

This book sounded like so much fun. And I started off liking it, but the further I read the more my enjoyment deteriorated, until I landed all the way down here at one star. 🥴

I didn’t like the characters at all. Jane is incredibly irritating, Dan is a doofus, and their daughter is kind of an idiot. Yet I think we’re supposed to like them 🤔 And the tone of the book is meant to be lighthearted and funny, but it just came across as shallow.

Also, there are some major problems I have with the plot that I can’t really get into without spoilers, but I’ll just say that if the idea of a “climate change anxiety support group” makes you roll your eyes as hard as I did, you will likely not enjoy this book.

However, this is just my opinion. I think that this book will be popular with some people. If you enjoy Fredrik Backman books, or if you loved The Wedding People (Alison Espach), you might like this one. Give it a try if it sounds good. It wasn’t the book for me, but it might be for you.

This was a fun and humorous story. I found the author had a very clear voice and all of the characters were very relatable. The story line and approach to the characters reminded me of a comedic movie thriller. The descriptions and actions were all described in a way that made this book cinematic in my head. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

What a fun read! This was such an easy book to read and every time I read "this is not a movie" in the book, I kept thinking that how much I would enjoy this as a movie as well! I loved how the book touched so many topics like marriage, climate change, a stay at home mom's identity and teenage children, and integrated it all over one very eventful anniversary dinner.

I received this book for a free and fair review. I enjoyed Oakley's previous book, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, this, her most recent book, and was excited to be able to review this one. And this one did not fail to deliver either, being a fun-filled romp of misadventure, miscommunication and missed steps that lead to a denouement that's unique and satisfying.

Jane and Dan are going to La Fin de Munde, an expensive and exclusive restaurant, precariously located over a cliff, to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary (though Dan keeps thinking it's their 20th). Jane's in a funk; she's ready to leave Dan, feeling in a rut as her writing career hasn't taken off and she believes something's going on with Dan. The restaurant only seats five tables and is known as the restaurant that serves the most expensive dessert! Just a Jane announces to Dan that she wants a divorce a group takes over the restaurant and from there the adventure begins. As things unfold, Jane comes to realize that what is happening is based on the book she wrote, things get more curious as Dan begins to realize he might know someone in the group. No spoilers here. You have to read the book - and you won't be disappointed if you - to find out what the group wants, how the takeover ends and did Jane and Dan come to the "end of the world."

Overall, I enjoyed the read and believe others will as well.

What was the last book that made you laugh out loud? JANE AND DAN was so entertaining, quirky, hilarious and far-fetched that I didn't want the fun to end.

Jane and Dan are celebrating their 20th- no, 19th- anniversary so Dan tries to do something out of the ordinary and take Jane to an ultra-fancy restaurant. That is, if he can find his keys, of course. Jane is an author whose debut novel barely sold. Dan is a podiatrist (not a real doctor). Together their life has gotten tedious and boring and Jane wants more. This happens to be the night that Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce- oh and also the restaurant is taken hostage by armed gunmen. Chaos ensues.

The fast-paced story takes place over the course of the evening and Jane starts to become suspicious when what unfolds is eerily similar to her own barely believable book. Add to that Jane's attraction to one of the gunmen, an unexpected assailant and Dan's inability to lip read and it really has some over the top hilarity and end of the world of the world vibes.

As a married person, this book spoke me. They way you love and loathe your spouse all at the same time is so on point. The banter between Jane and Dan- and many of the supporting characters- was A++ and I could live my life in Jane and Dan's inner monologue it was so funny. There's a part where someone identifies them as husband and wife simply by the way they bicker- and yup I feel that 😅

This book isn't serious and is to be taken lightly- it's completely unrealistic and reminded me of one of those Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston Netflix heisty murder mysteries, but elevated (and better written). If you want a laugh and a fun little escape, or if you're annoyed with your spouse (I'm sure they deserve it), I highly recommend JANE AND DAN. I look forward to diving into Oakley's back list to read her other well applauded novels.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in return for an unbiased view.

When Oakley writes fiction for grown-ups ("The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise") the books are clever, original, and contain complex interesting characters. When Oakley writes bland rom-com clichés for the BookTok crowd ("The Invisible Husband of Frick Island") they're missable. But "Jane and Dan" is for grown-ups- a funny, intelligent, and original story about an evening in a French Laundry-style restaurant that goes very, very wrong- and the story contains characters with a hilarious viewpoint on marriage. This is my favorite Oakley book so far, I highly recommend.

3.5 stars

This was my first time reading a Colleen Oakley, so I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book and it's long title.

Celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary (or was it 20)? Jan and Dan get way more then they bargained for. This was a fun read, especially when you keep your mind open for all the zany action that takes place. The blurb basically says what happens. Lots of belief suspending but honestly it worked here, especially having gotten to know Jan and Dan, how they tick and feel about each other. A fast paced read that went by quickly, it had good banter, humor and a unique premise.

I will definely being reading more of Colleen Oakley.

My thanks to Fleet (Berkley) via Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

This was such a delightfully absurd book that it kept me up late into the night, hoping to finish one more chapter. Jane and Dan are on their way to celebrate their nineteenth wedding anniversary at one of the most exclusive restaurants in California, where Jane intends to tell Dan that she wants a divorce. Just after she announces this--over a starting course of goos barnacles!--the restaurant is stormed by eco terrorists, who seem to be working from the playbook of the one novel that Jane published six years earlier. Jane and Dan were delightful characters to follow; their marriage felt authentic and funny and messy, and kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next between them. This is such a great book!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is out March 11, 2025

This novel starts out with one heck of a night. After nineteen years of marriage Dan and Jane are on a unique dinner date. Jan and Dan both have different takes on their marriage. Jan is about to ask Dan for a divorce and Dan is not listening.
If that is not enough of an intense night their meal is interrupted and the couple along with others are held hostage. The hostages are disorganized, guns are out and things turn into a multitude of situations. Jane is also an author and is thinking the situation and words by their captors is coming from the pages of one of her books. Is she imagining this or is it something more?
Will Jan, Dan and the others get out of this situation? If this scene is from one of her books, she might realize what is truly happening. A witty, with quirky characters and unique setting/story line which makes you realize what is truly important in life. Sometimes life happens, but how you deal with it makes all the difference in the world.

Thank you, Berkley, for this gifted e-ARC. Oakley is an author where I know I can expect a unique story, and she always delivers. A MUST read!

This book! I honestly thought this was going to be just a cutesy little romance at first, but it is part thriller and part thinker which I absolutely love. You follow the main characters Jane and Dan (surprise) as they navigate their 20 (or is it 19) year marriage. The main character Jane is at a point in her life where she is reflecting on all of the things that have gotten her where she currently is and doing a little soul searching like we all do. Suddenly, she is thrust into a thrilling crime scene that looks suspiciously like her novel that no one read. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be RELATABLE. The characters and story and struggles and triumphs were so well written into the book in a fun and lighthearted way. Absolute treasure!

I really enjoyed The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, so I was really looking forward to this book - unfortunately, it wound up being tough to compare the two. This book was a fairly quick read, but man I had to suspend a lot of disbelief for it. I thought it would be a bit more of a relationship exploration story, but ultimately once the hostage situation took over it all became too far-fetched and felt like the main message was lost. I enjoyed parts of it but was left shaking my head at the end.

Knowing nothing about author Colleen OakLey I read and reviewed, before publication, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise some time ago. I th0r0ughly enjoyed that book. I enjoyed Jane and Dan as well.
The story is a combination of mystery, thriller, romance and a comedy. There are plot twists. insights into marriage, parenthood, family, career, aging, and one's view of self.
What starts out as an "special" anniversary night out(maybe) turns into a dramatic crisis with several twists and turns.along the way.
The events of the evening become eerily familiar to Jane and Dan. as they try to make sense of what is happening and how to fix it.
the story is very engaging. The author starts the story with a tease of the ending and then very cleverly marks each chapter as Five Hours Before, Four Hours Before etc before ending.
Not all happenings are plausible but they fit the story and are fun. It is fiction after all!! Good story!!

I was very excited to read this book since I’ve loved her other ones. Overall I enjoyed this book, but I feel like it was missing something. I did like her portrayal of marriage and how sometimes it’s the best and sometimes it’s not. A few ideas were far fetched, but I did find a lot of parts funny and in the end enjoyed it!

Colleen Oakley's "Jane and Dan at the End of the World" is not your typical marriage-on-the-rocks story. It's a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly poignant tale that throws a mid-life crisis, a struggling marriage, and a hostage situation into a blender and hits "frappe." Jane and Dan, nearing their 20th anniversary, are at a low point. Jane, feeling invisible and professionally defeated, suspects infidelity from Dan, and is ready to cut ties. Their anniversary dinner at the ironically named La Fin du Monde (The End of the World) is set to be their swan song, but fate, or rather a group of inept climate activists, has other plans.
What elevates this story beyond the standard marital drama is the sheer absurdity of the situation. The activists, a motley crew of eco-warriors, are bizarrely acting out scenes from Jane's spectacularly unsuccessful novel. This creates a fantastic, meta layer to the narrative. Suddenly, Jane’s forgotten creative endeavor becomes the roadmap for their bizarre and dangerous predicament. The irony, and the humor it generates, is pitch-perfect. The book manages to be both incredibly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.
What I loved:
The unique premise: A marriage on the brink, a hostage situation, and a failed novel come together in a brilliantly absurd way.
The humor: Oakley's writing is sharp and witty, making even the tensest moments surprisingly funny.
The relatable characters: Jane and Dan's struggles feel authentic and resonate with the everyday challenges of a long-term relationship.
This was absolutely a delightful and unexpected read. It’s a fresh take on the "marriage in crisis" trope, offering a unique blend of suspense, humor, and heart. It's a testament to the idea that sometimes the most extraordinary circumstances can reveal the most ordinary, and often profound, truths about ourselves and our relationships. If you are looking for a light-hearted, page-turning read with a touch of the absurd, then you should definitely pick up this book. It might just be the unexpected adventure that will reignite your own appreciation for the messy, imperfect, and ultimately extraordinary nature of love and commitment.

When Dan wins a reservation at the famed La Fin du Monde, he figures what better place to celebrate he and Jane’s wedding anniversary. While it might break the bank, it’s certain to be more memorable than their usual trip to the Macaroni Grill. Unfortunately for Dan, Jane has a little something else in mind . . . . a divorce.

Unfortunately for both of them, a group of activists really have something else in mind and it all seems soooooooo familiar to Jane. Are these climate change warriors really using the plot of her book that sold like 500 copies as their playbook?

Alright so this was just pure fun. I love Colleen Oakley. I was lucky enough to score an early copy and accidentally ended up reading it the day the Winter Reading Challenge began. I’m saying this falls under the umbrella of this year’s theme with a plot involving life imitating art.


ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

While the pacing in this was quick, I couldn’t find myself to invest in any of the characters. I didn’t care what happened to them and the plot was so fantastical (but not ironically) that it was hard to get behind. This was a miss for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.