From the publisher:
Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure they’re going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She’s pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary, Jane thinks it’s as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

But before they even get to the second course, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar.

Which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago, but if they can survive this, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley was released March 11, 2025 from Berkley.

My thoughts: I really liked the book.

The characters of Jane and Dan are an interesting portrayal of a midlife marriage and some of the thoughts that can cross someone's mind at that point. I like that they were still capable of creating plot twists in both their marriage and in the situation they find themselves in.

The premise was different. I like books that are about bookish things. That in itself was good, but adding the tension of the situation made it better. It definitely kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

The pacing of the book was well done. There are some brief, but necessary, lulls. These allow us to see what the characters decide to do and more of how they are feeling and thinking. As the book progresses, the pace picks up until it is really rapid at the end. This helps to give the events a sense of urgency.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I liked Jane and Dan and thought their characterization was well done. They paint a good picture of what marriage at midlife can be like against the chaotic backdrop of the events in the restaurant. And it had the humor I crave in the books I read. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy plots with action and humor.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions nor my review.

This slow burn of a story takes place over one evening. Jane and Dan are out to dinner for their 19th wedding anniversary when Jane asks for a divorce. Minutes later, a group of people barge into the restaurant with guns, holding the patrons and staff hostage. This scenario mirrors what occurs in the novel Jane wrote and published several years prior.

Wow- this book is tension building at its finest! I was flying through the pages with anxiety to see what would happen next. There are two plots happening simultaneously here- the hostage situation and what is going on between Jane and Dan. I liked the back and forth of being in their heads to learn the annoyances and cracks in their relationship. There’s a witty and sarcastic tone to the author’s writing, and I found the juxtaposition of this to the tense environment in the restaurant really interesting.

My only complaint is that the last 1/3 really went off the rails. I wasn’t disappointed per se, but it was a bit far-fetched and over the top. Overall though, this is definitely an entertaining page turner!

*Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for this advanced reader copy. This book is out on shelves now!

When date night goes awry…

Jane and Dan have been married for close to two decades, but have hit a rough patch that may mean the end of their marriage. When they attempt a date night at an upscale restaurant to celebrate their anniversary, the last thing they expect is for everyone in the restaurant to be taken hostage by a local climate activist group. Even more strange, they seem to be using the playbook presented in Jane’s failed novel.

After loving Colleen Oakley’s previous book, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, I knew I needed to get my hands on this one. Now that I have read it, I think I was maybe not the right reader for this one. While I do enjoy character-rich stories, studies in marriage, and some amount of romantic adventure, this book started out right in my zone, and then about 20% in, went way into the over-the-top realm for me. In fact, it felt so unrealistic, I struggled to connect to anyone or anything happening in the story.

I have seen very mixed reviews, some having raved and others feeling similarly to me. If this one has been on your radar, I would suggest giving it a try in case you fall into the former category.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️marriage in crisis
▪️books about books
▪️romantic “adventure”
▪️stories set over one day

Thank you Berkley Pub for the advanced copy.

I adored this book. It was witty and clever without feeling so deeply rooted in the politics of why the terrorists arrive. It felt so unique in a space that often doesn’t. I’ll definitely be reading Colleen Oakley’s backlist after this!

Quirky and fun, with a long-term marriage that turns out to be a romance after all. Recommended for readers who enjoy off-beat fiction like Nothing to See Here or Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend.

This was fun, I like that it took place over a few hours which kept the tension high, I think that helped the book a lot, because if this was drawn out over multiple days, I don't think it would have been as effective as it was. Overall it was a quick read and I look forward to reading more by Oakley in the future.

Oakley’s concept for Jane and Dan is well, kind of cool, original, but its execution reads as a writer who was never sure how to flesh out its potential. I’ve never reviewed a novel in the way I’m about to: Oakley’s novel is wonderful for the first and final quarters and the half they flank, a slog, a runaway horse of a narrative, sometimes adept at steering the reins, too often bolting or ebbing. Here are the blurbish details to put some sense into what I’ve said so far, maybe:

Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure they’re going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She’s pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary, Jane thinks it’s as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

But before they even get to the second course, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar.

Which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago, but if they can survive this, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage.

I loved Oakley’s opening: Jane and Dan’s voices are engaging and witty. Jane’s comment about Dan’s social media ignorance, his pronouncing “meme” as “mi mi” had me guffawing. The otherwordly, posh restaurant setting and its contrast to the Macaroni Grill (lol), where Jane and Dan usually celebrate their anniversary, the protagonists’ individual ruminations, down-home-y, endearing, humble, uncertain, but loving, caring, a tad neurotic (Jane!), gormless (Dan!) drew me in. They worry about those middle-class things middle-class people worry about (Jane, a stay-at-home mom and failed writer; Dan, a podiatrist, what else?!): a balding pate, the fear of an empty nest…and then, the “activists” take over the restaurant and we have a whole new narrative, one given to farcical, shocking violence and yet, purporting to be benign about their cause.

The narrative moves in a jerky motion of action and reaction, mainly Jane and Dan’s, part-farce, part-horrible and then, a molasses pace of Jane and Dan’s uncertainties and anxieties about their marriage, family, followed by the hostages’ awkward attempts to foil the bumbling, gleefully nasty activists.

It’s a strange, wonky novel Oakley penned, an erratic, mangled allegory, something about marriage, motherhood, middle age (the three M’s!), and about our unsettled future around climate disaster and rampant capitalism and, though not a romance in any way, about love steady and steadfast and keeping your sense of humour. Not a bad achievement, but also one that never quite came together. Miss Austen agrees it’s “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.

Colleen Oakley’s Jane and Dan at the End of the World is published by Berkley and released on March 11th. I received an e-galley from Berkley via Netgalley. The above is my honest, AI-free opinion.

"No matter how long you've lived with someone, how well you think you know them, there are always times you look at them and think, 'Who are you?'

This was such a incredibly fun read and it's perfect for the spring/summer reading months if you're looking for something light and funny yet meaningful. For those who've been married for a number of years, have gone through many life transitions, there are elements of this story that will definitely resonate and I absolutely loved these characters!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a heartfelt and surprisingly funny take on what it means to truly live when time is running out. Colleen Oakley blends romance, existential dread, and sharp humor into a story that feels both intimate and expansive.

This one kicks off with a fun premise—a failing marriage, an anniversary dinner gone hostage, and a plot that weirdly mirrors the protagonist’s failed novel. It's quirky, self-aware, and full of potential for both comedy and reflection. Jane is relatable in her midlife disillusionment, and the layered dynamic between her and Dan feels authentic, even as the situation gets increasingly bizarre.

That said, while the setup is clever, the execution doesn’t quite land all its punches. The tone wavers between absurd and sincere, which occasionally muddies the pacing and stakes. The activists are more caricature than credible threat, and the plot leans hard into implausibility, which might work better for some as satire—but felt like it undercut the emotional depth of Jane’s journey for me.

Still, it’s an entertaining, breezy read with just enough insight to make it stick. It would make a fun weekend or vacation book, especially for readers who like their relationship stories with a splash of chaos and a dash of dark humor.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley. While I liked the premise, it felt a little drawn out. The 90% book takes place over the span of a few hours. I liked how the FMC was able to see her book being played out in front of her and get some vindication. Also the perspective of the police officer fell flat since it didn't really go anywhere. Overall, it was a decent book with an interesting plot.

This was an ok read for me. Quick and fun, but not much depth. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t be at the top of my list to recommend to others.

3.75 stars rounded up. This book was funnier than I expected and the story was very engaging. The change in perspectives was nice for something like this to see all the sides. Also, I liked what the author said about marriage in her acknowledgments.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

*This review contains spoilers for the novel, which I've rated at a 3.5*

"Jane and Dan at the End of the World" is a high-stakes, tense drama that is somehow also funny, heartwarming, and utterly unbelievable. For any heist story, at least in my opinion, you have to be able to suspend your disbelief a bit so that all of the various parts can come together in a satisfying way regardless of how realistic. And, due to the generally lighthearted tone of this novel you can breeze through it without stopping to ponder the believability as the characters do most of that for you as the plot progresses! I myself blazed through this novel in just a couple of days, reading in my down time at work and on my commute home, so it's definitely a worthwhile page-turner. My biggest critiques of the work come down to two things: Jane and Dan's relationship, and the lack of consequences in the ending.

Now, I will admit I am just coming into my thirties this year. I have never been married, never raised children, and never had to give up my dreams for either of those things; all that said, I can't imagine a world where I'm contemplating divorce from my partner for over a year, and the discovery of some incriminating text messages becomes an excuse to bring it up. The fact that she wants a divorce, on top of all the other ways she feels she's been failing in her life, does add to Jane's character in her anger, her sarcasm, her boldness, and how she deals with Dan throughout the novel, yet I have a hard time believing that a woman who despite everything DOES indeed have her shit together struggle to drop the idea of divorce for such a long time. It's the core of the novel, and the fact that it's simply a plot device makes it feel almost unnecessary. I liked Jane's fiery attitude, but I just didn't enjoy that particular decision for her and for the story.

The lack of consequences though... Listen, I'm all for revolution, and trying to strike down billionaires and the corporations that are ruining our Earth, but even I have trouble believing that Sissy and her eco-terrorist group suffered absolutely zero repercussions for their actions, even among the other wealthy dinner guests if not the actual law. Overall, I did actually really enjoy this novel, and I can easily imagine it to be a thrilling movie or TV show, but in novel format I likely won't pick it up again. I still massively appreciated the chance to read this as an Advance Reader's Copy, and I will likely read more of Oakley's books as I liked her writing style and I think she does have a stellar comedic voice.

*Major thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!*

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is incredibly creative and downright delightful! Every so often, I read a logline that really makes me sit up, and this was absolutely that!

When Jane and Dan decide to celebrate their anniversary at an upscale restaurant, two unexpected things happen: Jane asks for a divorce, and a team of activists take everyone in the restaurant hostage. Twist after twist ensues…

Jane was incredibly relatable, and Colleen did an excellent job capturing her internal conflict in a way that felt both authentic and witty. The setting reminded me of the movie the Menu, and the absurdity and humor dialed back the high stakes situation in a way that entertained without melodrama. Well done, Colleen!

I laughed my way through much of this book, which seems strange as it centers on a middle-aged couple, Jane and Dan, having their anniversary dinner at an ultra-pricy California restaurant perched high on a cliff that turns into a dangerous hostage situation. It’s not that the novel lacks tense moments, but it ultimately delivers up-close look at a 19-year marriage gone so stale that an outrageous incident is needed to revive romance and tenderness, and of the endless efforts that can still lead to parenting gone awry.

Instead of their usual anniversary early dinner out at the Macaroni Grill, Dan decides to splurge on a high-end restaurant, La Fin du Monde, when he wins the ability to make a reservation. Along with an unparalleled view out to the ocean, the restaurant has an $8.4 million dessert option that comes with a diamond necklace, a delicious appetizer from giant sea barnacles, and an elitist chef who demands guests all hand over their phones.

Example of the humor: Jane’s convinced Dan is having an affair after seeing text messages with a women and him sneaking off at night, when really he’s embarrassed that he’s joined an ultimate frisbee club. During the evening, Dan gets a chance to put his awesome new frisbee skills to work in self-defense! Things like this abound.

Jane has just told Dan that she wants a divorce, when suddenly masked and armed eco-terrorists burst into the restaurant. They’re seeking out a billionaire diner who they plan to rob. And slowly but surely Jane realizes that somehow the eco-terrorists are carrying out the plot from the one novel she’s written, in which an evil gang takes hostages in a high-end London teahouse. Dan dismisses this as nonsense at first…
You just have to read on as all the plot twists get smartly tied up together!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

This was a fun time! I think you really have to buy into the premise of it for it to really work, which I'm not 100% sure if I did. Because of that I don't think this was a complete slam dunk for me, but it was still a good read. The writing was very solid and I loved the pacing. It moved very quickly and was hard to put down.

I think where it lacked for me was Jane and Dan's relationship, which is so central to the plot. I almost think Colleen Oakley did too good of a job of making Jane's freedom sound too compelling, that it was hard not to want that for her and hard to feel like things were truly resolved in their relationship.

Despite that, a lot of this over the top and ridiculous in a way that I can't say I found very plausible, but I also know this isn't the type of book I should look for that in. Is it something I'll be thinking about forever? Probably not, but I enjoyed my time for the most part!

Fabulous, witty & completely original! I loved this book!

Jane & Dan are celebrating their 19th Wedding Anniversary in an exclusive Michelin Star restaurant. Jane reveals to Dan that she wants a divorce, but immediately after she breaks the news to Dan, their meal is interrupted by very inexperienced activist terrorists. These activists take the restaurant employees and patrons hostage. Jane, a relatively unsuccessful author, begins to realize that the entire hostage crisis is a replica of her latest book. Jane, knowing what will happen next, takes it upon herself and her troubled husband, to stop the madness.

This book was so fun and hilarious, I enjoyed every page. Colleen Oakley wrote each character with a snarky and amusing voice that I found myself recommending this book before I was even finished reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #JaneAndDanAtTheEndOfTheWorld

This book was a good time to me! It was serious without being over the top serious. Jane had a lot going on with Dan and I liked that they came back together in the end. Would definitely read more by this author and really enjoyed this one!

Jane and Dan find themselves going to a fancy restaurant to celebrate their 19th Anniversary. Jane is planning to break the news to Dan that she wants a divorce, but things go very awry at the restaurant, when a group of armed terrorists enter the restaurant, looking for a famous billionaire. What's even stranger is that Jane swears the terrorists are doing everything they did in the book that she wrote...will Jane and Dan escape this terrible night?

This book was hard to put down, with many twists and turns, as Jane and Dan and the other diners navigate through a volatile situation, while still maintaining the humor of a romcom. Readers will surely be entertained!