I love Colleen Oakley but Jane and Dan at the End of the World just didn’t hit it out of the park for me. I felt like I was watching a goofy bad movie. Jane and Dan are taking hostage at a very high end restaurant at their 19th anniversary dinner. Jane has just asked for a divorce. The book felt like it just dragged on and on however I couldn’t give up until I saw what was going on. I will say it was easier to finish at the end but overall it just wasn’t my favorite one by Colleen.

In my 86 years I have read thousands of mystery/thriller books. This plot was ss original and clever I read it start to finish in one day. Jane and Dan go to an exclusive posh restaurant to celebrate their anniversary,. Before they can order a group of young thugs enter and take all those in the restaurant hostage. Who are they and why? Even the ending is unexpected. To say more would ruin the suspense for all readers.

It was such a joy to read Jane and Dan I plan to read more by the author, Colleen Oakley.

4.5⭐️

This book captivated me in a way that made it difficult to put down. The writing style was engaging, and the characters, while endearing, were flawed, adding a layer of complexity.

The story centers around Jane and Dan, a couple married for 20 years. Dan has secured a reservation at the most prestigious and somewhat pretentious restaurant in town. However, what he initially perceived as a complimentary meal turned out to be merely a reservation. The evening takes a tumultuous turn when climate activists take the diners hostage.

While the heist serves as a subplot, the story primarily focuses on character development. Jane embarks on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to redefine her identity beyond that of a wife and mother, while Dan often exhibits a degree of cluelessness that adds both humor and depth to his character.

I thoroughly appreciated the author's writing style; it was both accessible and engaging, making it easy to immerse myself in the story. This was my first encounter with this author, and I am eager to explore her previous works in the near future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this advance reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

This is a great carpool novel. With no exacting plot points and no complicated storylines, you can skip ahead at will without missing much. Dan is a good guy and Jane is a quirky unsuccessful author until their 19th wedding anniversary.
After that, Dan is still a good guy but Jane’s life changes somewhat. . Reminded me of an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show only longer.

What a fun and over the top story! I loved the juxtaposition of the amusing plot with the very real and relatable reflections on marriage and motherhood. I also found myself laughing out loud at Jane and Dan's banter. It would have been a five star read for me if the plot was just slightly more believable.

3.5🌟 I have heard great things about Colleen Oakley novels so I jumped at the chance to read this. Jane and Dan unexpectedly end up dining at La Fin du Monde - a very expensive restaurant for the rich and famous for their nineteenth (or is it twentieth?) wedding anniversary. Jane is bored and unsatisfied with her life and marriage. Jane has also discovered that Dan has been cheating on her. Shortly after informing him she would like a divorce, a group of climate change activists arrive and take everyone hostage. What's most unsettling is that as the drama unfolds, it's clearly reminiscent of the hostage situation in her failed novel published six years ago that sold under 500 copies.

This book had me laughing and as a parent, the themes of motherhood and marriage were relatable. Oakley's prose is entertaining. Given that the book covers a four hour period, a lot of the detail was in the characters' memories and the current situation. The second half of the novel became disjointed, and the author's commentary on capitalism and the environment murky. The premise is good and it is a fun read, but there isn't a lot happening and I felt it lacked the depth I was hoping for. Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Colleen Oakley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to receive a free kindle book from NetGalley. As soon as I read the blurb of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. It sounded so good, but it was even better than I imagined. Very different than anything I have ever read, but so amazing!

I had no idea what to expect with this book, as far as where the author was going. Jane writes a book about terrorists and then everything in her book starts happening at her anniversary dinner. Was Jane psychic or something? I can honestly say, there was absolutely no way I could have ever guessed why it happened. None at all.

There were so many twists and turns that I was not expecting. I never read thriller books with terrorist attacks or hostage situations or watch movies like that, but this book sounded so interesting. Loved it so much!

Thanks again to NetGalley for the free kindle book. My opinions are my own and are freely given. ❤️ 💙 💜

Made it to the 30% mark before DNFing. The concept of the story was unique, and loved that’s it’s about a broken marriage and attempting to fix the marriage, but I just couldn’t connect to the characters, found it to be very far fetched, and felt like the main focus of the story was lost during all the adventure. I’ll definitely check out more of oakleys books though.

This was kind of all over the place but I really liked it! Midlife marriage, the reality of the monotony of life sometimes, and an epic heist. It's not really a romance but it kind of is a romance at the same time. I think it was a great portrayal of marriage after 20 years with the ups and downs and the boat loads of memories.

When Jane finds texts on Dan's phone from "Becca", she is sure he is cheating on her. When he wins a reservation at an insanely upscale and exclusive restaurant for their 19th anniversary, she decides that's when she is going to tell him she wants a divorce.

It's been 6 years since her book came out and hardly anyone read it. She's feeling like she should have something to show for her life or should have been someone important by now. When their dinner starts to slowly remind her of the book she wrote, she thinks she's going crazy. But too many coincidences happen for it to not be a complete replica of her book.

When masked people barge into their fancy dinner spot and take them all hostage, she knows things have gone terribly wrong. She has to get out of there, her book ends with a bomb and everyone getting blown up!

Thank you to netgalley for the copy to enjoy.

Holding an entire restaurant hostage as part of a marketing strategy? I’ve seen worse ideas!

This was a quick and fun read. I really hope it gets picked up to be made into a movie!

This was an unexpected delight for me! The plot initially had me 🤔 but after some positive reviews from people I adore I had to give it a try. The writing in here is succinct and sharp. There’s a lot happening between what’s actually happening (the hostage takeover at a fancy restaurant), then the side quests of Jane and Dan’s marriage, motherhood, middle age and coping with life not ending up how you thought it would be. It was done in such a wonderfully woven way I stayed up to finish this one! My only complaint was the narrative switch to the cop sprinkled throughout.. that felt a little unnecessary to the story and I didn’t enjoy that character. I’m excited to see there is more work from this author and will definitely be reading more from them!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Jane and Dan at the End of the World, Jane plans to tell her husband, Dan, she wants a divorce during their anniversary dinner. But when climate activists take the restaurant hostage, acting out scenes from Jane’s “failed” novel, Jane and Dan realize they’re the only ones who know what might come next. Forced to cooperate, the couple must navigate both the hostage crisis and their own marital struggles. It’s a tight, suspenseful read that blends tension and irony in an unexpected setting.

I really enjoyed this story. Jane and Dan were so endearing and funny. I typically hate a miscommunication trope, but this one was so much fun and added some depth to the plot. I can’t wait to read more from Oakley.

I'm gonna say 2.5 stars. This was fine! Nothing about it really stuck out to me that much. I absolutely adore the cover, but tha's about how far my excitement goes for this one. The pacing was a little bit slow, but I think if the story as a whole resonates with you, that won't be an issue for you.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is funny and tender with a unique plot. Very slightly reminiscent of Backman’s ‘Anxious People’ although the underlying message didn’t quite land the way AP did for me.

I had a lot of fun reading this but the middle draaaaags. Jane grated on my nerves but I also felt for her. I think a lot of women will see themselves in Jane. She feels stuck in her monotonous life and questioning why her identity is “mom” and “wife” not “Jane”.

This was also doin a little too much with the added layers of climate change, crypto, and eat the rich. I loved the message of Jane and Dan’s relationship, everything else took away from that.

Overall: grab if you want a light fun low stakes read

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

‘Jane and Dan at the End of the World’ by Colleen Oakley strikes a nice balance between twists and humor. Jane wrote a book. It bombed. As Jane and her husband Dan are taken hostage at a fancy, exclusive restaurant, Jane recognizes the terrorists using the plot from her book. It’s a fun read and you never quite know what’s going to happen next. It’s topical and breezy. It should be a hit in 2025. Publishing in March 2025. Grade: B

Jane and Dan at the End of the World has convinced me to get every book that Colleen Oakley has ever written. The flow of this story was only bested by the characterization throughout. It’s not often that in a multiple POV story, I feel like I know each of the characters super well but in this book, I felt like Jane and Dan were friends. Crazy friends but friends nonetheless. Reading about how Jane and Dan’s marriage began to break down while simultaneously experiencing them being held hostage led to some pretty vulnerable (and funny)moments. I truly enjoyed reading this. I hope you enjoy it when it releases on March 11, 2025.

This is my first book by this author, Colleen Oakley. I want to thank Net Galley for this early copy and the opportunity to discover her!
What I enjoyed about her writing style is the tongue in cheek inner ( and outer) dialogue happening throughout the book.
Jane is at a point in her life where she is feeling that there must be more out there for her. Dan is happy in his everything is predictable, run by his wife life. It is their 20th ( 19th? depends who you ask) anniversary. Dinner plans are made, other plans are made, and nothing goes as planned.
This is a book about a couple grappling with what they want, believe they want and what they think they have. Nothing really is as it seems.
I can see this made into a movie, it was quick and witty and I enjoyed reading it.

I was intrigued by this book for two reason. 1. I've enjoyed this author's backlist and 2. IT has a "Date Night" vibe with a couple at a similar stage of marriage as me. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I expected to connect with Jane and Dane more- to be able to commiserate with them. The story also felt too drawn out and too far fetched.

There is nothing inherently bad with this book, it just didn't stand out for me. If you are considering adding this to your TBR please be sure to check a variety of reviews. It could be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Jane and Dan go to an upscale restaurant to celebrate their nineteenth wedding anniversary - their last, if Jane summons the courage to tell Dan she wants a divorce. In the middle of their first course, an activist group storms the restaurant. As if being taken hostage on date night wasn’t strange enough, Jane also gets the feeling that her captors are using the (failed) book she wrote six years ago as their script.

I can honestly say I’ve never read another book like this! On the surface, this book reads like a fun action movie, but below the surface, it’s really about the intricacies of marriage and how it’s easy to lose sight of yourself as you become a spouse and parent. The premise is so unique and I could easily see this story transitioning to the screen. Even though this book deals with a tense situation, the mood is light throughout. I loved being able to be in both Jane’s and Dan’s heads, and I laughed out loud multiple times.

This book was an unusual story and one that, for all its fantastical aspects, truly reflected the dilemmas of a woman's modern life in a sharp satirical frame. There is something almost Walter Mitty-esque in the way Oakley begins this and I think this colors how the reader first meets and reacts to Jane, the principle character. I honestly found her, in the beginning, to be a whiney, self-absorbed, problematic narrator who I took a deep dislike for early on. But then, about a third of the way into the novel when Jane's worldview is being tested and her true personality emerges from under what I can only interpret as being part of her buying into the role of 'the failed struggling author' do we see her as Jane - mother, wife, fighter, and creative person. This is a woman I would want to know and have a great time.chatting with. At this point I was all in this story. Jane and Dan's relationship grew further and built on the strong foundation of life, love, and shared experience that was beautifully articulated in little 'throw away comments' and overlooked interactions. This gave them that ability to communicate with just an raised eyebrow which to me is the ultimate statement of a true, lasting relationship. This is a relationship that needed to be tested and this dinner will be that test to open the door to a new chapter in each of their lives, but what will that life be.....not even they know.

This is a story that, in the first third asks a lot of the reader because - for me at least - it holds a stark halogen lit mirror up to reader via Jane and asks 'Why do you not have so much more?' The second third asks, 'What is it you really want?' The final third....well that would be giving too much away and what good is arriving at a destination without the revelations that the journey itself give you? 😘

Jane and Dan's story was one that had everything I look for in a true work of Women's Fiction. Drama, Humor, true and real life Romance, a Journey of Discovery, a deeper understanding of ones own life and values. Yes, the creativity and the satire shines through and brings great moments of levity to balance the more dramatic aspects. But isn't that what life is all about?

My closing thought: If Die Hard is A Christmas Movie, in your opinion, than you will have a great fun read with Jane and Dan at the End of the World. Because for me, this was a wonder woman's say back to that classic tale!

Thank you Colleen Oakley, Berkley Publishing, and Net Galley for the eARC that I read. This review represents my own candid thoughts of this book.