This is 1000% one of my absolute favorite books of this year, if not this decade so far. Colleen Oakley has outdone herself, which is saying a lot, since her first two novels were incredibly joyful and hilarious. Jane and Dan, a married couple, go out to the fanciest restaurant in the country for their anniversary dinner. But little does Dan know, Jane is going to ask for a divorce. But little does Jane know, a group of probably violent hijacker/protesters is planning to take over the restaurant and kidnap Jeff Bezos. Or like, the book version of Jeff Bezos.

A fantastic ride from one page to the next, this book is laugh out loud funny, but also very affecting. An EXCELLENT choice for your next read.

The End of the World is a very expensive--absurdly expensive--restaurant near Malibu, and somehow Jane and Dan have received an invitation to make a reservation there for dinner. Dan chooses their anniversary date (which he says is their 20th and she says is the 19th) and little does he know that Jane is going to ask him for a divorce. The first course is strange but delicious. It's a shame that they don't get to taste the second, but a climate activist group bursts into the restaurant and takes everyone hostage. This is stressful enough, but Jane realizes that most of what is going on mirrors her first and only published novel. There are going to be more surprises this evening, but this gets things off to a good start.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World (the restaurant is of course called Le Fin du Monde, no plebeian English for them) is a sprightly novel where regular middle-aged people are tested and either rise to the occasion or don't. Colleen Oakley creates a lively cast of characters with a surprise ending that will satisfy and please readers. I wish that Dan had had a little more heft. He's one of those mildly amusing nice guys who seems to be cheating on Jane. Jane is a writer struggling with her second novel, feeling like her kids don't need her anymore and her husband is interested in someone else. It's time for her to start a new chapter in her life. Will Dan be able to shift that balance or is he too clueless? Let's just say that nothing in this book is wasted. which is why it's so good.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book houses a mix of humor, confusion, and emotional depth made me genuinely care about the characters.

I won’t spoil the plot, but once Jane realizes the terrorists are following a book she wrote, her outrageous actions add a piece of hilarity. Dan may not be a traditional hero, but his calm demeanor gives him a heroic quality in this chaotic situation. I loved how their teamwork not only aimed to save the other, but ultimately helped to mend their marriage too. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and well-rounded story; just so much fun to read!

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.

This is my fifth book by this author. While her first books were tear jerkers, the latest have leaned into the crazy and this one really leaned. I can't say this book is believable - or even plausible - but it is readable, absorbing and entertaining. It started strong, lagging a little in the middle and ending ridiculous but sweet. Was it convenient? Yes but this a perfect easy beach read with a nice heart.

4 stars

When Jane and Dan go out to dinner for their nineteenth anniversary, Jane’s plan to tell Dan she wants a divorce is interrupted when an environmentally concerned terrorist group storms the restaurant. This sounds like it would be an edge of the seat read, but rather it is a statement on marriage, as well as on the damage we are doing to our world, told in a funny and quirky way. Jane’s dialog with Dan, and at times with herself, tells of a woman who is not sure she has accomplished much, and is looking for more in her life. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for this crazy romp.

What starts out as an anniversary dinner at an exclusive restaurant goes horribly wrong for Jane and Dan. Starting when Jane blindsides Dan asking for a divorce to a terrorist group taking over the restaurant. That may not sound like the making of a light and funny story but that's just what it is. I smiled or laughed out loud so many times at the antics of both Jane and Dan and their interactions with each other. So much fun.

I thought this book was definitely super unique! Not like anything I have read before, so that was an enjoyable aspect in and of itself. However, I didn’t absolutely love it! I thought the pacing was a bit slow. I ended up doing a combo of reading it digitally & listening on audio. I preferred it on audio. But thank you so much for the advanced digital copy as well!

This book was a lot of fun to read! The story follows an unhappy married couple who out for an anniversary dinner at a prestigious restaurant, find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation. From the very first page, this book has my full attention. It's fun, fast-paced, and an engaging read.

The only thing that threw me off at first was that the daughter's name-Sissy-which, luckily, we later find out is actually Sarah (and the explanation for it is pretty funny).

This book took a heartfelt turn at the end, which I was not expecting but I really enjoyed!

If you're hesitant on reading this, read it, I don't see how anyone could not have fun with it.

The book blurb was interesting, it had promise that in my opinion never manifested. Jane is an author who wrote one boring book that no one read. Except it seems a terrorist whose group has taken control of a restaurant Jane happens to be dining in. While not a complete duplicate Jane recognizes sections from her story unfolding. Her husband thinks she's on an ego trip because no one read her book. Even though she's right so is he, she's on a high thinking it all has something to do with her. Jane is having the worst inner dialogs that are part angst, anger and fear. Her emotions and moods gave me whiplash.

I found Dan to be as dull as the book Jane wrote. Dan is thinking about being a hero or not, mostly not. His Bruce Willis syndrome takes up a lot of space in his thoughts. Dan is middle-age typical. The most interesting characters are the eco-terrorist but their cause is a woke joke. Climate change is no longer a hot cause to be involved with, it's about a decade too late. After the first third of the book, I started skipping around and the ending was just as awful as the rest of the book. It could have been an entertaining finish but it was overly complicated.

#JaneandDanattheEndoftheWorld #NetGalley #ColleenOakley # BerkleyPublishingGroup #crimestory #penguinRandomHouse

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of Jane and Dan at the End of the World in exchange for my honest review.

I love, love, love this book! I loved the concept and there were so many funny, laugh out loud moments. It was a joy to read.

Now I need to go track down other books by Colleen Oakley as I've found myself a new author.

Thank you so much @prhaudio for the early listening copy and @berkleypub for the early reading copy

I have been loving Oakley’s books for some time now.

I read You Were There Too in 2020 and it’s still a book that lives rent free in my head.

I love her characters tremendously and Jane and Dan are no exception.

This book dragged a bit for me when I was reading the physical copy and decided at about 70 pages to transition completely to audio and what a good choice that was because Hillary Huber, where have you been all my life?! The narration was STELLAR. I know I am going to miss Jane and Dan and Sissy and even Brick. They have been voices in my ears for the last few days and it’s my favorite when I meet characters that feel like friends.

The premise of this book was also very engaging to me. A date night that goes off the rails… I mean how could that not be entertaining! You get to meet an entire cast of characters at the restaurant La Fin Du Monde and it was just so fun!

This is the perfect beach, workout, long drive listen!

I ended up really liking this one once I settled into the story and the author's witty and emotional voice. When you can insert funny emotion into a hostage situation, you're doing something right! I loved the high concept premise of this book (won't say too much more, since it's part of the fun) and I thought Oakley really delivered on it by the end. Also a touching take on a long-term relationship, with the stakes dialed WAY up. Will certainty read more from this author in the future!

I really enjoyed this novel! Colleen Oakley has such a wonderful sense of humor, and her quick, witty writing paired with unique characters kept me invested the whole time. I loved the little turns and surprises this story took, and I really enjoyed how it all came together at the end! I highly suggest this one!

This was a unique and fun read! It worked well for me as a palate cleanser in between some more emotional, literary books. I thought the ending really wrapped up nicely which bumped the rating up a bit. I hope chef is okay, though!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World was an exciting, funny and emotional story that had me staying up late to finish in one day! It wasn't a grip the edge of your seat thriller but it was full of exciting twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

Synopsis: Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress.

I really enjoyed the emotional tension between the main characters as they grappled with saving their marriage, their family, and ultimately their lives.

Thank you to Colleen Oakley, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC!

I LOVED all the facets of this book. There’s a hostage situation, and it’s fast paced. Yet in the midst of all the action my heart strings are literally being TUGGED on over themes like family, and goals and choices and climate change! I really enjoyed the humor and the twists of plot. Would recommend to my friends!

This is out now!! Go grab a copy and enjoy

When a date night goes off the rails anything can happen especially if you wrote the story. This reminded me of page jumpers when you write the story and then you have to live through it.
I found this to be quirky and at times so very funny.

(I won this copy)
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is my second book by author Colleen Oakley. This book was adventurous, fast-paced, and funny! I read it in two sittings because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. It is very engaging and I highly recommend it.

Synopsis:
Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure th…
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.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced digital copy of the book form my opinion.

I always love Colleen Oakley’s books. They have just the right amount of quirk and surprising twists. This one was no exception. Jane and Dan are celebrating their 19th anniversary. Jane plans on asking Dan for a divorce, and Dan has gone above and beyond by winning a raffle ticket to THE premier restaurant. It is impossible to get a reservation to this exclusive and unbelievably expensive restaurant ($8,000,000 dessert complete with Harry Winston diamond bracelet!). Only the raffle ticket is an in for a reservation and nothing else. When they arrive at this remote, exclusive location atop cliffs overlooking the ocean. They are seated and just beginning their nine course meal when Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce, and terrorists burst in and take control of the restaurant and all of its staff and patrons. Things happen quickly, and Jane starts to realize that the actions of her captors are eerily similar to a book she wrote and had publishing almost a decade ago. I am not going to give away any more of the plot, but it is a rollercoaster ride of the best kind. It will keep you turning the pages until the wee hours. Thank you to Net Galley and Colleen Oakley for allowing me to read this book!

I loved this light hearted caper! It was so humorous, but also a poignant story about relationships and coming to terms with what we want in life. I just really enjoyed this fun story!