I really loved this book. The characters, the setting, the plot, the surprises, and the narrators all held my attention and kept me listening. I loved the way it started with talk of divorce and the gradual shift as Jane began to remember what she loved about Dan. I enjoyed pondering what I would do in the hostage situation they found themselves in. Also, have I been a good mother? The audiobook is fantastic and I highly recommend that you read this book in whatever form you prefer. It's entertaining, thought-provoking, and will leave you smiling.

If I'm being honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book because I thought the title was silly and I don't like rom coms and I'm not into over-the-top silly premises. However, this book is exactly what I needed to read at this time! It ended up being a wild and hilarious ride!

Jane and Dan go out to a fancy, upscale restaurant to celebrate their 19th anniversary. Unbeknownst to Dan, Jane who is bored with her marriage and her life, decides to take this opportunity to let Dan know that she wants a divorce. She also thinks he's cheating on her, so this gives her the perfect reason. Right after she makes this announcement, they find themselves in a hostage situation that just so happens to be eerily similar to the plot of Jane's first and only novel and one of their captors is VERY familiar to both of them.

There were moments reading this book where I actually laughed out loud and there were very heartwarming, touching moments as well. Jane and Dan is not a serious read by any means, but it's fast paced and exactly the kind of book that you need when you are in a funk because you can't read this book and not smile. I truly enjoyed it and I now have The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise on my TBR. Most importantly I've learned not to judge a book by its title!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. It's available for purchase now. Happy reading!

There was a lot to enjoy in this fast-paced sort-of thriller and sort-if midlife crisis story centering around a couple in their mid-forties (who read like they were in their fifties or older) going for their anniversary dinner to an exclusive place that charges an insane price for a "dining experience"--when it gets taken over by eco-terrorists.

The narration is mostly from Jane's POV, but goes omni at times. I found Jane's put-upon self-centeredness hard to like, though I did sympathize with her thwarted ambitions, but the rest of the characters were really enjoyable. Jane and Dan hash our their marital problems as all heck breaks out around them, sometimes the juxtaposition being hilarious and other times insane. Some fun surprises, and an ending that makes me think this was aimed at film. And it would make a great film.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read Jane and Dan at the end of the world. I have read a previous book by Colleen Oakley and enjoyed it and was delighted to read another book by this author. This book was fast paced and a funny story about two characters who are celebrating there 19th wedding anniversary. This book has numerous twist when they get to the restaurant but you have to read the book to see what happens. I think this book can be a sequel

When Dan and Jane go on a special anniversary date, the night leads to some surprises. The plot included a little bit of intrigue and a lot of family drama. It definitely wasn’t the book I was expecting. Oakley offers keen insights into marriage and motherhood and relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this story.

The story kicks off at the end—Jane and Dan at the police station. Then, we rewind a few hours to their anniversary dinner at a super exclusive, pricey restaurant. Think The Menu, but with less chaos and more awkwardness. Jane starts noticing eerie similarities between the events unfolding around her and a book she wrote a few years back. The only problem? As her husband keeps reminding her, no one actually read that book—not even their own family. So how are these terrorists acting out her fictional story?

What I really enjoyed about this book was its sheer absurdity. Every twist leaves you asking, "Wait, what?" And yet, it’s written with a level of humor that keeps things from feeling too tense. A restaurant under siege by terrorists, but instead of dread, there’s this odd sense that it’s all going to be fine. Another highlight is the portrayal of a long-term relationship—the weird things you keep to yourself, the unspoken shorthand, and those little quirks that drive you mad. It captures all the nuances of being with someone for a long time.

I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in one go. I had to see how it would all unfold.

Let me just say right up front that I am a huge fan of Colleen Oakley! I was delighted to receive an advanced digital copy of this novel through NetGalley, and what follows is my honest review.

Oakley's novels are always firmly seated in the everyday world of real people experiencing everyday joys and sorrows. What sets her work apart is her ability to weave the unexpected, the surprising, at times even the miraculous, into these ordinary stories and produce novels that have much more to say than first expected.

In "Jane and Dan at the End of the World," we find Jane and Dan, a married couple (with two somewhat difficult teenage children and differing opinions on their newly realized middle-age "life goals") celebrating either their 19th (says Jane) or 20th (says Dan) wedding anniversary. Having "won" a coupon for a reservation only (says Jane) or for a free nine course culinary extravaganza of a gourmet meal (says Dan) at the exclusive, celebrity favorite, Michelin star (maybe) restaurant known as La Fin du Monde.

What ensues is the funniest, most implausible, over-the-top adventure of a read centering around that momentous (and misunderstood) meal, and the mayhem and mischief during the nine courses (well, actually only one course) of that memorable anniversary meal!

Please read this entertaining novel sooner rather than later! I promise you many smiles, plenty of good-natured eye rolls, and a belly full of laughter!

#JaneandDanattheEndoftheWorld
#ColleenOakley
#NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will come back to provide a review when I am able to read the book -- unfortunately, time does not permit me to give this book the attention it deserves.

Colleen Oakley has become a must read author for me! I've read and really enjoyed all of her books and this one was no different.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World takes place over the course of several hours, though we learn a lot about the 19 year marriage of the main characters. The story is mix of heist and family drama with some laughs strewn in.

The story drew me in from the first pages and I had a hard time putting it down until I finished it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @writercolleenoakley @berkleypub and @booksparks for the #gifted book as part of #WRC2025 and @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.

I was completely captivated by The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, which compelled me to dive into Colleen's latest offering. I began reading and, in a whirlwind, finished it in a single day. The writing is sharp, poignant, and delightfully witty.

Set against the backdrop of a fancy anniversary dinner for Jane and Dan, the story takes a dramatic turn when a climate activist group seizes control of the restaurant, taking the diners hostage. Jane can’t shake the feeling of déjà vu as the scenario mirrors a plot from her own novel. To their shock, they discover their daughter is involved with the group. How will they escape this life-threatening predicament?

This book is an absolute joyride! The premise is outrageous yet thoroughly entertaining, and that’s precisely what makes it such a thrilling read. I adored the vibrant characters and the witty banter—both between them and in their internal thoughts. The dual perspectives of Jane and Dan create a gripping narrative that pulls you in from the very first page.

The narrator truly excelled, effortlessly capturing the dynamic humor between Jane and Dan, while also conveying the tension of the hostages' situation. An outstanding performance!

If you crave an engaging read filled with colorful characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and twists that will keep you on your toes, this book is an absolute must-read!

I struggled with this one. The concept was novel, but something about it felt odd. These characters were in a terrifying situation but it almost presented like a quirky comedy. I appreciated the relationship between Jane and Dan, but it also seemed like their plight could have been resolved by simply communicating.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Colleen Oakley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Colleen Oakley’s Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a wild romp through an anniversary dinner turned break-up turned terrorist attack. At times funny and sometimes relatable (Jane is a wife and mother who feels disconnected from herself), Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a twisty, action-filled, quick read.

Jane and Dan are celebrating their anniversary - it’s their nineteenth but he thinks it's their twentieth - at a very posh restaurant. As Dan (a podiatrist) is expounding about the deliciousness of the goose barnacles, Jane (a novelist) blurts out that she wants a divorce. The discussion about the future of their marriage is interrupted by a terrorist attack on the restaurant. The actions of the terrorists are very familiar to Jane; the attack seems to be modeled on the plot of her only novel (which Dan has never read), which happens to be about terrorists who attack a Japanese tea house in London.

Readers who enjoy action, even it’s a little absurd, and like a little laugh will enjoy Oakley’s Jane and Dan at the End of the World.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a refreshing story about domestic life in which Jane and Dan spend their anniversary at the world's most expensive restaurant and are held hostage when terrorists take over the restaurant. It follows a dual narrative structure, with both Dan and Jane as the central characters. The examination of their relationship through the lens of the monotony of their everyday and the chaos of the restaurant takeover is fascinating. The characterization is strong, and the writing style is unique. I loved the portrayal of Jane and Dan's thoughts. It was comedic and so very real. I look forward to getting my hands on a physical copy of this book!

Dan and Jane, a couple on the rocks, are celebrating their 19th (or 20th - they can’t decide) anniversary at a Michelin Star restaurant. But their fancy night out, quickly turns into a hostage situation.

I don’t think a book has made me chuckle more than this book in a long time. While a hostage situation with environmental activists fighting oil tycoons might not sound funny, the story was just as full of wit and humor as it was thoughtful moments around the imbalance of power created by wealth in our world (which felt very poignant in today’s political climate. Probably even more so than when the author finished the book…)

The dynamic of Dan and Jane was perfection. I enjoyed every minute of reading this story. I just wish some parts of the hostage situation and its resolution were a little more flushed out. If this was just Dan and Jane’s story, it would have been 5⭐️ all the way!

I’ve really enjoyed this author’s books before, so I was excited to read this.

Jane and Dan are celebrating their anniversary (19th or 20th, who knows?) at a fancy restaurant when Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce. Before they can discuss it further or enjoy their meal, the restaurant is taken over by an activist group with guns.

Jane realizes that the activist groups’ actions are mirroring that of her one and only book published. She should be able to stop the rest from playing out, right?

I enjoyed the beginning and the author’s quirky humor…until it felt forced with too many parentheses. Jane wasn’t really too likable and the ending was a bit underwhelming.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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4 stars! This one read like a thriller but with more depth as we got a peek into Jane and Dan’s marriage and their witty insights on life as a couple and family..

Thank you to Berkley, Net Galley and the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Short synopsis: Jane and Dan are celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary, when the restaurant is overrun with terrorists.

My thoughts: What a fun and quirky book, I loved that what was happening in the restaurant mirrored Jane’s book (that she thought no one had read). Could it be coincidence? I loved finding out!

Never did I think I would enjoy reading about a disintegrating marriage finding balance during a life threatening situation, but the author told the story with equal parts humor and heart. I’m excited to read her backlist titles now!

Read if you love:
* Second Chance
* Marriage in crisis
* Hostage situation
* Fancy restaurants

Another great book from this author. A unique story that was a fun ride. Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.

An exciting adventure with these funny characters you can relate to. Enjoyed everything about the story from start to finish. Very different from the usual plot, but also a very welcome change. Good luck in the future Jane and Dan (and Sissy).

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley is a hilarious, quirky and insightful book about date night gone wrong!

Jane and Dan decide to forgo their usual anniversary date night at the Macaroni Grill for a bougie night of surprisingly delicious goose barnacles at the uber expensive La Fin du Monde. This is their nineteenth (not twentieth) wedding anniversary and Jane has decided to ask Dan for a divorce. Just as she announces that they should part ways, and underground environmentalist group bursts in and takes everyone hostage. What's even more weird is that this has hostage situation is turning out exactly like Jane's novel that she wrote six years ago.

This was such a good book, I was hooked immediately! I really loved Janes sense of humor and she was very relatable. The witty banter between Jane and Dan is absolute perfection and I could definitely see this playing out in my head as I read it. Oakley definitely deserves to be kept an eye on and I am gladly going to check out more work by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, Colleen Oakley, and Berkeley Publishing Group for this ARC. Publication date was March 11th 2025.