Okay, okay this hilarious romcom/heist story is definitely worth all the hype!! It may not work for everyone but I thought the anniversary date gone wrong story was clever, fun and suspenseful. Married couple Jane and Dan are treating themselves to a fancy dinner only to have the restaurant get crashed by a masked group (one of whom is their daughter) who are set on robbing a billionaire. Who doesn't want to cheer for a rich guy getting swindled??

But wait, there's more, Jane is an author and her first (and only) bestseller seems to have been the inspiration for the crooks who are following its plot pretty closely which is really starting to worry Jane since her book ends with a bomb explosion that kills everyone! Sold yet?? It was also good on audio and perfect for fans of the Tina Fey and Steve Carell movie, Date Night! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Quirky, funny, and suspenseful!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a humorous, compelling read that transports you to California and into the lives of Jane Brooks, a struggling mystery writer, and her husband Dan, a somewhat successful podiatrist, whose lives get turned upside down when a terrorist group storms the swanky restaurant they won a reservation to, hold them hostage similarly to a way Jane previously wrote about in her one failed book, leaving their anniversary dinner in shambles and Jane’s request for a divorce on a temporary pause.

The prose is sharp and witty. The characters are relatable, stressed, and multilayered. And the plot unravels quickly into a riotous yet thrilling tale filled with marital drama, criminal intentions, secrets, tricky situations, spirited hijinks, danger, and hilarious mishaps.

Overall, Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a fresh, charming, laugh-out-loud funny mystery by Oakley that kept me amused and entertained from the very first page. It’s escapism at its very best, and I would, hands down, love to see it as a movie.

A date night that was supposed to be romantic turned into a disaster. Jane, married to her husband Dan for nineteen years, had something crucial to tell her him. While they were dining at a ridiculously expensive restaurant, things were about to take a turn for the worse. When a group of activists rush into the restaurant, Jane and Dan, as well as everyone else in the restaurant, become hostages in a situation that quickly goes from bad to worse. The group have what seems like an unclear purpose in mind, but violence erupts.

Showing fear at the assault, Jane’s mind wanders to other thoughts. She’s lived a life that feels fulfilled, but now, as the mother of two teenagers, she feels her identity has been erased. Not only that, she’s concerned that Dan might be having an affair.

Jane is confused. The group’s actions mimic, nearly page by page, the plot of her failed novel—her only attempt at publication. This brings a lot of fear to Jane, because her book certainly didn’t have a happy ending. Is the world as she knows it about to be over, and does she have any role in the disaster that’s in the making because of her book? But that is not the only thing that terrifies Jane. Another fact soon becomes known, a critical factor that leaves Jane with the decision to rely on Dan to get everyone out of danger.

What a fun book! In many ways, it was comedic, especially as we witness Jane and Dan’s actions regarding their marriage, which had truly begun to fail. But could this shocking series of events just bring them back together? Will they survive, not just their marriage, but literally, or will their world end? Reading this story will definitely keep you entertained.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Jane and Dan are going to La Fin du Monde to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary and Jane thinks that’s the perfect time to tell him she wants a divorce. Before they get to the second course and environmental terrorist group bursts into the dining room and they find themselves in a hostage situation. The eery thing is that the terrorists seem to be following the plot in the novel Jane wrote, which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next and they’re the only ones that can stop it.

The synopsis is what drew me to this book and I have to say I was not disappointed at all. This story moved the plot forward at a very quick pace and I blew through this novel. It was so much fun! The original premise is that Jane feels dissatisfied with her life. Her kids are growing up and she’s not needed so much at home, the novel she wrote only sold 500 copies, and she thinks her husband Dan is cheating on her. She picks the night of their anniversary dinner at an exclusive restaurant as the place where she’s going to tell her husband she wants a divorce. This opening chapter really set the stage for whether the reader was going to like Jane and Dan and I have to say that their dialogue at dinner made me love them. They were so witty and bantered just like a couple who have been married for 19 years would. There was humor, confusion, hurt, and shock. Then the terrorists arrive.

I don’t want to ruin the plot for any readers out there who plan to enjoy this book but let’s just say that as soon as Jane realizes the terrorists read her book and are following her plot, her actions become rather outrageous and add a lot of hilarity to the story. Her husband Dan is no hero, but his solid demeanor makes him seem heroic in this kind of situation. I loved how the two of them working together to save the other hostages end up saving their marriage as well. This was a totally enjoyable well rounded story and just so much fun to read.

This was such an easy and interesting read. Jane Is an author that not many people have heard of. Jane and her husband get into a situation that is very similar to the plot of her book. Not typically something I would normally read, but I liked it!

So, I won’t spoil anything, but this story was funny and interesting. Jane writes a book that maybe sold less than 500 copies and suddenly the same exact terrorist situation is happening at her 19th anniversary dinner? LOL yeahhhhhh…..

I don’t think I like the “Villains” in the story much and I feel like there could have been more suspense in the whole story. The ending was meh, I just feel like things could have been more exciting.

I like how Jane and Dan rekindle their relationship and navigate the situation together.

I definitely recommend this to someone who would like a quick and fun read.

Release Date March 11, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc!

This book was fantastic and such a fun ride! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was I thought the perspective from Kip didn't feel like it added much value to the story or he needed more of a storyline. Besides that it's a great read!

I absolutely adored this deliciously absurd tale. It’s at once fantastical and at the same time relatable, placing an average married couple dealing with average midlife issues, within a completely extraordinary situation. There’s poignance and depth but also such hilarious hijinks and more than a bit of the bizarre. I enjoyed this so much that I’ve already read it twice- first via kindle, and then next on audio. I can confirm, it’s a delight in either format.

Thank you Colleen Oakley, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

JANE AND DAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is my second book by Colleen Oakley. Her books have proven to be easy and fun to read! I love the lighthearted banter between characters despite high stakes situations.

Hostage and heists are some of my favorite thriller plots so this was right up my alley! I always love when characters have really stereotypical human flaws so it’s feels easy to put yourselves in their shoes, especially when they’re considering how to act in stressful situations.

I also loved the commentary on marriage and the second chance love story!

strong language

I enjoyed this. Jane is super relatable (albeit naggy) and the discussions about marriage are spot on. It reminded me a bit of Anxious People.

Not bad at all, but also not great. The best way I can think to summarize it is Die Hard meets The Menu (Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult). Super expensive, exclusive restaurant, hostage situation that people are trying to find a way out of. Jane and Dan’s story is at the center, with Jane growing bored in their marriage and finding texts on Dans phone that indicate he’s having an affair. The writing is good but flagged on for a bit.

Funny, twisty, engaging, fresh, real, book club gold! It takes a lot to get 5 stars out of me and this did it. Jane and Dan are 40 somethings who have find themselves in a somewhat inadvertent dinner splurge for their wedding anniversary. As the evening starts to unfold we, along with Jane and Dan get taken on a wild ride.

Jane and Dan felt like a real couple who have been married for 19 years. The inner dialogue was so relatable. This was such a fresh read, a palate cleanser to a rough week. Really looking forward to suggesting this one for my book club.

Y'all it has been A WEEK. By the time Friday came all I wanted was a tasty meal I didn't cook and a book I could lose myself in. So I headed over to a fave neighborhood spot, ordered a glass of lambrusco and dove into this one. What fabulous choices Friday Sarah made!!

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley was one of my favorite books of 2024, so believe me when I say I SCREAMED when I got an advanced copy of her latest, Jane and Dan at the End of the World - it is out on TUESDAY!!!

The premise for this one is delicious: Jane and Dan are going out to eat a VERY fancy and VERY VERY expensive restaurant to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. Jane has also decided this is where she is going to ask Dan to end their marriage. Shortly after she tells Dan she wants to divorce the night takes a more unexpected turn - the restaurant is taken over by an underground climate activist group and all the patrons are taken hostage.

But the weirdest part of all? Jane recognizes their actions and can anticipate their captors' next step...because it mirrors a book she wrote years ago, that barely sold and that she thinks even her own family never read. But that means she and Dan should be able to find a way to stop this, right?!

This was twisty, and funny and the story jumped off the page thanks to Oakley's excellent writing and storytelling. It was a perfect mix of humor, humanity, critique on life and relationships and mystery. I couldn't put it down and truly enjoyed it.

Massive thanks to the fabulous folks at NetGalley and Berkley for gifting me this advanced copy. Jane and Dan at the End of the World is out on TUESDAY and is must add to your TBR! Can't wait to hear what yall think!

Jane And Dan At The End Of The World:⁣
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Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner ⁣
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“How do you know what you’ll need out of a partner? Who you’ll be ten years, twenty years down the road? You just hitch your wagon to someone and hope you both keep heading in the same direction, through all the bumps and detours and peaks and valleys.”⁣
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Am I an author in a crippling marriage that has been held hostage on our anniversary dinner? No. Is this book so ridiculously relatable? Yes.⁣
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I loved Jane & Dan. It’s hilarious, the perfect locked room thrill, and a heavy dose of relatability. The metaphors are flying off the pages and I’m not mad at it. As a mom, the three pillars of motherhood hit pretty hard. And then I spiraled into the “did I pass this on to my children too?!” At first, I thought this would be just a slapstick type comedy, but I was mistaken. This book is so much more.⁣
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Audio is phenomenal. Hillary Huber hit every emotion perfectly. She gave the vulnerability, the sarcasm, the stubbornness, and hilarity of it all. I breezed through the audio and highly recommend. ⁣
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You know I love a dedication and acknowledgements. The very last sentence in the acknowledgement had my little heart. I just loved it so much. ⁣
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Overall, definitely contender of favorite of the year because it resonated so well for me. Again, I’m not in the middle of a heist, but this is the one. ⁣
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Out Tuesday, March 11th.

Jane and Dan have been married for nearly two decades. But lately Jane has been feeling like she’s failing as a mother, writer, and wife. It doesn’t help matters that she has also discovered Dan is keeping secrets from her. Meanwhile Dan is oblivious, making reservations at a swanky restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. Little does he know, however, that what Jane plans on ordering is a divorce.

When they arrive at La Fin du Monde, the upscale eatery, Jane can’t keep the charade going past the appetizers. But just as Jane announces the unthinkable, an even more outrageous thing occurs when the restaurant is invaded by a group of people with guns.

At first the patrons and workers have no clue as to what these people want. But as their intentions unfold, Jane is the only one who sees the events differently, noting the odd correlations between what’s happening in the present, and what she wrote in her unsuccessful novel. The parallels must be coincidental, but they still exist. Now armed with the surreal knowledge of what’s going to happen next, can Jane and Dan save their fellow hostages, as well as save their ailing marriage?

In Jane and Dan At the End of the World, underrated author Colleen Oakley pens a truly unique story which defies genres, while managing to pair a scary situation with marital strife. They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die, but there’s nothing like being held hostage together to make or break a relationship. Even though the situation itself is a scary one, Oakley smartly infuses a lot of humor to keep the situation light. This isn’t your typical survival story, nor is the story itself typical in the slightest.

It’s hard to narratives that about stale marriages while keeping the ingredients themselves fresh. But with Jane and Dan at the End of the World, Colleen Oakley manages to do just that.

I absolutely loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise. There was absolutely no way that I was not going to read a new book by Colleen Oakley.
It is not that this was a bad book. However, right afterwards, and two days later, my initial reaction was "What did I just read?"
I loved the premise: a middle aged couple who is having a "mid life crisis." Jane is feeling bored and stuck and the $64 million question is whether the marriage will survive.
There is no long married couple on earth that cannot relate to this.
But then the absurd happens: they go out to dinner at a very fancy restaurant and everyone is taken hostage. Worse yet, their daughter is one of the group that does it. That is all I will reveal but there are other things about the novel that defy reality and which are never really explained. I know that coincidences happen but in a novel, we need to have some reasons why. In addition, while lots of things happen, I feel like the end of the book was neatly tied up and was a bit rushed.
That said, I enjoyed the dialogue; there was some witty banter and the character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and to Berkley for providing me with this advanced reading copy.
Three and a half stars.

Fresh, funny take on love, marriage, and parenthood... all framed within a story of a heist gone wrong at an ultra-exclusive, ultra-expensive restaurant on a Pacific-coast clifftop. It's highly entertaining and engaging, and a terrific read overall.

This book absolutely flew by for me — I couldn’t put it down! 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
If you’re looking for something introspective about long-term relationships/marriage, this is a book for you. Jane has lost her sense of self after spending two decades of being a mother first, a wife second, and “Jane” the individual last. I loved following along with Jane as she’s forced to reflect through the evening. This one will have you laughing just as much as it has you thinking. I think this will be a hit for fans of Fredrik Backman.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley
March 11, 2025 Berkley Publishing Group

Thank you @NetGally and @BerkleyPub for the advanced reader copy to review.

Ever wondered how a seemingly ordinary anniversary dinner could spiral into utter chaos? Colleen Oakley's Jane and Dan at the End of the World takes you on that wild ride, blending humor, suspense, and a touch of marital drama. This novel is a quirky mix of romantic comedy and thriller, with a dash of domestic drama. Think of it as a rom-com that took a sharp left turn into suspense territory. Fans of Colleen Oakley who appreciated the comedic suspense in The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise will find this novel equally entertaining.

Set up: Jane and Dan, a couple teetering on the edge of marital monotony, decide to celebrate their anniversary at a fancy restaurant. But instead of rekindling their spark, they find themselves entangled in a bizarre hostage situation that feels eerily familiar—almost as if it's ripped from the pages of Jane's unpublished novel. As the night unfolds, they must confront not only the immediate danger but also the underlying issues in their relationship.

What Keeps You Hooked:
Witty Banter: Oakley's signature humor keeps the dialogue snappy and the situations laugh-out-loud funny, even amidst the tension.​
Relatable Characters: Jane and Dan are perfectly imperfect, making their journey through the night's absurdities both touching and hilarious.​
Unexpected Twists: Just when you think you've got it figured out, the plot takes another wild turn, keeping you hooked till the end.

Instagram: @_BookOnTheBrightSide_
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7385688686

Quirky and fast paced, I thought Jane And Dan At The End Of The World was wildly entertaining.

Jane is a failed writer, with a marriage that has lost its spark and kids who are on the cusp of adulthood. On the evening of Jane and Dans nineteenth wedding anniversary, they head off to a super fancy restaurant where Jane asks Dan for a divorce. Moments later an activist group surrounds the restaurant and takes all the patrons hostage. Jane finds the whole scenario terrifying yet oddly familiar, it seems like their captors have taken a page out of her book. Wait a minute, is that...?

The story is absolutely ludicrous but that's what kept me reading and reading and next thing I knew I had finished the book in a few hours. It was kooky and funny but also explored deeper themes like the evolution of marriage and motherhood. The author did an amazing job finding that balance between chaos and relatability. I was committed to the craze but also to Jane & Dans well being and rediscovery of self.

#JDAtTheEnd was a total treat.
Yes, I gave it a hashtag, somehow I think Jane would approve of this 😊