This was a captivating read that I found hard to put down. The pacing was just right, and the speed of it kept me engaged the whole time. I enjoyed the twists and I found the relationships to be intriguing.

To be honest, as a single person who has never been married, I'm not sure the husband and wife content had as much of an impact as it would have for someone who IS married – but it definitely did enough to make me check myself, because I definitely fall into the trap of thinking marriage = happily ever after/ better than being alone. This book did a great job of painting the picture of marriage dynamics, in addition to what it's like to be a mother. I have a feeling I'd be a similar type of mother that Jane is – and her internal dialogue was, quite frankly, exhausting. All of that just made Jane feel more well-rounded and believable, so as a reader, I appreciated that.

This clever read is done with a tongue-and-cheek approach to midlife and marriage, all rolled into an audience of climate activism. What's more, the book revolves around the story reflected in Jane's last failed novel attempt and a witnessing of art imitating life, making the situation a little too familiar and close to home. The story flows with emotional intelligence that only a couple of almost two decades could reveal to its readers. The outrageous gives way to an very enjoyable tale!

Jane and Dan are at a fancy restaurant celebrating their 19th and possibly last anniversary when a group of terrorists takes everyone hostage. It is quickly determined that the person they are after is not present and will have to wait for their arrival. Meanwhile, they have to deal with the chef who had a bullet in his shoulder, the police who have been called despite the nonexistent cell service, and the patrons who are not content to sit quietly. One of whom is Jane who feels like this scenario is oddly similar to the one book she’s published, and she’s not psyched about the potential ending where all the hostages die. But when she and Dan discover one of the “terrorists” is their Stanford-bound 18yo daughter, all they can think of is how to protect her and get her out of the situation.


A very engaging and entertaining story that keeps you reading to find out what’s going to happen.

Jane and Dan have been married for 19 years, and life has become ordinary—at least for Jane. Plus, Jane is sure that Dan is having an affair. Her plan is to tell Dan she wants a divorce while they are celebrating their wedding anniversary at an upscale restaurant. However, her plan backfires when an armed robbery occurs.

In classic Colleen Oakley fashion, she adds an armed robbery, a few unexpected plot twists, and several well-developed characters, resulting in hilarity. (Note: Not too many characters—I was able to keep track of them.)

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley Books for an early read in exchange for a fair review.

4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted e-arc of this book.

Once again, I was completely enchanted with Colleen Oakleys storytelling. Jane and Dan are out for a once in a lifetime meal at a high end restaurant to celebrate their 19th anniversary, but honestly, Jane isn't really into this marriage anymore. All of the sudden a hostage situation quickly evolves and this fancy dinner quickly escalates into a life threatening situation.

Pause.

Now this my friends, is what Oakley does so well. She writes this situation with humor and candor, yet also makes the reader a bit worried and biting their nails! The plot thickens to a point where I was sweating bullets for Jane and Dan!

Read this for a fun, light, entertaining, humorous read that has enough plot to keep you turning the pages.

This was a quick, fun read and it definitely has more than a few twists. Jane was odd but somehow totally believable as she navigated the unexpected events that occurred at her anniversary/divorce dinner. I laughed a number of times, and I was surprised more than once. Still, the ending was completely predictable, as is so often the case with a lighter read.

Brilliant, funny and gripping. I loved it. Will read more by this author. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I misread the description of this book, so it wasn't at all what I expected, and I think maybe that was a good thing! It turned out to be the perfect combination of domestic drama (with plenty of comedy thrown in) and thriller. Jane and Dan are celebrating their 20th (according to Dan) or 19th (according to Jane) anniversary at a super fancy restaurant, and it's not going great. Shortly after Jane informs Dan that she wants a divorce, the restaurant is taken over by climate activists who hold the diners hostage. Dan wants to be a hero, but can he rise to the occasion? And what do Jane and Dan do when they make a startling discovery about the identity of one of the hostage takers?

The action is fast-paced, but there also is lots of room for character development and growth. A very enjoyable read!

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

I really loved the concept of the book and was super excited to have a chance to read an advanced copy. I have enjoyed Colleen Oakley's books in the past and this one was no different. It gave a new idea to a copycat crime. The twists with the terrorists hitting closer to home was something I didn't see coming. I also enjoyed watching Dan and Jane reconnect. It had some cool twists and a very enjoyable story.

Thanks to the publisher for the free ARC. This book started out focused on a long married couple who may be getting a divorce. It contains some very moving musings on long term relationships and changing as people within a relationship. But it turns into a farce, which isn't a tone I enjoyed.

Calling the daughter Sissy every other paragraph drove me absolutely bonkers.

Colleen Oakley is an auto-buy author for me, and it was such a treat to get this one early thanks to Netgalley! (Side note: I loved the graphics at the beginning of all the chapters on the Kindle edition: So clever.) If this one isn't already on your list for 2025, make sure to add it! A couple's overpriced anniversary dinner goes horribly wrong--and the fact that one of them wants to file for divorce isn't even the half of it. Pure escapist entertainment full of great characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and one unpredictable twist after the next: Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley is a thought-provoking and emotional novel that explores love, loss, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The chemistry between the two protagonists is strong, and Oakley’s portrayal of their complex relationship provides the book with a deep emotional core. However, while the premise offers plenty of potential for tension and exploration of human resilience, the pacing can occasionally feel slow, and some of the character decisions feel more reactive than fully developed. The writing is solid, though there are moments when the plot’s focus on the romance detracts from the larger, more compelling themes of survival and existential uncertainty. Despite these minor issues, Jane and Dan at the End of the World is an engaging and bittersweet read for those who enjoy emotional, character-driven stories set in dystopian settings.

I have always enjoyed Colleen Oakley and I was excited to read her latest. Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a madcap adventure with many twists and surprises throughout. I totally related to the themes of motherhood and marriage and loved the banter between Jane and Dan. The storyline was a bit extreme for me and I’m not sure how supportive I could be with the choices Jane’s daughter made. All in all a good read but not my favorite by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Have you ever felt a book was written just for you? This one hits all the high notes for me of midlife, long marriage, parenting emerging adults, unfulfilled dreams and so much more. All this with insight, depth and laugh out loud humor. I think all audiences will adore this one.

✨ What do you get when you combine environmental justice, culture wars, class and financial inequality, social media antics, a heist gone wrong and a middle-aged wife and mom/author who knows what’s what? The answer is AN ABSOLUTE WINNER OF A BOOK!

🌿Read if you like:
✨Women of a certain age main characters
✨Stories of long-term marriage
✨Themes of parenting teens and young adults
✨Environmental justice narratives
✨Witty banter
✨Cult classics

My thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

This is an absolutely wacky concept that takes you for a ride. Its a rollercoaster ride, which means not all the turns and twist are comfortable or nice, but by the end you had fun. How to describe it, its maybe a family cozy mystery that's weird but kind of adorable. The absurdity of it all makes it believable in the end, and I really enjoyed the way the chapters are set up as xxx hours before the end of the world. I also appreciated the shout out that no person uses the term ironic accurately as it is so true!

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.