1.5★

this was a miss for me 😩

i found none of the characters to be likable and the plot seemed silly from the beginning. the kicker is i am still not 100% certain that that was intentional. it seemed like it was serious at some parts, and then seemed like it was kind of a parody at some parts. i don’t know. this is probably a me problem.

the third person writing style was distracting at some parts for me. this is very oddly specific, but if an author uses the characters’ names too often instead of “he” or “she”, then i start noticing it and i become hyperaware of it. again, just a me preference probably!

i will admit that i was entertained enough throughout the book to finish it, but the plot of the hostage situation was very strange and confusing to me at parts. some parts i had to pause and just wonder… why? i also think the plot of jane and dan’s marriage troubles seemed like it was slightly unnecessary. it felt like such a subplot to me, it almost felt like the point of that was to throw in a theme of “it’s okay to be boring and comfortable in your marriage” in the epilogue. also the miscommunication of dan’s secret texts that jane found and what was really going on with that was craaaaazy to me.

overall the reveals and the ending were anticlimactic (to me!) and i personally don’t think this would be worth the read. if anyone has read anything else by colleen oakley that they think i would like more based on my review, please let me know! i’m all for giving authors a second chance.

thank you berkley and netgalley for the free eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Colleen Oakley, and Berkley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

LOVED!! I had high hopes for this because I ate up Oakley’s previous book, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, last year. And it totally delivered!! I find Oakley’s writing to be truly witty, funny, and fresh; it feels original and like she is never trying too hard. This read is silly and unrealistic from the start, but it always stays charming rather than annoying. I was hooked into Jane and Dan’s relationship and seeing the antics of the hostage situation unfold. There were quite a few reveals I didn’t see coming, and I stayed on my toes until the very end! It felt like watching a movie while I was reading, and I would love to see this get an adaptation. The overall messaging is poignant and thoughtful, and I ended the book feeling fulfilled from a fun reading experience. Is this book life changing? No, but it’s fun and quick and the perfect cozy read!

4.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Berkley for the advanced reading copy!

I had no idea what to expect going into this one, and it was a really pleasant surprise. Ended up listening to it on audio and glad I did — Hillary Huber is the best and nailed this one.

Jane and Dan are at their 19th (or is it 20th??) anniversary dinner when suddenly they find themselves in a hostage situation that is… eerily familiar. Jane instantly recognizes the situation as straight out of her debut (and only) novel, publisher years ago. What ensues is hilarity — I laughed out loud a few times — drama and suspense.

I really had no clue where this was going but the journey and destination were so entertaining. Some great twists and unexpected events throughout. There were some exceptionally clever moments in this book — like all the ways Jane & Dan’s perspectives were interwoven, even at much different times in the book.

I really enjoyed this one and would gladly read more by Colleen Oakley again!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 3/11

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley for my free e-copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This book was such a fun, unexpected ride! It’s a hilarious and heartfelt look at marriage, midlife crises, and second chances—all wrapped up in a totally chaotic hostage situation.

Jane and Dan have been married for 20 years, but their relationship is hanging by a thread. Jane feels invisible, her writing career is a flop, and she’s pretty sure Dan is cheating. So, she plans to use their fancy anniversary dinner at La Fin du Monde to drop the divorce bomb. But before she can, a group of clumsy climate activists storms the restaurant, and things spiral fast. The wildest part? Their plan sounds suspiciously like the plot of Jane’s failed novel. And since Jane and Dan seem to be the only ones who know what’s coming next, they have to figure out how to stop it—if they don’t kill each other first.

While the hostage plot is a fun, unpredictable ride, the real heart of the book is Jane and Dan’s relationship. Their banter is sharp, their struggles feel real, and watching them rediscover each other is both funny and touching. The writing is super engaging, witty, and full of personality.

I loved The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise so much and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Oakley’s newest book! If you like character-driven stories with humor, heart, and a little bit of chaos, you’ll love this one!

Jane thinks she and Dan should get a divorce. And she plans to announce it tonight, out for dinner on their 19th wedding anniversary. Thanks to a bit of luck, they are heading to a very exclusive, eye-wateringly expensive restaurant miles from anywhere.
But just as they start their second course, climate activists raid the venue, and hold them all hostage at gunpoint. And not only does the unfolding scenario seem to mirror the plot of Jane’s one and only novel, they also soon realise one of the hostage-takers looks rather familiar.
This story takes a flight of fancy in terms of its far-fetched plot but it’s an entertaining, action-packed one nonetheless. It's like one of those Netflix action-romance date night flicks. Although it could have gone a bit deeper into Jane and Dan’s relationship to make us care more.

Review:
I was not expecting this to be such a riot. Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a hilariously sharp and wildly entertaining novel that had me laughing out loud. All I can think about is how Kristin Wiig and Will Ferrell would absolutely kill playing Jane and Dan, the middle-aged couple at the center of this outrageous story.

Jane is a struggling author whose book sold only 500 copies, and Dan is a podiatrist (“not a real doctor”). Their marriage has become painfully predictable and stale, much like their lives. While celebrating their anniversary (the 19th? Or maybe the 20th?) at an overpriced California restaurant, Jane announces she wants a divorce—just before a group of armed, hilariously incompetent terrorists bursts into the restaurant and takes everyone hostage. What follows is a chaotic, laugh-until-you-cry series of events that somehow mirrors Jane’s own novel.

The hostage takers, all amateurish and absurdly young, bring just as much comedy as they do tension. The couple’s banter is hysterical:
• “Because that worked out so well for Occupy Wall Street?”
• “What’s that?” Neck Tat asks.
Moments like these keep the tone light and the humor razor-sharp. And the hilarity is often so quick that if you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss the joke entirely.

Amidst the chaos, Oakley explores deeper themes about marriage, identity, and rediscovering what it means to truly like your partner, not just love them. Jane’s perspective as a bored, restless wife is relatable, even if she can be a bit insufferable at times.. The couple’s journey toward reconnection feels both heartfelt and hilariously authentic.

The ending delivers laughs, warmth, and insight, reminding us that love isn’t perfect—it’s messy, exhausting, and full of “awful, terrible memories” that you can eventually laugh about together. I could not stop grinning as I turned the last page.

This book needs to be turned into a movie—it’s the perfect mix of thrills, absurdity, and heart!

Thank you NetGalley for this PRHaudio for the gifted ALC.


#MustRead #MarriageComedy #ColleenOakley #HilariousThriller #BookReview #BooksToMovies #LaughOutLoudReads

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC! What a story. While Jane is feeling bored in her current teenage parent and disinterested husband life, she’s also mourning the feeling of failure at her attempt to make herself into something when her one published work does not sell well. She decides she is done with the status quo and she will share this with her husband at their anniversary dinner when a terrorist group interrupts their evening. Not only is the experience scary but too many things from the actions of the captors are feeling familiar. Could her book be so derivative that this is a coincidence or is something else going on? File this under things I never knew I was curious about but now am fascinated with.

What a fun read! I loved the character development and enjoyed reading about their “date night”. Definitely a book worth reading. Can’t wait to read more from Colleen Oakley. Recommend.

I have read many of this authors books and loved them all. This one did not disappoint!

It starts with Dan and Jane arriving at La Fin Du Monde, a VERY fancy, VERY expensive upscale restaurant to celebrate their 19th anniversary.. Jane thinks Dan is cheating on her and has not been happy with their marriage in a long while. She decides to ask him for a divorce over dinner. They are only into their first course when a group of activist break in with guns and take hostages.

I was hooked by the beginning, and there were some surprises throughout that kept you reading along and rooting for Jane and Dan. I liked the dialog about marriage and how it changes as the years go by. I enjoyed the banter between Jane and Dan.

Overall it was a fun read, with an ending that had a few surprises of it's own.

Another winner by Colleen Oakley. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book!

gorgeously well-written and some strong themes. interesting vibes throughout and fun characters. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen or twenty years (depends who you ask) and they’re celebrating with dinner at a high end, Michelin star rated restaurant…where Jane plans to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

See Jane feels lost. Lost in motherhood, lost in her responsibilities as a wife, lost in her unsuccessful career as a writer. She’s never found something just for her, and she believes that by leaving Dan it will stir all that has settled and something exciting will rise to the top for her to grab on to.

Also, she’s seen text messages on Dan’s phone and knows that he is cheating on her.

Let’s get this over with.

But then, as soon as the first course arrives, so does a group of eco-terrorists who take everyone hostage. If that’s not upsetting enough, everything about the scene unfolding feels familiar, and Jane realizes much of what’s happening is straight from the pages of her novel. If THAT’S not upsetting enough, Jane and Dan know some of the people terrorizing them.

Anyway, this means maybe she can anticipate the next move and save some lives.

Ugh. It pains me to say this, but this was just ok. The premise, the clever title had so much potential but everything felt a little flat. Told in third person, I think it felt mildly impersonal, which was the first issue I had. Also it wanted to touch on the complacency of long lasting marriages and yet it missed the mark here, too, with everything being tidy and predictable. The mother daughter relationship, exploring how your life changes after having children also fell flat. I wanted more depth, I wanted more unexpected.

I think I couldn’t help but compare it to Zero Stars Do Not Recommend, and this doesn’t come close in terms of satire and humor and second chances.

Jane and Dan have fun banter and there is humor employed for sure, but I never felt deeply about the characters or their predicament.

If you are in the mood for a funny, fast paced, a witty book look no further than Jane and Dan at the End of the World. As Jane and Dan set out on their anniversary dinner at the upscale La Fin du Monde, the couple could not be on more opposite pages in life, including how many years of marriage they are celebrating. However, shortly after their dinner begins, things go ever further off the rails as an activist group overtakes the restaurant, and the following chain of events are eerily similar to the storyline of Jane's book. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have read from Colleen Oakley and especially appreciate how she interweaves humor with relatable life themes, and somehow manages to also keep the plot moving very swiftly along. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

4.25 rounded down.

The book starts mundanely enough. A couple that are bored, or more specifically, the wife. Then, they go for dinner.

What happens is anything but an ordinary dinner. Jane and Dan go through it and Jane learns about herself, her daughter and her marriage. But it takes going through something to do that.

Advanced reader copy provided by Berkley and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

this really gave You Deserve Each Other + The Menu in the most fun ways!

I was pretty pumped from the premise but I had such a fun experience throughout (even when I thought Dan was potentially racist and cheating on his wife…) and though I did think the situation was a tad implausible, I didnt have as much difficult suspending disbelief because the characters were all written in a way that moved the story along so efficiently

I did wish there was a tad bit more romance bc I enjoyed Jane and Dan’s dynamic a lot but for a closed door romance (and sorta a second chance romance which I’m usually skeptical of) but regardless they were very entertaining (Sissy included! Justice for Josh tho a little bit…)

I also wish the ending had just a bit more exploration of all their relationships but it was decent so I will still look upon this fondly

thank you so much to netgalley and berkeley publishing group for this arc to review!

Oh my goodness! What a wild ride! Jane and Dan at the End of the World follows a couple celebrating their 20th (well, 19th) wedding anniversary at an upscale fine dining restaurant—until their night is hijacked by climate activists who take the restaurant hostage. Chaos, social awkwardness, and intense interactions between hostages ensue.

The novel’s pacing and dialogue make it a quick read. If you’re looking for something filled with witty banter, clashing family dynamics, and a dose of tension while feeling lighthearted, this one’s for you.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World really started off strong for me. Just two average people going out to an overly expensive restaurant for their anniversary. Jane, planning on breaking the news to her husband of twenty years that she wants a diverse. Dan, holding onto a secret which may be the reason Jane is looking to get out of the marriage. In a strange turn of events, the restaurant is taken over by an activist group in a way that mirrors Jane's unsuccessful novel.

The plot will draw you in and the characters will make you laugh at times. Overall though, about halfway through, I felt the plot start to unravel and I was greatly underwhelmed by the ending.

I saw another reviewer mention, and I will second, that if you enjoyed Anxious People by Fredrick Backman, you may also enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Date night goes awry in the strangest way imaginable, when masked terrorists? (activists?) take over the insanely expensive restaurant where middle-income couple Jane and Dan spend their 19th?(20th?) anniversary. They come barreling in right after Jane announces she’d like a divorce. As if things couldn’t get weirder, events seem to be mirroring Jane’s one and only published novel, which went virtually unread by the masses. And then, do they recognize one of the terrorists? (activists?)

I have to admit that up until things began to come together mid-way through the book, the pace felt really slow and I was losing patience with self-obsessed Jane. But, don’t give up if you’re feeling likewise, because when it picks up, it picks up. And the ending is nothing you’re expecting!

Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
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Jane and Dan are going to a spectacularly fancy restaurant for their 20th (19th, Dan!) wedding anniversary. But before the first course is even over the restaurant is taken over by an armed group who hold everyone hostage.
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What I liked:
-This book strode the fine line between hilarious and meaningful, all while wearing age appropriate shoes, and I loved every minute of it.
-I loved that our two main characters were a married couple who had been together for years.
-The twists in this story (because, yes, there were twists!) were epic and off the wall.
-This is an entirely bingeworthy book and could be read in the span of a day if you were in the mood.
-I loved the entire journey through this story and the endinbg was very satisfying.
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4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Highly recommend if you enjoy fun and slightly crazy plots.

First, I have to mention how much I adore Colleen Oakley. I loved Tanner and Louise so very much. I think I mistakenly tried to make this one live up to that one in my head. Unfortunately, it did not, but that's my fault - not the book. I still enjoyed the humor of this story and the character development of the Mom (main POV) and the daughter. Check it out for a wild hostage situation with couples therapy like humor.

I finished this incredibly binge-worthy book in a single day, needing to know what happened next for Jane and Dan!

Our title characters have been married for almost 20 years, and while out for their anniversary dinner Jane brings up divorce. Moments later, a group of armed strangers enter the restaurant and take everyone hostage. What happens over the following hours is a slightly chaotic and amusing scenario.

I'm a sucker for a marriage in crisis lately, maybe because I'm loving seeing what happens later in a relationship instead of just the beginning. Dan and Jane have fallen into complacency in their marriage, but they are still full of banter and quite clearly enjoy spending time together. Their interactions were the heart of the story, as we learn that Jane struggles with worrying about everything and Dan is her solid support.

The hostage takers bring possibly the most chaotic energy to the entire atmosphere as any hostage takers ever. They are clearly inexperienced, and they kept the tone of the story incredibly light for what it was about.

I really enjoyed this one and will be highly recommending it!

Thank you to Berkley; all opinions are my own.