This novel starts out with one heck of a night. After nineteen years of marriage Dan and Jane are on a unique dinner date. Jan and Dan both have different takes on their marriage. Jan is about to ask Dan for a divorce and Dan is not listening.
If that is not enough of an intense night their meal is interrupted and the couple along with others are held hostage. The hostages are disorganized, guns are out and things turn into a multitude of situations. Jane is also an author and is thinking the situation and words by their captors is coming from the pages of one of her books. Is she imagining this or is it something more?
Will Jan, Dan and the others get out of this situation? If this scene is from one of her books, she might realize what is truly happening. A witty, with quirky characters and unique setting/story line which makes you realize what is truly important in life. Sometimes life happens, but how you deal with it makes all the difference in the world.

Thank you, Berkley, for this gifted e-ARC. Oakley is an author where I know I can expect a unique story, and she always delivers. A MUST read!

This book! I honestly thought this was going to be just a cutesy little romance at first, but it is part thriller and part thinker which I absolutely love. You follow the main characters Jane and Dan (surprise) as they navigate their 20 (or is it 19) year marriage. The main character Jane is at a point in her life where she is reflecting on all of the things that have gotten her where she currently is and doing a little soul searching like we all do. Suddenly, she is thrust into a thrilling crime scene that looks suspiciously like her novel that no one read. If I had to describe this book in one word it would be RELATABLE. The characters and story and struggles and triumphs were so well written into the book in a fun and lighthearted way. Absolute treasure!

I really enjoyed The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, so I was really looking forward to this book - unfortunately, it wound up being tough to compare the two. This book was a fairly quick read, but man I had to suspend a lot of disbelief for it. I thought it would be a bit more of a relationship exploration story, but ultimately once the hostage situation took over it all became too far-fetched and felt like the main message was lost. I enjoyed parts of it but was left shaking my head at the end.

Knowing nothing about author Colleen OakLey I read and reviewed, before publication, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise some time ago. I th0r0ughly enjoyed that book. I enjoyed Jane and Dan as well.
The story is a combination of mystery, thriller, romance and a comedy. There are plot twists. insights into marriage, parenthood, family, career, aging, and one's view of self.
What starts out as an "special" anniversary night out(maybe) turns into a dramatic crisis with several twists and turns.along the way.
The events of the evening become eerily familiar to Jane and Dan. as they try to make sense of what is happening and how to fix it.
the story is very engaging. The author starts the story with a tease of the ending and then very cleverly marks each chapter as Five Hours Before, Four Hours Before etc before ending.
Not all happenings are plausible but they fit the story and are fun. It is fiction after all!! Good story!!

I was very excited to read this book since I’ve loved her other ones. Overall I enjoyed this book, but I feel like it was missing something. I did like her portrayal of marriage and how sometimes it’s the best and sometimes it’s not. A few ideas were far fetched, but I did find a lot of parts funny and in the end enjoyed it!

Colleen Oakley's "Jane and Dan at the End of the World" is not your typical marriage-on-the-rocks story. It's a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly poignant tale that throws a mid-life crisis, a struggling marriage, and a hostage situation into a blender and hits "frappe." Jane and Dan, nearing their 20th anniversary, are at a low point. Jane, feeling invisible and professionally defeated, suspects infidelity from Dan, and is ready to cut ties. Their anniversary dinner at the ironically named La Fin du Monde (The End of the World) is set to be their swan song, but fate, or rather a group of inept climate activists, has other plans.
What elevates this story beyond the standard marital drama is the sheer absurdity of the situation. The activists, a motley crew of eco-warriors, are bizarrely acting out scenes from Jane's spectacularly unsuccessful novel. This creates a fantastic, meta layer to the narrative. Suddenly, Jane’s forgotten creative endeavor becomes the roadmap for their bizarre and dangerous predicament. The irony, and the humor it generates, is pitch-perfect. The book manages to be both incredibly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.
What I loved:
The unique premise: A marriage on the brink, a hostage situation, and a failed novel come together in a brilliantly absurd way.
The humor: Oakley's writing is sharp and witty, making even the tensest moments surprisingly funny.
The relatable characters: Jane and Dan's struggles feel authentic and resonate with the everyday challenges of a long-term relationship.
This was absolutely a delightful and unexpected read. It’s a fresh take on the "marriage in crisis" trope, offering a unique blend of suspense, humor, and heart. It's a testament to the idea that sometimes the most extraordinary circumstances can reveal the most ordinary, and often profound, truths about ourselves and our relationships. If you are looking for a light-hearted, page-turning read with a touch of the absurd, then you should definitely pick up this book. It might just be the unexpected adventure that will reignite your own appreciation for the messy, imperfect, and ultimately extraordinary nature of love and commitment.

When Dan wins a reservation at the famed La Fin du Monde, he figures what better place to celebrate he and Jane’s wedding anniversary. While it might break the bank, it’s certain to be more memorable than their usual trip to the Macaroni Grill. Unfortunately for Dan, Jane has a little something else in mind . . . . a divorce.

Unfortunately for both of them, a group of activists really have something else in mind and it all seems soooooooo familiar to Jane. Are these climate change warriors really using the plot of her book that sold like 500 copies as their playbook?

Alright so this was just pure fun. I love Colleen Oakley. I was lucky enough to score an early copy and accidentally ended up reading it the day the Winter Reading Challenge began. I’m saying this falls under the umbrella of this year’s theme with a plot involving life imitating art.


ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

While the pacing in this was quick, I couldn’t find myself to invest in any of the characters. I didn’t care what happened to them and the plot was so fantastical (but not ironically) that it was hard to get behind. This was a miss for me.

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

This was an incredibly enjoyable read with a fantastic pace that kept me hooked from start to finish. The humor was spot-on, and the premise felt refreshingly unique. I had so much fun with this book!

This apocalyptic romance was an entertaining but not groundbreaking. It was an exploration of a relationship during global crisis - which I love. The book provides an interesting premise with the main characters navigating the end of the world, but falls slightly short of being truly great.
While the book maintains an engaging narrative, it doesn't quite elevate itself beyond a standard apocalyptic storyline. The characters are relatable, and the plot moves at a steady pace, making it a solid read for those who enjoy end-of-world scenarios with a romantic twist.
The story lacked that exceptional spark that would push it into the higher star ratings.

I've been seeing this title pop up on a lot "must read" lists, and for good reason.

Jane is approaching middle age (well, let's face it - 35-40 is technically middle-aged, and she is past that), worrying about her teen kids who are launching into adulthood and frustrated with the fact that her life has been spent taking care of the home instead of forging an identity beside a wife and mother. At their nineteenth (twentieth according to Dan) anniversary dinner, Jane casually asks for a divorce minutes before the Michelin-rated restaurant is stormed and the diners and staff are taken hostage. After the 'WTH' reaction passes, Jane notices that the events playing out are eerily familiar. She finally realizes what is happening IRL is following the plot of her one published book.

This was a very engaging book on a lot of levels. The portrayal of Jane - a wife and mom of certain age - and the self-doubt and melancholy that happen when the children are raised and posed to 'fly from the nest,' are very realistic and relatable. I would recommend this title to fans of Fredrik Backman.

This book is a delight from start to finish. From the very first page, the story grabbed my attention with its unexpected twists, humor, and surprising action. I was constantly guessing how things would unfold—and I was completely surprised by the ending.

As a long-time fan of Colleen Oakley, I’m always amazed that she isn’t more widely recognized in the reader community. Her books consistently deliver a perfect balance of heart and humor, and she has a rare talent for creating quirky yet deeply relatable characters. Jane and Dan are no exception—they’re the kind of characters you find yourself rooting for, laughing with, and sometimes cringing at. This book is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a quick, easy, and thoroughly entertaining read.

I couldn’t help but imagine how great this story would be on the screen. With its messy characters, humor, and fast-paced plot, it has all the makings of a hit show.

This is a book for those looking for a quick read who are willing to suspend belief. There is mix of things in this book: humor, mystery, suspense, action, romance, and family ties. Unfortunately, while Jane and Dan were fairly fleshed out characters (Jane more than Dan), Jane's character grated and Dan's character felt like a bit of a wet blanket. Additionally, without being too spoiler-y, the part that Jane and Dan's daughter played in the novel was so silly that it made an already implausible story utterly ridiculous.

This book is funny, heartfelt, thrilling, and was an overall joy to read. I really liked getting both Jane and Dan’s perspectives, though Jane obviously shines the most. This should be made into a movie!

I usually love Colleen Oakley books, but this one wasn't it for me. The premise is so promising, but Jane was so bothersome to me and her and Dan's relationship wasn't established enough for me to even care about it. Jane and Dan's daughter Sissy bothered me to no end. The second half of the book was a bit discombobulated and was almost hard to follow.

A fun, albeit ridiculous ride from start to finish!

Jane & Dan get more than they bargained for when their fancy 19th anniversary dinner turns into a hostage situation that is eerily similar to the plot of Jane's low selling book.

Super quick read that can easily be a fun beach read! It's funny even in the most tense moments, and these characters are fun to laugh at.
Love the twists and turns it takes. Is it absolutely a ridiculous and far fatched read? ABSOLUTELY!
But if you lean into it and suspend belief, you're in for a ride.

Feel like it would make a great audiobook as well!

Thank you the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Maybe it’s just that I’m been married for 18 years, but I found this book hilarious and entertaining.

The familiar jabs at each other that really just show how much they actually know and care about each other…while maybe getting a divorce? Maybe out celebrating their 20th (no wait, 19th) anniversary? Maybe in the middle of a hostage situation?

It was quirky, funny and far fetched. Not a relatable tale of something that would ever happen, but maybe what would happen if life really were a sitcom.

I was also delighted as I read that at many interludes of sharing how much time before the world ended, my time left in book matched perfectly. We really were on this journey together!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a can't put down, funny, entertaining read! Jane and Dan are a couple that have a pretty ho hum life, until one night when everything changes. The pages are filled with twists and turns. Although a little far fetched, it was a fun book to read.

I loved Colleen's previous book, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, so I was very excited to received an ARC of her new book. I love the author's dry humor writing style and matter of fact dialouge. While most of the book was entertaining, I was a little disappointed that the summary didn't accurate depict the plot. It felt like it took about 60% of the book to really see how the summary was playing out. The ending was also a bit convoluted and confusing but I still overall enjoyed the book.

3.25 ⭐️

In this novel, Jane is going to ask her husband Dan for a divorce while they are at a very expensive restaurant. But soon the restaurant is taken hostage by a group of terrorists, including…their own daughter. Jane is an unsuccessful author, and she soon finds that this hostage situation is unfurling much like her book of a similar plot.

Admittedly, it was difficult for me to get over the outlandish hostage situation and coincidence after coincidence. At times, things felt rather forced. While Jane had some nuance, I thought Dan was a rather bland character. I think I would have liked to be in his head more.

I actually liked how this novel pulled together at the end. Was it realistic? No. But I knew 5 pages into this book that you had to toss realism out the window. It gave me the vibes of ANXIOUS PEOPLE, a book I really didn’t like much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

JANE AND DAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD publishes March 11, 2025.