I really enjoyed this novel! Colleen Oakley has such a wonderful sense of humor, and her quick, witty writing paired with unique characters kept me invested the whole time. I loved the little turns and surprises this story took, and I really enjoyed how it all came together at the end! I highly suggest this one!

This was a unique and fun read! It worked well for me as a palate cleanser in between some more emotional, literary books. I thought the ending really wrapped up nicely which bumped the rating up a bit. I hope chef is okay, though!

Jane and Dan at the End of the World was an exciting, funny and emotional story that had me staying up late to finish in one day! It wasn't a grip the edge of your seat thriller but it was full of exciting twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

Synopsis: Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress.

I really enjoyed the emotional tension between the main characters as they grappled with saving their marriage, their family, and ultimately their lives.

Thank you to Colleen Oakley, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC!

I LOVED all the facets of this book. There’s a hostage situation, and it’s fast paced. Yet in the midst of all the action my heart strings are literally being TUGGED on over themes like family, and goals and choices and climate change! I really enjoyed the humor and the twists of plot. Would recommend to my friends!

This is out now!! Go grab a copy and enjoy

When a date night goes off the rails anything can happen especially if you wrote the story. This reminded me of page jumpers when you write the story and then you have to live through it.
I found this to be quirky and at times so very funny.

(I won this copy)
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World is my second book by author Colleen Oakley. This book was adventurous, fast-paced, and funny! I read it in two sittings because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. It is very engaging and I highly recommend it.

Synopsis:
Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn’t sure th…
But before they even get to the second course, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room. Jane is shocked—and not just because she’s in a hostage situation the likes of which she’s only seen in the movies. Nearly everything the disorganized and bumbling activists say and do is right out of the pages of her failed book. Even Dan (who Jane wasn’t sure even read her book) admits it’s eerily familiar.

Which means Dan and Jane are the only ones who know what’s going to happen next. And they’re the only ones who can stop it. This wasn’t what Jane was thinking of when she said “’til death do us part” all those years ago, but if they can survive this, maybe they can survive anything—even marriage.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced digital copy of the book form my opinion.

I always love Colleen Oakley’s books. They have just the right amount of quirk and surprising twists. This one was no exception. Jane and Dan are celebrating their 19th anniversary. Jane plans on asking Dan for a divorce, and Dan has gone above and beyond by winning a raffle ticket to THE premier restaurant. It is impossible to get a reservation to this exclusive and unbelievably expensive restaurant ($8,000,000 dessert complete with Harry Winston diamond bracelet!). Only the raffle ticket is an in for a reservation and nothing else. When they arrive at this remote, exclusive location atop cliffs overlooking the ocean. They are seated and just beginning their nine course meal when Jane tells Dan she wants a divorce, and terrorists burst in and take control of the restaurant and all of its staff and patrons. Things happen quickly, and Jane starts to realize that the actions of her captors are eerily similar to a book she wrote and had publishing almost a decade ago. I am not going to give away any more of the plot, but it is a rollercoaster ride of the best kind. It will keep you turning the pages until the wee hours. Thank you to Net Galley and Colleen Oakley for allowing me to read this book!

I loved this light hearted caper! It was so humorous, but also a poignant story about relationships and coming to terms with what we want in life. I just really enjoyed this fun story!

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.