Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Best of 2024 ezine!

Book Summary and Reviews of Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Jane and Dan at the End of the World

by Colleen Oakley

  • Readers' Rating (22):
  • Publishes:
  • Mar 11, 2025, 368 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Book Summary

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, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.

Jane and Dan have been married for nineteen years, but Jane isn't sure they're going to make it to twenty. The mother of two feels unneeded by her teenagers, and her writing career has screeched to an unsuccessful halt. Her one published novel sold under five hundred copies. Worse? She's pretty sure Dan is cheating on her. When the couple goes to the renowned upscale restaurant La Fin du Monde to celebrate their anniversary, Jane thinks it's as good a place as any to tell Dan she wants a divorce.

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.

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $45 for 12 months or $15 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

Reviews

Media Reviews

"Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a triumph! Poignant, darkly funny, and mind-bendingly twisty at every turn. With each new chapter, I felt more invested in Jane and Dan, the fate of their marriage, and the outcome of their shocking predicament. I cheered for them all the way to the story's satisfying end." —Elle Cosimano, New York Times bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

"This brilliantly plotted joyride of a novel had me laughing out loud and clenching my racing heart in equal parts. It's a story as madcap and beautiful as marriage itself—if you read one book this year, make it this one." —Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Summer Romance

"Hilarious, witty, and wildly fun! Jane and Dan at the End of the World offers a fresh take on midlife and marriage as well as finding joy in the ordinary. Oakley is beyond brilliant!" —Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Home Is Where the Bodies Are

This information about Jane and Dan at the End of the World was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

Edith K. (Northglenn, CO)

A Great Lighthearted Read
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!

Jennie W. (Denver, CO)

Fun Read
This book was an absolute delight to read, with relatable characters and a compelling story that pulled me in from the very first page. The plot centers around Jane and Dan, a couple celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary at a fancy, upscale restaurant when their evening takes a sudden, chaotic turn.

The narrative brilliantly explores Jane's introspections about her life choices—her roles as a parent, spouse, and writer—while Dan contemplates his own capacity for heroism in the midst of an unraveling night.
What truly made this story stand out was its emotional depth combined with an edge-of-your-seat pace. The characters felt real and grounded, their struggles and reflections mirroring the complexities of life, love, and family. I found myself unable to put the book down, eagerly turning pages late into the night just to see how it all resolved.

In short, this is a fantastic read for anyone looking for a blend of drama, suspense, and heartfelt storytelling. Highly recommended!

Becky S. (Springfield, MO)

One of my faves of the year !
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 !

Donna J. (Norwalk, CT)

Fun Read
I enjoyed reading this book and found it engaging. The sense of humor throughout was similar to mine and had me laughing. If I could write a book, I imagine it with this type of writing. Some may find the light touch on a terrorist action to be disturbing. I am recommending friends to read for the phrasing and wit of the writing.

Angela W. (Shelby Twp, MI)

Hilarious Anniversary Dinner
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.

Catherine O. (Altavista, VA)

Twisty and Fun
Jane and Dan at the End of the World delivers a very entertaining read. I enjoy all of Colleen Oakley's novels. She has an uncanny way with plot and dialogue that makes her novels unspool in living color as you read them. I think it is the way she puts very ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and then sets things in motion. Jane and Dan at the End of the World is my favorite of her novels to date. Centering her novel on Jane, a one book author, and her husband, Dan a plodding podiatrist with a new passion, the novel takes place over the course of one evening.

Ms. Oakley's plot twists are clever and surprising. Her dialogue is realistic and laugh out loud funny.

I will be recommending this book to all my reading friends and to the book club I lead. We read Colleen Oakley's previous novel, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, to the delight of all of our readers.

...16 more reader reviews

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $45 for 12 months or $15 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

Author Information

Colleen Oakley Author Biography

Colleen Oakley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, You Were There Too, Close Enough to Touch, and Before I Go. Her books have been named best books by People, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and have been long-listed for the Southern Book Prize. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, four kids, and the world's biggest lapdog.

Link to Colleen Oakley's Website

Other books by Colleen Oakley at BookBrowse

5 more...

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $45 for 12 months or $15 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

More Recommendations

Readers Also Browsed . . .

more literary fiction...

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $45 for 12 months or $15 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: Small Rain
    Small Rain
    by Garth Greenwell
    At the beginning of Garth Greenwell's novel Small Rain, the protagonist, an unnamed poet in his ...
  • Book Jacket: Daughters of Shandong
    Daughters of Shandong
    by Eve J. Chung
    Daughters of Shandong is the debut novel of Eve J. Chung, a human rights lawyer living in New York. ...
  • Book Jacket: The Women
    The Women
    by Kristin Hannah
    Kristin Hannah's latest historical epic, The Women, is a story of how a war shaped a generation ...
  • Book Jacket: The Wide Wide Sea
    The Wide Wide Sea
    by Hampton Sides
    By 1775, 48-year-old Captain James Cook had completed two highly successful voyages of discovery and...

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
In Our Midst
by Nancy Jensen
In Our Midst follows a German immigrant family’s fight for freedom after their internment post–Pearl Harbor.
Who Said...

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Big Holiday Wordplay 2024

Enter Now

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.