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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.
Have you read other books by Colleen Oakley? If so, how did they compare?
I love her books. They are always infused with humor and wit, but also evoke deep emotions. I particularly loved The Invisible Husband of Frick Island & highly recommend it. It is utterly charming and very touching. It's one of those rare books you wish you could read again for the first time.
-Janie-Hickok-Siess
Overall, what did you think of Jane and Dan at the End of the World? (no spoilers, please!)
I am a big Colleen Oakley fan and absolutely loved this book! I devoured it because the story moved at a brisk pace and was full of twists, turns, and surprising revelations, while also being deeply thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:
-Janie-Hickok-Siess
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (1/15/2026)
...t! I then gratefully went on to https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/19921/jane-and-dan-at-the-end-of-the-world Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley for our upcoming book club discussion here in two weeks. I truly enjoyed it. A woman and her husband go out to dinner at an exclusive restaurant and...
-kim.kovacs
Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley Discussion
Please join us for a discussion of Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley.
-kim.kovacs
"The plot twists become increasingly far-fetched as the narrative veers from the initial commentary on capitalism and environmental issues to humdrum depictions of marital woes brought about by Jane's discovery of the truth behind her suspicions about Dan. It's a miss." —Publishers Weekly
"Though the set-up is stronger than the landing, getting there is tons of fun in this fast-paced novel." —Library Journal
"This sharply original romp is entirely too much fun." —People
"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.
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 translated into more than 20 languages around the world and won multiple awards including Georgia Author of the Year and The French Reader's Prize. A former magazine editor for Women's Health & Fitness and Marie Claire, Colleen lives in Atlanta with her husband, four children, three chickens, and a mutt named Baxter.
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