Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

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

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2025; Berkley; 978-0593200827
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); women's fiction

Jane is having a midlife crisis - her first and only novel was published 6 years ago, and she keeps getting rejected on her current book because, really, no one read her first book.  She's getting close to becoming an empty-nester when her daughter leaves for college.  Her son will still be at home, but she knows it won't be long before he leaves, too.  To top it all, she is bored and aggravated with her husband of 19 years.  They don't talk anymore or do anything fun - they are just trapped in a rut, and she wants some excitement in her life.  Plus, she has seen some texts on his phone that have convinced her that Dan is cheating on her.  From Dan's point of view, they have a great life and a fulfilling marriage, and when she tells him at their anniversary dinner that she wants a divorce, he is shocked.

They are having an anniversary dinner at a very large-scale restaurant when several armed people enter and take all of the diners and the staff hostage.  It's an underground climate activist group, and no one really knows why they've been taken hostage.  The activists are very confused and very unorganized, but Jane soon realizes that a lot of their dialogue and what is happening is directly taken from her failed first novel. She realizes that she and Dan are the only ones who know what's going to happen next and that they are the only ones who can save everyone.

I really liked Jane from the first page -- her mental dialogue is often hilarious, and there were several times that I laughed out loud when she was talking to Dan and later when she was trying to keep everyone safe.  Dan is just the opposite - he's quiet and loving, but together they are both hilarious.  How will they handle this dangerous situation together?  Not only are Jane and Dan quirky, but some of the other diners and several of the activists are fun, too.  

I really enjoyed this book.  It was a funny but realistic book about a woman who wants more excitement out of her life and blames her husband and family.  It takes a dangerous situation to convince her that her life may really be just perfect.

Note: If you enjoy reading paperbacks, this book will come out in paperback next Tuesday!

Buy Jane and Dan at the End of the World at Amazon

Susan Roberts grew up in Michigan but loves the laid-back life at her home in the Piedmont area of North Carolina where she is three hours from the beach to the east and the mountains in the west.  She reads almost anything but her favorite genres are Southern Fiction and Historical Fiction.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.