JANE AND DAN AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Colleen Oakley

5 stars

I laughed my way through much of this book, which seems strange as it centers on a middle-aged couple, Jane and Dan, having their anniversary dinner at an ultra-pricy California restaurant perched high on a cliff that turns into a dangerous hostage situation. It’s not that the novel lacks tense moments, but it ultimately delivers up-close look at a 19-year marriage gone so stale that an outrageous incident is needed to revive romance and tenderness, and of the endless efforts that can still lead to parenting gone awry.

Instead of their usual anniversary early dinner out at the Macaroni Grill, Dan decides to splurge on a high-end restaurant, La Fin du Monde, when he wins the ability to make a reservation. Along with an unparalleled view out to the ocean, the restaurant has an $8.4 million dessert option that comes with a diamond necklace, a delicious appetizer from giant sea barnacles, and an elitist chef who demands guests all hand over their phones.

Example of the humor: Jane’s convinced Dan is having an affair after seeing text messages with a women and him sneaking off at night, when really he’s embarrassed that he’s joined an ultimate frisbee club. During the evening, Dan gets a chance to put his awesome new frisbee skills to work in self-defense! Things like this abound,

Jane has just told Dan that she wants a divorce, when suddenly masked and armed eco-terrorists burst into the restaurant. They’re seeking out a billionaire diner who they plan to rob. And slowly but surely Jane realizes that somehow the eco-terrorists are carrying out the plot from the one novel she’s written, in which an evil gang takes hostages in a high-end London teahouse. Dan dismisses this as nonsense at first…

You just have to read on as all the plot twists get smartly tied up together!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.