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.
Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a cleverly crafted literary fiction novel filled with humor and intense suspense. The story follows Jane and Dan, a couple celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary at an upscale restaurant. Jane suspects Dan of having an affair and plans to announce her desire for a divorce. Their evening takes an unexpected turn when climate activists hijack the restaurant and take the patrons hostage, a scenario that exactly mirrors events from Jane’s failed novel published years earlier. As they learn the terrorists’ motives and plan an escape, Jane and Dan are forced to confront their relationship issues.
Protagonists Jane and Dan are flawed and relatable. Jane is impulsive and quick to speak her mind. She frequently angers the hostage takers and gets herself and Dan into trouble. Meanwhile, Dan is much more passive and calculating before speaking or making decisions. He also exhibits a high degree of cluelessness that adds humor to his character. With their survival in question, they are forced to confront their marital discord, which is as apparent as an elephant in the room. Their contrasting personalities, coupled with Jane’s frequent (ridiculous) outbursts, lead to heated arguments and hilarious banter. They become so consumed with their marital problems that they sometimes forget they’re hostages—and with an audience of terrorists listening in who are becoming increasingly irritated! To make matters even more absurd, they discover their daughter Sissy is one of the hostage takers, which sends Jane spiraling internally!
The story is fast-paced and has a cinematic feel to it. It’s easy to picture this story on the big screen with its hilarious banter and action-packed narrative. The novel has a “time bomb” structure, and the chapter titles are timestamps of the time remaining until the climactic “end” event. This adds a layer of suspense and a sense of urgency while reading. While the hostage situation is initially thrilling, the edge-of-your-seat suspense doesn’t hold up—so if you’re expecting non-stop thrills or Frieda McFadden-style twists, you’ll be disappointed. Instead, the heist serves as a subplot to Jane and Dan’s character development and their journeys of self-discovery.
Overall, Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a hilarious family drama with a storyline likely unlike anything you’ve read before—pure escapist entertainment! The book’s strengths are its fast-paced, engaging plot and well-developed characters, making it easy to binge-read. If you enjoy family dramas, time bomb narratives, and rich character development, then this book is for you! Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the wild ride!
