I really enjoyed this quick read of what boils down to a birthday celebration out that goes very wrong. That the melee which ensues seems to be following the plot of a thriller written by Jane (she if the birthday) that didn’t make it high in the charts when it debuted six years earlier, added a twist. Good insights into marriage maintenance, parenthood, how to do good (or not), and a glance at social pretensions. It all worked for Mr. Have never read this author before, but will look for more of their tit (read less)

I really enjoyed this quick read of what boils down to a birthday celebration out that goes very wrong. That the melee which ensues seems to be following the plot of a thriller written by Jane (she if the birthday) that didn’t make it high in the charts when it debuted six years earlier, added a twist. Good insights into marriage maintenance, parenthood, how to do good (or not), and a (read more)

Jane and Dan are out to dinner for their anniversary. In Jane's mind this is the day that she will ask Dan for the divorce she's been thinking about for over a year. In Dan's mind he cannot believe this exclusive dinner costs upwards of $200 per person. However, all of their thoughts and plans are tossed to the side when they become part of a hostage situation. One that seems to be pulled right from the pages of Jane's one and only novel. The premise for this book sounded kind of bonkers (in a good way) and immediately made me want to read it. I was not expecting to get a story that deals with how we contend with marriage and motherhood and aging and, basically feeling as though you're failing at all of them. Jane is a difficult character at times because she is at this precipice where she feels absolutely stuck and knows no other way out than to completely, figuratively, tear everything down. For all the times I cringed at her actions, I also inevitably saw myself in her and the way she's feeling. Amongst all that, we do get points of view told from various other characters which helps to broaden the scope a bit from the narrow confines of the restaurant. However, Jane is our main narrator. I did particularly appreciate the scenes from Dan's point of view just because it's like we're seeing the other perspective of Jane. She's a lot to handle in her own voice / words, but looking at her from his point of view, I think it's easier to see that she's constantly anxious and feels like she is letting everyone down around her. The fact that he knows and sees this in her, understands her, and even sometimes makes allowances for her speaks a lot to his character. It doesn't mean that Dan was the perfect husband and Jane was wrong, but it highlights the idea that in trying to remain in control of all the chaos going on around her, Jane will often pull at whatever thread she can in order to wrest some control, which usually just sends things spinning out further. Considering the hostage situation in which they find themselves, spinning out of control is not best case scenario. The story takes place in one night over the course of a few hours (there's even a countdown) which means that it goes by at a good clip. This heightens the chaotic feeling that runs throughout because there's also not a lot of down time. I felt like Colleen Oakley did a great job with the pacing. Overall, I was surprised by this read. I don't know that there was ever a point where I felt like things weren't going to work out in the end, but there was a lot I wasn't expecting out of it. Mostly I appreciated the commentary about aging and the general fear of not being enough. I think it's a universally relatable topic. If you're looking for something that tackles more serious topics like that, but in a quirky way, I think this is a perfect read. (read less)

Jane and Dan are out to dinner for their anniversary. In Jane's mind this is the day that she will ask Dan for the divorce she's been thinking about for over a year. In Dan's mind he cannot believe this exclusive dinner costs upwards of $200 per person. However, all of their thoughts and plans are tossed to the side when they become part of a hostage situation. One that seems to be pulled (read more)