Danker-Dake incorporates humor, emotion, and social commentary into his debut novel, which reads like the script for a smart comedy film. Self-deprecating narrator Penn Reynard is a young, aspiring writer making ends meet by working behind the returns desk at the House Station, a fictional big-box store in Leetown, Mo., modeled after Home Depot and Lowe’s. He’s also a virgin, saving himself for marriage. In the Paint department, he meets Chloe van Caneghem, a sweet girl with like-minded morals, and their evolving relationship is at the heart of this dialogue-rich story. The couple’s sidekick is service-desk commander Angry Pete—a shrill-voiced young man whose mind and mouth are constantly moving. Danker-Dake’s blunt and brief portrayals of clueless customers add to the book’s charm, as do the outrageous names he assigns to characters: Promilla, Kord, Osric, Thoth, and Fielding. At times, the book satirizes the retail world, portraying high-level personnel at the House Station as despicable automatons who refuse to acknowledge the toll employees pay for working for a soulless corporation. With many scenes occurring inside the store, in a booth at the local IHOP, or at Penn’s apartment, the plot doesn’t take many significant turns. That readers won’t care speaks volumes about Danker-Dake’s ability to propel a character-driven narrative. Here’s to a sequel. (BookLife)