The thermostat-as-control-metaphor works. Nilu can't fix anything that matters so she hyperfocuses on the one lock she might pick.

Tantric Firewalk scene landed—two guys arguing about whose hand crossed the threshold first to avoid winning a prize is genuinely funny.

"To tell you the truth" as her lying tell is a nice touch.

Sticky note hook got me. I'll read chapter 2.