This was such a lovely moving collection of stories. Perfect for a book club or when your looking to just delve in a short story.

Premise
From the acclaimed author of Godshot and “a pitch-perfect ventriloquist of extraordinary talent and ferocity” (T Kira Madden) comes a defining book of Californian stories where everyone is seeking or sabotaging love

United by the stark and sprawling landscapes of California’s Central Valley, the characters of Heartbroke boil with reckless desire. A woman steals a baby from a shelter in an attempt to recoup her own lost motherhood. A phone-sex operator sees divine opportunity when a lavender-eyed cowboy walks into her life. A mother and a son selling dream catchers along a highway that leads to a toxic beach manifest two young documentary filmmakers into their realm. And two teenage girls play a dangerous online game with des

I was a fan of the author's first book so I immediately requested this one; the voice, style, and content are very in line with Bieker's novel, so if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed. I enjoyed these stories overall, though some I found more engaging than others. You'll enjoy these stories if you're interested in stories that center low-income poeple, and folks who are generally on the outskirts of society (and literature), and especially if you're interested in stories about women and what we do to survive in a society that pushes us down. Cults, sex work, and fanatical religion also come up again and again, as do stories that explore motherhood and abandonment. Bieker's writing is (IMO) very voicey, and sometimes that works better than others, but overall, a lot of talent and an enjoyable read.