'Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It' is a collection of eleven short stories by Maile Meloy that delves into the intricate textures of life in the American West. Meloy invites readers into a world where love, morality, and the allure of the unfamiliar create pivotal moments in the lives of characters caught between opposing desires. A ranch hand's infatuation with a reluctant newcomer, the surreal return of a deceased grandmother, and the intimate cost of love and betrayal during an unexpected snow—all reflect the profound dilemmas of the heart. These stories, set against the rugged backdrop of small-town communities, explore the urgent tug-of-war between stability and risk, innocence and experience, and fidelity and longing, crafting a poignant portrait of humanity in all its messy glory.