Wish You Were Here (2021) by Judy Picoult

Need to get away from daily life? If you cannot at this point in your life, at least pick up Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. It will take you to a place where many of us have never traveled.
Meet Diana who works in art sales, is so looking forward to a vacation with Finn, her surgeon boyfriend. They have been planning their dream trip exploring the Galapagos for quite a while. Their dream trip falls apart in March 2022.

At the last minute a virus hits their community…think Covid. Finn cannot leave the city, let alone the hospital. The trip has been planned, so Diana heads out alone. Not exactly what they had dreamed. But they had already paid and there was no refund. Seemed like the best way rather than throwing away all the money.
Diana tries to make the best of her solo journey. She really has no clue what to expect, does not know one person, or even what to expect.
Her trip was full of surprises and not the good kind. Besides going alone, her luggage has been lost, and the island has been shut down for the next two weeks. Put yourself in that position.
How would you feel with no place to stay?  A kind local resident, Abuela, comes to the rescue. Abuela offers Diana a place for her to stay. There she also meets the kind lady’s son Gabriel and her teenage daughter, who is dealing with the teen issues that come with growing up.

Back in the states Finn is on his own lockdown in the hospital due to the virus and all that comes with being a doctor during that period in time. His letters help Diana. And she begins to meet three locals, Beatriz, Gabriel, and Abuela.
But that is far from being the end of Diana’s adventures. I think you will be surprised by what happens during her journey to the Galapagos and her return to Finn. The planned two-week trip takes another unexpected twist when the island is put on shut down due to Covid. NO direct communication. Diana must rely on an old school connection…writing postcards to Finn and family.

Ordinary Grace (2013) BY William Kent Krueger

Ordinary Grace will take you back in time to the small town of Bremen, Minnesota. There you will meet Frank Drum. He is now 41 years old and looking back at the summer when he was 13 years old.
This more than ordinary novel falls under many different categories. For some readers it will be a tale of faith, others will call it a thriller. If you have ever read or seen To Kill a Mockingbird, you will understand the secrets, the lies, the prejudice that are part of life, along with the kindness and caring and that make life worth living.
Frankie’s dad is a small-town minister of the church located right across the street from their home. His mother, Ruth, is very artistic along with being very musical. She directs the choir. Ariel (18) is his older sister. She puts up with Frankie and his best friend Jake. Ariel has a voice like an angel and plans to attend Juilliard.
Several other characters move through the pages of this book. Karl Brandt, 80 and very
rich; Warren Redstone, Native American; Gus, lives in the church basement, the adult the
boys turn to; & Morris Engdahl, tough townie, and the sadistic Officer Doyle.
I enjoyed Ordinary Grace. It had a little of everything, wisdom, grace, forgiveness,
suspense, wisdom, and secrets.