Read this: John Steinbeck’s Wayward Bus

This is considered by some to be a better Steinbeck story than Cannery Row and I think it's a pretty close second.
Wayward Bus is about a couple that runs small cafe and bus service on the south central California coast. Part of the story takes place at the cafe, when a group of passengers is stranded when the bus breaks down. The second half takes place once the bus has been repaired and is one the road. Given the title you know something will happen on the trip, it's only a matter of time and context.
Along the way we learn the secrets the various passengers are carrying to their destinations. The story's climax takes place very late on the voyage (and in the book), making it almost an afterthought. Hence, any redemption the characters encounter feels somewhat contrived. We learn which characters survive the journey intact, and we learn that the journey may have changed the lives of others. We never learn if any changes are long-term or just for a few minutes. But I guess that's why the story isn't called After the Wayward Bus.
While such a story arc could feel disjointed, Steinbeck's manner of writing, along with the cast of characters he's created, keeps the ride enjoyable.