Like other Wally Lamb books that I've read, this is a a bit of a challenging read, to put it lightly. And to be a bit more honest, it often feels a series of emotional gut punches that occasionally required me to take a reading pause. But, his absolutely fantastic writing, relatable characters, and the hopeful undertones kept me coming back until it was all over.

This was so emotional and moving. It was a hard ride but very well done. In my opinion, this got overly political and while I understand and don’t necessarily disagree with the opinions of the author, I was looking more for a family drama/redemption story and less for him to push an agenda. Will still recommend.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb is a gripping story of denial, remorse and redemption. The protagonist, Corbin Ledbetter runs over and kills his toddler son while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He is sentenced to prison where he undergoes mistreatment along with many kindnesses. His wife (who is his son’s mother) finds it nearly impossible to forgive him or herself for their son’s death. Both sets of in-laws are enmeshed in the family’s misfortune and must cope with their own emotional fallout from the boy’s death and what comes afterward.
Lamb writes effectively about prison life without succumbing to stereotypes from popular culture. The reader senses the bleakness of the physical facility as well as the tasteless food and the near constant din of the inmates. The brutality of some of the guards is stunning as is the kindness of other prison employees and inmates.
Corbin’s capacity for empathy and self-knowledge grows during his incarceration and redemption seems within reach until the very end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for this review.

My favorite author, Wally Lamb, does it again. Another extraordinary novel. His writing is superb and his ability to make you connect with characters is amazing. Five stars.

This novel is well written and BLEAK.
I remember reading She’s Come Undone and wondering how Mr. Lamb wrote so convincingly from the POV of a female. In this novel, I 100 percent believe I’m reading from the POV of a person with an addiction to drugs and alcohol who wants help under circumstances wildly unconducive to facing life as life is (i.e., without chemical escape).
He wants to be punished, but what he did he’ll have to live with for his whole life. I don’t see how the ridiculous and dangerous place of prison is helpful to people who aren’t intentionally violent. There were parts I had to speed read because they were so tense. Not suspense-novel tense, but this horrible-stuff-happens-in-real-life tense.
Something that’s interesting about this book is how it’s also a little American history lesson when Corby reflects on his youth and him falling in love with his wife (the songs, what was happening in the news and the world). Then more recent history with Trump’s first term and COVID.
I liked this, but it’s not a cheery read.
NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 10, 2025.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the gifted book!

Wow- I went into this totally blind and was in for a total and complete shock. I've read a lot of similarly heavy books lately such as The Correspondent, Penitence, What Happened to the McCrays, and Broken Country and all four of those deal with very similar topics, so I thought I would be able to handle this one. This was ten times more gut-wrenching and hard to stomach than the previously mentioned books.

I just felt sick to my stomach every time I picked it up and it stayed with me even in between reading sessions. I think that's a testament to Lamb's storytelling, but I do feel like it was too much for me personally. I don't think the horror and pain of the situation was glorified in any way, I think it was realistic and that's why it was so horrifying to read about.

I think as a writer he clearly has an amazing talent, but if all his books are this intense, I don't know if I can handle them emotionally.

Just be cautious going in!

I have loved all of Wally Lamb's books and this one does not disappoint. The story is gripping and thought provoking. It is a tragic story that is fast paced and well worth reading.

The River is Waiting is a heartbreakingly beautiful book. It didn’t take long before my heart was in my throat. And for way too many scenes, it stayed in my throat. It’s not an easy book to read; it’s raw, bleak and dark and doesn’t provide any easy answers.
Corby Ledbetter is struggling with the loss of his job and being a stay at home parent to twin two year olds. I have to give Lamb credit. I found Corby initially difficult to like yet I was drawn into his plight. And as the story went on, I was totally engrossed in his trials.
The book focuses on a lot of big emotional issues - grief, addiction, forgiveness and moving on with life. It also makes you think about the prison system, casual cruelty, and justice.
The character development is strong. I felt like Corby was a real person. Even the secondary characters, like Emily and Manny, were fully fleshed out. Lamb spent twenty years leading a creative writing workshop at a women's correctional institution so he has a real sense for prison life.
This would make a fabulous book club selection as it really makes you both feel and think.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

How do you survive the unthinkable? That’s the question in Wally Lamb’s newest novel. This is an incredibly good, character-driven story about a man who makes a tragic mistake, and the events that follow. Lamb’s books are always a gift to read, and this is right up there with his other bestsellers. The writing is impeccable. This will make a fantastic book club discussion. Another five star masterpiece from the author.

Thank you for letting me read in advance!

Corbin Ledbetter is a happily married father of two-year-old twins. After losing his job and becoming a stay-at-home-parent, he alleviates some of the boredom and feelings of inadequacy with alcohol and Ativan which lead to a life-altering tragedy. Corbin goes to prison and must come to terms with his guilt and his addictions in order to remain connected to his family.

I loved She’s Come Undone and had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t live up to them. The characters were not emotionally affecting (even though the plot was extremely tragic), the dialogue was flat (when the wife mistakenly thought that her husband committed suicide his response is just “oh, jeez. I’m sorry”), and the writing was one constant stream of “then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened.” It almost felt like parts had been written by AI, with their unusual factual errors (like CA students getting free in-state tuition at UCLA) and repetitively descriptive language like “sky-blue sky.”

All that negativity aside, Wally Lamb is an amazing author and I would strongly recommend some of his older titles. And I’ve seen plenty of good reviews of this book from other readers, so by all means give this a try if you are interested!

Read this if: you enjoy long, tragic books and/or are interested in books about prison.

Skip this if: you didn’t like What Happened to the McCrays?

Since being laid off from his job, Corby has been a stay-at-home dad, taking care of twins. When a tragedy occurs, Corby wonders if he can forgive himself and if he will end up losing his family as a result. Sent to prison for three years, Corby slowly adapts to the system and dealing with fellow inmates and correctional personnel. Gut-wrenching story that is difficult to read at times, but so worth it.

In true Wally Lamb style, this book was wonderful, heartbreaking yet filled with hope. His characters are fully realized and the plot is first rate.

3 stars- 2 for the characters and one for the story that made me want to keep reading even though I kind of hated it.
I was really really really excited to read a new book by Wally Lamb. It's been a minute since I last read his books but I remember really loving them.

I did not love this book.
Unlikeable narrators are hard for me. Corby is surely realistic as a human, but I did not like him and don't really want to hang out with him. He was a weird mix of toxic masculinity and thoughtful normal human that I just had a hard time with. He seemed like he was trying to grow (as we all are) but it just never felt fully real for me. I did like Manny, and some of the other characters were great.

What this book did have was writing that propelled me to want to keep reading even though I kind of hated it. Even with the ending that felt like a cop-out, I never wanted to fully quit the book or just wait a long time until picking it up again. So, while I didn't like it, it was engaging.

None of the prison horror felt new to me, and I expected Lamb to humanize it as much as possible, knowing that he's very involved in prison work. It was interesting that there wasn't a call to action or way to change the system. It really felt like a character-driven book that happened to be set in prison.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for the e-galley of this book!

Can I give this more than 5 stars!?

Wow. This is my first true 5 star book of 2025! Absolutely loved it. I adore Wally Lamb's writing and this one is no different. I was completely sucked into the writing and story. It is HEARTBREAKING in so many ways. Loved the story though and going on this "journey" with Corby. I thought the ending was wrapped up beautifully and tbh it made me choke up a bit.

I wish there had been trigger warnings though some people might be put off about that. TW: child death, drug use, alcoholism, racism, sexual assault.

After reading "The River Is Waiting," I was reminded how much I adore Wally Lamb's books. It has been a long time since I had read one of his books, but remember the moment in each of his books when I was swept in and couldn't escape if I wanted to. This book is heartbreaking, with glimmers of love and decency and humanity. I couldn't help but smile that one of the superheroes of this book was a librarian! Thank you, Wally for your nod to our profession. I have no doubt this book will be a huge success, and can't wait for my library patrons to be as enraptured by this magnificent book as I was.

I loved the book so much. It definitely wasn’t an easy read but well worth the effort. I loved it so much that I went back and reread This I Know is True and will also reread She’s Come Undone.
I truly felt Corby and Emily’s pain throughout the book. It’s a moving story of redemption and forgiveness. Wally Lamb is a beautiful writer.

Many thanks to NetGalley in exchange for my honest review..

The River is Waiting follows Corby Ledbetter, a young dad struggling with the turmoil in his life when an unspeakable event occurs and alters the trajectory of his life. This book is very sad, as it touches upon many difficult issues, such as grief, suicide, and addiction, but I believe it effectively explores the themes of coping with tragedy and forgiving.
Additionally, the characters are well-developed and realistic. I did knock off a star from my rating just because there was a little too much political stuff for me, but that's just a personal preference and may not bother other readers.
All in all, The River is Waiting is a worthwhile read for fans of Lamb's other work and for readers who enjoy character driven novels.

The River is Waiting is so well written and readable and unputdownable. I didn’t really like any of the characters but they are all such great personalities I had to read on! From Corby to Manny and everyone in between, all of their stories counted towards the read.
This book makes you cry, laugh and everything in between, a brilliant read which as uncomfortable as it gets still keeps you wanting more until the end.

There are some books you read and forget by the next morning. Mr. Lamb’s newest novel will not be one of them. The story of a small family experiencing one of life’s greatest losses- that of a child. It hits hard and delivers punch after punch, but shows how hope gets us through even the biggest tragedies. As tears fall, it reminds me of why books mean so much to me. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel is raw and emotional. It dives deep into the human experience—grief, guilt, and the hard-won path to redemption. At its heart, this narrative is about a man grappling with the consequences of his own unraveling: new fatherhood, unemployment, addiction, and the tragic mistake that shatters his family. This book was hard to put down and made me cry several times. A must read, but be prepared!
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this book.