Master storyteller Wally Lamb’s latest and third Oprah Pick (by Lamb), THE RIVER IS WAITING, is so hauntingly realistic, intense, and emotional, you may think you are reading non-fiction or a memoir.

The title, 'The River is Waiting, ' serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's journey toward redemption and forgiveness, mirroring the flow of life and the inevitability of change.

Lamb’s first novel in eight years follows Corby Ledbetter, a new father whose marriage is upended after he loses his job and finds himself harboring a secret addiction from his wife, Emily. When Corby is involved in a shocking tragedy, he is sentenced to prison and must adjust to an entirely new life, which is heartbreaking.

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About...

Cory Ledbetter, a commercial artist, is grappling with a difficult phase in his life. He's lost his job and is resorting to alcohol and pills to cope while trying to keep his secret addiction.

He is the husband and father of toddler twins and agrees to be a stay-at-home dad while his wife (a teacher) works, a decision that adds a unique layer of complexity to his life and the story.

But in the haze of alcohol and drugs, there is an unspeakable tragedy, a parent's worst nightmare, an event that involves the loss of a loved one, which will change the trajectory of his life, putting him in prison for the crime.

There, he struggles to survive where he is brutalized, bullied, and traumatized in the worst way possible by evil men (guards) and others, a place where everyone looks the other way. He is so ashamed that he goes deeper into the darkness.

However, while incarcerated, despite the harsh conditions and his trauma, he is met with kindness and compassion by some who show friendship and caring, as well as his mom, who is a massive supporter with her unwavering faith.

Will Cory ever be able to forgive himself as well as the others whom he has disappointed? If only he could redo his mistakes and this horrific tragedy. A past that haunts him day and night, and one he wishes he could change. How do you come back from this?

My thoughts...

Filled with his signature poignant prose, Lamb’s latest is a tale of heartbreak and forgiveness. The author compassionately finds a small glimmer of hope and healing in the darkest of places.

Gut-wrenching, dark, heart-breaking, and emotional, the hauntingly beautiful story tracks Ledbetter's journey from the tragic event that tears his family apart, through the prison, where he witnesses acts of brutality such as physical violence and emotional abuse, and kindness, small acts of compassion, and hope for forgiveness.

Have some Kleenex handy. The author does not shy away from the brutal acts and injustices that occurred.

Compelling and moving, no stranger to prisons, Lamb's work with women in prison for the past 20 years shines through as he features men instead of women in this engrossing tale that could happen to anyone.

The author established a creative writing program at the York Correctional Institution, a women’s correctional facility in Connecticut, where he has volunteered for 20 years. Lamb is also the editor of the essay volumes Couldn’t Keep It Myself and I’ll Fly Away, which are composed of writing from his students.

Immersive, profoundly moving, and thought-provoking, layered with the evil darkness of humanity and strong emotional themes of addiction, art, family, guilt, brutality, COVID, forgiveness, kindness, and redemption, with stunning metaphors, THE RIVER IS WAITING is a masterpiece.

Manny, his last cellmate, and Mrs. Millman, the librarian, are his Godsend (adored them), and the offer to design a prison mural allows Cory to express his thoughts, as a tribute to art and literature that connect us. A place where incarcerated men arrive feeling remorseful, resentful, or defiant, wondering how their lives went so far off track from what they imagined and if they are brave enough to face themselves without losing faith. (loved her speech)

The beauty and thoughtfulness of the mural are spellbinding. This is an unforgettable story (one that will break your heart), and it will linger long after the book ends, as do the characters. One of love, loss, forgiveness, and the choices that shape our lives…a cautionary tale; however, it’s also masterfully crafted while exploring family dynamics, human nature, personal struggles, and the injustices of our prison systems.

If you enjoy books with emotional depth, complex topics, beautiful metaphors, lyrical, thought-provoking art, literature, strong character development, and exploration of challenging themes found in Wally Lamb's novels, this is a must-read.

Recs...

THE RIVER IS WAITING is for fans of the author and those who enjoyed Clare Leslie Hall's Broken Country (another one of my top books of 2025) and works by John Irving, Ron Rash, Allen Eskens, Elizabeth Strout, and Joyce Carol Oates.

Special thanks to Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for a gifted advanced review copy via NetGalley for my honest thoughts. Truly honored. This is a classic and one for the home library.

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My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: June 10, 2025
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I received a free ARC ebook of <i>The River is Waiting</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wow! This is an emotionally distressing novel. This page turner is told mostly from the point of view of Corby, a whiny addict responsible for the death of one of his children. For the first half of this book, I really disliked Corby who is full of excuses even as he is overwhelmed by remorse. His constant self-focus made me wonder what his wife, Emily, saw in him. His stint in prison initially appears too brief, but it is in that violent world where Corby finally demonstrates a character with grit and sacrifice that makes him sympathetic.

Lamb's depiction of prison life with its overcrowding and constant humiliation is stifling and makes the occasional kindness or gentle hint of humanity even more treasured. He does not shy away from the wrongness or evil that the prisoners may have committed, but neither does he draw them as less than human. Racial inequality, certainly prevalent in a free society, is highlighted within the prison as evidenced by lengthy sentences and the sheer number of black and brown prisoners. For Corby, it is a slow realization.

Lamb concludes the novel with a truly satisfying ending.

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend. This book was so good. I read his previous book and I will ready anything Wally Lamb writes. He just knows how to write a story and just captivate you from the very beginning.

An unflinching, unforgettable look at human suffering and perseverance.

“But that is enough of such worrying. The river is waiting, and our hearts must be light, so we can faster travel.” - Tad Williams

Happy publication day to "The River Is Waiting", a devastatingly beautiful and heartbreaking novel that marks author Wally Lambs long-awaited return.

At the heart of this story is Cory Ledbetter - artist, husband to Emily, stay-at-home father of twins, and a man battling the merciless grip of addiction. When a horrific accident results in unbearable consequences, Cory is left to navigate the wreckage of guilt, shame, and loss. What unfolds is a profoundly moving and at times insurmountably brutal exploration of addiction, rehabilitation, atonement, redemption, and forgiveness.

Cory’s voice, raw and deeply introspective, guides the reader through a world riddled with both external injustice and internal torment. Echoing the ancient Greek myth of Icarus, a motif that recurs throughout the novel in both dialogue and imagery, Cory’s journey becomes a haunting meditation on the delicate balance between flight and fall, between reaching for light and crashing toward darkness. Lamb doesn’t flinch from the harsh truths of addiction and trauma, but he also never lets us lose sight of the possibility of grace. Despite the novel's traumatic storyline and its bleak setting, Cory is desperately trying to find hope in the darkest of places and amidst the dreariest of circumstances.

In the final chapters, crafted with the kind of searing emotional precision Lamb is known for, the novel crescendos into a conclusion that is both devastating and redemptive. The ache lingers long after the final page, a testament to Lamb’s ability to not just tell a story, but to live in it with the reader.

Wally Lamb’s signature style is in full force here: richly layered characters, deeply psychological storytelling, and prose that balances lyrical beauty with brutal honesty. As in his acclaimed novels "I Know This Much Is True" and "The Hour I First Believed", Lamb explores trauma and healing with empathy and insight. In "The River Is Waiting", he also draws richly from his own experience as a volunteer facilitator at a women's prison, where he served for twenty years. That lived experience permeates this novel, particularly in its critique of the inhumanity prevalent in the American justice system.

"The River Is Waiting" is Lamb's first book in nine years. Masterfully crafted and filled with the author's standout prose, the book offers an unflinching, unforgettable look at human suffering and perseverance. It was worth the wait.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The River Is Waiting" is released today, June 10, 2025.

Wally Lamb has a masterful way with words and he resumes his place at the height of heartbreaking prose with his first release since 2016's I'll Take You There.

The River is Waiting is a story of family, guilt, dependency, and redemption. Beautifully told, the story of Cory, whose path from marriage to fatherhood to addict to prisoner all contemplate who we are to those we love and our place in the broader, more complicated world.

I'm grateful to NetGalley, Wally Lamb, and Simon Element for the eARC. This story was absolutely heartbreaking, captivating me from the very first page to the last. Wally Lamb has a remarkable talent for using his words and depictions to truly draw you into the narrative. This is a powerful and essential read, but make sure to keep a box of tissues close by.

Corby’s story is filled with heartache and hope and every emotion in between. This was a tough book to read, especially in the aftermath of the family’s life-altering tragedy. Even with the heavy subject matter in this book, I still felt a thread of positivity in Corby’s circumstances. It was incredible to see his character grow and transform from remorse and self-loathing to self-discovery and acceptance. The book was long and I had to push through some parts, but in the end it was worth all the feels! I even had to grab a tissue

I’ve loved the two other books that I’ve read by this author but this was a big miss for me.

I didn’t like the main character, Corby, at all. What happens in the beginning is a terrible tragedy and then the reader gets waaaayyyy too many pages of the after when he is incarcerated.

Mostly, I didn’t like the ending. I felt cheated after spending so much time reading about Corby’s journey. It was not satisfying at all.

Plus, I don’t think Corby learned from the event. Even in prison, he took the pills for his anxiety because he felt it was okay due to a valid doctor’s prescription. He had an addiction!

So bummed.

Thank you to Simon Element/S & S/ Mary Sue Rucci Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my introduction into Wally Lamb and sheesh, what a gut-wrenching introduction. Still full of optimism, this novel is thought provoking and will send you a roller coaster of emotions. This heavy read is worth every second!

First Corby Ledbetter loses his job when the company he works for downsizes, then he can't find work in his field as a commercial artist. He becomes anxious and depressed so he sees a doctor who prescribes him Ativan. However, because that still isn't enough to make it through the day, he has also started secretly drinking. He has been taking care of their twins while his wife Emily works, to save on daycare. Don't get me wrong - he loves the twins, loves being a dad. This just wasn't how he expected his life to turn out, and it is a bit of a hit to the male ego for his wife to be the breadwinner in the household. Then one day, a day when he admittedly wasn't 100% sober, he made a collosal error that had far reaching consequences. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside. He wonders if he will ever be forgiven by those he loves on the outside.

This book broke me. At the end I was crying ugly tears and had to keep stopping to grab tissues. It was hard to read on so many levels. It showed everything that is broken about the prison system. It also showed how you deal something so horrific - there are always two paths you can take, two very different choices in how to deal with something that will lead you down two completely different roads. My heart hurt for Corby, but also for Emily, and for Corby's mom. This was a long book (480 pages) but so worth the read. I highly recommend it!

Are you prepared to cry? Rage at the criminal justice system? Get confused over how addictive substances are prescribed like there is no danger?

Wally Lamb is an amazing author and I should have known that he would rip my heart out. When he ripped my heart out in the first few chapters, I thought I knew what I was in for but there was so much more to this heart-wrenching story.

Due to the way that the story plays out, I do not want to give a synopsis. There is too much that happens, which as a reader, you should not anticipate. Suffice it to say, this is the story of tragedy, forgiveness, love, punishment, and grief.

Despite how much it hurt to read, I could not put it down. I cannot recommend this enough. It is a wonderful (but depressing) book from a master author.

Thank you to Net Galley, Simon Element, Simon & Schuster, and Mary Sue Rucci Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wally Lamb always writes such complex characters and emotional stories that navigate trauma and grief. The River is Waiting is no exception. It is gut wrenching and reflective. It is the type of read, like Lamb’s other novels, that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Wally Lamb's novels are always a journey through the unexpected life experiences of flawed characters who make choices that lead them down paths that are full of pain and epiphanies. It is the ability to make me want to go with them, no matter how painful, that always draws me to his books. This novel is no exception. It is dark and difficult at times, but it is always true to the reality of life in that our choices are only one part of the equation, the other being chance. Why do some get away with bad choices, while others do not? Who knows. But his characters always suffer or flourish based on their responses to these situations, just as we all do. And his novels always end in some way with forgiveness, which is always satisfying to me. After all, it is the one thing that is available to all of us, and it is often the only path to peace. It took me a while to read this novel, but I savored it and found it to be very satisfying. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the human experience of navigating life and all its trials. My sincere thanks to Simon Select and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

The River is Waiting is a heartbreakingly story, one that will continue to live in the mind of this reader for some time. I’ll be honest, it was a difficult read but written in true Wally Lamb fashion: raw, dark, and haunting.

Corby Ledbetter is a man on a collision course with fate, and in his story, we see real life written in the author’s unique and colorful style. This is a sure winner and a great one for book club discussions.

Wally Lamb's latest book The River is Waiting is a very dark read, sometimes painfully so. It is also an excellent exploration of forgiveness, redemption, brutality, kindness, and how to attempt to move forward in the worst of circumstances. A heartbreaking read for so many reasons. Kudos to WL for again so poignantly portraying how hard it can be to be alive.

An unforgettable read!

My thanks to Marysue Rucci Books for allowing me to access a DRC of this novel via NetGalley. Publication is 6/10/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

This story started out so strong. There is an unimaginable tragedy that rocks a family to its core, and I was emotionally invested in how Corby, Emily, and Maisie would survive individually and together. There were elements of suspense as events unfolded in the wake of that tragedy, and I flew through the first 20% or so, desperate to know what would happen next.

Then the middle of the book really started to lose me. The setting changes to a prison and the pace of the story slows considerably. Instead of the family's healing, we get only Corby's story as he serves out his sentences. Corby is a difficult character to feel empathy for, and his development while in prison does not follow a clear arc. Instead of a focus on Corby and his healing, it felt like we were getting more of a lesson on the injustices of the prison system.

The ending of this story was really disappointing. The ending to Corby's story felt cheap and, when Emily reappears in the story, her resolution felt unearned as we had been exposed to none of her character development.

I have been a huge fan of Wally Lamb since the beginning, She’s Come Undone. I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to read his latest novel, The River Is Waiting, publishing on June 10. And I’m so happy to say that once again, Mr. Lamb wrote a stellar novel that is heartbreaking but also hopeful.

The novel opens with a horrific tragedy. Narrated by Corby, a flawed but essentially good person who is also the cause of the tragedy, we are given an unflinching look into what leads up to the tragedy and the devastating consequences. Corby is sentenced to prison where he struggles with his guilt and grief but eventually starts to adjust. He still has his flaws and doesn’t always take responsibility for his actions but his innate goodness remains. I enjoyed his perspective of prison life and the people he met along the way.

Big thanks to NetGalley, the author and MarySue Rucci Books/Simon & Schuster for the chance to read and review this digital ARC.

Oh Wally Lamb, you really know how to tug at my heartstrings with your beautiful passionate immersive stories. .The River is Waiting grabbed me from the get go and pulled me into a netherworld where a mostly ordinary man has the lifeblood sucked out of him following the unimaginable repercussions of a misguided decision and yet puts up a valiant effort to remain human.

Corby Ledbetter, stay at home dad of two year old twins, is struggling to keep his life on an even keel. Not only has he been let go from his job, but he also has carefully concealed a drug and alcohol addiction. When tragedy strikes, Corby is catapulted into the bleak life of a prisoner. . Confronted with the violence of other convicted felons as well as the viciousness of prison guards, Corey struggles just to exist. Can he ever forgive himself for the act that brought him here? Will his wife Emily ever forgive him? Is his life worth living? How can he beat his addictions under these hostile horrendous living conditions? Is rehabilitation possible or even a goal in our penal system?

Fortunately, Corby comes across a few supportive caring people. The prison librarian offers him gentle respite from his personal hell through the distraction of reading and the opportunity to use his artistic talent. His roommate, Manny, becomes a dear friend with his unexpected acts of kindness. Surrounded by unthinkable cruelty, the light of hope does shine through.

Dark, disturbing, sad and thought provoking, with a few uplifting parts, The River Is Waiting is an emotional story that is well worth reading. . I actually shed tears as the book came to an end. So much to think about and sort through. Such deeply drawn characters who touched my soul. Five burning stars for a book I wish I could rate higher. Publication date is June 10,2025. Reserve your copy now! My thanks to NetGalley, the author and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a prepublication copy in exchange for my review.

I was so excited to read this book. Wally Lamb has written several books that have stayed with me and that I've read multiple times.

This book though... this one was a massive miss. The writing was jarringly simplistic and the main character's voice never felt authentic. Also, I hated the main character. So, so, so much. Look, I get that addiction is a disease, I get that depression can be debilitating, but Corby? Corby was possibly the whiniest person I've ever encountered in literature. There's this sarcastic quote I've used before and it sums up my thoughts about Corby to a T: "Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, the reason is that you're stupid and you make bad decisions."

Corby is a perpetual victim. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is ever his fault. Even when he kind of, sort of starts to take some accountability for anything, there's always a 'but' involved.

I hated this book. The only thing that got me through it was the previous history I've had with Lamb's books. I've seen other reviewers question if AI wrote this book, and, while I think that might be a little harsh... I do wonder if there's a ghost-writer involved this time around? Because this was not.it. I do not understand how the mind that came up with I Know This Much Is True, She's Come Undone, and The Hour I First Believed could have written this.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review purposes. I really wanted to love this one, but ultimately it was just bad. Really, really bad.