First, let me confess that I love Wally Lamb's storytelling. He is a master!

His newest book is fabulous . . . . if you don't mind some darkness in your prose.

Lamb tells us a happy story that quickly turns dark. Then it takes us on a long walk through valleys of hope and darkness. As is usually the case in a Wally Lamb novel, the characters will be fully developed. You'll love some. You'll hate others. Regardless, you'll have an opinion.

If you want a first rate story, told in fascinating detail, read this book!!

I absolutely loved Lamb's previous books so was very disappointed The River is Waiting did not work for me. The story is told from Corby's perspective, a father of twin toddlers who recently lost his job and is an addict. I think it is best to go in as blind as possible, however do know that there is a beyond horrific event that happens fairly close to the beginning of the story that frankly made me nauseous. The first 25% deals with the ramifications of this incident, with the remaining 75% taking place in prison. Things that did not work for me:
1. the writing. I cannot believe it was the same author as his previous books. It was melodramatic, overwritten, and just bad.
2. Corby: hated his name and felt nothing for his character. I do not need a likable character but he was just boring and not interesting at all. I could not listen to a white guy "poor me" for 400 pages. I did not care about him or his outcome and I think the point of the book is to really be invested in his life and care about his "redemption". I did not come close to crying once. I did like a few of the side characters.
3. the length. I felt every one of the nearly 500 pages.
4. The prison environment. A personal preference, I do not enjoy books set in prison. It felt very stereotypical, repetitive, slow and boring.
What I did like--- I do respect the work Lamb does with the incarcerated and I appreciate him wanting to educate on the problems with our judicial and penal systems but it was too much telling and not a lot of showing. He clearly had an agenda, and I agree with his message, just did not appreciate the delivery.
5. The end. I would have DNF'ed this book pretty early if it was not from NetGalley and I so wish I would have.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. 2.5 stars

The beginning and end are both very emotional and eventful. The middle drags on a bit at times. I was not happy with the ending unfortunately.

I am so mad about this book. I have never been so mad about a book in my life. Wally Lamb has been one of my favorite authors since I started reading adult fiction, but this book is an absolute disgrace.

I read the description, so I'm not mad at the subject matter because I chose to read it. It's incredibly difficult to get through those first 50 pages, and I did skip over some of the more descriptive paragraphs because as a mother, I can't let my brain go too far into it.

This book is written so, so poorly. The amount of exclamation marks Lamb uses are reminiscent of a tween girl writing in her diary. The story goes by in a blunt and unemotional manner.

And even worse, the main character is an absolutey narcissistic, egotistical, selfish asshole.

This guy ran over and killed his own child because he was drunk at 8 AM (not a spoiler, it's in the description of the book). And yet he has the absolute balls of steel to get mad at his wife for not knowing whether she would divorce him or not? And because she won't bring their TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER to visit him in prison? And that she dares to mention Scotch tape, because HE can't even HAVE Scotch tape in PRISON. He is an absolute monster.

And the ending was a total cop out and just a shitty decision.

Not cool, Lamb. Not cool at all.

I have to give five heartbreaking stars to this newest novel by Wally Lamb. As a grandmother of twins, this story hit close to home and I could certainly identify with the trauma Corby and his family experienced at the beginning of the book.

Because of what happened, Corby stepped up and accepted the blame and was sent to prison for three years. The majority of the story is what happens during his time in prison and his struggle to come to grips with the detour his life has taken.

When things finally begin looking better for Corby, life knocks him right back down and his friend and roommate Manny helps him deal with his grief. For me, this may have been the most difficult part of the book.

While Wally Lamb may have written in a way to soften the blow at the beginning of the book, he showed no mercy at the ending. I must warn readers, this is one of the saddest books I have ever read, but also one the the best.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for allowing me to read a complimentary galley. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend to other readers.

I've seen lots of five-star reviews for this one, praising the way it examines grief and trauma and consequences but I didn't get that at all. The protagonist, Corby (don't get me started on his name) Ledbetter, causes a horrible tragedy but never seems to evolve - he's overly judgmental of everyone around him and sees himself as a constant victim. I I found most of the characters frustrating and one-dimensional and the writing almost simplistic. I pushed through, hopeful the ending would redeem things but nope. The last chapters actually made me deduct half a star from my rating.

This is Oprah's book club pick for June, and it's got a 4.45 rating on Goodreads, so I'm definitely an outlier. If you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks to Marysue Rucci books for the copy to review.

This is a book that’s very difficult for me to review. First of all, this was a wonderfully written story, and I feel the depiction of Corby’s time in prison is an accurate account of what prison life is probably like. Secondly, Corby’s journey is a story of the struggle of addiction and the effects of addiction on family members. However, there are several triggers in this story that may make reading this story difficult for some. Am I glad I read this book? Yes! Am I sad about the ending? Absolutely! So yes, I’m conflicted!

One single, unintentional mistake can tear apart and family and ruin many lives. Corby Ledbetter makes just such a careless mistake in this haunting tale of heartbreak and reflection on the meaning of everything after a tragic event. Wally Lamb always writes in a way to draw the reader into the story and to feel the situations experienced by the characters. As I read, I looked for a glimmer of hope in a broken man, and the book eventually provided that. It is a hard read but a thought provoking and satisfying one.

The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The story is heartbreaking and unforgettable. I’ll be recommending this novel to all my friends searching for a compelling read.

This was not a light read, but I’m glad I decided to pick it up. Every once in a while there will be a story that is hard to swallow and will open your eyes to so many new things. This story will stick with me for years to come. I love that the main character is a tragic character, but that he is trying his best to change as the story progresses. I was heartbroken, excited, hopeful, happy, and then all of that again… multiple times! Very good read

This book was tragic from start to finish. It wasn’t just about bad events happening — it was the kind of tragedy that seeps into every part of the characters’ lives. The abuse and mistakes weren’t distant or easy to ignore; they felt close and painfully real. It’s like watching a slow unraveling where every choice makes things worse.

The regret was crushing. I could feel how heavy it weighed on them, how it shaped their futures and haunted their every move. The story showed how some wounds don’t heal, and how people carry their past like a shadow they can’t escape.

It was emotionally exhausting at times, but I couldn’t look away. The way the story laid bare so much pain made it impossible to read lightly. The tragedy wasn’t just in the events, but in the way it changed the characters, trapping them in cycles of suffering.

It’s the kind of read that stays with me — tragic and raw, but honest in a way that made it powerful despite how hard it was.

Starting this book at midnight right before trying to sleep was a TERRIBLE idea. At the end of the first chapter, the main character - an out of work artist and dad of twins - is responsible for a terrible tragedy. It hurt my heart so bad I could have thrown up. The rest of the book follows the consequences of his actions, including his imprisonment and rehabilitation. There were other parts of the book that were equally hard to read, but I also couldn’t put it down. I’ll have a hard time letting this book go, but I also wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. Read enough reviews to see if this book is for you. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element. Rating: 4.5 stars

This is a VERY hard read. You'll feel as if you've served time yourself with Corby but also that you owe it to him to have served. There's much to digest here about injustice and inhumanity that will leave you pondering the human condition. Lamb is a masterful author.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb.

It feels weird to say that I really enjoyed this book because it's really sad, like from beginning to end. But being a fan of Shawshank Redemption and a glutton for punishment, this was totally my jam.

I'm not going to recap this story because it really is depressing, but Wally Lamb writes a good story and I was captivated the whole time. Just be sure to approach with caution.

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. This story starts off in chapter one with a horrific, tragic accident, caused by Corby, that catapults this family into life shattering heartbreak. In the beginning chapters of the book we discover this man’s acknowledgement of what he has done, acceptance, and then his consequence which is a life prison sentence. We then follow him in prison as he navigates this new normal, we follow him as he bears witness to acts of brutality but also small acts of kindness and a kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light. He develops friendship with some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. This ultimately is a story about acceptance and self forgiveness after a mistake that would feel to anyone, impossible to move forward after.

So this book was high on my summer reading list. This is one of those books that, for the most part, I am happy exists, because of the light that it sheds on a wider scope of humanity, including those who have done terrible things, but are still trying to find forgiveness reconciliation and a way to move forward. I thought that having a book set primarily in prison and showing a full life of someone who has spent so much time there, was smart and I appreciated that this author wanted to demonstrate the hope and humanity using this setting.

Ultimately, I didn’t end up loving this one. I thought that more could be done to not make this book feel so redundant. I did like that there was found family, but something about this one just felt a little bit dry and repetitive. On top of that, we have a white author that is using a lot of of harmful language and slurs that, while I know are a part of this community and culture, felt untactful coming from a white author in 2025.. the writing could have demonstrated that culture in a different way.

Ultimately, this is one of those books that I’m actually not regretful that I read, and I think that there is some merit to the story and what the author was trying to do here. But I also had some pretty serious criticisms of his writing and narrative voice. Would I recommend it? Maybe! I think that there is a lot to discuss here and it could make for a great book club book, but it’s not one that I would necessarily recommend widely, no.

This story revolves around a father, a wife, a daughter and a son who are twins, and a tragic accident.

When the accident occurs, his life is forever changed, and for the rest of his life he will never be the same.

He is sent to prison.

This is a story of how this changes their family, and the way it affects the father, Corby, whose life will change drastically, but one he tries desperately to repair.
The way that it affects the mother and their daughter when he is sent to prison is heartbreaking. The way it affects him is through the torture given by others.
The hope that at some point, he will be able to return to his wife and their now one and only child.

While this has dark moments, and there are several, there are also moments of redemption, of friendship, of hope and love.


Pub Date: 10 Jun 2025

Many thanks for the opportunity to read Wally Lamb's 'The River is Waiting'

THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb

The River Is Waiting is a heavy, gut-wrenching read that doesn’t let you look away. From the start, a devastating tragedy—one that is entirely the main character's fault—sets the tone for a raw and emotional journey.

This is Corby Ledbetter’s story: a father of twins, out of work, quietly drowning in addiction, and hanging by a thread in his marriage. When the worst happens, he’s sent to prison, where the story shifts from domestic tragedy to an exploration of guilt, punishment, and the faint glimmers of redemption.

Corby’s journey behind bars is filled with pain, but also unexpected grace. He meets people who challenge him, support him, and ultimately help him begin to face the wreckage of what he's done. While we never hear from his wife Emily directly, her presence and grief loom large over the story.

Themes of guilt, forgiveness, addiction, marriage, and justice are handled with sensitivity and grit. It’s the kind of book that begs for a book club discussion and earns every emotional moment it delivers.

Thank you to @netgalley and @marysueruccibooks for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I was eager to read another novel from the author of She's Come Undone. Immediately we're back in the sturdy voice that has made Lamb famous. We're right in the middle of Corey Ledbetter's life as a frustrated artist and primary caregiver to his boy/girl twin toddlers. This is rarely a comfortable place to be, When tragedy strikes, as the result of Corey's own decisions, his life implodes, We follow him through the wreckage as the narrative unfolds. The strength of this novel is the singularity and immediacy of Ledbetter's voice. Unfortunately, this is a long ride with a largely unsympathetic companion. I felt the length of this one and while I will always love the "voicy-ness" of Lamb's writing this was a voice that rang too loudly in my ears.

Wally Lamb knows how deliver a story. This is harrowing and horrible and yet I couldn’t put it down. A little overwriting and over explaining but forgiven as it demonstrates the character’s anxiety.

I AM SOBBING. This is the saddest thing I have read in years and I loved it so much. Grab an entire box of kleenex and copies for all of your friends.