I was so very grateful to have received an ARC of this book. The writing is so clear and precise that we are compelled to continue reading this extremely difficult story. Corby is a fun, dynamic, full time dad to twin almost two year-olds. Unfortunately, he abuses alcohol and anti anxiety drugs which leads to a life changing event resulting in Corby being incarcerated. A very detailed telling of his time in prison follows. Doesn't sound like an easy read but the storytelling is perfect! I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A sad but totally engrossing story of a horrific accident that happened to drug and alcohol addiction. It was a hard story to read at times and many tears in between pages but so worth it. I absolutely love Wally Lamb and this novel did not disappoint.

This book was ok for me. I felt like there was redemption and acknowledgment found very early on, and it almost felt belabored in detail. I was captured in the beginning, and loved the concept.

This is the story of one man who thinks he has lost it all, until he finds the depth goes a lot farther, and a lot more devastating, than he could ever have imagined.

I feel the need to be careful in my review, as I think that the story benefits from going in mostly blind. Some quick trigger warnings for those that need them: alcohol and drug abuse, on page death, prison dynamics.

Things I liked:
Wally’s straightforward approach to storytelling
The complexities that make up the human experience
The journey of redemption

There are elements I felt could have been expanded on, and other elements I felt too much time was spent on. There was an abruptness to the conclusion that felt incomplete to me. All that being said, the honesty and compassion in Lamb’s writing never fails. I hope we don’t have to wait another nine years for his next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element for the opportunity to read The River is Waiting in exchange for my honest review. This is a tragic, heartwrenching story written so beautifully by Wally Lamb. I am a very slow reader, but when I wasn't reading this book, I thought about it and what would happen next. The story is told mostly from Corby's perspective as he goes through life and the trials of love, marriage, family, addiction, and a tragedy that ultimately leads Corby to prison. I found myself in tears a few times as the characters in this story were very relatable. The River is Waiting is one that I will stick with me for a long time. I give this all five stars and would give more if I could.

I've seen a lot of criticism of this book and I have to agree it's not my favorite Lamb book. However, I've read them all and have been anxiously waiting 9+ years for each one and this one still got me. I did not anticipate the ending, although I'm sick of covid stories. I also understand his desire of writing a prison story as he taught literature/ writing in prison and published inmates stories as well. Yes I read those as well.

For most of the story, I didn't "get" how Corby couldn't understand Emily's side and felt he was very selfish. Then the very end, hearing Emily's story, I get very emotional.

Not Lamb's best, but I'm still a fan

Since Corby lost his job, he finds himself drinking more and more, even during the day when caring for his two year old twins. He’s also taking too much of his prescribed benzodiazepines, but fools himself into thinking it’s all under control.
Except it’s not, and the consequences tragically ripple across the depths of his life and those around him.
We follow Corby as he navigates prison and see the harsh realities of life inside.
This is a story about a terribly flawed and human man whose reality is so suffocatingly depressing and done of his own making, and it can be hard to read at times.
No one can devastate with words quite like Wally Lamb.
And while this book is heavy, it’s also necessary for all the range of emotions displayed so vulnerably in this character you simultaneously feel for and condemn. A really complicated situation and character— complicated, exactly like life is.
Well done.

My thanks to Wally Lamb, Simon Element and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Corby Ledbetter is having a hard time since losing his job. He stays home with his twins and numbs the day with alcohol and prescription benzodiazepines. When he causes a terrible tragedy, he’s sent to prison and is left with his own guilt.

I love love loved this one! I was hooked immediately and really understood and felt for Corby. I don’t see many stories that take place in prison, and it was certainly an interesting environment to read about. It was very frustrating seeing the poor treatment and the bullying within the institution but loved that there were some people that presented as hope as well. The ending knocked me over. I loved how we gained a few new perspectives at the end also.

“I just don’t know how I’m going to survive in this place for the next three years.”

The River is Waiting comes out 5/6.

Corby is struggling. His relationship with his wife, Emily, is on shaky ground. He is also addicted to anxiety medication. Tragedy strikes this family and it is so heartbreaking. This was a difficult read for me because it was just so heartbreaking and emotional. I love Wally Lamb's writing and this book is so beautifully written. Thank you to Net Galley and Simon Element for an advanced copy.

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his devoted wife, Emily, into turmoil. And that’s before the tragedy that shatters his family. Sentenced to prison, Corby must navigate a brutal and unforgiving world, where violence and despair are constant threats.

Yet amid the darkness, he finds unexpected moments of connection—glimpses of humanity in a place designed to strip it away. As he gains self-awareness, Corby begins searching for redemption, but the lingering question remains: Can those he loves ever truly forgive him?

The River is Waiting isn’t always an easy book to read, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Wally Lamb doesn’t shy away from difficult themes—grief, addiction, and the weight of our choices—but he handles them with depth and honesty. I found myself completely immersed in Corby’s story, feeling his struggles, regrets, and moments of hope as if they were my own.

At times, I had to pause and sit with what I had just read—some moments were raw and challenging. But even in its heaviest moments, this novel never felt hopeless. The relationships Corby forms in prison—especially with the librarian, his cellmate, and a young inmate—add layers of humanity and serve as a reminder that even in the darkest places, redemption is possible.

This is a book that lingers long after you turn the last page. It makes you reflect—not just on Corby’s story, but on forgiveness, accountability, and whether true atonement is ever possible. If you’re looking for a novel that is both gripping and deeply moving, The River is Waiting is one you won’t soon forget. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free review copy.

Thank you NetGalley, S & S/Marysue Rucci Books and Wally Lamb for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The River is Waiting.
This is a heart wrenching story about a young family’s experience with tragedy. A new father of twins, Corby, makes some awful choices that tears this family apart. He is sentenced to prison where he struggled to survive witnessing many acts of brutality. Yet, he also experiences friendship, small acts of kindness and time to reflect on himself and his ownership in this tragedy.
I have read many of Wally Lamb’s novels and loved them all. This one is right up there too. The characters are well developed and I became immersed in the story from start to finish. I cringed, cried and had hopeful moments as Corby experienced the ups and downs of his prison sentence. I was exhausted by the end but enjoyed every minute of this emotional story.

this is a story about grief and forgiveness. I love wally Lamb books, I have read all of them and this is a good story.

The River Is Waiting is a poignant and deeply human story about atonement, grief, and forgiveness. Following Corby, a young father grappling with addiction and incarceration after a devastating tragedy, Lamb crafts a narrative that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The novel shines in its portrayal of prison life, systemic injustices, and the power of small acts of kindness. While the heavy themes may feel overwhelming at times, Lamb’s compassionate storytelling and memorable characters make this a great read.

This book received some unfavorable reviews, but with most things in life, it can be good to form your own opinion rather than take someone else's at face value.

Corby and Emily are the parents of young twins. They experience a very tragic event that changes the course of their lives. Men typically feel as though it's their job to financially provide for their families, so when Corby loses his job, it's easy to see how he probably felt like less of a man. Emily is very angry, unforgiving, and not very understanding. When tragic events occur, no matter how difficult they may be, supporting one another is paramount to overcoming the tragedy. It's difficult for me to say how I would handle this situation and/or how I would feel in this situation. What I do know is that Emily is a very unlikable character.

Trauma, death, and addiction are prevelant topics that the reader should be prepared to tackle.

A significant portion of the book details Corby's time behind bars. While it's important to address his incarceration, I feel this would have been a perfect time to switch to Emily's point of view. I often found myself wondering how Emily was doing and how she was handling the tragedy. I would love it if Mr. Lamb would write a sequel focusing on the events from Emily's point of view.

The conclusion of Corby's story left me so, so ANGRY. The reality is that there are probably hundreds of incarcerated people whose stories ended just like Corby's. Life just isn't fair.

Such a heart-wrenching read that kept me captivated, oftentimes with tears dripping down my face.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

I, like a lot of women my age, adored She's Come Undone, so when I saw that Wally Lamb had an upcoming publication, I eagerly requested an ARC from NetGalley. In The River is Waiting, Corby Ledbetter is a father to twin 2-year-olds, recently laid off from his job as a graphic artist, and using prescription benzos and a growing dependence on alcohol to get himself through each day. Early on in the book, his choices catch up with him in a truly horrific way and he is sent to prison for three years. The bulk of the book is about his life in prison as he copes with his mistakes and overcomes his drug and alcohol addiction while simultaneously trying to find a way to save his marriage and survive life in prison.
In reading the various reviews, I do believe I am in the minority on my overall rating and enjoyment of this book. It was lackluster at best for me, and just felt amateurly written, and overall lacked something for me. Corby's addiction to benzos and alcohol is never truly explored, never fully showing the reader why he ended up so addicted. The writing was simplistic and lacked finesse and details, and at times felt uneven in the language choices made. The ending as well felt like an attempt by the author to grab at the readers heart strings in a way that didn't seem required, to me. It just felt like a cop out. I did read the book from start to finish, so I am choosing to rate this 3-stars overall. Simply put, it didn't live up to the expectations that I had for this particular author.
Thank you to Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The River is Waiting is a brutal novel that serves as an unflinching look at the devastation of addiction, the profound nature of grief, and the multiple failures of the prison system. Needless to say, trigger warnings abound. It is a hard, unflinching read but in my opinion, a necessary one.

Corby is a commercial artist, currently unemployed and the full-time caretaker for his two-year-old twins, Nico and Maisie. He has become depressed about his lack of job prospects and has resorted to alcohol and a prescription from benzodiazepines that has quickly become a serious problem. His marriage is becoming strained to his wife Emily, a full-time teacher and current breadwinner of the family. Feeling emasculated and unconnected, Corby's addiction costs him an unthinkable price. (I am being purposefully vague to avoid spoilers, but please be assured, that this is a big trigger warning and not for the faint of heart).

Corby's actions necessitate a prison term. Estranged from his wife Emily and his mother who continues to support and believe in him, Corby has to figure out a way to survive, to retain his humanity, come to terms with the consequences of his actions, and somehow find a way to live.

I've long been a fan of Wally Lamb, having read his novels She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True, both of which I highly recommend if you have not read them yet. His latest offering does not disappoint. Lamb creates compelling characters, has a knack for dialogue, and truly creates a story that wows on every level.

It's an astonishing read and one that may easily be one of my top reads of 2025.

4.5 stars. Finally, Wally Lamb has come out with another book and what a saga this book is - I've loved some of his older books (I Know this Much is True and She's Come Undone) but felt a couple of his others were just okay. This book is really good if you're looking for an emotionally draining book. It follows a husband who is sent to prison for committing a horrible crime - but this horrible crime comes with a life sentence of guilt too.

Corby is sent to prison and this book follows his time there depicting the absolutely demoralizing horrible atrocities of prison life. But within the horribleness there are a few decent and good things that happen as Corby serves out his sentence. This book is about hope when all hope is gone. I loved the distinction between hope and expectations - that these are two very different objectives.

Wally Lamb uses Corby in writing a poignant exploration of a broken system - one that so many people have given up on. He shows us one account of thousands of incarcerated persons. And he opens our eyes to the possibility of hope - not an expectation - but a hope.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wally Lamb and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for this wonderful and emotional book in exchange for my opinions.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb was OMG - a must read. All I know is that Wally Lamb is back with a powerhouse novel that will pull at your emotions in ways you never thought were possible.

For the week that I read this, I updated my husband daily on Corby’s life. I called Corby my friend and at night before reading a few chapters I would say, “I need to check in on my friend.” He is unlike any friend I have or anyone I know but this week I couldn’t stop thinking about him. That is the sign of a great writer.

I have read other Wally Lamb books and remember really liking them, but I can’t remember a single character’s name. I’m certain I will remember Corby and his story without needing to read the Goodreads summary to refresh my memory.

Lamb’s main character development is second to none. The other character’s may be written a little more flat, but it doesn’t really matter. His dialogue may be a little unnatural but that doesn’t matter either. What matters is creating a three-dimensional character with words that show you, rather than tell you.

Thank you S&S/MarySue Rucci Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wally Lamb doesn't hold back in The River Is Waiting. Immediately Corby & Emily Ledbetter are relatable as parents of young children. They are trying to manage the transition of being a couple to a family of four. But it's not easy. Corby lost his job and is home taking care of their twins. Instead of job-hunting he is fueling an addiction he can't admit to. Emily is carrying the family financially, working all day to come home and take the night shift of family duties. The children are full of wonder, love, and energy. But when one of the twins tragically dies, it is so heartbreaking. Lamb tugged at my heartstrings hard; I had to put the book down for a few days.
When I picked it back up, I couldn't put it down. Lamb puts all the emotions in the pages. Emily struggles with the loss of her child, questions her marriage, and carries the grief of their surviving child. Corby struggles to atone for addiction and his role in his son's death. As he does, it is with heart and conviction. I found myself cheering for him and his reconciliation with Emily and himself.
Corby ends up at the Yates Correctional Facility wallowing in his grief and guilt. It is not a nice place (except when the state officials visit). Lamb pulls on his prison work and stories to show the realistic life Corby faced behind bars. Gangs, politics, and a sliver of hope weave Corby's time there.
Manny is Corby's cellmate, and it couldn't be a better pairing. They might be very opposite people who never would speak to each other on the outside, Corby and Manny form an unbreakable friendship. While incarcerated, Corby also meets Solomon, a boy-like teen who doesn't belong in the men's correctional facility. Before he realizes it, Corby takes Solomon under his wing and tries to show him the ropes. Solomon’s story and Manny’s compassion stick with me. I am grateful Lamb included their stories in the ending too.
I’d certainly recommend this book to anyone looking for an intense, emotional, and contemporary work of fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Element, & Wally Lamb for ARC in exchange for an honest review!