Netgalley coming through with the digital copy. I’ve been a longtime admirer of Wally Lamb’s earlier work, so I read The River is Waiting with hope, but sadly, that hope dwindled fast. While the novel shows flashes of Lamb’s usual emotional intelligence and knack for scene-setting, it’s buried under chunky, overwritten dialogue and a lead character who is so relentlessly pitiful that it becomes a chore to follow him from chapter to chapter.

One of the most frustrating elements is Lamb’s depiction of gay men, which feels like it was piped in straight from 2003. There’s a weird blend of cliché and condescension—overdrawn, stereotypical characters who never quite make it past their surface tics and traumas. It's clear the intent is sympathy, but it often reads more like caricature than compassion.

There’s also an extended subplot involving sexuality in prison that’s both unrealistic and oddly sanitized, as though Lamb wanted to address it but couldn’t bring himself to do it honestly. Yes, I know it’s not the primary or even secondary focus of the book, but if you're going to go there, go there with truth. What’s presented instead feels like a half-hearted gloss, disconnected from lived experience.

The tone overall reads like a 75-year-old trying very hard to write a novel about a 35-year-old—every text message and pop culture reference clunks with effort. The emotional arcs, too, feel flattened by melodrama, especially with a main character who seems constitutionally incapable of making a single empowered choice. He’s not just flawed—he’s inert, and by the end, I didn’t pity him so much as want him to stand up and do something for once.

There’s a decent novel buried in here somewhere.

Oh Wally Lamb, what have you done with my heart? The beginning is so completely devastating (even though the reader can see it coming) that I had to set the book aside for a few days, gathering the strength to go on. What follows is a profoundly intimate redemption story; one that will take the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions, from hate and grief to love and forgiveness. It is a story about overcoming the worst possible tragedy and becoming a better person for it.

I found the writing to be more simplistic than Lamb's pervious works, but the depth of the story and the emotions it invoked inside of me made up for the basic vocabulary. It is definitely not an easy read, but the story is rich and complex and very, very real. Lamb does not shy away from hard topics; in fact this book is packed full of them, including addiction, sexual assault, grief, and survivor's guilt. This is not a light read for a day at the beach; rather this book is a serious gut punch and requires the reader to grapple with some tremendous pain. It is also a powerful social commentary on the criminal justice system and the prison industrial complex in the United States. Like all of Lamb's novels, this one will stick with me and its characters will haunt me for some time.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the incredible privilege of reading an advanced copy of this incredible book. Five stars!

I didn't hate this new book by Wally Lamb but I also didn't love it the way I hoped I would and that's kind of a bummer. Told in the first person, it's accessible and also heartbreaking, but it gets uncomfortably repetitive in the middle, and there is an unexpected development that really put me off. Lamb delivers his usual style and realistic characters but there was some invisible barrier that prevented me from truly connecting with any of them. I'm not sorry I read it and I still adore Wally Lamb, but this doesn't measure up to his other works in my opinion.

4.75⭐️
Wally Lamb, your books kill me! In the best way possible! This emotional story follows Corby, who drinks “a little” on a daily basis, takes some pills (but it’s ok because anxiety, right?) on a daily basis, and makes a terrible, unforgivable mistake that changes his and his family’s lives forever.

This was such a roller coaster of a book for me. At the beginning I just knew it was going to be a five star book. Then halfway through, I wondered why it seemed like the book was dragging. Why did we need a play-by-play of almost every day? Then in the end, Lamb kicked me down and ripped my heart out, leaving me to realize everything was for a reason. The reason was to utterly destroy me emotionally. It’s written the only way Wally Lamb can write it and it’s fantastic. He packs a punch right when you think you’re safe and you least expect it.

My only complaint is how political he gets at certain points, but that don’t drive the story in anyway. When it comes to politics from authors in their stories, I believe ultimately, it is their work of art, it is their book. They can write about whatever they want. I don’t have to like it. I also don’t have to read it, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it. If it ties in with the story, it doesn’t bother me too much. Even if I don’t agree with the author’s views, I can appreciate it if it drives the story along or adds to the overall plot. When it’s just thrown in there because the author wants to share their political views, it pulls me out of the story and can feel frustrating. Lamb does that a couple of times in this novel, for seemingly no necessary reason.

Regardless, this was an excellent novel and I highly recommend!

***Thank you NetGalley, Wally Lamb, and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

I know this much is true of Wally Lamb's books: They are are neither brief nor linear. In The River Is Waiting, what began as one self-narrated story by an addict became multiple in the main character's words, and occasionally seemed never-ending, but resonated true for this alcoholic's behavior. For a reader who persevered (and I did), there was history to learn, and there were unusual relationships to unfold, understandings to come to, and a very satisfying, if surprising, ending. During the second section of the book, its longest, many minor characters were introduced who were tricky to keep track of. But the main character was complex, with an alcoholic's self-aggrandizing way of justifying his behavior, and while his transformation was ever in doubt, this book was a learning lesson in dealing with addicted loved ones.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for the ARC. I’m rating this 3 stars because I didn’t finish the book. The subject matter was too difficult for me.

So emotional, so raw, so heartbreaking…The River is Waiting is a difficult read but such a gem about life, mistakes, forgiveness, second chances - or not. Wally Lamb has created another treasure.

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

Beautiful prose coupled with marvelous storytelling and psychological insight make for a great read. I hope that Wally Lamb continues his writing.

Recently out of work, Corby Ledbetter is in a rut. A now default stay at home dad to his two year old twins, Corby relishes the time with his kids, but can’t help but feel somewhat lost without a true purpose.

To cope with his depression, Corby slowly turns to alcohol and pills, justifying the edge each gives him as needed. Needless to say, he keeps his habit from his wife, Emily, partly because he doesn’t want her to worry and partly because he’s in denial to the growing addiction himself.

Then tragedy strikes because of Corby’s carelessness, resulting in a prison sentence and a chance at redemption. What follows is largely the story of Corby’s life on the inside, the good, the bad and the ugly, and the path Corby takes to make peace with his actions.

If you’ve never read a Wally Lamb book before, let me prepare you- his storytelling will tear you apart. Though he doesn’t churn out yearly best sellers like some other authors, his writing is always purposeful and heartbreaking. The River Is Waiting is no exception. Corby is a complicated character who makes the reader cycle through so many emotions alongside him including despair, anger, and ultimately even hope. Lamb’s depiction of prison life and a life in recovery are both raw and powerful. While his books are not for the weak, they are quiet testaments to the power of the human spirit, and the journeys life takes that are never linear, but will linger with you long after the last page.

4.5 stars

Wally Lamb is one of my favorite authors, and The River Is Waiting is another example of why. His books always pack a powerful emotional punch, and this one is no exception.

First, a warning: do not pick up this book if you’re looking for a lighthearted story with a feel-good ending. The River Is Waiting is not book. The first few chapters are absolutely gut-wrenching — and it doesn’t get any easier from there.

After causing an unimaginable tragedy, Corby ends up in prison, and readers are fully immersed in the emotional and psychological weight of life behind bars. Lamb’s writing is raw, intense, and deeply affecting — the kind of storytelling that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

I actually read this book more than six months ago, and I still remember so many of the details and the emotional impact it had on me. The only reason it’s not a full five-star read is the ending, which felt a bit too convenient for such a heavy, complex story.

Still, The River Is Waiting is another emotional masterpiece from Wally Lamb.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster | Simon Element | Marysue Rucci Books for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of this fabulous book by a long time favorite author, Wally Lamb. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

It only takes a moment for a life to change, making it easy to forget those moments before. Corby is struggling with losing his job, being the full-time carer of his twin toddlers, and a growing secret addiction to alcohol and pills. When tragedy strikes and Corby is sentenced to prison, he's not sure how or if he will survive.

This book is everything - powerful, raw, devastating, and will make you think and feel strongly about addiction, the choices we make, how to forgive each other and ourselves, and the hope of redemption. Mr. Lamb writes so powerfully about the prison experience because of his experience teaching at a women's correctional institution, and the conditions depicted here will leave you in tears and anger, but also grateful for the bright souls in those environments. I felt so strongly for the characters - Corby and Emily, but the minor characters as well, This isn't an easy read, but it's beautifully written, tense, and gripping and you won't be able to look away. Definitely a must read and will deservedly be at the top of everyone's list of 2025 favorites.

After losing his job, Corby Ledbetter spirals into a haze of alcohol and prescription pills in a desperate attempt to manage his deepening depression. Convinced he's keeping his struggles hidden from his family, Corby's facade shatters when his actions lead to a devastating accident. As a result, he's sentenced to three years in prison—time he hopes to use to stay sober and earn back his wife's trust.

Inside prison, Corby confronts harsh truths and hard lessons, particularly about the high cost of standing out. He quickly learns that morality and self-preservation rarely align behind bars. While a few members of the prison staff treat inmates with decency, others thrive on cruelty and degradation. When Corby defies a particularly brutal guard, he finds himself marked and subjected to relentless retaliation, turning his sentence into a punishing ordeal.

The River is Waiting doesn’t offer tidy resolutions or feel-good endings. Instead, it presents a stark, unflinching portrayal of incarceration and raises haunting questions about guilt, punishment, and whether true redemption is ever really attainable.

Corby Ledbetter is barely hanging on. He's lost his job, which he didn't really like anyway, but still. So now he's a stay at home dad to his twin toddler son and daughter. The pills and alcohol help some but he needs more and more to cope and he starts earlier and earlier in the day. When the unthinkable happens, Corby is sentenced to prison, a place he never dreamed he'd end up.

I was hesitant to start this because, well, prison book. I did not expect to love this so much. There are horrors, but there are also kindnesses and Corby's path to finding a way to deal with his actions and the consequences really kept me intrigued. This is a beautiful book and while heartbreaking, I loved it. I read it over 2 days and literally couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading.

Definitely check trigger warnings for this one as there are several subjects that readers might find disturbing.

Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for providing me with an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 10, 2025.

This isn’t a light beach read, but it’s deeply moving and full of heart. The River Is Waiting is about facing your worst mistakes and still trying to become someone better. If you’ve read Wally Lamb before, you’ll know the emotional ride you’re in for. If you haven’t—this is a powerful place to start.

Wally Lamb is one of the most gifted writers of our time. He has a way of writing the most gritty, dark, and tragic novels that are simultaneously beautiful and hopeful. What I loved most about this novel was the character development. Within the first few pages of his story, I loathed the MC - and then grew to empathize with the harrowing ordeal of not only surviving the emotional trauma of what he had done, but surviving the brutal environment of prison. This novel is heavy, for sure, but I love authors that take on the hardest stories to tell. Five stars and one of my top reads this year.

I was quickly drawn into "The River is Waiting" even though the main character (Corby- yes, Corby is a ridiculous nickname) was a completely selfish jerk. The first quarter of the book was extremely hard to get through as a parent...it was painful watching someone so deeply lost to addiction while neglecting their family.

The second part, set in the prison system, was equally difficult. I usually avoid books with prison settings due to the inhumane and brutal conditions, but I didn’t realize this book included that. I went into it blind because of the vague description and the author’s popularity.

While I admire Wally Lamb’s writing and understand what he was trying to do here, the content was too heavy and the characters too unlikable for me to truly enjoy the experience. I wouldn’t discourage others from reading it, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon Element for the chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a bit to clear my eyes of tears enough to type this review. I still have the pit in the bottom of my stomach, but I’m not entirely sure if that will ever go away. Wally has a way of creating the most complex characters. This book begs the question- is there any redemption for some mistakes? At the beginning of this novel, Corby does the unfathomable. From then on we see him grapple with what he’s done, bond with those around him, work on himself fighting demons old and new, and fight the corruption within his prison. But in the end, is that enough to stand up against all he’s done? The feelings I have toward him went from one extreme to the other in a matter of 400 pages. The ending was tragically beautiful. “Hi, boy” was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I lost it. So many devastating things happened, but there are glimmers of hope sprinkled in that make the novel feel like something other than just a trauma dump.

Wally Lamb’s latest is dark and gritty. It took me a long time to read, much longer than usual. I didn’t care enough about the main character to hurry back to the book. If you’re interested in prison life, you will enjoy this book more than I did. As a southeastern Connecticut resident, I recognized so much of the setting. That was a pleasure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published June 10, 2025.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by Wally Lamb. He wrote “ She’s Come Undone” and “I Know This Much is True”.

First off, this book is difficult to read. Something tragic happens early on that may be too difficult for many to continue. But if you choose to continue it’s worth it.

85% of the book takes place in a men’s prison and the details of life in prison felt both realistic and terrifying. Bad stuff happens there and it tests the willpower of the main character Corby.

It’s a gut-wrenching tale of addiction and lies, friendships and forgiveness, second chances and redemption and a single stone that gave Corby hope. I will long remember this story.

“Empathizing with your grief right now isn’t something I can do because my anger is in the way.”

“Worrying is caring tomorrow’s load with today’s strength-carrying two days at once.”

“An inmate who comes to prison does not have to lose his humanity or and his quest for self-realization and growth.”

“It didn’t happen to me. I made it happen.”

THIS was written by Wally Lamb? This lackluster dialogue, these flat characters (all pretty unlikable, except for Manny), this hugely emotional event that is talked about and around so much it loses its drama and sadness and the horror it should elicit in these people, this insipid dialogue and the cringe-inducing stupid nickname of the main character, this absolute cop-out of an ending? Disappointing.