I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The River Is Waiting. Wally Lamb is the master of epic, sweeping ,character driven novels and this one does not disappoint. I finished the book over a month ago and the characters still haunt me day to day. A gift.

This was a long awaited book by Wally Lamb, having loved past books. I really enjoyed this novel. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.

Wally Lamb never disappoints! A tender heart-breaking story of love and loss. Similar elements to his other books as well.

I was so excited to get to read this through netgalley. I am a huge fan of Wally Lamb and this was beautifully written. I would consider this among his best work. Corby, oh Corby......tragedy ensues, heartbreaking. I had to pace myself with this one because I wanted to tear into it and perhaps the dark of impending winter was not the best time to read it. I sobbed so many times in this book. I loved Corby's internal journey. Lamb kills me a couple of times in this book but can I say that this is a case of an author having such empathy and understanding of humanity that even the rough parts are dealt with in such a mindful and meaningful way that I forgive Wally for gutting me. I know this is a run-on but I cannot truly express how much I loved this book, in all of its tragic beauty. This is one of his greatest works! I will read it again.

I Know This Much is True is one of my favorites of all time because of the growth and the redemption. In many ways, this has shades of the same redemption and study of the human condition. I am so grateful to have read The River is Waiting and I cannot wait to discuss this with my friends. Someone needs to read this so we can talk about it.

3.5 stars

Corby Ledbetter is struggling mightily. He and wife Emily have two year old twins, Niko and Maisie and he is acting as full time house husband and child minder since he lost his job which is a blow to his ego. He also has a growing secret addiction to prescription anxiety drugs and alcohol just to get him through the days.

Then an unthinkable tragedy strikes and Corby is to blame. His family is torn apart and Corby is sentenced to prison where he barely survives on the inside. However he also experiences small acts of kindness and grace and he forms relationships with the prison librarian, his cellmate and a young man desperate for a role model. He draws strength from them as well as from those on the outside. Can his crimes be forgiven by those he loves?

I remember reading that Lamb is a big advocate for prison writing programs. The book can be a bit saccharine at times, but I enjoyed it. I should have seen the end coming.

Years ago, I read two Wally Lamb books that knocked me out: I Know This Much Is True and She’s Come Undone. Both were, for different reasons, deeply affecting and emotionally intense. When I had the opportunity to read Lamb’s new book, The River Is Waiting (thanks to Simon Element/ S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley, I had conflicting emotions: “Yay!” and “Can I handle this right now?” because I just knew a Wally Lamb book would be…a lot.

The story revolves around Corbin “Corby” Ledbetter. He is struggling: he has young twins, he loses his job, and he’s becoming secretly addicted as a desperate way to deal with everything going on in his life. Throughout, he is deeply introspective: “Sometimes I think we’re all wandering in the dark and that it’s random and pointless. But I’m trying to open my mind to the possibility of some deeper truths. Trying to see the light and move in that direction.” There are multiple themes including the inequities in the criminal justice system related to issues of race, class, and heritage, and Corby struggles while he learns that things are truly much different from what he learned as a kid: “In school, they taught us that we were the good guys – the descendants of brave freedom seekers who had crossed the Atlantic and established their claim to the “New World.”…That was just propaganda…To us white victors had gone the spoils and the right to flip the narrative.” Wow.

There are other lessons he learns as the story follows his desperate and sometimes terrifying experiences: “…how most of us must carry our bruised childhoods on our backs…” and”…to live means to suffer, then to die alone.” But along with the difficulties he endures, he also views small acts of kindness and unexpectedly positive relationships with a variety of characters including a troubled teen and a prison librarian (yay for librarians!) Along the way, Lamb explores white supremacy, addiction, mental illness, and brutality from and toward pretty much everyone in or adjacent to the correctional facilities he explores so vividly.

Difficult topics, emotionally affecting, and beautifully written, I know looking back why it sat for awhile on my TBR list – I had to be in the right frame of mind and to have a nice block of uninterrupted time to read and reflect on what I expected (correctly, as it turned out) to be an extremely impactful book. Five stars. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had been waiting for a new Wally Lamb novel and this did not disappoint. It starts at what seems to be a standard story about someone who drinks too much. But the damage is unfathomable for most of us to imagine or put ourselves in that position. The ending is a surprise. Wally's writing is clear, the dialogue is good and the story is new.

I’ve enjoyed Wally Lamb’s writing in the past , but this devastating event in the life of a family is just too heartbreaking to read about now .

I was once again blown away by the uncanny ability of Wally Lamb to put us inside the minds and lives of such a divergent cast of characters. The River is Waiting is not for the faint of heart. It starts out like watching a train about to crash and not being able to turn away. There are several gut-punch plot moments that took some time to pause and process.
The River Is Waiting is another stunning work that introduces a side of humanity in a way that feels so real - too real, It also carries a message of insight and hope that help to lighten up the heavier overall story.
The main character in this story is a gifted artist who takes a great deal of time and consideration in crafting what becomes his defining masterpiece. The same can be said about Mr. Lamb - each of his books is a work of art.

I first fell in love with Wally Lamb's books with She's Come Undone. Believe it or not, I read it on my honeymoon, and for that and so much more, it's left an impression. Then came I Know This Much Is True which I added to my "Lifetime Best Of" list.

Never did I think Lamb could top his earlier works, but THE RIVER IS WAITING does just that. The novel manages to tackle a horrific tragedy with layers of depth and understanding. A story that is both complex and heartwrenching, where no one really wins, but everyone is touched in the most profound possible ways. This will be in my top books of 2025 for sure. I can't wait for the world to get their hands on it. Thank you, Wally Lamb. And to the publisher for an early read.

I wanted to like this book, as I've found some books by Wally Lamb profoundly moving. The father's reaction to accidentally killing his child did not work for me. I cannot imagine a parent forgiving himself and moving on so easily. His plans to make a new life with his wife and daughter but without his son seemed impossibly simplistic to me. Also--the ending. Ugh, the ending.

4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5

Wally Lamb is back!! I was so excited when I saw he had a new book coming out in 2025 and I have to say this one will not disappoint.

I went into The River is Waiting blind and didn't even read the synopsis, so I had no idea what it was about. It's pretty tragic from the start. One of Corby Ledbetter's two-year-old twins is killed in an extremely tragic way that he is to blame for. He gets sentenced to three years in prison and much of the book takes place from prison. As readers, we're simultaneously grappling with the emotions Corby's wife is going through (someone she loves has killed her child, albeit accidentally, but while acting horribly irresponsibly), how the remaining child is going to survive losing her twin, and how Corby is both dealing with what his actions have caused AND what he's experiencing in prison. It's A LOT. But Wally Lamb handles it as the pro he is and makes us want to keep turning the pages.

It's impossible to step away from The River is Waiting without it staying on your mind. Apart from the tragedy of losing a child and a sibling, I can't stop thinking about Corby's time in prison. How inmates are treated as less than human, how sentences often make no sense and can be based on who you know/your race/etc., how daily survival can often feel impossible, and more. Lamb humanizes Corby's fellow inmates and anyone with a soul will leave this book as an advocate of prison reform.

Though the story is really good and gripping and I KNOW it will be a huge hit of a book, it doesn't quite land in my sweet spot of 5 star books. I need a book to elicit a certain emotional response in me to give it 5 stars and those are not typically super plot-driven books like this one is. I'm not saying this book didn't make me emotional; it definitely did! But it wasn't the kind of 5 star emotion for me (if that makes sense!)... But 4 1/2 stars is super high for me to give a plot-driven novel. I have no doubt this is going to be a best-seller!

Wally Lamb has written a masterpiece. The main character isn’t particularly likable but I was still rooting for him the whole time. He was so flawed and this book shows how life is not fair and sometimes what you think isn’t a big deal will change the entire trajectory of your life. Five star book and my favorite of 2024.

It's been decades since I last read a novel by Wally Lamb, so when I heard that his first novel in 9 years was soon to be released, I jumped at the chance to get an early copy of it. "The River is Waiting" is a hard-hitting, all-encompassing novel that hits on a number of pressing issues - many of which are still prevalent today.

In 2019, Corbin "Corby" Ledbetter is a struggling husband and father. Unemployed since his layoff as a designer, he's doing his best to juggle the responsibilities as the primary caretaker to his twins Maisie and Niko, all the while keeping his growing dependence on alcohol and overuse of benzodiazepines from his wife Emily. Things come to a head when an initial oversight becomes a life-shattering consequence, and Corby is sentenced to three years in prison at the Yates Correctional Facility. In those three years, Corby forcibly enters an entirely different world, with its own rules (or lack thereof) and systems and must adapt in order to survive. Despite the brutality and frequent inhumane treatment of the prisoners, Corby does find small windows of hope and consistency to hold onto - but his doubt on what his future looks like continues to be the question of all.

The novel focuses on the incarceration system and the many injustices and inequities present - both in terms of the cruel and inhumane treatment of those imprisoned, the deplorable conditions and resources offered, and the inconsistent sentencing made based on factors like race, wealth, and privilege. Corby's experience brings to light the lack of governance and oversight on the correctional officers, and how little can be done when they abuse their power and mistreat those they're meant to oversee. Lamb also covers difficult topics like white supremacy, and the prevalence of it dating back to the forcible taking of Native American land and territory; the lack of support for those with mental illness and substance dependency; and how poorly supported those who go through the prison system are both during and after their sentence.

This is certainly not a light-hearted novel, but in between the darkness, Lamb sprinkles moments of hope and joy - we see Corby overcome many of his initial demons and forge strong friendships and bonds with fellow inmates as he grapples with the guilt of his actions and decisions. It is a bittersweet, emotional journey as we follow along both his triumphs and failures and his gradual character growth and self-awareness. Very much a recommended read when "The River is Waiting" is published in May 2025!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! Wally Lamb is a LEGAND and it has been years since I have read any novels by him. After devouring "The River Is Waiting" I will need to pick up more of his books.

Boldly written and raw, with so much detail about the correctional institutions in America. I could not soak up enough knowledge!

My only red-flag would be the Covid-19 talk. I understand that it hit prisons hard, but it felt like it was bringing a 2024 novel too far into the past, when everyone just wants to forget about the quarantine.

No spoilers ….
And instead of a more normal type review that I might write — I suggest ‘read the blurb’. It’s all any reader needs to know ahead of time.
Frankly, I’m absolutely thrilled that I had not read one review.
Going in ‘mostly’ blind with this emotionally charged novel is the best way!!!

So… I’ll leave some tidbits from notes taken — (all out of context) …

“Forgot to turn off the burner and the friggin smoke alarm started wailing, so —“

“Any explanation for why your pupils would have been so dilated this morning?”

….Corbin (Corby) left college just short of his degree.
….Got laid off from a job, and came home drunk to the twins birthday party.

Corby was taking (prescribed) Ativan for anxiety. He had been nervous about their finances since being laid off — but he took more pills of Ativan than what the doctor prescribed.

Corby said he had been having trouble sleeping.

“Addicts get to be really good liars” . . .

….Letters exchanged
….Sketchbooks,
….Art supplies,
….Photos of Maisie
….Lucky River Stone
….Haunting memories
Building B, first floor
Connecticut Yates Correctional facility
….Seek the light . . .
….A giraffe family story, with illustrations - pterodactyls?
….A big wall painting - a mural
in the library.
….Native women and men going about their lives like those peasants in the painting . . .
….Coping with confusion of emotions… sorrow anger, despair, love . . .

….He tells me he’s an art agent in New York, but has been in Stonington Village for the past few days, doing some appraisals for an antique dealer. (hope & possibilities)

“Being able to design and paint the mural was the best thing that’s happened to me here. I wasn’t all that comfortable with the attention I got at the reception, but I survived and was grateful, most of all to Fagie Millman, the Yates librarian. She’s been my champion.

“When that judge came out of her chambers with her decision, she said some sentences were easy to decide, others kept her up at night, and mine was one of the ladder ones. My decision is that you are to be incarcerated for a period of three years with another three years of probation to follow. Then she pounded her gavel and left the courtroom”.

I’m saying -NO MORE!!!!
Other than…..
If this book doesn’t become a number one (#1) best seller next year, I will eat my hat!
It’s THE BEST!!!!!
Discussions will be happening globally!!!

Some books ask us to pause to highlight excepts —
Other books flow sooooo effortlessly— we don’t even realize we’re reading. We forget to highlight because we are soooo IN THE MOMENT!!

Wally Lamb is a very gifted storyteller. I’ve read every book he’s published.
He hasn’t published a book in nine years. The waiting was more than worth it.

Top to the charts….
“The River is Waiting” will be published May 7, 2025

Highly recommended to anyone who has read a Wally Lamb novel.
And to everyone else who hasn’t.
It’s horrifically sad — beautifully written — almost ‘old school’ unruffled free-flowing writing…..
A storytelling masterpiece!!!

Wally Lamb is an incredible author. I had the rare opportunity to hear him speak at a library conference several years ago, and it made a lasting impression on me. He truly is exceptional.

In this narrative, he expresses profound emotions while vividly illustrating themes of grief, life in prison, and the shortcomings of a flawed system. The story provides a touching glimpse into the human experience, fostering empathy and understanding of how individuals deal with tragedy and pursue redemption. The heart-wrenching premise of a father unintentionally causing his child's death evokes strong emotions and moral conflicts, prompting readers to contemplate the essence of forgiveness and the chance of discovering solace after unimaginable loss.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended first purchase, particularly for collections where Lamb's previous titles were popular.

I was excited to get the latest ARC from Wally Lamb. I’ve been a fan from the first book. He really is a great writer and knows how to suck you in. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. It will probably stay with me for a while.

The book is about a young family with twins. The father loses his job and becomes a stay at home dad who starts to drink and abuse prescription benzodiazepines. A tragic event occurs and the whole family has to cope and pay the consequences for what happened.

There is a lot going on in the book and I kept turning pages as I wanted to know what happened. There are some really good characters in the book and you learn about each of them.

Even though I loved this book, I felt the author tried to touch on too many subjects that are or were in the headlines. He wanted to cover all the social ills like homosexuality and the AIDS epidemic, Trump, police brutality, COVID, suicide, the opioid crisis, the unfair treatment of minorities in the prison system, and the treatment of native Americans. It felt like a little too much IMHO. He wasn’t over the top about it but he really made sure to cover all the bases. Not sure why he felt the need to put all that in one book.

That being said, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others.

Wally Lamb has been one of my favorite authors for decades so to say that I was excited to read his newest book is an understatement. This book did not disappoint. The River Is Waiting is a story of addiction, of loss, of survival and of redemption. We get to know Corby as a young father who's been down on his luck for some time - laid off from his job and unable to find work for more than a year, turning to drugs and alcohol to get through the day as he feels the judgement of everyone around him (whether real or imagined). When Corby's son dies because of his actions he's forced to make a decision whether to deny his role in the death or to come clean and finally take some responsibility for his actions. If you're reading this, you probably know where this is going. You know that Corby goes to prison and you know that Corby absolutely deserves to be there. We spend the last three-quarters of the book reading about the realities of prison life and are forced to contemplate the very difficult questions of redemption and recovery as we sit side-by-side with Corby in various corners of those old prison walls.
This is a novel that will stay with you, that will take you to another place - sometimes one you'd rather not visit but you know you've just got to be there. It's a novel that will help you see humanity in even the darkest places. And that is exactly why I love Wally Lamb.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.