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.

I've liked Wally Lamb books in the past, so I was definitely looking forward to this one. This is a serious read, taking on a tragic event, substance abuse, relational troubles, and the prison system. I found Corby, the main character, thoroughly unlikeable - he's thoroughly self-absorbed and always making excuses about all his actions. He got a bit better after a while in prison, but a lot of that was his excuse-making turned into congratulating himself for doing well. Perhaps what I liked most about this book was insight into the the day-to-day activities of the prison system. I trusted this aspect of the book given Lamb's experiences in working with the incarcerated. Finally, I don't recall this from earlier Lamb books, but I just didn't enjoy the writing style of this one. It felt a bit too "spot on" in how things were conveyed, without a lot of nuance. This is perhaps just my tastes in writing changing over time, though.

Oh, Wally Lamb. After nine years, you have written a masterpiece!

Corby Ledbetter is an alcoholic and drug addict. After a tragic, tragic accident, Corby is sentenced to prison where he gets clean and tries to come to terms with his actions. He meets a cast of characters that both uplift him and torment him. He desperately tries to hold on to his marriage and be a father to his children from inside the walls of prison, all while getting clean and navigating the injustices of the penal system.

There are several themes in the book. After the accident, Corby seeks forgiveness from his wife, his son, but most of all, himself. The book, while not religious, looks at whether forgiveness is possible, especially when the crime is so devastating. There is the theme of social justice. While in prison, Corby meets Lester, a black man sentenced to life in prison for a crime similar to his own, for which he was sentenced to three years. Corby meets Solomon, a mentally ill teenager, sentenced to prison with little hope of rehabilitation. Sometimes at great cost to himself, Corby tries to help others when he sees ways to improve the lives of others. Finally, the book is about friendship. While in prison, Corby befriends the librarian, Mrs. Mellman, and Manny, his gay roommate, forging surprisingly strong relationships that help him survive the difficulties he faces in prison.

In true Wally Lamb fashion, the characters in this book are so complex. At times throughout the novel, I found myself crying for the fate of Corby, yet hating him for his pompous attitudes. I sympathized with his wife, Emily, who has to deal with the repercussions of Corby's accident, while becoming a single mother and learning how to forgive. As a librarian myself, I loved Mrs. Mellman and the impact she was able to have on the prisoners, not just through suggesting book titles, but her unfailingly positive attitude and her belief that everyone deserves a second chance.

This was most definitely NOT an easy book to read. I'm typically not a crier, but several times throughout the book I had to put it down and come back because I was so emotionally drained. But the author handles so many sensitive topics in a way that does them justice but doesn't gloss over the devastating effects that these topics can have - addiction, death, sexual assault, mental illness. This is not a book that will make you feel good when it's over, but one that will make you ask tough questions of yourself. It was an emotional read for me.

5 ⭐s from me. It's a haunting, beautifully written book. One of my favorites of 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Marysue Rucci Books for an advanced copy of this book. It's scheduled to be published on June 10, 2025.

Like other Wally Lamb books that I've read, this is a a bit of a challenging read, to put it lightly. And to be a bit more honest, it often feels a series of emotional gut punches that occasionally required me to take a reading pause. But, his absolutely fantastic writing, relatable characters, and the hopeful undertones kept me coming back until it was all over.

This was so emotional and moving. It was a hard ride but very well done. In my opinion, this got overly political and while I understand and don’t necessarily disagree with the opinions of the author, I was looking more for a family drama/redemption story and less for him to push an agenda. Will still recommend.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb is a gripping story of denial, remorse and redemption. The protagonist, Corbin Ledbetter runs over and kills his toddler son while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He is sentenced to prison where he undergoes mistreatment along with many kindnesses. His wife (who is his son’s mother) finds it nearly impossible to forgive him or herself for their son’s death. Both sets of in-laws are enmeshed in the family’s misfortune and must cope with their own emotional fallout from the boy’s death and what comes afterward.
Lamb writes effectively about prison life without succumbing to stereotypes from popular culture. The reader senses the bleakness of the physical facility as well as the tasteless food and the near constant din of the inmates. The brutality of some of the guards is stunning as is the kindness of other prison employees and inmates.
Corbin’s capacity for empathy and self-knowledge grows during his incarceration and redemption seems within reach until the very end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for this review.

My favorite author, Wally Lamb, does it again. Another extraordinary novel. His writing is superb and his ability to make you connect with characters is amazing. Five stars.

This novel is well written and BLEAK.
I remember reading She’s Come Undone and wondering how Mr. Lamb wrote so convincingly from the POV of a female. In this novel, I 100 percent believe I’m reading from the POV of a person with an addiction to drugs and alcohol who wants help under circumstances wildly unconducive to facing life as life is (i.e., without chemical escape).
He wants to be punished, but what he did he’ll have to live with for his whole life. I don’t see how the ridiculous and dangerous place of prison is helpful to people who aren’t intentionally violent. There were parts I had to speed read because they were so tense. Not suspense-novel tense, but this horrible-stuff-happens-in-real-life tense.
Something that’s interesting about this book is how it’s also a little American history lesson when Corby reflects on his youth and him falling in love with his wife (the songs, what was happening in the news and the world). Then more recent history with Trump’s first term and COVID.
I liked this, but it’s not a cheery read.
NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 10, 2025.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the gifted book!

Wow- I went into this totally blind and was in for a total and complete shock. I've read a lot of similarly heavy books lately such as The Correspondent, Penitence, What Happened to the McCrays, and Broken Country and all four of those deal with very similar topics, so I thought I would be able to handle this one. This was ten times more gut-wrenching and hard to stomach than the previously mentioned books.

I just felt sick to my stomach every time I picked it up and it stayed with me even in between reading sessions. I think that's a testament to Lamb's storytelling, but I do feel like it was too much for me personally. I don't think the horror and pain of the situation was glorified in any way, I think it was realistic and that's why it was so horrifying to read about.

I think as a writer he clearly has an amazing talent, but if all his books are this intense, I don't know if I can handle them emotionally.

Just be cautious going in!

I have loved all of Wally Lamb's books and this one does not disappoint. The story is gripping and thought provoking. It is a tragic story that is fast paced and well worth reading.

The River is Waiting is a heartbreakingly beautiful book. It didn’t take long before my heart was in my throat. And for way too many scenes, it stayed in my throat. It’s not an easy book to read; it’s raw, bleak and dark and doesn’t provide any easy answers.
Corby Ledbetter is struggling with the loss of his job and being a stay at home parent to twin two year olds. I have to give Lamb credit. I found Corby initially difficult to like yet I was drawn into his plight. And as the story went on, I was totally engrossed in his trials.
The book focuses on a lot of big emotional issues - grief, addiction, forgiveness and moving on with life. It also makes you think about the prison system, casual cruelty, and justice.
The character development is strong. I felt like Corby was a real person. Even the secondary characters, like Emily and Manny, were fully fleshed out. Lamb spent twenty years leading a creative writing workshop at a women's correctional institution so he has a real sense for prison life.
This would make a fabulous book club selection as it really makes you both feel and think.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

How do you survive the unthinkable? That’s the question in Wally Lamb’s newest novel. This is an incredibly good, character-driven story about a man who makes a tragic mistake, and the events that follow. Lamb’s books are always a gift to read, and this is right up there with his other bestsellers. The writing is impeccable. This will make a fantastic book club discussion. Another five star masterpiece from the author.

Thank you for letting me read in advance!