Corby Ledbetter has been struggling since he lost his job and has been a stay at home dad to his young twins. Handling his anxiety by using an increasing amount of alcohol and anti anxiety drugs his life as well as those around him is changed in an instant with a horrible mistake.

Much of this book is set in prison, with an immersive look at day to day prison life, both the abuse that can occur and the friendships that can be made in that institution. The author has been running a prison writing program for years, so is familiar with some of the issues about which he writes.

I was immersed in Corbys character, and although I didn't find much to empathize with initially, he began to grow on me, as his character began to grow and come to terms with his own issues while he was incarcerated. His wife Emily was a complicated character as well, written with sensitivity and given deep layers as she struggles with trying to forgive. This is not a fast paced thriller, but more of a quiet slower paced thoughtful and powerful novel which will give you plenty to think about.

Thank you to net galley and simon element for an e galley in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of Wally Lamb's earlier and very powerful books, I was a bit disappointed in this work. While hard to look away from the train wreck of the main character, it was difficult to continue with the slog of prison life. The character development was awesome, but the main character's inability to get out of his own way was frustrating. A few cruel and brutal prison guards made life miserable for many and it took a long time for them to get their comeuppance. There are a few shining stars in both the inmate and employee populations, but I came away from the book feeling unsatisfied. Only after death were true causes and feelings apparent to those left behind. Perhaps that is true for much of life as well.

Oh my goodness! I am going to be profoundly affected by this book for a long time. Not many books affect me in this way. I have not read any other Wally Lamb books before so I didn't know what to expect. This is Corby's story of struggles with depression, addiction and guilt. Corby has caused a tragedy that has torn his family apart. With him mom as the only person who still believes in he, Corby is sent to prison to endure even more struggle and hardship. While in prison he meets few people he can trust and who are kind to him. Can Corby ever win the forgiveness of those people who mean the most to him? Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this profound book. I will not soon forget it.

Brilliantly written and told- but incredibly difficult story to read. Tragedy begets tragedy with some beauty interwoven in the story. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in advance of release.

Wally Lamb has his faithful followers, and I suspect this book will be as successful as many of his others; yet, as I was reading the novel, I was hoping the bulk of the novel wasn't going to take place in prison, but that is how the novel unfolds and ends. Lamb has led prison writing groups for years, so I can understand his interest in having the novel take place in prison, showing the humane and individual sides of inmates, and some prison employees, how drug addiction lands many behind bars, and how hard it is to cope not only behind bars but outside of prison. Our main character is the father of young twins, has lost his job and becomes the caretaker of his children while his wife teaches at a public school. Frustrated about not finding a new job, he gets prescribed an anti-anxiety medication, and self-medicates with booze during the day, which leads to him causing the death of his young son, something readers anticipate immediately in the novel, so this isn't quite a spoiler.

I was wishing he had found the letter from his father earlier, because so much of the novel evolved around his disengaged relationship with his father and his frustration that his father never visited or wrote him in prison. I was less interested in the life of prison because there have been plenty of movies and books about this, and more interested seeing our grieving father with his daughter and wife, his mother ,his father, less so with his mother-in-law who has never liked him. And then, when he's finally about to be released, we get a rather heavy-handed ending, and I rather regretted we didn't know more about Manny, his cellmate, because he may have had a more interesting tale to tell.

I requested this title because I will read anything Wally Lamb writes and we all know it's been a long time coming! All of that is to say, I didn't exactly realize the plot of the story and getting through the beginning was ROUGH as a new mom. However, sometimes the most devastating stories are the most real and the most beautiful.
Lamb obviously knows some intimate details of the prison setting and though these details were difficult to read, it was really eye opening. There were many well developed supporting characters. This was a very raw look into addiction, grief, realities of the prison system, family, and loss of many kinds. Tread forward with a warning that this will be a bumpy but, in my opinion, worth it ride.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb is an amazing story which chronicles the life of Cory Ledbetter. Lately, Corby has been having major problems! He has lost his job, is a reluctant stay-at-home dad to his toddler twins, has a marriage in serious trouble and his drinking and substance abuse is starting to get out of control. What happened? He and his wife, Emily, used to be so good together. Before Corby can change his life's trajectory it all goes horribly wrong, life as he knows it comes to a tragic end. Corby is sentenced to prison for a heartbreaking crime he committed while under the influence. As if the crime Corby is guilty of was not enough punishment, he is sentenced to a lengthy term in a maximum-security facility. Riddled with guild, Corby deals with the heart wrenching fall out that befalls his and his family's life while he learns to navigate the terrifying perils of prison life.

This is one of the most painfully beautiful stories about loss and forgiveness. Wally Lambs' descriptions of Corby's feelings throughout the novel make me, the reader, feel like I am standing in Corby's shoes. Break out the boxes of Kleenex, you will need them for this eloquent, remarkably written, saga about personal growth and the pathway to self-forgiveness.

Although I loved this five-star page-turner, it was so painful to endure. Reading it felt more like living it. Sometimes I had to remind myself that this is, thankfully, not an autobiography. Wally Lamb does not compose literature for the faint of heart with its vast number of triggers (too many to list in one short book review). If you are ready to read a work of art that can make you empathize for, feel the raw emotions and pain of a societal outcast, then read The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb.

Thank you, Net Galley, Marysue Rucci Books, and Wally Lamb, for the opportunity to read this beautiful piece of work. This story was given to me in exchange for my own honest opinion and I look forward to reading more of the author's work in the future. Watch for The River is Waiting publishing May 06, 2025.

This novel was gut wrenching, heart breaking, and all the emotions that one feels surrounding grief. This novel explores a it of the feelings that grief and pain can cause. This novel made me love the characters, feel their pain and emotions. I highly recommend this to readers of emotionally challenging novels.

Thank you Simon, Netgalley and the author for an ARC!

Corby is married to the love of his life and has healthy toddler boy/girl twins. Sure, he’s had some bad luck in the job market, but that can be overcome, right? Until he decides to take comfort in alcohol and pills, and an ensuing tragedy ends up changing the trajectory of his life.

If you enjoy the podcast Ear Hustle, I think you might really like this novel. The author Wally Lamb does a lot of work in prisons, and that interest gives the reader a keen look at what the day-to-day life in a prison looks like (it’s not as dramatic as Orange Is the New Black). Corby is a frustrating character, so much so that I can see readers giving up on the book because of him. Now I like a flawed main character, so I was fine with it.

➕ I couldn’t put this novel down. I stayed up hours past my bedtime to read.
➕ I liked Corby’s voice - I’m a sucker for first person perspective.
➕ This novel tackled some unique topics, like grief from a very particular perspective (no spoilers).
➕ I thought Emily was a very good character, and she reacted a lot better than I would have.

My list of negatives looks rather long, but I’d say it’s more like caveats. If you’re okay with these, then I think you’re set up to enjoy this novel more.

➖ Depressing. It feels like you level down at steady intervals throughout the novel. I kept thinking we’re at the bottom, and then it dropped yet again.
➖ I can see readers becoming very frustrated with the main character Corby.
➖ The vast majority of the novel takes place in prison. Day-to-day prison. I didn’t mind it, but I can see some readers not liking the slow train through a prison sentence.
➖ Some of the education pieces, like racism in the prison system, aren’t folded in as seamlessly as they could be.
➖ The ending starting with Chapter 40. Maybe I’ll come around on it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster / Marysue Rucci Books for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

It publishes May 6, 2025.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

OMG! This is one of those profoundly haunting books with a devastatingly powerful narrative that lingers long after you turn the final page. It’s not just a hard read—it’s an emotionally gut-wrenching experience that forces you to confront humanity’s darkest corners. The raw portrayal of crime, the flaws of the justice system, the brutality of prison life, and the complexity of redemption make this book an unforgettable journey. But at its heart, this is a story about empathy—about facing your own demons, atoning for your past, and discovering whether true change is possible. Keep tissues close because this book will shatter you. Wally Lamb once again delivers a masterful, deeply moving story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally explosive. But be warned—some chapters are so intense they might leave you breathless.

In The River is Waiting, Lamb introduces us to Corby Ledbetter, a man whose life spirals out of control after a single catastrophic mistake. Once a devoted husband and father, he finds himself behind bars, grappling with the crushing weight of guilt and the unforgiving nature of the prison system. Inside, he encounters both unimaginable cruelty and surprising moments of kindness, from a compassionate librarian to an unlikely friendship with a fellow inmate. As Corby navigates the brutal realities of incarceration, the novel asks: Can someone truly atone for the unforgivable? And is forgiveness ever within reach?

This book doesn’t offer easy answers. It doesn’t sugarcoat the darkness. Instead, it immerses you in Corby’s journey—his anguish, his regrets, his desperate hope for redemption. The writing is immersive, pulling you into the suffocating walls of the prison, the relentless torment of grief, and the fragile thread of human connection that keeps Corby from losing himself completely. Lamb excels at creating deeply flawed, painfully real characters who force readers to reflect on morality, justice, and the possibility of second chances.

The ending left me emotionally drained in the best way possible. It’s not a neatly tied-up resolution, but rather a reflection of life’s unpredictability—raw, messy, and deeply moving.

This is not an easy read, nor should it be. It’s a book that demands your attention, your empathy, and your reflection. The characters’ struggles will stay with you, their choices will haunt you, and their journeys will challenge your understanding of forgiveness and redemption. "The River is Waiting" is a testament to Lamb’s ability to tackle complex, often painful subjects with grace and compassion. Highly recommended for those prepared for an emotionally intense read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Heartbreakingly raw and honest novel that is one of the best I’ve read in ages. Corby is a young father of twins who is dealing with the repercussions of the biggest mistake of his life. In the aftermath of the tragedy that has destroyed his family, Corby finally deals with his addictions and depression while incarcerated. Beautifully written, like all Wally Lamb books, just keep tissues close. Definitely Lambs best work yet, not to be missed.

For many of us elder millennials, Wally Lamb is an author who shaped our young adulthood. She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True are books that I think about often, decades after having read them.

His new novel, The River is Waiting, is classic Wally Lamb. He writes about the hard stuff that shatters your heart. He shines a light on social injustice, addiction, and the flaws of the criminal justice system.

This is a story about a loving father and husband, who is flawed like any of us, and his personal battle with redemption for the unthinkable.

This is a heart breaking book that I would have to put down at times. From the very first chapter, the emotional gutting began.

This is more then just one action. This is a story of personal guilt, of trying to redeem yourself, of just trying to be better when all of the odds are stacked against you.

The author does a wonderful job of emotional and thoughtful exchanges.
It talks about the totality of the prison system and how one single act can land a person in a confined space.

Yet it also talks about hope. Hope to do better, be better, and to strive for better.

This novel is for anyone who wants to read what an inmates life is like after making a mistake and trying to do better.

‘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. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart.’

I have very few words at the moment. I will have to come back to edit.

What I can say is that The River is Waiting was poignant and beautifully written. So plausible, it was filmic. But it was not easy. Quite the opposite.

It was excruciating, tragic and unapologetically devastating. This one hurt. So very much.

I am gutted.

I need more time.
 
Thanks to Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub date: 5.6.2025.

(Random SN: The nod to DBT and Jason Isbell was such a gratifying, smile-inducing little nugget!)

Have you ever read a Wally Lamb book that was not amazing? Me either! His latest, The River is Waiting is going to be a hit!

Thank you, #Partner @marysueruccibooks, @simonandschuster, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 5/6/25.

Okay, this book at times was so hard to put down, but also so hard to pick up. This was probably the most depressing book that I have ever read, but it was also incredible. This is my first #wallylamb novel, and I immediately just purchased all his books after reading this one. His writing is so raw, and he definitely knows how to tell a story. This book deals with some heave topics: loss of a child, grief, forgiveness, alcohol and drug abuse, marriage, and so much more. I definitely recommend this book, but make sure you have the tissues ready and a light-hearted book to read next!

Corby is having a hard time since recently losing his job. He is now a stay at home dad for his two twins as he searches for new employment, but he is turning to hard alcohol and abusing his prescription. When an unspeakable tragedy happens, Corby is sentenced to three years in prison. Life on the inside is not easy for him, and he has to worry about the people he loves forgiveness. The ending was phenomenal, and it totally wrecked me.

Wally Lamb - a voice from the past. I would venture to say that if you read one of his novels. you read them all. They were/are that good. Starting in 1992 with She's Come Undone, and most recently (2016) I'll Take You There, Lamb delivered books you could disappear into. The River is Waiting is a great gift with the kind of character building and plot development we recognize. Very highly recommended.

This book emotionally wrecked me. I admit to being a fan of Wally Lamb's books and this one did not disappoint. Not an easy ready. The beginning of the book focuses on the accident that sends Corby Ledbetter to prison. The remainder of the book deals with Corey's time in prison. Anytime a book makes me cry, I know have become deeply invested in it.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Publishing date - 05/06/25
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book! A River Is Waiting is about a young father’s horrible mistakes and its consequences. This may be my favorite book that he has written. 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.

Highly recommend this one when it releases on May 6th!