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!

Oh, how I really wanted to love this book, espcially after reading the synopsis!

Corby Ledbetter causes an unspeakable tragedy within his family. It starts with the loss of his job, spirals to addiction, and then the tragedy. Corby is sent to prison.

Lamb did a great job describing the building of the relationship between Emily and Corby, I felt that foundation was solid. There were so many introspective solid points here, while Corby was in prison. But, then so many added items that I just kept asking why, why where they added to the story-line? For example, some of the history of things while he was in prison. (It is hard to write a review without giving spoilers so I am just going to leave it at that.) The ending did surprise me. I did not see that coming at all.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for the ARC

Thank you for the ARC! My review is below...
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Corby Ledbetter is in a rut. He's been out of work for a year, and after passionately looking for work after he was laid off, the rejections are piling up and taking a toll on his motivation. He spends his days caring for his twin two-year-olds, Niko and Maisie, while his wife Emily teaches and supports the family financially. The depression associated with his inability to find work has led him to increase his use of his prescribed Ativan, and he's started supplementing that with some secretive day drinking. Then tragedy strikes the young family, and Corby finds himself headed to prison for a 3-year sentence, where the majority of the novel takes place.

There are elements that will feel familiar in The River Is Waiting for readers who have enjoyed author Wally Lamb's other work, and in many ways this feels like a compendium of his favorite topics. For starters, he brings back Dr. Rubina Patel, who played such a pivotal role in I Know This Much Is True, for an encore (but more limited) performance in this one. He again digs into the Wequonnoc Indians and their mistreatment by settlers and the government, in more depth this time. He focuses on the prison system, of course, which followers of Lamb know is close to his heart, given his decades working with the women incarcerated at York Correctional Institution, and uses the setting to sprinkle in a good amount of righteous outrage from Corby on the inequities of the U.S. judicial system.

I count I Know This Much Is True as among my all-time favorite novels, and so perhaps my expectations were too high for The River Is Waiting. There were moments in the book—especially the buildup and immediate aftermath of the aforementioned tragedy—that had me captivated and reading late into the evening. I thought Lamb did a great job establishing the foundation of Corby's and Emily's relationship, which is essential to the rest of the story. Corby's time in prison was less compelling, especially considering Lamb's familiarity with the subject, but perhaps his close understanding of the realities of prison life caused him to write a less sensational version of what we see in movies or on television. Even as it began to waver a bit, I still expected the book was probably going to end up as a 4-star novel for me. Then I got to the end.

Lamb's ham-fisted handling of the conclusion really tanked this one for me. The combination of events, the manner in which those events are communicated to the reader, and the characters' dialogue and reactions to them was, frankly, ruinous for the novel. It's difficult to review without spoiling, but suffice it to say that I was left wholly disappointed with the author's choices and execution, even down to the final sentence. I was frustrated and angry that so much promise had been squandered. It was doubly shocking given much of my love for I Know This Much Is True is attributable to its just-right finish. How could the same writer create a conclusion so precisely perfect in one book and miss so badly in this one? I felt like Adam Sandler as Billy Madison screaming "You blew it!" as I turned the final page.

There are other smaller problems I had with the book—I saw one reviewer call it "completely soulless", and while I think that overstates it, there were too many human interactions that just felt "off" sprinkled throughout from an author who normally nails those. But those smaller nits pale in comparison to the choices with the conclusion, and I'm surprised there aren't more early readers turned off in the same way I was. Ultimately, I was disappointed.

I was so excited to see that Wally Lamb had written a new novel and was thrilled to get a review copy. However, I have to be honest, I put this book down after the first main event of the plot. I just didn’t want to read a book on this topic. The dread was real. I gave it a week and, because I loved earlier work by this author, I resumed my reading. I’m so glad I did. The main character grew and grew on me despite the horrible situation and events. Wally Lamb can write characters so you know them like your family. What a talent. Corby is flawed and horrible and human. The world treats him so badly. I hated him and I had so much compassion for him. This continued throughout. Sometimes he was whiney and stupid and sometimes heroic. This book is depressingly dark and so intense. I winced more than once and even closed my eyes once! I took lots of breaks but ultimately I finished this novel in two days and I’m so glad I gave it a second chance. There is so much going on in this novel; the symbol of the river, the social commentaries, the resilience of the human spirit, love, loss, grief….It’s an excellent piece of literary fiction that will not appeal to all but I’m glad I read it and would highly recommend it to someone looking for a serious read. This is book club material. I want to talk to others who read it and see where we are on all the above mentioned comments. Also, the ending didn’t work for me at all however clever I can appreciate it is. The first person narrative was for Corby not for one chapter each of less developed characters. Overall, all the stars from this reader. I’d love to see another novel from Wally Lamb soon. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley. This book and Corby will stay with me for a longtime.

Possibly one of the most depressing books I’ve read in awhile, but I did enjoy this novel and am a fan of Wally Lamb.

I feel like the middle section of the story (primarily the prison happenings) could’ve been edited down a bit. Seemed like there was too much time spent on the day to day interactions in prison and I would’ve preferred more on either end of his sentence. I found myself skimming a little towards the end.

Didn’t love the ending.

The pace was perfect to keep you reading. If you have read a few of Wally Lamb’s books you know it is going to be somewhat dark and this is no exception. Not my favorite of his but still a good read. I had an idea of how it would end up but others might not.

The River is Waiting, by Wally Lamb, is one of the most difficult books I've read. Although beautifully written by the incomparable Mr. Lamb, the story hits like a bolt of lightening that breaks you to your core and brings you to your knees. My conscience could not help but feel extreme anxiety and fear for the main character and the life that Mr. Lamb had him endure. In essence, though, isn't that what the very best authors do? They create a story and characters that are so real that the reader feels every gut-wrenching punch, making the story come alive. Kudos to Mr. Lamb for achieving such a masterpiece, but reader be ware...it's a tough pill to swallow.

Woah. This book was intense. Whole reading, I felt a mix of sadness, fear and hope. I really enjoyed Corby’s story and his life in prison. The story was easy to follow along and very descriptive and powerful.

Wally Lamb never disappoints and this book is no exception. Masterfully crafted with the attention to detail that he is known for, this book may be one of his bests.