Another heart wrenching, emotionally charged Wally Lamb novel! A father accidentally kills his baby son and the family must now deal with the fallout. It was difficult reading at times due to the subject matter, but overall a good book. Thanks for the advance read.

This was a tough read for me. The subject matter was extremely difficult to imagine (a tragedy beyond words) and the remaining topics of drug/alcohol dependency struggles, prison inadequacies, and tracing of patterns all the way back to the founding of our nation showing the consistency of mans inhumanity to man-made it really tough! I'm glad I stuck it out as Wally Lamb is an excellent writer and the characters were amazing. Being able to connect with each character, their experiences and their resulting reactions carried the reader through a very deep and emotional storyline, allowing the ability to see different viewpoints and better understand experiences most of us likely already have opinions about which may surprise many to be completely off track until we have the ability to "walk in the shoes of another" as this story allowed. I honestly almost stopped reading it several times, but I'm glad I finished it, as it gave me a lot to consider regarding our society.

(4.5 stars) Another memorable book from Wally Lamb. This time, he has used his familiarity with correctional institutions to write a wholly believable book about prison and the human experience. Lamb remains a very good writer. This is an very readable book that takes readers’ emotions for a ride…mostly an enjoyable ride, although it often lands in dark places. When I tried to pass this book along to my husband, he said he wasn’t interested because Wally Lamb’s books are “too depressing”. Thinking on this, I find I have to agree, although this didn’t (and won’t) keep me from reading Lamb’s books. It’s the curse of literary fiction – real life is often messy and, yes, depressing, and it doesn’t end well…for anyone. A bad ending doesn’t keep us from striving everyday to enjoy life, however, and it won’t keep me from enjoying Wally Lamb’s books.

The River is Waiting is a good old-fashioned novel, featuring memorable characters, a compelling storyline and an emotional ending. It will appeal to a wide range of readers and will challenge those readers’ opinions of prisons and the people in them, many of whom are, if not innocent, are at deserving of our sympathies. Literature that generates empathy towards others holds the potential to change lives, and this is one such work. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element for providing this eARC in exchange for my opinion.

Wow! Heartbreaking story but like all other Wally Lamb's book - fantastic! So well-written and thought out. Great characters - you really feel for them and what they are going through. It's like you are right there with them experiencing it all.

I couldn't put this one down until I finished it - seriously, I stayed up until 3:00 am. I've seen this word used so often to describe books, "unputdownable" and have never used it in a review. This book was UNPUTDOWNABLE!

A must read for 2025.

Thank you #netgalley and #Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Book for the eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The River is Waiting is the story of Corby Ledbetter, a father who makes a life-altering mistake that consequently sends him to prison. While pining for his wife and child waiting for him on the outside, Corby meets people in prison who will teach him things that completely change his outlook on life.

While the premise of the book was intriguing to me, especially Corby as a morally gray character, I had a bit of an issue with the writing style. especially the dialogue. It didn’t read as a natural speaking style to me. Also, this was my first Wally Lamb book but for all the praise I’ve seen for this book and his other books, I expected a little more nuance and depth overall.

Corby does experience a lot of growth throughout the book. If you like slice-of-life literary fiction, and/or reading about prison life, I would recommend this to you. It wasn’t a great book for me personally but I seem to be in the minority on that opinion.

really good story of a man who made a wrong choice and killed his son. He was addicted to alcohol and pills when it happened. This is his journey in jaill and his experiences with the people in the prison. Good story It was good to remember and know that people are human in the jail system.

This was one of the best books I have read. Heart wrenching, powerful. Not even sure what to say. I could not put this book down. This author has outdone himself with this story. Be prepared to cry and have your heart broken.

Wally Lamb is a master story teller. After a family tragedy that he caused, Corby tries to survive sobriety and life inside prison. A tale of love and redemption that will move the reader.

Oh, this novel! Heavy, tragic, complex and honest, as only Wally Lamb can deliver. "The River Is Waiting" was so profound and memorable, felt like an important read. Tackling serious topics (which I won't mention, so not to spoil some very unimaginable events). Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I'm not surprised that this new book from Wally Lamb gutted me. Corby's story is one every parent can relate to in many ways. Lamb does an amazing job capturing so many emotions and fears from the very start.

The author takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions and while your gut anticipates a sickening revelation you instead are sucker punched and left flailing in disarray. You vacillate between empathy, sorrow, anger, disbelief, and despair. Coming to terms with taking responsibility for your in/action while also battling external forces you cannot control or get the upper hand with. Thought-provoking and intense.

The River is Waiting is a testament to Wally Lamb’s ability to draw readers into the intimate struggles of his characters while offering a quiet meditation on life’s passage.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wally Lamb has long been one of my favorite authors. His book, I Know This Much is True," is in my top five favorite books of all time. The River is Waiting is one of the best books I've read in 2024 and I encourage everyone to read this book when it is published. Corby and Emily are a young married couple with twins - a boy, Niko and a girl, Maisie. Corby is an artist who lost his job due to downsizing and Emily is a school teacher. Corby becomes the stay at home parent while looking for a job. Unfortunately to numb the pain and humiliation of not working, he begins day drinking and relying on prescription pain killers to make the days go by. When a tragic accident happens that affects the entire family Corby ends up going to prison for what he's done and the family starts to splinter. Mr. Lamb's description of the broken family, the prison experience and the eventual outcome are some of the most touching and painful chapters I've read in any book. The River Is Waiting is an excellent story and a worthwhile read.

In The River is Waiting, Wally Lamb explores the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and transformation through the life of Corby Ledbetter. Corby is a new father whose life spirals after losing his job and struggling with a hidden addiction, leading to a tragic incident that devastates his family. Sentenced to prison, he navigates a brutal and dehumanizing environment where he encounters both violence and unexpected kindness. The support of a compassionate prison librarian, a gentle-hearted cellmate, and a young inmate searching for guidance helps Corby to find slivers of hope and purpose in his confined life, encouraging his journey toward self-forgiveness and reconciliation with his family and himself​.

An uplifting book about redemption, hope, and forgiveness. If this was made into a movie, I imagine it would be a cross between 'Shawshank Redemption', and 'The Green Mile'.

I recently read that Lamb had spent a lot of time with prison writing programs, which informs this narrative, lending authenticity to Corby’s experiences within the correctional system. Through his decades-long work with incarcerated writers, Lamb brings a compassionate yet unflinching view to prison life, portraying its harsh realities while also illuminating the resilience and humanity that can persist within its confines.

Corby and Emily Ledbetter are a young married couple with a set of twins. Life has been complicated by Corby losing his job and leaving Emily to support their young family.
As a stay at home dad, Corby tries to do his best, but alcohol and downers help him take the edge off his feelings of depression.
This substance abuse slowly escalates and leads to a tragic outcome.
Wally Lamb follows Corby's path through a prison sentence where Corby tries to regain his family, and make amends.

This is a must-read if you are as fascinated by the prison system as I am. A tragedy leads to a father being imprisoned and he has to learn to navigate new relationships while on the inside. This is a story about humanity and how people treat one another when the unthinkable happens.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege to read Wally Lamb’s newest work of fiction before it’s available more broadly. This book is a gift. I’ve been waiting years for this and it was worth the wait.
Like Lamb’s novels before this one, this book is heart wrenching. My eyes might be swollen tomorrow at my daughter’s soccer game from reading part four. I loved these characters. Not loved them like I really enjoyed them-I truly loved and cared for them. Their grief became my own and their successes had me crying happy tears.
The book starts with how the main character, Corby, and his wife, Emily’s, relationship began. Just the right amount of time is spent developing that relationship, those first characters we meet. Then comes the big event and the consequences. The bulk of the book takes place in the correctional facility. There are some really ugly scenes and I offer trigger warnings related to suicide, self harm, and assault. But is that ugliness not part of that experience? It’s brutal. But there are so many more redeeming moments and characters, so many moving descriptions of interactions.
It all unfolds flawlessly. I honestly believe Wally Lamb is one of the greatest writers of our times. You do not see all of what’s coming in the story and sometimes things are dumped on you in such a way that you know it was very intentional to make you feel the way you do.
I sincerely hope I do not have to wait so long for the next book from one of my favorite authors but I will use some of that time to emotionally recover and to process the layers of perspective I was just honored to read.
BRAVO!!

Corby Ledbetter, who faces a profound crisis marked by fatherhood, job loss, and a secret addiction that threatens his marriage to Emily. Following a tragic event, Corby is sentenced to prison, where he confronts the harsh realities of confinement alongside moments of unexpected kindness from fellow inmates and a compassionate librarian. The narrative explores themes of isolation, redemption, and the power of love and support, particularly through Corby’s relationship with his mother and his connections with other inmates. The prose is poignant, inviting readers to empathize with Corby’s struggles and the possibility of forgiveness. Ultimately, the book serves as a moving exploration of resilience, mercy, and the enduring capacity for healing and hope, making it a compelling read for those seeking a thoughtful and emotional journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I am a huge Wally Lamb fan and couldn’t wait to read this.

The tragedy in this story happens in the first chapter but was not included in the book description so skip this review if you don’t want to know what it is.

I can not think of anything more tragic than the loss of a child, except for when it is the parent’s fault. This follows the story of that parent, the father Corby, and the aftermath of the death. It is such a heartbreaking story told from Corey’s point of view. He doesn’t have an easy time of it, and it can be frustrating with some of his setbacks. The story also delves into the impact on his wife, daughter, and parent.

Bring the tissues, I was bawling in several parts.

Wally Lamb is an exceptional storyteller. The River is Waiting is another example of his ability to put the reader right in the midst of his characters’ lives. You will cry, you will cringe, and you will really root for Corby.

When Corby lost his job, he became a stay-at-home dad to his twins. He began to drink too much and became addicted to pills. What happened to his family due to his addiction is horrifying. It will change his and his family’s lives forever.

This book covers many tough subjects such as death, addiction, marriage woes and prison. It is written so beautifully, and with so much care and tenderness, that you’ll need a box of tissue handy at all times. I can highly recommend this. I loved it as much as I loved his other books. It is simply amazing.