A review by bethreadsandnaps
The River Is Waiting: A Novel by Wally Lamb

4.0

 

4 ⭐️

THE RIVER IS WAITING by Wally Lamb

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 unbiased review. 

It publishes May 6, 2025. 

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