A review by teacherseth
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The River Is Waiting pulled me in from the start with its tight pacing and strong plot development. I found myself flying through it in just five days—not because it was easy to digest, but because I had to know where it was going.

The depictions of addiction are painfully accurate and, at times, deeply triggering. The main tragedy at the heart of the story is absolutely brutal—true nightmare fuel. And yet, the writing doesn’t let you look away. There’s a rawness and urgency to it that mirrors the chaos of addiction itself.

I did find aspects of the story emotionally manipulative, and maybe that’s intentional—addiction often comes wrapped in emotional distortion. But at times, I wished for more emotional subtlety rather than such a relentless gut punch.

Still, it’s a powerful read. Not easy. Not necessarily “enjoyable” in the traditional sense. But affecting, propulsive, and hard to forget.
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