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This book is just one punch to the gut after another. I've never read Lamb before and I wasn't sure if he was for me but I think I may have to dive into his back list at some point. This was so raw and heavy - and while it did drag in a few places, ultimately, I just couldn't stay away.

I am not okay. I love a book that destroys me. Wally Lamb develops his characters in such a way, that despite their flaws, you feel the deepest empathy for them. He manages to fill you with incredible sadness while also giving you hope. I‘m emotionally wrecked and I expect to be haunted by this one for a long time.

Another Wally Lamb book that breaks the heart from the very first page...

A great story of how simple mistakes can turn into major tragedies. One of the through lines I appreciated most, that hope is always good, but expectations are problematic. An emotional and thoroughly worthwhile journey.

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
#boleybooks #theriveriswaiting #wallylamb #frostbuddy #bookbrew #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookclub #letsread
🎉🙌There‘s a Frostbuddy discount portal available for you in my linktree.

Yes, I loved the new novel from the brilliant Wally Lamb.

That ending…. 💔 This book is so sad. And somehow hopeful. Corny struggles to come to terms with life in prison after caused a tragedy that tore his family apart. He will spend three years of his life there and is determined to come out a better man. This is the story of a complex man, who has grown on me while I couldn‘t stop reading. Recommended!

#10BeforeTheEnd #3

This novel takes the reader on a journey through multiple aspects of heartbreak, terrible decisions, loss, addiction, trauma, love, friendship and frustration in many ways. My cheeks are still damp from tears as I write these words. I gave it 5/5⭐️

This was so good and just a kick in the gut, over and over. Also sometimes funny. Corby was such a messed up character but good and trying and I rooted for him…
“about a young father named Corby Ledbetter who is sentenced to prison after accidentally causing the death of his son. The story follows his journey through incarceration, where he grapples with tragedy and guilt while seeking redemption and hope for forgiveness.”

This book was really good but so. freaking. sad. It‘s the 1st Wally Lamb book I‘ve read. It‘s heartbreaking all the way through. This would make a good limited series or movie. I loved Jeremy Sisto‘s narration of the audiobook. The book is still lingering with me even though it‘s been a couple of days since I finished it.

Reading this left me absolutely wrecked. I‘m emotionally drained, disturbed, and deeply moved all at once. It‘s the kind of story that makes you sit in silence afterward, rethinking mercy, judgment, and the power of hope in the darkest places.

This is a very tough read with hard, but important, subject matter. I love Lamb's writing & his ability to create empathy. It took getting to the end to fully appreciate his mastery. I feel broken, yet comforted. All Lamb's titles are from songs. Here is a verse from John Foggerty's River is Waiting:
The river is rising, I'm ready
To slip from this island, I'm ready
Gonna leave all my sorrow behind me
Lift my face to the new day that's rising

Liked, didn‘t love.

The River is Waiting is beautifully written but deeply sad—so much so that I almost gave up after the first chapter. Life doesn‘t always have happy endings, and this book leans into that truth from beginning to end.Still,the characters & story were powerful and unforgettable.I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 only because the emotional weight was overwhelming at times. It‘s a heartbreaking but memorable read that‘ll stay with me for a long time

From an A+ to a B- ratings. That averages out quite nicely for a 3x3 grid. Tagged my favorite!

5 ⭐️= Loved It, would recommend to others. A+
4 ⭐️= Liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3 ⭐️= Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2 ⭐️=Nope D
1 ⭐️=DNF F

Note: To equate quarter ratings to A+ thru F scores, 3.5 is a waffle: 3.5 👍leans B-, 3.5 so-so leans C+

I put off reviewing this book after I finished it, hoping that upon further reflection I would like it better, but I have to reluctantly give it only three stars. It was okay. It was good writing and a compelling story. But the thing that makes Wally Lamb's great books great is the arc of redemption in his characters. He is a master at this, and for whatever reason, it doesn't show up in this novel. Still a pick, but low.

🌝 Ｊｕｎｅ Ｗｒａｐ－Ｕｐ 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝗪𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝘒𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘦
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘤𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝘒𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦

It was difficult to read the heart wrenching early chapters detailing how Corby ended up in a state prison. If you can get through those chapters (I almost couldn‘t (toddler girl/boy twins in my world), there is a reset as we read Corby navigate his next three years. Beautiful story. Ohhhh, I‘m gonna need a minute 😭

I picked up this book and fell into it, coming up for air after 200 pages. It‘s a heartbreaking (trigger warning: death of a child) tale of the mistakes we make that irrevocably change our lives. Do we deserve mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation when we‘ve hurt the ones we love? Wally Lamb has done it again.

Wally Lamb is an auto read for me…this one…just great. Corby makes one mistake and changes everything in his and his family‘s lives. Every viewpoint in this book makes you think. Just read it. 🥹😳

This book was a gut punch. I felt so many emotions during this book. Swaying between loving and hating the main character.This book was beautifully written and also written in greys. I felt like nothing about what was going on was black and white.There were so many issues brought up, even self provoking questions like what would I do in this situation? I liked the side characters.The ending was beautiful yet heartbreaking, like the whole story.5/5

I gave this book five stars. Not because I loved it. I hated it. I think the author did a fantastic job of writing it. I think he did a fantastic job of making it emotional. It was such a sad book though. I cried so much while reading this book. It is definitely a heartbreaking tearjerker. It's definitely shattering.

If you have lost a child do not read this book.

https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-river-is-waiting-by-wally-lamb.html

Just finished my library books and was contemplating what to pick up next —and Wally Lamb appeared on my local news to discuss his new book. Ok, Wally! I got the message. Diving in now.

Starting this one today. Deck reading in the shade, it‘s 96 degrees out. Gotta love summer!! #grammaslibrary #deckreading

Easter egg! Dr. Patel from This Much I know is True is back. I loved her gentleness with Thomas and Dominic Birdsey, I really appreciate when characters are resurrected in subsequent books ❤️❤️ it has been awhile so I had to confirm with a Google search lol.

"Babe, the arrangement was situational." He calls her "babe" one more time and I swear to god I'm throwing this book across the room. I understand the term antihero from reading books by Wally Lamb, better than any high school English teacher explaining it.

She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True both occupy space on my Very Important Books bookshelf, so I am just beside myself with happiness for a new book by this author. 💜💜💜💜

Oh, it‘s a happy day when the new Wally Lamb book arrives in your mailbox! 😍🤩💃🏻🕺

Some books are entertaining in the moment, but you don't really remember them months later. Others, such as this one, are so powerful that you will remember them for years. The story is tragically sad, but also a wise commentary about the prison system, from an author who has volunteered in one for many years. This is not always an easy read, but there is a sense of hope and bright moments. I loved it. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 5/5 stars

1. Frankie
2. New coffee flavor
3. New shirt
4. Tagged book win from Goodreads
5. It's a long weekend 🎉
Thanks @DebinHawaii #5joysFriday

This is such an emotional investment and if you enjoy Wally Lamb, this is another gut punch of family dynamics, trauma, and human empathy. A struggling father and husband allows his reckless behavior to end in tragedy which results in a prison sentence. While there, he realizes the brutal realization of the penal system as he seeks atonement and redemption for his actions. Another literary gem of thr human experience.