The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club)
By Wally Lamb
- Release Date: 2025-06-10
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
#1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb, celebrated for two prior Oprah Book Club selections, returns with an exceptional third pick, a propulsive novel following a young father grappling with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.
Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?
Reviews
A heart breaking story I couldn’t put down.
5By kittyshipOne of the best books I have read in a while. Storyline, character development and just a well written book. It drew me in from the very beginning and held my attention all the way through to the end. I highly recommend it!The River Is Waiting
5By Traveler ChildrenI loved this novel. Wally Lamb is one of my favorite writers. This story is heartbreaking at times, but also a testament to hope and love.Unnecessary political comments
3By 4 girlsmomI really enjoyed the story, but I was very disappointed that Mr. lamb had to inject politics into the story with his dislike for the current president.. I have read a majority of his books, but none recently until this. I probably won’t waste my time in the future if this is what he will be doing. Very disappointing….and if asked by many friends who read, I will let them know.Masterpiece
5By sharky 2011It is a masterpieceUnforgettable!
5By sarahmorrill13I would give it six stars if I could!Notice how I didn’t talk about how hard I cried reading this…
5By MikeyPodI couldn't put this book down and absolutely loved it. Incredibly sad, but somehow this is the kind of story that I find really life-affirming. Even with all the darkness there were still vital pieces of connection and meaning with others. Out of the wreckage came sparks that let others learn something they might not have otherwise. I think this resonates so hard with me because I can relate to that idea of feeling like a lifelong loser and being stuck in the consequences of my actions no matter how badly I might have wanted to do the right thing. Still, his life had meaning and it brought meaning to the people with whom he connected. I am not putting this into words as well as I want to but I really want to remember this feeling. I so value the reminder that our lives and our choices often matter more than we will ever know.Fantastic
5By STENO97Fantastic!Wow! So many layers of humanity in this book
5By AgarfinkelI loved the raw emotion of a family that comes apart at the seams and then the journey of healing.The River Is Waiting
5By TammyG1969As usual, Mr. lamb does not disappoint! A must read!Outstanding
5By carocrossRead this in a day. Totally unprepared for an ending that left me in tears. Beautiful book.Beautifully written but terribly sad
5By WGCJrA very good book but not a fun read.Tragedy for its own sake
1By mrobertryanThe literary equivalent of digging around in an open wound.Unbelievably good!
5By Lillywoolard😢Disappointing
4By BenandsamsmimI am disappointed in Jake Tapper for writing about things he, a journalist , knew about for a while, particularly before the debateRiver is Waiting
5By YayaNetskiThis book was one that grabbed me from the beginning. The main character , Corey, was written very realistically and was easy to relate to. Like so many, He had problems we all might have and he made his own life difficult as many do. He was not a perfect person, but he had many good characteristics. He made the most terrible mistake and could not get over it. He almost made it through prison with the help of his Art and the river. Unfortunately the cruelty of his situation held him captive. His wife, Emily, loved him but just could not seem to get past his weakness and what it cost them both.The book is well written by Wally Lamb and kept me intrigued until the end.Disappointing
2By car1kateAs an Oprah book club selection, I was really hoping for more. I loved She’s Come Undone, but this one just did not resonate for me.Waited a long time for this
5By JenobenoBra book, it takes you though every emotion possible. Wally Lamb thank you.River is Waiting
5By AZ Book AddictOne of the best novels about grief, shame and forgiveness. Tears of sadness and joy for all of these characters. Wally Lamb is a brilliant writer.Heartbreaking and Uplifting
5By SutyakwWow. The unexpected emotional turns in this story just wrecked me. What a beautiful, heartbreaking tale.
