It follows main characters Eden, a veteran of the Iraq War who waits to die in a San Antonio burn center from severe injuries suffered in the conflict, and his wife Mary.

[5] The novel explores the history of the couple, including with the narrator; Eden's decision to reenlist in the military, and the experiences of Mary with the "war on terror as it’s waged at home".

"[3] In their list of anticipated books for the Fall of 2018, critic Ron Charles in The Washington Post praised Ackerman's prowess as "one of the best soldier-writers of his generation".

[7] Joshua Finnell in the Library Journal described Waiting for Eden as "a profound meditation on the liminal space between our past, present, and future,"[8] and Alexander Moran of Booklist praised the work as "a deeply moving portrayal of how grief can begin even while our loved ones still cling to life.

"[9] In her review of essential books for the 2018 Fall season, Chloe Schama in Vogue described Waiting for Eden as "an unflinching guide to the mental, physical, and familial toll of war.