READERS’ CHOICE BOOK AWARD – SILVER WINNER – Adult Fiction
READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK AWARD – FIVE STARS – Fiction & Literary
LITERARY GLOBAL BOOK AWARD – FINALIST – Historical Fiction
AMERICAN WRITING BOOK AWARD – FINALIST – Fiction & Women’s Fiction
LITERARY TITAN BOOK AWARD – Literary Fiction

In 1951, wife and mother of seven, Marceline Gillis, is moving from one of the poorest areas of Cambridgeport to a grand Victorian property in a prosperous middle-class suburb of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is her final move with her husband Fred and her adult son Tommy, who has special needs. Marceline’s son Andrew recently passed away following a heart attack, and her other children have moved out of the family apartment to buy their first ‘family’ house. Marceline isn’t entirely happy about the move after her two other sons, Bernie and Johnny, finalize the purchased the large house intending it to be an investment property. They plan to divide the house into apartments, providing a home for their parents and a rental income for the entire family. With Marceline’s name is not on the deed, she has no say or control over anything that is happening in the house. She struggles with the transition from the head of the household in her previous life, into what she considers forced retirement. Determined to own the ‘new’ house outright and become the new landlady of 27 Maple Avenue, Marceline has a secret plan to gain back control. As Marceline attempts to regain control of the ‘new’ house and her family, she reflects back on her life and her turbulent relationships with her husband and children. But, when further tragedy strikes the Gillis family, Marceline is forced to reconsider her future. The Landlady of Maple Avenue is a heartfelt novel by author Suzanne Gillis, about Marceline Gillis and the entire Gillis family. The novel is inspired by true stories of the author’s father’s immigrant family from Canada, as the characters and events have been fictionalized for purpose of the novel. Suzanne Gillis crafts a touching narrative about an elderly matriarch whose life is turned upside down as she reluctantly moves to a new house while confronting the decisions and demons of her troubled past.

For readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction, with subtle social commentary.
Star rating: 5 Stars

Summary: A graceful and tender novel that explores the female identity, and the triumphs and tragedies of life.