Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

Successful, ordinary marriages inspire few novels. Without drama or crisis in the plot, sustaining a compelling narrative can be difficult. Daniel’s story of Frances and Dennis is remarkable then for this difference. Their relationship is rich and satisfying, believable in the telling details of the constant small adjustments necessary to keep a relationship vital. Like the author says, “...the cement of a marriage never really dries”.

Almost another character in the novel, Miami changes from a small-city feel in 1969 to its current multicultural incarnation. The small cluster of houses built on pilings in Biscayne Bay was called Stiltsville and became history when the city mandated that no more could be built as they were gradually destroyed by hurricanes. Dennis and Frances inherit their family’s Stiltsville cottage and the story circles around events set there.

Their long marriage is full of life’s normal issues – job frustrations, a beloved daughter, evolving friendships, aging parents and a tight budget. The tale of their relationship resonates because you will want to know how Dennis and Frances weather these problems so gracefully.

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Suggested by Sarah Redman