A Maverick is a Mossberg 500 clone. It costs a little less and if it's going to spend a lot of time at home and little time at the range may be a better choice but there's no difference in recoil.
I shoot 12 guage 23/4 double aught loads from my Mossberg 500 and it's not something that is going to knock someone down. I have an Asian friend who is 5' 1" and weighs about 100 pounds (maybe). He shoots a Mossberg 590 and loves it. If recoil is really an issue maybe consider a 20 gauge.
The only current production shotgun I'd be concerned about recoil with would be something like a double barrel Stoeger Coach. Mine seems to weigh just slightly more than two shotgun shells and the action is a little looser than I'd like. When I fire it there is a definite bump. After about 20 rounds there's no bruise but my shoulder is sore the next morning. Shoots a nice open pattern though and will put 30 x 53 grain, .33 inch diameter projectiles on a target at 1250 fps quicker than anything else I own.
Thanks for your input. Maybe the best thing to do would be to try it out no matter how inconvenient the extra driving or buy and have the option to exchange.