Published 7th August 2025 by Aria.
From the cover of the book:
After losing her voice before the audition of a lifetime, West End hopeful Lily Baxter flees to the one place that’s always felt like home: her grandmother Violet’s cosy cottage in the heart of Appleton Green.Violet is overjoyed to have Lily back under her roof, even if it’s not under the happiest of circumstances. As Lily muddles through lost dreams and what-ifs, Violet is quietly nursing her own worries—and hoping this unexpected visit might help them both them heal.
When charming local nurse Nick encourages Lily to join the village’s amateur dramatics group, she reluctantly agrees — and soon finds herself swept up in script readings, prop-painting parties, and something that feels a lot like falling in love.
As opening night draws near, Lily must decide where her heart truly lies: back in the bright lights of London, or centre stage in Appleton Green.
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Lily Baxter finally gets the big break she has been yearning for, when the chance of a part in a West End musical comes her way, but on the day of the audition her voice disappears. Fearing she will never be able to sing again, Lily then gets the news that her beloved ninety-seven-year-old grandmother, Violet, is in hospital after a fall. Full of self-doubt, Lily heads home to Appleton Green to care for Violet, and ponder some big decisions.
Pippin Cottage is just the place for some rest and recuperation for both Lily and Violet, who has concerns of her own about making sure she leaves her family in a good place when she passes away. Then Violet's handsome nurse, Nick, appears on the scene. A budding friendship develops between Lily and Nick with the promise of something more... at least if Violet has anything to do with it.
When Nick encourages Lily to audition for a part in the local amateur production of My Fair Lady, she is worried her voice will fail her once again, but she soon gets caught up in the excitement of being on the stage that she thought she had lost. Does this mean she should return to London to pursue her stage career, or is Appleton Green where her future lies?
A Kate Forster book is always a treat, and this little interlude in the community of Appleton Green is full of lovely storylines about family, friendship, finding your path, and heart-warming romance - with lashings of musical theatre content too.
The story unfurls from the perspectives of Lily, and Violet. Letters Violet has written to her granddaughter over the years also pop up throughout the book, which help you to understand the strong bond that has been forged between them. Lily is at a crossroads, caught between the expectations of her mother, and her uncertainty about a stage career, but her time in Appleton Green helps her to rediscover herself - after all the misunderstandings and mishaps of scheming ex-girlfriends, stage dramas, health issues, confidence doubts, and family trials have been negotiated, of course.
New beginnings, gentle romance, and the guiding strength of Violet's wisdom drive the story, and Forster touches on loneliness, and the pitfalls of a life in the entertainment industry too. She uses the story well to make you laugh and cry, especially when it comes to the emotional ending, which left me with a full heart, tears in my eyes... and some cracking tunes from My Fair Lady in my head. Just the ticket for a wholesome summer read.
Second Act at Appleton Green is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Kate, a Melbourne-based author, crafts realistic characters and touching stories that feel like you're catching up with old friends. When she is not writing, you can find her sharing glimpses of her creative life on social media, soaking up inspiration from her dynamic online community, or spending time with her loving dogs, who are constantly by her side (and occasionally steal the spotlight).
Kate, who is tea-fueled and daydreaming on the beach, is all about finding joy in the little things and sharing them through her writing.
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