The Next Chapter independent bookstore in Wānaka has evolved as an important community gathering place where people can experience more than just books. Owners Jenny Ainge and Sally Battson consider they have achieved their vision to create a welcoming space in their distinctive container style shop.

“We have actively fostered the concept of our store being a calm and enveloping haven to visit where customers can spend time browsing, receive book recommendations and meet other likeminded book lovers,” says Sally.

“People love what we are offering because it is the opposite of A1-generated book recommendations. Here we have real books and real experienced booksellers who can engage with them and recommend new authors and titles in different genres.”

Customer feedback is that people want to know what literature The Next Chapter staff have read and recommend.

“They like the personal touch so much more than picking something based on an algorithm,” says Sally. “We offer quite a different retail experience where people can sit in comfort and browse our diverse selection of books without feeling hurried or they are imposing.”

The Next Chapter’s comprehensive selection ranges from Penguin classics and modern bestsellers to children’s books and glossy hardbacks. 

“As part of our goal to be more than just a bookstore and connect with the community we host monthly non-fiction and fiction book clubs,” says Sally. “It is exciting to be able to help people on their reading journey.”

Author Attractions

The Next Chapter experiences a strong demand for author events which it hosts several times a year. The recent Queenstown Writers Festival had its first ever Wānaka launch of its programme in 2024 when novelist and playwright Emily Perkins spoke to a sell-out audience.

“This was followed by a Wānaka session during the festival featuring Kate Evans discussing her book A Feijoa Fixation which was also an outstanding success,” says Next Chapter co-owner Jenny Ainge. “Events like this highlight the reach of our store, providing opportunities for readers to meet authors and authors to discuss their work with the community. It has been a successful formula overseas and we are definitely finding forums like this have a niche in Wānaka.”