Books & Co is a proudly independent bookshop on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand, offering an extensive, curated collection that runs from bestsellers to hidden gems — chosen, as the team puts it, to ignite your imagination and inspire reading.
Part bookshop, part treasure trove, it is a much-loved stop for locals and travellers passing through. The shelves are thoughtfully stocked with fiction, non-fiction and children's books, alongside puzzles, games, cards and carefully chosen giftware, and the team loves helping you track down your next great read or a meaningful gift.
Children's books are a particular passion here, with a wonderful all-ages selection plus games, puzzles and activities for young readers. Beyond books you'll find gorgeous gifts — from blankets and mugs to soaps and baby items — along with cards and the new year's calendars and diaries. You can browse the online shop, follow the newsletters for news and features, or simply get in touch with any queries.
Some shops you duck into for a minute; others pull you in for an hour. Books & Co, a proudly independent bookshop on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand, is firmly the second kind. The people behind it describe the store as a hidden gem — part bookshop, part treasure trove — and a much-loved stop for locals and travellers passing through. The philosophy is simple, and it is woven right into their story: the best journeys always include a good story.
Books & Co sets out to offer an extensive collection curated to ignite your imagination and inspire reading. In practice that means shelves thoughtfully stocked for every kind of reading mood. The fiction side — gathered online under Fiction Favourites — collects stories that explore the human experience in all its complexity: rich characters, compelling plots, and worlds that feel both familiar and unforgettable.
Non-fiction gets equal billing. Under the banner of Non-Fiction Features, the shop keeps informative reads and guides for most walks of life — books to learn from, to experience through, or simply to relax with. Whether you arrive hunting a specific title or with nothing more than a vague hankering for something good, the range is deliberately broad, and the team loves helping you find the right fit.
If one area defines the shop, it is children's books. Books & Co is upfront about having a passion for them, and it shows: the children's selection runs across all ages, accompanied by games, puzzles and activities to keep young minds busy well beyond the last page.
The shop also champions New Zealand children's writing, featuring winners of the NZCYA awards — a celebration, as the shop puts it, of the contribution New Zealand's children's authors and illustrators make to building national identity and cultural heritage. For parents, grandparents and gift-buyers, that makes it an easy place to find something to delight a young reader.
Books & Co is as much a gift shop as a bookshop. The giftware is carefully chosen and ranges from blankets and mugs to soaps and baby items, with cards stocked alongside. When the new year rolls around, the shop also carries calendars and diaries — handy for anyone setting up the months ahead.
The practical upshot: it is a genuine one-stop stop. Pair a novel with a card and a soap, or a picture book with a puzzle, and a meaningful gift is sorted without a second errand.
For those who cannot wander the shelves in person, the website carries the same spirit. The online shop is organised into clear categories — fiction, non-fiction, gifts, calendars and diaries — complete with a cart and a wishlist for saving ideas for later. A Newsletters section shares what is new, from NZCYA award winners to seasonal round-ups such as Father's Day.
Questions are welcome, too. The shop invites visitors to get in touch with any queries, and does its best to respond as soon as possible — whether you are chasing a particular title, after advice for a reluctant reader, or planning a gift.
That combination — an independent, curated eye; a warm spot for young readers; and a treasure trove of gifts beyond the books — is what makes Books & Co the kind of shop people plan to pop into for five minutes and leave an hour later with their arms fuller than expected. Whether you are searching for your next great read, a meaningful gift, or something to delight a young reader, the team here loves helping you find it.