Gone West is quite small for a second hand bookshop, which I guess can be a good thing because then…read morethe thought of where to start browsing is a bit less overwhelming. They have a lot of quite old books, and even had a stack of magazines all from the 1960's to 80's which were pretty interesting to have a nosey through. Most of the smaller books go for around 15 dollars if they aren't damaged, and the larger ones for a bit more. There is also a lot of New Zealand orientated reading material on offer, particularly some new books about the local area, such as 'West' and 'Colin McCahon the Titirangi Years'. The owner, Murray, was quite clued up about all of the books he had on offer and I'm sure if you were after something in particular then he would easily be able to help you out.

The Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop is something of an institution in the precious little world…read moreof children's bookstores. I go in there on a fairly regular basis, as I teach at an intermediate school, and every single time I find myself swept up in these soft and powerful waves of nostalgia and quiet charm. I simply can't imagine a way in which this store could be improved. There is nothing tacky. No trying to cash in on the latest sweeping pre-teen literary phenomenon. The Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop simply presents it's undying asset and doens't feel the need to dress it up or patronise their punters in any way. It's just books for kids and things like that. The shop is warm and inviting and they have a great selection, including a wide range of Aotearoa New Zealand Authors. The shelves are loaded with potential for learning and cerebral stimulation. It's one hell of a children's bookshop.

The word that would best describe this shop is quality. As soon as you walk in you can feel a good…read moreexperience waiting to happen. Right from the get go there is something to please everyone. There's an awesome train table set to keep the kids occupied and a little cornered off play area for those run-away toddlers. So easy as that... chuck them in there and you're left on your own to explore the store. There's so much going on here every inch and corner is packed with goodness. From educational books about dinosaurs and planes to the classics like Dr Seuss. There's also toy figurines and fairies which would be sure to put a smile on any child's face. The prices seem pretty reasonable for such quality goods. None of this two-dollar-shop crap here. Just gifts you would be proud to be giving away!

In my opinion, the single greatest bookshop in Auckland and I'm loath to tell anyone about it…read more Brazzers jokes will not be tolerated. I'm secretly happy this place isn't open often and it used to be the highlight of my morning run, where I could disappear for an hour in unkempt literature luxury. Leather bound books with gilded edges and embossed titles everywhere. That musty, bookish smell. This shop is the epitome of the TV series Black Books. If you have seen the show you, will know the chaotic, wonderful displays and service to expect. If you haven't seen it, you don't deserve to know and will never fully appreciate this place. (This store is opened sporadically on the whims of the owner.)

Have you ever seen the British sitcom Black Books starring Bill Bailey and Dylan Moran? Because it…read morewill give you a far better idea of what this place is like than anything I could write. For those of you who haven't seen it, imagine the stock of several normal-sized seconhand bookshops all crammed in to one room. Organise the books less around subject or the alphabet and more around the concept of the pile, and then use those piles to prop up other piles. It's incredible. There are treasures here, if you can find them. The biggest downside about Brazier's, and for me this is a fatal flaw, is that the owner and his friends smoke inside the shop. Firstly, books are very flammable. Secondly, they absorb smells and retain them forever, so a smoked-over book is a smoked-over book forever. Thirdly, it's a very small and poorly-ventilated shop and it reeks of cigarettes and I can feel lumps growing through my lungs just going past the door. I like books but I'm not willing to die a slow, timorous death to find them. Sorry.

The perfect way to relax and unwind is sitting in a big comfy chair with a good book and great…read morecoffee in hand. At the recently reopened The Book Exchange Glen Eden you can do exactly that! Serving the absolutely delicious Refined Wesite Mt Atkinson Coffee famous in West Auckland all you need to do is search through the abundance of pre loved books to find that perfect read. My long black was on point and there is a great selection of coffees on hand to meet most requirements. They also have a few counter top treats if you like a wee snack with your book and coffee. This place screams old school awesomeness from the old books to the big old vintage armchairs you can sit and relax in. This place is a real gem for young and old and a place you would happily enjoy on your own. "The more that you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go." - Dr Seuss

What an inviting ,warm ,cosy find on one of the coldest mornings in Auckland. Not Nottinghill or…read moreNew York but Glen Eden. A very well organised second hand book shop with great Mt Atkinson coffee and baking ,tucked along the road from the Glen Eden library. A surprise find in one of Auckland's old Western suburbs. We enjoyed good coffee while browsing through the huge collection of books even finding the James Mitchener novel we were searching for.We will be returning.

Yes. This is what secondhand book shops are. Dominion Books is stellar. A marvelous and outstanding…read moreexemplar. The shop is incredibly cramped. It's brilliant. You're forced to kind of tilt your body around and really exercise your joints in order to navigate the walls and aisles covered in shelves covered in books. The books are cheap. Dirt cheap. I got a near new copy of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom of $4. $4! It was daylight robbery. Most importantly, the whole operation is overseen by the most timid, aging woman of all time. She's bloody magnificent. So surprised whenever anyone comes up to her to buy a book. That's absolutely magic.

Never have I been in a book shop like Dominion Books that requires the flexibility of a gymnast to…read morenavigate between the packed shelves. It reminds me of something from Harry Potter but surrounded by yummy mummy's out for coffee with the pram. In the age of electronic book downloads it is satisfying to hold and flick through a tome of imagination and inspiration. It's also nice to but something on a whim, without reading 100 online reviews from around the globe. That said, what Dominion Books offer me over it's competitors downtown is that beautiful aroma of literature, the smell is addictive.

Service was fast and friendly, called to put a book on hold and showed up about 35 minutes later…read more They had it ready to go and were very nice.

I love bookstores: the smell, the colors, and the possibilities for adventure and escape. Where I…read morelive there aren't many left, so it's exciting to visit as wonderful as Unity Books. In Auckland there are quite a few places to go, but this one is independent and probably the best. Unity Books has its main store and children's book separate on the same street; both are fun to browse through. I came here both to browse and with a mission. I wanted to purchase the complete Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming locations books. They're printed in New Zealand and cover places we visited, and others we'd love to return to. Their prices were what I expected; with the exchange rate, I was happy. The store was organized and they were easy to find, but one of the books' spine was broken. I asked a friendly clerk and they quickly went to the back and got another copy. It made buying them there easy. They had so many happy customers, it's easy to see they're doing well. I will definitely stop here on our next visit.

No response no product no sale. Still trying to remove the hold on my credit card. It could be…read morethat the website was hacked and the sale was not legit but it would be nice if Jason's Books at least responded to my emails asking about it.

Jason Books is a wonderful rare and second-hand bookstore tucked away in an underground shop along…read moreO'Connell St. Many of the second-hand books are in immaculate condition and at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay full price, which is great news if you are a penniless book lover like me. The books at Jason's provide an easy-to-navigate selection of more alternative reading, with many authors and book types you would not find in mainstream chain bookstores, and they are all organised in logical categories around the shop (which sometimes is a rarity in second-hand book stores). I could spend hours navigating this well-organised literary treasure trove and chatting to the well-read staff members about book recommendations, however there always comes a time where I have to snap back to reality and emerge from this peaceful underground refuge.

Good range of stock, fairly kind & responsive staff (thank you) I like to look over the cards best…read moreof all. Thanks for your work- Graham

Paperplus have it all: apart from friendliness. This crowd have raised their profile, with…read moreattractive and eye-catching shop fronts and content within some stores, over the last couple of years. They stock great 'back to school' stationery, general magazines including 'Frankie' and 'Russh'. Good cards and book selection too. They seem to have upped the anty with their gift ideas including scented lip balms, showers caps and other unusual things for a bookstore. The staff are hostile, unfortunately. No greetings and/or manners for that matter. Great location in Three Lamps shops, in Ponsonby. Good air conditioning too!!!