The Next Chapter: "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke

Let's be honest for a second: we're all a little tired.
Tired of work. Tired of the 47 unread emails marked "urgent." Tired of being reachable every waking hour, of the endless scroll, of optimising our mornings and our skincare and our rest. Tired, somehow, of all the things that were supposed to make life easier.
So, we yearn for that simpler, "richer" life:  the one where afternoons stretched out long and slow, where no one expected a reply within the hour, where you could disappear for a day and the world simply waited.
And somewhere between the sourdough starters, the cottagecore aesthetics, and the "that girl" morning routines, we all started quietly believing life used to be better.
Simpler. Prettier. More real.
And maybe it was. But not in the way you'd think.
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In our next gathering of The Next Chapter Book Club, we're stepping into Yesteryear - a wickedly funny, faintly sinister satire about a tradwife influencer who wakes to find herself stranded in the actual 1800s, where the aesthetic she's built a following on turns out to be far less charming without wifi (or running water).
Together we'll follow her through a past that refuses to be romanticised, laugh at the absurdities that land uncomfortably close to home, and unpick the stories we tell ourselves about womanhood, nostalgia, and the curated lives we perform versus the ones we actually live.
And maybe we'll leave asking the real question: if we could step into the simpler life we keep romanticising… would we actually want to stay?
📍Anne&Max | Domstraat 4, 3512 JB, Utrecht
July 26th, 2026
13:00-15:00 (2 hours)
Price: €14.99  (access to the meet up, drink + pastry of your choice**)**vegan and gluten-free options included
What to bring: a curious mind and an open heart (physical/electronic copy of a book is a plus ;))
Cancellation Policy:
To ensure the smoothest experience for everybody, the meet ups have limited capacity.
If you are unable to attend, you are entitled to a 70% refund if cancellation happens no later than 48 hours before the event.
If cancellation happens after the set time, the ticket becomes non-refundable.
About the club:
The Next Chapter is not your typical book club.
We are an intimate Utrecht-based literary circle for curious and ambitious women who enjoy great books - but crave the conversations that keep going long after the final page.
Through carefully selected reads, thoughtful discussions, and immersive themed gatherings, we create an inspiring space for women to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and connect through stories that leave you seeing your own life slightly differently.
Think books worth staying up for.
Conversations with real depth.
And a room full of brilliant women who light each other up.
Because at the heart of it all lies the belief: ordinary life holds more magic than it lets on.
And the right book, in the right room, is how you find it.
Does it resonate with you?
If so, let’s start with your own Next Chapter.