South Shore Axess 3-Shelf Bookcase Pure White, Contemporary

Bookshelf made of particle board with a dark grain veneer, arrived quickly and well packaged. All pieces cut evenly and cleanly, fit together snugly without being loose or too tight in any places. The directions were very clear and I was able to assemble using a small hammer and phillips head screw driver.I was worried about stability based on the fact the the panels are particle board, but that turned out to be a non-issue. Once the frame was installed, there was only a small amount of side-to-side movement, and when the shelves and back were attached, this movement was reduced to basically nothing. I considered not using the backing, since it's basically just laminated cardboard that is folded into thirds before being unfolded and tacked onto the back, but I'm glad I went through with using it because it donates a surprising amount of stability. Was able to lift the shelf and move it around the room a good bit before loading it with books and it didn't wiggle or suffer at all from being moved around. The assembly comes with a metal piece and some screws for securing it to the wall if you want, but I just wadded up some newspaper and put it under the front corners to lean it against the wall slightly.The shelves have adjustable spacing and there was plenty of height on the bottom shelf for binders and textbooks. They fit snugly into the frame, and sit on clear plastic supports. I wouldn't suggest weighing the two upper shelves down with heavy textbooks for this reason, but some replacement metal supports would probably be pretty easy to acquire. The bottom shelf is securely supported with 4 screws, 4 plastic pegs, and the wooden panel along the bottom, so pretty safe for heavy books. I expect the particle board will start to sag after a while, but that's a pretty reasonable expectation knowing what the material is and the price and all. It should still have a pretty good lifespan, no expectation that anything will split or break.The overall appearance is very professional, clean cut, no exposed wood, and the veneer is a nice dark shade with an even subtle grain.In conclusion, I was very pleased with the product. It arrived in a timely fashion, well wrapped and packaged, and was easy to assemble with a minimum of tools. It was very secure and stable once assembled and is now fully loaded with books. It looks very clean and professional with no exposed edges.

I'm really liking this bookcase. Because it came the same day as a similar bookcase of another brand and I assembled them side by side, the difference in quality is readily apparent.PROS:1. It's very easy to put together. It took me less than fifteen minutes to build from the time I opened the box to standing it up ready to go (I didn't use the bracket that attaches the bookcase to the wall). The instructions are simple and clear.2. It's sturdier than I expected. I filled each shelf with large, coffee-table-style hardback books and then stacked a few more on top, a load guaranteed to caused warped/bent shelves or leaning/listing to a side in other bookcases I've had, but its shape wasn't distorted at all. The wood seems a little bit harder/thicker; maybe that's why it takes the weight so well.3. It has some thoughtful touches. The kick plate at the bottom and rim at the top are attractive, and it's the first piece of DIY furniture I've ever had that came with the kind of thick adhesive felt floor protectors you'd buy at a hardware store. The shelves, when evenly spaced, all hold very tall books. This was a nice surprise, since I'm used to having to make one shelf quite short in order to make another tall enough for large books.4. It blends in nicely with most any style of furniture.5. It seems to be somewhat higher quality than other DIY furniture I've built. The little plastic covers that go over the screws are actually white, not scuffed or discolored as were those of the other bookcase I got at the same time, so they succeed in making it look like there are no screws in the sides. Also, none of the pieces had any chips or tiny cracks in the finish on the corners, which is another common issue with this kind of furniture.CONS:I'm shocked by this myself, but I honestly can't think of any. If you want "real," non-DIY furniture, this isn't for you, but if you just need a reasonably attractive bookcase that will hold up well over time, you won't be disappointed.