Few accessory makers have excited me as much as Twelve South in recent years. The first product that really amazed me was the Compass stand for iPad. When I got the opportunity to check out the Book Book case for the new iPad, I jumped at it.

The Book Book series aims to mimic the look and feel of a classic leather-bound novel. The case has a spine with classic gold leaf printing and a distressed look to give it the authentic, aged appearance. In fact, from that side, it genuinely does look like a book. Inside, the case surprised me more.

The iPad fits inside an incredibly well made leather-like sleeve. It slides in with no effort. Instead of having a small velcro or magnetic tab that adds bulk, it has a larger, very thin flap that slides in right behind the iPad. Clever part is that the opening to insert your tablet is not in the center like most cases. It’s on the right hand side which means that – coupled with the larger, grippy flap –  it won’t slide around or fall out. It’s truly fantastic. To add to its sturdy-ness, it has two fasteners to hold it down when in regular “open” mode.

Typing or video watching are both options with the Book Book thanks to a small but sturdy stand. Simply undo the fasteners, flip out the typing stand and it offers the perfect angle for sending out a quick email, or typing up a document. If you open the case, undo the support frame and rest it against the upright front cover, you also get a pretty decent viewing angle for watching movies or FaceTime calls.

It’s in the upright viewing mode that I have my only issues with the Book Book. Since the iPad has the home key on the left side in this mode, it does mean that the volume rocker and mute switch are on the bottom. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that – in turn – means they’re not accessible. Secondly – and slight nit picking here – it’d be nice to have a bigger variety of viewing angles.

All-in-all I’ve not used an iPad case that I love more than the Book Book. It may not be the most versatile stand, but that’s not important. It’s a beautifully crafted case that looks and feels classy without having an extortionate price tag. At $79.99 it represents good value for the money. It may seem pricey, but, until you’ve seen the quality of the finish, stitching, and felt it in your hands you’ll not appreciate its value. It’s simply breathtaking.  If you want to buy one yourself, check out Twelve South’s online store.

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