Book Nook Workshop

Built & reviewed by John A. MacInnes

Build #56

Summary Table

Category	Rating
Build Quality	10/10
Value for Money	10/10
Difficulty	3 Star (Intermediate)
Customisation Potential	Medium
Instructions	Clear and Easy to Follow
Lighting System	Simple and Effective
Overall Recommendation	Highly Recommended

What’s in the Box

Rolife’s latest book nook, Sunset Isle, arrived on my workbench looking every bit as colourful as the promotional photos suggest. Packed inside the company’s familiar sturdy cardboard box and wrapped in a glossy sleeve, first impressions were excellent. Everything survived the journey intact, which is more than can be said for some parcels that arrive looking as though they’ve completed a tour of duty with the postal service.  

The kit includes multiple MDF and plywood sheets, pre-cut stickers, decorative accessories, mirrors, sea acetate, a sunset backdrop, and a lighting kit.  

Lighting System

The lighting setup is pleasantly straightforward and consists of a touch-sensitive control pad, a twin AAA battery box, one LED strip and three LED bead lamps. Thankfully, Rolife has made it fairly idiot-proof, which is always appreciated.  

One thing worth mentioning is that the lighting components are supplied without terminal connectors. This means you’ll need to make the final joins yourself using either solder and heat shrink tubing or one of the many wire connectors available online.  

Print Quality and Laser Cutting

The print quality throughout the kit is absolutely superb. The colours are bright, vibrant and really bring the Mediterranean theme to life. I spent a fair bit of time looking over the sheets and couldn’t find any signs of overbleed, misalignment or printing errors. Everything is sharp, crisp and beautifully reproduced.  

The laser cutting is equally impressive. In fact, it’s so precise that when I stood the boards upright in my storage rack, several parts simply dropped out of their sheets of their own accord.  

Instructions and Build Experience

The instruction manual follows the usual Rolife format and comes as a full-colour A4 booklet. The photographs are clear, the diagrams are easy enough to follow, and the build sequence generally makes sense throughout.  

A pleasant surprise was the boards, where every component has its part number printed directly onto the piece itself. For those of us whose eyesight occasionally requires negotiations with the instruction manual, this is a genuinely useful feature.  

Customisation Potential

One of the things I immediately liked about Sunset Isle was the opportunity it offers for customisation. Anyone who has followed my builds for any length of time will know that I regard manufacturer instructions as more of a friendly suggestion than a strict set of rules. I love putting my own stamp on a project.  

Throughout the review, John describes numerous enhancements, including:

• Replacing flowers with alternatives from his own collection
• Repainting the watering can
• Adding water-effect gel
• Upgrading foliage and greenery
• Enhancing village scenery
• Reinforcing structural joints with UV resin

These examples demonstrate how easily the kit can be personalised.  

Notable Design Features

Only Four Books to Build

Veteran book nook builders can breathe a sigh of relief because Sunset Isle comes with a bonus that deserves immediate recognition: there are only four books to make. Just four. Anyone who has spent an evening folding, gluing and assembling what feels like an entire library will understand why this is worth celebrating.  

Thoughtful Builder-Friendly Details

Rolife includes:

• 1:1 scale illustrations of bagged accessories
• Warnings about hidden parts within waste sections
• Clearly labelled components
• Generous mounting materials and adhesives

These small touches help reduce mistakes and improve the overall building experience.  

Things to Watch Out For

Thin Plywood Sheets

A point worth noting concern at are the sheets labelled B and C. Unlike the main structural boards, these are manufactured from a thinner plywood material and don’t feel quite as robust. They’re perfectly usable, but they do require a little more care when removing parts.  

Mirror Panels

I did encounter one minor disappointment during the build, and that involved the two mirror-effect acetate panels. As instructed, I carefully removed the blue protective film, fully expecting to reveal two crystal-clear mirrors. Instead, I was greeted by a pair of panels that looked as though someone had cleaned them using a particularly greasy fish supper wrapper.  

Split Base Design

One little oddity only became apparent when it was time to bring the two halves of the build together. In most book nooks, the base is a single solid piece that provides plenty of rigidity from the outset. Sunset Isle takes a different approach because you’re effectively constructing two separate side sections that are later joined together to form a base.  

Final Thoughts

Sunset Isle is another very strong entry in Rolife’s ever-growing book nook range and, despite a few minor niggles, it proved to be an enjoyable build from start to finish. The excellent print quality, precise laser cutting, clever lighting installation and wealth of detail combine to create a model that looks far more complex than its 3-star difficulty rating would suggest.  

Use code: WORKSHOP15 (enter as coupon code after you have added items in your basket)

For me, the real strength of Sunset Isle lies in its flexibility. It looks great built straight from the box, but it also welcomes customisation with open arms. Whether that’s replacing flowers, adding realistic foliage, filling a rooftop swimming pool with water effects or reinforcing the structure because you don’t entirely trust it, the kit provides an excellent foundation on which to add your own ideas.  

Key Excerpts

“The print quality throughout the kit is absolutely superb. The colours are bright, vibrant and really bring the Mediterranean theme to life.”  

“Veteran book nook builders can breathe a sigh of relief because Sunset Isle comes with a bonus that deserves immediate recognition: there are only four books to make.”  

“One of the things I immediately liked about Sunset Isle was the opportunity it offers for customisation.”  

“Sunset Isle is another very strong entry in Rolife’s ever-growing book nook range.”  

Pros

• Outstanding print quality with vibrant colours and exceptionally sharp detail
• Excellent laser cutting and precise part fit throughout
• Simple, well-designed lighting system with wiring hidden completely from view
• Self-adhesive stickers and mounting materials that actually stick without additional glue
• Plenty of opportunities for customisation and personalisation
• Clear, easy-to-follow instruction manual
• Excellent value for money
• Suitable for beginners while still remaining enjoyable for experienced builders
• Produces a highly attractive finished display piece   

Cons

• Mirror-effect panels have a noticeable haze once the protective film is removed
• Sheets A, B and C are more prone to splintering than the main MDF boards
• Split base design relies heavily on accurate alignment and feels less robust than a one-piece base
• Final wiring connections must be completed by the builder   

Verdict

Overall Rating: 9/10

A beautifully printed, thoughtfully engineered Mediterranean-themed book nook that offers excellent value, enjoyable building, and abundant opportunities for customisation. Highly recommended for intermediate builders and confident beginners alike.