This is the best A5 notebook I have tried yet. Simple center staple bound notebook that lays flat. The paper is excellent quality that does not feather and very little shading on the back of the page. Slight bleedthrough with a juicy stub but EF-B nibs have been no problem at all and I can write on the back of the page. Slight gloss to the paper so dry time can be a "little" longer but nothing to worry about. Great notebook at an outstanding price.