No, it's too wide! Bookshelves, be they cookbooks or murder mysteries, need to be between 8 and 10" deep. I prefer 8".

Our Cooks Illustrated is 9" wide. We have others up to 12" wide. If only cookbooks a 12" deep cabinet inside measurement is a minimum. I usually build them 13" deep inside. Bookshelves for photo albums deeper.

Is 12" too narrow? You can store a couple of books in that width, only you know what you need for storage. How many books do you have?

All the bookcases in my house have 8" shelves and I have a LOT of bookshelves! I've never had a problem. The base is deeper and it holds any books that are.

I had two 12” wide shelves on the end of my island on my original cabinet plans. But, now I have to decrease the depth by 12” so I ended up losing that option. Now I want to move them to the side of the island where the dishwasher and prep sink are, but I was trying to figure out a reasonable width. Like this

Sketch I came up with based on feedback from another post (thank you ccwaters!). I wrote in the widths, planning to make all of the bases drawers. Also attaching my prep sink. I couldn’t find a recommended cabinet base size for it.