A long distance relationship gift: the story of the two of you

Your story, even when you’re apart

A long distance relationship is built out of pieces: a weekend here, a phone call there, a playlist you both keep adding to. Most of the time the story only exists in fragments, spread across two calendars and a lot of message threads. A book puts it back together, in order, from the first hello to the next visit.

That is what makes it one of the more personal long distance relationship gifts. Send us the pieces, and we put them together as one connected story across 15 illustrated story spreads. Like all our love story books, it starts with your memories, and a few notes are enough to begin.

For a long distance boyfriend

The best gift for a long distance boyfriend is proof that the miles haven’t made the story smaller. Put in the drive he makes every other weekend, the station where you always say goodbye, the dinner you cooked together over a video call. If you would rather not make it all about missing each other, choose “Make us the stars of a fictional adventure” and send the two of you on the road trip you keep planning. More ideas: our love book for him.

For a long distance girlfriend

For a long distance girlfriend, many of the best moments happen on screens or in transit: the first visit after weeks of calls, the arrivals door you have memorized, the movie night you synced across two time zones, the nickname she gave you in a voice message. A Romantic or Reflective tone suits the feeling of counting days. More ideas: our love book for her.

Ship it straight to them

You don’t have to be there when it arrives. At “You & shipping,” choose Ship to: Straight to them and enter their address.

• Phone number. The number you enter is printed on the shipping label.
• Address check. When you select Next, we check the address with Lulu, our print and shipping partner, and show any recommended correction. Double-check the apartment number, especially if they have just moved.
• Proofs and tracking come to you. We send updates and proofs to the purchaser, even when the book ships as a gift. You can follow the order on its status page, and we email you tracking once it ships.

What to include

The order form’s “Only the two of you” question asks for nicknames, inside jokes, places, songs, or pets. For a long distance couple, try these:

• Visits. The first time you met in person, the best weekend, the hardest goodbye.
• Calls. The longest one, the one where somebody fell asleep, the way every call begins.
• Countdowns. The calendar on the fridge, the number of sleeps left.
• Things in the mail. Letters, care packages, the hoodie that keeps going back and forth.
• What comes next. The plan to close the distance, however far off it is.

Save that last one for the last page. In “How should it end?” you can write up to 120 characters, something like “Same city. Same table. Soon.”

Timing

Allow about 3 weeks for a printed book, including creation, your prompt approval, printing, and delivery. Dates are estimates. Allow up to 5 business days for the first proof.

Would you rather hand it over in person on your next visit? Choose Ship to: Me and bring it along. If it has to arrive before a visit, a birthday or Valentine’s Day, remember that your occasion date is a request, not a guaranteed delivery date: contact us before ordering for a firm deadline. More in our order and delivery details.