Farewell gift for a friend moving away: a book of your friendship

Farewell gifts are often travel objects: a pouch, a notebook, a card. They get used, then lost. A book telling your friendship does something else: it's there the day she's homesick, the day a friend she meets over there asks "what's your best friend back home like?"

The principle is simple: your two faces are drawn from two photos, and a story is written from your memories. It isn't a photo album where pictures are lined up.

• ✦ She's moving abroad: expat life, a year of study, a transfer. The book tells what you built before the distance.
• ✦ She's moving to another city: not as far, but the same end of spontaneous meetups.
• ✦ You're the one leaving: you can also give her the book before you go.

In every case, the book keeps two heroes: you and her. The other friends are mentioned in the story, with their nicknames.

• ✦ The digital book: ready in about 2 hours (24 hours at most), sent by link. She opens it on her phone, wherever she is.
• ✦ The printed book: to hand over before she leaves, or to have delivered to her new address. Check at checkout that the country is offered.
• ✦ Both: digital on the day she leaves, the printed one following.

For more ideas around distance, see our page long-distance Valentine's Day, whose ideas adapt to a friendship.

• ✦ How you met: the place, the date, the first impression.
• ✦ What you did together: Thursday coffee, the shared flat, sport, spur-of-the-moment weekends.
• ✦ The times she was there: the heartbreak, the move, the 3 a.m. call.
• ✦ The jokes only you two get.
• ✦ What's next: the date you set, the visit you promised.

For more scene ideas, see book to give a best friend, friendship gift and, for a male friend, book for a male best friend.

A style that recalls your shared memories: watercolor for softness, manga for energy. To compare all six, see which illustration style to choose. A dedication can be added and printed in the book: just write to us after you order. See our book dedication ideas.

1. Choose the style. The free preview shows the duo drawn before you order.
2. Add two photos: one of you, one of your friend, faces sharp and front-facing.
3. Tell the story. A questionnaire guides you: where, when, what makes you laugh, the moments to keep. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough.
4. Review. You have 48 hours to read the book and ask for changes. Nothing is printed without your approval.

The book always keeps two heroes; other people are mentioned in the story, with their names and running gags.

• ✦ Digital: €39, ready in about 2 hours (24 hours at most).
• ✦ Signature: €59, a 30-page printed book.
• ✦ Prestige: €129, a 40-page printed book.

You review the book for 48 hours with up to 10 free revisions, then printing and delivery take 5 to 7 days. Nothing is printed without your approval.

If the departure is close, digital is the safest option.