The Long-Distance Relationship Survival Guide (Paperback)

by Chris Bell (Author), Kate Brauer-Bell (Author) "Not every relationship is built to last..." (more)
Key Phrases: mutual calendar, intercity relationship, distance dating (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Experienced long-distancers Chris and Kate explore what it takes for a relationship to succeed and thrive when two people must live miles apart. With anecdotes, advice, and concrete strategies from more than 100 couples, this sensitive yet sensible guide shows how honing long-distance relationship skills can be the key to any lasting marriage or partnership.

From the Publisher
* A practical and honest guide for committed long-distance couples, written by a real husband-and-wife team whose relationship survived the test. * Based on interviews with more than 100 couples. * Outlines eight essential relationship-building skills, such as establishing realistic expectations, balancing emotional intimacy and sex, and making the transition to same-city living.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580087140
• ISBN-13: 978-1580087148
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,215 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Availble On The Subject, May 5, 2006

By	Emily J. (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This is the best book on this subject. I've read some of the other books out there, and they were all pretty worthless. Where those other books had silly cartoons and useless trivia, this book actually has real life examples and solid ideas for making a long distance relationship work.

I've dated long-distance for about a year now, and it is getting more difficult with time, but this book gave me renewed hope that I could survive, as well as some good ideas to make it work. One of the best things is that it provides examples of couples who couldn't handle the distance, so you know what to avoid. I found it reassuring to know that I am not the only one suffering through this.

This book outlines key areas of focus for a relationship, and provides examples of what worked and didn't work for other people in the same situation. It is definitely geared towards those who are serious about making the relationship work, and you'd have to be serious about someone to suffer through a relationship like this.

This book is a great asset to anyone struggling through a long distance romance. It will give you renewed hope and courage to make it work.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for new LDRs and old!, March 10, 2007

By	Karen (Texas) - See all my reviews

After five years in a long-distance relationship (LDR), I finally decided to buy a book about it based on the reviews here on Amazon. I considered other LDR books, but this one seemed to be the most interesting. I was not disappointed! It is a quick, fun read, and even though my S.O. and I have already been applying most of the scenarios discussed in the book since we've successfully been together for five years, I did discover a few new things to try to keep things interesting. If you are just starting a LDR, this book will be extremely helpful to you. Pay close attention to the chapters about Communication because Communication really is the key to making it last. My S.O. and I are better grounded in our relationship than alot of our friends and we attribute it to the great communication and trust that we have with one another during this LDR - and our relationship has been LDR from the very beginning - we met 5 years ago at an event in a different state than either of us was living in at the time. This book is a must for anyone in a long distance relationship or considering one!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going the distance, August 27, 2007

By	Rose Keefe "author" (Canada) - See all my reviews

I've been in a long distance relationship with a wonderful man for three years now. It came more easily to me than it did to him, as my father was in the military and constant moving made long distance connections with friends and relatives seem normal to me. It wasn't as smooth a situation for him, as he still lived in the very city where he had been born and never had to deal with absences that exceeded a week or two. We live in the same country, but other than that, our face-to-face encounters were confined to a few times a year. Our relationship has been a learning experience for us both.

Chris Bell's book is filled with practical advice about making the miles appear less formidable. The Internet has made frequent communication less of a costly endeavor than it was in the past, so the separation anxiety can be assuaged without the phone bills forcing you to take a second mortgage on your house. Bell also emphasizes the all-important issue of trust and self-sufficiency. It's true: long distance relationships really work when both partners have their own identities and don't require another person to make them feel whole.

By emphasizing direct advice from long distance couples instead of diving into endless theory about the 'love over the miles' phenomenon, Chris Bell has helped to pave over an admittedly rocky road.