Book dedication ideas: what to write in a book you give

78 short dedications for the people you give books to, grouped by who it's for and the occasion. None of them should be used exactly as written: they're starting points. Change the names, and change one detail so it's about the two of you.

Updated October 2026

How to use these

Pick the one closest to your occasion, put in the real name, and swap the general detail for a specific one: a place, a joke, the reason you chose this book. Keep it to a few lines and sign it the way you'd sign a card. For more on structure and layout, see how to write a book dedication.

For a partner

For Mia. You're my favourite person to read next to.
To Sam, who always saves me the last chapter. This one's yours first.
For you, because I read this and kept wanting to tell you about it.
Dino, I'd still pick you over a good book. Barely.
Love, K.
For Lucija, my favourite plot twist.
To Ben. Read this one in bed, out loud, to me.
For Hana, who made me a reader again.
Every love story I read, I cast us in it. Happy reading, Petra.
Love, J.

Anniversary

One year, and I still save the good books for you. Happy anniversary.
For our tenth. Ten years, two flats, one cat, and you.
Love, A.
Happy anniversary, Marko. Chapter five of us starts today.
To Iva, five years after we first argued about the ending of this one.
Still my favourite story. Happy anniversary.
Love, T.

Birthday

Happy 30th, Luka. Thirty years in and you still read the ending first.
For your birthday: a book, and a promise not to ask how far you've got.
Happy birthday, Nina. I hope this year is as good as the last page of this.
To Dad on his 60th. I know you'd rather have a crossword, but give chapter one a chance.
Love, Ema
Happy birthday, Sara. I've already read it, so we're talking about it on Friday.

Christmas and holidays

Merry Christmas, Filip. For the quiet days between Christmas and New Year.
For Ana, to read by the fire, or at least the radiator. Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays! This one's for the long journey home.
Merry Christmas, Mum. No wrapping paper to clear up this year.
For the first snow of the year.
Love, your Secret Santa

For Mum or Dad

Mum, you read to me every night for years. Your turn.
Love, Ana
For Dad, who taught me a book is never a waste of money.
To Mama, who still keeps my first library card. Thank you for every page.
Dad, this one reminded me of you: stubborn, kind and very long.
Love, Matej
For Mum on Mother's Day. You started all this.
Love, both of us
To my father, who drove me to the library every Saturday.

For grandparents

For Grandma, who told the best stories without ever needing a book.
Grandpa, you can make the letters as big as you like on this one.
Love, Lea
To Nonna, with love from all four of us.
For Grandad, who read me this when I was seven. Now it's my turn.

For a child

For Noa, on your eighth birthday. Read it again when you're eighteen and see what's changed.
To Mila, who asks for “just one more chapter” every night. Here are thirty.
For Jakov, our brave reader.
Love, Mum and Dad
For you, little one, for when you're big enough to read it yourself.
To Emma: the first book in your very own library.

For a friend

To Lea, my first and best book club. Same rules: wine, and no spoilers.
For Tina, the only person who gives my books back. Keep this one.
You've recommended me so many books. This is my revenge.
For Ivo, for all the nights we stayed up talking about nothing. This one's about something.
To my oldest friend. Twenty years, and you still get all my references.
For Maja, who moved to Dublin and took our book club with her.

Long distance

For the nights we're in different time zones. Read a chapter, then call me.
To Ana, 1,400 km away. Let's read it at the same time.
Until I'm home, here's something to keep you company.
Love, M.
Same book, two cities. Tell me which page you're on.

Wedding

To Petra and Ivan on your wedding day. Here's to a long story.
For the newlyweds. Read it together, argue about it together. Congratulations.
To Luka and Sara: the first book in your shared library.
Today our story becomes one story. I love you.
M.

New baby

For Ema, born 3 March 2026. We'll read this to you until you can read it to us.
To the new parents, for the 3 a.m. feeds. An e-reader only needs one hand.
Welcome to the world, little Toma.
Love from your aunt, who plans to read you every book there is
For Ana and Marko, now a family of three. Congratulations.

For a teacher or mentor

For Ms Horvat, who made me read past the first chapter. Thank you.
To my mentor. I still hear your notes in the margins.
A small story to say a big thank you for this year.
For Mr Kovač, who said I'd write a book one day. Not yet, but here's one I loved.

Retirement or leaving work

Happy retirement, Ana. Your inbox is closed for good, so here's something better to read.
For Davor, on his last day. Thank you for ten years of good advice and bad coffee.
To the best desk neighbour I've ever had. Good luck in the new job.
For your first free Monday in forty years.
Love, everyone on the third floor

Get well and hard times

For the long days ahead, a story to keep you company. Get well soon.
Thinking of you. Read a page or two whenever you'd like to be somewhere else.
For Nika. No pressure to finish it. I just wanted you to have something good.
We're all here for you. Here's a book for the quiet hours.
Love, the whole family

In memory

For Tea, in memory of your mum, who loved this book.
In memory of Dad, who would have loved this one.
For Ana. She would have wanted you to have this.
Remembering Marija, who read everything and lent it all.

Funny

I read the first page and thought of you. I didn't read the rest, so no promises.
For Josip. Yes, this counts as a present.
Happy birthday. Now you've got no excuse to borrow mine.
To Ana. The ending will make you cry. You're welcome.
For the only person I know who reads the acknowledgements.
I'd have wrapped it, but it's an ebook.

Making it your own

Add one detail only you know. “For the train to Split” says more than “for all our adventures.”
Add the date or place if the book marks an occasion. It's often the part people treasure later.
Keep it short. A dedication should fit on one page of an e-reader screen.
Read it out loud. If it sounds like you, it's right.

Found the right words? Add them to your EPUB as a dedication page, pick a typeface and an ornament, and download the finished book. Free, and the book never leaves your device. Giving it to someone with a Kindle? Here's how to send an EPUB to Kindle.