Woman Lets Friend Borrow Cherished Gift from Late Boyfriend, Is Shocked by the Condition It’s Returned in

Some treasures carry meaning that money can’t measure. For one Reddit user, a custom edition of The Song of Achilles — a gift from her late boyfriend — was one of those priceless keepsakes.

The book wasn’t just a favorite story; it was a piece of her heart. Hand-painted, signed by the author, and inscribed with a final message from someone she loved and lost, it held deep emotional value.

“My boyfriend passed away about a year ago, and before he died he gave me this custom book,” she shared in a Reddit post. “He even wrote a note to me inside the cover.”

But what should have remained a sacred memento turned into heartbreak when she agreed to lend it to a friend, referred to as “L.”

“I originally recommended she maybe buy her own book but she got upset saying I know she’s unemployed and she can’t afford to do that,” the Reddit user explained.

Reluctantly, she agreed. When the book was returned, however, it was nearly unrecognizable — stained with coffee, creased pages, and covered in purple-ink doodles and notes.

“It was more like random paragraphs about her ex, doodles, underlines and random notes like ‘this part reminds me of me and Jason lol,’” she wrote.

When confronted, her friend reportedly laughed it off, saying she’d made the book “more special” with her “personal touches,” and even claimed that the late boyfriend “would have loved how passionate she was about it.”

The reaction left the Reddit user stunned. Her friend’s refusal to take responsibility — or even acknowledge the emotional damage — felt like a second loss.

The woman demanded that her friend replace the book and called her “out of line” for ruining something irreplaceable. “I didn’t care about money,” she explained. “I just wanted her to take responsibility.”

Some of their mutual friends sided with “L,” suggesting the poster was “overreacting” or “projecting her grief.”

But Reddit commenters overwhelmingly supported the original poster. “You’re definitely NTA but it is your fault for lending such an important book. Never in a million years would I lend something so precious,” one wrote. “Ditch this person who is not a friend and I hope this painful lesson is learned and engraved in your brain now.”

Others firmly defended her choice to share something meaningful. “The book wasn’t accidentally ruined. It was ruined on purpose,” another said. “She shouldn’t have lent it, but it’s not her fault. The blame lies entirely with her ‘friend.’”

---