It's worth starting these conversations well before release, not scrambling to figure it out the week it happens.
Expect it to be an adjustment, not a switch flipping back to normal
The relationship that resumes in person won't be identical to the one that existed before, or the one that's existed by phone and letter. That's not a bad sign -- it's just what happens when two people who've been relating through a narrow set of channels suddenly have all of daily life back at once. Patience with that adjustment period matters for both of you.
Talk through practical expectations ahead of time
Living situation, finances, day-to-day routines, how much space each of you needs early on -- these go smoother when they've been discussed honestly beforehand rather than assumed. (See the pinned "Bringing Someone Home: How Family Can Support Reentry" guide under Guides → Emotional Support for the fuller practical picture, including supervised release conditions that can affect a relationship's daily logistics.)
Rebuilding physical and emotional closeness takes real time
Years of a different kind of connection don't undo themselves the moment you're in the same room again. That's normal, not a sign the relationship didn't survive the distance -- closeness that took years to maintain long-distance can take real time to rebuild in person too, and that's worth expecting rather than being blindsided by.
You're allowed to have your own needs about this transition too
Reentry is a huge adjustment for the person coming home, but it's a real adjustment for you as well -- your routines, your independence, your sense of what the relationship looks like day-to-day are all changing too. Naming that isn't selfish; it's what makes the transition sustainable for both of you.