Have you ever learned something about a boyfriend or girlfriend and thought, "Why didn't I already know about this?"

Would you have made different choices?

If you'd known how they are when they get angry, would you handle things differently? If you'd known how they handle money, would you have better expectations for your life together? If you'd known that they want their family to be intimately involved in raising their children, would you have set up different boundaries at the beginning of the relationship?

The only way to know these things early on in a relationship is to talk about them. In this book, author Elisa Armstrong shares 10 conversations that you need to have before you get serious with someone. She'll walk you through conversations like:

• Do you like to "talk through" your feelings or do you like space to figure out how you feel about something? (Chapter 3)
• What is the role of alcohol (or other substances) in your life? Do you see that changing? (Chapter 6)
• How involved is your family in your life now and how involved do you want them to be in the future? (Chapter 10)

The success or failure of your relationship is primarily up to you. You have to live with yourself and your choices your entire life, and few things are as important as the people you surround yourself with. Don't make another relationship decision until you've listened through this book and answered the questions honestly.