Re: 1--that happened to me, when I had my free drink coupon. Of course, I wanted to try a peppermint mocha, but since I didn't know if I would like it, I only wanted a tall. But she talked me into a venti, with the promise they'd make me something else if I didn't like it. (Unfortunately, I loved it and am sad now that it's financially out of my tiny budget for Starbucks.)

re: 5--my book club just read Henrietta Lacks and we all loved it. I'm sad yours won't read it because it's non-fiction. I would have no idea how to go about picking a romance, though. Ugh.