I'm not sure how to rephrase that so it doesn't sound so blunt. Basically, I've been seeing this guy since July. We go out on dates freiquently, I sleep over, he sleeps over and yet 3 months later and we haven't spoken about anything serious- what we're doing, past relationships, etc. Is this strange? My room mates think so and tell me to talk to him all the time. The issue is that he has trouble being serious and the few times I have tried to have a more serious conversation with him he didn't have any of it. Any advice on how I can bring up the 'are we in a relationship' question?

maybe try not making into a big serious discussion?

just flat out ask him. are you my boyfriend or not.

Yeah, just ask him. Bring it up in a conversation. When he says something funny, laugh buoyantly and then say "Hey, are you my boyfriend?".

Don't say are you my boyfriend. Oh god.

Say, "Can I ask... what are we? Like how would you describe what we have?"

If you're not happy with his answer, ask him where he sees it going. If you want something serious, and he doesn't, then thats a good indicator that you're wasting your time.

I should really write a manual on these kinds of encounters.

It sounds to me like she already has the answer to this. Apparently she's tried to ask him about serious relationship stuff and he is not open to it.