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Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker [Large Print] [Paperback]

Marla Martenson
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 15, 2010 9780984308101 978-0984308101 Large type edition
In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks. From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives. Readers will laugh, cringe, and cry as they journey with her through outrageous stories about the indignities of dating in Los Angeles, dealing with overblown egos, vicariously hobnobbing with celebrities, and navigating the wannabe-land of Beverly Hills. In a city where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can't help but run for the Botox every once in a while.

Frequently Bought Together

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker + Matchmaking From Fun to Profit: A Complete Guide to Turning Your Matchmaking Skills into a New Business (Matchmaking Institute) + Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker
Price for all three: $23.43

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Sharper than a Louboutin stiletto -- --Nadine Haobsh, Confessions of a Beauty Addict

A fun, wry, and truly eye-opening look into real-life world of matchmaking --Joanne Rendell, author, The Professors' Wives' Club

A witty, smart read for anyone who's ever wondered what the other half is really thinking. --Lisa Daily, DAYTIME TV

Review

  • A fun, wry, and truly eye-opening look into real-life world of matchmaking.—Joanne Rendell, The Professors' Wives' Club  
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  • Imagine this: a professional matchmaker giving us a witty,often hilarious, insight into the fascinating underbellies of dating and making it in Beverly Hills. Priceless.—F. G. Gerson, 21 Steps to Happiness
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  • Sharper than a Louboutin stiletto,Martenson's book delivers!—Nadine Haobsh, Beauty Confidential and Confessions of a Beauty Addict
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  • I absolutely love this book! A witty, smart read for anyone who's ever wondered what the other half is really thinking.—Lisa Daily, DAYTIME TV dating coach
(Marla Martenson )

Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Bettie Youngs Book Publishers; Large type edition edition (April 15, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780984308101
  • ISBN-13: 978-0984308101
  • ASIN: 0984308105
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,114,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In her latest book, Hearts on the Line, Marla's day might begin with an email like this: Marla, I hope you don't plan on charging me for the last two setups--Penny and Lydia. Let me make it crystal clear for you, even 5 pounds overweight is a deal killer.... I won't waste any more time on another date with a plump gal. Clarence Penny and Lydia are both under 110 pounds--including implants. Marla facetiously refers to the dating service as the Double D--which doesn't stand for dream date--and often finds herself introducing SHBRs (short fat bald rich guys) to GDGDs (gosh darn gold-diggers) and, despite the odds, countless couples find that Marla has linked their hearts. The exasperating clients stand out, but many are terrific people, and you'll follow their dating stories with interest, as Marla struggles to work for a boss who requires her to cross ethical lines, pushing Marla to her limits. A tiny spark is all it takes, and Marla goes from being vice-president of a multi-city enterprise to being unemployed--which takes her career in matchmaking to a whole new level, all while staying true to her most authentic self.


"Marla is a gifted writer who can take everyday situations and those even ridiculously insane and weave humor through them to share with her readers."
~Autumn Blues Reviews


Marla was born in Tacoma, Washington, the "City of Destiny." Growing up she had a natural flair for acting and a deep interest in reading and writing poetry and short stories. At the age of sixteen, Marla was living in Iran with her family, learning to speak French and Persian, when the revolution forced their return to Washington State. At the age of 19 the pursuit of an acting career drew her to Hollywood and a stint in television commercials and print modeling.

Restless and eager for new challenges, in the early nineties it was on to Chicago, where she discovered that she could use her personal dating experiences to help others. She subsequently turned this talent into a career as a matchmaker back in Los Angeles, where, since 2001, her skills have led many couples to matrimony. Marla found an outlet for her love of writing in two relationship advice books Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate Is Waiting and Good date, Bad Date, and in 2010 her memoir, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker was published.

Marla's work inspires people and gives them hope that they can find their soul mates. She found and married her own, musician and composer Adolfo Jon Alexi, in Mexico City in 2002. A world traveler and culture nut, Marla describes herself as having a French flair, a Persian heart, Italian fire, and Mexican taste buds!

Customer Reviews

Not only was I entertained, but I laughed and had a great time reading it! CindyB  |  32 reviewers made a similar statement
I read this book in one sitting. Leticia Viguri  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Diary Of A Beverly Hills Matchmaker details Marla Martenson's experiences when she was a matchmaker for some of the richest men in the world. The cost of her services ranged between $20,000 and $50,000. The agency's price was dependent on how unreasonable the man's demands were. To quote Marla: "If a guy looks like Danny DeVito and he wants to date someone who looks like Heidi Klum that's going to cost him a little extra." And you will not believe how many Danny DeVito types expect to date Heidi Klum lookalikes! In fact the demands of some of her clients are so unreasonable I frequently had to remind myself that this book was nonfiction! Men who want a super-model-gorgeous woman (they call them 10-pluses) who are 20 years younger than them, ivy league educated and want to play the role of a 1950s housewife. How many ivy league educated women do you know who want to play that role? Or how about the guy who decided to ditch on of his matches because although she was beautiful and perfect in almost every way he didn't like the way her nipples looked. Apparently her areolas were too big. And then there's the female client who appears to be willing to sleep with any man who buys her a $1000+ handbag. Not all of the clients at the dating service are this dysfunctional but almost all of them are...shall we say, eccentric? Marla on the other hand is this totally normal, likable and perhaps most importantly, relatable person and watching her navigate her way through a sea of egos and excessive materialism is sort of surreal. And lets not forget the decent people who happen into her matchmaking service.... Read more ›
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Light, fun read! October 5, 2011
Format:Paperback
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be the head matchmaker of a high-class Beverly Hills dating service? In this her candid and witty memoir, Marla Martenson takes you on a humorous ride through the ups and downs of her life working for such a place, as she struggles with the often unreasonable demands of her wealthy clientele.

"I honestly had no idea how shallow, picky, selfish, and entitled some clients could be. After six years of feedback, demands, and expectations, I'm still thrown for a loop now and then," says Martenson. But what can you do when her clients pay $40,000 and up to find the right woman?

The author starts off by showing us what a regular day for her is like, answering annoying emails and trying to understand her clients' often incredible and unreasonable requests, as they continually find faults with their gorgeous, perfect Barbie-doll dates.

After this initial glimpse into her 'regular day,' Martenson goes back in time to recount how she got started, working at restaurant jobs and waiting on rude celebrities such as Joan Collins, who once barked at her for forgetting a fork. "For all my work, she left me a $2 tip on a $120 tab. The woman was clearly typecast as Alexis, right?" says the author.

She also talks about her dreams of becoming an actress, her marriage, divorce and remarriage to the perfect guy, her father's death and, finally, taking charge of her life. Eventually all fell into place and she started earning good money making commercials and getting small parts in films and print modeling work. She even got a couple of lines in the Mel Gibson film, What Women Want.
... Read more ›
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Matchmaker approved! April 28, 2011
Format:Paperback
I loved Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker. As a matchmaker myself, I honestly couldn't stop nodding my head and scoffing in agreement with many, many parts of Marla's descriptions of her professional life.

Her struggles with balancing both matchmaking and her personal life were extremely relate-able, regardless if one is or isn't in the business of love. You feel her struggle in coping with femininity, expected gender roles, and the "masculine" energy one would need to tackle unbearable (or unrelenting) clients.

Can't wait for the next one!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars An easy but unenjoyable ride January 5, 2011
By Debra
Format:Paperback
I just read this book in it's entirety although I have no idea why I wasted so many hours of my vacation to do so. It's autobiographical so I apologize to Ms. Martenson, but I found her "character" to be one of the most sickly and whiny people I have ever come across. I too live in LA and have experienced many of the scenarios described in the book which is why I continued to read it, but my recommendation to any of you reading this review is DON'T waste your time.
If you want to read an entertaining book about matchmaking, try "Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker" by Samantha Daniels. I read it last year on vacation and it was a much more enjoyable read!
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4.0 out of 5 stars Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker Book Review June 17, 2013
By Joana
Format:Kindle Edition
At first I thought this book was going to be more like a diary with dates and page entries. It wasn't exactly like that but it was diary like because she included very personal details about her life. The stories she tells about some of the men and women she tried to match up were pretty funny. Some of those guys were so ridiculous and expected to much. Some of the women were a little crazy. What I enjoyed the most were her own stories about her relationship with Adolfo. They are such a beautiful couple that even their arguments didn't seem so bad they were actually a little funny. It is a fun book to read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Marla Martenson is a very entertaining writer
Although I've been busier than ever, once I started reading this book, I really could not stop. Marla Martenson is an extremely entertaining writer. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Jean Sasson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth About Dating is Out!!!
As a fellow matchmaker, I loved reading Marla's hilarious view on matchmaking Beverly Hills style! She has a way of talking about everyday life and her job which she manages to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stefanie S
5.0 out of 5 stars page turner
Full of emotion. Marla makes you feel like your right there with her. Lots of fun. Had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.
Published 2 months ago by brent morris
5.0 out of 5 stars Such fun!
This is such an entertaining book! I had an absolute blast reading it and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a delicious diversion that's also quite poignant in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Heidi Mastrogiovanni
5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opening read about the L.A. matchmaking lifestyle!
One of my relaxing summer reads this season was the hilariously entertaining book, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker. Read more
Published 10 months ago by C. J. T.
4.0 out of 5 stars Diary of a Beverly Hills Writer (who matchmakes to pay the rent)
In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Author Marla Martenson mixes a little bit of insight about the matchmaking game together with a whole lot about her life. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Deborah Porter
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, whimsical story of a real life Beverly Hills female-cupid.
Funny, whimsical story of a real life Beverly Hills female-cupid preserving the harmony of her own life, those of her clients while also juggling her new writing career. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Autumn Blues Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Hysterical, clever, and most of all honest
This book was beyond hysterical, clever, and most of all honest!! Whenever I hear about a new Hollywood romance, I always wonder how relationships like that start.... Read more
Published 16 months ago by GypsyMama
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Bog
I LOVED this book. It brought the passion for reading back for me. I felt like I was sitting with a great girlfriend and trading stories. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Couponing & Reviewing in Texas
5.0 out of 5 stars A Funny and Witty Ride though L.A.
Can you imagine being a matchmaker in Beverly Hills? The residents of Beverly Hills are a breed of their own and Marla Martenson takes her readers on a wild ride through the L.A. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Weidknecht
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