Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker [Hardcover]

Samantha Daniels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2005

Fans of "Sex and the City" and "Bridget Jones's Diary, " and anyone who loves to date vicariously, will fall in love with "Matchbook." In this irresistible read, America's hippest Matchmaker borrows from her real-life experiences to create an urban love story about searching for "The One."

When people learn what Samantha Daniels does for a living, they have to know more: How did she become a Match-maker? How many matches have led to marriage? How does it work? Who's her craziest client? And most of all, how can a Matchmaker be "single?"

Samantha Daniels is unlike any Matchmaker you've ever heard of. Young, ambitious, and, yes, single, she's the founder of Samantha's Table, an introduction service that caters to singles in New York and Los Angeles who are ready to invest seriously in the task of finding The One. After handpicking their matches, Daniels works with her clients as their cheerleader, part-time therapist, dating coach, voice of reason, and closest confidante as she helps them down the road to happily ever after.

Readers learn how Daniels started her Matchmaking business (How much do you charge for finding the love of someone's life? How do you screen out the Undatables?) and get to know the colorful cast of characters whom she fondly refers to as her "Desperados." There's Mr. Cheapskate, Miss Manhunt, and Looks Good from Afar Guy. There's the 39-year-old female corporate exec who wants a husband yesterday; there's the guy who will only date women worthy of Brad Pitt; there's the gazillionaire who offers a $60,000 bonus if Samantha can find him a supermodel wife; there's the very well endowed woman who's having trouble finding men attracted to her mind; and a host of others. Will Samantha be able to make them a match?

And more importantly, will this Matchmaker find herself a match? You would think that meeting hundreds of single men would make dating a snap, but not even a Matchmaker can avoid the pitfalls of single life. Readers are introduced to another lively cast of characters -- the men that Daniels herself dates. Readers meet the many Not for Me Guys and a few Maybe for Me Guys, to see that even a celebrated Matchmaker can be a Desperado herself.

Throughout the book, Daniels also offers real dating advice (such as the most common first-date mistakes and tried-and-true conversation topics) and secrets of the trade (why September is the best month for Matchmaking). Like a real-life episode of "The Bachelor, Matchbook" is a wild ride through the flirty, unpredictable world of urban dating, with a wise and witty guide at the helm. For those who love romance and anyone looking for love, "Matchbook" is a perfect match.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you're frustrated with trouble on the dating front, not to worry: even the professionals don't always get it right. That's one of the big lessons of Matchbook, an entertaining whirlwind glimpse of the life of a professional matchmaker (in particular, the one whose life is the basis for the LivingTV series "Miss Match"). Samantha Daniels mixes her career--setting up big-bucks clients with the aim of living happily ever after-- with her personal life--where she has her own dreams of a happy ending.

It's a fun, fast beach read that hides solid dating advice in slightly disguised real-life adventures of Daniels and her clients. Each receives a nom de guerre--Ms. Boobs, Brad Pitt Guy, Mr. Metrosexual and The Girl I Always Thought Hated Me are just a few of the bicoastal mix. Daniels realizes that matchmaking is more than just introductions; she recommends therapists, personal stylists, and nutritionists, and provides lessons in body language and dating etiquette. While none of it is necessarily phrased as advice to the reader, there's plenty to learn if you're trying to improve your own romantic life.

The upscale, urban setting is more like Sex and the City than real life for most of us--designer shoes, private cars and trendy restaurants are the rule, rather than the exception. Nevertheless, the background is a big part of the fun; being reminded that millionaires need love too is a fun break from the reality of blind dates and evenings alone. The ending chapter is a list of 101 dating tips, proving that Daniels knows her stuff. Whether she's urging "never give up on love", or "sometimes the more social you are, the more alone you feel", the combination of self-esteem pumping and pointed behavioral suggestions sneaks solid advice into the high-flying fun. --Jill Lightner

From Publishers Weekly

If Daniels, reportedly the inspiration for NBC's (short-lived) series Miss Match, had written her memoir as a novel, it might have been considered deliciously wicked, a sort of Nanny Diaries for the singles world. Unfortunately, Daniels comes across as a snobby junior high school alpha girl: "How am I supposed to become a married Matchmaker when all I meet are pigs and losers?" Daniels has made close to 50 matches in the five years since she quit being a divorce attorney and went into business fixing up people she describes as "the cream of the singles crop" in New York City. But while she jokingly refers to herself as "Desperado #1," the apparent shallowness and lack of empathy on display are unnerving: she offers up often cruel critiques of the composite "Desperados" upon whom she bestows such nicknames as Miss Manhunt, the Troll and the Hundred Thousand Dollar Man (the bonus he has promised should she find him a wife). Upon meeting "Miss Boobs," a woman who is "oddly self conscious about her looks," Daniels's first thought is "What a rack!" Occasionally the matchmaker shows she has a human heart, sending Miss Interrupter to a therapist to work through why she thinks she can never get a word in edgewise. But readers may have lost heart themselves before they find that out.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743269535
• ISBN-13: 978-0743269537
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Samantha Daniels is one of the foremost professional matchmakers and dating experts in the country. She owns a bicoastal matchmaking service called Samantha's Table. She is ivy league educated, a lawyer by trade and she has an uncanny ability to know who goes well with whom. She has been responsible for over 100 marriages and thousands of substantial relationships. She is frequently relied upon dating and relationship expert, and is seen regularly on-television, on the radio and in national newspapers and magazines. She has been a national spokesperson for a number of consumer brands including Crest, Oral B and Febreze. She was also the inspiration for and a producer on the NBC/Darren Star dramedy, Miss Match starring Alicia Silverstone, the show was based on her life story. She has a popular blog on the Huffington Post, Matchmaker in the know, and she is the host of a popular web series, Relationship Chatter that airs 3 times a week on over 25 portals around the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best seller material, January 28, 2005

By 

Janny Girl (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker (Hardcover)

I just finished reading the book, I couldn't put it down. Now I know that I am not alone in my dating difficulties. How refreshing to read about all these people who have been meeting all these "Not for Me" guys, and more than anything else, how refreshing that the matchmaker herself who is a pretty girl and has the pick of the litter has the same dating disasters as I do. I loved this book!! You will too- so easy to read and so relatable!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KILLER BOOK!!!!, May 2, 2005

By 

Joanna "Joanna" (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker (Hardcover)

I don't see how anyone couldn't love this book. Its fun, relatable and hysterical. The woman who wrote it is very self deprecating in a very cool way.... I thought she was so funny. I was reading paragraphs aloud to my friends on the phone. You should read this book-- it has lessons in it but mostly its a very enjoyable read!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like SEX AND THE CITY!, May 13, 2005

By 

Frida "Frida" (Frida (Atlanta)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker (Hardcover)

I just finished Matchbook and I had to write a review. I loved it!!! It is so funny and so real. My friends and I kept calling each other on the phone and reading sections outloud and reminiscing about all those guys we have gone out with who are exactly like the characters in Matchbook! I have dated Looks Good from Afar guy definitely and Dr Touchy-- been there done that and it was soooo bad! If you are dating and looking to meet someone, no matter where you are, this book with make you feel like you are not alone and will give you alot of laughs! Read it!