Samantha Daniels
Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker (2005)
Author: Samantha Daniels
Genre (and subgenre): Non-fiction (Contemporary Issues/Insider Account)
Book Summary:
Samantha Daniels describes the process of starting her business of “SamanthasTable,” a matchmaking service for young, beautiful, successful people in New York City. And yes, you do have to fit within the three adjectives above or have lots of money to make up for the other two. Daniels divides her book into months, describing the challenges of that time period: holidays, vacations, weather, or peoples’ moods. She keeps a diary that documents her clients, whom she nicknames the “Desperadoes,” her own dating adventures, and the life and decisions concerning the business. No one marries by the end of her telling, but some of her clients had entered into a monogamous relationship with each other. Daniels was planning on opening a second business in Los Angeles. Daniels herself dealt with a recurring boyfriend named “Jerkoff” by rejecting his proposal of marriage. She remained hopeful about finding her own Mr. Right at the end of the book.
Geographical Setting: New York City and Los Angeles
Time Period: Present Day. September-July, most likely 2002 or 2003.
Appeal Characteristics:
The number of clients (characters) in the book may appeal to people who enjoy watching soap operas, where a huge group of people interact with one another and constantly experience drama. Readers may enjoy empathizing with the characters, who are rich, successful people in New York City that are clueless and having a hard time dating and finding a partner. The reader may find it funny and amusing, when some of Daniel’s matches fail so horribly. If the reader has not culled the advise from Daniel’s tales of dating woe, she has distilled her dating tips into a list of 100 suggestions at the end of the book. Daniels gives Characters nicknames so the reader can better remember the clients. Examples: Miss 39, Brad Pitt Guy, Miss Manhunt, Miss Boobs, Mr. Gazillionare, Conflict of Interest Guy, and Mr. Metrosexual. It could make it easier to remember the character or annoying when she replays conversations. One point that might work as an appeal or determent to the book is that Daniels only matches heterosexual people. She refused to work with a transvestite who underwent a sex operation and dropped a client who admitted he enjoyed three-ways and anal sex.
Read-alikes: Sex in the City HBO Series. 4Blondes and other books by Candance Bushnell. He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (both authors worked for Sex and the City show).
Red Flags: Frank talk about sexual preferences and actions.
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