Book ~ "Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker" (2010) Marla Martenson

From Goodreads ~ Welcome to the world of Marla Martenson. The Cupid of Beverly Hills, she has introduced countless couples who have gone on to get married and live happily ever after - so far. But for every success story, there are more dating disasters, high-maintenance clients, out-of-touch men (and women), and downright comical situations with which she has to contend.

In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days in an exclusive L.A. matchmaking agency 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 and trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage with 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 land where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can’t help but run for the Botox every once in a while.

This is the memoir of Marla, a matchmaker in Beverly Hills.  She'd had high hopes of making it as an actress but it didn't really happen as she had wished (she'd had some parts including a small one in What Women Want).  She ends up working as a matchmaker for a dating company, matching rich picky men with the women who are looking for them.  On the side, she had become an author of dating books.  She was hoping to make enough as an author to be able to leave her job at the agency and focus on writing full-time.

This book chronicles her day-to-day routines including the wacky emails from her clients.  A fan of Wayne Dyer, she lists her affirmations at the end of each chapter.

I liked this book and would recommend it.  I liked the writing style ... I thought it flowed well.  It was a fun topic to reach about.  It's hard to believe that men and women are that shallow.

I liked Marla ... she was doing what she had to do to follow and achieve her dreams.  She had great support with her mother, friends and husband.  Her mom and friends are nice.  I can't say I was crazy about her husband, Adolfo, though, who is a musician in a restaurant. At one point Marla says that he considers her a "goddess, a perfect 10" yet at times it doesn't seem like he treats her that way.  For example, she has a deadline to write a book (which will hopefully bring in more money so their life will be better) but he bugs her to instead spend the time with him.  When they got together, she'd moved into his place so all the stuff except for a couch and an ashtray are his.  She wants her ashtray to be on the coffee table along with all his stuff but he keeps moving it to her desk.  At one time, they are on a moving walkway and he trips.  He gives her a dirty look and "cussed" her in Spanish even though it was his fault ... he blamed her energy for his clumsiness.  When she has a car accident, she calls him ... instead of asking if she was okay, he reminded her that this was her second accident.  She wasn't feeling well at one point but he bullied her into going to the gym and doing his strenuous workout.