Love, Dealbreakers, and the Path to Happiness: A Matchmaker’s Take on Nobody Wants This

Chemistry and Commitment

As a lover of rom-coms and a professional matchmaker, Nobody Wants This was right up my alley. From the moment Noah (Adam Brody) and Joanne (Kristen Bell) met, I was rooting hard for them. They had palpable chemistry, communicated authentically and clearly, and didn’t leave room for guessing games about their feelings and intentions. They showed consistent interest in each other and made a concerted effort to bring each other into their worlds by introducing their friends and family.

Both Noah and Joanne understood the importance of making a good impression on each other’s families. They genuinely tried to win approval, continuously demonstrating their commitment to the relationship. I really loved how Joanne was motivated by Noah to become a better version of herself, even stopping to rescue a puppy.

Navigating Difficult Conversations

I admired how Noah dove into the tough topic of religion early on, making it clear that sharing his Jewish faith was incredibly important to him. When Joanne initially decided to convert, I thought they were headed for that classic “happily ever after.” However, when she began to rethink her decision—which is both personal and understandable—it left me with serious doubts about their chances for long-term happiness.

The show placed significant emphasis on Noah's role as a rabbi and how deeply intertwined it was with his identity. He was beloved by his community and seemed to embody his Jewish values in everything he did. Plus, he was being offered his lifelong dream job as Head Rabbi—talk about high stakes!

If Noah were my client, I would encourage him to take some time for self-reflection. What would it truly mean for him to give up his lifelong vision? Love can lead us to make bold decisions—some amazing—but it’s worth being really thoughtful about what truly matters in our lives.

The Real-Life Love Story

Just when I thought I was finished writing this, I discovered that the story is based on real events. I was horrified at the thought of possibly dooming someone’s chances of happiness, so I looked up the true story. It turns out that while the character Noah isn’t a rabbi, his faith is still important to him—his family are Russian immigrants who faced significant challenges for their religion. And guess what? The real-life Joanne did convert to Judaism! The couple has recently welcomed their first child and seems to be thriving. If anything, their story confirms my point: when values align, love has a much better chance of going the distance. So, in this case, I’d bet on this relationship any day—because who doesn’t love a happy ending that comes with a little real-life magic?

If you’re interested in learning more about the real-life inspiration behind Nobody Wants This, here’s a link to the article I read: https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/nobody-wants-this-netflix-true-story-erin-foster

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