Match Made is Shortlist's complete guide to dating with intention — built from hundreds of real matchmaking conversations, backed by research, and written in the same direct, no-nonsense voice you know from Shortlist.

Inside, you'll find straight answers to the questions that actually come up: How do dating apps really work, and what are they doing to your odds? What's the difference between a non-negotiable and a preference? How do you know if it's love bombing or genuine interest? When do you raise the exclusivity conversation — and how? And how do you know when it's time to call it?

Whether you're on the apps, working with a matchmaker, or just trying to date better in general, this guide is designed to be used, not just read.

What's inside:

• Getting clear on what you actually want (and why most people never do)

• Knowing your love language, with a link to take the quiz

• How dating apps actually work — the algorithm, the tricks, what paying really buys you

• Good questions to ask before you meet

• Messaging without becoming pen pals

• Why photos tell you almost nothing about compatibility

• Reading the early signs: red flags, green flags, and telling real interest from a good performance

• Setting a brief for your matchmaker (or yourself)

• The power of therapy and self-reflection before you start dating

• Non-negotiables vs preferences — and how to tell the difference

• Navigating age gaps, backed by the research

• Considering relationships with children

• The fun of blind dates, and how to make the most of one

• How to approach someone in person, without the cheesy lines

• What actually makes a great date (it's not the venue)

• Planning ideas that reveal who someone really is

• Getting past the first date

• Healthy boundaries and routines for a new relationship

• The important conversations to have — and when

• How to have hard conversations without it turning into a fight

• Knowing when to call it