Grocery Joe ‘Could Totally Fall Back In Love’ With Kendall, According To A Pro Matchmaker
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Plenty of adorable couples have come and gone on this season of Bachelor in Paradise—but which ones are here to stay? From Reality Steve's post-show spoilers to fans' incredible super-sleuthing skills, there are some popular theories.
But most of these guesses are missing a key factor: chemistry. After all, a couple is only as good as their food-related innuendos (looking at you, Kenny and Mari).
Amber Kelleher-Andrews is the co-founder and CEO of Kelleher International, one of the largest matchmaking firms in the U.S. She sat down with Women's Health to talk all things Paradise, from which couples might make it after the cameras stop rolling to which ones seemed doomed from the start.
Ready to hear the cold, hard truth about your faves? Below, Amber spills it all:
What's so different about dating on TV?
"What's hard on TV is that everything's very heightened," Amber explains to WH. "The culture of it is that you shouldn't care about anybody else except for yourself and the person that you want to be with."
That would put a strain on anyone's relationship—but Amber says it's especially difficult for Paradise contestants because they're juggling other factors that don't come into play in real life. "Kindness gets kind of put under the rug," she says. "And kindness is one of the main things that you look for in a relationship with a person."
She adds that this is true for both men and women. "In terms of matchmaking, it's a word that's used quite a bit: 'They have to be kind.'"
This season, Amber says she "really felt for the cast" and the tricky dating situations they were put in. But overall, she rates the contestants as being pretty good matchmakers themselves. "They are pairing up, but in a way where, if I had a choice, I'd be like, 'Yeah, I'd put those two together. And I would definitely put those two together,'" she said.
Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian
Amber's verdict? Maurissa and Riley are a great match, but she's not so sure they're built to last. "I really thought he was so cute with Marissa," she says. "It's going to break my heart to see what happens, but I really like her. She's just darling!"
Her only red flag is Riley's laid-back attitude. "I just feel like he's a little bit more of a charmer," Amber says. But guys like that "can turn into good guys," she added. "I was watching him like, 'Is this his time? Is he going to be that guy? Or is he just going to be easy to sway over to someone else?' And he doesn't have enough camera time for me to tell." So the jury's still out on these two.
Brendan Morais and Pieper James
The couple that fans love to hate actually has more staying power than you might think. "They seem like they're totally into each other," Amber says. "But the thing is that Brendan is not only assertive, but he is not in control of his own emotions. And so he could self-implode."
"He doesn't seem to really own his own feelings," she adds. "Something's off with him." Amber says what really tipped her off was watching how Brendan acted around Natasha. "He couldn't even be upfront with her," she explains. "I was like, 'Wait a minute. You're not even able to say the words that you're thinking right now.'"
As for Brendan and Pieper's future? "I think that he looks cute with Pieper and they have chemistry," Amber decides.
Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt
Let's get one thing straight: "It's really clear that he really, really, really likes his ex, Kendall," Amber says. "And he's not being totally 100% honest, but it's because he doesn't really want to be stuck with Kendall."
ICYMI, Joe and Kendall originally broke up because he wanted her to move to Chicago with him, and she said no. (Fair enough.) But Amber thinks "if she had come [on Paradise] and said, 'Listen, I'm in love with you and I want to move to Chicago and give us a real shot,'" then Joe would have left Serena faster than Wells Adams can make a cocktail.
"His feelings are real for her and he could totally fall back in love with her all over again right in front of Serena," Amber says. "I really don't know what's going to happen with them, I can't tell—but he genuinely likes both of them." Sounds like the producers were focusing on the wrong love triangle, if you ask me.
Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin
Kenny and Mari win first place for Paradise's cutest couple, as far as Amber is concerned. Even though Kenny was distracted by Demi Burnett in the first few episodes, Amber says "he seems like a really nice guy and I think he's probably really ready to settle down. Mari seems like a really suitable match for him."
Even their 15-year age difference doesn't faze her: "She's very mature," Amber adds. She thinks Mari is a great partner who has been upfront with Kenny about her feelings from the beginning. "I think there's a chance that those two could actually work out," Amber tells WH.
Abigail Heringer and Noah Erb
"I love Abigail and Noah," Amber says. But she really wants these two lovebirds "to have more of a spark. They're kind of like a married couple already." Based on that lack of chemistry, she's "not sure what's going to happen" with these two (even if they are the butter to each other's toast).
Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs
At first glance, Amber says, Becca and Thomas actually make a pretty cute couple. "I think they make a lot of sense," she explains. "I think that Tammy [Ly] was an odd fit for him."
Amber adds that, visually, Thomas and Becca go together well. "When I look at the stature of Thomas, his build, and then you look at all the women—you're like, 'Okay, it's going to have to be Becca.' She's tall, she's statuesque, she's The Bachelorette. So it makes sense."
But relationship-wise, this duo just isn't built for the long haul. "She can do so much better," Amber says. "In the end, is this really the guy that you're going to end up with?" So she won't be surprised if these two break it off: "If they get married, I'll still say it's not a match until they break up and she goes, 'He cheated on me and he's a jerk.' And I'd be like, 'There it is!'"
Sounds like Bachelorette Katie Thurston might have been right when she warned the other Paradise ladies to stay away from Thomas, per Us Weekly.
Tre Cooper and Tahzjuan Hawkins
Despite Tahzjuan's previous fling with Tre's uncle, these two actually seemed like a great couple. "It was cute," Amber says of their brief relationship. "And he was one of my favorites."
Amber was disappointed that Tahzjuan threw her connection with Tre away the minute Riley arrived. She also thinks the Paradise producers cut out some footage that would have made Tahzjuan's decision make more sense. "She just was screaming on the beach one night, and Tre was kind of out. And I'm like, 'What actually happened?'" Amber says.
Editing mishaps and missed connections aside, Amber thinks Tre and Tahzjuan should give it another shot. "Those two should at least go on a date when they get home," she says. (Personally, I totally agree!)
You Might Also Like
