A Local Treasure Worth Celebrating: Hello Darling Books and Beyond in McHenry
- bbelcastro5
- Aug 8, 2025
- 5 min read
August 3, 2025
Sometimes the most delightful bookstore discoveries happen right in your own backyard. While I typically write about independent bookstores I encounter during my travels, I couldn't resist interrupting my usual travel posts to share Hello Darling Books and Beyond in McHenry, Illinois – a local treasure that's quickly becoming a destination worth traveling for.
Located along the Fox River as part of McHenry's innovative RiverWalk Shoppes, this adorable romance and thriller specialty bookstore opened just this past May as part of a forward-thinking business incubator program. Watching owner Tina Bree launch her dream during the store's inaugural season has been nothing short of inspiring, and the early success speaks volumes about both her vision and the community's hunger for this kind of specialized literary haven.
An Innovative Business Model
What makes Hello Darling particularly fascinating is its role in McHenry's RiverWalk Shoppes – a retail incubator program that's revolutionizing how small businesses get started. Rather than forcing entrepreneurs to risk their life savings on traditional retail space, the city created ten charming cottage-like buildings along the Fox River, complete with a redesigned park that hosts events throughout the season to drive foot traffic.
The program is designed specifically for startups wanting to test concepts, online businesses considering brick-and-mortar retail, or existing businesses exploring new markets. It's a brilliant low-risk, high-support environment that includes Chamber membership, educational workshops, mentoring, and marketing assistance. Hello Darling operates Friday through Sunday from May through December, allowing Tina to maintain her radio career while building her bookstore dream.
A Romance and Thriller Paradise
Step inside Hello Darling and you'll immediately understand why this concept works so well. The space is bright, well-organized, and perfectly curated for readers who know exactly what they love. Specializing in romance and thriller books, Tina has created a destination for readers seeking everything from heartwarming love stories to steamy adventures and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
During my visit, I was greeted with the sight of Tina proudly displaying her latest creation: adorably wrapped "blind date with a book" packages. These mystery book bundles, wrapped with careful attention to presentation, embody the playful spirit that permeates the entire store. It's exactly the kind of creative touch that transforms book buying from a simple transaction into an experience.
I left with "The Perfect Marriage" by Jeneva Rose – a thriller I'd been wanting to read, especially since it features those gorgeous colored book edges that are all the rage right now. There's something so satisfying about books that look as beautiful on your shelf as they are compelling to read.
Beyond Books: A Creative Community Hub
While the book selection is stellar, Hello Darling goes far beyond traditional retail. The store carries beautiful merchandise including felt hats with hand-burned designs by local artists, jewelry, book-themed mugs and bags, candles, and store-branded merchandise. Cards and home décor round out the selection, creating a boutique experience that feels both bookish and broadly appealing.
But it's the programming that really sets Hello Darling apart. Beyond traditional book clubs, Tina has embraced the crafty side of book culture in ways I've never seen before. Coming up this month, she's hosting a book bedazzling event – essentially diamond art for book covers that creates stunning decorative pieces. I'm particularly excited about the Bloom Book Vase workshop, where participants transform hardcover books into actual vases for flowers. And in September, there's a brick painting event where attendees create beautiful book cover art on bricks. It's the perfect marriage of reading passion and creative expression.
Community Partnerships and Local Celebrity
The collaborative spirit extends beyond the bookstore itself. When Hello Darling hosts author events, they partner with other incubator businesses like the wine shop, tea shop, and toy store to create comprehensive community experiences. It's exactly the kind of cross-pollination that makes the entire RiverWalk Shoppes concept work so brilliantly.
Having a local radio personality as the bookstore owner doesn't hurt either. Tina Bree has been on Crystal Lake's Star 105.5-FM for seventeen years, making her something of a local celebrity. But more than that, she's genuinely connected to our community – she's even done read-alouds at our elementary school in her sister's classroom (her sister happens to be one of my teachers, which made discovering her bookstore feel like a wonderful small-town connection coming full circle).
Seeing Tina at the shop confirmed everything I'd hoped about her bookstore. Her immediate warm hug, genuine enthusiasm for her venture, and obvious passion for connecting readers with books they'll love made it clear why Hello Darling is already such a success. Her husband's supportive presence during my visit spoke to the family commitment behind this venture.
A Vision Realized
From Tina's website, her mission is beautifully clear: "My Bookshop celebrates the thrilling and passionate world of romance in all its forms; from heartwarming love stories to steamy adventure reads & more. Our mission is to create a welcoming space where readers can embrace their love for romance and explore the bold and spicy side of storytelling."
This isn't just marketing copy – it's a genuine philosophy you can feel the moment you walk in. The store creates space for readers to celebrate genres that are sometimes dismissed or overlooked, providing a judgment-free zone where romance and thriller enthusiasts can geek out together.
Witnessing Something Special
There's something particularly exciting about witnessing a new business in its first season, especially one that's clearly hitting its stride. The RiverWalk Shoppes concept is proving itself with multiple businesses from last year returning and expanding – Bumble Bread Co. has already moved into a permanent bakery location, proving the incubator model works.
Watching Hello Darling find its footing and build community so quickly speaks to both Tina's vision and the genuine need for this kind of specialized bookstore. The combination of curated selection, creative programming, community partnerships, and genuine warmth creates something that feels both fresh and authentically rooted in what makes independent bookstores special.
The Verdict
Hello Darling Books and Beyond proves that innovation and tradition can work beautifully together. By embracing a new business model, focusing on underserved genres, and creating programming that extends far beyond typical bookstore offerings, Tina has created something truly special in our community.
The RiverWalk Shoppes location, with its charming cottage setting and proximity to parks and events, makes visiting feel like a mini-vacation even when you're staying local. The seasonal schedule creates urgency – you know you need to visit while they're open – but also anticipation for each new season's programming and expansion.
For romance and thriller readers, this is absolutely a destination worth seeking out. For anyone interested in innovative small business models or community-building through literature, Hello Darling offers inspiration about what's possible when vision meets opportunity. And for those of us lucky enough to call McHenry County home, it's a reminder that sometimes the most exciting discoveries happen right in our own backyard.
I'm already looking forward to that Bloom Book Vase workshop – and to watching Tina's bookstore dream continue to flourish along the Fox River.
Hello Darling Books and Beyond
McHenry RiverWalk Shoppes
McHenry, IL 60051
Friday & Saturday 10-6 / Sunday 10-4
May 1 - December 28
Where romance meets community along the Fox River
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