PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE

Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM – Midnight
Where: The Vixen McHenry

Admission: $75 - FOR PARTY ENTRY 

(All Full Party Experience tickets with the book are sold out.)

Jessica will also have a selection of brand NEW COLORS inspired by her favorite book series! 

Come party with us!

The stars have aligned and Hello Darling Books & Beyond is bringing a celebration unlike anything McHenry has seen before. Join us for Hello Darling’s Starlight & Stories, an unforgettable midnight release party celebrating the arrival of ACOTAR Book 6. We have rented the entire venue at The Vixen and are transforming it into a magical evening filled with books, fandom, local vendors, music, cocktails, activities, and fellow readers who have been waiting years for this moment.

This isn’t your typical bookstore release event. This is a full-scale celebration created by readers, for readers.

Whether you’ve been part of the journey since the beginning or recently discovered the magic of Prythian, this is your chance to celebrate alongside fellow fans as we count down to midnight together. 

Come dressed for our ACOTAR Costume contest! Whether you embody your favorite character, recreate a scene from the books or arrive in your most enchanting Night Court, Spring Court or Starfall-inspired ball attire, we can’t wait to see your creativity. The winner will receive Books for a Year from Hello Darling Books & Beyond!

DJ and music throughout the evening with DJ Clinto 

Tina Bree (Owner of Hello Darling) & Joe Cicero from Star 105.5 will be hosting the evening! 

A Friendly Warning - You may want to request Tuesday off now, darlings! :)

Between the midnight release, dancing, shopping, photo ops, cocktails, activities, and the overwhelming urge to immediately start reading Book 6 the moment you get home, we can’t promise you’ll be productive the next morning.

Gather your friends, dust off your Night Court attire, and prepare for a night of starlight, stories, and celebration. We cannot wait to welcome readers from across the region for what promises to be one of the most memorable bookish events of the year!

Age Requirement

Starlight & Stories is a 17+ event. All guests must present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire duration of your stay. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from The Vixen. In accordance with Illinois law, guests must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid government-issued photo ID to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.

Please note that no guests under the age of 17 will be admitted, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Join Jessica, creator of Bomber Betty Custom Cosmetics, as she creates a custom lipstick or gloss for you in any color you can dream up! Come with a shade in mind, or let Jessica come up with something for you based on your coloring. She will mix the pigments and frosts right before your eyes, and you will try on the color as it is created to make sure it is just right, flavor it with your favorite scent, and name it!  You are going to love it!

CUSTOM LIPSTICKS $29 - CUSTOM GLOSSES $24