Amazon Taps Tinley Park Bookstore for Movie Night After Sold-Out Events

Customers gather inside Love’s Sweet Arrow in Tinley Park for a free screening tied to The Love Hypothesis. Photo courtesy of Love’s Sweet Arrow.

When the SDA last caught up with Love’s Sweet Arrow in February 2026, events at the Tinley Park romance bookstore were selling out in hours.

Seven months later, hours apparently aren't necessary anymore.

An October 28 event recently sold out within minutes, according to Southland Development Authority (SDA) Relationship Manager Jamie Makuch. Meanwhile, Amazon reached out directly to the independent bookstore to host a free screening tied to The Love Hypothesis, which was released on Prime Video.

To its co-owner, Roseann Backlin, it's the latest sign that the community surrounding the store continues to grow.

“We are all thrilled to see community around the store grow,” Backlin said. “I feel like once a week someone comes in that just heard about us.”

Love’s Sweet Arrow opened in Tinley Park in 2019 as a bookstore dedicated exclusively to romance novels. Backlin runs the store with her daughter.

Earlier this year, the SDA featured the store after three consecutive “ReHeated Rivalry” events, themed around Rachel Reid’s hockey romance Heated Rivalry, each drew capacity crowds of 30 people. The first two sold out within hours and the third within a day.

The momentum hasn't stopped.

When Amazon recently contacted Love’s Sweet Arrow about hosting a free movie event for The Love Hypothesis, Backlin's first reaction was disbelief.

“Once they reached out, we looked them up to make sure it was real,” Backlin said.

Love’s Sweet Arrow brought its romance-focused collection to Printers Row as the Tinley Park bookstore continues expanding its reach beyond its storefront.

It was, indeed, real.

The store began planning the event knowing demand would exceed the number of people it could accommodate.

“We knew unfortunately not everyone could fit in our store, so we did our best,” Backlin said. “We all had a great time, and the movie was adorable.”

Photos from the event show customers filling the store, surrounded by shelves of romance titles and decorations hanging overhead. A promotional display for the Prime Video film sat alongside the screening area.

The response has already given Backlin another idea.

“We had a lot of customers wanting for us to do movie nights, so we are hoping to do other ones monthly or every other month,” she said.

The bookstore's growing following isn't confined to its Tinley Park storefront. Backlin also recently brought Love’s Sweet Arrow to Printers Row, where the store sold books outdoors alongside other booksellers and authors.

Makuch, who works with Backlin through the SDA's Shop Southland program, said the bookstore owner has consistently looked for new ways to connect with customers and other businesses.

Love’s Sweet Arrow recently hosted a free screening tied to The Love Hypothesis after Amazon reached out to the Tinley Park bookstore.

“Roseann continues to promote her business and is always finding ways to network and collaborate with others in order to grow and be more successful,” Makuch said.

Makuch said their shared enthusiasm for books often turns their conversations into brainstorming sessions.

“Being a book enthusiast myself, walking into her store is always one of my favorite things, and once Roseann and I get together, the creative ideas and events start flowing,” Makuch said. “Roseann loves what she does and it shows, and her heart is as big as the romance stories she sells.”

There have been more personal signs of the community that has formed around the store, too. Makuch said a couple recently got engaged inside Love’s Sweet Arrow.

And Backlin isn't slowing down.

“We have a whole lot of fun stuff planned between now and the end of the year,” she said. “Stay tuned.”

About the Southland Development Authority

The Southland Development Authority, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is committed to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth in the South Suburbs of Chicago. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and impactful direct investments, the SDA is building a vibrant, inclusive economy that drives wealth growth for individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Combined with the benefits of the South Suburban Land Bank and the Monarch Fund, the SDA serves as a model for regional development.