Joshua Hortinela: Hate You to Love You

Join us for an evening with the author, Joshua Hortinela, in conversation with Jeremy Lachlan, to celebrate the release of his debut novel, 'Hate You to Love You'.

WHEN: Wednesday, 16th of September 2026, at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore. Please arrive at 6:45 pm for a prompt 7 pm start. The event concludes at 8:30 pm, after the book signing.

TICKETS: 

Admission: $20.00 (excluding external fees). Includes admission for one to the event and a wine (or beverage) upon arrival.

Admission + Book: $40.00 (excluding external fees). Includes admission for one to the event and a copy of Hate You to Love You (RRP: $24.99), and wine (or beverage) upon arrival.

A heartwarming queer romance debut about two exes forced to work together on a whirlwind book tour, from a beloved bookseller and influencer – for fans of Cara Bastone, B.K. Borison and Alexis Hall.

Carlos Reyes is having a quarter life crisis. Once a hopeless romantic who believed in the power of the romantic comedy, Carlos is struggling to find anything about his life romantic or comedic. Life in the wake of losing his dad is difficult enough, but throw in work pressure and a broken heart, and everything's a mess.

Then he gets the professional opportunity of a lifetime: follow blockbuster author and recent recluse Claudia Leighton on her upcoming book tour and write the tell-all piece her fans have been dying for. Carlos wants to jump at the opportunity, but there’s a problem – Claudia’s publicist, Elliot Simpson. He’s arrogant, insufferable and the man who broke his heart. And if he takes this job, Carlos will be stuck with him for weeks.

Spanning Sydney, Dublin, Edinburgh and London, Hate You to Love You is a moving love story about nostalgia and yearning for what once was, and what it means to lose yourself in order to find yourself.

About the Author:

Joshua Hortinela is a writer and bookseller who also works in social media marketing. A passionate reader, he has worked in the book industry for nearly ten years. He also works as a freelance writer, photographer and moderator for events. When he’s not adding a ridiculous number of books to his staff holds at work, he can be found reading romance novels, rewatching 13 Going On 30 for the millionth time, or drinking a cosmopolitan. He lives in Sydney and can tell you where to find the best coffee or cocktail in town.

About the Host:

Jeremy Lachlan was born and raised on Wiradjuri country, in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia. A former bookseller, he completed his honours degree in creative writing at the University of Canberra in 2004, and now calls Sydney home. 
His debut novel, Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds, has been published in over 15 countries around the world, translated into nine languages, and was the 2019 Australian Book Industry Award winner for Book of the Year for Older Children. 

About Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore

Rated as one of the top 10 bookstores in the world by National Geographic, Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore is an oasis for writers, readers, and coffee lovers. Books overflow from the shelves of their store, featuring a mix of new, second-hand, antiquarian and rare books. Stay a while & enjoy some homemade chai, and amazing coffee, and unearth a book treasure or two. Read more about the bookstore's story here, and about the real Gertrude & Alice here.