Contested

by Finn .

Two rivals. One team. A line neither can cross without losing everything.

Sebastian Nguyen has spent years outrunning two things: Marcos Reyes and the truth about his sexuality. Transferring to the Melbourne Mustangs should have been a fresh start, but Marcos stealing his position only feeds old rivalries between new teammates. As pressure mounts, so do the feelings Sebastian has buried for years, simmering in charged glances, late-night arguments, and a heat he can’t ignore.

Marcos Reyes has always understood the game. What he doesn’t understand is why Sebastian gets under his skin in ways no one else ever has. One reckless night shatters everything he thought he knew, pulling him into a secret, intensely physical connection that quickly turns addictive—and terrifyingly real.

As the team struggles, their on-field tension turns explosive, and their chemistry becomes impossible to ignore. What begins as rivalry twists into something hotter, messier, and far more dangerous: a secret relationship in a league where being out could cost everything.

When that rivalry blurs into passion, stolen moments turn steamy and complicated, and the stakes climb higher with every match.

But when the final whistle blows, will they still choose each other?

This is Book One of Sebastian and Marcos’ romance. Expect rivalry, heat, complications, and an unresolved ending—their happily ever after awaits them in Book Two.

Contains MM Spice.

Set in the high-stakes world of professional AFL, Contested is a steamy MM rivals-to-lovers sports romance. This contemporary dual POV romance is perfect for readers who love forced proximity, bi awakenings, forbidden workplace dynamics, and explosive on-field chemistry. Delivering angst, locker room tension, and hard-won vulnerability, this LGBTQ+ romance will be your next obsession.

Tropes:
• Enemies to lovers/rivals to lovers
• Forced proximity (same team)
• Emotional slow burn, physical fast burn
• Secret relationship (closeted)
• Bi awakening (MM / gay romance)
• Sports romance (AFL/pro football)
• Hurt/comfort
• Locker room tension

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

FINN has been writing for pretty much as long as he’s been capable of insisting he “had an idea for a book.” He started at around age six and never really stopped, despite several early masterpieces being tragically lost to time. (Or maybe the dumpster, who knows?) Along the way, he’s also picked up singing, songwriting, voice acting, and whatever other creative outlets didn’t zap him when he stuck a fork in.

For years, FINN bounced between half-finished drafts and shifting styles. Then, one hot summer night in 2018, he found himself tucked into the corner of a pub almost bigger than the town it was in. Listening to the smooth sounds of people stumbling around and botching, he penned the opening chapter of what would become his debut novel, If Walls Could Talk. For the first time, the story felt honest enough to have true staying power.

He finished the first draft in a month, learned the hard truth about editing shortly after, and eventually crossed the line from “some guy who writes” to “published author.” FINN now focuses on emotionally driven stories with sharp edges, quiet moments, and characters who tend to feel too much—or not at all.

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story itself was so good, so when I say I’m disappointed in this book, I’m not referring to the plot or story arc at all. The story follows two rival football players having to deal with their attraction head on after being put on the same team, and phew. I cannot imagine having to deal with the complicated feelings this situation brought to them, and I liked how they dealt with it. This really was such an interesting premise, which is the only reason I didn’t DNF this.

Unfortunately, the writing style of this book was the downfall of it. There was a big “this was not written at all by generative AI” disclaimer at the beginning of the book, which I’m inclined to believe! However, AI (specifically ChatGPT) tends to do a lot of choppy sentences and pauses. The writing in this book was *exactly* like that. Example from an actual part of the book:

“His breathing had gone uneven. His fingers kept flexing over and over at his sides, like his body wanted something to hold onto and refused to let itself reach for it. Marcos had seen him angry plenty of times. But this wasn't only anger.
It looked closer to fear. And that was
harder to look at.”

Now, I know that AI is trained on already written material, so this is most likely an example of where ChatGPT gets its default writing style. Sadly, I am not a fan of that writing style. So regardless of it being AI free or not, reading this book was unpleasant for me. I don’t like short, choppy sentences that tell instead of show.
I think this would’ve easily been a 5 star book for me otherwise.

[Robbie Newell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential but sadly I don’t think it’s for me.

While it’s set in the AFL world the book doesn’t feel “real”- for example it’s supposed to be set in Melbourne but there’s little to no descriptions of real life landmarks and when there’s descriptions, it is so generic as to be pointless.

What is good is the representation- the main characters are of Vietnamese heritage and the other Spanish who is able to use sign language as they have a deaf sister- the AFL is majority white, European so the diversity the author provides is appreciated.

So all in all it’s a mixed bag for me in regards to this novel- a lot of potential, some great characterisation, but also some generic descriptions which will make you scratch you head.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the advanced reading copy!

This book was such a wonderful blast, I read it in literally a morning cause I could not put it down! Normally I like a HEA but I was actually even happier that there are more books to come, I need more of Marcos and Sebastian.

This book was so well done, and the characters were so well realized and thought through. I loved their cultural backgrounds, their unique family lives, and their journey together (especially Marcos). I loved seeing them gain their chemistry both off and on field, and create a really wonderful relationship.

Would recommend to all looking for a great MM romance, with sports, rivals to lovers, representation and spice!

[Dominic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to jump on this book as soon as I saw there were ARC copies available after reading FINN's last book and I can say with certainty that this book did not disappoint.

The characters and diversity in Contested are amazing (especially Marcos and how he is handled). I will say I know nothing about the sport and I think some of the sport sections did go a little long, I can't say I was ever bored of it.

I cannot say how happy I am that there's going to be a second book and I just really wish I didn't have to wait for it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving my honest review.