Sinclair Walsch is singularly focused on making her rugby dreams come true. She has her plan all mapped out. She refuses to be distracted and lost the chance to make the Olympic team down the road. With college done, she has begun playing for an elite regional rugby team that happens to play near the city of Paramount. Everything is going to plan, except Sinclair has to stay in the same house as her former, utterly annoying, stepbrother, Kent Campton. Despite her hatred for her him, Sinclair's attention is routinely pulled away from the rugby pitch, and onto her former stepbrother. Though Kent proves to spark an uncontrollable attraction within Sinclair, her loss of focus costs her, leading to unbearable pain.
Kent Campton has never set big goals for himself, nor has anyone expected much from him. Coming from one of the wealthy families in Paramount, everything has always been provided to him. When his highly driven, former, stepsister comes back into his life, Kent finds himself wanting more than just a simple, lazy life. He wants Sinclair. And he is willing to do what is needed to keep her, even if that means saving her from herself.
This was such an amazing story! I have never read one with rugby as the backdrop and this did not disappoint! The FMC, Sinclair, is strong, determined, driven and sassy! (Just how I like my FMCs!) She is not going to let anyone get in her way, especially her ex-stepbrother Kent.
These two are literal opposites. The hard worker as the slacker. Both characters really work through their own insecurities.
I loved the development of their relationship. It seemed very real and plausible. The story was perfectly paced and I devoured this book in 2 days.
Also, the spice is spicing. It’s her spiciest book so far!
As always, JN Stein’s writing is easy to follow and always contains characters with emotionally charged, complex feelings who have tough decisions to make.
I can also tell that J is a rugby player (ok, I know she is) but you can really see the passion in this well told story. ❤️
Arc This was my first by JN Stein and first rugby romance, I really enjoyed it, the taboo of the relationship was believable as was the chemistry between them.
Addictive Vision was one of those books where my opinion of a character completely changed as the story unfolded.
When we’re first introduced to Kent, I won’t lie—I thought he was a complete tool. Him and his equally irritating friend had me rolling my eyes more than once. But then I got inside his head.
And everything changed.
Beneath the frosty exterior, Kent is incredibly misunderstood. People make assumptions about him constantly, judging him before they truly know him. The more I learned about him, the more my heart broke. He’s insecure, lacks confidence, struggles with self-loathing, and feels everything so deeply. For someone who appears so guarded, he’s actually a remarkably gentle soul.
Sinclair is equally compelling. She’s strong, driven, and fiercely independent, but beneath that tough exterior is someone carrying old wounds that never fully healed. Revisiting the pain from her past genuinely got me emotional. She may come across as cold or difficult at times, but I never saw her as a bad person. I saw someone who was still hurting.
The chemistry between these two is undeniable. The tension simmers throughout the story until it finally explodes in all the best ways. But what I loved most wasn’t the attraction—it was the emotional connection developing underneath it all.
One of my favourite parts of the book was watching Kent make an effort to understand Sinclair’s world. The scenes where he tries to learn everything about her sport were honestly swoon-worthy. Those little moments meant more to me than grand gestures ever could.
Then everything changes.
When Sinclair gets hurt, the story takes a much more emotional turn. Watching her struggle through the pain, denial, embarrassment, and uncertainty was heartbreaking. Kent tries so hard to be there for her, even when she pushes him away. They clash. They hurt each other. Emotions run high. But through it all, he never truly lets go.
The second half of this book had me feeling like I was watching a tennis match—my emotions constantly being thrown from one side to the other. One minute I was hopeful, the next I was heartbroken, then angry, then rooting for them all over again.
And when Sinclair makes a devastating decision?
Seeing Kent crumble absolutely broke me. 💔
What made this story so satisfying was the growth. Watching Kent learn, heal, and become more confident in himself was beautiful to witness. Equally, seeing Sinclair confront her struggles and choose to do better had me rooting for her every step of the way.
By the end, I couldn’t have been happier with how everything came together. The happily-ever-after felt earned. It felt deserved. After everything these characters endured, seeing them find their way back to each other was incredibly rewarding.
Can someone get me a Kent???👀
Emotional, romantic, frustrating, heartwarming, and full of character growth, Addictive Vision completely won me over.
I'm a sucker for a sports romance, so that was an instant selling point for me to read this one. But I also love a strong FMC, and Sinclair is fierce - one of the strongest, most independent FMCs I've read. What I didn't expect when I dove into this book was the immense depth and emotional development of the characters. There was humor and banter, which I expect when we have sports and teammates, but this book hit on a deep level, and I loved it.
I will say that it took a bit for the characters to grow on me, though. That isn't a negative, and it just took me a bit of the story to truly care about and connect with them on the page. For Kent, it took getting past his surface-level representation at the beginning. My first impression of Kent - tool. Once I was able to really get to know the guy and what was in his head, however, that quickly changed. Sinclair came off as closed off to me in the beginning. I get that - she's trying to maintain her strong independence. But at times, that 'I don't need anybody, I can do it all on my own' mentality was a put off. It wasn't until she was met with a challenge that she couldn't control that I could finally see her growth. Overall, I fell in love with them both - it just took me a minute!
This is my first book by J. N. Stein, and I'm now a fan! I know she has more books out there and I'm on my way to go find them!
✨✨ “It has nothing to do with how big you are. You’re just selfish, Kent. Rugby requires you to play with a team. You only care about what’s best for you.” ✨✨~Sinclair
✨✨I do have plans and dreams, but I don’t see the point in sharing them with anyone. I mean, living a quiet life by the beach, taking photos isn’t glamorous. People would just laugh at me. And it would feed into the beach bum image I’ve cultivated over the years. ✨✨~Kent
I had the privilege of reading an ARC from an author whose work I hadn’t read before, and I loved it. This book grabbed my attention because it’s a rugby romance; and honestly, who doesn’t love a badass FMC?
The game commentary was a highlight; it’s always fun when you can follow along with exactly what’s happening. There’s also a bit of a taboo trope, as the MMC and FMC were briefly stepsiblings.
Kent and Sinclair’s struggle with their feelings creates intense tension, and their chemistry is palpable. It blends a second-chance romance with a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc, while also addressing opioid addiction after a career-ending injury.
This story will have you emotionally hooked. Overall, it’s a great read, and I’ll definitely be checking out more of this author’s work. Addictive Vision releases July 10, 2026, and is a spicy sports romance worth adding to your library.
Sinclair and Kent have a lot to work through. I don't think that Sinclair knew a lot of his hangups since they only stayed with him for a year and she was so much younger than him.
Rugby sounds intense and I learned a lot of new things reading this book. Like I would not be a good fit for that much of a contact sport, and that if I had to watch someone I love go through what Sinclair did I would have lost my mind.
There was a lot of emotional whiplash going on in this book between Sinclair and Kent, both too scared to admit they loved the other until it was almost too late, then the situation escalated quickly.
I don't know if things could have gone differently or if they went exactly as they should have.
This book was something very different for me and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I am glad they finally figured themselves out and took the leap and the chance and told Cal what was what.
I have been through an accidental overdose and felt exactly what Sinclair did and the feeling is not pleasant and you do get a new view on life. (I did not take pills - I was dosed my a medical professional and rushed to the ER)
Thank you J. N. Stein for letting me read an early copy of this book.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!
One thing that stood out immediately was how much love and appreciation Stein has for rugby culture. As someone who has also been involved in that world, I could tell she really understands it. The little nuances, team dynamics, traditions, and nicknames felt authentic, and I found myself smiling, toasting along with the characters, and laughing at some of the banter.
While the central trope wasn’t necessarily my personal preference, I do appreciate that Stein isn’t afraid to explore fringe and taboo kinks and relationship dynamics. She clearly writes what she loves, and there’s something refreshing about an author fully committing to the stories and themes that interest them.
As always, the FMC was a highlight for me—strong, capable, and unapologetically badass. Stein consistently delivers female characters who can hold their own, and this book was no exception.
Did this book convert me into a fan of the step-sibling trope? No. Did I still enjoy the ride and have a good time reading it? Absolutely. Even when a trope isn’t for me, strong characterization and authentic world-building can carry a story a long way, and this book definitely had those strengths.
This was a book that I blew through within just a couple of days, because once I got going, I couldn't put it down. Addictive Vision follows Sinclair, who just graduated college and is doing everything she can to get a chance to play rugby in the Olympics, suddenly getting back into contact with her ex-step-brother Kent, who she happens to have been obsessed with for years.
I know. We're off to a good start.
This was my first rugby romance, and I'm not a rugby girlie, so I got a little worried that I would get lost or bored by the sports scenes, but they were high-paced and fun to follow, and the storyline of Sinclair and Kent finding each other again and facing all of the challenges that they're working through made for a super invested read. It was spicy, it was angsty, it was intense. There were a few chapters where I felt like I was holding my breath, just waiting as I turned the page to see what was going to happen and make sure they both made it through. I really enjoyed how everything gets wrapped up, and all of their development and relationships feel very centered and honest. Definitely a fun read!
Did I know anything about rugby? Absolutely not. Do I know anything about it now? 15 to 1. I think know enough. Do I want to dye my hair bright blue? Absolutely. Do I want to join rugby just to get a kick ass nickname? Fuck yes. Do I want to be a badass female character in my own story? Hands down. Unfortunately I don’t have an ex step brother (or a step brother for that matter) otherwise…I’d be down for that too. Ok, all jokes aside. I devoured this book as fast I could. I love how Kent tried his hardest to stay away from Sin but failed. I hate how he thought he wasn’t good enough for Sinclair - I get it though. You’re never good enough for the person who means the most to you. It’s actually kind of sweet. I love Sinclair’s drive to succeed. To push herself to the absolute max. The plot twists though - her injury? AWFUL! Cal walking in on them? *giggles* The OD? WHAT THE ACTUAL F? But then…*chefs kiss* at that ending. 🎀 This was my first J.N. Stein read, I can promise you that it won’t be my last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
As someone who loves Rugby League (very similar to Rugby) I was really surprised by just how much enjoyment I got reading this book. You have two ex -stepsiblings who find themselves attracted to each other. You have Sinclair, who knows exactly what she wants in life, to play Rugby at an elite level. To her it is the end game. Sin has had a crush on Kent since she was twelve. Unfortunately due to an incident at 18, that changed. Then there is Kent, handsome, has a laid back lifestyle, much to his fathers disappointment. He loves to surf and has a secret passion for photography. These two feed off giving the other grief whenever in each other’s company. It is a brilliantly told story. I won’t spoil it for you but extremely encourage you to give it a go and add it to your TBR list. Lots of banter, a little heartbreak for our leading lady. Soul searching.
This is a great story about Sinclair Sin Bin Walsh, blue haired, kick ass rugby player and sarcastic smart ass extraordinaire. She's graduating college and moving on to whatever it takes to be a professional rugby player on the national and Olympic circuit. Besides this book being hot, I learned a whole helluva lot about rugby while reading it.
Kent is the spoiled, but misunderstood, ex stepbrother, who wants to spend his life surfing and taking pictures but his Dad has other plans and wants him to follow his footsteps in the investments business.
This story is a realistic whirlwind that really accurately portrays what happens when life kicks you in the face and you have to find yourself again. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. It was a quick, easy read. Enjoy.
Addictive Vision by J.N.Stein is an Angsty Rugby Romance that even though I knew absolutely zero about Rugby, I absolutely loved this book! It had me caught up from the beginning. The banter & comradery is great! Sinclair & Kent have a rough start & their journey isn't a walk in the park. Miscommunication, grief, heartbreak, addiction, learning to cope & trust. Not to mention both deal with feelings of worthlessness. But through it all they find their HEA! Oh, the spice, is super hot! I really enjoyed this book, it is such a real read . I could easily make this one of my comfort reads! I recommend it to everyone, it definitely won't disappoint! J.N. Stein done a fantastic job with Addictive Vision!
Definitely not a traditional love story. Ex-Step siblings end up living under the same roof. One used to have a huge crush on the other. Even though it's been years, doing feelings really go away? The angst!
Loved the FMC Sinclair being the sports star. 💪 She is a badass! I wasn't in love with the MMC Kent in the beginning but he won me over.
This book was fast-paced. Something new in each chapter. Both Sinclair and Kent had pain/recovery aspects to overcome, which gave their story depth.
I really enjoyed the rugby aspect. Felt like the author must've played. Those scenes were fun. Makes me want to watch a real match.
💙Angsty Rugby Romance 💙Badass Rugby FMC 💙Surfer MMC 💙Forced Proximity 💙Hate to Love 💙Pain/Recovery
Sports romance can be hit or miss for me but this one was perfect. The inside knowledge & culture of rugby was written beautifully. 🏉
This follows FMC Sinclair, a strong badass, blue haired rugby player and her ex-step brother MMC Kent who has been misunderstood for quite some time. 💙
Kent starts off as a no from me for Sin but as the journey progressed I really wanted them to get together. The way he worked to earn her trust and respect 🖤 It’s the old saying ‘if he wants to, he will’.
Really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read more by the Author!! JN Stein is defo onto a winner with this one. 🖤 💙
What a read this was!! I devoured this book. I was lucky enough to ARC read this book and it did not disappoint!! This was a Epic ARC read. I was so invested in Sinclair and Kents story right from the beginning. I love a good enemies to lovers story and this story slaps hard!! Im a lover of rugby too especially women's rugby. My daughter used to play ana I loved watching her matches. This is a well written smut fest with so many plot twits and turns . I couldn't stop reading it once I started . The smut do be smuttin in this one!! I love Sinclairs Energy and Vibe I think shes a real badass!! A 5 star read!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay. I’m biased because this is my book, but it would be silly of me not to show myself some love, right?
As a former rugby player, I have been wanting to see a book that depicted a female athlete I could relate to. I love the idea of step siblings finding love amidst the forbidden/taboo aspects of their relationship.
Sinclair and Kent were not an easy duo to write. Originally, Sinclair was too rough, bordering on mean. Kent was too forgiving. I had so much fun developing these characters and I hope I told a story that rugby fans and readers can enjoy!
This is my first sports romance and trust me it did not disappoint. I'm not a rugby fan but enjoyed the book nevertheless. Sinclair has fierce energy and is an independent character who is driven to make it as an elite Rugby player . Kent on the other hand is a laid back rich brat but misunderstood. The boy has all the money at his disposal thanks to his family but he wants more... his ex-step sister. This ex- stepsibling romance was spicy. Their banter is entertaining and their struggle to accept the attraction is intense. It's a HEA and a great story to read.
The way I hyped this book up an the anticipation I had to read this was absolutely no joke. This being said J.N went over an beyond with this book. The plot the characters development the story itself was just beautiful. This was my first read but I'll definitely be back for more!
Omg girllll you did that I loved the dynamic between kent and Sinclair was soooo good especially the banter lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the spice 🥵 was good I needed a fan 🪭 I loved the nicknames that they gave each other sugar and sparrow I liked that all in all this book was a 10 outta 10
Holy cow!!! I am hooked on JNs stories and this one sent me flying!!!! I am so invested into these amazing worlds and this one really got me good. I am left wanting more!