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

[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!