Contested, is not just a sports MM romance that plays lip service to the world it is set in. instead it makes it at the heart of the story.
by Finn
Book cover
| Title | Contested |
| Writer | Finn |
| Series | The Advantage |
| Publisher | Fortified |
| Publication date | 1st September 2026 |
| MBR star rating /5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Genre | Romance LGBT MM Romance Sports |
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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Synopsis: Contested
Sebastian Nguyen, transferring to the Melbourne Mustangs should have given him a fresh start, but Marcos taking his position only revives the rivalry between them.
As their competition intensifies, so does an attraction Sebastian has spent years trying to suppress.
Marcos has always understood the game, but Sebastian is harder to read. Their hostility gives way to an unexpected encounter, and what follows is a secret relationship neither of them is prepared to acknowledge publicly.
Away from the team, stolen moments and private encounters draw them closer, even as both know how much they could lose if anyone discovers the truth.
On the field, their rivalry becomes increasingly difficult to separate from the tension between them. Off the field, they struggle to maintain boundaries as their private connection becomes more emotionally significant than either expected.
With the season placing the team under pressure and their relationship becoming harder to conceal, Sebastian and Marcos are forced to confront what they want from each other—and whether they are willing to risk their careers, reputations, and carefully guarded identities for it.
For two players who began as rivals, keeping their relationship secret may prove easier than deciding what happens if the secrecy ends.
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Review: Contested
Contested by Finn is the first novel in, The Advantage Series an MM sports romance series based around, Australian Rules Football (AFL)
Which focuses on the relationship between Sebastian Nguyen and his childhood rival Marcos Reyes.
Both of whom have now signed for the same team the Melbourne Mustangs with Marcas taking The position that they used to play for in their previous teams.
Sports Romance
The one thing that is important to say about Contested is that it is definitely a sports romance as the training and the games are fully part of the novel which may cause a problem for readers out of Australia who know nothing of the game struggling to follow the action.
However as someone who has passing knowledge it was easy to follow although the teams had different names probably due to ownership rights a number of grounds used the correct name.
In fact, it feels like it would add an additional bit of enjoyment of the novel working out what was the proper name for the teams.
Romance
As with all romance novels the relationship between the two main characters Sebastian and Marcos is what the story lived or dies on.
Firstly, the relationship between the two of them was well done. The fact that it went from rivals to lovers in the way that it did is a testament to the writing of the writer Finn. As each stage felt a real natural progression rather than a sudden jump cut.
In addition, how each character came to terms with the fall out of their relationship both personally and in the masculine world of the sport, particularly in one as masculine as AFL, helped to show that it’s difficult for men to come out in the sports world.
The only difficulty in reading the novel was working out whose point of view the novel was focussing on at that time. While both Sebastian and Marcas are distinct characters with separate backgrounds, which were explored in the novel.
There were times too far into the novel than a reader would like when it took a few lines to work out when the perspective changed
Having said that with such a strong romance aspect of the novel and the genuine anxiety of being discovered. Finn’s novel Contested is such a great MM sports romance.
Why Read: Contested
Contested, is not just a sports MM romance that plays lip service to the world it is set in. instead it makes it at the heart of the story. From training, games, social life and the fact you may have to move a number of times in your career.
which grounds this rival to lovers romance between Sebastian and Marcos into the real world.
Conclusion
Contested is an enjoyable MM romance that will draw you in with the tension in the romance as it builds to a gripping ending both in the romance and the sport making Finn’s novel well worth reading.
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on Mark Reads Books
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