Amazon Link: Oil and Glitter on Amazon
Author Page: Brandon Cloud’s Author Page
Some books arrive in your imagination dressed for combat. Oil and Glitter showed up in sequins and demanded a spotlight.
I wrote this queer rom-com as an answer to the question, “What happens when someone who lives by the checklist falls in love with someone who eats checklists for brunch?” It’s my glitter-bombed love letter to controlled chaos, enemies-to-lovers tension, and the undeniable romance of second chances—especially the ones we never saw coming.
At its heart, this is a story about forced proximity, identity performance, and what it means to be truly seen in a world that expects perfection. Set against the backdrop of Dallas high society, two very different men must co-host a gala neither of them wants to be at—and neither of them can afford to screw up.
One is all oil money, cold shoulders, and curated image.
The other is an event-planning hurricane in Doc Martens.
And between them? Sabotage, ballroom mishaps, unresolved tension, and a slow-burn attraction that turns everything upside down.
Why I Wrote It
I needed a book where queerness wasn’t a tragedy, trauma wasn’t the only storyline, and love wasn’t a clean, linear journey. I wanted to create something loud, joyful, and deeply rooted in emotional honesty—something that felt as messy and marvelous as falling for someone who sees past your facade.
We don’t get enough queer stories that are laugh-out-loud funny while still treating emotional vulnerability as sacred. Oil and Glitter was my attempt to thread that needle. And to be perfectly honest: I just wanted to write something where glitter and grief could exist in the same sentence—and no one flinched.
Favorite Quotes from the Book
“You can’t just crash into someone’s life like a confetti cannon and then expect things to go back to normal.”
“He looked like the kind of man who sent calendar invites to his emotions.”
“Love wasn’t always loud. Sometimes it was logistical. Sometimes it was checking in, showing up, holding space—and making sure the champagne stayed cold.”
Oil and Glitter is for anyone who’s ever:
- Fallen for someone at the worst possible time
- Mistaken control for security
- Hid their true self in plain sight
- Or thought love had to be earned through perfection
Spoiler: it doesn’t. Sometimes, it’s the glitter in the wreckage that saves you.
So if you’re in the mood for sabotage, sequins, and something that just might heal your heart—give it a read.
Grab your copy here.
And explore more of my stories on my author page.
Let me know if you want this post turned into a banner or social promo—I’ve got glitter to spare.