This was positively adorable. A story about the adventure of discovering your true self A Song for You and I will sweep you off your feet.

I absolutely adore K. O’Neil’s graphic novels and A Song for You and I is no exception. First, the
art style is incredible. The light blues, greens and yellows complimented the story so well. The colors reminded me of spring when flowers begin to blossom and the sun finally comes out of the shadows. It reflected Rowan and Leone’s growth perfectly. I loved the way Rowan and Leon found each other. Their friendship felt like coming home. It was warm and cozy. I loved getting to know them and watching them help each other blossom. The addition to Kes in the story was also so wonderfully wholesome. There is no bond quite like that between a human and their animal. It broke my heart to see Kes and Rowan stray from one another but ultimately I loved their reunion. I keep saying “I loved…I loved” but really there are no words besides love to describe my feelings towards this book. I can’t wait to keep reading O’Neil's work in the future.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am an avid reader of K. O’Neill’s graphic novels! At the heart of this story is a character who realized they made a mistake and hurt one of the ones they love the most. Told through O’Neill’s signature art style, we go on a journey of healing adventures where the characters begin to recognize their places in the world. A Song for You & I features beautiful transgender and gender-fluid representation. This is not my favorite K. O’Neill graphic novel based on the story, but I still recommend it for the art style and representation. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the graphic novel A Song for You & I.

I am a big fan of K. O’Neill and A Song for You and I did not disappoint. What a beautiful and entertaining read. I am not a big fantasy reader but I still very much enjoyed this book. Will definitely recommend my tweens to read it.

K. O'Neill never misses! Their artwork has this dreamy, surreal quality and their storytelling is lovely and endearing! Add in inclusive characters, mythical creatures, and worlds I want to live in, plus discussing sensitive topics in a delicate way? Bullseye every time! A Song for You and I is no exception! Sweet and whimsical like a Studio Ghibli movie, we follow Rowan and Leone (and Kel, Rowan's pegasus) as they travel from town to town in this picturesque landscape. Rowan is battling with their identity and desire to become a ranger while learning about themself and how they want to move forward in their life. Leone is facing his own struggles of purusuing his passion despite what others may think. Together they develop an unlikely friendship that is so lovely to watch unfold! I only wish it was longer.

At this point, I will read everything K. O'Neill book out there, immediately. As a huge fan of the Tea Dragon books, the author's continued ability to capture quiet yet profound moments in art amazes me. I loved reading about Rowan and Leone; and how each of them develop over the course of the graphic novel. A quick read overall but the art compels me to take my time to engage with each panel; I highly recommend if you're in the mood for a cozy fantasy with heartfelt and powerful moments accompanied by gorgeous and adorable art! A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

What a beautifully drawn story! I was drawn to it the moment I opened the book to the illustrations. A Song for You and I follows Novice Rose as she receives news that her final post before becoming a Ranger is less than she desired. While at this post, Rose makes a decision that injures her flying horse and trusted companion, Kestrel. Instead of being removed from the program until the following year, Rose is reassigned to ground duty with Leone, the local shepherd and musician. It is through this experience that Rose gains a new perspective on herself and the world around her.

The story was an easy read and a delightful one at that. The beautiful illustrations were a great accompaniment to the wholesome story. I love watching the character development - in Rose herself, her relationship with and understanding of the locals, and her relationship with Leone. It was an absolutely beautiful story about self-discovery and growth that will easily appeal to all ages.

Before I begin, I would like to thank K. O’Neill for allowing me to read a NetGalley copy of their upcoming book, A Song for You and I, which will be available on March 4th, 2025.

Rowan wants to become a ranger that protects their village with their flying horse, Kes. During an act for Rowan to prove themselves, Kes is injured, and Rowan is tasked with accompanying lackadaisical sheep hearder Leone to different lands, and the novice ranger’s frustration and uncertainty in themselves grows. But as Leone reveals his own struggles and offers unlimited support to Rowan, Rowan wonders if their friendship could become something more and whether they can leave Leone once Kes is healed to learn how to be a ranger.

This book was fantastic. You have Rowan, a passionate, clever and brave novice ranger that wants to protect others and do their best. You have Leone, a kind, calm, steady young sheep hearder that likes to play the violin as he watches the sheep. The drawings were beautiful, and the story was wholesome and sweet. I liked seeing Rowan regain their confidence and find their inner strength throughout the book, and how the two main characters supported each other and became friends. The journeys they had were great, and Kes was gorgeous and wonderful (I am so impressed by those who can draw). I cheered for the two characters finding courage to be themselves proudly throughout the book. Overall, if you like gorgeous art, wonderful worldbuilding, complex characters, coming-of-age, great LGBTQ+ representation, and wholesome stories that have romance with low amounts of spice, then I would highly recommend this book. Here’s the link with more information: A Song for You and I: (A Graphic Novel): O'Neill, K.: 9780593182307: Amazon.com: Books

A light heartwarming story. Finished this in one sitting. The art-style and color palettes are sure eye-candies. It revolved around the values we take along the journey. Finding bravery to try again, acknowledge one's mistake and getting back to our purpose. To not lose ourselves. love it!!

If you're into graphic novel with coming of age heartwarming story, give it a go!!

Thanks so much publisher and netgalley for the arc in exchange for honest review.

I’ve been a fan of K. O’Neill since The Tea Dragon Society and they continue to build such beautiful, whimsical worlds. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous. The world that’s been created here is intricate and well designed.

My only qualm is that this book is a lot more illustration heavy. There are quite a few times where it’s multiple pages of illustrations without dialogue or written descriptions and I prefer more dialogue heavy graphic novels. There is a lot of nonverbal communication shown in the illustrations but there are also some that are just pages of landscapes.

K. O'Neill is amazing! There are simply no other words needed. The graphic novels they create are magical, adorable and just pure joy to read! Every house should own all of their collection!

This was absolutely beautiful. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I will absolutely be buying this along with O’Neills backlog.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

I have been a fan of K's work for so many years now that I was delighted to see a new book from this author. K always has such beautiful messages in their work that told in a way simple enough for any age group to understand. The exploration of gender and names was particularly poignant.

The art style in this book, just as each of this author's works, is absolutely beautiful. I was particularly blown away by how they depicted the Pegasus and the various birds (particularly herons, some of my favorite) throughout this work.

So excited for this book to be out in the world, and as always, looking forward to anything else O'Neill publishes in the future.

I adore this story! It's such a beautiful tale of finding yourself, being unafraid to face the world as you are rather than how others see you. The illustrations are lovely and the characters very relatable and I just wish I could give them all a hug! I highly recommend this sweet read to everyone.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel bridges the gap between middle grade and young adult readers, offering a gentle and heartfelt exploration of self-identity and growth. The story follows Rose, a young ranger who, after making a mistake, is assigned to assist sheep-tender Leone on a seemingly mundane task. However, the true heart of the book isn’t in its plot but in its themes—discovering who you are and finding the courage to embrace it.

As Rose begins to express a desire to be called Rowan, the journey shifts into one of quiet self-discovery. Leone, too, is on their own path toward confidence, and together, the two characters support and uplift one another in a way that feels organic and touching. The novel’s cozy and warm tone is enhanced by its soft, pastel-hued illustrations, making it a visually soothing read.

While the ranger aspect of the story is not fully fleshed out, the emotional core of the book shines. It’s a tender, introspective tale perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about growth, identity, and quiet moments of connection.

I really enjoyed this book and several friends immediately came to mind that I know will adore this beautiful graphic novel.

While the story is not hard to follow, it is also not what I would call simple. There are many layers of complexity of emotion and experience throughout the story, handled with such tenderness and compassion by the author. The magical art really brings the story to life. There were several moments where I had the same feelings evoked by watching a Studio Ghibli movie, with not only the gorgeous sweeping landscapes but especially the panels with tiny details of nature that might be easily missed or overlooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this book warmed my heart. i finished it all in one sitting and i already want to reread it. O’Neill has the ability to write about mundane things in a way that makes you want to keep reading. they add a sort of whimsy to all their books which i love.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC of A Song For You and I!
4.5 / 5 ⭐

Soft and sweet, A Song For You and I is a story of making mistakes, finding yourself, and getting back up on the horse - even when you are the horse.

As always, O’Neill creates beautiful worlds and imagery. I didn’t connect with the story as much as the tea dragon society, maybe because it felt almost like I was looking through a blurry glass instead of seeing the images clearly? But, it was still a wonderful story about living authentically as your true self which is so powerful and needed.

This was such a lovely story of being true to yourself, and being truly yourself. It’s always so remarkable to me just how much story K. O’Neill can put into such few words, and this was another of theirs where the artistry told so much more than words ever could. A gem!

A gentle exploration of the transitional journey, but still a very real one. Whether for a child looking for some guidance or an adult seeking acceptance, the cozy nature of the story and illustrations make this a read for all ages.