The Monday Mix (32)

The Monday Mix basically gives me the opportunity to share with all of you the links I loved online from weeks past. This includes everything from great reviews, articles about writing, inspiring posts and perhaps other things too. I've always valued the opportunity to share the great things I've read or seen, and this is my way to share the love with all the bloggers, authors + pubs out there!

Hot, hot, hot! Summer has graciously arrived and cloaked us all in warm weather. I'm definitely not complaining because I prefer warm over cold ANY DAY (though both have their charms!). It's basically been a lot of fun to not have to wear jackets, and to be able to stay out later because the sun is out so late!

I've been doing a few fun things, like impromptu road trips to Walmart, hanging out with high school batchmates who have come to visit, and even just staying outside more. Yesterday was probably my biggest adventure in all of June, as my sister and I went to Jones Beach for some beach time + a concert (One Republic and the Script, with American Authors opening). It was super fun, even though it was also super tiring because the commute took so long.

I'm looking forward to more warm weather adventures in July! It's bound to be a fun month ahead, what with planned adventures with Rachel (who celebrated her birthday yesterday, woohoo! Happy birthday again friend!) + the YA Runs a 5K event happening. I just can't wait! I hope you're all enjoying this warm weather as much as possible.

ALL AROUND THE INTERWEBS

• "Books don't make you smart. Stories do." Maggie Stiefvater wrote a thoughtful post after the crazy scuffle over YA on the internet, and I really loved it.
• "I decided to create a guide to enhance and better your already amazing Dangerous Girls reading experience." This amazing set of infographics for Dangerous Girls that Racquel made are seriously AWESOME. You should definitely go and check it out!
• Janice Hardy shares tips on how to keep your plot moving! I really like that these feel very practical, and will definitely be using them for my own WIP.
• "Read anything. Read everything." EC Myers hits the nail on this head about how writers are readers.
• "Whenever a book pops up that I’m unsure about, I wait for one or more of my canaries to read it and report back." Shae talks about book canaries, sharing what that term means and who her book canaries are. (I'm honored to be included, by the way!)
• "Bloggers are first and foremost really passionate people." This guest post over at Novelicious is pretty lovely. (Thanks Cuddlebuggery girls!)
• If you want to get sucker punched in the Harry Potter feels, this Buzzfeed post is for you.
• Leah had some pretty interesting thoughts on what it means to be a well-read reader. 
• "I would argue that a big reason behind the popularity of YA with adults is that the transitions between each phase of adulthood echo the same trials and insecurities of adolescence. We never really stop coming of age because the age keeps changing." I loved this article by Leigh Bardugo!
• Remember how we all suddenly found out that Fairest, a prequel novel about Queen Levana, was going to exist?

ALEXA LOVES BOOKS: POSTS RECAP

Reviews:

• Dorothy Must Die - Danielle Paige
• Unmasking Juliet - Teri Wilson
• The Truth About Alice - Jennifer Mathieu
• Chantress Alchemy - Amy Butler Greenfield
• Only Everything - Kieran Scott
• Riding the Wave - Lorelie Brown
• To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Jenny Han
• My Last Kiss - Bethany Neal
• Saving Lucas Biggs - Marisa de Los Santos & David Teague

Features/Events:

• Stacking the Shelves (9)
• Alexa's YA Prom: Real or Not Real

Personal Posts:

• Here's My Story (So Far)
• Mid-Year Update

Don't forget to check out my Tumblr (where I post photos and cover reveals and other fun things), and my sister's blog Snaps for Mel (where she recounts all our adventures)! I also have a Facebook page, where I post random links. You can also subscribe to my Youtube channel, my sister's YouTube channel and the Lit Ladies YouTube channel!

I hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as I did! Now it's YOUR turn - are there any posts (on your blog or other blogs) from last week that I missed out on? Please feel free to share links in the comments and I'll try to check them out.