THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

Hazel and Augustus are two teenagers who meet and fall in love.  However, their relationship is not exactly typical considering they met at a cancer support group because both of them suffer from the dreaded disease.  Hazel has thyroid cancer which makes it difficult for her to breathe so she must carry an oxygen tank wherever she goes.  Augustus was a basketball sensation before he was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have a leg amputated.  They struggle trying to lead a "typical" teenage life.  A trip to Amsterdam to meet the author of Hazel's favorite book cements the strong relationship that these two characters establish. 

The emotional ending is not exactly a surprise, but the book attempts to end on an upbeat note.

INSURGENT by Veronica Roth

The long awaited sequel to DIVERGENT does not disappoint.  INSURGENT picks up right where DIVERGENT leaves off.  Tris, Four, and the rest of the Dauntless have escaped the attack of the Erudite and are staying with the Amity faction.  Tris is struggling with the aftershock of what happened during the battle with the Erudite--the grief over losing her parents and her own violent participation.  The factions are fighting for control of the city, even as the Factionless (lead by Four's mother) begin to exert some power of their own.  We get to know more about some characters we met in DIVERGENT, including Peter, Edward, and Cara.  The relationship between Tris and Four takes some interesting and complicated paths. 

The ending of the book makes a shocking revelation and leaves us anxious for third volume of this series!