Congratulations on having your daughter, and thank you for writing a book about something I never thought about our soldiers still doing during war time, at least not in modern times.
Although I am a 3rd generation bookworm and am raising a 4th generation bookworm, we all read different types of books. And my daughter although a very mature teen, I'm still not sharing or discussing my books with her. She does have her best friend whom they spend so much time together her parents and myself call them sisters, they share their books, and fight if one gets the last one at a book store.
How real is fiction? I think fiction is based on more facts than non-fiction during times in my life. I've read fiction books and think "I've already lived that".
I love those scenes you described especially Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I also liked the movie The War of the Roses, although they were suppose to be bitter enemies, I don't think you go as far as they did without love enolved.