Poll

I typically just don’t read books set in the modern day, but I can say with all assuredness that I would most certainly experience this same problem.

I agree. The ones I have read just use sex as a way to hide all the flaws in the book. The characters have no real connection, just add sex and call it done. It’s so half‑assed. I’m not saying 18+ scenes are bad in general; I’m just talking about how overused they are, which makes me fed up with the book overall.

Character messed up? Hey! They had sex and it’s all good. No proper communication, no proper apology, no real growth.

It just makes everything so tasteless.

It’s still fine before they have sex, but afterward, everything goes downhill.

I agree with that. I'm having a hard time reading them as well, the majority of them are dull and missing alot when it comes to good writing style and character depth. I tried several of the ones that were overhyped and none of them lived to the hype.
I'm getting back to the classics since people back then has an actual standard when itncomes to good writing. So I'd suggest you to do that and you can try to find the translated version in your own mother tongue, because language back then was quite complicated and it'll be a headache for any modern reader, I do that too, it makes me read while relaxing.
I'd suggest ths Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wild as a starter.
Good Luck with your reading. And teust me you're not alone in this struggle.

This is actually a really sharp observation, and I do not think it is just you or a language issue at all!?

From a sociological and literary culture perspective, a lot of modern dialogue, especially in romance, is not written to sound like how people actually talk. It is written to be efficiently consumable. Contemporary publishing is heavily shaped by market logic: tropes, speed, algorithms, and audience expectation. Dialogue often becomes a delivery system for vibes, pacing, and emotional cues rather than an attempt to capture messy, idiosyncratic human speech. That is why repetition, identical sentence rhythms, and characters who all sound the same across books and even series are so common.

Tropes definitely play a role, but the issue goes beyond that. When authors write toward a trope, such as enemies to lovers banter or grumpy and sunshine dynamics, dialogue can flatten into shorthand. Lines are not meant to feel true to a specific person but to signal a familiar moment the reader already recognizes. Emotion becomes performative rather than emergent, which can feel hollow if you are sensitive to voice and realism.

There is also a social media feedback loop at work. Dialogue is increasingly written to be quotable, screenshot friendly, and instantly legible. This pushes writers toward familiar phrasing and emotional beats that are already culturally validated. Ironically, the pursuit of relatability can erase individuality.

The fact that you notice this in both English and Italian books is important. It suggests a broader global publishing trend rather than a language barrier. You are likely picking up on how industrialized storytelling smooths out linguistic texture.

So no, you are not imagining it or being too picky. You are responding to a shift where dialogue is optimized for recognition rather than realism. If anything, it just means you are a reader who pays close attention to voice and character specificity!

Jareth wrote: "I typically just don’t read books set in the modern day, but I can say with all assuredness that I would most certainly experience this same problem."

fair honestly, but I'm seeing that happen even with books set in medieval ages 🤔

Anonymous wrote: "I agree. The ones I have read just use sex as a way to hide all the flaws in the book. The characters have no real connection, just add sex and call it done. It’s so half‑assed. I’m not saying 18+ ..."

yup, nailed it. it seems that in the end the book, the story, is build and catered to that end goal: the s3x scenes. and i'm saying this as someone that half of time the enjoy the spiceyness. it's a bit sad actually :/

Honestly, it has happened to me too and it could be linked to the language (for example I avoid translations of books into Italian if I can help it, especially if the original language is English) but sometimes you just need to find an author you know writes good books/dialogue and take it from there, maybe switch genres once in a while (I found out I love science fiction novels because I needed a change of pace from modern day romance novels).
As a fellow reader, I’d recommend the authors that helped me get out of the sort of “ick” situation you’re in with certain books: Lynn Painter (her new adult romances are top tier and there’s never a dull moment: Mr Wrong Number, Accidentally Amy and Happily Never After), Pierce Brown (his Red Rising series got me hooked from the first book…it feels like watching a movie, and the dynamics are always evolving which is super interesting) and, since I remember you mentioned reading Italian books: Enrico Galiano and Matteo Bussola (these two never fail to make me cry for how good they are and Galiano’s books especially are a super fun binge read for all ages. Feel free try them out and let me know if it helps reconnect with reading.

Mai wrote: "I agree with that. I'm having a hard time reading them as well, the majority of them are dull and missing alot when it comes to good writing style and character depth. I tried several of the ones t..."

it's interesting that classics, written one/two hundred years ago feel more real than modern books to us. nobody really talks anymore as in pride and prejudice or as in crime and punishment, but they manage to feel realistic even now.
i already read dorian gray, but maybe this a signal to do a reread. thank you! 🫶🏻

S. Alberto ঌ⁻⁷ (semi-active, always yearning) wrote: "This is actually a really sharp observation, and I do not think it is just you or a language issue at all!?

From a sociological and literary culture perspective, a lot of modern dialogue, especial..."

incredible analyses, thank you so much. I 100% agree with everything you said, you really captured all my feelings.
this makes me a little discouraged, because it's truly a growing trend, and the conditions of our society allow it to thrive; but a tiny bit hopeful too, because it must be said that literature is fluid and constantly changing, so the hope is that this trend will begin to shift once it no longer works as it used to (quickly please), but will we have time to reverse the damage already done?

Social media has brought us closer, yes, more interconnected, but—as you said—it has led to a bit too much "globalization", in a sense.
sadly, I can't help you understand fully what I saw in certain new Italian publications (since it's not your mother tongue), like English calques/slangs, that makes no sense in Italian, and downright messed-up syntax (Italian is a very rigid language when it comes to grammar), which makes the whole thing feel even more fake than what's done in English. they really want to appease to a taste built on that, on sensationalized and recycled storytelling, just as you pointed out. is profit all that matters? tiktok stardom, virality? have the bestletter label the same day of publishing?

crazy how capitilism always play a hand in everything 🫣

Lisa wrote: "Honestly, it has happened to me too and it could be linked to the language (for example I avoid translations of books into Italian if I can help it, especially if the original language is English) ..."

thank you so much 🫶🏻🫶🏻 you're right, I really don't have authors in that aspect that I trust. i'm writing down your suggestions and now i'm curious, i will check them all out. as for galiano I think I have read a novel of his some time ago, so I do need to pick him up again :)