Some Pretty Bad Reads 挺不好看的一些

1. 1 帝 Imperial Favour 帝台娇 Hua Qi画七Romance332k WordsCompleted The main story is complete. Tang Zhuozhuo, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Tang family of the capital, married into the Eastern Palace in grand style, only to spend the rest of her life in the cold palace’s crumbling, walled courtyard. Until her dying day, she never forgot the young general she had held dear. Only after she died did she learn that the aloof king, who she had thought mutually detested her, watched the candlelight in her room from above t 162.4kFavorites478.6kClicks/ch25kGifts

   Curator note

   An ugly book that leaves a lasting impression

2. 2 折 Folding Moon 折月亮 Zhu Yi竹已Romance418k WordsCompleted [The full text has been revised, with over ten thousand characters added. Please refer to the Jinjiang version.] The day Yun Li gave up pursuing Fu Shize, her eyes red, she deleted all his contact information. Later, one day after they had gotten together, Yun Li, who was bad at dealing with people, agonized over whether to delete a male friend who had suddenly started showing romantic interest in her. Fu Shize was lounging on the sofa beside her, watching her lazily. Suddenly, he laughed, his 773.1kFavorites782.3kClicks/ch322.1kGifts

   Curator note

   Absolutely rubbish

3. 3 杳 Returning to Clear Skies 杳杳归霁 Tea Warm, No Thoughts茶暖不思Romance464k WordsCompleted [The print edition goes on preorder at 8 p.m. on November 29. [The blurb for the upcoming next-generation story, Top-Tier Boyfriend, is at the bottom.] [This story↓] [Love scammer Su Piaoliang x Hong Kong’s most devoted playboy, Mr. He] Su Zhiyao is a pampered darling adored by everyone: proud, beautiful, and polished down to the very tips of her toes. He Siyu, head of the He family, is cold and dangerously charming, so reckless and arrogant that everyone who sees him gi 393.8kFavorites581.2kClicks/ch216.2kGifts

   Curator note

   Clichéd and uninspired, it has virtually no connection to Hong Kong style except for the contrived character setups. The writing and plot are childish; you can skim through it without missing any key information. The dramatic conflicts are abrupt. It doesn't even qualify as a light, commercially produced, saccharine read to kill time. It's truly awful.

4. 4 南 The Pumpkin Carriage Makes No Stops 南瓜马车不停站 Huainan Xiaoshan怀南小山Romance359k WordsCompleted 🎃 Campus / Urban | Childhood Friends | He’s Secretly in Love | Reunion After Years Apart [Read the content warnings at the bottom of the blurb before starting. Don’t subscribe to all the chapters at once.] Jiang Meng later realized that Chen Jizhou had been part of every embarrassing moment in her life. For example, the day she insisted on meeting her online boyfriend in person, only to be stood up. The young master passing by shot her a look and said, “Instead of proving someone loves you enoug 59.2kFavorites53.7kClicks/ch30.9kGifts

   Curator note

   I came across this because of a recommendation on Twitter, and I can only say that my expectations were high, but my disappointment was even greater. A major flaw is that the female lead's character is consistently vague and unclear. Her personality and behavior lack a clear foundation, constantly changing according to the author's needs in the plot, which often feels jarring. It's clear the author put a lot of effort into portraying the male lead's carefree and easygoing nature, but it went too far and became somewhat greasy. The part about him wandering felt very much like a typical teen drama. The separation after the college entrance exam and their subsequent reunion were even worse than their school days. It's hard to imagine that childhood sweethearts would act like strangers after separation; it's very strange. Furthermore, the reunion after depicting the female lead's boring life after starting work makes it feel like she's only contacting the male lead for fun. Also, the main text barely touches on her friendship with Su Yu, so why include a random side story? It makes the reader feel completely disconnected, like watching a character suddenly appear. It would have been better to integrate the friendship side story into the main text. Finally, the author is really a bit self-important; they absolutely, positively enjoy lecturing, and the writing comes across as very didactic. This is a very thoughtful long review, please don't delete it! [Eating melon emoji]

5. 5 婚 A Response After Marriage 婚后回应 Six Blind Stars六盲星Romance319k WordsCompleted On Jiang Nai's first day at work, a colleague gossiped that everyone in the department had been on edge lately. The new boss was decisive and ruthless, so she advised Jiang Nai to be careful too. Jiang Nai agreed repeatedly. Then she turned around and saw the new boss standing at the break room entrance, his expression cool. Her colleague broke into a sweat and apologized profusely, then pulled Jiang Nai out of there. After work, Jiang Nai went home, washed up, and climbed into bed. Before lon 267.5kFavorites451.4kClicks/ch87.7kGifts

   Curator note

   The plot is predictable and unoriginal, and the writing style is more flat and straightforward than a diary entry. No matter what the recommenders say, I will never read Liu Mangxing's work again. Every time I think he'll improve, he's just completely lost his touch. [Chin resting on hand]

6. 6 退 Back, Back, Back Off! 退退退退下！ Pudding Glaze布丁琉璃Romance309k WordsCompleted (Exclusively on Jinjiang | Thank you for supporting the official edition!) This story has been adapted into a comic, updated every Sunday on Kuaikan Comics. The print edition is now available on major platforms. @Jinjiang Buding Jiang Six years ago, Princess Changning put her hands on her hips and said to a destitute young man surnamed Shen, "I hate effeminate men like you most of all!" Six years later, a young and immensely powerful Governor of the Eastern Depot appeared. Unfortunately, he was 170.5kFavorites254.6kClicks/ch31.5kGifts

   Curator note

   The character settings and romantic storyline are childish, and the emotional shifts are so far-fetched they feel like child's play and don't hold up to scrutiny. You can tell the author intended a lighthearted and humorous style, but the writing is terrible. And what's the connection between the main story and the childhood sweetheart theme? Why even use that tag? It's a piece whose quality completely doesn't match the data.

7. 7 撞21+ Starstruck 撞星 Sing of the Wind and Go风歌且行Romance303k WordsCompleted 112.7kFavorites129.3kClicks/ch108.8kGifts

   Curator note

   This deliberately dramatic opening is really lovable. No matter how many foreshadowing elements, hidden stories, or hardships are involved, they don't justify the male lead's actions towards the female lead, who was practically a stranger at the time, including getting her drunk and engaging in sexual activity while intoxicated. The male lead also smokes, and despite being a college student, his social behavior and speech are like that of a seasoned criminal. Furthermore, in areas where female readers are clearly uncomfortable, some comments and reviews create a truly terrifying atmosphere. Many people feel uncomfortable, yet these readers are still praising it. Book fans only mention the author's warnings and claim the male and female leads have personality flaws. Can't they distinguish between personality flaws and legal boundaries? Personality flaws are not a cover for sexual activity. And yet, many people call this the top contemporary romance novel of 2025? How humorous! [Heart emoji]

8. 8 京 A Snowy Night in Kyoto 京雪之夜 Spare Rib Chili Sauce排骨辣酱Romance390k WordsCompleted Marriage first, love later / A secret crush comes true / Two-year age gap / He chases his wife after losing her Middle school teacher x Beijing socialite heir - The year Ji He turned twenty-five, she married the person she'd secretly loved in high school. She was a rule-abiding person, the good girl in her parents' eyes. Her one act of rebellion was secretly falling for Lu Xunzhi, the unruly, free-spirited boy in her high school. Someone said, "Marrying Lu Xunzhi is like hitting the jackpot." On 117.2kFavorites164.1kClicks/ch33.9kGifts

   Curator note

   The writing style is rambling and disjointed, and the male protagonist's background, supposedly created for the sake of being a "high-ranking official," doesn't actually feel like a typical high-ranking official novel. His understanding of depression is also very superficial and shallow. The plot is bland and boring, and it's just average.

9. 9 小 Little Plum Blossom 小青梅 Spring Breeze, Pomegranate Fire春风榴火Romance420k WordsCompleted Xue Li is an ordinary girl with black-rimmed glasses and a bob haircut, her thin frame hidden beneath her school uniform. She's not particularly clever, either. Even getting into a prestigious university was pure luck. But the moment she steps onto campus, Xue Li becomes the center of everyone's attention. Nanyang University's two most popular guys are her own brother, Xue Yan, and Chen Xize, the childhood friend and neighbor who is always arguing with her. Xue Li: ? What's going on with this 204.3kFavorites342.4kClicks/ch87.9kGifts

   Curator note

   The male lead's backstory is too tragic, and he never publicly exonerated his father, which is very frustrating. The post-sight restoration plot is also a bit unrealistic and exaggerated. The female lead's mother and brother are truly despicable, yet they are redeemed in the end. Well, the writing is alright, I guess; it's readable.

10. 10 错 After the Wrong Number 错号后 Chu Li初厘Romance443k WordsCompleted Also known as: When a Wrong Number Reunited Me with My Ex and After We Broke Up, We Both Thought the Other Had Changed Their Number [They reunite at the beginning; rekindled love after marriage; seven-year age gap; the hero has a secret crush] [Publication updates at @Chu Li Ya] Blurb: Xu Mo tried to log in to an app using her phone number, but after waiting ages for the verification code, she figured something was wrong with her phone. She tapped “resend” several times, then finally received a 81.3kFavorites100.3kClicks/ch26.7kGifts

    Curator note

    Utterly boring

11. 11 北 Snow in the North 北方有雪 Letting the Tiger Sniff the Flowers纵虎嗅花Romance527k WordsCompleted [Print edition published, with a new 3,000-word bonus story] When He Tu Nan was sixteen, an unexpected guest arrived at his home. At first, he saw her as an intruder. Later, she became one of his ribs, indispensable to him. "We cannot see all the snow that falls over the course of a person's life.", Liu Liangcheng, Through the Bitter Wind *Reader's Guide* 1. The timeline begins in 1998. 2. A slow-burn story with a small ensemble cast, focused on the female lead Zhan Yan's growth and trans 56.8kFavorites71.4kClicks/ch19.1kGifts

    Curator note

    The most disgusting, outrageous, and speechless female lead character I've ever read on Jinjiang Literature City!!! A truly awful parasitic leech. He Tunan is undoubtedly the most tragic male lead on Jinjiang in 2023, his life a constant drain on his lifeblood. The feeling after finishing this book is indescribable disgust. [Cracking face]

12. 12 雨 A Wildly Unreasonable Rain 雨意荒唐 Prefecture House Thirteen州府小十三Romance426k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later / Two Strangers Fall for Each Other / A Modern-Day Fairytale] Clearheaded and independent heroine x doting dom / Six-year age gap After two years as an overworked office drone, Xia Zhu found that nothing was going her way. Her parents kept calling to nag her about getting married, and she cried twice in three days. By chance, he happened to see her both times. The second time, the man got out of his car and held an umbrella over her. Zhou Siyang was the top boss at 139.3kFavorites171.5kClicks/ch36.2kGifts

    Curator note

    This is just ordinary, unremarkable industrial sugar, mass-produced on an assembly line, yet it manages to achieve these sales figures. Wang Dang from Jinjiang (a Chinese online literature platform) is truly astounded. [Shrug]

13. 13 花21+ The Flowers Aren’t Even Warm 花都不热气 Ru Qu Has Silver Notes瑞曲有银票Romance480k WordsCompleted 81.1kFavorites98.5kClicks/ch73.3kGifts

    Curator note

    The most detestable and disgusting male protagonist in the Cantonese trilogy.

14. 14 小 The Little Garden 小游园 Plum Blossom Knife梅子刀Romance451k WordsCompleted ◎ The print edition goes on pre-order at 7:00 p.m. on November 29. For details, see Weibo: @MeizidaoYuHaoyun He Youyuan is handsome, a little cool, a little full of himself, and convinced his good looks can make anyone do what he wants. Then he meets a top student with a sour expression. From that point on, he’s on an irreversible path to being completely wrapped around their finger. * A proud, tough little cat x an obnoxious, lovesick puppy #HePursuesHer | #ElementarySchoolBickering | #Eve 239.4kFavorites241.1kClicks/ch194.4kGifts

    Curator note

    It's hardly a romance novel; it's more of a female protagonist growth story. The male lead appears far too infrequently, and the romantic transitions are abrupt and awkward. By chapter 70, the female lead still sees the male lead as just a slightly acquainted classmate, so the author suddenly speeds up the pace, which is really funny. I was recommended this book by countless reviews, and while the first half was alright, it became increasingly boring and tedious.

15. 15 京 A Letter from Jing to Hong Kong 京港回信 Wan Lita万莉塔Romance466k WordsCompleted My new book, The Nightingale's Sleepless Harbor, is complete. Come give it a try, ovo. [Complete, extensively revised and expanded multiple times. Only the official version is supported.] * Seven-year age gap / married first, fall in love later / an old flame rekindled Shi Hua was sent to live with the He family in northern Jing as a child. Dependent on others, she was bullied and teased by everyone, except for the young master of the He family, He Heng, who always stood up for her. From then o 211.8kFavorites369.3kClicks/ch103.4kGifts

    Curator note

    It's hard to describe the feeling, but it's just extremely, extremely, extremely mediocre. Of course, it's better than those books that become contrived and illogical after a few chapters and are unreadable, but it's worlds apart from being well-written. It's completely readable but not worth reading, and you'll forget about it the next day. I really can't imagine that a book with these numbers on Jinjiang Literature City is of this quality...

16. 16 含 Gardenia's Embrace 含栀 Deer Spirit鹿灵Romance336k WordsCompleted Lu Zhi was born with a sweet, well-behaved face, like a white gardenia beaded with dew at dawn, soft and utterly nonthreatening. But only those close to her knew how deceptive that fresh-faced look was. Every now and then, her sly little fox tail would peek out, revealing a mischievous streak that refused to be tamed. The year she graduated, an arranged marriage went awry. She ended up marrying the older brother of the man she was originally meant to wed: Fu Yanshang, the renowned heir of the F 121kFavorites185.2kClicks/ch33.5kGifts

    Curator note

    If all else fails, let's not be stingy with Green River's readers and traffic, let's write there instead. From beginning to end, apart from the clichéd childhood settings, everything was written for the sake of ratings. Moreover, it's incredibly long, boring, and cloying. The writing is unclear, what they think is stream of consciousness is actually just rambling. The author even has the nerve to say that their CP has great chemistry, my god, can't they write anything good or have they read anything good? [Speechless] All the plot and jokes are forced and really boring. If it weren't for my OCD, I would have stopped reading long ago.

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