Novels like Summer of He
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Summer of He, best match first.
- 1 That Year, We Took It Slow 这年，徐徐图之 Synopsis Ten years in this world: how many people can you love, and how many times? Apart from Shen Chuannian, Bai Cheng’s heart stubbornly refuses to beat for anyone else. Bai Cheng graduated with a master’s degree from A University. She is ambitious at work, comes from a happy family, and is bold and carefree. Yet when it comes to liking Shen Chuannian, she refuses to make a rash move. She inches closer to him, one step at a time, with an ulterior motive. Shen Chuannian, a master’s graduate wh —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 His Silent Confession 他寂静的告白 [Warm, sunny heroine VS cool, lonely hero] Wei Xu’s love was like an old book hidden away by time. Not a word was spoken, yet every page was filled with her. Quiet yet immense, it was an epic that only he could write. At last, she understood those words that had come too late. In the bright, bold days of her youth, the quiet, silent boy had already offered her his whole heart in a corner where no one could see. But back then, she was in too much of a hurry, her eyes fixed too far ahead. She didn 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Stars in the Daylight 白昼携星辰 [Gentle little bunny x aloof, godlike top student] [Secret crush comes true + sweet romance + both leads’ first love] Life is long, yet it passes in the blink of an eye. Some people see dust, some see stars, and some vanish in an instant. The ground is strewn with sixpences, but she looked up and saw the moon., Sixpence and the Moon Jin Xingyuan: The best thing I ever did was always sit behind you. From our reckless youth until everything settled, whenever I looked back, I was always there behin 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Meeting an Old Friend Along the Way 路遇故知晓 Gu Yuyao could have stood on her own that first snowy winter, but his arrival made her willingly hold back. 2021.11.6 On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, he said, “Kid, you can’t be just an orange, squeezing out all your juice only to be thrown away. You should be a fruit tree, blooming in spring and bearing fruit in autumn, flourishing year after year. Better yet, be a towering tree. You don’t need someone to lean on, and you shouldn’t be crying all the time.” But the boy never knew what 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 North of Me 在我以北 A cool, aloof top student and a warm, proud prodigy When they first met, she wore a white dress, pure as an elegant jasmine flower. When they parted, she was still wearing a pristine white dress. If Zhou Yun had known that day would be the last time she saw Jiang Xu'an, she would have taken a good, long look at him and etched his face into her heart forever. Step by step, he had pulled her out of the darkness. He told her she was his alone, his A-Yun, and that he would protect her for the rest 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Way You Look in My Eyes 我眼中，你的样子 [Top female student + girl secretly in love with a boy + in love with her best friend] He said, “I want you to be my best friend.” He said, “Lin Xinwen, I don't feel the same way about you as I do about everyone else...” For three years, Lin Xinwen knew she was just one of his many female friends. And yet, in countless little moments, she couldn't help imagining that he treated her differently. Lin Xinwen: “Do you think we'll end up like most people, forgetting each other as we go our separa 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Love Takes Flight 恋立羽 At fourteen, Li An, at her most innocent and awkward age, stumbled into a gentle ray of light. It fell across her ordinary youth and became the most precious hope she kept hidden in her heart. Faced with this unexpected happiness, she was always tender and cautious; even when she drew near, she moved lightly, afraid to disturb the beauty of it. Her heart and eyes were full of timid affection, and she quietly gave him all her tenderness and hopes. But fate loves to play tricks. The light she clut —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 The Night Is Gentle 夜色温柔 [Sweet Romance + Healing + Childhood Friends + Secret Crush Becomes Reality + From School Days to the Wedding Altar + Growing Together] In 2006, after graduating from high school, Ye Xiaoyu boarded a train out of Lincheng, heading in the opposite direction from the boy in her heart. As she set off for university, she cried all the way from the station to her destination. Never mind, she thought. By then, she would have known Ting'an for exactly ten years. The boy who had dazzled her throughout 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 A Midsummer Secret Crush 盛夏暗恋【酸涩暗恋】 [New novel, "Out of Control in the Mist", now updating] [Just got a rating] [Secret crush | The ex chases her after the breakup | Rekindled love | Both each other's first and only | 1v1 | The bad boy turns over a new leaf][No amnesia trope!!!] [Bold and uninhibited Pei Shiye x cool-headed and clear-eyed Sheng Xia] Back in middle school in Huaiyu, Sheng Xia had already heard of Pei Shiye. He was a playboy, wild and carefree, living only for fun. First place in the math competition, a candidate 806Reads5.7Score—14d adds
- 10 Reborn: I Give You a Galaxy of Stars 重生之赠你万里星河 Shen Zhiyu is reborn in her middle school years. Will she have regrets this time? Will she repeat the mistakes of her previous life, or will she take on fate and change her own destiny? 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 Beyond the Glimmer 微光之上 [Sweet and sassy female judge vs. refined, multifaceted special forces soldier] [School life + workplace + two strong leads + healing + mutual secret crushes + love given and returned] Literary version: A youthful crush, both bittersweet and sweet. Amid all the faces around me, you were the only one I saw. Ji Yunyou, her world in ruins, stepped into high school and tried to live by the rules. She never expected that fate would bring people together only to part them again, or that fortune would —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Beneath the Faint Light 在微光下 [Talented, self-doubting puppy × sunny, sensitive big sister] [Mutual healing, ensemble character growth, devoted pure love] “My name is Qiao Yi. Yi, as in ‘at ease.’” “My name is Xu Yuan. Yuan, as in ‘second son.’” During an ordinary round of introductions in their first year of high school, Qiao Yi's gaze first came to rest on her. “I'm no good.” “Qiao Yi, stop talking nonsense.” “I'm such a burden.” “Xu Yuan, you're talking rubbish.” The insecurities and sensitivity born of their families, an 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 My Clock Hands Are Set to You 我的时针为你校准 [First love, secret crush, devoted affection, and a sweet HE! Childhood friends whose secret crush becomes mutual] At nine, whenever she was late, he always moved her stool into place ahead of time. At fourteen. “There’s a girl in our class who likes you.” “Who?” “Me.” “I like Cheng Man.” At eighteen, she went away to college. He could have applied to a better-ranked university in another province, but instead stayed in their city, where a train ride would let him see her. His reason: “It’s clos 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 An Endless Summer 永不落幕的盛夏 [Youthful school life / Mutual secret crushes / Childhood sweethearts] Main characters: Lin Tingwan, a simple-minded girl who used to wear a bedsheet like a cape and play at saving lives as the heroine Lin, x a smart little boy who was too delicate to fend for himself and followed instructions like a puppy Supporting characters: A bunch of highly intelligent “lunatics.” Apparently, you’re the problem if you’re normal. The noise from the renovations upstairs disturbed the local residents, and Lin 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Boy Who Took My Breath Away 少年惊艳我时光 The eighth year of Xia Jiuyi’s love for Chi Jingze. She finally got together with the person she had long dreamed of. From that breathtaking first glimpse, when she was too afraid to approach him, to openly harboring a crush, and then to testing the waters with each other after getting close. Xia Jiuyi said, “My crush has always felt like a roller coaster. I’ve never been able to wait for the day when things finally turn around.” Chi Jingze said, “The boy you loved didn’t let all those years of 15Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 16 My Secret Love Ends at Sunset 暗恋终止于落日 [The leads grow together + campus life + secret crush + mutual devotion] As an art student, Zhao Jieyu gets into the same university as the boy she has a crush on. To her eighteen-year-old self, it feels like a stroke of incredible luck. A genius boy who is the one that got away, a gentle and gentlemanly childhood friend, a seemingly kind and gentle roommate... Whose secret crush will end with the sunset? (Adapted from the author's own experiences) —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 A Secret Crush That Echoes Through the Seasons 响彻四季的暗恋 [Radiant Girl × Icy Lawyer, Mutual Pining + Reunion After Years Apart + The Chase to Win Her Back] In her sophomore year of college, Ji Anmian confessed to her crush of three years and was rejected. Heartbroken, she left the country, and stayed away for seven years. When they met again, her former crush had become her direct superior. But the man who had rejected her was acting strangely, offering to drive her home and secretly flirting with her. “Office romances? Not even dogs would get involve 477Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 A Lime-Scented Secret Crush 酸橙味暗恋 [Mutual secret crush | Redemption | Reunion after years apart | He pursues her | Happy ending] At sixteen, Xu Zhiran fell for a boy who was sunny and handsome, warm and polite to everyone. Her family background had made her introverted and timid, so she could only bury her feelings deep inside. To her, this secret crush was like a sour lime: sweet and tart, sharp at first, but leaving a lingering taste. - She thought her secret love would be buried forever, but the boy took the initiative to get 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 A Long Night Beneath the Stars 长夜伴星 [Youthful Heartache + Campus Crush + Based on a True Story + A Woman's Personal Growth] Lin Wanxing thought Jiang Yu was annoying at first, but gradually discovered his gentle side. Growing up, her parents taught her to be independent and sensible, to give way to others like Kong Rong, and never to cause anyone trouble. Only later did she understand: “Giving way like Kong Rong” meant surrendering her own rights, while “not causing trouble” meant letting her life become a mess. It took her y 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 Hidden in the Autumn Rain 匿于秋雨 [Secret Crush + Bittersweet Push and Pull + Redemption + Ensemble Cast] A taciturn, secretly affectionate puppy of a man goes all out to win her back later on. Sweet, innocent girl vs. the golden boy The first time I saw Duan Siran was on a damp evening after it had rained for a whole month. I was just going about my routine, buying a bottle of water, when I stepped outside with my umbrella and “happened” to run into him. My heart skipped a beat. The second time we ran into each other, I boldly 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Flowers by the Roadside 街边花 Chen Mo and Ji Shen first met in the height of summer. Chen Mo did a good deed and rescued Ji Shen, who was being beaten up. “What's your name?” Following the principle of doing good deeds without leaving his name, Chen Mo made one up. “You can call me Handsome.” Then he grabbed his schoolbag and left. A few years later, Chen Mo transferred to the high school Ji Shen attended. Ji Shen recognized him at once. “Do you remember me?” Chen Mo shook his head. “Handsome, let's get to know each other al —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 The Time You Lit Up 被你照亮的时光 [Face-blind top student x socially anxious girl] [Sweet campus romance] [Secret crush becomes mutual] [Rekindled love] Once, Gu Cheng was an unreachable star to Shen Xiyou. He was not only her ideal, but also the hope of the school and the nation. Sadly, because he was face-blind, he didn't remember her at all. What's more, the straight-A student seemed to have no room for love in his heart. To make sure Gu Cheng would at least remember that she had once been part of his life, the girl who had o 13Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 23 Crush Countdown: Three, Two, One 暗恋截止，倒数三二一 Secret crush + reunion after years apart + healing + redemption Introduction 1: What does it feel like when, after years apart, the person you've been secretly in love with becomes your direct boss? Song Hee's first thought was that she should quit. But after considering her finances and the reality of the situation, she decided to stay... Introduction 2: Song Hee never thought of herself as particularly devoted or capable of loving someone for a long time. But when it came to Liang Huaixu, s 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Parting Together 伴离 [Quirky, cool, sharp-tongued heroine x gentle, reserved, devoted hero] Having a crush is like drinking a cup full of lemon juice: all sour, no sweetness. Luo Yi's unrequited love was no exception. Ever since that sweltering summer, someone she couldn't confess her feelings to had lived in her heart. For three years, Luo Yi watched the girls standing by Fu Yu's side. All she could do was watch from the sidelines. She never even had a ticket to get in. But one day, to her surprise, Fu Yu, reeking 67Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 25 The 216 Times I Looked at You 看向你的216次 Lin Xi × Bai Yuchen × Liang Qian × Du Qiming × Chen Yuexing The weather was unbelievably beautiful that day. Holding a tiny ring shaped like a foxtail, he gave me a mischievous grin and said I was in a hurry to put a ring on him. He was always flicking my forehead and sighing, “Little chubby mouse, what would you do without me?” He said, “If we ever get the chance, let’s go to Chongqing together and see whether there’s really a cliff on Shazhong Road.” With his eyes closed, he said, “Stay. Keep 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 South Branch Longs for the Sun 南枝独慕向阳生 (Complete) [College campus + unrequited love becomes mutual + cozy, slow-burn romance + healing and sweet] [Reserved, insecure, resilient good girl + refined, elegant golden boy] The first time Cheng Nanzhi saw Jiang Xiangyang, he stepped forward and stood in front of her. For the next six years, she filled her diaries with everything she felt about him. * In their seventh year, they meet again at university, and their parallel lines finally cross. He says, “I've realized you make me feel... so 163Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Savoring Sourness 尝酸 A love everyone knows about, and a diary of feelings no one knows about. Young love has its share of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty moments, but the sourness leaves the deepest impression. In the name of sourness, taste its flavor, enter its game, and reap its fruits. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Do I Have a Crush on Him? 暗恋他，吗？ 1v1, mutual crush, youthful innocence “Shen, I really, really like you, even though you don't know me 🥺”, Ye Qingling “...Who? Who doesn't know you? Are you sure you're talking about me, Shen? 😊”, Shen Yan “Shen, a secret crush is a one-person whirlwind of chaos... 😭”, Ye Qingling “Ye, are you really secretly in love with me? 🤔 Then could you open the door? I can't get in at all 🥺”, Shen Yan 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 After Getting Into Grad School, I Won Over the Academic Heartthrob 考研上岸后，我攻略了学霸男神 [Sweet Romance] [Hardworking Girl × Gifted Top Student: Famous Screenwriter × Low-Profile Actor] This is a story about a crush. Yan Le'an had imagined countless times what it would be like to meet Yi Xing, but she'd never imagined that it would really happen. For Yan Le'an, there were two strokes of luck in her life. The first was meeting Yi Xing, and the second was getting into Tsinghua University because of him. I fell in love with you before I even knew you. Thank you for becoming my hero in 8Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 30 You Were My Secret Crush When I Was Young 你是年少的暗恋 Secret crushes, love, regrets… These are the words that describe our youth. Our story, carried on the wind, brought us together… The world is vast, and life is full of ordinary joys. Everything is you, and nothing is you. I hope the person you like likes you back. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 May Visions Keep Coming One After Another 愿景络绎来 [From youthful heartbreak between childhood sweethearts to a sweet city romance after years apart, and finally, two people choosing each other for a lifetime] Youth in the ’80s generation! August 18, 2003: Enrollment and military training. June 8, 2006: The college entrance exam ends, and high school graduation follows. Early spring 2016: A reunion after ten years apart. The best Zhang Yuanjing and the best Jiang Luoyi! Time brought the right people back to each other. Luoyi takes Yuanjing’s han —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 A Secret Crush with a Lychee Flavor 荔枝味的暗恋 To him, she was only his friend’s younger sister from next door. To her, he was the idol of her high school years, the object of every secret thought in her heart. When they met again in college, she wanted only to get a little closer to him, then a little closer still. [Cool, aloof heartthrob VS sweet, gentle girl] 203Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 33 Finding Joy in You 以你为乐 [Sensitive, Obsessive Teacher Heroine VS Cold, Slow-to-Warm Undercover Hero] “How bitter. So this is what a kiss tastes like.” “I knew I was the one who liked you, so I did everything I could to get close to you. I could ignore your coldness any number of times, as long as I still liked you.” “By the shore, a boat waits where the water flows; at the riverbank, I long to turn back and cross.” At twenty-six, Lin Luoting unexpectedly met Jiang Shangzhou, the man she'd loved since she was sixteen. T 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 A Snail's Secret-Crush Trail 蜗牛暗恋轨迹 [Campus romance + mutual pining becomes love + sweet affection + mutual devotion + first love for both + one-on-one romance + healing] Xia Youtian is a chubby girl who was mocked at school, leaving her with lasting scars. One day, after a misunderstanding, she finally learned his name: Sheng Huaiyu. He was the top student and a celebrated figure at school. The girls who liked him were as numerous as the bills in Chairman Mao's portrait. * On the bus, the girl was teary-eyed, rubbing her left han 620Reads6.8Score10914d adds
- 35 If You Like Me Too 若你也喜欢 Xia Xi thinks having a secret crush is hard. It's like walking through thick fog and catching sight of a faint, elusive light; like reaching out to a newly bloomed rose and getting your hand pierced by its thorns; like seeing a beautiful work of art but being able to admire it only from afar because it's so exquisite and expensive. That's because the person she likes is Zhou Yu. He can stand beside her, talk to her, and warmly call her “Classmate Xia,” but he doesn't like her. He has his own l 56Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 36 The Star Chaser 追星星的他 [Mutual secret crushes • Reunion after years apart • Anime designer and abstinent sports medicine doctor] There's always one person in this world who stars in the diary you kept as a teenager, the person you would never bring yourself to mention to anyone, and the one who makes you see no one else when they're before your eyes. At seventeen, Jian Xingchen met Luo Xiaoqian, who lit up her entire youth. But because of her sensitivity and lack of confidence, the two never grew very close. Still, sh 90Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 37 Lime Oolong Tea 青柠乌龙茶 1. Many people say that promises made by teenagers are best taken with a grain of salt. But among tens of thousands, there’s always one person who keeps their word. Shen Fusheng was that one in tens of thousands. Xia Ning first heard about Shen Fusheng in middle school. He was handsome, came from a good family, and ranked near the top of his class. By high school, Shen Fusheng had captivated countless girls. But by a twist of fate, he and Xia Ning fell for each other and got together. On their w 3Reads8.1Score214d adds
- 38 After the Side Character in a School Novel Awakens 当校园文里的路人甲觉醒后 After the Background Character in a School Story Awakens 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 Orange Soda 橘子汽水 [School Days Crush + Coming of Age + A Sweet Romance] That summer was the most unforgettable one of Jiang Qing's life. She fell for a boy. He would always smile at her, wearing his bright blue school uniform. That image was etched into her heart and burned into her eighteenth year. For many years afterward, she would look back and miss the eighteen-year-old girl who hadn't been brave enough. And so the story begins. Hello, Cheng Che. I'm Jiang Qing. "I would never willingly miss a single chance 117Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 40 Into the Fright 入惊 A young woman's humble story of unrequited love. During her youth, Yunxiang's crush was always surrounded by admirers, while she watched him quietly from afar. Her secret love was a one-woman show: she watched him shine in the crowd, bright as the morning sun. After the college entrance exams, she took a leap of faith and went to Beijing, never expecting that she and the boy would begin crossing paths more and more often. 41Reads7.9Score—14d adds
- 41 Just in Time to Share Your Youth 恰好参与你的青春 We met when we were both young, but neither dared be the first to confess our feelings. Liu Meng has been single and working herself to the bone for five years since graduation. While moving house with her mother, she happens to find her high school diaries and graduation photos, bringing back memories of her time at Ping'an Middle School. At first, she was just a dark-skinned, overweight girl. Then Chen Yu, a top student as warm as sunshine, unexpectedly entered her world and made all of high s 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 A Minor Character 次要人物 “Time is changeable wealth; clocks imitate it, but only change. Time flies by in an instant, yet Cheng Xicen still can’t forget the boy at Xicheng No. 1 High School who used to hurry over as soon as class ended to explain problems to her, his arms wrapped around her.” Where was the youth she’d left behind? Cheng Xicen wondered. Her youth must be hidden in that boy named Lai Shu. “Cencen, look how beautiful these sparklers are. But you know what’s even more beautiful? You, reflected in their ligh 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 A Teenage Draft: Wen Xia’s Hidden Feelings 青春草稿：温夏的心事 A bittersweet romance of sweetness and angst [Secret Crush Turns Real] [The Second Male Lead Wins] [Happy Ending] A cool, gentle golden boy vs. an insecure, sensitive girl vs. a stoic boy with a warm heart Back then, Wen Xia was an inconspicuous line on a sheet of rough paper, while Chen Yu was a gentle glow printed on the cover. A golden boy from a privileged family, with top grades and striking looks, Chen Yu had been the center of attention all his life. He was not only gentle, humble, and po 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Scorched Lotus 焦荷 [A shy, sensitive stutterer in the early chapters who becomes a warm and resilient screenwriter × a distant, aloof top-tier star who later turns devoted and clingy] [Both inexperienced in love / Secret crush comes true / Utmost devotion / Sweet romance in the entertainment industry] How long is ten years? Long enough for an entire girlhood to be filled with one person’s name. Everyone knows that top-tier star Wei Xing is cold and distant, an untouchable beauty in the entertainment industry. But 973Reads8.5Score20014d adds
- 45 Stranded for You 为你搁浅 [Pure, Sweet, and Well-Behaved Girl + Aristocratic, Chaste Young Master + First Love for Both + She Has a Crush on Him at First + He Pursues Her Later + Happy Ending] Li Shuqian has a crush on someone, but she has never dared to hope for anything more. He is so exceptional that she has to work herself to the bone just to catch a glimpse of him from afar. - Lou Yishen is like a star in the vast sea of the universe, dazzling and radiant. He lives as he pleases, carefree and unrestrained, until one 128Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 This Grand, Sweeping Secret Crush 这场声势浩大的暗恋 Ling Zeyu and Du Xinyi met at an after-school tutoring class for students preparing to enter middle school. They never expected to end up in the same class once middle school began, becoming classmates. As they spent time together, both understood how the other felt. Their love was just one confession away, yet somehow they both chose to hurt each other and end a relationship that had been growing clearer by the day. When they went off to university, they went their separate ways and lost touch 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 May You Find Peace and Happiness 许君安好 Maybe one person becomes special to another because they appear at a one-of-a-kind moment in their life. No matter who comes along afterward, no one else can ever take their place. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Autumn of the Twenty-Seventh Year 第二十七年秋 After being reborn, a poor-performing student dumps the campus heartthrob, who devotes himself to becoming her loyal puppy. Together, they uncover the secret of their mutual secret crushes. 5Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 49 A Secret Crush in the Troposphere 对流层的暗恋 A Secret Crush in the Troposphere 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 Secretly Stashing Candy Wrappers 偷藏糖纸 [Mutual secret crush + school life + tragic ending] Wen You played the role of a friend throughout her entire youth. She liked Xu Xiao, but could only get close to him as a friend. The gentle boy with the lovely voice appeared at the very moment Wen You felt most anxious and afraid. At that moment, sunlight fell across his face, dazzling and warm. She kept the candy wrappers he gave her, wrapping her true feelings in the guise of friendship. She secretly savored those rare, sweet moments, h 19Reads—Score—14d adds
