Novels like Those of Us Born in the ’80s
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Those of Us Born in the ’80s, best match first.
- 51 The Runaway Housewife 逃跑的家庭主妇 At forty, Su Meng was manipulated by her husband into having a second child. Her younger daughter’s birth was an impulsive decision, and the start of a nightmarish life. Standing on the balcony of her home on the eighteenth floor, she suddenly thought that jumping might be the only way to find true release… The loneliness, helplessness, pessimism, despair, and weariness with everything made her realize she was ill, seriously ill. And the only thing that might cure her was to run away… Escape, ge 892Reads—Score10214d adds
- 52 The Girl Next Door 女邻居 The Female Neighbor 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 53 Only After We Parted Did I Realize I Loved You 别后方知爱上 [Workplace Romance + Golf] Jiang Mo has no idea that Yang Zichen has been secretly in love with her for eight years. Time passes, and when they meet again, she is still herself, yet no longer the person she used to be. Can fate’s strange twists give them another chance to start over? In the days that follow, he winds around her like a vine, quietly entwining himself with her life. But she has a solemn vow to protect her: handsome men are absolutely off-limits! And yet... P.S. A heartwarming sto 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 The Man Next Door 男邻居 Qiao Mai, a country girl, endures a rough journey from her wedding and childbirth to miscarriage and divorce. Over the course of twelve years of marriage, the special sweetness of being each other’s “darling” fades amid her husband’s disrespect and inaction. Her affection is gradually extinguished by the havoc wreaked by her mother-in-law and three sisters-in-law, until the marriage finally ends in divorce. The story begins with a man living downstairs listening to his neighbors having sex in th 84Reads9.5Score—14d adds
- 55 The Distance of Love Is Just Right 爱的距离刚刚好 Yu Kai saw the morning light streaming through the skylight fall across Qi Ji's face. Her eyes lowered slightly, and her long lashes veiled them like a mist. Her smooth forehead, straight, graceful nose, and faintly upturned lips formed a delicate, alluring profile in the sunlight. With her gaze lowered yet oblivious to everyone around her, she walked briskly past Yu Kai toward the South District office, her steps light but purposeful. A breeze followed in her wake, lifting her shoulder-length s 15Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 56 On the Seventh Day of the New Year, I Poured My Life into a Nongfu Spring Bottle 正月初七，我把人生倒进了农夫山泉瓶 On the seventh day of the first lunar month, I poured my life into a Nongfu Spring bottle. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 57 My Wife Didn't Reply for Three Minutes, So I Cut Ties with Her 媳妇三分钟不回我消息，我直接断绝关系 My Wife Didn’t Reply for Three Minutes, So I Cut Ties with Her on the Spot 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 Since I Stopped Putting Up with My Marriage, I've Been Living My Best Life 自从婚姻不再忍着过老娘我爽爆了 Hua Roulan stayed in the big city of Hailing after graduating from university. Her husband, Cheng Chuanhe, had a doctorate and ran a company. “You don't earn as much as I do. What gives you the right to make me do the housework?” Whenever Cheng Chuanhe flew into a rage, he erupted like a landslide, completely hysterical. Arguments between married couples are inevitable, but he resorted to verbal attacks and emotional abuse... She really couldn't take it anymore. She didn't want to keep enduri 51Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 59 The City of Woven Sand 织沙之城 [The first online novel set in Nansha District, Guangzhou, the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A 2023 key project supported by the China Writers Association] A heroine’s coming-of-age story + the gentle flow of everyday life + women’s entrepreneurship What is home? What does one’s hometown mean? As the Pearl River rushes toward the sea, Mai Jiaying, a post-90s small-town exam ace, grows tired of her salt-scented, out-of-the-way hometown. All she wants is to fly to the ca 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 60 Running Toward the Exit 寻着出口奔跑 In life, everyone has to grow sharp horns and iron hooves, and put on armor. Even if you’re weak, you have to try to become stronger. There are too many things in this world that can hurt you. Even if you never learn to hurt others, you must learn to protect yourself, so you can protect the people you care about. No matter how many difficulties you face, don’t back down. Summon every last bit of fighting spirit and make sure those who have always wanted to see you fail never get the satisfaction 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 A Media Veteran's Career Change in a New Era 传媒老兵降维求职记 If you're looking for a job, about to start looking, or planning to switch jobs, this one's for you! This novel is based on real people's experiences of falling into job-hunting traps. It's practically an online job seeker's guide to spotting scams and avoiding pitfalls. Read Tomato Novel and learn how to protect yourself from fraud. It's fun and useful, a win-win. Dong Shizhang and Zong Jinli's media company is on the verge of collapse, and the online loans they took out are coming due. With no 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 62 A Legacy That Ends Here 代代不相传 “Mom does it all for your own good.” “Everything Mom does is for you.” “If you get divorced, your life will be over.” How can a girl born into a family that favors sons over daughters escape the shadow of her upbringing? How can two generations of women break free from the struggles of marriage and life? 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 800 Reasons to Want a Divorce 想离婚的800个理由 Everyone has countless moments after getting married when they feel like getting a divorce. If they don’t, it must be because they’re in love. And if they do end up divorcing, that doesn’t necessarily mean they stopped loving each other. 5Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 64 Stories from the Construction Site 工地上的那些事儿 [No System, entirely hand-written. Men and women on a construction site, struggling to survive in the workplace.] They say construction sites are chaotic, women are scarce, and beautiful women are even rarer. After graduating from college, I started working at a construction site. On my very first day, I met Sister Xiaoya, who was already married, and accidentally offended the site boss. It turned out that the construction site held more than just men and women. There were also stories few peopl 10.9kReads7.6Score81814d adds
- 65 Who Is the Murderer? 谁是谋杀者 A body is discovered in an abandoned chemical plant in Jiangcheng. At the same time, Lin Beiqiao is searching day and night for her missing brother, Lin Beican. Is the body her brother's? Follow Officer Song Zhen's investigation as it uncovers the truth about a troubled family, layer by layer. 238Reads—Score—14d adds
- 66 Ten Years After Our No-Frills Wedding 裸婚10年后 For ten years of marriage, Qin Xiaoxiao has been working toward buying a home and putting down roots. She and her husband scrimped and saved until they had 100,000 yuan, hoping to buy a secondhand house. Then her father-in-law fell seriously ill, and the medical bills wiped out every last penny. Their home-buying plans fell through, their hopes were crushed, and conflicts between the couple and between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law grew more frequent. She was desperate and full of regret. Bu 505Reads8.9Score10114d adds
- 67 An Unlawful Marriage 不法婚姻 This is a slice-of-life story that doesn’t follow conventional web-novel genre formulas. One unmarried woman is devoted to a married man, while another woman, his wife, swears to defend her rights and dignity. In the end, the devoted woman cannot let go of her obsession, while the woman who fought for her dignity lets go of hers and frees herself. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 Fond Memories of Years Gone By 忆往年惜 Zhou Qi never imagined she’d get divorced at 45, let alone meet someone who truly understood her. She thought she’d long since given up on love, but not all love is passionate and dramatic. Some of it flows as gently as a stream. She thought they were only leaning on each other for comfort and warmth, but before they knew it, they had found their way into each other’s hearts. Once the children grew up, their adolescence clashed with her menopause, yet even their conflicts and misunderstandings c 36Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 The Moments We Lived 我们活过的刹那 [How do you rebuild a life that has fallen apart after losing the one you love?] Han Yilan’s life collapses in an instant when her boyfriend of three years dies in a car accident. On one side is her unreliable mother; on the other, her boyfriend’s parents, who guilt-trip her into shouldering their grief. A handsome, refined forensic doctor is there to her left, and a cool but timid rich young man, nicknamed “Husky,” to her right. While worthy suitors close in from every direction, her best frien 4Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 70 The Bachelor and the Outsider 光棍汉与外来妹 A Bachelor and a Girl from Out of Town 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 Fan Hua Like Brocade: Taking Down the Scumbag, the Vixen, and My Cold-Blooded Parents 樊花似锦【撕渣男贱女冷血父母】 A realistic story of a woman’s growth, blending satisfaction and heartbreak. There’s no floating comeback powered by a golden finger, only an ordinary woman ground into the dirt by life, slowly crushing the mess of her past and turning the chaos into something beautiful. The more stifled you feel watching her in the first half, the more satisfying the second half will be. Love yourself first, and everything else will fall into place. Everyone and everything that wronged her will have to pay her 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 Simmering Tears to Brew Youth 轻煮眼泪熬青春 In the 1980s, an accident changed the fate of a beautiful fifteen-year-old girl forever. Family, love, and friendship backed her into a dead end. She went far away from home and met an overbearing CEO who loved her. Their love began a journey of mutual healing, as their lives unfolded through streaks of blood and warmth, peeling back the bittersweet layers like an onion. 59Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 73 Fate Is a Sunny Day 缘是晴天 Memories of youth, growing up, and heartbreak, buried by time and kept close to the heart. May the love shared by Xie Qiyuan and Jiang Ziqing touch your heart. Because they loved each other so deeply back then, their love turned into countless tears. Even so, at a fork in the road with no hope in sight, they would keep waiting for him to come. 19Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 74 Trial Marriage 试婚男女 Jiang Chunhua, a budget officer at a construction company, meets Xu Qiushi, an administrative secretary at a private enterprise, on a blind date arranged by their families. But Qiushi never quite falls in love with him. After experiencing her first love, Fang Yuan, as well as Qu Xianghuai and Cheng Ziwei, she starts to feel that falling for someone is difficult. Meanwhile, her younger sister, Qiuhe, unexpectedly meets police officer Zhou Tianmu. Neither of them expects much at first, thinking it 697Reads8.4Score13114d adds
- 75 I Married a Veterinarian for My Second Marriage, and He Begs Me Not to Throw Him Away 二婚嫁了个兽医，求我别把他扔了 Lighthearted healing + funny and heartwarming + family life + slow-burn everyday romance + a touch of ensemble cast The male lead is a retired soldier who retrains as a veterinarian, switching seamlessly between fierce wolf and cuddly sweetheart. Amid rumors and life’s ups and downs, he remains entirely devoted to his muse. The female lead marries the wrong man on a whim and ends up divorced. Now she’s about to marry for the second time, so she’d better be careful. But why is someone calling her —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 A Collection of Modern Shanghai Stories 上海现代故事集 Volume Two: A New Shanghai Mom. She has a second child, a son and a daughter, though her daughter’s troubles in middle school already have her at her wits’ end. She used to think she’d be happy as long as she had a modestly comfortable life, and at least she could count on her husband. But then her deranged sister-in-law shows up and turns both families’ lives into a complete mess! Volume One: An only daughter who has been abroad for twenty years rushes back to Shanghai to claim her grandmother 190Reads—Score—14d adds
- 77 A Cigarette 一支烟 I stood up and staggered toward the exit. I struggled to push away each person who came to help me. I didn't take the elevator. Step by step, I climbed the stairs to the rooftop. When I pushed open the rooftop door, a hint of late autumn's cool breeze brushed my face. The light was so bright that I had to squint. I could clearly see her. Across the rooftop stood a long-haired girl. She said, “Could I have a cigarette?” If you're willing, I'll love you forever. If you're not, I'll choose to pine 85Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 My Tenth Year as a Simp 我当舔狗的第十年 Mo Ziyan screamed because Yang Dun had knocked her to the ground, and the fall hurt. Yang Dun screamed because he had accidentally pressed his hand against Mo Ziyan’s chest... Embarrassed, Yang Dun quickly scrambled to his feet, then awkwardly helped Mo Ziyan up. But Mo Ziyan thought Yang Dun had knocked her down on purpose. “Team Leader Yang, how could you be so naughty? You told me to stand right here and not move, but it turns out you were lining me up so you could knock me over!?” —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 79 A Love Triangle in Marriage 婚姻里的三角恋 [Contemporary realistic fiction + the married life of ordinary people in Beijing + love triangles in marriage + real struggles] Bai Xue and Wang Yang are a young married couple living in Beijing. Wang Yang is a typical “phoenix man,” a country boy who made it big in the city. After ten years of marriage, he cheats on her. After they divorce, Bai Xue meets another man, and her new life begins… What makes this book special: A woman faces betrayal in her marriage, but after the hardship comes 1.6kReads8.8Score15514d adds
- 80 A Lonely Guest Outside Gusu City 姑苏城外客愁新 There are no thrilling lives of transmigration or rebirth here, only the naked cruelty of the real world. There is no boundless magic from fantasy or immortal heroes, only the helplessness and sorrow of ordinary people struggling at the bottom. There is no romantic love between princesses and princes, only the unreachable fantasies and longings of ordinary nobodies. There are no glorious achievements by kings, nobles, generals, or ministers, only the desperate struggles and cries of common folk —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 The Billionaire Heiress Breaks Out of School 亿万富姐闯出校门 ★Modern romance★Devoted husband★Sweet romance★Two male leads★The one he never forgot Xia Xiaoyi, a super-handsome man who stood 185 centimeters tall, met Jin Sha, a wealthy girl he fell in love with at first sight, at a job fair. He pursued her relentlessly and finally won her heart. After they married, the two lived a blissfully sweet life… The appearance of the handsome Wu Tian brought a crisis to Xia Xiaoyi and Jin Sha’s marriage. Wu Tian tried every means to get Jin Sha, even resorting to bl 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 82 An Old Salty Fish 一条老咸鱼 Lin Xiaohui is an older single woman. At first, she works as a PE teacher at a private school in a small county town in her hometown, earning a modest salary. After passing the civil service exam, she switches into clapback mode: We were all people for the first time, so why should I have to put up with you? The story starts at a leisurely pace and focuses on everyday life. Later, it centers on leveling up as she tackles challenges in the workplace! 159Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 83 The Years of Growing Up 成长的岁月 Pingping was born in the mid-1960s and grew up in a small town in Jiangnan. Her parents raised five children, and Pingping was the fourth. Born during the Cultural Revolution, Pingping witnessed the country rise from poverty and backwardness to prosperity and strength. Through her own hard work, she grew alongside the times. 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 A Depressed Person's Soliloquy 抑郁者的独白 An inner monologue from someone living with depression. Just as her life was about to wither away, the will to live drove her to break free with all her strength from the invisible chains holding her back. Suddenly, she understood that there are many ways to live. This book can also be seen as the author's own journey of redemption and healing through a life on the road. It also introduces the scenery and local culture of the places she visited. 47Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 My Small-Town Girlfriend 我的小城女友 No matter how long people live in a big city, they eventually return to a small town. Xiyang, a genius who made his fortune through stock trading, finds his life going nowhere after his girlfriend cheats on him and his career hits a wall. He leaves Chengdu, a city full of memories, and returns to his hometown, where he meets the girl who will become his small-town girlfriend. This is an ordinary book, but the small-town life it tells of is anything but ordinary. 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 Official Fortune: Soaring to the Top 官运：扶摇职上 When Chen Fu makes a delivery to his wife Luo Yao's shop, he unexpectedly sees something he shouldn't have. After a huge fight with his wife, he decides, for the sake of their marriage, to rethink his career. As he makes his way through the workplace, he gradually discovers a side of his wife he never knew existed... 185Reads5.9Score—14d adds
- 87 A Windfall Makes a Life 横财成就人生 One lucky blow brings him a windfall. The real problem is how to launder it into legitimate personal income. It's like telling one lie and needing a hundred more to cover it: the problems just keep snowballing. Watch how the protagonist gets himself out of this mess. 444Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 88 The Many Faces of Marriage 婚姻的姿态 Four ways to approach marriage: something you cherish, something you can live with, something you must endure, or something you abandon! How will three women struggling with different marital dilemmas choose their paths and save themselves? Will they rise from the depths and face their problems bravely, give in to despair and give up, or let out a helpless sigh? Choosing a marriage matters. Facing it matters. Making it work matters even more! Lin Yi is an elementary school teacher. Her pregnancy 2Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 89 What the Village Beauty Can't Say 村花不能说的事 The village beauty is the dream goddess all the men in the village adore. What secrets will she experience after she gets married, the kind no one can talk about? She's so beautiful. Will married life bring her happiness and bliss? 1.6kReads6.6Score12414d adds
- 90 Qiao Mu Has a Forest 乔木有森林 What kind of romantic sparks will fly when Song Qiao, a cool and aloof teacher who doesn’t believe in love and avoids marriage, meets Chen Sen, a handsome, warmhearted repairman? Song Qiao: “How much for the repairs? I’ll transfer it to you.” Chen Sen: “Don’t worry about it.” Song Qiao: “Why? Are you like this with all your old classmates?” Chen Sen: “Of course not. It depends on our relationship.” Song Qiao: “And what’s our relationship?” Chen Sen: “That’s up to you.” 745Reads8.6Score10714d adds
- 91 After the Divorce, My First Love and Ex-Boyfriend Won't Leave Me Alone 离婚后，初恋前男友上蹿又下跳 Xu Yuanchun's first marriage lasted only a year and a half. Because she was infertile. It's no big deal. Infertility isn't life-threatening, and even after her divorce, she can still live freely. But as soon as the divorce was final, Feng Jianqiu, her ex-boyfriend and first love, came shamelessly crawling back, making a scene at every turn. She really had no idea what game he was trying to play. Whatever. She might as well slap him first. · Two ordinary people in their thirties stumble through a 290Reads—Score—14d adds
- 92 Flowers Falling in a Fleeting World 浮世花落 Zhao Yulan was a gentle, virtuous, loyal, kind, and lovely woman, yet she had an affair. Li Fugui was a hardworking, honest, and upright man, yet he went to prison twice. Cao Rui was a village Party secretary and a successful entrepreneur, yet he coveted a married woman. What's wrong with people… This book explores marriage, family, society, life, human nature, and ethics… There's love and desire, life and death, madness, the folly and greed of human nature, and the warmth and compassion of huma 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 A True Account of a Dangerous Affair: Let’s Get Divorced! 危情实录，我们离婚吧！ Xie Yuxuan and Zhou Qianyi have a loving marriage and a happy life. But trouble strikes out of nowhere: Xie Yuxuan accidentally discovers that Zhou Qianyi may be cheating, plunging their once-warm home into crisis. Xie Yuxuan loves his wife deeply and decides to give their love one last chance. Yet as he tries to deal with the marital crisis, he is shocked to find that his wife’s suspected affair is surrounded by layer upon layer of mystery and dark secrets. Before long, he is drawn into a botto 2.1kReads7.2Score14614d adds
- 94 Our Lost Love Rekindled 逝去的爱又复燃 Wang Xiaorong and Wang Guangming were childhood sweethearts, but their love was full of twists and hardships. After each married someone else, married life brought them not happiness, but endless pain. Once Wang Xiaorong and Wang Guangming had both emerged from the shadows of their tragic marriages, their love rekindled. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 95 His Puppy-Dog Eyes 他的狗狗眼 [Younger man’s secret crush + grown-up flirtation and entanglement + an affectionate puppy who loves to cuddle] [Sincere, green-tea-flavored veterinarian × beautiful top student and lead singer of a band] “Big Sis, you’re the only one with the key to this collar. If I could, I’d hope you never opened it for the rest of your life, because I only want to be your good little dog, and yours alone.” 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 Us in Xiangyang Lane 向阳里的我们 [#Real life, #warm neighborhood stories, #healing family bonds, #raising a child and turning life around] Delivery worker Wang Xiaojun had a pain he couldn't put into words: his six-year-old son Xiaobao lived in his own world, like a star. One moment of carelessness nearly resulted in Xiaobao getting lost, sending the entire Xingfuli residential community into chaos. The incident tore open the cracks in Wang Xiaojun and his wife Li Xiujuan's strained marriage, while also revealing the troubles 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 97 Yaoyiyi and the Top-Tier Star’s Romance 瑶依依和顶流的爱恋 Yao Yiyi and Xu Hua fell in love and had a child while they were out of contact. Years later, Yiyi became an internet celebrity by filming short videos about rural life, while Xu Hua shot to fame as a top-tier star after appearing in a drama with two male leads. On the night of a major event hosted by an online platform, the two, who had been apart for nearly four years, unexpectedly crossed paths. Could the former lovers rekindle their romance? Life is full of surprises. Their reunion came just 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 98 My Girlfriend Didn't Reply for Three Minutes, So I Broke Up with Her 女友三分钟不回我消息，我直接分手 My girlfriend didn’t reply to my message for three minutes, so I broke up with her on the spot. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 My Wife Didn't Reply for Three Minutes, So I Divorced Her 女人三分钟不回我消息，我直接离婚 My wife didn’t reply to my message for three minutes, so I divorced her on the spot. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 100 The Sheep Are Here, the Sheep Are Here 羊来,羊来 The sheep are coming, the sheep are coming —Reads—Score—14d adds
