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.
- 151 Stories from the Ground Up: Wellness, Livelihoods, and Human Nature at a Foot Spa 脚底下的故事——足疗店里养生、饭碗与人心 Stories Beneath Your Feet: Wellness, Livelihoods, and Human Nature at a Foot Massage Shop 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 152 The Door to Vault Three 三号库的门 The Door to Storage Room Three 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 153 Miss Mu Marries Mr. Chu 嫁给楚先生的慕小姐 [Flash marriage + falling in love after marriage + love grows over time + both leads are virgins + mutual devotion + sweet everyday life] [Libra novelist VS Libra high school Chinese teacher] Mu Yao marries Chu Beichen, whom she met on a blind date. They tie the knot just ten days after meeting! On their wedding night, Mu Yao shyly points to the big bed and looks at her new husband. “You can sleep on the bed.” Chu Beichen teases her. “Aren't you afraid I'll devour you in the middle of the night? 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 154 The Mangroves and Lychee Fragrance Bay 红树林与荔香湾 [Troubled families + drifting careers + tangled romances + unpredictable personalities + tragedy] [A realist tragedy! Readers looking for feel-good wish fulfillment, stay away.] A group of young people who chose the wrong majors and ended up in the wrong fields! In reality, ideals beckon; in pursuit of ideals, reality pulls you back. How do you reconcile the two? Is a person’s misfortune caused by their circumstances, their personality, or fate? Two young women stood before Wu Yifan. Anxious and 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 155 The Neighbors on Either Side of Xingyao 星遥的左右隔壁 Shen Song Xingyao is a girl whose name carries the story of her parents' unusual relationship. She grew up in a unique family arrangement, with her parents living in apartments next door to each other. Her father, Shen Yizhou, is a carefree, laid-back editor, while her mother, Song Qingru, is a meticulous, rational accountant. They never had a marriage in the traditional sense, yet through an unspoken understanding few outsiders could comprehend, they raised their daughter together. From her inn 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 156 Panpan, I Love You. You Need to Know That 盼盼，我爱你，你要知道 Chang Panpan was born in 1989 in a village in northern China. She studied hard, but still couldn't escape having to retake the college entrance exam. After a year of preparation, she was admitted to a Project 211 university in Beijing, where she met Wu Xiaoyang and continued to grow... 86Reads—Score—14d adds
- 157 The Phoenix Woman Marries a Phoenix Man 凤凰女嫁给凤凰男 This is an inspirational story about Yan Yan and Liang Liang, two top students who make their way from the countryside to Beijing. Through their own hard work, they put down roots there, buy a home and a car, and raise a family. Their journey is filled with hardships and laughter, as they keep facing new challenges and growing along the way. 242Reads—Score—14d adds
- 158 Gu Hong, Dare to Be Happy! 辜鸿，请大胆快乐！ Gu Hong, why are you afraid to be happy? Is it because you make too much money? Liang Shuang, why are you afraid to be happy? Is it because you have too many boyfriends? Wu Kun, why are you afraid to be happy? Is it because getting your doctorate is too hard? Wu Peng, why are you afraid to be happy? Is it because being an executive is exhausting? Yu Yang, why are you afraid to be happy? Is it because big shots are too boring? Tell me, why are all of you afraid to be happy! 12Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 159 Slowly, Falling for You 慢慢，喜欢 One-on-one romance, mature adults. Neither lead is a virgin, so stay away if that's not your thing! Taking it slow is a beautiful thing: slowly meeting, slowly falling in love, slowly growing old together. Everything begins after I meet you! Bian Yue never expected to get divorced less than six months into her marriage! Wen Chaoshen never expected to be unable to forget a married woman! Bian Yue: “What do you want?” Wen Chaoshen: “We've hugged and kissed. Obviously, what's left is for me to slee 73Reads—Score—14d adds
- 160 Wangcai the Golden Retriever Says: Don't Be Afraid, I'll Stay by Your Side 金毛狗旺财说：别怕，我守着你 The Golden Retriever Wangcai Says: Don't Be Afraid, I'll Stay by Your Side —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 161 After Getting Caught Cheating 出轨被捉后 After cheating and divorcing, the heroine, Pang Yan'er, finds her life in shambles. Watch how human nature changes… May her story serve as a warning to everyone! Marriage takes work, so cherish the happy life you have! 112Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 162 The Female Property Manager 女房管 [Comedy + Inspiration + Self-Redemption + A Working Person's Handbook + Workplace] [Comedy + Inspiration + Self-Redemption + A Working Person's Handbook + Workplace + Career Advancement] Following a working girl from age twenty to fifty, this story reveals the hardships faced by ordinary workers. This novel gives working people a voice. If you love hardship, there will always be more hardship to bear. If you want to turn your life around, you can build a good life. Looking back on those years of 16Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 163 Half Making Do, Half Living Well 一半将就，一半美好 [The print edition is now available] Fear of marriage is the last thing on Ou Xiaolin’s mind. She and Xie Tao have been happily dating for five years, and their families get along well too. She assumes everything will fall into place and they’ll live happily ever after. Who could have guessed that the moment the families start discussing the bride price, one conflict after another would erupt? Lowbrow provocations come at her from every direction. Do they really think she’s that easy to push ar 13.6kReads9.3Score1.3k14d adds
- 164 Summer Tangerine Through the Seasons 夏橘的春夏秋冬 On a bright morning, a girl named Xia Ju transferred to a new school. Teacher: “Gu Bei, she’ll be your new deskmate from now on.” The boy nodded. Xia Ju looked at him. He was an exceptionally handsome boy. From that day on, the two of them were never apart again. A sweet romance from school days to the wedding aisle. 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 165 Power and Ambition in the Underworld: The Road to a Comeback 权欲江湖：逆袭之路 He Yu Hui started out as nothing more than a humble doctor. What opportunities did he encounter? What did he do? How much did he accomplish for the people? How high did he rise in government? What kind of story did he live as a man? This heartfelt work will show you one man’s path to growth and the rise of an honest official! [Grounded + Beauty + Political Career + Smart Protagonist] The early chapters are a bit cautious, but the later ones are incredibly satisfying. A must-read gem from Tomato 30Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 166 The Story of Three Working Girls 三个打工女孩的故事 Three young women of the same age, each from a different family background and with a different personality, head to Guancheng to find work. Set in the 1990s, their experiences capture the memories of an entire era. When their birth families are thrown into turmoil, should they stand by and do nothing, lend a hand, or sacrifice their dignity to help them through it? Some come to repay their parents' kindness, while others only cause their parents trouble. The three girls each have a different an 5.8kReads9.0Score49114d adds
- 167 Lane 23, Xinkangli 新康里23弄 Even today, you are still the light in my heart. 823Reads9.2Score10214d adds
- 168 A Post-90s Mountain Girl's Starry Sky 90后，山里姑娘的星空 [Diary] [First person] [No contrived twists] [Not a wish-fulfillment novel] [No overpowered protagonist] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Countryside] [Hardship] [Marriage] [Family bonds] The 1990s were full of life and energy, but they were also a Period when weeds grew unchecked. Many people born in the 1970s and 1980s went to the cities in pursuit of their dreams. Some worked hard for everything they had, while others lost themselves in the glittering world around them. This is a story a 187Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 169 Finding Love After Divorce 离婚后，找到爱 Also known as After My Divorce, I Married a Rugged Mechanic. A modern romance, one-on-one, between a flower shop owner and a rugged mechanic. The other man gets the girl? No, the second male lead does. Gu Mingzhu had been married to Xu Jianing for three years. They had dated since college, making it six years together in all. Everyone envied them, and she too thought they would grow old together. But who could have known that beneath their happy marriage lay nothing but devastation? Li Shao ran 11Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 170 Meeting Chen Yu 遇见陈宇 Tired of over-the-top dramas? Try this modern romance based on real experiences, with no System and no contrived drama. While picking out a bracelet for her best friend, Lin Xue meets Chen Yu, a cheerful, sunny programmer. The two weather life’s storms together and make several good friends, earning the nickname “The Seven Swordsmen.” The seven of them travel to Gumu Village, where one mishap follows another along the way. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 171 From the Start, I Sold Beer, and a Goddess Undercover Agent Took Out the Hitmen 开局卖啤酒，女神卧底坑杀手 Volume One: How Many Undercover Agents Are There? (Realistic Arc) [Undercover agents + goddess + no saintly heroine or simping + realism + values + intelligence] [No simps, white lotuses, self-righteous do-gooders, or scheming green-tea girls] [No sugary romance or obsessive romance fantasies, and no white-porridge sisters or cake sisters] (Read the realistic arc first, then the wild-imagination arc. It's funny and fun!) A major city in the south is a city that never sleeps. At ten at night, the 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 172 Two Years at Teachers’ College, She Stole My Heart 师专两年，她偷走了我的心 This book is the college-years installment of "Old Days in a Wineglass and a Telephone Receiver". In the fall of 1992, I arrived to register at Ancheng Normal College. The journey was forty kilometers. Tuition was 760 yuan. Eight boys squeezed into one dorm room. On the first day of class, we drew lots for our seats. I drew number 9, and she drew number 10. Numbers 9 and 10 sat together. Her name was Zheng Anlan. Over those two years, I got to know them: Wu Xiaoman, Zheng Anlan, Wang Ying, and G 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 173 The Silent Battlefield Between Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law 婆媳没有硝烟的战场 The conflict between Lin Xiao and her mother-in-law, Zhang Cuilan, keeps escalating. Then Lin Xiao undergoes a dramatic transformation, becoming independent and self-reliant. She lives life on her own terms and rewrites her future, until the road ahead finally opens up... 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 174 The Leisurely Life After Financial Freedom 财富自由后的悠闲生活 [No System + Urban Entrepreneurship + Traditional] In the spring of 2010, Lu Dalang, a senior at an agricultural university, was about to graduate. His girlfriend, Qian Mei, wanted to return to her hometown, where her parents had already arranged a job for her and she had familiar connections. Lu Dalang, determined to pursue his own future, angrily headed to the provincial capital. His girlfriend left him with one condition: “Buy a house, and come get me so we can live in the provincial capital. 4.1kReads8.2Score15314d adds
- 175 The Chinese Bodyguard 国产保镖 54Reads6.3Score87714d adds
- 176 Finding True Love Inside and Outside Marriage in Midlife 人到中年婚姻内外寻找真爱 Yang Duo is a flower in full bloom. Though she’s forty, she’s still young and beautiful. A woman in pursuit of true love, she yearns for romance and has spent her life exploring and experiencing it. A passionate love affair that nearly cost her life in her youth, a joyless marriage in middle age, and an unexpected encounter outside her marriage: whenever she falls for someone, she loves with wild abandon and suffers heartbreak that tears her apart. Her three close friends have very different l 637Reads8.7Score10114d adds
- 177 Great-Aunt Xile's Happy Life 姑奶奶喜乐的幸福生活 Home is a sheltered harbor, and family is always there to support you. This is a story about three generations of the Song family living happily in an old building on Tianjin's Five Avenues. It features Tianjin's delicious food, as well as the family's joys and sorrows over the past thirty years. 698Reads9.1Score10414d adds
- 178 A Conspiracy Within the Marriage 婚内合谋 After the passion fades, the leads settle into a dull married life, paying off their debts and living without intimacy. Then the male lead's best friend cheats, and through a twist of fate, the female lead receives hush money of 300,000 yuan. Her desire to make money suddenly awakens, and she joins forces with her husband to start a business. As they make money hand over fist, they rediscover the passion of their romance. Greed and the desires of love and hate collide in a tangle of human nature 58Reads—Score—14d adds
- 179 After Meeting 20 Matchmaking Prospects, I Got Married in a Flash 见了20个相亲对象后，我闪婚了 Before the New Year holiday, Su Tiantian was lured home with the promise of 200,000 yuan. The village really was handing out money from the sale of land, and they really did want to trick her into coming home early. Waiting for her was a steady stream of blind dates. There are all kinds of people in the world, and her parade of prospective matches left her laughing and crying in equal measure. She saw all sorts of human behavior, then got married on a whim. The blind dates were a beginning, and 2.2kReads8.6Score15614d adds
- 180 When Fate Arrives, Love Is Just That Sweet 缘分到了，就是那么甜 When Shen Yuyan was twenty-two, she had just started her teaching internship. A blind online date turned into a real-life meeting (though the male lead had already seen her) and she somehow ended up with a college student boyfriend. They began with a long-distance relationship, then moved in together, and went from her family opposing a marriage far from home to eventually giving their blessing. After a winding journey, they got married and had children, with plenty of little stories about getti 60Reads—Score—14d adds
- 181 Chunfen 春芬 Ni Chunfen had known since she was little that her parents were different from other children’s parents. They both spoke with sign language. But they lived a happy life. After Ni Chunfen graduated from college, her parents told her a secret: she was adopted. Now that she was grown up and looking for a job and a boyfriend, they decided to tell her. They didn’t want their daughter to become romantically involved with one of their biological sons. If she ever got serious about a boyfriend, she had 52Reads—Score—14d adds
- 182 At Thirty-Two, I Found a Love That Took Its Time 三十二岁，遇见慢半拍的爱 [Modern romance]+ [Heartwarming]+ [Everyday life] Synopsis of "At Thirty-Two, I Found a Love That Took Its Time" Betrayed on a rainy night in London, Su Ruowan gives up her dream of becoming an architect and returns to China, wounded and worn. She takes refuge in Wutong Lane, running “Late-Night Reading,” the used bookstore her father left her, and soothing her heart with old books and her cat, Pu'er. When the bookstore faces the threat of redevelopment, she meets Lu Zeyan, an architect who sp 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 183 A Glimmer of Light on a Dark Path, Breaking Free Like a Butterfly 暗途微光破茧成蝶 What do you think is the worst thing that can happen in life: losing your job or having your marriage fall apart? For me, Lin Yue, both came crashing down at the same time. I used to be the chief assembly engineer at an electronics factory, but the wave of layoffs swept me away. Then my husband cheated, and his mistress moved right into our home. My marriage was left in pieces. After the divorce, I was left to raise my thirteen-year-old daughter, Xiao Longnu, on my own. The weight of life’s pres 4Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 184 The Long Summer 悠长夏季 The quiet, secluded town of Guanhai welcomed two strange young men one after the other. From then on, the monotonous life of an eighteen-year-old high school girl was filled with laughter… But all good things must come to an end, and eventually they had to leave… Many years later, they unexpectedly met again, but everything had changed… 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 185 A Love Story in Chaoshan 潮汕情事 In the old homes of Chaoshan lie the wildest lives and the warmest hearts. In the 1970s and 80s, a group of Chaoshan people who refused to give up fought their way through poverty, loved through storms, and lived by the bonds between people. Some dared to fight and forge ahead, dragging their lives up out of the mud. Others were loyal and true, unwilling to betray anyone even when it cost them. Love brought tangled relationships, family brought its share of strain, and neighbors argued, but when 349Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 186 I Once Flew Thousands of Miles for You 为你，我曾飞越千万里 Before being sent to Africa, An Qi imagined endless grasslands and vast starry skies. After arriving, she found a struggling economy and lawless streets. On top of that, the exhausting workload and monotonous life made her want to find an excuse to quit every day. Then, because of one person, she fell in love with this city far from home... This story is dedicated to all the girls who still believe in love! (One man, one woman; both devoted to each other; a sweet romance with no angst) 241Reads9.0Score—14d adds
- 187 The Sinkhole Buyer 天坑买手 Miao Tian, a purchasing specialist at a real estate group, is sent to Mountain City on an urgent assignment. Thus begins a tumultuous, high-stakes battle in the real estate business. How will he face the deception, the ambushes, and the relentless pursuit? How will he emerge from the fog and be reborn through the flames? This book gradually unfolds a sweeping portrait of the real estate underworld. Remember: If you can't live the way you want, in the end you'll have to convince yourself to want 101Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 188 A Heart Unwilling to Give In 不甘的心 Some say that when God created humanity, He split each person in two: one half stayed in the mortal world, while the other was kept for Himself. Each was left to search among the crowds for the missing half of their own self. When faced with choices in an uncertain world, we always do everything we can to save the heart that refuses to give in. At the summit, we long to become wholly ourselves, perfectly united and standing tall amid the mundane realities of life. That defiant heart cries out: G 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 189 When Ji Comes, Make Yourself at Home 季来之，则安之 As the empire teeters on the brink of collapse, Ji Shuhe sees through her fiancé’s false affection and turns around to marry Ji Bai. She intends for them to spend their lives treating each other with polite respect, but finds herself falling deeper and deeper under his doting care... 126Reads—Score—14d adds
- 190 Chang'an Road Is Long 长安路远 [Urban daily life + romance + campus + friendship + work + emotional journey] Lin Da cherishes friendship, loves life, and longs for a beautiful future. He had a wonderful childhood and a colorful youth, and chose the love he wanted. Then, for the sake of making a living, he went far from home to work, and before he knew it, half his life had passed... Every encounter in life is part of its journey, and every encounter brings another story... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 191 The Family's Hidden Guards 家族暗卫 A story about rural revitalization, bringing a family back together and creating an ideal life. Before the Spring Festival in 2025, my second uncle asked me to return to the village to meet him. He handed me a black stone passed down through our family and told me to inherit the duty of the family’s secret guards, protecting our family’s development from the shadows. I also inherited a fortune passed down through the family, along with the friendship of eight families who had been close to o 7.8kReads—Score1k14d adds
- 192 A Middle-Aged Woman's Reckless Years 中年荒唐的女人 The story is about Yang Liu, an ordinary woman from the bottom of society. Hardworking and capable, she refuses to settle for an ordinary life, but ends up making a complete mess of things, surrounded by chaos and constant commotion... 2.7kReads8.6Score23014d adds
- 193 The Wife’s Mask 妻子的假面 His wife slips out to hotels and bars late at night. After looking into it, he discovers that beneath her gentle, virtuous exterior, she is hiding many secrets. After unmasking his wife, what should he do next... (P.S. No golden finger or supernatural abilities in this book, just the most genuine emotions.) 1.2kReads6.9Score10014d adds
- 194 Be Brave and Pursue Love: Falling for a Police Officer 勇敢去追爱，追着警察叔叔谈恋爱 This book is all about romance. It is not a story about a strong female lead! It is not a story about a strong female lead! When Chen Youyou was eight, she was in danger and was rescued by a young police officer. He became the man of her dreams, but by a twist of fate, that young officer later became her father’s sworn brother. More than ten years later, Chen Youyou is finally all grown up. Watch her overcome every obstacle on the road to love without fear! She bravely pursues romance, falling i 9.3kReads8.8Score77914d adds
- 195 A Heart-Pounding Marriage 怦然婚动 [Everyday life + Marriage Before Love + mutual devotion] Childhood friends Shatang and Shen Jingmo were both still single as they neared thirty. With their families playing matchmaker, they got married. On the day they registered their marriage, while they were having their full-body checkups, Shatang cornered Shen Jingmo against the wall. “Dr. Shen, would you like me to examine you now, or tonight?” The man trapped against the wall raised his brows slightly and replied in a husky voice, “Now is 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 196 There's a Girl in the Village Named Xiaofang 村里有个姑娘，叫小芳 This is not a love story. It's the life of an ordinary woman from the countryside. Xiaofang's story may well be the story of someone close to us. She once longed for a life in a prosperous big city. Later... 56Reads—Score—14d adds
- 197 Love Among the Mountains and Rivers 山水情 (Urban slice of life, inspirational growth, a nostalgic era, rich in detail) The beauty of mountains and rivers, the many faces of humanity, the fickleness of the world. The protagonist, Jiang Nan, knows right from wrong and values loyalty and affection. He grows from a poor boy who suffers humiliation into a fine young man admired by everyone. This story is grounded in real life, with family bonds, friendship, romance, and a deep love for his hometown. He leads the villagers to prosperity, ris 14.6kReads9.1Score1.6k14d adds
- 198 Zhi You: Mom, Take Me with You 知柚：妈妈，带我一起走 [Growing Up with a Little One] [A Post-90s Mom's Comeback] [No Romance] [No Male Lead] "Mommy, don't go..." Youyou buried her face in Lin Sui's neck, her muffled sobs coming one after another. "Youyou will be good. Don't leave me..." Lin Sui stroked her daughter's back again and again. Her voice steadied, then trembled, then steadied again. "Be good and listen, Youyou. Mommy is only leaving for a little while. I'll find a way to come back for you, I promise." The man standing in the entryw 98Reads—Score—14d adds
- 199 Chang'an County 长安县 “Golden Zhouzhi, silver Huxian, Chang’an County is where they kill and burn...” goes a saying in Shaanxi. The author takes you into Chang’an County, where they kill and burn. This panoramic portrait of the customs and local life of Chang’an County, Xi’an, Shaanxi, depicts rural life in all its unvarnished authenticity: an ancient village, a great burial mound rising from the earth, and four clans descended from the tomb guardians... A secret buried for a thousand years, the scheming and rivalrie 4.6kReads9.2Score43314d adds
- 200 My Life After Escaping to Lijiang 我逃离到丽江的生活 A disillusioned young man at the lowest point in his life drifts from city to city, enduring one hardship after another. At last, he and a friend embark on a journey of redemption. When they reach the dreamlike city of Lijiang, he encounters a curious connection spanning three thousand kilometers and meets all kinds of fascinating people. His ordinary life takes a turn, and a story of love and hate quietly begins to unfold. 303Reads8.3Score2314d adds
