Novels like In Search of Happiness
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as In Search of Happiness, best match first.
- 1 A Kiss in the Lost Warcraft City 迷失魔兽城之吻 Lost in Warcraft City: Kiss is a standalone sister story to the first part of the Qiongnan Stories, Beautiful and Enchanting. Centered on Yun Lala and Hu Zihao, it tells the story of a mining scandal that is both real and illusory, depicting the lives of men and women in a plateau city who pursue money and pleasure, only to lose their souls. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 I Turned Myself into a High-Speed Shredder 我把自己活成了一台高速运转的碎纸机 I turned myself into a high-speed shredder. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Blending into the Dust, Shining with the Light 和其光同尘 Assistant vs. Boss The new Vice President Chen wasn’t parachuted in. She was dropped in like an airstrike! A new boss has three fires to light, and she’s the one getting burned. She’s the chicken sacrificed to scare the monkeys... 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Years Like Water: The Celestial Firmament Arc 似水流年之星穹篇 Even if we are ultimately a school of fish trapped in a cage, don’t forget: beneath the night sky, the pond can become a magnificent sea of stars. A poem about contemporary Chinese people pursuing true romance and freedom. Reality makes love a fleeting moment; we make it eternal. Years from now, I will once again hold a yellow rose in the evening breeze. Then I’ll know: you’ve come back. (Postmodernism, central romance plot, youth and campus life, high quality, social reflection) —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Alluring Beauty 美色妖娆 Centered on the tumultuous life of the beautiful dancer Yangjin Lamu, this novel tells a tragic story set in Qiongnan on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It reveals the vicissitudes of human life, where power, desire, the soul, and love intertwine. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Hedgehog’s Secret 刺猬的秘密 Abandoned as a child, she survived by scavenging for scraps. After returning to school, she gradually emerged from the darkness, helped a friend build a business, and rose to become a corporate executive. Then she left behind the glittering nightlife and opened an inn in a small border town... She met people along the way, caught in tangled conflicts and contradictions. Some kept their love hidden in their hearts; others gave in to temptation for a moment. In the end, she would forget every one —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Qianmo Xuan’s New Book 浅墨萱的新书 At 16, Xu Ling gave up taking the high school entrance exam after her mother slapped her. She met Chen Wen, her boyfriend, who was 12 years older than her, but her parents opposed their relationship too. During their ten-year romance, she wavered more than once. But neither the vibrant college student she had an emotional affair with, nor Lin Yiming, her classmate who had always loved her, nor the company executive introduced to her by others could make her leave Chen Wen. In the end, their love —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Live, and Never Bow Your Head 活着，不低头 In the shifting urban landscape, the rat race surges like a tide. Degrees lose their value, people worry about their status, incomes are unstable, and relationships become emotionally draining. Reality is harsh, ideals are lofty, and every step is a struggle against life. Some grit their teeth and work overtime until they become machines; some lie awake at midnight, lamenting how hard life is; others set off elsewhere in pursuit of their dreams, trying to find themselves amid the endless hustle. 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Summer We First Met 那年夏天初相识 [A free-spirited young writer and a home-loving Chinese teacher find meaning in life because they meet each other.] “Shen Ye, do you love me?” “I do.” “How much?” “Enough to want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Shen Ye returned to his empty home alone. Waiting for him was still only the light he had switched on before leaving. He lay on the bed, worn out, and gradually drifted off to sleep. That night, he had a dream. He dreamed he was back at the entrance to the vocational school from y —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Great Wall Stands Forever 万里长城永不倒 After working in secondary education for many years, the author later moved to a newspaper to work as an editor. They are a senior teacher and senior editor, and have published numerous articles in newspapers and magazines, as well as the full-length novels Blood Ties of Love and Hope, among others. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 The Song of Life 人生之歌 Centered on the decades-long life of Huang Wenbin and his family, this novel vividly portrays their family’s troubled fate, joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, and tangled loves and hatreds. Through their story, we see Huang Wenbin and his family’s inspiring journey, as well as the warmth and coldness of human relationships in the real world. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Delivery Countdown: Chen Qing’s 87 Days 快递倒计时：陈庆的87天 Modern life, everyday people, no System, ordinary protagonist, suspense, relationships, revenge, the warmth of daily life, stories about those around us My name is Chen Qing. I’ve been delivering packages in western Jiangzhou for six years. I’m awkward with words and have no special skills; I support my family with a beat-up electric scooter. My father suffered a second stroke, and the doctor gave me an ultimatum: 87 days, 80,000 yuan for surgery. If we couldn’t raise it, he was done for. I sear —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Wife's Lies: Bonus Stories 妻子的谎言番外篇 I watched as my wife got into the car. It was a long while before she got out. What shocked me was that after she stepped out, she straightened her skirt, then even reached out a finger to wipe the corner of her mouth. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Shadows of the City: Ling Dongyang 都市暗影之凌冬阳 This novel explores the undercurrents lurking beneath modern urban life and the growth of an individual. With its suspenseful plot, complex relationships, and keen social insight, it portrays an ordinary person's struggles and perseverance in the city, as well as his journey to find hope in the darkness. Through Ling Dongyang's eyes, readers will gradually uncover the truth and experience a battle of courage, wisdom, and humanity. The protagonist, Ling Dongyang, is a young man who has been throu —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The One I Love Most Is Her 最爱的人是她 [Landlord] + [CEO] + [Realistic] + [No Harem] + [A Little Heartbreak] + [Urban Romance] On a dark, stormy night, I ran into her again. “It's just a guitar. Seriously? You even followed me?” The rain kept pouring, but she denied following me. I couldn't get a cab in this downpour. Maybe I should graciously let her drive me home... Because of a guitar, she and I kept trying to outsmart each other. I just don't get it. You're a big-time landlord and CEO, so why are you so hung up on my guitar? Don' 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 My Love, Like the Winter Wind and the Proud Sun 卿似寒风骄阳 “A disabled, insecure tycoon × a stubborn, gentle little bunny” “Redemption / large age gap / he falls first” He has been to prison, is older, walks with a limp, and is consumed by insecurity and self-loathing. She is strong and gentle, with the power to melt the ice in his heart. Ning Zhiyuan has walked the thorny road alone countless times. Just as fate’s shackles threaten to drag him into the abyss, he meets Lu Shuyu, and all things spring back to life. After a lifetime of hardship and wander —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 A Complete Failure! A Young Wife Helps Turn My Luck Around 一败涂地！少妇帮我改财运 [Off-the-Charts Realism] + [Born Under a Lucky Star] + [Comeback Against the Odds] + [Financial Mogul] Zhang Qi, a graduate of a prestigious university, was a rising star in finance. But after a friend swindled him, he shut down the company he had just started, lost all his cash, and put his wife and daughter in danger. He had hit rock bottom. At his lowest point, Li Wanwan appeared. Zhang Qi had helped her for free many years ago, and she was born with a lucky-star constitution. Together, they 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 The Comeback: My Female Roommate 逆袭：我的合租女舍友 [Can't live without making fun of things] [A witty young man] [The road to a comeback] “May you and I both become masters of our own lives” chronicles an ordinary young man's struggles, growth, and tangled romances in the present day. A friend gets hooked on gambling. He goes through a beautiful woman's PUA tactics. Old friends turn into rivals over money. Behind human nature, is everything as fickle as the clouds? A down-and-out young man graduates only to find himself unemployed, and reluctant 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Maid in the Presidential Suite 总统套房的女佣 Born into poverty, a young woman heads south to the city to support her family. She takes a job as a room attendant at a five-star hotel, making beds, cleaning toilets, and vacuuming every day. Along the way, she gets entangled with several male guests and attracts their attention. Naive and inexperienced, she tries to change her fate, but gradually loses her way in the city of desire... 247Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 20 Dreams of the Green-Brick Mansion 青砖楼梦 The Green Brick House Dream uses literary techniques to create vivid settings and characters, seeking to portray the lives of ordinary people over the forty years of China's reform and opening-up. Spanning forty years, the story follows eight households in the Liu family compound on Sandao Guai Street in Chengdu, faithfully recreating the loves and hates, joys and sorrows of ordinary people in Chinese society. People centuries from now, looking back on how lives changed during the forty years o —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Escaping a Life Under Someone Else’s Control 逃离被控制的人生 My parents divorced. My sister went with my father, while I followed my mother into her new marriage. Then Mom had a son. My biological father keeps hounding me, always wanting me to change my name and take his surname. I took my stepfather’s surname, but when I need money, there’s no one there for me. I can only keep going on my own. All I want is to escape a life where I’m controlled. 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 A Scoundrel’s Repentance 人渣的忏悔 I was born into poverty and grew up through one hardship after another. My heart had died, but I had no regrets. An unexpected stroke of luck turned my life around and let me experience a different kind of life. If there is another life, I would never be reincarnated as a human again, because this world is too terrifying! 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 When the Dragon Pool Weeps 龙潭鸣泣之时 In the hot, humid southern city of Minglong, an urban legend about a flood dragon’s emergence stirs public unease alongside relentless rain. No one knows that in Cuilong Pool outside the city, an injured flood dragon that has lain dormant for a thousand years is awaiting a victim’s blood to fulfill an ancient pact and bring it back to life. While researching a dissertation on water management during the Northern Song dynasty, history PhD Lin Zhe accidentally uncovers ancient texts about Cuilong —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 After One Kiss 一吻之后 Ten years ago, Ni Ya met a handsome man named Lu Jingnan at Langyuan. Their relationship began with a kiss and ended with a kiss. Ten years later, Ni Ya returned to Langyuan, now engaged to her boyfriend. People from her past began appearing in her life again, bringing new stories with them. Before long, Ni Ya realized that the place she had once thought beautiful seemed full of lies and deceit. After Ni Ya and Lu Jingnan reunited, her love life began to change as well. Then a murder took place, 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 A Leap to the Top 飞上枝头 Rising to the Top —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 Don't Beg Me to Come Back After I Leave 别在我离开后，再求我回来 [The Ex-Wife Chase of Regret + Mutual Devotion + Angst and Sweetness + Push and Pull to the Limit] Jiang Fannan: I know he loves me, and I know he’ll give up on me. So I leave. He Qingyan: I know she still loves me, and I know she’ll never come back. So I wait for her! 3Reads—Score114d adds
- 27 The Story of Fei Xin’s Daughter 飞新的女传 [Marriage + Domestic Abuse + Divorce + Blind Date + Online Romance + Finding True Love + Sweet Romance + Silent Treatment] At twenty, Fei Xin was set up by her parents, went on a blind date, got married, suffered domestic abuse, and divorced. At twenty-three, she met an online boyfriend five years younger than her. They got married and had a child! Married Life + Sweet Romance + Silent Treatment —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Cleaning Up the City 都市里的激浊扬清 Wherever there are people, there are rivalries and intrigue. Power struggles, bribery, and temptation: the past flashed before Wang Pei’s eyes. Swirling the wine in his stemmed glass, he sighed, “It’s all behind me now. Building a beautiful countryside is what matters.” Yi Huan crooked a finger at him and smiled. “So, you’ve finally come around?” “I came around ages ago. Green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver. Since I’ve been given this opportunity, I’m 398Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 29 The Zhar Woman’s Struggle 渣女的奋斗 A beautiful young woman refuses to become anyone's kept woman. When she faces a string of sinister schemes, she unexpectedly finds a benefactor. By a twist of fate, she escapes the danger of being framed. Hoping to change her circumstances, she runs into troublesome relatives, then heads abroad to work and build a better life. There are outrageous twists, nerve-racking schemes, fights for survival, and deceitful deals. She not only finds love and happiness, but also makes a great success of hers 32Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 30 Fitness Legend: Building Muscle, Becoming King 健身传奇，逐肌成王 Jiang Mo, an internet-addicted young man crushed by life, finally awakens the Bodybuilding System! From a scrawny gaming addict to the boss of the gym, from getting chased around by Scarface to taking down the entire criminal underworld! He forms a team with the gym's five beauties, crushes injustice with muscle, and sweats his way to the top! This is a high-octane bodybuilding legend about a weakling beating the odds, chasing his dreams one muscle at a time, punching bullies and kicking dirtbag 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 The Strange, Millennia-Long Journey of a Soul from Earth Up the Well 一个地球灵魂的诡异千年升井历程 [Soft sci-fi, Chinese aesthetics, near future, derivative universe, Well of Fate, no harem, no formulaic tropes, not for beginners, no System, no invincibility, no brainless antics. A distinctive flavor, so please read with care!] ·It's hard to know when the most important moment of your life will come. Not until every cell in your body screams to remind you: it's here, right now!, One of the standard slogans of the Asian Derivative Universe Joint Retirement Center. Perhaps the years have been f 3Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 32 Beneath the Kunlun Ruins: Weakwater Illuminates the Dark City 昆仑墟下：弱水照玄都 This is a sweeping graphic novel rooted in Gansu's eight thousand years of civilization. Blending two-world transmigration, Chinese-style science fiction, cultural preservation, and human awakening, it takes "staying true" as its soul and "passing things on" as its backbone. As cyber-futurism collides with ancient heritage, it exposes capital's mutilation of culture and algorithms' distortion of humanity, telling a passionate story of ordinary people resisting a standardized world. Late one nigh —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Love in the Peach Blossoms 爱在桃花灿烂时 The male lead, Yang Tao, is an average-looking young man who secretly loves the female lead, Yan Haizhen, while they are at university. After graduation, they go their separate ways. For love, he leaves a major first-tier city and moves to Jiyuan, a small city in western Henan. There he encounters formidable rivals: the handsome and talented Yi Bin, and Li Qiang, a rich second-generation heir. With help from classical poets Dong Bin and Gao Feng, can he stage a successful comeback? This is a rom —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 I'm Not a Monster! 我不是怪物呀 I, Chen Dou'er, was born in the countryside with congenital defects: ears as small as beans and a cleft lip. Because I was ugly, I endured discrimination throughout my childhood and tasted every kind of hardship life had to offer. Fortunately, I was exceptionally gifted and had a remarkable aptitude for music and painting. Most importantly, I met benefactors when I was young. They pulled me out of the mire. Later, I moved to the city with my friends and won over countless audiences with my talen —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 In Search of Tear Glands 寻找泪腺 A new work is out! I hope you'll head over to Tomato Novel to read it. I hope you enjoy it. Your support is what motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 A Kitten's Diary 1 小猫的日记1 An Der and An Der Ah are the same person. For certain reasons, I lost access to my old account, so I started a new one to write this book, A Kitten's Diary. A cow cat accidentally saves a short-legged orange cat. The two cats rely on each other as they wander the streets, then, through a twist of fate, are adopted by humans together and meet a big golden retriever. From then on, the two cats and one dog live happily ever after. (Not really.) 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 The Factory Girl's Comeback 工厂打工妹的逆袭 Song Xinyue’s husband, Zhou Jun, is idle and hopelessly addicted to gambling, leaving the family in dire financial straits. With no other choice, Song Xinyue painfully entrusts her young daughter to her in-laws and goes away to work on her own. How will the people and events she encounters at the factory change her life? Is this an opportunity or a trap? Hope or despair? Let’s step into her story together... 52Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 The Working World: A Close-Up Look at 10 True Workplace Stories 职人江湖：直击10段真实职场故事 A look at the hidden side of all kinds of modern professions: a restaurant chef’s secrets, a bar hostess’s romance, a down-and-out painter’s means of survival, online scammers’ traps and lies, a tour guide’s life in chains, counterfeit money production, beauty and ugliness beneath the surgeon’s scalpel... Beneath those glossy surfaces may lie a stubborn struggle, covered in mud! Told in the first person, this takes you face-to-face with lives that are both harshly real and fiercely alive. 96Reads9.3Score—14d adds
- 39 Jin Hanzi’s New Novel: Blood, Tears, and Family Bonds 金瀚子的新书血泪亲情 My new work is out now! You’re welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! Blood Ties of Love is written in the traditional chapter-by-chapter novel format. It has 148 chapters and two million Chinese characters. The novel carefully portrays the shining image of veteran revolutionary cadres such as Gao Yang and Fang Yuqing, who uphold the Party’s principles, show courage and perseverance, and devote t 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 A Small-Town Story at Full Speed 小城故事一路狂奔 Having grown up without a father's love, he once had a happy family and a steady career. Then, out of nowhere, he got divorced, lost his job, and was plagued by nightmares. His life hit rock bottom. At his lowest point, he chose to start a business and met her while she was working a part-time job. Fate had other plans: after a change in her mother's identity came to light, she became a wealthy heiress. He raced toward love, never wavering in his devotion despite repeated romantic setbacks. On —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 The Scoundrel's Struggle 人渣奋斗史 I came with nothing and leave loaded with everything. Conscience? What a useless piece of shit. I ditched it ages ago. Kindness is for God; evil is what belongs in this world. Sure, I didn't get much schooling, but I'm not asking for much. I just want a good life. I had nothing to begin with, so what have I got to fear? Just do it! 283Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 42 Before the Breeze Rises 清风未起 In everyone else’s eyes, Yang Leyu and Jiang Shan were a perfect match, unequaled by anyone. But from the very first moment Chen Haoyu saw her, he couldn’t forget the gentle, graceful girl standing before him. Later, he learned her name: Yang Leyu. “You’re sure you want to pursue Yang Leyu?” “Yeah.” “I hear she’s really hard to win over.” “I’d say you two aren’t even on the same wavelength.” “This time, I’m serious.” “If we had only a hundred years to live between us, what would you do?” “Then w 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 That's Mr. Hao, the Teacher Who Never Sticks to His Job 是不务正业的郝老师啊 Lighthearted, funny, warm, and uplifting, Teacher Hao may seem like he is “neglecting his proper duties,” but he is thoughtful and has a strong moral compass. He motivates underachiever Wang Hao to turn his life around with a game-based bet, firmly stands up for Chen Mo when he is bullied, and warmly supports Zhang Yu, a student in extreme financial hardship. He gently guides an academically gifted student through an early romance and repeatedly takes a stand against unreasonable teaching arrang 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Meeting You Was Such a Beautiful Thing 遇见你是那样的美好 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 Real Life: A Middle Schooler's Journey as a Writer 真实人生：一个初中生的写作路 A real life, a painful past: I grew up poor and frail, plagued by illness. At fifteen, I dropped out of school and began pursuing my literary dream at home. After having my work rejected time and again, I finally saw my first-ever piece published. It also became the last thing I ever published in print. Then I turned to the internet and began my journey as a web novelist. 21Reads8.0Score214d adds
- 46 The Loves of Women 女人们的爱情 Women’s Love: Family Memories Across Time is a long-form work of documentary fiction by Hen Jiangyin. Based on true stories from the author’s own family and enriched by extensive interviews with local people, it focuses on the Zhang, Xia, and Li families, vividly tracing the lives of the four Li sisters, the six Xia siblings, and the three Zhang brothers. Their stories are full of twists and turns and deeply moving moments, leaving a lasting impression. The women’s love stories are especially st 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 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 204Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Hello, Male Streamer 你好，男主播 Gu Cheng is a hugely popular male news anchor at a television station. Standing 184 centimeters tall, with a handsome face and a deep, resonant voice, he scores highly in every way and has a “secret weapon” no one knows about. He comes from a poor family: his father is a gambling addict, his mother is weak-willed, and he has a sister with cerebral palsy and a disabled older brother. Yet through hard work, he got into a Project 211 university, then entered television with the help of a “benefacto —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 I’m a Heartbreaker, So What? 我是渣女，我怕谁 If no amount of hard work can change your fate, what’s the point of striving? What good is hard work? You might as well throw away your conscience. That’s the only way to live well, though you may end up bringing disaster upon yourself. By the time you regret it, it’ll be too late. There’s no cure for regret in life! 225Reads5.9Score10014d adds
- 50 Reborn, I Beat the Big Bad to a Pulp 重生后，爆打大反派 Aqi, an office worker, is framed and killed, then stumbles into the Third Realm! Guided by a goat-man there, Aqi goes through twelve cycles of death and resurrection and finally finds the culprit. But the truth goes far beyond that...! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
