Novels like In Search of Happiness
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as In Search of Happiness, best match first.
- 51 The Art of Scheming 奸术 [Read the first 10 chapters patiently, and you'll see that this world is full of traps!] Life is short. You can never be too cautious. Learn how society really works, and watch out for scams! Zhang Quanlin started out as a salesman and eventually became a business owner. Through his own experiences, he reveals the many traps and pitfalls lurking in society! From the author of The Crooked Merchant, a new book that teaches you how to avoid being scammed. 58Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 52 Sing Out for Youth 唱响青春 College is an important milestone in our lives, and those years can be truly wonderful. Everyone explores, searches, moves forward, perseveres, and waits for something in their own way. We all remember our college days differently, with our own distinct feelings and experiences. It was a time when we still wrote letters, listened to portable music players, and watched movies on discs, before mobile phones were everywhere. When those sealed-away years are reopened and brought back to life, when t 1Reads—Score114d adds
- 53 My Years as a Drifter in Zhengzhou 我的郑漂那些年 What is it like for a country boy fresh out of college to fall in love with a local young woman from a family that got rich from demolition in an unfamiliar provincial capital? This book tells a story drawn from real experience... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 Blueberry, the Leftover Woman 剩女蓝莓 Blueberry is an unmarried woman who’s still living at home. She has two unreliable best friends: Mihua is a bit of a flirt who teases men and ended up kicked out by her husband with nothing, while Feifei loves mahjong and dreams only of marrying into a wealthy family… Three women, and plenty of drama. Love, ethics, human nature… They say hotpot is all about the lively world around the table. Our story begins with a hotpot meal… The story is a slow burn. I hope you’ll enjoy it! 42Reads—Score—14d adds
- 55 Slightly Downcast: Deleting My Love-Brain 轻颓：删除恋爱脑 [Period Novel] [Realistic Fiction] [Women’s Growth] [Family Life] [Literary] Northeast China at the end of the last century. Su Qing (Qing), a 26-year-old cashier at a state-owned enterprise, is burned badly by her obsession with romance: blind dates bring one oddball after another, and her husband cheats on her. Her in-laws find fault with everything she does, the state-owned enterprise undergoes restructuring and offers buyouts of years of service, and she faces constant trouble at work. In th 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 Men and Women in the Stock Market 股海男女 Ren Shaocheng doubled his money on Yongfeng stock warrants, and used his earnings to help Jiang Meimei. Jiang Meimei went to Hainan Province to make a living, while Ren Shaocheng married Pan Lan, a woman from the countryside. They later divorced. Ren Shaocheng married Yan Hua for love, but after Yan Hua failed at government bond futures, she took her own life. Jiang Meimei returned from Hainan Province to Chengdu and joined six others in forming the Limit-Up Whirlwind Team in the large-investor 11Reads—Score114d adds
- 57 The Rugged Road to Officialdom 官道崎岖 During an era of sweeping reform, Li Chengfeng had only just entered public service when his parents suddenly passed away. With them gone, his various connections grew cold as people drifted away. Heartbroken and with a bleak future ahead, Li Chengfeng experienced an extraordinary stroke of fortune in a chance accident. A person's fate can change in an instant. From then on, Li Chengfeng carved a path through the thorns, leading all the way to the halls of power. 18.4kReads8.5Score2.5k14d adds
- 58 You Are the Morning Light 你是晨光 She is a top student with a story to tell, and he is the school's famous heartthrob. Their paths once ran parallel, but then the two teenagers crossed paths, got to know each other, and fell for each other. After middle school, he joined the military while she continued her studies. Years passed, and letters were their only connection. His love was reserved, deep, and tangled; hers was pure, wholehearted, and devoted. After countless heartbreaks, she decided to give up. Her parting words were: “ 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 59 Decal Worker 贴花女工 Tags: Modern romance + workplace + office romance + strong heroine + taking down scumbags + ensemble cast + secret crush + spoiled brat + suspense + crime-solving This story is set in the post-pandemic era, amid escalating trade wars and the push for dual circulation in domestic and international markets, as businesses upgrade and transform. It follows a group of decal-decorating women at an eccentric ceramics factory. In a world of scheming, cliques, jealousy, and fierce wits, how do they manag 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 60 The Heavenly Dao's Darling Transmigrates into a Book: The Xu Family's Daughter Comes of Age 天道闺女穿书：徐家有女初长成 As the Heavenly Dao’s beloved daughter, she spends her days doing only two things: nothing useful, and causing trouble over little things. She plays with fire and burns down the Temple of the King of Hell, tangles her flower ropes and wreaks havoc at the Matchmaker’s Shrine, and casually tosses aside a peach from the offerings she’s picked over, causing a severe drought in the mortal world. The immortals can’t take it anymore and all complain to the Heavenly Dao. To silence them, he has no choic 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 61 Reborn with a Pocket Dimension, I Kick My Cruel, Ungrateful Family to the Curb 带空间重生脚踹白眼狠全家 On her sixtieth birthday, Du Xiulan was so infuriated by her own children that she died, only to discover she was the wicked, disposable mother-in-law in a period novel. [Ding! Host resentment level MAX detected. Loving Mother Space activated... No, wait, it should be the “Killing Spree Space”!] [Space Ability 1: Unlimited storage.] [Space Ability 2: Two-way teleportation between 1983 and 2026, for two hours a day.] Of course, the space can be upgraded, extending the time she can spend there. Re 115Reads—Score—14d adds
- 62 They All Call Me a Fool 他们都叫我傻子 [Childhood, school, love, memories, partings and deaths, reflections on life] When I was young, I thought that if I stuck with something, I could surely make it happen. Only later did I understand that everything ultimately comes down to fate. When Cao Lina and I hooked pinkies and made our promise, I was sure I could keep it. In the end, though, nothing went as I had hoped. When Han Jiayi told me, “I’ll wait for you at university,” all that awaited us in the end was a curtain call and a crowd d 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 63 Tempest in the Business World: A Game of Gratitude and Revenge 商海风云：恩仇之局 Jiang He and Hu Kai were college roommates, sharing the bunk bed in their dorm. After graduation, they started a business together. Both fell in love with Chen Hong, but her heart always belonged to Jiang He. As their company grew, tensions arose between the two men. Hu Kai framed Jiang He, forcing him to leave the company, then used underhanded means to marry Chen Hong. Jiang He faked his death and fled to the United States. Decades later, the company Hu Kai took over has become a nationally re —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 64 A Working Girl’s Life Through Wind and Rain 打工女孩的风雨人生路 In the 1990s, a wave of migrant workers swept across the country, and countless young people left their hometowns for the big cities. The dazzling neon lights of the metropolis conjured one fantasy after another, while burying the youth of so many. Longing for a fresh start, the naive young Zhou Jie joined the great wave heading south. From getting a factory job to running away, from falling on hard times to fighting her way forward, she had to tread carefully at every step. She thought that a 259Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 65 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
- 66 The Rest of My Life: Becoming a Woman Not to Be Crossed 余生：做个不好惹的女人 On the day she is diagnosed with cancer, Du Mengyao is also in a car accident. As she teeters on the brink of death, she is bound to the “Death and Resurrection Experiment System.” When she is critically ill but conscious, she learns that her husband not only doesn't love her, but has long been cheating on her with her best friend. Her father once wanted to give her away to clear a path for himself. The younger brother she had devoted herself to has long hated her with a passion. Even her mother 233Reads7.0Score—14d adds
- 67 My Beijing Girl 我的北京女孩 A young man with nothing going for him can't move on after a breakup. When he accompanies a friend to Beijing, he encounters new things and new people... His life quietly changes course. What kind of love story will he find as he sets out to reclaim his dream? 127Reads—Score1314d adds
- 68 The Man Climbing the Slope 爬坡的男人 Niu Qiang was an honest man. He believed true love could last forever, but true love was like a knife, each cut leaving a wound. The saddest thing in the world is an honest heart with nothing to its name, and tenderness that has nothing to offer. When the woman he loved left, Niu Qiang promptly changed course in life, struggling through countless hardships to become what people call a successful man. But what did that matter? He still hadn't found the love and tenderness he'd once known. Marriag 305Reads8.7Score—14d adds
- 69 The Ugly Duckling's Love 丑小鸭之恋 Dual happy endings, everyday life, period setting, a story within a story, no rebirth, no System. This is a slow-burn novel, and the early plot is fairly realistic. A sweet, fluffy everyday romance. The plain, duckling-like child bride turns out to be a swan. The male lead has been poisoned by Tomato BBS, and when the family takes his child-bride sister away, she starts writing angsty romance novels in the style of Tomato's fake-netorare stories, driving university students wild with laughter! N 16Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 70 Counterforce 反势 The difficult career path of an ordinary young man: the humdrum life of an office worker reveals the limitless greed, intrigue, and deceit of human nature. He keeps feeling his way forward through the complexities of work and life. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 A New Book by The Jasmine Blossoms Again by the Window 窗前的茉莉花又开了的新书 In the 1980s and 1990s, the only way for children from the countryside to land a secure job and become urban residents was to pass the entrance exams. Yue'er was one of them. The road to an education was long. Her childhood sweetheart turned into a stranger, her husband passed away, and she faced betrayal and false accusations... How many years of ups and downs in the business world? Life is like a dream. What is there to seek? Like a jasmine flower in the wind and rain, Yue'er swayed precarious 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 72 The Three Beauties of the Su Family 苏家三美 [Contemporary Urban Fiction + Uplifting + Down-to-Earth] The love stories of three sisters: Marrying up, marrying on equal terms, or marrying down? What does it really take to marry happily? If you've run out of shows to watch lately, come read my book! Reading it is just like binge-watching a TV series. You'll definitely fall in love with the three beautiful Su sisters! Su Yimei marries into a wealthy family. She's a clever, strong female lead, and I'll do her justice! Su Ermei is physically di 1.2kReads8.8Score11414d adds
- 73 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 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 Women, Houses, and Everything in Between 女人与房子那些事儿 An unremarkable woman stops at nothing, steadily climbing the ranks until she makes a stunning comeback and becomes the president of a real estate company. Her life is full of hardships and almost legendary twists. The novel also reveals many little-known secrets of the real estate industry. 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 Dustbound Love, Nan Nan 尘缘楠楠 The marriage between Chen Yuan and Nannan, the everyday business of rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, and all the twists and turns of life, its sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty moments, a jumble of emotions... [Urban Life] [Married Life] [Ordinary Lives] 9Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 76 I’m Really Not a Spineless Sheep 我真不是沸羊羊 [Urban + Livestreaming + System + Transmigration + Multiple Heroines + No Simp] I awakened a livestreaming System, and its very first mission was to make me livestream from the busiest matchmaking corner in the city. If women can set their requirements in matchmaking, men can set theirs too. But after I livestreamed my matchmaking sessions, all the women wanted to date me. Girl Next Door: “You're a good man. I'm the only one who truly understands you.” Fashion Director: “You're not like other me 9Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 77 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
- 78 A Comeback: The Most Thrilling Lives Belong to Those Who Never Give Up! 逆袭，不服输的人生最精彩！ Hua Feng was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of his life. But overnight, not only did his beautiful wife run off with a pretty boy, the woman also made off with the millions he had scraped together through countless hardships, leaving nothing but a complete mess... Life’s dramatic ups and downs came far too quickly. He could only start over from scratch! Want to laugh at me? Get lost! What, you want me to back down? Who do you think you are? Keep dreaming! Watch as a man who has hit rock b 117Reads—Score—14d adds
- 79 A Glimmer of Light 有一抹光亮 Men and women come and go in this world, like a ceaseless river. Liu Fang, a sixteen-year-old girl from the countryside, was chased away by her father and uncle after sneaking a bite of a white-flour bun. Meanwhile, Zheng Nan, twenty-seven and living in the city, was struggling to stay afloat in the whirlpool of survival and marriage. Liu Fang was determined to make a life for herself in the city, and was willing to trade her young body for it again and again. Zheng Nan wanted her husband, who k 202Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 80 Spring Tea Party 春天茶话会 My client lives across the hall, and he even takes out my trash for me. A workplace and daily-life sitcom about city professionals who love and fight each other. A light, easy read that doesn't make you think too hard! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 My Battle With Marriage 我和婚姻的战斗 Ning Yue’s husband, Hu Cheng, cheated on her while she was pregnant. Ning Yue decided to divorce him, only to discover that she had no means of supporting herself! If she divorced him, she might not even be able to make a basic living, let alone gain custody of her child! Ning Yue was steady and composed. Though her heart had turned to ash and she was suffering from postpartum depression, she still did her best to keep herself together. With every disadvantage stacked against her, how could she 1.9kReads9.5Score23314d adds
- 82 Turbid Waters 浊浪之水 The author drew on three decades of real hospital experience to write this work. The protagonist, Ye Chunguang, works diligently and strives to improve, leading the staff out of a slump. Yet in the wider climate, he finds it impossible to stay above the fray. Zhao Chengshi is a leading figure in the healthcare system, outspoken and decisive, but loses his way amid social upheaval. The two leaders of Songjiang Province’s healthcare system meet tragic ends: one dies of illness while in detention, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 83 When the Music Ends, We Part: Part One 曲终人散第一部 The protagonist, Chongzi, is a terrible person! Because of relevant laws and regulations, I can't fully write about just how terrible he is. So the ending he gets is only to be expected. This is an ordinary, unremarkable story, not a power fantasy and unrelated to transmigration. It's so ordinary you could see something like it happening in everyday life. It might not be very appealing, but the author did their best. This is the best I can do. If you think it's decent, look for the second book, 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 After Tricking and Pressuring My Ex into Having Someone Else's Baby, I Disappeared and Ran 哄骗怂恿前女友生下别人孩子后，我失联跑路了 After tricking and persuading my ex-girlfriend to give birth to another man’s child, I cut off contact and ran away. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 Running Toward the Far Side of the Mountain 向山那边奔跑 Why we recommend it: This is an uplifting novel for young readers... A story that helps children develop a better understanding of growing up. Life is full of all kinds of challenges, and this book teaches readers how to think clearly and face them with optimism and a positive attitude… Synopsis: The protagonist, Xiaoyong, grew up without a father, born at the foot of the mountains and subjected to endless humiliation. He has many battles of wits along the way. The brief time he spends livin 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 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
- 87 The Insider 内部人士 In the early 21st century, China’s real estate economy was booming. Many ordinary people caught a favorable wave amid the great tides of history and amassed considerable wealth. The protagonist is an average person with no particular gifts, but as he grows, he continually learns from the wisdom of those around him, including some truly remarkable people. Through constant learning and reflection, he eventually develops a unique kind of wisdom and achieves success of his own. It seems as though fa 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 88 Fan Xuan’s World for Two 凡轩的二人世界 [Workplace + Marriage and Romance + Relationships + Female-Oriented + Modern Romance] Fan has always run a coffee shop called Yifan Coffee. The shop isn't large, with two floors: booth seating on the first floor and a bar on the second. Its decor is simple and elegant, and business is pretty good. Most of its customers are office ladies and office gentlemen from the nearby buildings. Some come in with their laptops and stay all day. Fan is warm, kind, a good communicator, and attentive to her cu 8Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 89 The Joys and Sorrows of Life and Death 生死欢戚 At death’s door from terminal illness, a middle-aged man is struck by lightning and reduced to a fragment of a soul. He enters the body of a junior high school student whose soul was also damaged by lightning... Qi Yiyang: Why do you think people are alive? Wei Zhengkun: What brings on a question like that, young man? Qi Yiyang: I just think life is hard for so many people! If their lives stopped, then everything would be over, and they wouldn’t have to suffer or toil anymore! Life has no meanin 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 I Found My Nemesis as a Roommate, and Our Quarrels Turned into Love 合租遇冤家，吵着吵着动心了 I became roommates with my nemesis, and all our bickering made us fall for each other 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 91 The Un Sung Poem 未唱的诗 Years later, when Sasa looked back on the unforgettable school anniversary dance during a radio show, she admitted that probably no one there, herself included, had imagined that the tall, skinny boy accompanying the performers on piano would one day become a superstar and idol who ushered in Hong Kong entertainment's golden age. Nor could they have imagined that he would have a tangled relationship with the heiress of the Zhuang Group, whose business empire now spans Eurasia and whose family se —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 92 The Fleas 跳蚤们 The Fleas is a crime novel about the struggles and ambitions of new Chinese immigrants in Flushing and Manhattan, New York. Set in the early twenty-first century, it follows three ordinary men, Li Xiaodong, Gao Wanli, and Xie Yuan, who came to America as immigrants, undocumented migrants, and international students. Through starkly realistic storytelling, it portrays their hardships and desires as they confront the challenges of building new lives overseas, revealing the difficulties of immigran 7Reads9.5Score314d adds
- 93 Love Through the Years at Danfeng Manor 丹枫山庄情牵岁月 Along the river of time stands Danfeng Manor, a place as picturesque as a poem, concealing countless moving stories yet untold. I am “Moyu Danfeng.” With ink for wings, I soar through the skies of words, using a romantic touch to open the long-sealed gates of Danfeng Manor and lead you on a wondrous journey bound to the passage of time. Here, you’ll find delicate tangles of emotion and moving legends that cross the ages. I hope my words will touch your heart and bring you a little warmth and com 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 94 That Year, Because of the Campus Belle, I Ran Off to Guangdong to Become a Handsome Lad 那年因为校花，我跑路广东当靓仔 [Jianghu]+ [Workplace]+ [Romance]+ [No System]+ [Not reborn] [Based on the author’s real experiences working in Guangdong, this is a story about migrant workers in cities like Dongguan and Shenzhen. This is not a wish-fulfillment novel, so don’t read it if that’s not your thing!] In 1997, Zhang Zaiye, Li Yaocong, Jiang Xinyue, and others met while working summer jobs in Guangdong, and formed a deep friendship. At the time, Dongguan’s economy was growing at a breakneck pace. Workers poured in fr 7Reads—Score114d adds
- 95 A Heron in the Mist 一鹭尘烟 [Urban + City Life + Workplace + One Female Lead + Romantic Tension + Domineering Female CEO + Poor Nobody's Rise to Success + No System + Xiamen Attractions and Food + Both Leads Are Each Other's First] Zhao Tianyi was born destined to be a poor nobody. He drifts aimlessly through the workplace and mingles with countless women, all in the hope of finding a beauty to fulfill his lifelong dream... Why has Lin Linglin, a stunning and icy-cold female CEO, fallen hopelessly in love? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 Office Politics: A Pay Cut Comes Knocking 职场：降薪来敲门 The day Li Da received notice of a pay cut, he also found out that his wife was cheating on him. See how he turns his career around after this double blow, with beautiful women by his side...! This is a work of realistic fiction. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 97 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 2.1kReads7.2Score14914d adds
- 98 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
- 99 800 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
- 100 Xiaotong, I’m Here for You 晓彤，我在你身边 The protagonist is an investor who failed abroad and returns to his home country to start over. But at home, he has another identity: a rich second-generation heir. By chance, he meets the woman he loves. After overcoming a thousand hardships, the two come to understand and support each other, eventually getting together and living a happy, sweet life. 42Reads—Score—14d adds
