Novels like In Search of Happiness
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as In Search of Happiness, best match first.
- 151 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 1.6kReads8.8Score15414d adds
- 152 Romance on the Construction Site 工地韵事 Ten years working on construction sites not only enriched my résumé, but also broadened my horizons. Among the many stories I witnessed were romances between men and women, including plenty of moving, devoted relationships worthy of praise. There were young couples who drifted apart, and disabled husbands whose wives never abandoned them. Some stayed faithful for years, only to see everything fall apart in a single day. A young man who had wandered aimlessly for more than twenty years finally fo 175Reads—Score—14d adds
- 153 I Found a Girl from the Future and Became a God With Black Tech 捡到未来少女，我靠黑科技封神 Lan Tian, a young man struggling to make it in Beijing, is worn down by the outrageous twists and turns of his life until he can barely breathe. By chance, he meets Lin Xingyao, a girl who has transmigrated from a thousand years in the future. With technology a millennium ahead of its time, Lin Xingyao helps Lan Tian defy fate, escape his predicament, and embark on a life of effortless success. Where will the turning wheels of fate take him? 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 154 King of the Reverse Scales 逆鳞之王 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 155 The Rise and Fall of Rongcheng: A Life of Gambling and Dust 蓉城浮沉：半生赌与尘 Set in Chengdu from 2005 to 2025, this novel follows the life of Xiao Bei, an ordinary man swept up in the tides of the times. The story revolves around secondhand home sales, gambling at arcades, jianghu feuds, real estate investment, and business rivalries. Woven through it all are Xiao Bei and Xiao Bai’s rise to success and fall into hardship, alongside vivid characters like Yejigong, Bang Ye, Long Ge, and Su Wan. Facing the clash between desire, loyalty, and human nature head-on, the novel c 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 156 Nightmare: The Road to Revenge 梦魇：复仇路 All right, let's let the truth go no further. Li Zheng's predicament and inner turmoil, and his and his sister's faltering journey of revenge, haunted by nightmares, are already complicated and painful enough. We don't need to dig any deeper. We only need to respect his feelings and choices. Everyone has their own story and fate. Some truths may never be fully revealed, and some questions may never have perfect answers. But that doesn't keep us from understanding, empathizing with, and supportin 5Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 157 A Forty-Year-Old Hakka Man Marries a Twenty-Year-Old Beauty 四十岁搭客佬迎娶二十岁小姐姐 A Forty-Year-Old Ride-Hailing Driver Marries a Twenty-Year-Old Beauty —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 158 Back on My Feet: I Paid Off 500,000 Yuan in Online Loans with My Own Hands 上岸：我靠双手还清五十万网贷 On a farm in Northeast China, Wang Chen, a 33-year-old married farmer, falls deeper and deeper into online-loan debt as he struggles to pay for his daughter's medical treatment and keep his agricultural business running. This is the story of how he eventually turns his desperate situation around. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 159 The Girl Next Door 女邻居 The Female Neighbor 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 160 What's Got You So Proud? 你牛什么牛 Also known as The Yueyue’s Terrible Mother-in-Law. Through the story of an unusually strong-willed woman’s life, this novel offers a profound look at the dialectical relationship between personality and fate. From many angles, it examines the rise of extreme feminism in contemporary society. It also gives serious thought to marriage and romance, raising children, and human relationships in the modern world. It offers important guidance for a new generation in the twenty-first century on developi 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 161 Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fades 春花秋逝 (Not a wish-fulfillment story, no transmigration, realistic, about an ordinary person struggling to survive in the cracks. Don’t read if that’s not your thing.) Since you all want to kill me, I’ll start by eloping with your daughters!! 561Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 162 The Wind and the Dandelion 风与蒲公英 The Wind and the Dandelion 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 163 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
- 164 The Red and Blue Battlefield 红蓝战场 Of everyone I’ve lost, the person I miss most is myself. In gambling, the scariest thing isn’t winning or losing, but the temptation of desire. A decade of bets, a lifetime in chains. The neon lights of Macau baccarat once illuminated my ambition. The chips at tables back home in Texas built up a false sense of prestige. The “guaranteed win” pitches in online gambling pop-ups ultimately dragged me into a bottomless pit. I thought I had desire under control, but I had long since become a puppet o 2kReads8.0Score10614d adds
- 165 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
- 166 An Ordinary Person's Unordinary Journey Through Life 平凡人不甘平凡的人生路 An ordinary person’s life has its occasional ups and downs, but where does a life without guidance lead? After three years working in a factory, a twist of fate sends him into real estate brokerage! He grows immensely proud after enjoying some of the real estate boom. But after the tide goes out, how will he face the decline and deal with family, love, and friendship? This is your story, and it’s mine too. So I’ve heard... 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 167 First Love? Who Cares! The Chinese Teacher Has Big Plans 初恋算个屁，语文老师要干大事 (No System, no golden finger, no being reborn, just slow growth) After getting back together with her first love, being smacked by a parent, and getting stabbed by her own boyfriend, she lost the ability to have children. Then, after finishing her graduate school entrance exams, her mother died unexpectedly. Xia Shinan decided, “First love can go to hell. Building a career and making big money are what matter most!” Xia Shinan (a pun on “born female”), a 26-year-old woman, comes from a family t 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 168 I Only Wanted My 10,000 Yuan Back 我本来只想要回一万块 I used to be just an ordinary programmer. In 2019, I moved to Chengdu and joined a company that didn’t look like much, but would change the course of my life. At first, I thought I’d simply run into a poorly managed small company that couldn’t keep its promises: my probation period dragged on, my salary was changed, they failed to pay my social insurance, mishandled my housing fund, and kept putting off raises until next month, the second half of the year, year-end, or after the company reforme 11Reads8.5Score114d adds
- 169 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... 191Reads5.9Score—14d adds
- 170 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
- 171 With No Hope of Making It, I Flip the Chessboard 上岸无望，我掀翻棋局 This is the era Chen Mo is about to enter once again, an age where hope and anxiety coexist, and order and chaos intertwine. On the surface, everything is thriving, and every road seems to lead to Rome. But each road is crowded with competitors, and behind every door that appears wide open may lie unexpected detours and hurdles. Opportunities flicker like fireflies on a summer night, while traps disguise themselves as steps toward a shortcut. This is an age that magnifies the importance of “choi 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 172 From Food Delivery to a Rural Kid's Rise to Success 从送外卖开始，农村娃的逆袭人生 [Genius + face-slapping + youthful passion + urban king of soldiers + undercover agent + patriotism] I never expected that I was the fool all along. You think I’m a sucker? Just wait until you’re the one crying! You think I’m a pushover, but you’ve provoked a vicious dragon! Just wait, and I’ll make sure you won’t even recognize your own mother. After an impulsive act, an ordinary young man who had just graduated from a mediocre third-rate university unexpectedly unlocks his brainpower, and his 1Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 173 The Seven Judges 七判官 He upholds justice in the human world, then returns as a judge through two lifetimes of reincarnation! There are surprises in the book. Let’s see if any of you readers can spot them! This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance is absolutely impossible! 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 174 The Legendary Women of the Siheyuan 四合院中的女性传奇 “Write about life, seek spiritual happiness and fulfillment.” | The Legendary Women of the Siheyuan: “1950–1980: One Courtyard, One Lifetime” tells the story of Xiang Nanshunyun, a young woman from the south, and her life in a Beijing siheyuan from the 1950s to the 1980s. When she first arrives, cultural differences create friction between her and her neighbors. Through her intelligence and tolerance, she resolves their disputes and forges deep bonds with them. The book depicts the joys and sorr 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 175 After My Comeback, All My Women Left Me 逆袭之后，我的女人都跑了 After My Comeback, All My Women Left Me 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 176 Don't Light the Migratory Birds 2 不点候鸟2 At five years old, I witnessed my parents being murdered. My uncle often beat me, I was bullied at school, and I nearly got sold off... After escaping, I collapsed in a park, where Old Fang took me in. When I, covered in scars, cried out in an abandoned factory, “Can someone teach me how to stop people from bullying me?” the question, choked with blood, unexpectedly set the wheels of fate turning. I finally understood that true salvation is the person who takes your hand in the dark. Together, y 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 177 Dawn in a Dream 入梦之晓 Dreaming at Dawn tells the story of Jiang Xiao, a woman from southern China who gradually awakens within a traditional marriage. Once a housewife dependent on her husband and silently enduring her circumstances, she transforms into an inspiring woman who is financially independent and in control of her own life. Blending the realism of urban life with the fantasy of entering dreams, the story is told from Jiang Xiao's perspective and explores women's struggles and breakthroughs as they navigate 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 178 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
- 179 My Village, My River 我的村庄，我的河 [Contemporary Fiction + Rural Literature + Rural Revitalization + Great for Middle-Aged and Older Readers] Zhang Banshao, a poor student, is always unlucky in love. After saving Wang Xiaohui by chance, he falls head over heels for her. Armed with kindness and integrity, he makes an incredible comeback. Seeing his hometown full of elderly people left behind, he feels a stir in his heart. He returns to the village to become its chief and lead the rural revitalization effort. Together, they transfo 50Reads8.3Score714d adds
- 180 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
- 181 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 638Reads8.7Score10114d adds
- 182 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
- 183 I Took in a Grandma, Only to Discover She Was a Long-Lost Relative 我捡回一位奶奶，她竟是我失散多年的亲人 I took in an old woman, and she turned out to be a long-lost relative 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 184 A History of the Death of Idealism 理想主义消亡史 [No transmigration], [No cheats or System], [Realistic], [No feel-good wish fulfillment], [Deep-dive into the inside story], [Scheming] Medical investment is an obscure industry with a lot of hidden complexities. Yan Hui is a professional in the field, as well as an idealist. But as time goes by and circumstances change, his life and work gradually slip beyond his control. (A song will be included in the author’s notes for each chapter. It will relate to the chapter, directly or indirectly, obje 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 185 You Made Me Your Nanny, but Heaven Made Me the Heroine 你逼我当保姆，老天让我当女主 Because of her sweet, pretty looks, the female lead was bullied by her cousin from a young age. But fate seemed terribly unfair to her. When she was 28, a car accident killed both her parents, leaving her all alone. Her well-off cousin took pity on her and invited her to move to the city. From then on, her life changed completely. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 186 A Little Housekeeper Came to My Home 我家来了个小保姆 ☆I'm Li Shasha, the so-called rich, beautiful heiress you all talk about. My husband is a six-foot-tall strongman who couldn't hurt a fly. Ever since the nineteen-year-old beauty Bai Miaomiao was introduced to our family as a nanny, peace has never returned to our home. A chance encounter on a train, an identity swap, a failed search for family, a manhunt across the underworld... It all happened to me. What other strange things could be in store? Come along and find out. ☆Strong female lead + mu 186Reads—Score—14d adds
- 187 Housewife: My Husband Wants a Divorce 家庭主妇：老公想离婚 Chen Mofei is the head of the hospital's gynecology department, and Tao Yan is a housewife. They were once a harmonious couple, but Tao Yan has a sharp tongue and a kind heart. Her cutting, hurtful words repeatedly push her husband's patience to the limit... The messy, petty troubles of ordinary people! The story takes its time getting going. I hope you'll enjoy it! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 188 Shuhua, 1960 淑华1960 [An ensemble novel where everyone is a protagonist with their own story arc] Spanning from the fiery years of the 1960s to the 2020s, this is a story of three generations. It faithfully recreates the everyday lives, love, and feuds of rural Northeastern China on the stage of history. Through the changing fortunes of several families, this realistic tale of family, friendship, and romance will transport you back to a simpler time. A rural novel chronicling nearly a century of change in the countr 29Reads—Score—14d adds
- 189 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
- 190 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
- 191 The Sheep Are Here, the Sheep Are Here 羊来,羊来 The sheep are coming, the sheep are coming —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 192 I Hastily Married a Poor Guy, but He Turned Out to Be a Tycoon Who Dotes on Me 闪婚穷小子，他竟是豪门大佬宠我入骨 I married a poor guy on a whim, but he's actually a wealthy tycoon who dotes on me 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 193 Breaking Free 逃离束缚 Su Yu and Tang Yilan met on a blind date arranged by their university professor. After spending some time together, they both decided they liked each other, so they went to meet each other’s parents. At first, everything seemed to go smoothly, but after they got married, they argued over whether to rent a place of their own. Su Yu also has an older brother, Su Lun, who has been married to Zhao Yanan for years, but still has no children of his own. After finally getting married, Tang Yilan reali 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 194 After Getting Fired, I Maxed Out God-Tier Traits Just by Breathing 开除后，我靠呼吸刷爆神级词条 Just after getting laid off, I was told that my breathing could put labels on anything? Stick “Indestructible” on a pair of flip-flops and they can go toe-to-toe with a Ferrari. Stick “Never Misses” on a slingshot and you can knock a rich kid’s drone out of the sky from three blocks away. Stick “Friend to Animals” on the stray dog downstairs, and the next day every cat and dog in the neighborhood will come guard my home. - Ex-girlfriend: Lu Chen, I was wrong. Let’s get back together! - Me: Oh, l 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 195 The Rules of the Children's Home 儿女家的规矩 To help their children raise the grandchildren, a couple in their sixties were forced to live apart. From the day Zhao Youlin moved to the city to help care for his son's child, he became a “guest” in his son's home. A man from a small town, he couldn't fit into life in the big city. He had to speak softly, keep the TV muted, and even watch his son's expression before giving his grandson a piece of meat... Though Zhao Youlin was careful about everything, he still couldn't avoid falling into conf 11kReads8.6Score53414d adds
- 196 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
- 197 The More Joy, the Greater the Sorrow 乐极生悲 Pride Comes Before a Fall 3Reads—Score114d adds
- 198 It's Only Fifty 不过是五十而已 An inspirational, unyielding story of midlife crisis, workplace struggles, bank managers and tellers, married life, and everyday urban life. This book tells the story of Huang Wenxue, a bank manager facing a midlife crisis. She is at that awkward age when she is considered too old to find a new job, yet still too young to retire. How will she answer the unavoidable questions surrounding her career, marriage, family, children, and caring for her aging parents? Even in middle age, even when confro 432Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 199 I Am a Patient 我是一个病人 I was lucky enough to escape yesterday and live today, but I couldn't escape the truth that I had become a puppet. Somewhere in the world, there is always another person just like you, in appearance or personality, whether he, she, or it. When you meet, it is all part of fate. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 200 The 365-Day Relentless Dating Plan 365天疯狂相亲计划 [Modern romance + lifelong single + falling in love + dating pitfalls] On her 29th birthday, Mu Chen makes a vow: she’ll get married before she turns 30. Having been single her whole life, she sets out on a long search for love, rushing from one blind date to the next. What will happen as she searches for Mr. Right? Stay tuned. 19Reads—Score—14d adds
