Novels like What Even Is Love?
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as What Even Is Love?, best match first.
- 151 A Tenacious Life 坚韧的活着 Adapted from a true story, this is about a boy from a poor rural family who works tirelessly at his studies to escape poverty. When he grows up, misfortune follows him one after another, but the resilience he developed as a child keeps him from bowing to fate or giving in to hardship. Through his actions, he shows what it means to persevere. After enduring countless trials and tribulations, he earns the respect of life itself and finds his miracle. This story carries a message: life can always g 1.9kReads—Score—14d adds
- 152 A Windfall Makes a Life 横财成就人生 One lucky blow brings him a windfall. The real problem is how to launder it into legitimate personal income. It's like telling one lie and needing a hundred more to cover it: the problems just keep snowballing. Watch how the protagonist gets himself out of this mess. 445Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 153 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
- 154 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
- 155 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
- 156 The Meaning of Happiness 幸福的标准 Ye Han and He Junshan are, in everyone’s eyes, the perfect love story from campus to the altar. But how can a marriage keep feelings safe from the wear and tear of everyday life? Even their careers are gradually facing new crises… 69Reads—Score—14d adds
- 157 Smoke and Fire in the Northern Lands 北国烟火事 The winter of 2000 in Northeast China. He was Wang Jianjun, a laborer at the bottom of society, covered in dust but full of sincerity. She was Liu Jiajia, radiant and determined, from a well-off family. One chance meeting, and a love neither dared to hope for. Their families were worlds apart. Their relatives pressured them to marry, and reality weighed heavily on them. Forced apart, they loved each other with all their hearts but could only let go in pain. He swallowed his grievances and fought 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 158 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
- 159 My Small-Town Girlfriend 我的小城女友 No matter how long people live in a big city, they eventually return to a small town. Xiyang, a genius who made his fortune through stock trading, finds his life going nowhere after his girlfriend cheats on him and his career hits a wall. He leaves Chengdu, a city full of memories, and returns to his hometown, where he meets the girl who will become his small-town girlfriend. This is an ordinary book, but the small-town life it tells of is anything but ordinary. 66Reads—Score—14d adds
- 160 A Woman’s Married Life 女人的婚姻生活 This story follows three women through the joys and sorrows of married life. Huang Zijun, Hua Rumi, and Rong Shanshan are close friends, and each has a family of her own. As the saying goes, every household has its own troubles… 5.4kReads9.1Score51414d adds
- 161 My Mother-in-Law Forgot She Was Once a Daughter-in-Law Too 婆婆忘了自己曾经也是媳 The moment a woman marries into her husband’s family, she is sincere and wholehearted in the way she treats her in-laws. Yet some mothers-in-law insist their daughters-in-law go through the same hardships they once endured. They suffered as daughters-in-law themselves, so why make life hard for another woman? In the phrase “mother-in-law and daughter-in-law,” the mother-in-law comes first. If she can’t be a good mother-in-law, how can she expect a good daughter-in-law? Relationships go both ways 94Reads—Score—14d adds
- 162 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
- 163 Northeast Stories 东北往事 The 1960s: real life, raw human nature. The ordinary joys and sorrows of life, separations and reunions, and the changes of an era: this work is about them, about you, and about me. This is documentary literature without artistic embellishment. Its greatest strength is its authenticity. Spanning from the late 1950s to the present day after the Reform and Opening-Up, it depicts the tremendous changes in Chinese society and the ups and downs of ordinary people’s lives from multiple angles, perspec 179Reads9.4Score6014d adds
- 164 I'll Wait for You in Gusu City 我在姑苏城里等你 After failing the college entrance exams, I left home alone and came to Suzhou, where I met two girls who would shape my whole life... One was as passionate as fire, the other as gentle as jade... At eighteen, I didn't understand what love was... A cigarette, a glass of wine, and so much sorrow in the city of Gusu... Note: This isn't a wish-fulfillment novel, and it takes its time getting going. If you enjoy plot-driven stories, you can start at Chapter 39. Thank you! 2kReads—Score19514d adds
- 165 Bargaining Chips on the Road to Promotion 升职路上的筹码 Song Minghui is like a spider at the center of a web, maintaining relationships with three women in different ways. A 26-year-old workplace newcomer, a 35-year-old sales director, and a 41-year-old corporate executive: the web is beginning to unravel as its three “bargaining chips” awaken. - The rules of survival in the workplace's dark forest - How the “prey” turns the tables from a male perspective - The growth of three women, from being used to awakening - Emotional manipulation and counterma 2.2kReads6.3Score13014d adds
- 166 A Dashing Life for a Construction Worker 民工也风流 Ergou hurriedly switched on the bedside light. Lying next to him was a young, vibrant woman with a graceful figure. She slowly turned her head to look at him, pouted, and said, “Give me a kiss.” When Ergou didn’t react, she asked, “What’s wrong? Did I scare you? Look at how flustered you are. That’s hilarious!” Then she laughed. A migrant worker from an ordinary background steps into the bustling city, carrying hopes for the future. In this city full of opportunities and challenges, he works har 1.1kReads6.9Score10514d adds
- 167 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
- 168 The Mother in the Mountains 大山里的母亲 [Period setting + history + based on real life + memoir] This is the story of a mother from the mountains who folded hardship into the daily routine of cooking and chores, holding her family together through rugged years. She lived an ordinary life, yet became the family's strongest support. If you, too, have been touched by a mother's love, perhaps you'll enjoy this story. Every follow and request for an update gives me the confidence to keep writing. I'll carefully polish every plot point. 112Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 169 Dust and Workwear 尘与工装 Dust and Coveralls —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 170 The Brightest Star 那颗最亮的星 The story takes place at a middle school. Lin Jingxuan, a left-behind child who has grown up reserved and withdrawn, seems out of place among her classmates after transferring to Linxi Middle School. Her homeroom teacher, Li Yina, notices her situation and takes the initiative to comfort and reassure her, offering quiet support. She helps Lin Jingxuan open up and grow by writing her letters. 30Reads—Score—14d adds
- 171 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
- 172 The Door to Vault Three 三号库的门 The Door to Storage Room Three 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 173 Divorce: A Battle That Reveals Human Nature 离婚撕开人性的博弈 What is marriage really like? No one can say for sure. It is no longer a matter of whether you love each other, but a battle between love and money. Nor is divorce something you can simply declare with a wave of your hand. Marriage is not just a lovestruck person's complaints or a discarded wife's grievances. Once a marriage turns into a fight, it becomes a brutal clash of human nature. Reality is no fairy tale. The romance of the past eventually gives way to the petty details of everyday life. 6.9kReads9.1Score74114d adds
- 174 The Chinese Bodyguard 国产保镖 54Reads6.3Score87714d adds
- 175 Better Late Than Never. There's Still a Long Road Ahead 迟到但无妨，来日且方长 Chu Mingxi thinks of herself as a piece of charcoal and Li Cheng as a spark. Only when she meets Li Cheng does she grow warm and begin to shine. She was late to their promise, but in the days ahead, she’ll make a living from the simple pleasures of life and find love through poetry. She once thought beauty lay in partings and reunions, but in the end, even life’s everyday necessities are poetry. 506Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 176 Shenzhen Stories: Sister Ji 深圳往事霁姐 You resent that I was born too soon; I resent that you were born too late. Though we could not live at the same time, we can still share a grave. Mo Chou happens to meet Wu Zhiji, a beautiful, kind-hearted young widow ten years her senior. Was it that love came too early, before she knew how to cherish it, or that by the time she learned to love, they had become strangers? Disclaimer: The locations, people, companies, and events in this book are unrelated to real life! 56Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 177 The Shoe Factory Worker Holds Forth, and She Knows So Much! 鞋厂女工论道，她知道那么多！ [Urban slice of life + romance] The heroine is beautiful and works at a factory. She takes care of looking lovely while the hero works hard to get ahead. He climbs the factory's management ranks and even puts in time on the production line, all so the two of them can tie the knot and enjoy a long, happy life together. But things aren't that simple... 137Reads—Score—14d adds
- 178 Online Dating: I Found a Soldier on Douyin 网恋之我在抖音捡到兵哥哥 It's never too late to find love. Wang Feiwan, nearing thirty, never imagined that love would come so late for her. One day, during her ovulation period, she got a sudden urge to leave a string of comments seeking a partner on Douyin, and ended up meeting her destined match. Fair skin, 183 centimeters tall, and a soldier! What does that mean? It means Wang Feiwan is finally getting her share of government-issued rations! Wait, what kind of person brings a medical exam report to a first in-person 645Reads8.6Score10414d adds
- 179 Peeping: The Butterfly Effect 偷窥之蝴蝶效应 The male lead is a complete loser. By chance, he discovers a female colleague's secret, turning his work and personal life upside down. Two mature adults with sharp minds and social skills engage in an intense game of push and pull. Love begins for reasons unknown and grows deeper with every passing day: they love and are loved, hurt and are hurt, grow through their pain, then fade from one another's memories. This is also the story of an ordinary worker's growth. 578Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 180 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
- 181 Tears of Frost 寒霜泪 Because the baby she was carrying was another girl, Hanshuang was given away while still in the womb. As she grew up, she endured one hardship after another. Hanshuang told herself that as long as she kept living, she would never lose in life! My new work is now available, and I hope you’ll enjoy it! Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 20.4kReads9.2Score1.7k14d adds
- 182 Gray Industries: On the Fringes of the City 灰色产业：游走于都市边缘 In 2005, the college entrance exam took me from the countryside to the city. I thought that if I worked hard enough, I could make a life for myself there. But reality taught me that in the face of power and money, hard work counted for nothing. For people like me, born with nothing, making something of ourselves means taking a road less traveled. First-person narration, no cheat powers, no over-the-top melodrama. My values are more respectable than my looks. Come give it a try. 99.2kReads9.1Score10.4k14d adds
- 183 Little Leopard 小豹子 After her grandparents, who had raised her, passed away, the abandoned Situ Lingzhi was left with no one to rely on. Taking the Medical Prescriptions of the Situ Family that her grandfather had left behind, she went to America to find his relatives. Six years later, the first major event that awaited Situ Lingzhi, now a medical doctor returning home, was her classmate Dongfang Xiangrui trying to force her into marriage. The Dongfang family had once been a leading force in Yunhai City's business 314Reads8.6Score10114d adds
- 184 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
- 185 The Years of Growing Up 成长的岁月 Pingping was born in the mid-1960s and grew up in a small town in Jiangnan. Her parents raised five children, and Pingping was the fourth. Born during the Cultural Revolution, Pingping witnessed the country rise from poverty and backwardness to prosperity and strength. Through her own hard work, she grew alongside the times. 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 186 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
- 187 The Old Woman Killed by Her Eldest Daughter Is Reborn 那个被长女干掉的老妇重生了 In her previous life, Chunhua was muddleheaded and unlucky. She spoiled her younger brother, favored boys over girls, and grew estranged from her husband. After her eldest son went missing, she spent the rest of her life in a daze. It wasn’t until she lay alone in a hospital bed, ignored by everyone, and saw her badly injured eldest daughter scream at her in despair that she finally understood how terribly wrong she had been. When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the day her eldest 254Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 188 Two Abnormal Humans and a Motorcycle 两个非正常人类与摩托车 Love that defies social norms has often been seen as a symbol of courage and freedom, admired and celebrated. This is the one kind of love people will always despise. This is not a novel, just a story from real life. There are no thrills, no climaxes, no pacing, only despair and oppression. It might be of some small help to people who truly love motorcycles, but be prepared to be mocked. This story has an unconventional outlook on life, values, and the world, and portrays a world of abnormal peo 2.2kReads—Score38114d adds
- 189 Reborn in 1985: The Young Trailblazer 重生1985之少年领航 From the start, he is sent back to first grade. No System, no cheat. How will Wang Yu, a Go master in his previous life, turn things around? Watch me craft a world with one brilliant move after another, and shape the universe with a keen mind. From amateur to professional, from teahouses to the world stage: adults don't have to choose. I want it all. 1.9kReads8.8Score14314d adds
- 190 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
- 191 Youth and Midsummer 青春与盛夏 Youth ended that midsummer. One summer afternoon, in a stuffy classroom, I was drowsily on the verge of falling asleep when a piece of chalk suddenly hit me on the head, jolting me awake. I woke from the dream, and it felt as if my youth had ended too. 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 192 After Faking a Pregnancy to Force a Divorce, My In-Laws Beg Me to Forgive Them 假孕逼离后，婆家跪求我原谅 After faking a pregnancy to force a divorce, my in-laws beg me to forgive them 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 193 Marrying a Twice-Divorced Uncle: Who's the One Marrying Up? 嫁给二婚大叔，谁高攀了谁 When Lu Ming thought the whole world had abandoned her, Cheng Yuting appeared. At thirty-three, Cheng Yuting is divorced with no children, refined and handsome, a perfect gentleman. Most important are the Cheng family's influence and his own abilities. So what if he’s divorced? Single women, and even their parents, would be thrilled to have a man like Cheng Yuting be divorced or widowed. And Cheng Yuting seems to drift from flower to flower, enjoying himself. He seems like a flame that beguiles 2.7kReads9.0Score23214d adds
- 194 Snow in Winter, Flowers in Spring 冬有雪，春有花 When Nan Xiu was fourteen, her father told her, “Be good, don't cry. Smile. When you do, you look like a little fairy from another world.” When she was twenty, her older brother told her, “Be good, don't cry. Find a good man. He'll take good care of you.” At twenty-two, Nan Xiu rode her little electric scooter back and forth between school and her mentor's shop, smiling sweetly as she called out, “Old Liu, I've finished today's tasks!” At twenty-four, Song Shimo told Nan Xiu, “I'll love you for 120Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 195 Rugged Farmer Dotes on His Simple Wife: Growing Rich and Winning Her Heart 糙汉宠傻妻：种田暴富伴红颜 [Rugged Husband and Delicate Wife | Tough on the Outside, Tender Within | Born Lucky | Everyday Life in the Seventies | Building Wealth | Heartwarming Healing] [Many Admirers] In a poor northeastern village in the 1970s, farmer Li Changgen has the most miserable life of all! His home is bare, he's forced to marry a sweet but mentally disabled wife, and the villain Liu Ergou has his eyes fixed on him, laying traps at every turn and relentlessly trying to ruin his family and leave them penniless! 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 196 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
- 197 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
- 198 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
- 199 Kisses on a Beijing Night 京夜有吻 The rating was just posted, so don't worry about it! [Unrequited Love | Mutual Pining After Reunion | Powerful Family Background] Xiao Ning had received praise her whole life. She came from a good family, did well in school, had a successful career, and had the face of everyone's first love. With her parents' protection and support, as well as her own hard work, she rose higher and higher, with nothing but smooth sailing ahead. The one place she hit a wall was marriage, which plunged her into de 11.3kReads8.9Score1k14d adds
- 200 Bold Pursuit, Secret Indulgence 强撩与暗宠 On one side, his female boss pulls him into an emotional tug-of-war. On the other, the female dean offers him a healing companionship. Caught between them, he doesn't want to give up his stable job, but he can't bear to let go of the peace and comfort she brings, either. Choosing between them becomes his greatest dilemma. 4.7kReads7.1Score42514d adds
