Novels like A Cruel Mother, a Broken Home, and Me, Unbroken
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Cruel Mother, a Broken Home, and Me, Unbroken, best match first.
- 1 My Biological Father Abandoned His Wife and Child? I’ll Make Him Lose Everything 生父抛妻弃子？我让他倾家荡产 In his second year of high school, Jiang Yang's biological father abandoned his sick wife and three children, running away with his mistress. As the eldest child, Jiang Yang resolutely gave up his studies and shouldered the burden of supporting his family. Years later, successful and famous, Jiang Yang encounters his biological father in the business world. How will this father and son face off...? [Inspirational] + [Comeback] + [Top Student] + [Showdown] + [Revenge] 43Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 Us in Xiangyang Lane 向阳里的我们 [#Real life, #warm neighborhood stories, #healing family bonds, #raising a child and turning life around] Delivery worker Wang Xiaojun had a pain he couldn't put into words: his six-year-old son Xiaobao lived in his own world, like a star. One moment of carelessness nearly resulted in Xiaobao getting lost, sending the entire Xingfuli residential community into chaos. The incident tore open the cracks in Wang Xiaojun and his wife Li Xiujuan's strained marriage, while also revealing the troubles 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 A Peaceful Family Affair in 1979 平安家事1979 [Period Setting] [Countryside] [Hard Work] [Ordinary Life] [No Golden Finger] [Neither Rebirth nor Transmigration] [Told in warm, down-to-earth prose, a story about an ordinary life filled with warmth] Ji Ping'an always wanted to escape the countryside, turning his "unwillingness to settle" into "having no regrets." But even after the parachute tower stood weathered and abandoned, he was still trapped on his hometown's soil. Ji Manling always said she would repay her family's devotion, yet she r 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Leisurely Life After Financial Freedom 财富自由后的悠闲生活 [No System + Urban Entrepreneurship + Traditional] In the spring of 2010, Lu Dalang, a senior at an agricultural university, was about to graduate. His girlfriend, Qian Mei, wanted to return to her hometown, where her parents had already arranged a job for her and she had familiar connections. Lu Dalang, determined to pursue his own future, angrily headed to the provincial capital. His girlfriend left him with one condition: “Buy a house, and come get me so we can live in the provincial capital. 4.1kReads8.2Score15314d adds
- 5 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
- 6 Our Long River of Years 我们的岁月长河 Our Long River of Years is divided into three parts. Following the ordinary lives of three generations of Zhao Jiafu’s family, railway workers, it spans from the 1950s to the 2020s. It recounts the joys and sorrows, happiness and heartbreak, and everyday troubles experienced by the three generations of the Zhao family and the ordinary people around them over the long river of time. It depicts the turbulent lives of ordinary people as the times change and society develops. Time flows like a river 180Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 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
- 8 Tales of Xizhou in the 1980s 80年代西州往事 This is a story about youth, and a story about growing up. It is filled with passionate brotherhood, the innocent love of childhood sweethearts, clashes of steel in the streets and alleys, and the struggles and choices people face in the tides of a changing era. Most importantly, it captures the warmth unique to that time: the unreserved sincerity between people, a purity that seems almost like a luxury today. 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Ups and Downs of Business: A Life Well Lived 商业浮沉：不负韶华 "No Cliches, No Idiocy, No Melodrama, No System, No Power Fantasy, No Golden Finger. Read at Your Own Risk" "Jiang Xiaobei’s Comeback" Only later did Jiang Xiaobei understand: Not every effort gets the chance to bloom, not every affection gets an answer, and not everyone who says “next time” really gets a next time. No one could have predicted what came later. That poor kid who couldn’t afford a single shirt, the failed exam candidate whose father pointed at him and said, “This is all you’ll 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 A Shooting Star Streaks By, Leaving Traces on the Years 流星划过，岁月有痕 This is a powerful work that deeply portrays the intertwined paths of growth for the post-80s generation and the changes of the times. The story follows its protagonist, Zhao Fei, from his green and innocent days in middle school, through the passionate years of university, and into the struggles and discoveries of life after graduation. It delicately depicts how Zhao Fei and his generation search for themselves and realize their worth amid the currents of the times, while also reflecting the sw 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 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
- 12 He Hid in the Years, Loving Me for So Long 他藏在时光里，爱了我很多年 My name is Guo Yaoze. When I was six, a little girl moved in next door. She wore two tiny pigtails and had dimples when she smiled. She gave me her only lollipop. “Brother Xiaoze, I don’t like sweets.” It was twenty years before I learned she’d been lying to me. When I was nine, my family moved away. She cried downstairs, and I cried in the car. At fifteen, I transferred back and she became my desk mate, but she didn’t remember me. At seventeen, after the college entrance exams, my mother sent 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Hidden Wife 隐妻 [The comic adaptation is now available! Tap “Adaptation Theater” in the lower-right corner of any page of this book to watch instantly. The original novel and short drama each have their own appeal. Share it with your friends!] No rebirth, no transmigration, and no System golden finger, just the true golden years of an entire generation! Having fled an arranged marriage, he joins the tide of migrant workers heading south. In a southern metropolis brimming with both opportunity and challenges, he 808Reads6.2Score10114d adds
- 14 My Angel Investor Is My Adorable Husband 天使投资人是我的小娇夫 Told from the heroine's perspective, this story follows her journey from an innocent, inexperienced newcomer to the working world to a successful professional woman. Fang Yuwei and the hero, Lin Peifeng, meet on campus. He falls for her at first sight and takes care of her and stays by her side, but Lin Peifeng's identity is not so simple. As the heroine makes her way through the workplace, she encounters all kinds of unwritten rules, both obvious and hidden. She changes jobs several times and m 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 A Flower in the Dust, Blooming Toward the Sun 尘埃里的花，向阳而生 This story follows Shi Xiaoying, beginning at eighteen when she elopes for love. It traces her marriage through sweetness, betrayal, and endurance, culminating in her awakening. Woven through the story are her children’s perspectives and the kindness of those who watch from the sidelines. It portrays a woman struggling between betrayal and perseverance before finally breaking free and embracing a new life. Exploring responsibility and self-worth in love and marriage, it reveals the resilience th 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 The Bill for Time 时间的帐单 Set in a modern city, this story focuses on the clashes and eventual reconciliation between two generations of the Jiang family over their views on love and marriage, painting a realistic picture of contemporary society: elders rush their children into romance and marriage, while the younger generation prefers to take things slowly. The two generations struggle with love, marriage, and life choices, then look back on their lives, ultimately finding acceptance and insight in middle age. Everyone —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 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
- 18 The Playboy and the Five Golden Flowers 风流之子与五朵金花 [Completed] If you happened to click on this, please read a few more pages, or even a few dozen, and help boost my stats. Thanks for your support! This is the story of a group of people who came from elsewhere to work and put down roots in Zhuhai. They fall in love, get married, buy homes, and have children. The first half covers their lives up to marriage. The second half explores marriage, human nature, changes in society, and growing up in middle age. This novel has a calm and gentle tone, pe 75Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 Love Is Hard, So Let’s Get Married 恋爱好难，不如结婚 This is a story about two girls. Defying her family’s objections, Yan Mo resolutely follows her boyfriend to Jincheng to make a life for themselves. But on Valentine’s Day, she discovers that her boyfriend of six years has been cheating on her. After the breakup, Yan Mo refocuses on her career and finds new love through her work. Ran Fei is Yan Mo’s best friend, and her life is an endless cycle of falling in love, getting her heart broken, and falling in love again. It isn’t until she meets Ding 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 Nothing Major in Life 人生无大事 I was born in the abyss and raised in the netherworld. Lost, struggling, helpless, despairing. The hardships along the way shaped my body and mind. When everything had finally calmed down, when spring had come and flowers were blooming, when everything was just right, I finally reached the most important moment of my life. 4.2kReads8.1Score46214d adds
- 21 At 21, I Worked Every Kind of Odd Job at the Bottom of Society 21岁，我打遍了底层的各种零工 For four years, I've been trying to cure an incurable illness by working odd jobs. [A slice-of-life story, light comedy, nothing too dark, personal growth, and a comeback. Give it a try...] Everyone cries at some point in their twenties. I'm no exception. What about you? Have you found a job? How is it going? At an age when our ambitions reach for the sky, I want to be the master of my own life. If I work fast enough, even the capitalists can't keep up with me! In the bustling city, everyone in 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 The Mortician Married an Officer, and I Became the Scumbag’s Aunt by Marriage 入殓师嫁军官，我成了渣男的小婶 Just before the end of her shift, Su Nianchu received the last corpse scheduled for cremation. To her surprise, the deceased had the same name as her. Su Nianchu's heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling! Sure enough, an accident happened during the cremation. When she opened her eyes, she had transmigrated into the body of a village girl in the 1980s. She was lying on a kang, giving birth! Nearby, her malicious husband watched her, planning to trick her into taking sleeping pills so he and 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 Xue Mei's Story 雪梅的故事 Bare, barren loess hills. Ravines and ridges wind their way into the distance. This is where the story’s heroine, Xuemei, spent her childhood, grew into a shy young woman, and endured until she became a mature wife. She works hard, cultivating this poor yellow earth, and sings the praises of the diligence and simplicity of rural women in the new era. 148Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 A Bitter Girl’s Rebirth 苦妹之涅槃重生 Inside Ku Mei’s five-year-old body lived the soul of someone who had died with a heart full of hatred. Reborn, she faced a spiteful grandmother who beat and berated her, a cold grandfather who enabled the abuse, and a mother who could only weep helplessly. Ku Mei concealed her boundless hatred and memories of her past life, pretending to be timid as she carefully plotted her every move. She outsmarted her relatives and broke free of her shackles, starting with a bottle of chili sauce from the mi 113Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 She Outlived the Other Woman, Then Was Reborn 熬死小三，她又重生啦 [Not a palace-intrigue novel, not a farming novel: the heroine's growth and the redemption of a life.] Bai Chunyu had a miserable life in her previous life. When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the 1970s, before any of those tragedies had happened! She decisively cut ties with her family, severing them once and for all. She would protect her genius little daughter with her life. Her family's ancestral silver bangle concealed a pocket dimension, stocked to the brim with supplies. S 281Reads7.7Score—14d adds
- 26 Are You Crazy? You Call This Lawyer a Fraud? 疯了吧？你管这叫水货律师？ 3.7kReads6.3Score10214d adds
- 27 Flowers Born of the Earth 土生花 The land is silent, yet it can hold all the hardships endured by three generations. On the barren yellow earth, three generations of women are pressed into the mud by fate, bound hand and foot by patriarchy, and slowly tortured by life. They have no choices and nowhere to turn. They don’t even dare to cry aloud. All they can do is endure the darkness, bear the despair, and keep going through days that have been ground to dust, sustained by sheer will. Yang Jinlian is deaf and stutters. All her 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Life Afloat on the Riverbank 江岸浮生 [Contemporary realism + period chronicle + rural ensemble cast + women’s struggles] Spanning half a century of rural China, this book tells the story of three generations of women on the Jianghan Plain. Caught in the tides of history and the shackles of their families of origin, each struggles against fate in her own way and faces her inner demons, ultimately learning to live for herself. (I’m only here to tell the story as it is. I won’t give the characters perfect personalities. I’ll portray h 541Reads8.5Score10614d adds
- 29 Chang'an Road Is Long 长安路远 [Urban daily life + romance + campus + friendship + work + emotional journey] Lin Da cherishes friendship, loves life, and longs for a beautiful future. He had a wonderful childhood and a colorful youth, and chose the love he wanted. Then, for the sake of making a living, he went far from home to work, and before he knew it, half his life had passed... Every encounter in life is part of its journey, and every encounter brings another story... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 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 1.6kReads8.8Score15514d adds
- 31 The Billionaire Who Rose from a Sea of Women 女人堆里走出的亿万富翁 A contemporary setting, lighthearted humor, laugh-out-loud everyday life, playful banter, heartwarming inspiration, and no harem. He's penniless, yet popular with women. He's sincere, yet works in the most hypocritical industry. He's handsome, talented, and witty, and could have led a life of endless romantic conquests, but… Set in Shenzhen, Guangdong, in 2008, the story follows the remarkable career and business journey of Li Zhe, a young man from a farming family who rises steadily to success 1.9kReads5.9Score10514d adds
- 32 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... 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 A Motherless Child, Cared for by His Sister-in-Law 没妈的孩子，嫂子疼 [Period drama + No System or storage space] After my adoptive parents died in a car accident, my older brother Zhang Dakui and I depended on each other. Ever since Dakui brought my sister-in-law Liu Chunmei home, our lives changed. And so did my life... 92Reads6.2Score2914d adds
- 34 Reborn in the 1980s: This Jinx Was Born Under a Lucky Star! 重生八零：这灾星真是天生好命！ [Reborn in the 1980s] + [Independent, Strong Heroine] + [Success Through Her Own Abilities] + [Family Life] + [Building a Fortune] Main character: Liang Yihe In her previous life, she was timid and was manipulated by her uncle’s family. They stole her university admission letter, rewriting her records and her life overnight. They even tried to force her to marry the village idiot! Her cousin Liang Wanjun, born on the very same day, month, and year, stole her life: going to university, marryi 409Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 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
- 36 Fifty Years of Bride Price: In 1974, It All Began with a Broken Engagement 彩礼50年，1974从悔婚开始 In the bitter winter of 1974, Zhao Shuangzhu publicly called off his engagement and was given three days to come up with a hundred yuan for the bride price. He swallowed his pride and borrowed from every neighbor he could, took the old folks’ burial savings, and went into the mountains at night to hunt rabbits and trade them for cash on the black market. Dodging the market inspectors, he stumbled through the hardest hurdle of his life. He spent the rest of his life marrying, raising children, an 125Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 Love Is Simple 爱很简单 Before I became a billionaire, I was always searching for love. What is love? I hope you can find the answer in this book. This book is about love, desire, life, philosophy, gender equality, and society's discrimination against women... 40Reads—Score314d adds
- 38 Liu Zhihao's Years of Youth 刘志豪的芳华岁月 [Period novel + workplace + family + society] The story takes its time to unfold, growing richer the further you read. It is grounded in reality, depicting social life, education, love, careers, officialdom, and rural life in the 1990s, offering a sweeping portrait of everyday life in that era. After graduating from university, the protagonist, Liu Zhihao, is assigned to teach at a middle school in his hometown. From then on, his life enters a new phase as he witnesses the development of educati 25Reads—Score114d adds
- 39 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. 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Lotus Shadows over the Capital 莲影京华 Village beauty Shi Cailian has had a life bitter enough to pickle vegetables, but she's blessed with a face of unparalleled beauty. Educated youth Wan Changce falls for her at first sight and takes the college entrance exam four times. When the results come out, Shi Cailian has just fallen out with her biased family, so she packs her bags and goes with him to make it in the capital. He studies hard and becomes a top student, while she uses her beauty to land a secure job at the Friendship Store. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 The Award-Winning Nanny Reborn with a Professor's Book Collection! 金牌保姆带教授藏书重生啦！ [Reborn + family bonds + everyone’s favorite + healing + mystery] The main story is complete, with some bonus chapters in the works. Feel free to dive in. Lin Chuyi was a top-tier caregiver who spent more than a decade looking after an elderly professor and his wife. They treated her like their own daughter. Before they died, they left her an inheritance and a jade pendant, which sent her back to the age of eighteen. The pendant is a key, and the library is a space connecting her past and future 540Reads9.2Score10014d adds
- 42 A Common Man’s Reborn Years 平凡人的重生岁月 [Everyday Urban Life + Campus Youth + Making Up for Regrets + Believable Logic] A portrayal of youth as it really was: no posturing, no face-slapping. This is simply the everyday life of an ordinary person after being reborn. People remain consistent; being reborn doesn't suddenly make someone all-powerful. Their old flaws are still there. They simply get to live their lives over again with their memories and life experience intact. Everyone has a limit to how far they can go, so if you're looki 4.2kReads6.2Score16614d adds
- 43 1982: I'm Really Not a Good-for-Nothing 年代1982，我真不是二流子 [Rebirth + period setting + entrepreneurship + social savvy + everyday life + largely an ensemble cast] The rating has just appeared and is climbing. The audiobook and animated series are now available. Give them a try! Back in 1982, Lu Zhigang decided to make up for his regrets and give his family a better life. But why did none of them believe him...? He took over a brickworks, opened a food factory, and led Lujia Village racing down the road to prosperity. 12.9kReads8.3Score49914d adds
- 44 From Village to City: Their Lives Swept Along by the Tide of the Times 从村到城，她们在时代洪流里沉浮 Their fates seem to repeat across generations. Three generations of women all grew up under the shadow of fathers who left or divorced their mothers. Raised in households with only their mothers, the women share similar traits: resilient and adaptable, dignified and self-assured, hardworking, and devoted to living life well. From the countryside to the city, women of the new era have finally welcomed a spring of their own. Their lives have become richer and more colorful, full of endless possibi 12Reads—Score114d adds
- 45 A Woman Named Chunxiu 一个叫春秀的女人 [Period drama + everyday family life + marriage + building a career + personal growth] I married a state-owned enterprise worker, and after years of trying, I finally had a son. Then, just as my husband was sent to prison, my mother-in-law branded me a bringer of bad luck and threw me out of the house. Qiu Yue, widowed and bullied, and Wang Feng, tormented by domestic abuse, shared my fate. The three of us hard-done-by women joined forces, working, doing business, and opening a factory. We neede 9.4kReads8.1Score79114d adds
- 46 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 429Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 47 My Five Sisters Raised Me, So I Bought Each of Them a House 五个姐姐养大我，我送每人一套房 When I was seven, Mom and Dad were gone. My five older sisters took turns raising me. The eldest dropped out of school to work a sewing machine. The second scavenged rotten vegetables at the market. The third earned money competing in tournaments. The fourth never had an entry labeled “for herself” in her ledger. The fifth cut off her long braids and sold them for eight yuan to pay my tuition. Chen Zi'en lived next door. He was the school bully, feared by everyone. He'd never lost a fight, but 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 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—Score38014d adds
- 49 Transmigrating into a Book: The Stepfather in a Period Novel 穿书之年代文里的继父 (The new book’s rating just opened, everyone. It’ll go up!) 1970s setting + sign-in System + raising kids + mutual devotion. The moment I open my eyes, I’ve transmigrated into a period novel and become the cannon-fodder stepfather who abused his stepchildren and eventually died miserably in a cowshed. I look at the three thin, malnourished children staring at me in fear, and their gentle, resilient but distant teacher wife. I silently activate the Daily Sign-In System. Today, a pound of meat. 100Reads6.0Score914d adds
- 50 An Elder Sister Is Both a Mother and a Father! 长姐如母，亦如父！ [A story set in a bygone era, with no transmigration, rebirth, or golden finger. Family life, rural romance, and a hard road to growing up.] Zhou Zimei thought she would soon marry her childhood sweetheart and fiancé. Then an accident happened, and she became what people called an old maid. Her younger siblings' tuition taught her everything she hadn't known how to do. The hardships of rural life, the warmth and coldness of human nature, and the struggle to keep growing... 43.7kReads8.2Score1.7k14d adds
