Someone to Talk To, featuring lesser-known actors and actresses, will premiere in China on Nov 11, a day marked in the country as Singles' Day.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Since it was published in 2009, it has received a dozen awards, including the prestigious Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011, and it has sold nearly 1.8 million copies in China.

The novel has been translated into more than 20 languages, including English, French and German.

It has received 8.6 points out of 10 on the review site Douban.com, and many viewers say they relate to the protagonists.

"It (the novel) tells a truth: It talks of how difficult it is for a person to find someone who can understand him or her," says the 58-year-old writer, who is also the scriptwriter of the movie.

"Such an inner struggle is universal. Similar characters can be found all around the world, as well as their love and their hatred."