diff --git a/dataclasses_json/core.py b/dataclasses_json/core.py
index 32868c07..fb7f0e6b 100644
--- a/dataclasses_json/core.py
+++ b/dataclasses_json/core.py
@@ -241,6 +241,10 @@ def _support_extended_types(field_type, field_value):
         res = (field_value
                if isinstance(field_value, UUID)
                else UUID(field_value))
+    elif _issubclass_safe(field_type, (int, float, str, bool)):
+        res = (field_value
+               if isinstance(field_value, field_type)
+               else field_type(field_value))
     else:
         res = field_value
     return res
diff --git a/tests/test_builtins.py b/tests/test_builtins.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78eacfd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_builtins.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from decimal import Decimal
+from typing import Optional
+
+from pytest import mark, param
+
+
+from dataclasses_json import DataClassJsonMixin
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class DataClassWithBuiltins(DataClassJsonMixin):
+    actually_a_str: str
+    actually_an_int: int
+    actually_a_float: float
+
+
+@mark.parametrize(
+    "model_dict, expected_model",
+    [
+        param(
+            {"actually_a_str": "str", "actually_an_int": 42, "actually_a_float": 42.1},
+            DataClassWithBuiltins(actually_a_str="str", actually_an_int=42, actually_a_float=42.1),
+            id="Happy case"
+        ),
+        param(
+            {"actually_a_str": "str", "actually_an_int": Decimal("42.1"), "actually_a_float": Decimal("42.1")},
+            DataClassWithBuiltins(actually_a_str="str", actually_an_int=42, actually_a_float=42.1),
+            id="Decimal as int and float"
+        ),
+    ]
+)
+def test__DataClassWithBuiltins__from_dict(model_dict, expected_model):
+    assert DataClassWithBuiltins.from_dict(model_dict) == expected_model
diff --git a/tests/test_invariants.py b/tests/test_invariants.py
index 1fa5e986..cf0195bf 100644
--- a/tests/test_invariants.py
+++ b/tests/test_invariants.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
                             (DataClassWithTuple, tuples, tuple),
                             (DataClassWithFrozenSet, frozensets, frozenset),
                             (DataClassWithDeque, deques, deque),
-                            (DataClassWithOptional, optionals, lambda x: x)]
+                            (DataClassWithOptional, optionals, lambda x: x[0])]
 example_input = [1]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_letter_case.py b/tests/test_letter_case.py
index ccc1d45c..acc7d9e6 100644
--- a/tests/test_letter_case.py
+++ b/tests/test_letter_case.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class FieldNamePerson:
 @dataclass
 class CamelCasePersonWithOverride:
     given_name: str
-    years_on_earth: str = field(metadata=config(field_name='age'))
+    years_on_earth: int = field(metadata=config(field_name='age'))
 
 
 class TestLetterCase:
diff --git a/tests/test_str_subclass.py b/tests/test_str_subclass.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9979ca2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_str_subclass.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from dataclasses_json import DataClassJsonMixin
+
+
+class MyStr(str):
+
+    def is_even_length(self) -> bool:
+        return len(self) % 2 == 0
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class DataClassWithStrSubclass(DataClassJsonMixin):
+    any_str: str
+    my_str: MyStr
+
+
+class TestDataClassWithStrSubclass:
+
+    def test_encode__no_instantiation_required(self):
+        model_dict = {"any_str": "str", "my_str": MyStr("str")}
+        expected = DataClassWithStrSubclass(any_str="str", my_str=MyStr("str"))
+        actual = DataClassWithStrSubclass.from_dict(model_dict)
+        assert expected == actual
+        assert model_dict["my_str"] is actual.my_str
+
+    def test_encode__subclass_str_instantiated(self):
+        model_dict = {"any_str": "str", "my_str": "str"}
+        expected = DataClassWithStrSubclass(any_str="str", my_str=MyStr("str"))
+        actual = DataClassWithStrSubclass.from_dict(model_dict)
+        assert expected == actual
+        assert model_dict["my_str"] is not actual.my_str
\ No newline at end of file