The Vacation Shift

by Lily Chu

Gilmore Girls meets a reverse Parent Trap in this swoony and hilarious YA rom-com from popular adult romance author Lily Chu, following a teen who, while on a group tour to Japan, teams up with a fellow traveler to keep their parents from falling in love with each other.

Ivy Yu is cursed. Her parents separated six months ago, and she’s fallen into a fog. To help, her mother books an impulsive trip to Japan (cool) on a bus tour (very uncool). Ivy should be grateful, but this summer is her last chance to get her situationship, Connor, to fall in love with her.

When they arrive in Tokyo, it’s even worse than she imagined. Ivy and her Mom are the youngest of a group of seniors. Make that two of the there’s brooding Matteo, with his single dad, Keith.

Then Ivy discovers her mother and Keith are getting close, and her crush back home is hooking up with someone else. Desperate for some semblance of control and a distraction from the heaviness she can’t seem to shake off, she makes a deal with Matteo to keep their parents apart. Luckily, he agrees—and their devious plans begin.

Dodging nosy old ladies on the bus ride through Japan, their strange partnership begins to blossom into something unexpected and exciting—but can their romantic spark survive the journey?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult Romance

Audible Audio

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Lily Chu loves ordering the second-cheapest wine, wearing perfume all the time, and staying up far too late with a good book.

The Stand-In, The Comeback, and The Takedown are released in audio as Audible Originals, and are performed by Phillipa Soo. Lily’s critically acclaimed books have spent multiple weeks at number one in Audible Top Plus Listens in the All and the Romance categories, and have been named in Audible’s Best of the year lists.

In print, The Stand-In was named Target’s Book Club Pick for May as well as an Amazon Book of the Month and Apple Best Books of May.

Translation rights have been sold for seven languages.

Reviews

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

⛩️🌸🍵🍣🥢

i love a cutesy little romcom set in a different country with dysfunctional families and food and travel! there's nothing like a reverse "almost fake dating" trope. and even though it was pretty vanilla and boring, i also needed just a light book after reading a ton of fantasy at the time.



ivy
honestly i loved her, her internal dialogue was so real and valid and i was like "is this me?" at times even though it was not me. she was so valid for everything and loved her down < 33 and shes an art girlie WE STAN

matteo
literal king material, he was such a solid love interest with a personality and he balanced out ivy so well. i thought that their romance was cute because he had a personality and it was just a cute little plot with him.

everyone else
the parents sucked !!! the genuinely absurd lowk racist old ladies sucked !! but the overall vibes were good so this was a solid little read and i thought the setting was well done considering our prose was simple.

end notes
pick this book up if you want a little travel romcom for the plane.

frtc! this was cute tho, a pallete cleanser

[Shannon Miz]

From PW:

"Lily Chu’s YA debut THE VACATION SHIFT, pitched as a Gilmore Girls meets reverse Parent Trap mashup, about a struggling teen and her spontaneous mom who end up on a seniors tour of Japan in a spur-of-the-moment decision, with old ladies trying to matchmake them with a teenage boy and single dad on the trip, to Jennifer Ung at Quill Tree, in a very nice deal, at auction, by Carrie Pestritto at Laura Dail Literary Agency (world English)."

[Eden]

DNF @10%

I love Chu’s adult romances, but from the very get-go, this story didn’t feel the same. The writing style was completely different. 1st person pov and so much telling instead of showing. YA doesn’t mean “dumbed down,” and that’s what I was getting from this. It saddens me, but I will stick with Chu’s adult stories.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenage angst ✅
Parents divorcing ✅
Moodiness ✅
Unrequited love ✅
Found family vibes ✅
Japan adventure ✅

Ivy is having a really bad day. In fact, she has been having bad days ever since her parents separated several months ago. This YA coming-of-age novel explores the challenges of high school life while balancing lighter moments with deeper emotional stakes. Ivy's struggles feel relatable, authentic, and emotionally resonant.

One of the things I appreciated most about Ivy's character is how easy it is to see a little of yourself in her. Who does not remember being a teenager and feeling like fitting in, navigating friendships, and getting your crush to notice you were the most important things in the world? Ivy is dealing with all of that while also trying to cope with her parents' separation. When she thinks she has her summer planned out, everything changes when her mother announces they are taking a two-week trip to Japan, forcing Ivy to leave behind her summer job, her friends, and the chance to spend more time with her crush.

One of the strongest aspects of the novel is Ivy's relationship with her mother, Lillian. Their personalities constantly clash, creating much of the story's emotional tension. Ivy often feels unheard and overlooked, while Lillian struggles to understand the impact her actions have on her daughter. Their relationship is messy, frustrating, and painfully realistic, making Ivy's emotional journey all the more compelling.

As Ivy travels through Japan, she encounters a colorful cast of characters who challenge her assumptions, broaden her perspective, and help her grow in unexpected ways. Some interactions are frustrating, while others become meaningful sources of support and understanding.

What stood out to me most was how effectively the author captures the feeling of wanting to be heard. Ivy's frustration, disappointment, and loneliness come through on every page. The story does not shy away from the complicated emotions that accompany family conflict, and it thoughtfully explores how even well-meaning parents can sometimes fall short.

I also loved the Japan setting. Having taken a similar tour myself, I was impressed by how accurately the itinerary and overall experience were portrayed. The descriptions felt genuine and brought back many memories of my own trip, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience.

A special shout-out to Matteo and Tom, who provide Ivy with something she desperately needs throughout the novel: a safe space to be herself. Their kindness, patience, and willingness to truly listen made them some of my favorite characters in the book.

I am a huge fan of Lily Chu, and while she is best known for contemporary romance, this YA novel was a definite hit for me. Although it is marketed as a teen romance, it is so much more than that. At its heart, it is a story about family, self-discovery, friendship, and learning how to move forward when life does not go according to plan. The emotional depth, relatable characters, and heartfelt growth make this one of my favorite reads from Lily Chu so far.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily Chu brings alllll the teenage angst in this adventurous tour through Japan. Sadly, her main character, Ivy Yu, is struggling. Amidst her parents' *separation*, Ivy ignores the good parts of life, falls into the immature trap of interpreting every issue as a personal attack, and is too selfish to understand that every human has their own life to live. While she may be the main character in this story, she is not the main character in the world and is responsible for her own thoughts and actions. From looking for her worth in a valueless boy, to whining about a once in a lifetime trip through Japan- the whole time, and constantly complaining about her mom while giving her dad waaaay too much grace, Ivy is relentlessly selfish and ungrateful.

There are fun aspects along the way: hijinks between her, Matteo, and their parents, delightful descriptions of multiple high-tourist areas of Japan and its culture, and even some emotional and mental growth in the denouement. Readers get stress relief when Ivy realizes maturity and emotional intelligence comes from communication and applying different techniques to find peace during uncertainty. Humans are not born with an innate understanding that their emotions do not have to rule their lives, but how thankful can we be that we live in a time of ample resources and unstigmatized therapy!

*SPOILER* I did not love the ending. How can Ivy think it's okay wander off in Japan without telling her mom and yet cry, pretending she's heartbroken, that her mom climbed Mount Fuji, achieving her own dream, when Ivy said she was fine climbing back down with the group? She vacillates between acting like a baby and demanding adult privileges even in the conclusion when I hoped more emotional growth would be present. Teenagers are capable of more intelligence and generosity than Ivy had at the end of the book, and mom should not have apologized to her.

Troupes: troubled anti-hero, meet not-so-cute, Japan vacation, parent trap-esque, slow burn, requisite miscommunication break-up, emotional growth, grand gesture apology
Spice: 1/5 🌶️ "f-boy"
Gore: 0/5 🩸
Language: 2/5 👀
Triggers: immature teenager
Ages: 15+

Thank you to HarperAudio Children's and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It’s a sweet, clean YA romance that also tackles some heavier topics I think many teens will relate to. While I’m not really sure where the Gilmore Girls comparison comes from, the “reverse Parent Trap” description is definitely fitting. Honestly, “reverse Gilmore Girls” would have made more sense, so maybe there was a mix-up in the marketing copy.

I mention that because the mother-daughter relationship is one of the central focuses of the book alongside the romance, and it certainly doesn’t evoke Lorelai and Rory. In fact, it’s about as far from that dynamic as you can get. If anything, it almost deserves a content warning for its depiction of a toxic parent-child relationship.

That being said, I loved the journeys that both FMC Ivy and MMC Mateo go through, together and individually, as they travel through Japan. Alongside their budding romance, they’re juggling complicated family relationships from afar, bickering parents, trying to keep Ivy’s mom and Mateo’s dad from getting to know each other, and dealing with their own emotional struggles. I also enjoyed learning little bits about Japan through the characters’ experiences, which added a nice layer to the story.

I read this in audio after receiving a complimentary ALC from HarperAudio Children’s via NetGalley. It was narrated by Sarah Skaer, who did a wonderful job with the material and sounded genuinely age-appropriate for the characters. The production as a whole was polished and well engineered.

Overall, I think this is a perfect read for a younger teen audience. It packs a lot into its pages without ever feeling too heavy, balancing family drama, self-discovery, travel, and first love in a way that stays fun and accessible. No matter which format you choose, it’s an engaging and heartfelt story.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful Young Adult novel about a 16 year old girl named Ivy who goes on a summer vacation trip to Japan with her mom. Her parents have been separated for a few months and sold their home, so Ivy has been adjusting to living in an apartment with her mom, seeing her dad less frequently and having a longer commute to high school. She also has a crush on a boy whom she will not spend time with over the summer because of the vacation trip. So Ivy has lots of things going on in her head. Ivy and her mom are seeing Japan with a tour group, and during this trip Ivy becomes worried that her mom might be interested in another vacationer who also has a teenage son along. So Ivy and this teenage boy named Matteo start scheming to make sure that her mom and his dad don’t get time together or look too attractive to each other. As the trip progresses, the two teenagers realize that they themselves are getting along very well. 



At the beginning, when I realized this is a Young Adult book, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book because reading about teenage angst is not that entertaining to me. But I kept reading and two things became very clear: 1) I was learning about fun things to see and do in Japan and 2) Ivy was having some mood issues that went beyond typical teenage drama. I thought it was interesting that Ivy eventually reaches some conclusions about how she has been coping. This book deals a lot with relationships and also about how we think about ourselves. I enjoyed this book even though YA fiction is not my usual fun read.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. 💕

So I listened to this book and absolutely loved it. I went into this story blind, not knowing what to expect, and it exceeded my expectations.

The narrator did such a wonderful job bringing Ivy and the rest of the characters to life, and I love how it just made the story so easy to follow. Along with the author’s vivid descriptions of Japan, it felt like I was traveling alongside these characters. Japan has always been a dream destination that I have always wanted to visit, and this audiobook made me feel like I was experiencing it alongside the characters.

I really enjoyed the romance in this story. I love how the romance started off slow and then naturally progressed, and seemed very genuine. I loved watching Ivy and Mateo grow closer throughout their trip.

Ivy the main character, is dealing with a bunch of things, and she doesn’t fully understand a lot of what she is feeling. Even though this book has romance, it also focuses on Ivy’s journey with her mental health and everything going on with her family. I loved how the author portrayed Ivy and her experiences.

I also loved that none of the characters in this story were perfect. They felt real and flawed. By the end of the book, not every problem was magically solved, but there was growth and a sense that these characters were moving in a better direction.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy’s parents have been separated for six months and Ivy has been down. She’s starting to she’s the light when she gets the summer job she’s been wanting alongside her crush, but when her mom springs a summer trip to Japan on her those plans go up in smoke. Instead of having the summer she planned she halfway across the country with a bunch of strangers and seniors to boot. There is one other teenager, Matteo, besides Ivy. When Ivy and Matteo’s parents start to get friendly they team up to try to stop a relationship from forming. Along the way they start to build a friendship and maybe something more.

I thought this was a fun, young adult summer read that had some good funny moments interspersed with family drama. I liked Matteo and Ivy as the leads and thought they were good together. The reverse Parent Trap angle was fun and creative and I liked following along to see what Ivy and Mateo would come up with next. I wasn’t a huge fan of either of the parents or the gaggle of old ladies, but some of the old guys were cool. The Japan setting was fun and I enjoyed hearing about the different spots on their trip. Overall this was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed.

[Honora Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

big thanks to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own

As a huge fan of The Parent Trap, reading a reverse version of it was hilarious. I love the concept so much, and the author executed it super well.

The parents are all jerks and need to get a lesson in how to actually parent their children. Hint: actually care about them instead of just yourselves. Whoa, crazy, I know! But at the same time, Ivy's mom was an icon. 😂 Terrible but iconic.

I'm afraid Matteo and Tom were the only sane people in this story, but Ivy's way of processing things was so relatable I can't even express it. Throughout the story, there were consistently moments that I related to and Ivy's emotions felt so realistic and the characters all felt like real people.

So all in all this was a cute travel romance with terrible parents and emotions and a way too amazing guy. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone but it was still super good!

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy and her mom are spending two weeks touring Japan with a group. On the tour with them are Matteo and his dad Keith, who instantly hits it off with her mom. The two are them are determined to keep their parents apart, but what starts as scheming soon turns to friendship. And maybe something deeper.

Read if you like:
-YA Romance
-Reverse Parent Trip
-Summer Vacation
-Mental Health Rep

I loved The Vacation Shift for two big reasons. First, the mental health rep was amazing. It was so good to see Ivy speak up for herself and let her parents know she needed help and to finish the book knowing she'd found a therapist. Second, I loved that Ivy and Matteo had their own little vacation within a vacation. Yes, they were on the tour with their respective parents, and yes, they were the youngest of the group by far. But they had enough time to form a real bond and to make memories apart from the tour.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the hard topics that this book touches on, that life can be lived, it can be hard, and it is okay to ask for help. I think this is such a powerful book for teen readers and there are so many different topics and ideas that will truly resonate with them. I also love that this isn’t a straightforward love story. Yes, you have a love interest, but their interest in each other truly builds and the way that it is handled shows a more realistic ideal that just because you’re interested in someone it can still be messy. There should be more of these types of books written for teens or younger readers. I truly enjoyed reading this book and am excited to get it in readers hands soon.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

[Karissa Dykstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

What a wholesome read full of fun traveling adventures, familial relationships, young love, and a bit of mental health representation!

The Vacation Shift follows Ivy and her mom as they go on a group tour in Japan together. Ivy is struggling with the separation of her parents as she starts noticing her mom becoming close with another member of the group, Keith. His son Matteo teams up with Ivy to stop their parents from getting together. In the process, they start to see each other in a new light.

I love the mix of Japanese culture, young romance, and coming of age. It’s a fun yet meaningful YA romance, perfect for when you’re traveling or just need a little escapism. It’s cozy, wholesome, and sweet!

Thank you NetGalley for an early listener’s copy!

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lily Chu, the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC!

I am a huge fan of Lily Chu and The Vacation Shift!

As a full YA novel, the characters are in such a different place compared to her other books, but is still very much a Lily Chu book.

The characters are strong and appropriately developed for their ages. The relationships are so real, especially between parents and children but also that one person in the group who just doesn't get it. Lily did a fantastic job describing and developing Ivy's mental health struggles.

Sarah Skaer does a great job bringing everyone to life.

I've already pre-ordered the paperback and can't wait to have it on my shelf!

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just the sweetest and completely relatable. There was the right amount of heavy that a teenager would deal with, without crossing the line into not believable. And oh teenage angst! The narrator was listed as Sarah Skaer. Although I have never heard her work, I was so impressed with the innocence and young vibe she was getting in her story telling.

This book was a bit long and probably could have had a bit more editing down. Also, I really did not like the FMC’s mom. I get that she had her role, but she had no redeemable qualities and I struggled there.

Great book, so thankful to NetGalley for the listen!

[Kasey Connors-Beron]

I received an ARC of The Vacation Shift thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have always wanted to visit Japan and this book transports you there. I love all of the cultural references and being able to identify places that I wish to visit. It was the perfect backdrop to this cute YA romance. There was great mental health representation and the love interest is super supportive even if other characters are not. It was a great experience reading this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute YA vacation romance that has two teens trying to reverse parent trap their mom and dad while touring around Japan. I liked the complicated mother-daughter dynamics, the emotional depth and the depression rep. This was both light hearted and deep and also good on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Katy O.]

School Library Journal review title

[Reda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and loved all of Lily Chu’s adult books, so I was very interested in her debut YA novel, The Vacation Shift. This novel is styled as a reverse-parent-trap story, which it is, but I think that’s description gives a more light-hearted impression of the story than is strictly correct. It’s really a story about two kids who bond over their mutual struggles to navigate challenging family dynamics. It’s also a story about the complications of mental health challenges. The story is fun and engaging, but readers should be aware of the more serious themes they’ll encounter as well.

The story was rich, especially the travel descriptions. The side characters were engaging and well-developed, even the ones you love to hate. It was exactly the kind of narrative I’ve come to expect from Lily Chu. My one critique relates to the main character’s internal monologue, which often felt choppy, terse, and disjointed. It was a stark contrast to the prose propelling the story. If that was intentional, which it may have been, I found it a distracting device. But as a first foray into YA fiction, this was a good one. I’ll be recommending it to my high schooler.

Many thanks to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"Gilmore Girls meets a reverse Parent Trap, follows a struggling teen and her spontaneous mom who end up on a seniors tour of Japan, and must now deal with old ladies trying to matchmake them with a teen boy and a single dad on the trip."

I've gotta be honest- I have no idea what "reverse parent trap" means here

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. I got an arc copy of this. A few parts were dragged out but over all a enjoyable story. It was cool to get all the tourist feelings with them even though I have never been there.