How to Deal

The plot is a combination of the Sarah Dessen novels "Someone like You" and "That Summer." The first novel is the story of Halley helping Scarlett through the results of her interaction with Michael. The second novel is the story of Haven, whose parents have broken up and whose sister is planning a wedding. The stories were combined, with Dessen's approval, by reassigning Haven's family to Halley.

When Scarlett goes over to Halley's house to discuss symptoms she is eating grapefruit. After complaining that Halley's 'perfume' smells she puts the plate of grapefruit to her right. But in the overhead shot of her and Halley we see that the grapefruit is still on the pillow in her lap.

In what is probably a typo, "American Human Association monitored the animal action", according to the credits. The logo next to the words does spell "Humane" properly.

Featured in At the Movies: Seabiscuit/Bad Boys II/How to Deal/Dirty Little Secrets/Johnny English (2003)