That Summer is Sarah Dessen's first novel, published in 1996. This novel and Dessen's Someone Like You are the basis for the film How to Deal. That Summer tells the story of a 15-year-old girl Haven, as she copes with her sister's engagement, her father's remarriage, and her best friend's personality changes. Nothing seems stable except for Haven's memories—especially those of the summer when Ashley dated Sumner Lee, who, as part of the backstory, is described as bringing the family together. Within the course of the novel, Sumner reappears in Haven's life. Fed up with the drama in her life, Haven runs away. When she doesn't come home, her family searches for her.
Adaptations (1)
That Summer was adapted into a 2003 film.
How to Deal2003 · film · 101 min · dir. Clare Kilner · IMDb ↗For teenager Halley, love seems like an alien concept. Her mother is divorcing her father, who is dating a younger woman Halley can't stand. Her sister is about to get married and doesn't realize that her fiancé is not the man of her dreams. And her best friend has fallen madly in love for the first time, leaving Halley to feel even more alone. But, when she meets edgy Macon, she learns what love is really all about.
