The show's creator Lauren Iungerich researches the show by going back to her old high school. She says, "every year I go to my old high school and I talk to teenagers about their lives and the things are going through to stay engaged and to stay true to our show and ensuring that we are hitting the right notes".
The "carefrontation" letter that Jenna receives and is so frequently mentioned on the show reads as follows:
Jenna,
As you are now, you could disappear and no one would notice. Below is a list of suggestions that you should seriously consider:
Number 1: Stop being a p****
Number 2: Your instincts suck. Second guess them.
Number 3: The only people more pathetic than you are your friends. Drop the dead weight.
Number 4: When you're pretty, you're happy. And clearly you're not happy.
Number 5: Pull your head out of your a** and stand out.
Number 6: Nobody likes the pitiful. Stop being such a drag.
Number 7: You have to be cruel to be kind.
Number 8: Make amends.
-A Friend.
As you are now, you could disappear and no one would notice. Below is a list of suggestions that you should seriously consider:
Number 1: Stop being a p****
Number 2: Your instincts suck. Second guess them.
Number 3: The only people more pathetic than you are your friends. Drop the dead weight.
Number 4: When you're pretty, you're happy. And clearly you're not happy.
Number 5: Pull your head out of your a** and stand out.
Number 6: Nobody likes the pitiful. Stop being such a drag.
Number 7: You have to be cruel to be kind.
Number 8: Make amends.
-A Friend.
Ashley Rickards, Beau Mirchoff, Jillian Rose Reed, & Brett Davern have appeared in every episode.
Jenna's birthday is December 2, 1995. By her high school graduation in 2015, she and her classmates are technically at the age of 19 or 20 years old.
"Yummy Yogurt" and "Red Onion" referenced on the show are real restaurants in Palos Verdes.