The characters and the college are fiction. Let’s start there. However, I can say I was inspired by a few people in real life to conjure the different personalities. For instance, Vanessa is almost like my older sister, and Branden is like my love. Where Moya’s concerned, I only relate to her apprehensiveness in regards to trust.
As for the actual setting, some of the places mentioned are real. Like the state of Maryland, of course, and its cities: Baltimore and Annapolis. And while there is a town of Berlin in Worcester County, there isn’t a Berlin Heights, except for the one in Ohio. Harrington is from my imagination, and all the clubs mentioned, but Severn River does exist, along with Meredith Creek. The latter can be found in Anne Arundel County.

credit: city-data.com