“Forever,” the 1975 coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, is the inspiration for Netflix’s newest teen drama.

The series is named after Blume’s classic book about two high schoolers losing their virginity, but it isn’t a beat-for-beat adaptation. Instead, “Forever” is described as “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018.” As previously announced, the cast will be led by Lovie Simone as confident track star Keisha Clark and Michael Cooper Jr. star as nerdy basketball player Justin Edwards.

“You have no idea who I am, do you?” Keisha says to Justin in the beginning of the teaser, which then flashes to what looks like a memory of them playing together as young children. Justin then remembers her name. The two continue to flirt and get to know each other,...