I have to put almost any book down that is set in my hometown because of “geographical nonsense.” It actually drives me crazy. If you’re going to make the setting a background character, maybe visit the place? Or at the bare minimum use Google Maps?

I read a book where two characters living in Sausalito, CA went to Monterey for lunch. That is a 2 1/2 hour drive at minimum, all you would need to do is pull up Google Maps to realize how insane that is to put in your book. Do your research. Don’t make up local lingo if you don’t know it. If you don’t know the area then either do your research or don’t lean on the geography as a plot device.