Racing season is well underway, and we have a new high-energy racing novel to match! The Last Sunday in May by Kate Clark Stone follows one woman’s journey going back to the track as a former racecar driver. Mack Williams used to be the one to watch in motorsports, until one wild night catches up to her.
Fast forward 10 years later, Mack is raising her daughter alone and taking care of her father full time. Yet she can’t seem to let go of the racing world. When she’s given a last-minute chance to qualify for the Indy 500, Mack’s dreams are finally within her grasp.
We absolutely love racing novels, and this one hit even harder with Mack’s character development. Here are three of our favorite things about The Last Sunday in May by Kate Clark Stone!
Book Overview: The Last Sunday In May
Content warnings: suicidal thoughts, serious injury, sexism, misogyny, hate speech, car accident, mentions of child neglect and abuse, vomiting, swearing
Summary: Mack Williams was the next big thing in motorsports. Until her wild ways forced her to leave racing in her rearview mirror. Ten years later, she’s a single mom in rural Indiana, with a struggling family business and a dad who needs full-time care. The fastest woman on four wheels now drives car pool, her dreams turned to dust.
But Mack’s childhood idol, Janet Joyner, still sees the spark. Famed for breaking gender barriers on the track, Janet gives Mack a last-ditch chance to qualify for the coveted Indy 500. Mack thought her days of impulsive choices were over, but she can’t say no, whatever the risks—moving in with her estranged sister, facing down her daughter’s absentee father, and working with Mack’s new teammate, Leo. He’s gorgeous, supportive, and every kind of distraction Mack can’t afford.
Juggling her personal life with a professional dream close within reach, Mack won’t let a second chance slip away again. Win or lose, the stakes have never been higher.
The Racing
Would this be a racing novel if we didn’t love the portrayal of racing? The Last Sunday in May drops us off mere weeks before the annual Indy 500 race. Mack has so little time to get adjusted to the team car and racing again in general. For the past ten years, she would fill in for a sick driver here and there, but she mainly raced on dirt tracks. To switch back to asphalt after so long would prove difficult even for a woman of her strength. Getting her perspective of racing made us feel like we were in the car going upwards of 210 miles an hour with her. It exhilarated and scared us a little.
Realistic Issues
Being the only woman qualifying for the Indy 500 comes with its own set of challenges: scathing comments, double standards, as well as a severe lack of funding. The Last Sunday in May portrays these challenges so accurately, down to the harsh comment sections on social media. Mack faces insult after insult insinuating that she slept her way to her current position. Her sponsorship queries get rejected by countless companies. She must ingratiate herself to the team’s sponsors. And she has to tone down her personality, diluting herself to make them like her enough.
All Hands On Deck
Another one of our favorite things about The Last Sunday in May is the result of everyone’s teamwork. The JJR team engineers, mechanics, and crew members work tirelessly to optimize Mack’s car. When Mack almost messes up her chance of qualifying, it takes everyone’s efforts and then some to get things back on track. We were especially surprised to see who led the charge to help. Women need to stick together, after all. It warmed our hearts so much to see the strength of many pool together to make the qualifiers happen. So much so that it didn’t matter if Mack won the Indy 500 or not. There was always next year.
An incredible racing novel that puts strong women at the forefront, The Last Sunday in May by Kate Clark Stone is as empowering as it is exhilarating.
The Last Sunday in May by Kate Clark Stone comes out May 1st, and you can order a copy of it here!
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