Trailblazer: The First Feminist to Change Our World by Jane Robinson; A Dirty, Filthy Book by Michael Meyer – review

Studies of two 19th-century champions of women’s rights, Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon and Annie Besant, shine a light on the bohemian and ‘badass’ pioneers, even if the tone sometimes grates

Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti review – easy as ABC

A journal, scrambled then re-ordered by the first letter of each sentence, proves an oddly captivating experiment in writing

How to Steal a Presidential Election review: Trump and the peril to come

Lawrence Lessig and Matthew Seligman show where the danger lies: in the statehouses and governors’ mansions

Great-Uncle Harry by Michael Palin audiobook review – a personal first world war story

The beloved Python narrates his touching tribute to a long-lost relative who was killed at the Somme

The best recent science fiction and fantasy – reviews roundup

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown; Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi; Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde; Past Crimes by Jason Pinter; The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers

Pity by Andrew McMillan review – men and memories in a Yorkshire pit town

The poet’s deft first novel conveys the personal and political pain felt by three generations in his home town

The Great Undoing by Sharlene Allsopp review – experimental debut takes on the tech apocalypse

A very personal, very meta journey into a tech apocalypse asks how much history we take with us – and who gets to write it

Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions by Ed Zwick review – the director’s cut

A Hollywood veteran dishes up irresistible servings of industry gossip, as well as tips for surviving the movie-making process

Change by Édouard Louis review – the revenge of Eddy

This latest autofictional instalment explores an escape from a deprived community in rural France to a new life in the city

Revolusi by David Van Reybrouck review – Indonesia’s fight for freedom

A superb history of the struggle for independence after three centuries of Dutch colonial rule

Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney review – a mother’s reawakening

In this debut novel, an Irish woman rebels against traditional roles and expectations, and walks away from her life

Namesake by NS Nuseibeh review – the pen and the sword

In a remarkable series of essays the Palestinian academic reflects on identity, religion, and her emancipated ancestor

The Lodgers by Holly Pester review – sharp end of the housing crisis

This darkly comic novel brings wit and invention to a story of rented rooms

One Day review – a flawless romcom you’ll fall for, hard

Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are extraordinary in this highly bingeable love story packed with magnificent nostalgia and a sublime soundtrack. But I do have one confession ...

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books

Time travel lessons, secret underwater schools and careers in demon hunting feature among this month’s selection