The Queen’s Gambit is a great book for anyone, whether they can play chess or not. Although a central topic of the story is chess, Beth Harmon’s fight against addiction adds a great spin to the story. The story begins with a plain, quiet orphan who plays her first game of chess with the orphanage’s janitor. Beth’s skills continue to bloom, growing sharper and better. By age 16, she’s competing in the US Open, where the stakes are higher than ever before. All this mind work will have an effect on Beth, and the anticipation grows as Beth’s addiction spins her life off course. The Queen’s Gambit is an awesome read for anyone, anywhere.