Being a Potterhead, the solution for everything is a Harry Potter Readathon. Well, not technically, but you get the point, right? No matter how many unread books on my bookshelf are waiting for me to grab them finally, I still keep finding my way back to the Harry Potter books. It’s the perfect fantasy series that not only contains J.K. Rowling‘s master storytelling, but the books also teaches you some outstanding lessons on friendship, loyalty, bravery, and strength.

Harry Potter Books in Order! (And Review)

So, if you want to escape reality for some time and take an adventurous trip to the fascinating world of wizards, witches, dark arts, and so much more, grab your Harry Potter book and get on the ride. In this blog, I have talked about all the Harry Potter books chronologically, according to the publication and release date. You can get the Harry Potter book series here! 📖

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1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

It’s been years, and I am still waiting for my acceptance letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The only relief is that it’s just not me. It’s the story of every Potterhead’s life. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the book that started it all, and we are grateful. This book introduces us to the protagonist of the series Harry Potter, an orphan who lives with his uncle and aunt, Vernon Dursley and Petunia Dursley. However, the most annoying character has to be their son, Dudley, who constantly bullies Harry and makes his life terrible.

Don’t worry because things do get better for little Harry when Rubeus Hagrid (my favorite character) makes a surprising entry on Harry’s eleventh birthday with the most adorable cake in this entire world. Hagrid brings the letter of acceptance to Harry, who has no clue about the world of magic. Out of all the Harry Potter books, the first one makes me the most nostalgic. It was the first time I tasted something utterly magical and supremely out of the world. When Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley – a hidden street in London behind the Leaky Cauldron pub – you will experience a bizarre kind of nostalgia.

As a ’90s kid, I clearly remember going to the shops with my parents purchasing new school supplies – from new school shoes to brown paper cover rolls for my notebooks; we used to buy everything. In the same way, Hagrid takes Harry to the shops in Diagon Alley. The only difference is the crazy supplies list. Here are some items from the list: One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for daywear, A beginner’s guide to transfiguration – a book by Emeric Switch, and pieces of equipment such as a wand.

However, the best part of the list is that students can bring an Owl, a Cat, or a Toad. You can make your guess which one Harry got. But wait, isn’t Harry an orphan? Where does he get the money? *drumrolls* Here, I introduce you to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank. I won’t disclose much about the bank and how rich Harry is because that’s for you to find out. But I need to entice you to read the Harry Potter books, with my favorite bit from the book. Harry has to catch the Hogwarts Express that leaves from the secret Platform 9 ¾ of the King’s Cross Railway Station to reach the school.

That’s where Harry befriends Ron Weasley, and they together come across Hermione Granger on the train, who they dislike from their first interaction. The three become best friends soon. On reaching Hogwarts, they are divided into houses (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw) with the assistance of the Sorting Hat, and from that very moment, mysteries begin to take shape. You will have so many questions, and the answers will reach you bit by bit with each book in the series. This book will also introduce you to a fascinating sport called Quidditch. As magical as it sounds, I wish it was a real sport. Who wouldn’t want to fly on a broomstick, after all, right? You can get the book here! 📖

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2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, introduces the readers to Dobby, a house-elf and one of the most adored characters from the book. Dobby comes uninvited to the Dursleys and warns Harry not to return. Harry gets into huge trouble because of Dobby, and his uncle Vernon locks him into his room. Here comes the savior Ron, with his brother Fred and George. They rescue Harry in their father’s Ford Anglia, which is a flying car! In this book, we get to read about Ron’s home, The Burrow, as he takes Harry there.

Harry meets Ginny (Cuteness alert!), who has a massive crush on him. The Weasleys are undoubtedly the purest. With this book, we also get to see the way wizards discriminate against the ones with muggle parents (Muggles are non-magical people.) As a kid, this was the first time I came across the concept of discrimination, and it taught me a lot. The Chamber of Secrets is a book with lots of exciting events. One such event is when Hermione concocts the Polyjuice potion that allows the one who drinks the potion to impersonate.

The whole thing was wildly crazy, and to say the least, things didn’t end well for Hermione. Also, throughout the book, Harry can listen to voices no one else can, pretty scary! We also get to learn some old secrets in this installment. And obviously, Lord Voldemort is there at the bottom of all of it. However, all is well that ends well, and the ending to this book is very wholesome, making it a perfect read for a rainy afternoon. You can get the book here! 📖

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3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the series. This book is my favorite from the series. This is the book from where J.K. Rowling starts introducing readers to darker themes in the story. After this book, the story keeps getting darker and crazier. In my opinion, The Prisoner of Azkaban is just perfect. Perfectly dark and exciting. The book starts with Harry watching the news of a convict named Sirius Black escaping the Azkaban Prison, hence the book’s title.

Sirius Black is a fascinating character, so do watch out for some awesomeness. After accidentally inflating Dursley’s aunt Marge, Harry walks out with his luggage and travels to the Leaky Cauldron in a Knight Bus. I have no idea what made J.K. Rowling come up with the concept of the Knight Bus, but when the roads are stuffed with vehicles, I wish for my Knight Bus. Also, one of the most mind-blowing creations of the author is Dementors. In an interview, J.K. Rowling disclosed that she conceptualized Dementors based on her clinical depression. And I think that’s nothing less than sheer brilliance.

So, a Dementor attacks Harry in the Hogwarts Express, and Professor Remus Lupin, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, saves him. Later on in the book, Professor Lupin teaches Harry the famous Patronus charm that helps Harry to fight the Dementors. This book is a nail-biting experience. The way all these different story elements are woven will leave you amazed. Undoubtedly, this one is the most wonderfully crafted book in the series. If you ask Potterheads their favorite book from the franchise, most of them will stick to this one. You can get the book here! 📖

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4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire takes us into Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this book, we read about the revival of the Triwizard Tournament. The tournament winner will go ahead and compete with the champions of the two other European Wizarding Schools. The whole mystery behind how Harry gets an opportunity to compete in this championship is fascinating because he is not eligible for the tournament.

Did I mention that the tournament is crazy? This book also introduces us to a new character Cedric Diggory (played by Robert Pattinson in the movie.) The storytelling in this one is fantastic. Unlike the first three books, this one is a bit more action-packed, with Harry trying to get past a dragon. I loved how J.K. Rowling started this book with a mysterious prologue. It instantly hooked me to the story, and I wanted to know more. You can get the book here! 📖

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5. Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix 

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix, the fifth novel in the Harry Potter series, is where things started getting dark. At least, that’s what I feel. The ministry’s denial of Lord Voldemort’s revival and reluctance to take action to fight him brings into light the secret underground vigilante group called the Order of the Phoenix. This book also introduced the readers to the most hated character in the whole literary world, Dolores Umbridge. I don’t hate Lord Voldemort as much as I hate Umbridge, and trust me, I am not alone. Other Potterheads will relate.

Umbridge is far more hated than Lord Voldemort because we all know Lord Voldemort is an unbelievable character. And honestly speaking, there couldn’t be another fantasy novel villain as great as the Lord himself. However, Umbridge is someone who seems very real – that bad teacher who bullied us in school and made our lives so much more difficult. Thus, Umbridge evokes a kind of hatred that is far more personal and agonizing. This book also explores the relationship and backstories of some of the most vital characters, making it an exceptional read for the readers. You can get the book here! 📖

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6. Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince is the second last book in the Harry Potter series. It’s Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts, and things get pretty intense. This installment is a complete package. It’s all about digging into the past and discovering the answers. This book also makes the characters appear very human and relatable. The chemistry between Ron and Hermione is palpable, with lots of fighting and silliness. On the other hand, the sweet love between Harry and Ginny will make your heart melt. Overall, a fantastic read, but what comes next is something you cannot even fathom. You can get the book here! 📖

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7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series is nothing short of a masterpiece. J.K. Rowling had planned the series with so much preciseness that she knew exactly how she would be ending the series right from the very beginning. Harry takes up the task of destroying all of Voldemort’s Horcruxes (A Horcrux is an object that has a fragment of Voldemort’s soul) to defeat him. This book is cruel, to say the very least. I remember being utterly devastated when the book ended. The ending couldn’t be better. It did complete justice to the story, but it also tested my patience. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the darkest book of the series, and J.K. Rowling starts preparing you for that from the beginning. You can get the book here! 📖

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Special Mention: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

This one is not a part of the original seven-part Harry Potter series. However, this book continues from where The Deathly Hallows ended. Though readers were excited to learn about the new Harry Potter book, the criticism and controversies around this book are unending. I found the book pretty confusing and boring. The writing doesn’t do justice to the original texts. It’s not able to pull off the magic the original books created. Since the bar was already set so high, the below-average execution made it even worse. You can get the book here! 📖

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The Harry Potter series is one of the greatest joys of life. Don’t even think twice, and get your Harry Potter books already! You can also read the Harry Potter spin-offs, such as the Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them. You will find many Harry Potter fans in our Facebook group BookWritten. Join the group to start conversations around books, create polls, and be a part of an incredibly healthy community.

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