Reading Order
Harry PotterHarry Potter Reading Order
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is the best-selling book series in history with over 600 million copies sold worldwide. The main series is 7 books that must be read in order — each year at Hogwarts builds on the last, and the overarching story won't make sense out of sequence. There are also companion books and the Fantastic Beasts prequel films, but most readers start and finish with the core 7.
Where to start
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Complete Harry Potter Book List
- 1Buy
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling·1997·Book 1 — Harry discovers he's a wizard and begins his first year at Hogwarts - 2Buy
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K. Rowling·1998·Book 2 — A monster stalks the halls of Hogwarts; Harry hears a voice in the walls - 3Buy
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling·1999·Book 3 — A convicted murderer has escaped Azkaban; the series begins its darker turn - 4Buy
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J.K. Rowling·2000·Book 4 — The Triwizard Tournament; Voldemort returns - 5Buy
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J.K. Rowling·2003·Book 5 — The Ministry of Magic denies Voldemort's return; the Order fights back - 6Buy
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling·2005·Book 6 — Dumbledore reveals Voldemort's past; the war escalates - 7Buy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling·2007·Book 7 — The final confrontation; Harry, Ron, and Hermione hunt the Horcruxes - Buy
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
OptionalJ.K. Rowling·2001·Companion — a textbook from the Hogwarts curriculum, now as a standalone book; optional - Buy
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
OptionalJ.K. Rowling·2008·Companion — the fairy tales mentioned in Deathly Hallows; short and optional
Harry Potter — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Harry Potter reading order?
Read the main 7 books in publication order: Philosopher's Stone → Chamber of Secrets → Prisoner of Azkaban → Goblet of Fire → Order of the Phoenix → Half-Blood Prince → Deathly Hallows. The companion books (Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages, Tales of Beedle the Bard) are short and optional, best read after the main series.
How many Harry Potter books are there?
There are 7 main Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling, plus 3 companion books (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beedle the Bard) and the stage play script Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016). The main series is complete.
Should I read Harry Potter in order?
Yes — the Harry Potter series absolutely must be read in order. Each book builds directly on the events of the previous one, and major plot threads from Books 1–3 become crucial in Books 6 and 7. Reading out of order will spoil major reveals.
What are the Harry Potter books called?
The 7 Harry Potter novels are: The Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in the US), The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, and The Deathly Hallows. All published between 1997 and 2007.
Is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child a book?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) is the script of a stage play, not a novel. It follows an adult Harry and his son Albus. It is controversial among fans — many do not consider it canonical. It can be read after the main series, but it is not a traditional Harry Potter novel.
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