Looking for Harry Potter books in order? Start with the seven main novels in publication order. I was late to the series myself, I didn’t read the first book until 2016, but rereading the books and rewatching the movies has become a yearly tradition in my family.
After the original novels, consider Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as an optional eighth story. Then add the Fantastic Beasts screenplays and official companion books if you want more Wizarding World lore beyond Harry’s main story.
Jump to:
- Harry Potter Books in Publication Order
- Harry Potter Books in Chronological Order
- Harry Potter Beyond the Books
- What is Harry Potter About?
- Harry Potter Books FAQ
Harry Potter Books in Publication Order
For most readers, publication order is the best way to read the Harry Potter books. Start with the original seven novels, then add Cursed Child, the Fantastic Beasts screenplays, and the official supplementary books if you want the wider Wizarding World experience.
The main thing to know is that not every Wizarding World book is the same kind of book. The original series is made up of novels. Cursed Child is a playscript. Fantastic Beasts has both screenplays and an in-universe Hogwarts Library book. The companion books are optional background material.
Main Harry Potter Books
These are the main Harry Potter books most readers are looking for. The first seven are the original novels. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is commonly treated as the eighth story, but it’s a playscript rather than a traditional novel.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone / Sorcerer’s Stone (1997 UK; 1998 US)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Official Playscript (2016)
The first book has two titles. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the original UK title, while Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the US title.
Fantastic Beasts Screenplays (Optional)
The Fantastic Beasts screenplays are official Wizarding World material, but they’re not Harry Potter novels. I’d save them as optional extras after the main series.
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Original Screenplay (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Original Screenplay (2018)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Complete Screenplay (2022)
Official Supplementary Books (Optional)
These books expand the Wizarding World, but they’re not direct continuations of Harry’s story. They’re useful for lore, worldbuilding, and extra context, but they’re optional.
I’d read the original novels first, then come back to the supplementary books whenever you want more background. Some work as in-universe books, while others are guide-style companions or reference books.
The Hogwarts Library Collection
These are in-universe companion books, not new Harry Potter adventures.
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)
- Quidditch Through the Ages (2001)
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008)
- The Hogwarts Library 3-Book Collection (2012)
Pottermore Presents
These short supplementary ebooks add more character backstory, Hogwarts lore, and Wizarding World background.
- Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (2016)
- Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (2016)
- Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (2016)
A History of Magic Books
These titles are reference-style companion works tied to the British Library exhibition and related releases.
- Harry Potter: A History of Magic (2018)
- A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts (2019)
- A Journey Through Potions and Herbology (2019)
- A Journey Through Divination and Astronomy (2019)
- A Journey Through Care of Magical Creatures (2019)
Other Official Companion Books
These official companion books are useful if you want a broader Wizarding World shelf.
There are also plenty of official special editions and collector books, including illustrated editions, MinaLima and other interactive editions, Hogwarts House editions, anniversary editions, boxed sets, Pocket Potters, cookbooks, coloring books, and pop-up or display books.
Those are all optional and don’t change the reading order. I’m keeping this list focused on the main Harry Potter reading order and the official supplementary books that are most useful for readers.
Harry Potter Books in Chronological Order
Chronological order puts the Fantastic Beasts screenplays before the original Harry Potter story because those movies take place decades earlier in the Wizarding World timeline.
I don’t recommend this order for new readers. The original seven novels are still the best starting point. Chronological order works better for longtime fans who already know the main story and want a different way to revisit the wider Wizarding World.
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Complete Screenplay
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone / Sorcerer’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Official Playscript
I’ve kept this chronological list focused on the major story path. The supplementary books above are useful extras, but they don’t fit neatly into a strict chronological read.
Harry Potter Beyond the Books
The Harry Potter books have expanded far beyond the page, with movies, television, stage productions, video games, and theme parks all shaping how fans experience the Wizarding World. Some adaptations retell the books, while others tell new stories in the same universe.
For me, the books are still the foundation. The screen, stage, game, and theme park versions can be fun companion experiences, but they’re not replacements for reading the original series.
Movies
The original Harry Potter film series adapted the seven main books across eight movies. Those films introduced a generation of fans to Hogwarts and are still the version of the story many people picture first.
The Wizarding World later expanded into the Fantastic Beasts movies, which explore an earlier era of the same universe. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child also continues the story through the format of a stage play rather than a novel.
TV Shows
HBO is developing a new long-form television adaptation of the Harry Potter books. The eight-episode first season is titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and is scheduled to debut at Christmas 2026.
The biggest appeal of a TV adaptation is that it has more room for characters, subplots, and book details that the movies had to cut for time. The original films are still the classic screen version for many fans, but the HBO series should introduce the story to a new generation.
Video Games
Harry Potter has had a long run of video game adaptations and spin-offs. Some follow the books and movies closely, while others use the Wizarding World as a setting for new stories.
The biggest recent example is Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world action RPG set long before Harry’s time at Hogwarts. The LEGO Harry Potter games are another family-friendly favorite, and Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions focuses on wizarding-world sports.
Theme Parks
One of the biggest reasons Harry Potter feels larger than a book series is that fans can step into the Wizarding World at Universal’s theme parks. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter brings locations like Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade, and Diagon Alley to life with rides, shops, food, and details pulled from the books and films.
For many fans, visiting Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort is the closest thing to walking into the world of Harry Potter. It’s a different experience than reading the books, but it taps into the same sense of wonder.
What is Harry Potter About?
Harry Potter is a fantasy series about a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he’s a wizard and has been invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What starts as a magical school story quickly becomes something bigger as Harry discovers the truth about his past, the wizarding world, and the dark force that shaped his life before he could even remember it.
Part of what makes the series work so well is how naturally it grows. Each book follows Harry through a new school year with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and every year brings new secrets, dangers, and clues that build into a much larger conflict.
The books explore friendship, loyalty, courage, grief, prejudice, and the choices people make when power is on the line. The early books feel lighter and more whimsical, while the later books grow darker and more emotional as the stakes rise.
Harry Potter Books FAQ
What is the correct order to read the Harry Potter books?
Read the main Harry Potter books in publication order, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. After that, read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child if you want the follow-up story.
How many Harry Potter books are there?
There are 7 main Harry Potter novels in the original series. Many readers also count Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as the eighth story, but it’s a playscript, not a traditional novel.
Is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child the 8th Harry Potter book?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is commonly called the eighth story, but it isn’t the eighth novel in the original series. It’s a published playscript and works best as an optional follow-up after Deathly Hallows.
Do I need to read Fantastic Beasts to understand Harry Potter?
No. You don’t need the Fantastic Beasts screenplays or movies to understand the main Harry Potter books. They’re separate Wizarding World stories and are optional for readers who want more background on the wider universe.
Why is it called Sorcerer’s Stone in some versions and Philosopher’s Stone in others?
They’re the same book. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the original UK title, while Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the US title.
Can I read the Harry Potter books out of order?
You can, but I don’t recommend it. The series builds heavily from one book to the next, and reading out of order can spoil major reveals and make the character arcs less satisfying.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more fantasy authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Fantasy Books in Order index.
2 thoughts on “Harry Potter Books in Order: All 8 Books + Extras”
“Fantastic Beasts is first mentioned in The Prisoner of Azkaban” This is not true. you can read Fantastic Beasts mentioned in SS.
Thanks for that. I’ll get it changed. I was literally pulling the info from another article I read. It’s been awhile since I read the books myself to remember exactly.