Highlights

• The Hogwarts Library books are fun additions to the Harry Potter series, providing flavor to certain aspects of the lore and making great reads for fans.
• Quidditch Through the Ages is the most interesting of the three Hogwarts Library books, detailing the evolution of Quidditch and providing great details about the beloved sport.
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a companion book that explores the magical creatures of the wizarding world, offering fans a chance to learn more about these creatures portrayed in the Fantastic Beasts series.

The Harry Potter books are among the most successful of all time, and they continue to capture the minds of readers around the world to this day. Moreover, with the release of Hogwarts Legacy and the news that HBO will be making a TV series based on the books, Harry Potter is just as relevant as ever.

The seven main Harry Potter books follow Harry through his seven years at Hogwarts, and just as Harry's journey gets more complex over time, so do the books themselves. The best Harry Potter books are full of mystery, great characters, and a Hogwarts Express-load of nostalgia.

Updated March 18, 2024, by Joe Grantham: Although the books from the main series following Harry himself will always remain the best, there are a few other books set in the beloved wizarding world. The Hogwarts Library books, for example, are fictional books from the series that have since been brought to life by J.K. Rowling and published for muggles to read. As small, fun books that add flavor to certain aspects of the lore, these are great reads for Harry Potter fans.

10 The Tales of Beedle the Bard

A Collection Of Magical Short Stories

• A Hogwarts Library book.
• Published in 2008.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of five fairy tales that would be read to wizarding children such as Ron Weasley. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger is bequeathed this book by Albus Dumbledore and subsequently reads out The Tale of the Three Brothers.

While the tales are rather captivating in their own right, it is arguably the least interesting of the three Hogwarts Library Books as other than the tale relating to the Deathly Hallows, the other stories aren't related as much to the aspects of the wizarding world that fans love.

9 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

A Great Compendium For Lovers Of Magical Creatures

• A Hogwarts Library book.
• Published in 2001.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a companion book for the Harry Potter series and a real textbook that Harry and other first-year Hogwarts students were expected to purchase. Written by Newt Scamander, who went on to become the main character of the film by the same name, the book is a history of magizoology, and accompanied by illustrations, details 85 magical creatures from all around the world.

It is a fun, witty book that fully encapsulates the magic and wonder of the wizarding world, and it is a perfect read in conjunction with the Fantastic Beasts series, as fans will learn so much about the magical creatures portrayed. Many of the cutest beasts in Hogwarts Legacy were also first documented in this textbook.

8 Quidditch Through the Ages

A Brilliant Insight Into The History Of Quidditch

• A Hogwarts Library book.
• Published in 2001.

The best Hogwarts Library book out of the three is Quidditch Through the Ages, which was written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Kennilworthy Whisp an expert on the sport. In fact, Hermione Granger once read the book herself before learning to fly, before passing it on to Harry, who needed an introduction to the sport he was about to star in. Quidditch Through the Ages is a fairly quick read that details the evolution and subsequent rise of Quidditch from Queerditch Marsh to the number one wizarding sport around the world.

As Quidditch is one of the most beloved aspects of the Harry Potter series, many readers will love that the book is filled to the brim with plenty of great details about the sport that could not have been covered in the main series. It is also awash with anecdotes, including invented primary sources such as letters from medieval witches and wizards.

7 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

A Cozy Introduction To The Series, Perfect For Children

• 1st book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 1997.

The first Harry Potter book is a great introduction to the wizarding world for both Harry and the reader. As the shortest book and one which was very much written for children, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is fairly simple when compared with the later books. It also lacks the interwoven plots and three-dimensional characters that make the rest of the series so great.

Nevertheless, the joy of experiencing Hogwarts for the first time is something that can never be replicated, even two decades after its release. Furthermore, Harry and the first-time reader suspecting Snape only to be proven wrong not only works great for this book but the series as a whole.

6 Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets

A Fun Mystery That Introduces Darker Elements

• 2nd book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 1998.

In many ways, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the perfect sequel, building upon the foundations laid out in the first book. While still essentially a children's book, darker themes are played out as Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to figure out who is opening the Chamber of Secrets.

Still lacking the complexity of the books that follow, it is hard to compare the second book to its successors. That being said, it is easy to forget that nobody could have predicted the culprit was technically Ginny Weasley on their first read. Even more impressive is the fact that this book also sets up plenty for future books, such as Horcruxes and all of the Dark artifacts that Draco sees in Borgin and Burkes.

5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Longest Book, Full Of Immersion & Coming Of Age Elements

• 5th book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 2003.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest of the books, which can be off-putting for some, but diehard fans know it as one of the most immersive books and are thankful for all the detail. Its length also means that plenty had to be cut for the film, thus putting even more emphasis on cherished book-only scenes.

The weird thing with The Order of the Phoenix is that the main antagonist, Professor Umbridge, is so well-written that her irritating nature can be a little overbearing. Nevertheless, the spirit of comradery, which spawns in spite of her, produces some of the most wholesome moments in the entire series, from Professor McGonagall defending Harry's career interests to Peeves saluting Fred and George.

4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Most Underrated Harry Potter Book Full Of Mystery & Characters Missing From The Film

• 4th book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 2000.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the most underrated Harry Potter books, in part due to the film adaptation that failed to deliver on depth. When fans return to this book, they quickly realize just how much was missing from the film and how great of a book it is.

Other than the wealth of characters and multiple plot lines that are woven together, one of the best things about The Goblet of Fire is undoubtedly the Quidditch World Cup final. The end of the book also signals a change for both the reader and Harry, with the death of Cedric Diggory setting the tone perfectly for the last three books.

3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

An Adventure Away From Hogwarts With An Epic Conclusion

• 7th book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 2007.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final book in the series and the perfect end to the story. Despite much of the book not taking place at Hogwarts, following Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their quest to find and destroy Horcruxes is a page-turning joy.

As the golden trio navigates the wider wizarding world, they also have to come to terms with being forced into adulthood early. One of the best Harry Potter book scenes not included in the movies is when Harry stands up to Lupin, who is shying away from his role as a father. Nevertheless, that cannot top the revelations about Snape and the sacrifices he made, putting moments from previous books into a whole new light.

2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

A Perfect Self-Contained Mystery With Highly Satisfying Twists

• 3rd book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 1999.

Just like the movie, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book is an absolute masterpiece and even works brilliantly as a standalone. With fantastic characters like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black introduced and an engaging plot full of twists and turns, it is easy to see why this book is a fan favorite.

The scene inside the Shrieking Shack, where everything comes together and all is revealed about Sirius' innocence, is one of the best moments in the entire book series and still delivers after multiple reads. The book also acts as a bridge between the first two installments, which are much more catered to a younger audience, and the rest of the series, which gets progressively darker. The Prisoner of Azkaban perfectly strikes a balance between the two.

1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The Perfect Hogwarts Story With Flashbacks To Voldemort's Past

• 6th book in the Harry Potter series.
• Published in 2005.

Although all of them are great, arguably the best Harry Potter book is the sixth in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. By this point in the story, Harry has already come to terms with his fate, and he and the rest of the wizarding world are bracing themselves for the impending war. As the last book set entirely at Hogwarts, it brilliantly showcases the highs and lows of life at the esteemed school of witchcraft and wizardry.

One of the best aspects of the book is the time Harry and Dumbledore spend in the Pensieve looking into Tom Riddle's past, including the memory that delves into the sad lives of the Gaunt family. Draco Malfoy's struggle in The Half-Blood Prince also helps solidify this book as one of the best. Rereading this masterpiece after finishing the last book hits even harder and makes Dumbledore's "Severus, please" one of the best lines in the entire series.