Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Rick Riordan - 5 books
A kid discovers he is the son of a Greek god and enters a hidden world of myth. Same chosen-one energy, lighter tone, faster pace.
Series - Books in order
Harry Potter books in order
by J.K. Rowling - 7 books - 1997-2007 - Updated June 2026
The Harry Potter books should be read in publication order, starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone in the UK) and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The series tells one continuous story across seven books, with each year at Hogwarts building directly on the last. Details planted in book one pay off in book seven. There is no other recommended reading order.
Rowling
Sorcerer's Stone
✦
1
Rowling
Sorcerer's Stone
✦
1
Start with this book
Most readers should start with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It gives you the cleanest entry point before continuing through the full series order.Listen on Audible
Buy on Amazon7 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneStart | 1997 | 4.5 | |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 1998 | 4.4 | |
| 3 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 1999 | 4.6 | |
| 4 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2000 | 4.6 | |
| 5 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | 2003 | 4.5 | |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2005 | 4.6 | |
| 7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2007 | 4.6 |
Our recommended reading order
publication
Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
✦
Best book to start with
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Catch up on the whole series
Box sets in print, or listen on Audible.
Similar series
If you love Harry Potter, try these next.
Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
✦
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis - 7 books
Children step through into a magical world and find themselves caught up in an epic struggle. Shorter, more allegorical, equally beloved.
fantasyclassic
Guin
A Wizard of Earthsea
✦
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin - 6 books
A young mage studies at a wizard school and must confront a shadow he unleashed. Quieter and more literary, but the DNA of the magic-school story is here.
fantasyclassic
Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind
✦
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss - 2 books
A legendary figure recounts his years at a university for magic. Beautiful prose and a deeply human protagonist. Warning: the trilogy is unfinished.
fantasyadult
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Frequently asked questions
Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows. Seven books, published between 1997 and 2007.
Seven novels by J.K. Rowling. The Cursed Child (2016) is a stage play script, not a novel, and was co-written with Jack Thorne. Most readers treat the original seven as the complete series.
Yes. Publication order is the only way. The story is sequential, and every book assumes you have read the ones before it.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (titled Sorcerer's Stone in the US), published in 1997.
Order of the Phoenix (book 5), followed by Half-Blood Prince (book 6), then Deathly Hallows (book 7).
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan is the most common next step for younger readers. For adults, try The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026