Ranking the Harry Potter Books from Great to the Very Best

If you ask someone (especially someone in Gen Y) what their favorite book is, there’s a good chance they’ll say Harry Potter. No surprise there — it’s the highest selling book series in the world, having sold over 500 million copies worldwide.

But of the seven thrilling novels in the Harry Potter series, which is the best. The AllEars team mulled this tricky topic over, which led to some friendly duels. (No writers were jinxed in the making of this post.) This is the best we list we could come up with.

Also, for the record, we love Harry Potter. There’s not a bad one in the bunch, so this was just a fun exercise. Think of it more of a ranking from Really, Really Amazing to Really Amazing.

Ranking the Harry Potter Books 

7. Chamber of Secrets

Chamber of Secrets has its highlights (some of us totally love Gilderoy Lockhart and the flying car), but overall this one isn’t as fun or compelling as others.

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6. Sorcerer’s Stone

It’s the one that started it all and made us fall in love with Harry, Ron, Hermione and long for our Hogwarts letters. But…it’s also not as exciting as later books when we’ve been introduced to more of our favorite characters!

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5. Goblet of Fire

The end of Goblet of Fire is the moment these books go from “what a lovely escape to the world of jubilant young wizards” to “oh, snap, it just got serious.” We also love the Quidditch World Cup, Tri-Wizard Tournament, and expansion of the wizarding world!

RENEGADE (Harry Potter) - GOBLET OF FIRE - Wattpad
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4. Order of the Phoenix 

Some people don’t like Book 5 because Harry is angsty, but to them we say — HE HAS A RIGHT TO BE. He just saw Voldemort return and his friend killed, and people in power aren’t doing anything about it! Still not convinced? Name a better villain than Umbridge, we’ll wait. NEED MORE? Two words: Dumbledore’s Army.

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3. Deathly Hallows

Hallows! Horcruxes! Camping! The final book has it all — and wraps the beloved series in an epic, beautiful, tear-stained bow.

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2. Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince manages to give us romantic drama, sports drama, mysterious book drama, Malfoy drama, and the most dramatic cliffhanger EVER all in one book.

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1. Prisoner of Azkaban 

I will never forget the moment I realized the big plot twist. I was staying up too late, reading with a flashlight, and audibly gasped when it was revealed that Sirius was the dog. And then it turns out he’s innocent!? CHILLS. This might be the most shocking moment in the whole series! (At least top three.)

Prisoner of Azkaban introduces us to the Marauders (we love Lupin and Sirius), brings the map into play, graces us with Buckbeak, and kicks things up quite a bit from the first two. For these reasons, it’s our number one!

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What is your favorite Harry Potter book? Let us know in the comments!

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Molly is a lifelong Disney enthusiast, and former Walt Disney World Guest Relations Cast Member and tour guide. Her Walt Disney World favorites include Festival of the Lion King, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Fantasmic!, Mickey-shaped pretzels and rice krispie treats, and anything with Buzz Lightyear! She lives in Orlando with her husband (who she met in Guest Relations) and their two rescue dogs, Kronk and Cruella de Vil (Ella for short!)

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11 Replies to “Ranking the Harry Potter Books from Great to the Very Best”

  1. Half-Blood Prince will always be my favorite. I love the insight into young Tom Riddle and diving into the mystery of horcruxes with Dumbledore.

  2. I ADORE Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It’s like a mysterious puzzle, both heartbreaking and interesting.

  3. My fave is the Goblet of Fire. I read that one first because all my students were raving about it. Then I went back and read the first 3 and each subsequent one after.

  4. Im 10 years old and i have read the series hundreds of times ever since 2nd grade! they are my favorite books and because of them my lexile is 1000! i agree that the third one is the best!

  5. Omg this list is almost perfect. I have to say that prisoner of Azkaban is definitely my favourite alongside half blood Prince mainly because them two book focus on some of my favourite characters: Sirius, Lupin and Snape. I think order of the Phoenix should be third though.

  6. I agree with Prisoner being #1 but Goblet of Fire is the transformational book from childhood to young adults for Harry, Ron, and Hermione!

    #1 Prisoner of Azkaban
    #2 Goblet of Fire
    #3 Chamber of Secrets

  7. Just reading these with my 9 year old and discovered goblet of fire is sooo funny in places. Cant wait to get to get the challenges and see her face