10 Best J.K. Rowling Books Of All Time

One of the highest-grossing authors of all time, J.K. Rowling is best known for the Harry Potter series. Here are the best J.K. Rowling books in this article.

J.K. Rowling had a tough start to her writing career. She escaped an abusive marriage and was a single parent forced to leave England and go into hiding in Portugal. She left with a draft of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in her suitcase, her daughter, and little else.

Rowling moved in with her sister while she found her footing and struggled while living on government assistance. She said she was “poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.” 

Rowling began to experience depression and even contemplated suicide as time went on. She got help for her mental health and eventually enrolled in a teacher training course.

Popular J.K. Rowling Books

In June 1995, Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and the rest was history. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 novels every Harry Potter fan should include in their to-read list.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

In the Harry Potter series (known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the U.K, known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone elsewhere), readers are welcomed into the wizarding world. With no idea of his magical heritage, Harry notices that he has powers that set him apart from others. Harry receives an unexpected letter inviting him to join other children like himself.

Harry finally makes his way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He discovers which house within the school is the best fit for him, makes some fast friends, and is amazed that there are, indeed, other children like him. Readers are left on the edge of their seats, ready for book number two.

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In the second book of the Harry Potter series, Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, find themselves dealing with the typical shenanigans of middle-school-age and the ups and downs of learning their craft. Harry receives ominous warnings about potential future happenings from Dobby, the house-elf. Harry is also saved from a sticky situation by his friend Ron (and Ron’s family, who have a flying car).

Harry begins to hear strange sounds in the halls of Hogwarts, and then, he’s faced with a mystery to solve. Students in the school are being turned to stone, and Harry must use hope, friendship, and magic to uncover the truth.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

In the third story of the Harry Potter series, the trio of friends find themselves shocked when the Knight Bus comes to a dead stop in front of Harry. The young wizard learns that accused murderer Sirius Black is chasing him; it’s no surprise when Professor Trelawney predicts that death could be in Harry’s not-so-distant future.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron are constantly trying to escape the Dementors that are continually patrolling Hogwarts— one kiss from a Dementor would be the end of a young wizard.

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In the fourth book of the Harry Potter series, the trio of wizarding pals are interested in competing in the Triwizard Tournament held at Hogwarts. When they find out that you have to be 17 to enter, Ron and Hermione figure that their chances of gaining admission to the competition are slim—but Harry never stops dreaming that he’ll be able to compete with the best of the best.

Shockingly, the Goblet of Fire pulls Harry’s name to participate in the competition, even though he isn’t old enough. Harry enters the contest, and with Ron and Hermione’s support, they must pull out all the stops to make it out alive.

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Things are getting harder by the day at Hogwarts, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione are constantly working to keep one another safe. The Dementors have attacked Harry’s muggle cousin, and the trio quickly realizes that Lord Voldemort will do whatever it takes to eliminate Harry. While most wizards at Hogwarts denounce the idea that Lord Voldemort could be at fault for the problems at Hogwarts, Harry knows the truth.

Harry becomes a part of a secret society at Grimmauld Place to oppose Voldemort and other dark wizards. Professor Snape guides Harry as he learns how to protect himself from Voldemort’s increasingly vicious attacks.

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter is preparing to return to Hogwarts one fall, and when Professor Dumbledore arrives to collect the young wizard, his hand is blackened, and he seems out of sorts. As Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts, it becomes clear that the school is no longer safe. Harry, Ron, and Hermione must work together to protect the school from Voldemort and his dark magic.

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

In the final book of the Harry Potter series, Harry is forced to face the most challenging battle of his wizarding education. While he previously had a protective charm that kept him safe from dark magic, its power is gone. Everything that Harry loves is being affected by Voldemort, and it’s only a matter of time until Harry is forced to take action.

Harry has no choice but to stand firm in the face of fear and danger to protect both the people and the wizarding life that he loves.

8. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

This guide to the mythical creatures in the wizarding world makes a perfect coffee table book, gift, or addition to any Harry Potter fan’s book collection. Fans of the series say that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is akin to an actual textbook, answering questions and providing helpful information that provides a deeper understanding of the wizarding world. 

The movie of the same name is loosely based on the information detailed in this picturesque book. You may also enjoy our guide on the best fable authors.

9. Quidditch Through the Ages

Harry Potter fans worldwide dream of participating in a game of Quidditch, the magical sport in which wizards and witches fly through the sky on their broomsticks, working on whipping through the air to score points for their house. This book delves deep into the nuances of Quidditch, teaching readers how the game has evolved. Fans will love learning how Quidditch brings people in the magical world together, no matter their walk of life.

With a foreword from Professor Dumbledore, readers can imagine that they’re preparing for the first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, psyching themselves up to fly up in the air and make their house proud.

10. The Cuckoo’s Calling

While this book was published under the pen name Robert Galbraith, true fans know that J.K. Rowling was behind this critically acclaimed novel, named one of the “best books of the year” by USA Today. The first novel in the Cormoran Strike series, The Cuckoo’s Calling, opens with Strike after losing his leg while fighting in Afghanistan.

Strike struggles to make ends meet as a private investigator and has just one client remaining. The fallen soldier lives in his office, trying to make ends meet when he learns that his sister—a well-known supermodel—has fallen to her death. Strike refuses to believe the police’s ruling that the death was a suicide and begins to dive deep into his deceased sister’s life to learn more about what could have caused her untimely demise.

Learning more about her life takes Strike down a storied path of famous boyfriends, multimillionaires, and more. Strike works to uncover the twists and turns of the lives of the rich and famous for solving the mystery of what happened to his sister.

The Final Word On The Best J.K. Rowling Books

Rowling fans know her for her Harry Potter books and other works, as her captivating writing style draws audiences in for more. Stay tuned for the latest books from Rowling to get more of the literature you love. If you enjoyed this list of the best J.K. Rowling books, you might also like our round-up of the best magical realism authors. 

FAQs On The Best J.K. Rowling Books

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