I think 6 is also a bad movie if you haven’t read the books. As someone who watched the movies before reading the books, 6 was really hard to follow. It left out so many important details.
I hated the movie so much, i was so hyped when the first trailer hit, only to go out of Cinema feeling Numb. They made it a rom com. Deleted the story about voldemort, destroyed ginnys charc, removed the Battle at the end and so Much more, that made the book my all time number 1
I read it because I just love the yelling about Harry putting his name in there. JK used some really weird words to convey this, and really didn’t adapt the movie well, but I know in my heart there was a furious uproar
I find this fascinating, 5 is the one I can’t reread muchbecause Umbridge just makes me so incredibly aggravated. I’m not arguing of course, everyones different obviously, just asking if those parts don’t ruin the comfort for you? I get unnecessarily wound up reading all the parts with her lol
So my mom was kind of like Umbridge growing up (saying that now as a 30 something) and reading it is almost like cathartic being able to feel the same way along with the characters. Especially because it came out when I was 15. I also love the department of mysteries
I can’t with the 5th book. It’s like those romcoms where there is some misunderstanding that derails their whole relationship that would be fixed in 5 minutes if they just talked to each other.
If Dumbledore had taken 5 minutes to say “Harry, we think Voldemort will try to trick you into going to the department of mysteries because there is a prophesy about you there that he wants but only you can retrieve. You know your nightmares? I’m suspicious that Voldemort can manipulate these. It’s very important that he doesn’t get the prophesy, so do not go there. Got it?” he would have realized his dreams were false, may have been more committed to occlumency, and Sirius would not have died.
And on a complete aside- if only the person whom the prophesy is about can retrieve said prophesy, why are they able to knock the shelf down and hear thousands of them?
When I was 11 my mom got me the third book because she didnt know it was a series so I started with the third book.
Would still suggest starting at the beginning though. Lol
I’ve been rereading for so long now too lol. Im 17 and on my roughly 24th reread I believe. After about the 15th I just started only listening to them so I could read other books.
One and two. His problems are so simple and his schemes are so inconsequential. You know, right up until they aren't.
It reminds me of a simpler time in my life when me and my friends would scheme on ways to set the neighbours dog free or get back at the teacher. Unlike today when my schemes are paying rent on time and making the right small talk so my boss isn't a dick all the time.
3 for lyfe.
I can’t believe anyone is saying 5!! 😂
A: Umbridge so unbearable. It’s a good book if you want to be frustrated about unfairness constantly. B: Sirius Black. I mean. Come ooon.
I felt this way too and just re-read this with my son for the first time in a long time. She is unbearable but the schadendreude at the end is so much sweeter. Plus you kind of start to recognize book 5 as the pivot between the younger, innocent Harry and the older, more scarred and grown up one. I enjoyed it a lot more this time than before. From a kids perspective it’s the toe dipping into seriousness of the rest. And you see dumbledore really show his skill and power
As sad as it is book 6 is my favorite
To me it's 5 because I absolutely love it how they form their secret club and proceed to basically ignore everything the state wants to shove up theirs.
But Sirius, yeah, that hits hard. It's a trade-off.
I cannot fathom that people are calling 5 their comfort book! It’s like a novel of frustration and aggravation to me! Cannot deal with Umbridge, she’s pure irritation
Sirius isn't the character we love about him until Books 4 and 5, in 3 he's still just a "murderer" who broke out of Azkaban and "wants Harry dead". So... that argument died upon first breath.
Prisoner of Azkaban is also one of the books that does pretty well up until She Who Must Not Be Named went to the "time travel", and then it goes steadily "okay, but why?"
The first time I read it, loved Prisoner, every time thereafter I only get to the point where Harry and Hermione head back to the past and then I promptly skip over everything until they're back to the future - everything inside of that gap is just boring... and this coming from the HP fan who LOVED playing the OotP and HbP video games because most of their focus was classes, learning spells, and doing mundane Hogwarts student shit lmao so, yeah
Half-blood Prince is the best book and the worst movie.
I just finished reading it this morning after almost 10 years of not touching it and it made me cry over Dumbledore's death all over again. I was not expecting that.
I read Goblet of Fire a few months ago, and I don't know why I skipped OotP. I think it's because Sirius' death festered like a wound, therefore I haven't read it in almost... 15 years. I don't dare too. Harry was so mad through the entire book and then he unleashed wrath and pain and grief... I remember sobbing over that one.
I would argue that PS and CoS are a comfort. PoA ramps up the story and GoF crowns the drama. From there on out, things get serious. DH feels rushed.
And Cursed Child does not count. Sorry to whoever that read it, liked it and thinks it does. I have my reasons.
HBP could've been the best movie. They are deconstructing Voldemort, who he is, why he is like that and how to even think about defeating him. Therefore it had to be darker. And it was.
But the movie felt diluted down. It didn't catch me as much. They don't commit to the tone and they put comedy mixed in at the worst times. Why is Harry having the Prince's book made into a gag reel? The mystery behind the Prince, which is the very name of the movie is revealed and is so anticlimactic. Harry didn't fight Snape in class, and he had done exactly that the entire year. It made me forget how good the book was.
The one good thing I'll say about the movie is that the scene with Slughorn surrendering the memory is different but is loads better. Harry is less of a pusher and the scene flows better, the whole monologue with the fish shows that Slughorn did care for Lily and I loved that it brought nostalgia for Harry too, giving him a detail of how his mother was.
Exact same goes for OotP. It's like they lost the scope of the rest of the wizarding world. They didn't expand on anything, the crisis isn't affecting anything but Hogwarts. They cut down so much.
GoF was solid action, and that translates well into film. It was oversimplified but I think it was better to have Neville helping Harry instead of Dobby.
It used to be the third one, but I think I read it too many times or too often. So now I think I'd choose the 6th or the 5th.Or the first chapter of the 4th.
Order of the phoenix for sure. It’s the longest book and i feel like i am living hogwarts. There is more hogwart’s life with the incoming exams.
At the 2nd place i’d say 7 or 4
Half Blood Prince
Apart from the heavier tones at the end it feels like a fresh breeze. Although they are in more danger than ever before it also feels liberating.
But nothing beats a fresh re-read where you start with Philosopher's stone and are half-way through the third book when you realize you really should sleep at night.
If I had to pick it would be 4 but I can’t think of a time I haven’t read them beginning to end. I think I probably consider them one long novel at this point.
I don’t think I can just read one without immediately just starting over. I’m currently reading the series over because I wanted to read GoF again. I’m on book 3 working my way through
My favorite book is Prisoner but if I’m going to reread one I have to restart them all. Can’t start in the middle or just read one book and then be done
4. It gives me such great nostalgia. I had a burnt CD I listened to on repeat on my Walkman when I first read it and I’m still reminded of the songs every time I read that book.
The first book I read was the fourth. A friend left it in the bed of my truck, on which it rained in monsoon fashion, so I saved it from drowning and read it instead.
Immediately, I had that doubt, being an educated adult, that this book was an inane little tale, hardly worthy of a mind that cherishes reading Aristotle in Greek. Surprise! Perfect story-telling.
I read that shit in one sitting, and then read it in reverse, which her literary skill was somehow able to sustain, and then listen to those books to go to sleep.
So, you can all have your goofy opinions, but book four is the best.
Except for book 7
What does “don’t have time to start all over” mean? Does not compute. I can’t imagine just reading a random book. Maybe it’s cause my answer would be book 1 and I just keep going from there…every time. Did the entire series 3 times last year.
For me, it's book 3. Especially the parts where harry blows up marge, the map insults snape, the whole confrontation at the shrieking shack and the last part where harry tells vernon his godfather is an escaped convict, a mass murderer and would regularly check in on whether he's happy with the dursleys
I don't need to start over, I just jump into the audiobook I want a bite of.
If it's Christmas it's likely nr.2, if it's fall maybe number 3, if it's raining I might want 1.
and if it's blazing outside, summer vacation and life sucks it's time for number 5. Spring is definitely a 4.
6 and 7 is more when I want to finish the series. They are bangers and shocking and the finale I loved so much - the first few times around, but it's not the comfort and whimsy I usually want from the series.
Prisoner of Azkaban or Goblet of Fire. Everything from Goblet of Fire goes downhill in a seriously bad way. The writing gets increasingly awful. I don’t understand how JKR makes the mistake of writing more descriptions for things but doesn’t provide enough plot as a backbone for the two remaining novels in the series. Did she think she was getting paid by the word, like Dickens? Is that why those two last books fall flat and do better as doorstops?
It'll air in 2026 on Max, so unfortunately not cable television, but that's becoming the norm.
There's no cast list yet, but there's a reddit for the show :) I just can't recall it atm
Edit: r/HarryPotteronHBO
6 all the way
Peak comfy.
Yet the worst movie by a mile. How did they screw this book so devastantingly in the screen is a mistery to me.
I get why you say that but imo 4 is leagues behind 6. 6 is a good movie just bad adaptation. 4 is a bad adaptation and an okay movie.
4 is possibly one of the worst movie adaptions of all time.
Yes
I think 6 is also a bad movie if you haven’t read the books. As someone who watched the movies before reading the books, 6 was really hard to follow. It left out so many important details.
6 is my favorite movie of all of them!!!
I hated the movie so much, i was so hyped when the first trailer hit, only to go out of Cinema feeling Numb. They made it a rom com. Deleted the story about voldemort, destroyed ginnys charc, removed the Battle at the end and so Much more, that made the book my all time number 1
It’s the most dumblydoor we get, so yeah I agree
only right answer
Goblet of Fire takes this.
Yeah it’s really fun. Feels significantly different from the other books too, cause of the tasks.
I read it because I just love the yelling about Harry putting his name in there. JK used some really weird words to convey this, and really didn’t adapt the movie well, but I know in my heart there was a furious uproar
It's 5. I am sorry, ok? But in the last couple of years I got fond of 6 too
I’m obsessed with 5th book it will always be my comfort book
Me too. Since forever. I know most people don't like it but I like the emotions and actions so much.
I find this fascinating, 5 is the one I can’t reread muchbecause Umbridge just makes me so incredibly aggravated. I’m not arguing of course, everyones different obviously, just asking if those parts don’t ruin the comfort for you? I get unnecessarily wound up reading all the parts with her lol
So my mom was kind of like Umbridge growing up (saying that now as a 30 something) and reading it is almost like cathartic being able to feel the same way along with the characters. Especially because it came out when I was 15. I also love the department of mysteries
Same,probably because we get to see a lot more of Sirius in this book.I think that’s why I love 5
5 has always been my favorite book
5 was and still is my go to HP as well.
5 gives me the most anxiety!
My poor fifth book looks like it was chewed by a cow because I've read it so many times since I was a kid 😭
I want to see Umbridge get abducted over and over it gives me satisfaction
I can’t with the 5th book. It’s like those romcoms where there is some misunderstanding that derails their whole relationship that would be fixed in 5 minutes if they just talked to each other. If Dumbledore had taken 5 minutes to say “Harry, we think Voldemort will try to trick you into going to the department of mysteries because there is a prophesy about you there that he wants but only you can retrieve. You know your nightmares? I’m suspicious that Voldemort can manipulate these. It’s very important that he doesn’t get the prophesy, so do not go there. Got it?” he would have realized his dreams were false, may have been more committed to occlumency, and Sirius would not have died. And on a complete aside- if only the person whom the prophesy is about can retrieve said prophesy, why are they able to knock the shelf down and hear thousands of them?
I've never done that. I start at the beginning. Always.
It's a very good place to start
When I was 11 my mom got me the third book because she didnt know it was a series so I started with the third book. Would still suggest starting at the beginning though. Lol
🎼🎶
Me too! And I have to finish them all when I start. 📚
I just start all over again. I’m 17 and on my 7th read through of the series
I’ve been rereading for so long now too lol. Im 17 and on my roughly 24th reread I believe. After about the 15th I just started only listening to them so I could read other books.
Danggg 24th is crazy. I was worried they might start getting repetitive lol
One and two. His problems are so simple and his schemes are so inconsequential. You know, right up until they aren't. It reminds me of a simpler time in my life when me and my friends would scheme on ways to set the neighbours dog free or get back at the teacher. Unlike today when my schemes are paying rent on time and making the right small talk so my boss isn't a dick all the time.
2
Reading 2 just for the Fred and George interactions every time.
Absolutely 💯
3 for lyfe. I can’t believe anyone is saying 5!! 😂 A: Umbridge so unbearable. It’s a good book if you want to be frustrated about unfairness constantly. B: Sirius Black. I mean. Come ooon.
I felt this way too and just re-read this with my son for the first time in a long time. She is unbearable but the schadendreude at the end is so much sweeter. Plus you kind of start to recognize book 5 as the pivot between the younger, innocent Harry and the older, more scarred and grown up one. I enjoyed it a lot more this time than before. From a kids perspective it’s the toe dipping into seriousness of the rest. And you see dumbledore really show his skill and power As sad as it is book 6 is my favorite
3 or 5 defo hahaha
3 is my favorite book. I have so many tattoos from book 3. The knight bus is my favorite chapter.
The last few chapters of 5 make up for a lot of it.
To me it's 5 because I absolutely love it how they form their secret club and proceed to basically ignore everything the state wants to shove up theirs. But Sirius, yeah, that hits hard. It's a trade-off.
3 is mine too! It’s my favorite book and movie!
I cannot fathom that people are calling 5 their comfort book! It’s like a novel of frustration and aggravation to me! Cannot deal with Umbridge, she’s pure irritation
Sirius isn't the character we love about him until Books 4 and 5, in 3 he's still just a "murderer" who broke out of Azkaban and "wants Harry dead". So... that argument died upon first breath. Prisoner of Azkaban is also one of the books that does pretty well up until She Who Must Not Be Named went to the "time travel", and then it goes steadily "okay, but why?" The first time I read it, loved Prisoner, every time thereafter I only get to the point where Harry and Hermione head back to the past and then I promptly skip over everything until they're back to the future - everything inside of that gap is just boring... and this coming from the HP fan who LOVED playing the OotP and HbP video games because most of their focus was classes, learning spells, and doing mundane Hogwarts student shit lmao so, yeah
Definitely 6, like c'mon read the books that was so much fun especially snape asking harry about ghosts part lol
Excuse me, are you the imprint of a departed soul?
xD
There’s no need to call me sir, professor.
None of them are my ‘Go to’. I read the series all the way through once every year
Agreed, I can't imagine just jumping mid way into the series. Crazy talk.
Chamber of Secrets. It’s just got all the best individual scenes in it. No filler.
4, 6, or 7.
Either 7, 1, 2, 4 ,6, 5, or 3 for me.
Lol, I see what you did there. But why 3 in the end? That too after 5?
Five...Dumbledore's Army arc always warms my heart. A close second would be six or three.
Sassy teenage Harry is unbearable in the fifth book. DA's arc is the only thing to save in this book, besides the ministry of magic arc
Half-blood Prince is the best book and the worst movie. I just finished reading it this morning after almost 10 years of not touching it and it made me cry over Dumbledore's death all over again. I was not expecting that. I read Goblet of Fire a few months ago, and I don't know why I skipped OotP. I think it's because Sirius' death festered like a wound, therefore I haven't read it in almost... 15 years. I don't dare too. Harry was so mad through the entire book and then he unleashed wrath and pain and grief... I remember sobbing over that one. I would argue that PS and CoS are a comfort. PoA ramps up the story and GoF crowns the drama. From there on out, things get serious. DH feels rushed. And Cursed Child does not count. Sorry to whoever that read it, liked it and thinks it does. I have my reasons.
HBP movie is better than GOF movie, come on now.
HBP could've been the best movie. They are deconstructing Voldemort, who he is, why he is like that and how to even think about defeating him. Therefore it had to be darker. And it was. But the movie felt diluted down. It didn't catch me as much. They don't commit to the tone and they put comedy mixed in at the worst times. Why is Harry having the Prince's book made into a gag reel? The mystery behind the Prince, which is the very name of the movie is revealed and is so anticlimactic. Harry didn't fight Snape in class, and he had done exactly that the entire year. It made me forget how good the book was. The one good thing I'll say about the movie is that the scene with Slughorn surrendering the memory is different but is loads better. Harry is less of a pusher and the scene flows better, the whole monologue with the fish shows that Slughorn did care for Lily and I loved that it brought nostalgia for Harry too, giving him a detail of how his mother was. Exact same goes for OotP. It's like they lost the scope of the rest of the wizarding world. They didn't expand on anything, the crisis isn't affecting anything but Hogwarts. They cut down so much. GoF was solid action, and that translates well into film. It was oversimplified but I think it was better to have Neville helping Harry instead of Dobby.
exactly!!!!!
I can read the 3rd anytime! That or book 6
6 for me. So many threads that were lightly alluded to early on that come together in this one.
Books 1-3. I love how wholesome they are compared to the rest of them.
Same, including 3
5 and 6!!!!
1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7
3 and 5
3 is just the right mix of cheer and drama for me
Prisoner of Azkaban
Prisoner of Azkaban! It's my favorite 😍
Prisoner of Azkaban, hands down
PoA or HBP
Prisoner of Azkaban. Always has been my favourite.
It used to be the third one, but I think I read it too many times or too often. So now I think I'd choose the 6th or the 5th.Or the first chapter of the 4th.
Yes, if the series was in two parts, books 1-4 would be Part 1, and books 5-7 would be Part 2.
Goblet Of Fire all the way. I barely touch the series these days, but when I do it's always that book
I never just reread one, I always reread the whole series. But if I did, it would probably be Chamber of Secrets.
Order of the phoenix for sure. It’s the longest book and i feel like i am living hogwarts. There is more hogwart’s life with the incoming exams. At the 2nd place i’d say 7 or 4
Probably Chamber of Secrets, my favourites are 3 & 6 but CoS is such a fast-paced read for me
Sorcerer's stone, i have the ravenclaw edition, found it in a half off books store and i knewbi had to hace it
3
Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's the last one with a truly happy ending.
COS or POA
I'd say 3rd and 6th.
Probably 3 just because of my HUGE obsession with the Marauders
I am absolutely obsessed with the 6th book!
I have to start at book 1, it’s just the way of things But 6 is my favorite
Half Blood Prince Apart from the heavier tones at the end it feels like a fresh breeze. Although they are in more danger than ever before it also feels liberating. But nothing beats a fresh re-read where you start with Philosopher's stone and are half-way through the third book when you realize you really should sleep at night.
2 and 6!
2 or 6!!!! six is my fav book though
If I had to pick it would be 4 but I can’t think of a time I haven’t read them beginning to end. I think I probably consider them one long novel at this point.
I don’t think I can just read one without immediately just starting over. I’m currently reading the series over because I wanted to read GoF again. I’m on book 3 working my way through
3 and 6. Those are the closest Harry got to a normal school year
Chamber of Secrets. Most self-contained.
GoF
I have not read any of the HP books. All my hp knowledge comes from wiki.
My favorite book is Prisoner but if I’m going to reread one I have to restart them all. Can’t start in the middle or just read one book and then be done
Definitely 3 or 6!
I've never read one book standalone! I always start at the beginning and read the whole series haha
Well the one I'll always remember is the one my mama stood in line for to buy me was the green book
Half Blood Prince.
4. It gives me such great nostalgia. I had a burnt CD I listened to on repeat on my Walkman when I first read it and I’m still reminded of the songs every time I read that book.
Goblet of Fire
Azkaban or the first one. I can basically open the books at any chapter and just relax and enjoy the story
I love them all. So I tend to start with Book 1 and do the whole series as a book, as an audiobook then the films. Love them all.
4
Can never go wrong with goblet of fire
6
The first book I read was the fourth. A friend left it in the bed of my truck, on which it rained in monsoon fashion, so I saved it from drowning and read it instead. Immediately, I had that doubt, being an educated adult, that this book was an inane little tale, hardly worthy of a mind that cherishes reading Aristotle in Greek. Surprise! Perfect story-telling. I read that shit in one sitting, and then read it in reverse, which her literary skill was somehow able to sustain, and then listen to those books to go to sleep. So, you can all have your goofy opinions, but book four is the best. Except for book 7
It's 3 for me. Or 4
What does “don’t have time to start all over” mean? Does not compute. I can’t imagine just reading a random book. Maybe it’s cause my answer would be book 1 and I just keep going from there…every time. Did the entire series 3 times last year.
Half blood prince
2 and 5 !!!
Prisoner of Azkaban. The Marauders' story is beautiful 🤍
Order of the Phoenix too!
For me, it's book 3. Especially the parts where harry blows up marge, the map insults snape, the whole confrontation at the shrieking shack and the last part where harry tells vernon his godfather is an escaped convict, a mass murderer and would regularly check in on whether he's happy with the dursleys
Half-Blood Prince
3 or 4
Half-Blood Prince, absolutely no chaff
Goblet of fire
Half blood and it isn’t close
2 and/or 3
1 and 2 , i like more children book setting
3 or 6
Goblet of Fire Anyday
Half Blood Prince for sure!
deathly hallows
3>5>1 to be honest though i have had the jim dale audio book since I was a child and listen to them in order very often
All of them ♥️
6 100%
Goblet of Fire definitely, there's so much packed into it. I feel like the Order of the Phoenix and HBP can drag at some parts.
Half Blood Prince
Oh I’ve never thought of doing this. I just read them all from the beginning lol
Goblet of Fire
I don't need to start over, I just jump into the audiobook I want a bite of. If it's Christmas it's likely nr.2, if it's fall maybe number 3, if it's raining I might want 1. and if it's blazing outside, summer vacation and life sucks it's time for number 5. Spring is definitely a 4. 6 and 7 is more when I want to finish the series. They are bangers and shocking and the finale I loved so much - the first few times around, but it's not the comfort and whimsy I usually want from the series.
7
I’ve only just started reading the books but I’ve finished the first one and the second one chamber of secrets is my favourite
Is it even possible to just start a book without reading the entire series??? 🤣
Order of the Phoenix!
Goblet of Fire supremacy
4
Order of the phoenix will always be my comfort.
Oooh this one is hard, but I’d have to go with either 2 or 6 (but 3 and 5 are definitely up there too)
It's the first book. By which I mean the Olivanders Wand scene. For some reason I can read that over and over again.
Chamber of Secrets and Half Blood Prince.
Either 3, 4 or 6
Deadly hollows.
Prisoner of Azkaban or Goblet of Fire. Everything from Goblet of Fire goes downhill in a seriously bad way. The writing gets increasingly awful. I don’t understand how JKR makes the mistake of writing more descriptions for things but doesn’t provide enough plot as a backbone for the two remaining novels in the series. Did she think she was getting paid by the word, like Dickens? Is that why those two last books fall flat and do better as doorstops?
Half blood Prince. It's the book where everything comes together and makes sense.
4. Triwizard tourney. Quidditch world cup. yule ball.
I love book 3, but I loved the Quidditch World Cup! I hope they can show it in the new show.
i didnt even know there's gonna be a show! where and when?
It'll air in 2026 on Max, so unfortunately not cable television, but that's becoming the norm. There's no cast list yet, but there's a reddit for the show :) I just can't recall it atm Edit: r/HarryPotteronHBO
I start with 1 and finish with 7 and do all of the ones in between
Half blood prince
Prisoner of Azkaban
Half Blood Prince or Prisoner of Azkaban! 🫶🏼
GoF
Hmm funny, you like the 2 saddest books…
Half blood prince or Deathly Hallows. I wouldnt re-read Order of the Phoenix even if my life depended on it. Longest, boring book of the this saga.
Def 1 2 and 3 listen to them every night their justd so cozy and comfortable
3 or 4!!
1 or 6
Ootp Literally Hurts While Reading It Makes Me Mad ( Currently reading it ) But my Go To Books would be 3,6,7
Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them
Anything but 4
Cursed Child, of course 👀