In 1997, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone first came to print.
No one could have anticipated just how popular the series would become, least of all its author J.K. Rowling, who was turned away by a staggering twelve publishers on her journey to authordom.
As the world fell in love with its enchanting characters and mystical settings, Harry Potter soon became a cult classic that took the world by storm.
It inspires the worldwide media industry to this day. And if we remember what genre is Harry Potter, it come as no surprise that this book series has become a phenomenon. Who doesn’t like a good fantasy story?
Millions rushed to their bookstores to pick up each installment and get lost in the magic of Hogwarts.
If you’ve never read a Harry Potter book, you may be surprised to know that the longest installment of the series boasts an epic 870 pages.
So, curl up in your favorite reading spot and get ready to explore the longest book of the series with us.
Which Harry Potter Book Is The Longest?
Although the first books in the series were quite short and targeted toward younger readers, fans soon found themselves growing alongside much-loved protagonists Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
The books soon became much longer, and the issues each character faced became far more ‘adult’ than the initial installments.
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix is the longest book in the series. It’s 870 pages long, and the original UK version contains 766 pages, making it one of the longest children’s/young adult books ever written!
The average reader reads between 200-250 words per minute, meaning it may take anywhere between 15-20 hours to finish this book.
If you were wondering what reading level is Harry Potter, take that out of your mind. This book series is accessible to anyone!
What Is The Shortest Harry Potter Book?
The shortest book in the Harry Potter series is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).
This edition contains just 233 pages, making it a quick, easy read for children and young adults.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is also the first book in the series, which makes it far easier for beginners to become acquainted with the magical world of Hogwarts and its characters.
With an average reading rate of just 250 words per minute, it would take just over 5 hours to finish this book.
Harry Potter Books From Shortest To Longest
Here’s all of the Harry Potter books from shortest to longest.
- The Sorcerer’s Stone/Philosopher’s Stone: This is the first book in the series, and it contains 233 Pages.
- The Chamber of Secrets: This is the second book in the series, coming in at 251 Pages.
- The Prisoner of Azkaban: The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the series, and it contains 317 pages.
- The Half-Blood Prince: This is the seventh and penultimate book in the series, containing 607 pages.
- The Goblet of Fire: The Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series, and it has 636 pages, making it the third-longest in the series.
- The Deathly Hallows: The Deathly Hallows is the last book in the series, containing 759 pages.
- The Order of the Phoenix: This is the fifth and longest book in the series, containing 766 pages.
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix: Plot
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth addition and the longest book in the series, but what is it about, and why is it so long?
The Order of the Phoenix has a complex plot and plenty of emotional depth. In other words, it needed to be long in order to do the plot justice.
Although the size of the book may be intimidating for some readers, it remains an essential part of the series.
In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter is in his fifth year at Hogwarts. In Harry’s dreams, he’s tormented by a door at the end of an empty corridor.
The looming threat of he-who-must-not-be-named weighs even heavier, and Harry will soon discover the strength and loyalty of his friends.
The meaning of sacrifice is also a key theme in this book, which will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the end.
How Long Will It Take To Read All Of The Harry Potter Books?
There are plenty of books in this series to keep you entertained. If you have an average reading speed of 200-250 words per minute, it will take you almost 69 hours to read all of the books.
However, this will vary depending on just how fast you read. Curious about how many Harry Potter books are there? Completely understandable!
Let’s also not forget about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the play written by Jack Thorne, based on the original story by J.K. Rowling.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows. Harry struggles with his past, and his youngest son Albus is battling the weight of his family legacy.
Albus must prove his worth, and friendship and loyalty are key themes in the play.
You can also read the Cursed Child as a book, which comes in at around 336 pages long. If you’re seeing the play performed live, it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.
The show was originally split into two parts, performed as two two-and-a-half-hour shows.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not an official part of the series, but it’s an important (and the most recent) addition to the Harry Potter universe that many fans enjoy.
If you’re planning to read all of the books, don’t forget to factor in this one!
Bonus tip – here’s a list of what to read after Harry Potter if you’ve fallen madly in love with the fantasy genre!
Final Thoughts
The Harry Potter series is bursting with excitement at every turn.
Each book has something unique to add to the universe, but if you’re planning to read all of the books, the Order of the Phoenix will take you the longest.
Don’t worry, though – the first few installments in the series are pretty short, and offer a gentle introduction to the Harry Potter world.
So, if you read them in order, you’ll be well-equipped to face the reading length of this epic installment once you get around to it!
And if you’re already done with the series, then you might want to check other books like Harry Potter for adults.
I have been reading books for as long as I can remember, and have fallen deeply in love with more books than I can count!
With this site, I hope that you can find a novel to get you out of a reading slump, or to get you hooked on a series. So, pick up one of our recommendations today. I promise you that you won’t regret it!
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