17 Books Like 'Harry Potter,' According to Librarians

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For many readers, the magic of reading Harry Potter simply can’t be replicated. The charm of Hogwarts paired with the mystifying friendships in J.K Rowling’s enchanted series can be hard to come by. Librarians, the gatekeepers of all great literature, know this more than anyone. However, there are some intriguing books like Harry Potter for adults and kids that they’d recommend to fans of this beloved series.

A.J. Erdtsieck, an elementary school librarian who goes by the handle @lookshesbooked on TikTok, says she loves sharing her passion for storytelling with readers of the next generation. To her, Harry Potter is still a hallmark of upper middle-grade and YA fantasy, and says that finding alternatives should include things like “magical schools, characters with special powers, and the plot device of having characters sorted into defining classes and groups.”

If you’re looking for books to read if you like Harry Potter—ones that resonate with you in a similar way, or you want to read something slightly different than the iconic series, librarians suggest these 17 options that’ll offer just enough—or even more—magic and fantasy.

Related: 21 Books Like ‘Fourth Wing,’ According to Librarians

What Kind of Books Feel Like ‘Harry Potter’?

In order for a book to have the same feel as Harry Potter, according to Jenny Smith—a librarian who goes by the TikTok handle @justbookswithjenny—books should essentially have the same character relatability.

“The characters in Harry Potter develop and grow throughout the series, with each book focusing on a timeline of one school year,” she tells Parade. “This is also reflected in the age demographic of the audience as they consumed the books over the ten-year release period.”

That contributes to the success of a book series like this one, Alexa Carrillo, a librarian who goes by the handle @lexasmilesss on TikTok, agrees.

“A book series where you follow the characters over the span of a couple years or some length of time is important,” she says. “That’s what makes this book series so special to so many people because you grow up with the characters.”

Other notable elements that a series should have are a similar school setting, like Hogwarts, says Smith.

“A creative magic system, an exploration of ‘found family’ dynamics and a thematic struggle of good versus evil where the main character is at the forefront” are also important elements to consider when picking up a book that has the same feel as the wizarding world Harry and his friends live in, she shares.

Mainly, though, a key foundation of a book that feels like Harry Potter would be a fantasy theme that includes characters of the same age range, according to Erdtsieck.

“To truly feel like Harry Potter, I find that a book should be firmly rooted in the fantasy genre while also featuring young protagonists, magical creatures, special spells and wizardry and a unique world where the fantastical becomes real,” she explains.

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17 Books Like ‘Harry Potter,’ According to Librarians

Books you can read as an alternative to Harry Potter might prove to be challenging to find, but these librarians share what books feel similar in terms of fantastical elements and characters.

1. ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ by Rick Riordan

This series is a popular pick amongst Harry Potter fans already. Carrillo says it has similar elements, such as being able to relate to its characters as they age.

“This already has a huge following, but it is always comparable to Harry Potter because you also grow with the characters and follow their adventure,” she tells Parade. “There is also a main crew of three in this series about Greek gods and demigods.”

2. ‘The Inheritance Cycle’ by Christopher Paolini

Similar to Harry Potter, this popular series also had a movie release back in 2006, based on the series’s first book titled Eragon.

According to Carrillo, this series is a must-read for anyone who wants to follow a similar adventurous path as Harry and his friends.

“This follows a boy and his dragon along with other dragons and has similar adventure and action sequences to [those] of Harry Potter,” she says.

3. ‘The Worst Witch’ by Jill Murphy

Before reading Harry Potter, Smith says The Worst Witch was a fantasy series she gravitated towards, and it also takes place in a boarding school. It includes lots of elements that are reminiscent of the Rowlings’s series, according to Smith.

“The books feature a very [whimsical] and comical take on witchcraft and wizardry, with main character Mildred Hubble’s clumsy personality often landing her in silly situations,” she shares.

Plus, this series features lots of the character types that you would find plucked straight out of a Harry Potter book.

“Both books feature the typical archetypes of ‘the joker’, similar to Fred and George Weasley and Enid Nighshade, ‘the sensible one’ like Hermione Granger and Maud Spellbody and ‘the rival’, like Draco Malfoy and Etha,” Smith states. “Interestingly, Mildred Hubble’s bumbling, clumsy personality, rather than being similar to protagonist Harry Potter, draws a much closer comparison to [the] best friend character Ron Weasley.”

4. ‘The School for Good and Evil’ by Soman Chainani

This book series might be the closest you can come to the wizarding world of Harry Potter, mainly due to its setting and plot line, according to Erdtsieck. It’s “a middle grade, boarding-school fantasy staple,” she says, and it closely mimics the conventions of Harry Potter since it’s about ordinary kids at a school that trains students to be heroes and villains.

“It similarly features children who are summoned to a magical boarding school to uncover their true identity,” she states.

5. ‘The Nightsilver Promise’ by Annaliese Avery

Any fan of Harry Potter will gravitate to this series, shares Erdtsieck.

“The Nightsilver Promise is great for Harry Potter fans looking for another alternate-world fantasy adventure set in the UK,” she reveals.

6. ‘Legendborn’ by Tracy Deonn

For those looking into books like Harry Potter for young adults, The Legendborn Cycle series is a great pick. According to Smith, it’s a “modern adaptation of the Arthurian mythology, written for young adult readers.”

Plus, it features elements from that mythology in order to “create a unique magic system focused on characters reincarnating as ‘Scions,’” she shares, which is essentially the book’s version of the Knights of the Round Table.

“There is a clear emphasis on the thematic ‘good versus evil’ presented in the book, focused on the Legendborn’s struggle against the demonic Shadowborn,” she explains. “An interesting ethical question is also explored through the main character, Bree’s, experience and heritage as a Black woman, varying from the predominantly white male members of the Legendborn.”

7. ‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros

A good book pick for adults, The Empyrean series gained popularity online first before becoming a huge sensation, according to Smith. She says she found herself picking up fantasy books when she rediscovered her love of reading as an adult and stumbled upon this magical book collection.

“The series starts [in Fourth Wing] with protagonist Violet Sorrengail entering Basgiath War College as a dragon rider. In the same manner as Harry Potter, Violet is the reader’s point of view; we learn about the world and its magic system in tandem with her,” she shares. “The struggle for good versus evil is clearly woven throughout the narrative by Yarros to engage and surprise the reader whilst the found family and romantic dynamics change and vary as the plot progresses.”

Related: 21 Best ‘Fourth Wing’ Memes

8. ‘Upside-Down Magic’ by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins

If you were reading Harry Potter, that meant you probably wished you possessed the same powers Harry and his friends had. If that was you, Erdtsieck says that the Upside-Down Magic book series might conjure up those same feelings again.

“This book explores the human side of growing up magical and what happens when you don’t quite fit in,” she explains.

Related: 29 ‘Must-Read’ Magical Realism Books, According to Librarians

9. ‘A Darker Shade of Magic’ by V.E. Schwab

“This has magical elements and the main character can travel between parallel versions of London,” explains Carrillo. The Shades of Magic series also has other interesting elements that could intrigue readers, but are slightly different from the Harry Potter world.

“The plot has wonderful political intrigue, perilous adventures and a fight to save the world from a dark, ancient enemy,” she states. “Dare I say, similar to that of Harry fighting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

10. ‘Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1)’ by Liz Montague

This book is what Erdtsieck describes as “a magical school story set in the real world.”

The books follow a group of three friends who work hard to move up to the “middle school equivalent of magical school,” according to Erdtsieck. It’s the first of the School For Unusual Magic series.

“For those who liked the school of magic setting and vibes in Harry Potter, The Equinox Test will give them a new school full of tests and a new group of friends to root for,” she shares.

11. ‘Red Queen’ by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen is a dystopian adult series that is similar to Rowlings’s series because “it presents [a similar] conflict between wizards and ‘muggles’ through the tyrannical Voldemort’s mission for wizard supremacy,” says Smith.

“The Red Queen series presents a creative magic system focused on blood types as well as interesting love triangles and found family dynamics,” she continues.

12. ‘Aru Shah and the End of Time’ by Roshani Chokshi

This book is for anyone who wants to “dive deeper into modern fantasy stories inspired by non-white culture,” says Erdtsieck.

“This book also, like Harry Potter, has very high stakes, which makes for a thrilling read,” she shares.

It’s a part of the Pandava series, which is a total of five books.

13. ‘Shadow and Bone’ by Leigh Bardugo

In this fantastical young adult series, the plot follows protagonist Alina Starkov in the kingdom of Ravka as she discovers her dormant magical powers.

Carrillo says this series is a “great way to get into a new magic system.”

“It carries the essence of a main character growing into their powers,” she states. “They are also destined to save the world from the evil, dangerous antagonist.”

14. ‘The Raven Scholar’ by Antonia Hodgson

The Raven Scholar is an adult recommendation that is “perfect for Harry Potter fans who grew up wishing for the identity and belonging provided by the sorting ceremony,” says Erdtsieck.

“Featuring eight mystical animal guardians one can pledge to follow, the world of Orrun is never dull,” she shares. “It’s filled with imperial intrigue, high stakes and a grown-up version of Harry Potter’s lush academia setting.”

15. ‘The Gilded Wolves’ by Roshani Chokshi

This historical tale is set in Paris during the year 1889. The book sees a treasure hunter and his team go on a hunt to find an ancient artifact that could change their lives.

According to Erdtsieck, The Gilded Wolves takes the reader on an unforeseeable adventure, fit with quirky turns and a group of friends who find community within each other. There are also three books in the series.

“The Gilded Wolves is great for Harry Potter fans who want another twisting, unpredictable read featuring a found family of unlikely friends who find belonging with each other,” she shares.

16. ‘Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble’ by Anna Meriano

The one aspect of this book that is so like Harry Potter is when the young female protagonist finds out that her family actually has magical powers.

“Only in Anna’s story, Leo discovers the women in her family are brujas, or witches, and infuse their magic into baked treats at the family bakery,” says Erdtsieck.

The book also features a lot of fun infusion of Mexican culture, plus strong female relationships and a whole lot of baking.

17. ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S. Lewis

This classic series by C.S. Lewis is great for any Harry Potter fan because of how similar its characters are, in terms of plot and traits, according to Smith.

“Narnia as a series includes a variety of elements that also feature within Harry Potter,” she says. “This notably includes how the main four characters start as children and grow up within the book series and how the book is framed within a fantasy setting filled with magic.

The books—seven total—also explore the good vs. evil arcs, she notes, as well as the “chosen one” archetypes.

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Sources:

• A.J. Erdtsieck is an elementary school librarian who is known by the handle @lookshesbooked on TikTok.
• Jenny Smith is a librarian who is known by the handle @justbookswithjenny on TikTok.
• Alexa Carrillo is a public librarian who is known by the handle @lexasmilesss on TikTok.