Top 10 audiobooks by J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is one of the best-known British authors, and many compare her to the legendary J.R.R. Tolkien. She’s known for writing the wildly popular fantasy fiction Harry Potter series, which chronicle the adventures of Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.

Rowling is also the founder of the Wizarding World (Pottermore), a platform representing the official digital home of the Harry Potter world.

These books and many others, like Quidditch Through the Ages, were recorded as audiobooks in addition to their standard written editions. Here, we cover the top 10 audiobooks by J.K. Rowling.

The top 10 J.K. Rowling audiobooks

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone/Philosopher’s Stone

The first entry is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (the U.S. version) or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (the U.K. version), also called Harry Potter 1. Many consider this J.K Rowling’s best book, but of course, opinions vary.

It introduces us to the main character (Harry Potter), who discovers his magical origin and goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry faces numerous adventures, and the story culminates in the battle between him and Lord Voldemort.

There are several unabridged versions of the audiobooks, and the two most popular are narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. Audiobooks are issued by different publishers like Random House Audio (Penguin Audio), Brilliance Audio, etc.

See how to read the Harry Potter books in order

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second part of the Harry Potter series. After meeting Dobby, a house elf, and a few mishaps along the way, Harry finally makes it to Hogwarts via a flying car Ron was driving.

Since Ron crashed the car Whomping Willow, he and Harry receive detention. While in detention, Harry sees a message written in blood that states the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. The Chamber of Secrets is a supposed location within Hogwarts where a monster called basilisk resides.

This monster is capable of killing wizards and witches who look it directly in the eye and can be controlled only by Salazar Slytherin’s heir. Harry manages to find the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets and defeats the basilisk.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

In the third part of the series, we meet Sirius Black, a convicted killer and a supposed supporter of Lord Voldemort. Harry learns that Sirius has escaped Azkaban Prison and wants to kill him.

Due to safety concerns, Albus Dumbledore, Hogwart’s principal, announces dementors will patrol the school and search for Sirius.

Harry later finds out that Sirius is his godfather and that he’s a friend, not an enemy. Sirius explains the enemy is someone else, and they escape together thanks to a mysterious spell.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire follows Harry in his fourth year of school.

The main event is the Triwizard Tournament, in which Harry needs to compete because his name was mysteriously placed in the Goblet of Fire on Halloween. Harry and Cedric Diggory represent Hogwarts and compete with wizards from other schools.

When Harry and Cedric touch the Triwizard Cup, they teleport to a graveyard where Lord Voldemort and his allies await them.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Order of the Phoenix is the fifth of the Harry Potter books. The audiobook follows Harry’s struggles as he learns many wizards and witches don’t know the truth about his last encounter with Voldemort.

After defending himself from an unexpected dementor attack, Harry is taken to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. The Order represents a secret group of wizards dedicated to defeating Voldemort.

Once Harry returns to Hogwarts, he learns there’s a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. After several alarming incidents, he forms Dumbledore’s Army and practices defense spells with other students. The students face dementors together, and Harry talks to Dumbledore about a prophecy and learns he has a power Lord Voldemort isn’t aware of.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth part of the series.

As Hogwarts isn’t safe anymore, Dumbledore prepares Harry for the battle with Lord Voldemort. Harry learns more about Lord Voldemort’s past, his allies, and the seven horcruxes that contain pieces of his soul.

Harry receives a potions book that belonged to someone named “the half-blood prince.” He uses his notes to excel in his Potions class.

In this audiobook, Harry falls in love with Ron’s sister Ginny. But the climax of the story is the death of a major character, and Harry makes wrong assumptions about the killer.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

This is the final part of the series. Harry and his friends want to destroy Lord Voldemort’s horcruxes and face different challenges on their journey.

On the way, Harry discovers secrets about different characters and wonders how well he knows them. He also uncovers why there’s a special bond between him and Lord Voldemort. The main event is the Battle of Hogwarts, where Harry faces Voldemort.

Although many lives are lost in the battle, Harry manages to defeat Voldemort forever.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a guide to the magical creatures in the wizarding world. The events from this audiobook precede the Harry Potter series.

This audiobook is the first part of the Fantastic Beasts series. It tells the adventures of Newt Scamander, a magizoologist and a wizard. He comes across numerous magical beasts and balances between the muggle and wizard world.

The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy is a novel set in a town called Pagford. When a councilor dies, there’s a “casual vacancy” or an empty spot on the council.

The novel follows the election of his successor and shows the seemingly peaceful town isn’t that peaceful. Rowling describes different conflicts in the town and covers themes like class differences, politics, drugs, prostitution, and other social issues.

The Ickabog

The Ickabog is a fairytale set in the mythical kingdom of Cornucopia. People who live close to the Marshlands tell the story of Ickabog, a monster that eats people and sheep.

Since the king is afraid he isn’t popular enough, he sets out to hunt down Ickabog. After a tragic accident, the king and his men return to the kingdom.

As the story unfolds, people learn the real story of Ickabog, and everyone lives happily ever after.

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