re-read May 2018: 4.5/5 stars
My first re-read has been a completely different experience! The biggest reason I shaved off a half star is because it bothered me a bit how Hermione is described sometimes. She often described as bossy and annoying but the girl is just living her life!! I think if it were a first person novel this wouldn't bother me as much but because it's third person I feel like this could be avoided.
Other than that I had so much fun! It almost felt like watching a book-to-movie adaptation of your favourite book for the first time. Like you're so excited just seeing something you've only imagined in your head for so long that you want to flap your hands and squeal a bit. After five years away from this book, loving the rest of the books and watching all the movies, I was excited to see the beginnings of these characters again.
You can also tell just how much planning JKR put into this by all the subtleties and the hints that she drops. Like I had no idea Hagrid's bike is actually Sirius'!! I actually forgot most of this book and it sort of felt like reading it for the first time?

First read November 2013: 2/5 stars
I know for a fact that so many people are judging my rating right now BUT: I read this at 17 years old and this first book is described as children's. I tried to read this as a kid and couldn't get through it and it almost happened again. The beginning drags on and I wasn't intrigued into the story until much later. I think I'll be reading the next books? If these books weren't so loved I wouldn't be reading them...