Barnes & Noble announced that the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book is the most pre-ordered book from the retailer in nine years - the last was, of course, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in July 2007.

All Barnes & Noble bookstores across the United States will partake in huge midnight release parties beginning at 8pm local time, which will include giveaways, and of course the book's release at midnight on July 31, 2016.

Do note: for those unable to attend a midnight party or purchase a book this coming weekend, pre-ordered copies will not arrive to homes until Monday, August 1. The best way to ensure that readers will get a copy is to purchase the e-book (order the Kindle copy), which will be available as soon as it turns midnight on Sunday. That can be purchased here.

Behold, our most pre-ordered book since #DeathlyHallows (07)! Get #CursedChild this weekend! https://t.co/O1ZUyIaypQ pic.twitter.com/4hEjdzyCAP

— Barnes & Noble (@BNBuzz) July 25, 2016

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II is the Company’s most pre-ordered book since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. The new Harry Potter book will be released at midnight on July 31, and Barnes & Noble is guaranteeing delivery on Monday, August 1, for online pre-orders at BN.com, and in-store ship-to-home pre-orders, placed by noon ET on Friday, July 29.

Following its announcement in February, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been no. 1 on the BN.com bestseller list, and is expected to be Barnes & Noble’s biggest book of the year. Stores across the country are currently preparing to host the fan-favorite Countdown to Midnight Magic parties on July 30 at 8pm, leading up to the midnight release of the book (July 31).

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II is a new play by Jack Thorne, and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The new script book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II, is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is Barnes & Noble’s most pre-ordered book since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and we expect it to be our biggest selling book of the year,” said Mary Amicucci, Chief Merchandising Officer at Barnes & Noble. “To guarantee that our customers get the new Harry Potter book as quickly as possible, Barnes & Noble is the only national retailer that’s guaranteeing delivery of the book on August 1, for both online and ship-to-home pre-orders placed by noon ET on Friday, July 29. Our booksellers are also preparing to host big crowds for our signature Midnight Magic parties on July 30.”

Countdown to Midnight Magic Party–Saturday, July 30, at 8PM

Harry Potter is back, and on Saturday, July 30, at 8PM, Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host a special Countdown to Midnight Magic Party leading up to the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II, which goes on sale July 31 at midnight. The party will feature trivia, costume contests, face-painting, wand-making and a special Muggle Wall where customers can share their favorite memories of Harry Potter. Additionally, customers can still enter the Barnes & Noble exclusive Harry Potter Limited Edition Cover Prints Sweepstakes for a chance to win a set of 7 Harry Potter Limited Edition Cover Prints*. The sweepstakes launched during Barnes & Noble’s “Relive the Magic” event on June 24 and two customers from each store who enter the sweepstakes will be chosen as winners at random at the Countdown to Midnight Magic Party.

On Sunday, July 31, customers can return to their local store to discuss the new book and participate in special Harry Potter-themed events and activities, as a follow-up to the Countdown to Midnight Magic Party the night before.

There’s still time for customers to pre-order their copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide and online at BN.com, with guaranteed delivery by Monday, August 1 for pre-orders placed by noon ET on Friday, July 29. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I & II is also available to pre-order in eBook format on NOOK® devices and the Free NOOK Reading App™ for Android™. For more information visit NOOK.com.

The Harry Potter celebrations will continue on into the fall, as Barnes & Noble commemorates the release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: The Illustrated Edition in October and the highly anticipated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie, which arrives in theaters in November. More details on these events will be announced in the coming months.

Customers in attendance at Barnes & Noble’s Harry Potter events are encouraged to upload pictures of themselves having fun to their social media channels using the hashtags #BNHP and #ReadTheMagic. For more information, they should visit bn.com/harrypotterevents or follow Barnes & Noble on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and like Barnes & Noble on Facebook.

*Two (2) Winners from each store will be chosen at random on or about July 31 at 12:00AM to receive a set of seven (7) Harry Potter Limited Edition Cover Prints (ARV $140.00). No Purchase necessary to enter or win. Must be 13 years of age or older and a resident of the U.S. to enter. Void where prohibited by law. See a Bookseller for complete details and Official Rules.

Amazon has announced the Cursed Child script book as one if its annual best-sellers as well. Once final numbers are released next week of number of purchases, it will be reported here.

Pre-order the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book hardcover on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and WBShop now.

JackW092

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