This morning I woke up to an email from a very well known retailer offering to sell me the book version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for half price.

It’s not out for another seven weeks but book retailers are already calling it the publishing event of the year – and preparing themselves for a deluge of Potter fans once again.

Thebook itself is released on July 31 which is unusual as it’s a Sunday – the reason for that is that the play officially debuts on the 30th. Plus, as Potter fans know, July 31 is Harry’s birthday.

A number of week known bookshops are already planning parties and midnight openings so Potter fans can get their hands on the book as early as possible.

Foyles on Charing Cross Road in London will allow fans to have their picture taken with a live owl on the night of release. There’ll also be Harry Potter-themed food and drink as well as entertainment including a Harry Potter book quiz, a performing magician and a Hogwarts wand shop. The late-night opening costs £8 for a ticket and £20 for a book plus a ticket. Staff will also be looking for “the ultimate Harry Potter fan”, who will be the recipient of a “truly magical” Harry Potter prize worth £500.

WH Smith is opening eight of its “premium” stores at midnight with additional events, parties and “exciting” customer offers to be extended nationwide.

Waterstones says the launch is “the most exciting book event of the year – possibly even the decade”. It is set to host parties in more than 100 of its shops as well as a late night opening from 9pm at its flagship store in Piccadilly. The “exclusive” ticketed event will include “loads of games and fun wizarding things to do” and encourages dressing-up.

Sandra Taylor from Waterstones told The Bookseller “Everyone at Waterstones is hugely excited about the publication of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the end of July. We’ve held extremely successful Harry Potter celebrations in our shops in the past and we are looking forward to the arrival of the eighth Harry Potter story and, of course, the birthday of the boy wizard himself.

“Fans can expect a magical evening with a lot of exciting activities. It will be a night to remember and we can’t wait for it all to begin.”