I really liked OotP, but, unlike most people, i think GoF is still my favorite. i absolutley adored PoA, but theres something about GoF that made me like it more...it could have been the ending....or any number of things. i haven't read PoA in quite a while, though, so maybe after i read it once more my opinion will change.
but, now onto OotP. i thought it was an incredible book, but, as some already mentioned, the change in Harry might have been a little too abrupt. i suppose it
is realistic, though, you know, when you're fifteen hormones can change your emotions quite a bit in a short period of time. still, too sudden for me. i think thats what troubled me most when i first started the book: the change in harry. i liked how she made him angrier and more human, but, it surprised me very much. i defintiely got over it as i went through the book, but i was initially too surprised to enjoy the beginning as much as i could have. wow, that took me a longer time to say than i thought...but thats ok, you'll just have to deal with a long post!
my favorite scenes, like some others have already said, are the ones with snape. especially the pensieve one, i LOVED how JK showed harry and us that James was not a perfect man. im glad Harry woke up and realized that. i also loved the scenes between Harry and Umbridge. we saw his temper, but we saw how he could stand up to her too. especially the first detention scenes, it was great how harry would not let her see her get to him. it showed his determination, even though he was suffering. I also liked the DA scenes, it was very cool to see Harry instructing others and being good at it!
another aspect of the book i liked was McGonangall. we always knew she was a good and sympathizing person underneath, just too strict to show it. with Umbridge there, she showed her human side more, which made me love her for it. also, Neville was developed more, and i like that, too.
i did not think that there was too much Cho. c'mon, Harry is 15, does anyone expect him to not have a love interset at all? Cho added, not detracted, from the plot. I am very glad, though, that Harry finally realized that she was not worth his time... she just needed someone after Cedric. im glad Ginny came out more, too, though she was not Harry's love interest, her character being more active and us getting to know her more was very intteresting. i could have done with a little less Loony, though.