8 Best-Selling Laravel Framework Books Developers Trust

Explore these best-selling Laravel Framework books authored by experts like Shawn McCool and Terry Matula, offering proven techniques and practical guidance.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially in the fast-moving world of web development. Laravel Framework continues to gain momentum as a go-to PHP framework, prized for its elegant syntax and robust features. Millions of developers rely on it to build scalable, maintainable web applications. Understanding Laravel well can open doors to better projects and smoother workflows.

The books featured here come from authors with deep hands-on experience and strong connections to the Laravel community. From Shawn McCool's clear step-by-step introduction to Terry Matula's practical recipes, these works have influenced countless developers. Their blend of foundational principles and actionable examples offers a solid path for both newcomers and seasoned programmers.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Laravel Framework needs might consider creating a personalized Laravel Framework book that combines these validated approaches. This way, you get focused guidance aligned perfectly with your skill level and goals.

Best for practical Laravel recipes
Terry Matula is a seasoned software developer with extensive experience in PHP and Laravel frameworks. He has authored several books and tutorials aimed at helping developers enhance their skills in web application development. His practical approach and hands-on recipes make complex topics accessible to both beginners and experienced developers.
2013·272 pages·Laravel Framework, Laravel, Web Development, PHP Programming, Application Development

Terry Matula’s extensive experience in PHP and Laravel frameworks shines through this cookbook-style guide, offering practical recipes that clarify Laravel’s more intricate features. You’ll gain hands-on skills for building web apps, from routing and controllers to authentication and database management, laid out in approachable, focused chapters. This book suits you whether you’re new to Laravel or a seasoned developer aiming to deepen your framework knowledge. It dives beyond basics without overwhelming, striking a balance that helps you apply Laravel concepts effectively in your projects.

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Best for advanced Laravel developers
Alfred Nutile is an Enterprise Architect and Laravel lead based in Western Massachusetts, with over two decades in software development. He introduced Laravel into enterprise web stacks, recognizing it as a powerful framework for building APIs and Angular-heavy applications. His extensive experience with PHP, Ruby on Rails, Drupal, and Angular uniquely positions him to guide developers through Laravel 5.x’s capabilities, making this book a practical resource for enhancing your PHP projects.
Laravel 5.x Cookbook book cover

by Alfred Nutile··You?

2016·402 pages·Laravel Framework, Laravel, Software Development, Web Development, PHP Programming

What started as Alfred Nutile's deep dive into integrating Laravel within enterprise environments became a detailed guide for PHP developers seeking to harness Laravel 5.x’s full potential. You’ll learn practical techniques like leveraging Laravel’s modular architecture, optimizing route caching, and blending Angular for dynamic front-end experiences. The book covers setting up user authentication, billing integration with Stripe, and implementing testing workflows using PHPUnit and Behat, giving you well-rounded skills to build, test, and deploy modern PHP applications. If you’re comfortable with PHP and eager to extend your applications with current Laravel capabilities, this book offers a solid toolkit, though it’s less suited for complete beginners.

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Best for personal coding plans
This AI-created book on Laravel development is crafted based on your experience and specific interests. You share what aspects of Laravel you want to focus on, your current skill level, and your goals for building powerful applications. The resulting book matches your unique development journey, delivering content that directly addresses what you want to learn and achieve in Laravel mastery.
2025·50-300 pages·Laravel Framework, Laravel Basics, Routing, Middleware, Eloquent ORM

This tailored book explores the intricate process of building powerful Laravel applications with a focus on your unique interests and background. It covers essential Laravel concepts, advanced techniques, and practical coding practices that match your goals for robust app development. By weaving together proven knowledge with insights personal to your development experience, this book reveals how to craft scalable, maintainable Laravel projects that resonate with your specific needs. The content delves into key elements such as routing, middleware, Eloquent ORM, and API integration, all presented in a style that aligns with your skill level and desired outcomes. This personalized guide encourages deeper understanding by focusing on what truly matters to you in Laravel mastery.

Tailored Guide
Laravel Mastery
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for Laravel beginners building projects
Code Happy stands out as a practical starting point for those stepping into Laravel PHP Framework development, authored by one of Laravel’s own core contributors. Its appeal is grounded in a clear, approachable method that guides you through building a blog application while explaining key framework features. This book has earned recognition through its early sales success and its focus on making Laravel accessible to beginners. If you want a no-frills introduction that combines theory with practice, this guide offers a well-structured path into Laravel development.
Code Happy book cover

by Dayle Rees·You?

2012·138 pages·Laravel Framework, Laravel, PHP, Application Development, Web Development

Drawing from the experience as one of the Laravel Core Team developers, Dayle Rees offers a straightforward introduction to application development with the Laravel PHP Framework. You get a practical guide to core Laravel features paired with a stepwise tutorial showing how to build a simple blog from scratch, making complex concepts accessible. Chapters include clear code samples and explanations designed to build your confidence in Laravel’s ecosystem, particularly if you are new to the framework. This book suits beginners seeking hands-on learning without overwhelming jargon, though seasoned developers might find it too basic. The focus stays on foundational skills rather than advanced techniques, ensuring you grasp essential Laravel workflows.

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Best for mastering Eloquent ORM
Francesco Malatesta, a seasoned web developer and founder of the Laravel-Italia community, draws on years of hands-on experience and contributions to the Laravel ecosystem to craft this focused guide. His background as a freelance developer and prolific technical writer for Sitepoint and HTML.IT underpins the practical approach taken in this book. Malatesta’s journey from early PC user to key figure in the Italian Laravel scene informs this resource, making it a valuable companion for those looking to deepen their command of Laravel’s Eloquent ORM.
Learning Laravel's Eloquent book cover

by Francesco Malatesta··You?

2015·202 pages·Laravel Framework, Eloquent ORM, PHP Development, Database Management, Model Relationships

What started as Francesco Malatesta's passion for web development and deep involvement with the Laravel-Italia community became a focused guide on mastering Laravel's Eloquent ORM. You gain hands-on understanding of Eloquent's capabilities, from defining relationships and querying databases to effectively managing models and migrations. The book walks you through practical examples that clarify how to leverage Eloquent to build scalable and maintainable Laravel applications. If you’re diving into Laravel development or aiming to sharpen your ORM skills, this book offers clear insights rooted in real-world PHP development experience.

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Best for foundational Laravel understanding
Getting Started With Laravel 4 offers a straightforward introduction to one of PHP’s most flexible web application frameworks. Its clear focus on Laravel’s expressive syntax and robust features makes it a favored choice among developers beginning their journey with Laravel Framework. The book’s concise format and accessible style help you quickly grasp essential concepts, making it a practical resource for those looking to build solid foundations in Laravel development. By emphasizing Laravel’s structure and key components, it addresses the learning curve for newcomers and supports your growth into more complex web projects.
2014·113 pages·Laravel, Laravel Framework, Web Development, PHP Programming, Application Architecture

Unlike most books on Laravel that dive straight into complex projects, Raphael Saunier’s guide takes a refreshingly clear approach to introducing Laravel 4, focusing on its expressive syntax and flexibility. You’ll learn how to set up and navigate Laravel’s core features, gaining practical insights into building PHP web applications with a framework designed for simplicity and power. The book’s 113 pages distill key concepts without overwhelming, making it ideal if you want to understand Laravel’s structure and capabilities from the ground up. Whether you’re a developer new to PHP frameworks or looking to solidify your grasp of Laravel 4, this book lays a solid foundation that supports more advanced exploration later on.

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Best for daily skill building
This AI-created book on Laravel development is tailored to your skill level and learning goals. You share your background and the areas of Laravel you want to focus on, and the book covers those topics in a personalized way. The daily tasks and clear explanations help you build skills quickly without overwhelming you with unrelated content, making the learning process efficient and engaging.
2025·50-300 pages·Laravel Framework, PHP Programming, Web Development, Eloquent ORM, Routing

This tailored book offers a personalized guide designed to accelerate your Laravel development skills through focused, daily learning tasks. It explores essential Laravel concepts, from routing and database management to advanced Eloquent ORM techniques, aligning content with your current experience and specific goals. The book emphasizes hands-on practice and progressive challenges that match your interests, making the learning experience both engaging and efficient. By focusing on your unique background and objectives, it reveals pathways to master Laravel's core features while accommodating your preferred pace and topics. This personalized approach ensures you build practical expertise swiftly without sifting through unrelated material.

Tailored Guide
Skill Acceleration
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for learning Laravel 5 fundamentals
Martin Bean is an award-winning website developer and senior software engineer at Pfizer, bringing deep expertise in PHP and Laravel frameworks. His practical experience informs this accessible book, designed to guide you through creating Laravel applications step-by-step. Bean’s focus on bridging theory and hands-on skills makes this a valuable resource if you want to confidently develop with Laravel and enhance your PHP toolkit.
2015·122 pages·Laravel Framework, Laravel, Web Development, Software Engineering, PHP Programming

Martin Bean's extensive background as a senior software engineer at Pfizer and award-winning web developer shapes this focused guide to Laravel 5. The book walks you through setting up a development environment and building a Laravel application from scratch, giving you practical exposure to Eloquent ORM, migrations, Artisan commands, and user authentication. It doesn't assume prior framework experience but expects familiarity with dynamic PHP sites, making it especially useful if you're ready to move beyond theory into actual Laravel development. Chapters on testing and security round out your skills, so you'll be prepared to build robust, secure web applications efficiently.

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Shawn McCool’s Laravel Starter offers a practical, task-focused path for PHP programmers eager to grasp Laravel's methodology. Its step-by-step tutorials cover core topics like MVC separation and data abstraction, making complex concepts accessible and actionable. This book has gained popularity among developers looking for a structured way to learn Laravel’s approach to everyday coding challenges, serving as a bridge from PHP familiarity to confident Laravel application building. If you want to deepen your Laravel understanding with grounded instruction, this book provides a clear framework to do just that.
1899·Laravel Framework, Laravel, Web Development, MVC Architecture, Code Modularity

When Shawn McCool wrote this book, he aimed to fill a gap for PHP developers eager to master Laravel through clear, hands-on instruction. You learn core concepts like MVC architecture, modular coding, and ActiveRecord data abstraction, all explained with practical examples that build your skills incrementally. Chapters guide you from foundational principles to crafting professional web applications, making it easier to understand Laravel's approach to common development challenges. If you already know PHP and want a focused introduction to Laravel’s ecosystem, this book walks you through the essential techniques without unnecessary fluff. It's a solid choice for developers ready to integrate Laravel into their workflow effectively.

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Matt Sam’s book stands out in the Laravel Framework space by focusing on delivering a quick, practical guide to building a full MVC application in Laravel 6. Its appeal lies in the step-by-step construction of a real-world project, the "CarShow" website, which guides you through core MVC principles, database integration, and frontend development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This approach benefits new or intermediate developers looking for a hands-on introduction to Laravel 6 without getting bogged down in theory. By targeting developers who already have basic web development knowledge, it effectively bridges the gap to professional Laravel development.
2019·39 pages·Laravel Framework, MVC, Laravel, Web Development, Full-Stack Development

Drawing from his focused experience in Laravel 6, Matt Sam offers a concise guide that teaches you how to build a professional MVC web application in just ten minutes. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the MVC architectural pattern, how it integrates with Laravel 6’s new features, and practical skills like setting up a database with PhpMyAdmin and creating reusable frontend components. The book walks through creating a Cars website project, "CarShow," which helps you apply concepts like data binding, middleware jobs, and full-stack development principles in a real-world context. This is ideal for developers familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript who want a straightforward path to mastering Laravel 6 MVC applications without fluff.

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Conclusion

The common thread across these eight books is their focus on proven Laravel development methods and widespread acceptance among developers. Whether you want to understand core Laravel concepts, master Eloquent ORM, or build MVC applications quickly, there's a book here tailored to your journey.

If you prefer proven methods, start with "Code Happy" for a hands-on beginner’s approach or "Laravel Application Development Cookbook" for practical recipes. For validated approaches that deepen your expertise, combining "Learning Laravel's Eloquent" with "Laravel 5.x Cookbook" will expand your command of the framework.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Laravel Framework book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many developers succeed and can help you build powerful Laravel applications with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Code Happy" if you're new to Laravel; it offers a straightforward, project-based introduction. If you have PHP experience, Shawn McCool's "Laravel Starter" provides focused foundational guidance.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Laravel Framework?

Not at all. Several books like "Getting Started With Laravel 4" and "Laravel 5 Essentials" are designed for beginners, gradually building your skills without assuming prior framework knowledge.

How long will it take me to get through these books?

Most of these books are concise; for example, "CREATING A LARAVEL 6 MVC APPLICATION IN TEN MINUTES" focuses on quick learning. Depending on your pace, you can progress through each book in days or weeks.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

Books like "Laravel Application Development Cookbook" and "Laravel 5.x Cookbook" emphasize practical recipes and real-world projects, while "Laravel 5 Essentials" balances fundamentals with practical skills.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Laravel Framework changes?

While some books cover earlier Laravel versions, the core principles and patterns remain relevant. For the latest features, combining these books with current online resources is a smart approach.

Can personalized books complement these expert recommendations?

Yes! While expert books offer strong foundations, personalized Laravel Framework books tailor content to your experience and goals. Combining both ensures you learn proven methods relevant to your needs. Explore this personalized option to get started.

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