Catherine Morland, a young woman with an overactive imagination fueled by gothic novels, finds her expectations of life challenged when she is invited to the mysterious Northanger Abbey. Catherine seeks social advancement and romantic intrigue during a season in Bath, but she must navigate the complex social expectations of the landed gentry and the manipulative intentions of General Tilney. Her primary obstacle is her own tendency to project fictional tropes onto reality, which leads to misunderstandings regarding the Tilney family. The narrative employs a third-person omniscient perspective that frequently interrupts the action to provide ironic commentary on the conventions of the novel form itself.

Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the book as a parody of the sensationalist gothic fiction popular during the author's lifetime. Readers frequently highlight the sharp, witty prose and the narrator's constant engagement with the reader regarding the nature of storytelling. Critics often point to the balance between the protagonist's personal growth and the broader social critique of the period's economic pressures. The work is widely regarded for its accessibility and its ability to remain relevant through its exploration of human folly and the dangers of misinterpreting reality.