The protagonist, Arabella, attempts to navigate 18th-century English society through the distorted lens of the heroic romances she obsessively consumes. Arabella, the daughter of a marquis, interprets every social interaction and romantic overture as a scene from a chivalric epic, leading to constant friction with her pragmatic relatives and suitors. The narrative follows her attempts to impose these archaic codes of conduct onto her modern environment, resulting in a series of escalating misunderstandings. The story utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to highlight the contrast between Arabella's internal fantasy world and the reality of her surroundings.

Discussion often centers on how Lennox effectively uses the Quixotic archetype to critique the unrealistic expectations fostered by contemporary sentimental fiction. Readers frequently highlight the sharp wit and irony present in the prose, which distinguishes the work from the more earnest novels of the period. Critics often note the balance between the comedic absurdity of Arabella's actions and the underlying social commentary regarding the education and agency of women. The novel is widely regarded as a significant contribution to the development of the English novel, providing a bridge between earlier romance traditions and the emerging realist style. Many readers appreciate the intellectual rigor behind the parody, which remains accessible despite the historical distance of the source material.