The protagonist Arabella, fueled by an obsession with heroic romances, attempts to impose the unrealistic codes of chivalry onto the mundane reality of eighteenth-century England. Arabella is a young woman of high social standing who interprets every social interaction through the lens of the exaggerated, dramatic literature she consumes. Her rigid adherence to these fictional tropes creates constant friction with her peers and family, who struggle to navigate her bizarre misinterpretations of their intentions. The narrative follows her series of social blunders as she attempts to force the world to conform to her romanticized expectations, often resulting in comedic and precarious situations. The story is presented through a third-person perspective that highlights the disconnect between Arabella's internal fantasy and the external social environment.

Discussion often centers on the novel's role as a significant parody of the Don Quixote archetype adapted for a female protagonist. Readers frequently highlight the sharpness of Charlotte Lennox's wit and her ability to critique the literary trends of her time through Arabella's persistent misunderstandings. Critics often note the balance between the comedic elements of the plot and the underlying commentary on the limited agency of women in the eighteenth century. The work is frequently studied for its contribution to the development of the novel form and its influence on later writers of the period. Readers appreciate the text for its historical insight into the reading culture of the mid-eighteenth century.