A young, impoverished woman arrives in London and must navigate the precarious social and sexual landscape of the 18th century to secure her survival. Fanny Hill, the protagonist, recounts her experiences through a series of letters addressed to an unnamed female friend. Her primary objective is to achieve financial stability and social standing in a world that views her body as a commodity. She faces constant pressure from predatory figures and the shifting fortunes of her own desires, all while maintaining a tone of sophisticated observation. The narrative framework is epistolary, providing a direct, intimate perspective on her moral and physical development.

Discussion often centers on the tension between the novel's explicit content and its sophisticated, often flowery prose style. Readers frequently highlight the work's historical significance as a foundational text in the development of the English novel. Critics often examine how the text subverts traditional moral narratives of the 18th century by centering the agency of a woman navigating a patriarchal economy. The pacing is noted for its episodic nature, which mirrors the protagonist's fluctuating circumstances throughout her life. Many readers find the contrast between the refined language and the graphic subject matter to be the most defining characteristic of the reading experience.