Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a witty coming-of-age novel that satirizes Gothic fiction and explores the journey of a young heroine into adulthood and self-awareness.

The story follows Catherine Morland, a naive and imaginative young woman who leaves her quiet country home to stay in the lively city of Bath. There, she makes new friends, including the charming Henry Tilney and the manipulative Isabella Thorpe. Catherine becomes fascinated with Gothic novels and begins to let her imagination run wild.

When she is invited to visit Henry's family estate, Northanger Abbey, she expects mystery and danger, just like in her beloved novels. However, her fantasies clash with reality, teaching her valuable lessons about life, love, and the dangers of letting fiction cloud judgment.

The novel ends with Catherine maturing emotionally and eventually marrying Henry Tilney, having learned to distinguish between fiction and reality.