Best Mistake

Written by Grande, Big Sean, and Key Wane with production being done by the latter, the song is a ballad with piano, string, and drum machine instrumentation that lyrically deals with a couple trying to decide on what their future, troubled relationship is going to be like.

Commercially, it peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 49, and within the top 50 on other record charts in North America, Europe, and Oceania.

Grande and Big Sean have performed the song live, including at the iHeartRadio theater in Los Angeles.

[31] Digital Spy writer Lewis Corner and Entertainmentwise's Shaun Kitchener noted the song showed her R&B roots,[32][33] the latter stating that it "wouldn't have sounded out of place on Kelly Rowland's under-rated last album [Talk a Good Game].

"[34] Brennan Carley of Spin called it "classic Grande, eshcewing any of the bells and whistles that she's fond of, instead focusing entirely on her carefully sung vocals and the quiet piano line in the song's background.

"[35] Newsday critic Glenn Gamboa described "Best Mistake" as a "gorgeous hip-hop" song that "showcases her wide-ranging voice, without focusing on the upper notes too much.

"[36] Sydney Gore of The 405 called it an improvement of the two's previous collaboration "Right There", writing that "the singer and rapper serenade us on the grounds that sneaking around with each other was the best mistake they ever made.

[38] Reviewing for Slant Magazine, Andrew Chan said it "makes the mistake of hemming her into her frail middle register, where she has a habit of delivering every word as if it were a pout.

Pitchfork Media's Meaghan Garvey said his rap on the track made "a mockery of the song's serious tone with hysterically awful lines like "How can we keep the feelings fresh/ How do we Ziploc it?

"[31] Sawdey called it a "pretty outstanding verse," with "his own voice never overpowering the sparse atmosphere, his rhymes measured and metered in a way that fits the song perfectly",[28] while James Shotwell of Under the Gun Review said "Grande is a treat, but I think it's Big Sean who steals the show.