[1] Blue Lips is considered the second half of a two-piece concept album that describe "highs, lows and ultimate demise of a relationship.

[3] In addition to the return of songwriter-producers such as the Struts, Ali Payami and Joe Janiak, the album features new collaborations with Alex Hope and Lulou, among others.

[13] During the months leading up to the album's release, Tove Lo said that thematically Blue Lips would be a "dramatic" and "highly emotional" sister to Lady Wood,[14] and it would have two contrasting chapters: "Light Beams" and "Pitch Black".

[19][20] Tove Lo announced a remix of "Bitches" featuring Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant and Alma as the second single from Blue Lips.

[31] Will Hermes, in his short review of the album for Rolling Stone, stated "Like much of Tove Lo's work, it's admirably uncensored, but may leave you craving a shower, however close to home it lands.

"[32] Cameron Cook of Pitchfork noted that "Blue Lips is not a straight-up disco record, but Lo uses that genre's soft focus sheen to recall an era grown from the sexual liberation of the '60s, while sheltered from the excesses of the '80s".