The book, Laing's first novel, incorporates autobiographical elements and details from the life of American author Kathy Acker.

"[8] Dwight Garner, in a review written for The New York Times, referred to the novel as "less persuasive" than Laing's non-fiction work.

[10] Dilara O'Neil, writing for The Nation, compared Crudo unfavorably to Ben Lerner's novel 10:04.

[12] A judge for the prize, Alex Lawrie, praised Crudo, saying it was "[...] a bold and reactive political novel that captures a raw slice of contemporary history with pace, charm, and wit".

Laing has said that choosing a single winner for an artistic prize can be "corrosive...part of a capitalist model that has no place in art".