Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called the album "a bouncy, feel-good R&B affair" that "oozes with attitude, street savvy, and rich urban flavor."

She found that "funkified arrangements – with tasty acoustic and electric guitar stylings – and dance floor appeal, combined with Robinson's sassy, soul-inspired vocals, make this a winning solo effort.

[1] In his review for Slant magazine, writer Sal Cinquemani declared the "fashionable mix of neo-soul, gooey R&B balladry and trendy hip-pop" as "too prepackaged and trend-conscious to reach the heights of her previous collaborations."

"[6] People magazine commented that while the album "won’t make anyone forget En Vogue, Robinson pipes up with a gratifying if not groundbreaking set of contemporary R&B.

"[4] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly felt divided, writing that "at its most shimmering, the long-in-the-works solo debut from the former En Vogue and Lucy Pearl diva incorporates the best of both acts.

"[2] Wendy Robinson, writing for PopMatters, found that while Dawn "offers a confident and eclectic collection" of songs, "the problem is that the album tries so hard to defy definition that it fails to be distinctive."