Musically, Berrin pulled inspiration from riot grrrl bands, 60's girl groups, Billie Holiday, and Motown.

[6]Upon its release, Death of a Cheerleader received generally positive reviews from music critics.

[8] Rachel Saywitz in The Line of Best Fit claims the Pom Pom Squad "subvert expectations, all the while converting the pain points of adolescence and the boredom of high school suburbia into whimsical fantasy.

"[10] In a review published in Consequence, Paolo Ragusa writes that "Mia Berrin solidifies her place among the newest class of indie stalwart songwriters, carving out this space in a fearless and vulnerable way.

"[13] "Equally indebted to pioneering girl groups as well as her punk heroes, the album is a fiery and compelling—albeit slightly uneven—exploration of love, anger, and coming-of-age," writes Abby Jones for Pitchfork.