[2] The vocalist described it as "a song of unrequited love told from the perspective of a 'tragic monster'" and described it as "a lyrical sequel of sorts" to The Stranger single "Black Mass".
[1][2] Reviewing the track for DIY magazine, Tom Connick described "Hiding with Boys" as a "foot-to-the-floor summer anthem", claiming that it shows the band's "punk-rock, Warped Tour influences" through "double-time drumming and searing three chord runs".
[5] Clash writer Dannii Leivers categorised the song as "nu-emo",[6] while Anita Bhagwandas of the NME compared its style to that of The Cure.
[10] Summarising the content of the music video, Cat Velez of Promo News explained that "Our troubled protagonist is a middle-aged man, haunted by demons visible to him for mere seconds before dissapearing [sic] out of sight – but not out of mind".
Stephen Ackroyd of Upset magazine described it as "another 10/10 amazing track" following previous single "Suzanne", praising it as "an arms aloft anthem that proves exactly why Creeper are the most exciting rock band in, y'know, like, forever".