Allmusic critic Richie Unterberger considers Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts to be better than I'll Cry If I Want To and an "above average" though not excellent 1963 pop/rock album.

[1] Unterberger cites as a reason for being preferable to I'll Cry If I Want To that Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts avoids the self-pity theme of the debut album.

[1] Unterberger also praises the album's three big hits, "She's a Fool", "You Don't Own Me" and "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows".

[2] "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows", released as a single two years later, reached #13.

[1][2] Unterberger also praised the songs "If That's the Way You Want It" and "Run, Bobby, Run" for being "good moody girl group ditties" which benefited from Quincy Jones's production, but he rated the pop ballads "Fools Rush In" and "Young and Foolish" as being "pedestrian".