[3][4] "Love Is Back" is a retro-soul[5][6][7] song "filled with punchy brass, jangling guitar riffs and velvety vocals that melt over the soulful production".

[5] In a write-up for The New York Times, Lindsay Zoladz wrote that Celeste "croons coolly for much of the song before a dazzling grand finale showcases the strength of her smoky voice, which recalls both Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday.

[10] Billboard described it as "rousing" and praised Celeste's vocal "swoons",[11] while NME described it as a "confident and sultry belter" which indicates that the singer is "well on her way to becoming the latest British soul hero.

"[8] Writing for The Honey Pop, Emily Defoor agreed that Celeste is "on the rise of being the new queen of soul", and further described the song as a "dreamy" mixture of "hypnotic vocals and feel good beats".

[16] Celeste also added the song to her setlist on her European tour opening for Michael Kiwanuka in 2019,[17] and during her residence at Omeara in south east London.