The songs tend to seep in slowly, but it's worth the effort to burrow into them: Beneath that low-key exterior, Love Is the King displays luminous depth from a veteran songwriter who continues to grow into his craft".

[11] AllMusic's Mark Deming wrote: "Love Is the King is his very personal reaction to an increasingly difficult time in America's history, and while he doesn't pretend to have answers, this music is his own kind of therapy, recognizing his emotions and working through them before they devour him, and he makes both the process and the challenges well worth hearing".

[8] Victoria Segal of Mojo wrote: "From the beautiful fable of "A Robin Or A Wren" to "Even I Can See"'s delicate devotion, Love Is The King is determined to hold on tight to the good things while keeping a sharp eye on the mirror".

[10] Alastair McKay of Uncut found that "this album marries Tweedy's mature emotional outlook to the workaday manners of Uncle Tupelo or the Woody Guthrie project, Mermaid Avenue".

Rather than a concept album about quarantine, it's a snapshot of a moment in time, one that captures the confusion, longing, and loneliness of a world set back on its heels".