Atkins' goal was to create a more volatile sound than she had ever previously attempted, a sonic approach akin to such influences as Scott Walker and Nick Cave, while also touching on longtime inspirations like the blues and classic 60s psychedelic rock.

Andrew Leahey of Allmusic wrote that it "continues the trend by keeping an eye on the past, but it shifts everything forward by one decade, mining blues-rock and late-‘60s psychedelia instead of Brill Building pop" and noticed that it "may work best as a companion piece to Neptune City [...] but it’s got more than enough raw emotion to hold its own weight".

[5] Carrie Alison of Sentimentalist Magazine wrote that the album "plunges any willing listener straight into the maelstrom of Atkins’ own Blue Valentine with oftentimes harrowing — but always thoroughly enchanting — results" and called it "the kind of ultra-poignant gem that you pray to come in contact with just to pay it forward".

[9] Matthew Leung of State Press felt that "with Mondo Amore, Nicole Atkins has really shown her strength as both a singer and songwriter" and noticed that "her awesome vocals and meaningful lyrics help give this album lasting appeal".

[4] August Brown of Los Angeles Times described the album as "sturdy, well-arranged pop that old crooners and hipster blues brothers alike can claim as theirs",[6] while Jonah Weiner from Rolling Stone called it "dreamy, vaguely melancholic, thoroughly pleasant".