Writing for The New York Times, Francine Prose praised the dialogue in Nobody's Fool and Russo's exploration of human character.

In the Portland Press Hearld, Michael Berry described Nobody's Fool as "capturing with humor and compassion some pivotal moments in the lives of fictional North Bath’s working-class residents".

[2] A critic from Krikus Reviews disliked the novel, calling Russo's detailed rendition of small-town life "too much of a good thing".

Talking about the series, Ron Charles of The Washington Post wrote, "Russo has become our national priest of masculine despair and redemption.".

The film starred Paul Newman as Sully, along with Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.