The Boston Globe published a review of the book by Priscilla Gilman who criticized Goodman's control of the various character's voices and criticized what she saw as a lack of reflection throughout the novel, describing the book as "YA masquerading as adult fiction.

"[5] The Washington Post's Ron Charles praised Goodman's language and the novel's "prettiness" but wrote that those qualities led to the story feeling predictable.

[6] While Publishers Weekly wrote positively about the book's story and Goodman's prose, Kirkus Reviews panned the book, criticizing Goodman for not exploring the implications of Sam's sexual experimentation and writing that "there isn't enough texture in its treatment of the many serious issues faced by its heroine to satisfy readers.

"[7][8] John Podhoretz of Commentary Magazine praised the book for its realistic portrayal of a child protagonist.

[9] Sam was selected by Jenna Bush Hager as a Today show book club pick shortly after publication.