[4][5][6] The ballad finds Jepsen expressing her interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with someone despite her belief that she is not their "type" and explores the concept of unrequited love.

[14] In reviewing for NPR, Ken Tucker highlighted "Your Type" as a clear example of Jepsen's "attempt to expand the notion of what disposable pop can sound like", further applauding its vulnerable narrative that transcends gender roles.

[18] Jessica Doyle, a writer for The Singles Jukebox, emphasized the song's lyrical missteps which "intensifies the pathos of the song—the narrator wants so badly to stand out [...] but even her desperate inner monologue is bland.

In early 2016, the song stayed unranked for five weeks on the Ultratip Bubbling Under chart in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.

[20][21] During her performance, the video alternates between shots of a large, excited crowd and a nearly-empty bar, suggesting the former is Jepsen's fantasy of how the scene played out.