brian lowry wrote a mild review for "variety" by saying, "too many reality shows have the chutzpah to refer to themselves as “experiments,” but the issues broached by "friends to lovers?" might qualify as one [...] if only the program could break out, just a little, from its too-familiar approach." ray rahman from "entertainment weekly" said, "too many of the cast members are insufferable to the point of undateable... but there are some bright spots".