"supernova" garnered generally positive reception from music critics. at metacritic, they assign a "weighted average" score to selected independent ratings and reviews, and based upon eight reviews, the album has a metascore of 78 meaning that it received "generally favorable" reviews. at "rolling stone", will hermes rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, stating that "predictably, [dan] auerbach [as producer] helps the singer pull bright colors from the sixties' crayon box; less predictably, he makes it seem a perfectly logical progression of lamontagne's 10-plus years of cozy vibes." thom jurek of allmusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, writing that "supernova is unapologetically and indulgently retro; a casual listen might dismiss it as mere nostalgia", however the "pairing [of]auerbach's detailed, careful production with lamontagne's open, expertly crafted songwriting and breezy, sensual, emotionally unburdened signing, that boundary is shattered." at "the guardian", dave simpson rated the album four stars out of five, remarking how "there's nothing here that's exactly new, but by assembling an array of unexpected influences in one blissful place, lamontagne has crafted an unlikely perfect summer soundtrack."