James Bernard of the American Entertainment Weekly summarised: "This British belter slows it down on her fourth solo release Essex with plenty of guitar strumming, soothing harmonies, and bare-handed percussion. While she displays impressive range - it's not particularly distinctive. Essex may be elegant, but it lacks emotional weight."
American Entertainment Weekly critic James Bernard described the album: "The British singer takes a more subdued approach on her fourth solo record Essex, featuring prominent guitar work, soft vocals, and simple percussion. While she demonstrates impressive vocal abilities - they don't particularly stand out. The overall effect is elegant but emotionally unfulfilling."