Are We There of 86, based on 36 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". At "Rolling Stone", Will Hermes rated the album four stars out of five, remarking how Van Etten's "darkness contains multitudes" just as Nick Cave's does, and he states Van Etten's latest release is "magnificent... which grows her trademark examinations of romantic decay to cathedral-like scale." Fred Thomas of AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five, indicating how Van Etten "can deliver her songs with a powerful, borderless command." Due to its high rating of 86 on Metacritic, Are We There became the fifth most critically acclaimed album of 2014.
How Many Licks? (Oh My)", Neal wrote that Tweet's focus on masturbation was a better expression of black female sexuality. The remix of "How Many Licks?" was also praised in retrospective reviews. In a 2015 article, Michael Arceneaux of VH1 called it "an under-appreciated gem" and suggested that Lil' Kim record another collaboration with Neptunes member Pharrell Williams in the future. According to Arceneaux, the remix is treated with "great reverence" by fans. Mark Anthony Neal was more critical of the remix due to Fabolous' lyrics ("Oops, there goes my kids on your face"), saying that the addition changed the song's message from