Roberts called it a "fresh collection of ultimately underwhelming, pop-punk, filler tracks." With it being soaked in nostalgia, the album is "jam-packed full of Good Charlotte‘s playing-it-safe pop-punk and, as a consequence, is a pretty bland effort." Troy L. Smith Cleveland.com found it an "immensely enjoyable experience" to listen to. The band proved they could remain on top "when it comes to crafting the kind of catchy hooks teens in the scene live for." Rock Sound Ryan Bird praised it as a "sun-drenched delight that sees the quintet firmly reconnecting with their roots." He added that "one of the most endearing qualities" found on the album was its "lyrical honesty. … It’s relatable, it’s straight-talking, and it’s very, very real." Rolling Stone Australia writer Rod Yates said the band stuck to their strengths, namely "polished pop-punk bangers, … quirky radio fodder, … and lyrics that veer from the defiant … to the confessional." Ultimate Guitar's editorial team wrote that the album was "more than just a reboot to the sound they began with", though the way they update their sound was a "predictable direction that's not the most cutting-edge, but it's a direction that's sufficiently executed." Commercial performance and legacy Youth Authority charted at number 23 on the Billboard 200, and appeared on five additional Billboard charts: number three on the Independent Albums chart, number four on the Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, number five on the Digital Albums chart, and number 11 on the Top Album Sales Albums chart. By May 2018, the album had sold 30,000 copies in the US. In Australia, it sold 3883 copies in its first week, becoming one of the lowest-selling albums to reach number one in that territory. Outside of the US and Australia, the album reached number eight in Scotland, number nine in Scotland, number 13 in the UK, number 15 in Austria and New Zealand, number 17 in Germany, number 20 in Canada, number 33 in France, number 45 in the Flanders region of Belgium, number 77 in the Netherlands, and number 116 in the Wallonia region of Belgium. "Makeshift Love" charted at number nine on the Alternative Digital Song Sales and Rock Digital Song Sales charts, and number 30 on the Hot Rock Songs chart. "Life Can't Get Much Better" charted at number nine on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, number 10 on the Alternative Digital Song