 " Love the Way You Lie " received generally favorable reviews . An editor for Rap @-@ Up listed it among the four best tracks from the album . New York Times writer Jon Caramanica considered it " one of the album 's most engaging songs " and praised Eminem 's ability to assess issues from the perspectives of both sexes . MTV 's Rodriguez wrote that the song echoes content from Eminem 's earlier albums , but finds him " sober " and " more mature " . He added that the lyrics allude to Eminem 's relationship with Scott and that " Love the Way You Lie " is his closest approach to a love song . Editors of The A.V. Club compared the single with " Kim " and " ' 97 Bonnie & Clyde " ; they found he is more tempered in " Love the Way You Lie " when discussing a " mutually destructive relationship " and that Rihanna 's involvement creates an eerie mood . 
