In their review of the Good 'N' Ready album, Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated, "Her forte is dance with a poppy and exuberant feel to it". Alan Jones from Music Week described the song as a "typically bright and breezy Stock/Waterman production superbly sung by the American diva [that] has instant, if fairly lighweight [sic], appeal." He added, "This is what you're missing, Kylie." Johnny Dee from NME named Sybil "this year's Rozalla", writing that songs like "When I'm Good and Ready" "are about the same things Sandie and Dusty sang of in the '60s: female independence and chucking boys. This is the sound of River Island changing rooms on a Saturday afternoon". James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update complimented it as "superb". Another editor, Tim Jeffery, stated, "The test of a cover version artist is whether they can come through with an original follow-up. Sybil has done just that. Even though the production of this pop/garage tune is heading straight at the Top 40 market." Tony Cross from Smash Hits stated, "After "The Love I Lost", Sybil has another song with "hit" written all over it." He also opined that "her powerful vocals are underused in this repetitive soul-sisters dancerama."
