Reading Lolita in Tehran was published to critical acclaim. Many reviewers praised Nafisi as a writer and lover of books. For example, Cheryl Miller of the Policy Review noted, "Nafisi is one of the most eloquent advocates of the written word to date. Every page of Nafisi's memoir is informed by her passion for literature and for teaching." Others commented on her approach as a writer. Ron Ratliff of Library Journal wrote, "Nafisi's lucid style … serves as both a testament to the human spirit that refuses to be imprisoned and to the liberating power of literature."

A number of reviewers praised the intricacies of the book's structure and Nafisi's approach as an author. Writing in the Christian Century, Trudy Bush said, "Reading Lolita in Tehran reminds one of the complex structure of a nineteenth-century novel—with a large cast of characters." Bush concluded, "Like good fiction...