Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides stands as a notable work within his oeuvre, enjoying remarkable popularity among the public, yet receiving mixed critical responses. Detractors often highlight its ornate style, melodramatic tones, and the sentimental, sometimes implausible twists in its plot. However, proponents argue that the novel is a powerful continuation of the southern gothic tradition, lauding its storytelling prowess and its ultimately affirmative resolution. Conroy himself acknowledges the influence of literary giants like Thomas Wolfe and William Faulkner, but even if The Prince of Tides does not reach their heights, it remains an essential addition to popular fiction.

This novel marks Conroy’s fifth book, deeply rooted in the coastal South Carolina setting that permeates his works, drawing heavily from his personal experiences. Conroy's literary journey began with The Boo (1970), a memoir focusing on his college teacher, followed by The Water Is Wide (1972), a narrative based on his teaching experiences on Daufuskie Island, which straddles the line between nonfiction and fiction. With The Great Santini (1976), Conroy started to explore family secrets through fictional narrative, a trend that continued and evolved in The Lords of Discipline (1980), which exposed hard-hitting themes of sexism, racism, and discipline within the Citadel, a private military college. The Prince of Tides and Beach Music (1995) further exemplify Conroy's use of autobiographical elements, although the latter veers slightly away from family history.

Despite its popularity, The Prince of Tides is rarely included in young adult literature curricula. Its chances of supplanting seminal works like J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye are slim, and the protagonist, Tom Wingo, is unlikely to achieve the iconic status of Holden Caulfield. The novel’s explicit language, violent scenarios, and sexual content may constrain its appeal, yet it remains a compelling choice for supplemental reading lists, allowing young adults to explore it on their own terms.

Among young readers, Conroy’s works, including The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline, have garnered a dedicated following. These readers tend to overlook criticisms of "sloppy emotionalism" and "saccharine sentimentalism," drawn instead to themes of survival and self-discovery. Conroy’s lush, baroque imagery vividly captures both the awe of a moonrise and the haunting grip of family tragedy. His talent for storytelling shines through, making his explorations of human passions compelling and accessible. While occasional lapses into clichés or sentimentality may occur, the over-arching affirmations of life resonate strongly, ensuring that young readers, in particular, will continue to seek out his narratives.