Book Review: My Jeans Fit Well & The Ice-Cream Didn't Melt by Manali Desai
- Smita Das Jain
- Oct 6
- 2 min read
Writer Smita Das Jain reviews the book My Jeans Fit Well & The Ice-Cream Didn't Melt by Manali Desai
In an age where we are perpetually rushing, ticking off to-do lists, juggling screens, and sprinting from one deadline to the next, My Jeans Fit Well & The Ice-Cream Didn’t Melt by Manali Desai offers a much-needed pause. It’s a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and savour the small joys that often go unnoticed in our everyday lives.
The book is unlike any I’ve read in recent times. It is a collection of 150+ short reflections paired with illustrations, each celebrating life’s simple, fleeting pleasures. The concept of pairing words with visuals is both creative and refreshing. What adds another layer of authenticity is Manali’s transparency about using Gemini for the illustrations, a rare and admirable move in today’s literary world where such admissions are seldom made.
The reflections themselves touch upon moments that every reader will relate to: from the thrill of being called “didi” instead of “aunty,” to the quiet joy of catching a sunset, taking photos, spotting vegetarian items in a foreign land, or even seeing those elusive blue ticks on WhatsApp messages. Each entry feels like a personal note — warm, light-hearted, and comforting.
The book reads beautifully in the beginning, where each reflection evokes a smile or a nod of recognition. However, as I progressed, the structure, organised alphabetically, started to feel a tad restrictive. While the A-Z format is clever and ambitious, I felt that tying the reflections through a common emotional or thematic thread might have allowed the book to flow more naturally. At times, it felt like the author was working too hard to fit thoughts into a predetermined framework rather than letting them breathe organically.
That said, the writing never loses its charm. The tone remains cheerful, light, and accessible throughout, making the book ideal to read in small bursts rather than in one go. Pick it up at the end of a long day or during your morning coffee. Each reflection will nudge you gently to smile, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.
My rating for the book is 4.3/5. Manali’s hard work shows in the writing, in the visuals, and in the spirit of the book. My Jeans Fit Well & The Ice-Cream Didn’t Melt is not meant to be devoured; it’s meant to be savoured, one thought at a time.
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