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Keeper and Kid: A Novel

by Edward Hardy (Goodreads Author)

3.30 · rating details · 194 ratings · 58 reviews

“Keeper and Kid is a marvel. I dare you. Open this book and try to put it down.” ---Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Room

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“Keeper and Kid is a marvel. I dare you. Open this book and try to put it down.” ---Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Room

Eight years ago, James Keeper fell in love with his upstairs neighbor in Boston, a sassy pastry chef with gray eyes and a fierce attitude. They got married, found a dog, and shopped for cilantro. But conflicting schedules and a real estate deal gone bad took its toll on the twenty-somethings in love. One divorce later, the hand-me-down chairs were separated, the potato masher custody settled, and Keeper moved to Providence to work with his best friend selling antiques at a quirky shop called Love and Death.

A new job, a new love, and a new life now in place, Keeper is in a comfortable situation. Business is steady, Leah (the new love) is intriguing and passionate, and Keeper’s friends always turn up for Sunday evening Card Night.

But one phone call from his former mother-in-law changes everything. And so days later, Keeper comes away with a son he never knew he had, and life all of a sudden takes on a new meaning.

Leo, the precocious three-year-old who sports Keeper’s square chin, is more than a handful---he eats only round foods, refuses to bathe, thinks he’s a bear, and refers to Leah as “that man.” For a guy who never thought he’d be a parent, Keeper is thrown headfirst into fatherhood---and has no idea what to do. As Keeper and Leo adjust to the shock of each other and their suddenly very different lives, Keeper begins to let the people in his life in, in turns strange and heartwarming, funny and painful. But some, like Leah, aren’t so eager for change.

In this humorous and poignant novel, Edward Hardy explores the depths of modern love, parenthood, and compromise. Keeper and Kid is the story of how a normal guy receives an unexpected gift and in turn must learn to ask more of others and himself. A coming-of-age story for the guy who thought he had already grown up, Keeper and Kid is a sharp and witty account of what we do for love.

Advance Praise for Keeper and Kid

“A fine, fetching novel with a good heart. Keeper is nimble and affecting, a tribute to the author’s endless comic inventiveness.”---Stewart O’Nan, author of The Good Wife

“At once immensely engaging and about the things that matter most: how we love, how we move on, how the past moves with us. Lovely, wise, and surprising.”---Elizabeth Graver, author of The Honey Thief

“Ed Hardy’s voice in Keeper and Kid grabs you and won’t let you go until the very last page. Full of local color, bittersweet characters, and a story we can all relate to---the day your past arrives on the doorstep of your present life.”---Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Room

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Hardcover, 304 pages

Published January 8th 2008 by Thomas Dunne Books

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Sep 02, 2008

Christa rated it

Shelves: interlibrary-loan

Keeper and Kid was a very touching novel of a divorced man whose life is turned completely upside down when he gains custody of a son that he didn't even know about. James Keeper was a sympathetic and believeable character. He seems very human as he flounders about, making mistakes. Keeper finally learns to communicate with and accept help from those who care about him.

James Keeper is a thirty-six year old divorced man who is involved in a serious relationship with Leah. The two j...moreKeeper and Kid was a very touching novel of a divorced man whose life is turned completely upside down when he gains custody of a son that he didn't even know about. James Keeper was a sympathetic and believeable character. He seems very human as he flounders about, making mistakes. Keeper finally learns to communicate with and accept help from those who care about him.

James Keeper is a thirty-six year old divorced man who is involved in a serious relationship with Leah. The two just bought a house together, but Keeper is determined to never marry again, as he doesn't believe he could survive another divorce. James and his first wife, Cynthia, weren't very good at communication, and when he found out that she made some bad financial decisions and ended up selling two houses that they owned without telling him, he walked away rather than confront the situation. When Cynthia suddenly dies, James finds out that she kept another huge secret from him - after their divorce, she gave birth to his child. Leo is now three years old, and Cynthia has left custody of him to James. James is completely stunned, hurting from Cynthia's death, and doesn't know how to tell Leah, who is out of town. He brings Leo home and lets Leah walk into the situation unknowingly. Leah is confused and hurt, and soon decides that she can't deal with this change in their lives. James, already completely overwhelmed, is devastated when Leah leaves him. Having a grieving, demanding three year old to care for is almost beyond James' ability, and when he sinks into depression, life looks hopeless for both Keeper and Leo. Keeper's emotional state renders him unable to perform day to day tasks- like going to work- and jeopardizes his relationship with his best friend, who is also his employer.

Keeper finally reaches a crisis that sends him to his parents, whom he hasn't even told about Leo. His parents step up, offer support, and provide him with an afternoon of rest. When Keeper and Leo return home that night, Grace, sister of Cynthia, has arrived. She wants to visit Leo and provide assistance for a time. As Grace assumes some of the care for Leo and prompts Keeper into putting him into daycare part time, the stress is lessened and Keeper is able to start putting his life back together. He returns to work and begins learning how to be a father. After Grace's visit is over, Keeper tries to win Leah back. Leah is not open to resuming her relationship with Keeper, but soon a crisis in her own life causes her to see what she really has in this man.

I very much enjoyed this poignant story of a man trying to learn to be a father after he has been faced with devastating changes to his life. Keeper faltered and had difficulty accepting his new life, but he finally steadied himself and moved forward. In his dealings with Leah at the end of the book, I thought that he showed himself to be a very compassionate and dependable man. (less)

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Apr 04, 2008

Elizabeth rated it

This pulled me right in—highly readable story. It's perfect for when you've just finished up a very emotionally draining book and want something a little lighter and faster. I'd categorize it as chick lit, except that the main character and author are both male : ) My only complaint is that I was weirdly and irrationally annoyed by the attention to detail in naming all the children's TV that Leo watched, which seemed to be an inordinate amount of TV. It was very exact, as if the author was refer...more

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Dec 13, 2008

Christina rated it

Recommended to Christina by: Lisa {Books on the Brain}

Shelves: 2008-reads, library-book

I walked away for this novel with mixed emotions. It’s a great story, none the less. But what was up with Grace? Why didn’t Keeper just say “forget you,” or a version of that, to Leah? Does Leo ever call Keeper “Daddy”?

Well?

As I said, none the less, this is a great book. It’s heart wrenching and funny at the same time. This coming-of-age, “hero’s journey” story was enjoyable, not like some I’ve read in the past. In fact, I finished it in one afternoon, it was that good. And I...more

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Nov 02, 2009

Robin Nicholas rated it

"Keeper" is a 30 something guy, job rather than a career, girlfriend, cool friends, happy with life. He is given 2 days notice that he has a son that he now needs to raise. The three year old is a result of a one night fling with his ex-wife. That ex-wife has died suddenly and put Keeper in the will as the one to raise Leo. As a parent, this is my nightmare. There is no way, a guy who has no preparation or interest in having children could have ANY idea what taking care of and r...more

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Apr 01, 2010

Sandy D. rated it

Shelves: parenting, united-states

A novel that I grabbed off the new book shelf at my library. The story was pretty improbable - a middle-aged guy learns he is the father of a 3 y.o. when his ex-wife dies suddenly; she had been meaning to tell him about their son, but never did get around to it, and Keeper (the guy's last name) is the kid's new caretaker - with virtually no help or contact with ex-wife's family.

Anyway, the book did have some pretty wonderful descriptions of the ways of toddlers, and how difficult it ...more

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Mar 31, 2008

Jill rated it

I liked this. The challenges of the kid rang true for me. I liked Keeper's friends. With the Love and Death store backdrop the scenery was interesting. I did wish I knew Cynthia better...

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May 30, 2010

Julianna rated it

t was a well written book. The characters are ALIVE. The book is very engaging.The man character,Jimmy Keeper, is basically a teenager trapped in a 35 year old body. He is without ambition, self absorbed and immature. He avoids emotional conflict, real commitment, and real responsibility. In short he refuses to become an adult. Then one day he is told his ex-wife is dead and he has a 3 yr. old Leo.
Keeper spends his time confused and overwhelmed. He keeps wanting his son to be someone pro...more

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Sep 21, 2009

Jessica rated it

Shelves: read-in-2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 27, 2010

liz rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Keeper and Kid

I received my copy of Keeper and Kid from a Goodreads.com giveaway back in September of 2009 and it has taken me until April 2010 to pick it up to read…

I picked this book up from my giant pile of unread books thinking that if I read anything it should be this just to get it off the pile and out of my way. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

I started reading this on a Saturday evening around 5 pm and the next thing I knew I was on...moreKeeper and Kid

I received my copy of Keeper and Kid from a Goodreads.com giveaway back in September of 2009 and it has taken me until April 2010 to pick it up to read…

I picked this book up from my giant pile of unread books thinking that if I read anything it should be this just to get it off the pile and out of my way. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

I started reading this on a Saturday evening around 5 pm and the next thing I knew I was on page 200 and it was 1 am. I got so caught up in this story of Keeper and his discovering parenthood. I seriously couldn’t put it down all weekend.

I loved Keeper. His reactions to being thrown in with a 3 year-old are very real. I was a Nanny for a long time, and that first few months with new kids is just plain hard so I really felt for him. Getting used to their routines and their needs and their lives and forgetting your own. It is really hard.

I also identified with him on a more personal level since my sister-in-law and best friend just passed away last year leaving behind her 3 year-old. Constantly remembering those moment when you should have done something different, or wondering if you had done something else would it have ended the way it did. I cried a little while reading this book. Losing someone you love is like that.

I didn’t like Leah from the beginning. I had already decided that she was not my favorite. I found myself wanting to know more about Cynthia and her life and her personality. Leo was adorable, though at first I thought he was a little too articulate for a 3 year-old, but as the story moved on he leveled out to what I know of 3 year-olds.

Tim is a really good friend. Everyone needs a friend like that in their lives to keep around when times are tough. What a good man.

I think this book reminds us all that life is not stationary and that we never know what to expect. Take the time to cherish the ones you love, and don’t overburden yourself with stuff you can’t do anything about. Just live in the moments.

There is just one item that I did not appreciate in this book. The over use of the f**k word. I’m not a fan of it in real life so I prefer not to read it in my literature as well. I understand that my morals are different than most of the world and that is a perfectly acceptable word for most. I understand that it was one way to show the stress of the situation through words, and maybe Keeper just didn’t have a better way of expressing himself, I just don’t like hearing/reading it as the punctuation to everything. To have made this more realistic Leo should have started parroting it back to Keeper. Because they do. That’s usually a good way to get a parent to clean up their language.

But above all, I love this book. I will recommend it to others.
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Apr 13, 2008

nimrodiel rated it

Shelves: 2008-books-read, reviewed-for-front-street-reviews, bookcrossing-books, controlled-release

When Jim Keeper receives a call out of the blue from his ex-wife Cynthia’s mother, the last thing he expects to hear is that she is in the hospital. Jim drops everything to drive up to Boston to find out what the favor he has been told she needs to ask him is. A week later, when going to pick up what used to be their dog Arrow, Jim is faced with a huge problem that he was not expecting.

It’s been four years since He and Cynthia divorced, a little over three years since he had seen he...moreWhen Jim Keeper receives a call out of the blue from his ex-wife Cynthia’s mother, the last thing he expects to hear is that she is in the hospital. Jim drops everything to drive up to Boston to find out what the favor he has been told she needs to ask him is. A week later, when going to pick up what used to be their dog Arrow, Jim is faced with a huge problem that he was not expecting.

It’s been four years since He and Cynthia divorced, a little over three years since he had seen her last. His life in those years has changed significantly. He now lives in Providence, and is partner in a two man salvage shop. He spends his days looking for buyers of the stuff his partner and best friend Tim finds (everything from old mantelpieces salvaged from houses that have been demolished to antique toys), and running their warehouse. He has also just moved into a house with Leah, his current girlfriend.

Cynthia has passed away, and rather than going home with the dog he was expecting, he is introduced to Leo. Suddenly he is finding himself father to a three year old, whom he wasn’t even aware he had. Jim finds himself transporting home a toddler, and his belongings. He cannot fathom what has just happened, and can not figure out how to break the news to Leah.

His life becomes one of introduction to this small child who speaks of strange kid things such as the tv show Kipper, and who only eats round foods. Everywhere he turns, his small home he had been making with his girlfriend Leah is over run with bright colored toys, and child sized clothing. He is struggling to survive as a single parent, learning to cope with daily childcare and toilet training. Through all this, there is an urgency to get Leo integrated into the life he had, and to convince Leah to give him and Leo another chance.

Keeper and Kid is a warm and sweet story of a man and child thrown headfirst into each others lives. Edward Hardy has created an engaging look into life, as a new parent, as a single parent, and the receipt of an unexpected gift. Jim Keeper, a man who never thought about children in his life grows through the story. I found myself immersed in the book, and quickly sped through it to find out how Jim, Leo, and Leah survive the shock of being thrown together so suddenly.
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Apr 14, 2011

Fiore777 rated it

It fit into a little niche of stories that I enjoy. Things where the story where a child or pets play an important role in the lives of people they are around. In this case, I found the story to be quite sweet and I adored all the little frustrations and silliness involved in dealing with something you just aren't quite sure about but are attached to anyway.

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Feb 29, 2008

melanie (lit*chick) rated it

This book was an absolute delight. Set in New England, it is the story of James Keeper, a guy who works surrounded by rescued materials in a shop/salvage yard.
"I love the yard. It's an entire world of saved parts and second chances." p.52
That sentence is a window to the rest of the story. When his ex-wife suddenly dies, Keeper thinks he is going to pick up their dog, but finds out they have a 3 1/2 year old son. Watching Keeper and Leo navigate through their immediate fut...more

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Sep 01, 2008

Christie rated it

Shelves: fiction, 2008

Soon to be made into an After Work Special for Gen Xers very soon.

In the 2nd half of this book I could see that this author has some talent, however the first 50 pages of the book are AWFUL. He is trying to narrate the book from the POV of an immature 30 something (who we can already guess is going to mature because the writing is so forced). The entire book would have been better written in 3rd person. The only reason this book was a disappointment instead of just a bad book, was t...more

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Jan 18, 2009

Jessica rated it

Shelves: read-2009

I really enjoyed this book. Jumping into parenthood with a toddler myself (or actually two :), this book really resonated with me...from the shock of the massive life change to the zillion quirky little things that wee ones do...to the grand realizations about ourselves...it was fabulous! I wasn't too fond throughout the story of the girlfriend, Leah, but by the end I was warming up to her a bit. A book I would definitely recommend. I give this book 4-1/2 stars!

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Jan 12, 2011

Melissa rated it

I liked this book. But there were some disconnects. I never really liked the characters. There was not enough there for me to establish an emotional connection to any of them. It seemed like the author spent alot of time on scene development. But not as much on the character themselves.

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Jan 07, 2009

Michelle rated it

Interesting book about a surprised father and how he manages being a single parent. Keeper learns many lessons along the way like patience, better communication and how to ask for help from friends and family. Love the son Leo's dialogue!

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Mar 04, 2008

Christine rated it

Recommends it for: anyone

I really enjoyed this book. While it has shades of Nick Hornby's "About a Boy", "Keeper and Kid" is more of a grudging love story. James Keeper is a man not ready for children when one child is thrust upon him. Edward Hardy writes compassionately of Keepers mixed feelings and complex reactions to his new position as a father. The ending feels just a little pat to me but then I really didn't like the girlfriend from the outset so...maybe it's just me!
Hardy's dialogue is ...more

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Oct 23, 2009

Ann rated it

This could have potentially been a sappy book. You know the kind of sentimental fluff about divorce, orphans, lost people, etc. Hardy's style is witty, pointed, spare in the best sense. Nothing facile here. A very good surprise.

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Aug 20, 2009

Michele Minor rated it

This is a good book where the main character has a life changing event happen to him, when his ex wife dies and leaves him a three year old son that he never knew that he had. This book does a good job in showing Keeper's reaction to the change.

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Feb 09, 2012

Tiffany rated it

For me it was such a nice change to read about a single father trying his best to manuver through parenthood. As Keeper's mother once said "People can get to good places in very strange ways"

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Oct 11, 2010

Jeanna rated it

Shelves: 2009

I hated this book and only forced myself to finish it because I kept hoping it would get better. I hated the characters, and the dialogue was choppy and annoying.

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Aug 10, 2011

Julie Lindsey rated it

A little on the predictable side. There were some funny moments; however, the main character was pretty shallow and not much depth to the story line.

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Feb 03, 2010

Lisa Christen rated it

Good story about James Keeper who discovers he has a son, Leo, who he needs to take care of. He is pretty clueless about taking care of a kid.

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Apr 29, 2009

Milissa Schmantowsky rated it

Shelves: book-read-in-2009

A man learns he has a child and that he is now the sole living parent of that child. It follows him as he attempts to do the right thing.

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Dec 27, 2008

Gaurett rated it

Ok book, about a 30ish guy who has to take care of his son when his ex wife dies, a son he knew nothing about until her death

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Sep 25, 2009

Ryan Mac rated it

Shelves: fall-challenge-2009

This was a sweet story about a guy (Jimmy Keeper) and the three year old son that he didn't know he had with his ex-wife. Suddenly, he is a father of a three year old. The book follows his adventures in learning to be a parent and dealing with his shocked girlfriend who isn't ready for a kid, especially one who looks like his ex-wife.

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Jul 28, 2010

Kelly rated it

loved it, the characters are likable it is a sweet story and it takes place in the state that I live in!

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Sep 21, 2009

Jaimie rated it

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I really liked it. It was a great story about male relationships that given the plot, I felt was very believable. It was a quick read that I would recommend.

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Mar 18, 2008

Nette rated it

I have a coworker who passes out a 6-page, single-spaced family newsletter every Christmas, detailing each moment of his family's life during the last year. The entire first page is taken up with the wacky mispronunciations of his three sons, like: "Toot Berry = Tooth Fairy." (The youngest is now 9, so something is deeply wrong with these children.) Anyway, I'm convinced the author of this book wrote down every cute thing his own kids said, and then built a book around them. It's ...more

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Aug 09, 2011

Heidi rated it

Great book! Easy to read, but kept you hooked

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About Edward Hardy

Edward Hardy is the author of two novels, Keeper and Kid and Geyser Life. His short stories have appeared in many magazines including: Ploughshares, GQ, Epoch, The New England Review, Boulevard and The Quarterly. He has been a newspaper reporter and editor and has taught creative writing at Cornell and Boston College He currently teaches nonfiction writing at Brown and lives outside Providence wit...more

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