“Carolyn Staley is an original Friend of Bill (FOB), having known him since their early teens. A love of music, intellectual curiosity, and the search for spiritual uplift have bound them together over the years. Carolyn's insightful recollections give us greater insight into the individual we have come to admire, revere, and love. And she has given us a years-old example of the enduring bond of friendship.”
 

“This book is captivating!  No previous writer has covered a President’s early high school years who actually knew him and his friends! You get to look at a remarkable young boy, you know will grow up to be a remarkable President, and after this amazing book, you know how it happened! I would recommend this book to any person! It is more informative than you can believe!”
 

“Carolyn Staley describes episodes from Clinton’s early life that reflect his kindness, thoughtfulness, competitiveness, ambition, and desire to seek opportunities for service that he hoped could make life better for people both in this country and beyond.”
 

"Carolyn comes with a unique perspective on Bill Clinton’s life, having been next-door neighbors in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and close friends for over sixty years. The memories and stories she shares with her readers offer a rare look at Bill Clinton’s many years in public service and beyond."
 

“Carolyn Staley's wonderful memoir captures not only the uniqueness of her 60-year friendship with Bill Clinton, but the richness of the values they share, and the power of friendship and faith in underpinning a purposeful life. A trip down memory lane for me, and an uplifting read for anyone!"   
 

"Exemplifying the words from the 1983 song Friends Are Friends Forever, Carolyn Staley insightfully writes about a special friend who became President of the United States. In the years to come, when scholars and historians take in-depth looks at the life and work of
 Bill Clinton, Carolyn's book will be a valuable resource."
 

“Staley, a gifted storyteller, weaves a delightful tale of the intersection of politics and friendships with the melodies of memory and music. She draws on six decades of lived experience and shares the observations and lessons learned from growing up in Hot Springs, meeting President Kennedy at Girl’s Nation, college teaching, leading the Arkansas Arts Council as a department head under Governor Clinton, employing her voice to celebrate Clinton’s gubernatorial and presidential inaugurals, running for the state legislature, and a life of giving and public service. Throughout it all, Staley holds dear the role of music in everyday life, shaping her own experiences and of a growing friendship between her family and the Clintons – Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea. For presidential historians, Arkansas history buffs, and any intellectually curious citizen, this book is informative, insightful, and an easy read about events and relationships that would otherwise be unrecorded and lost to future readers and scholars. We are all in Carolyn Staley’s debt for such a fascinating story well told.”
 

“In her fun, hard-to-put-down book that offers readers a fresh view of a much-chronicled figure, Carolyn Staley gets extra points for an unvarnished portrait of Bill Clinton. This funny, poignant, and full-of-surprises memoir is a platonic love story with the central character a young Bill Clinton, charismatic, brilliant, and ambitious, wanting to change the world. done.  The Boy Next Door is a rewarding read, and one that confirms that the boy from Hope and Hot Springs never left them far behind.”
 

“Carolyn Yeldell Staley was Bill Clinton’s neighbor, classmate, confidante, and pal—Carolyn has been there since the beginning. I met her on my first trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the summer of 1965. Her joy, her powers of observation, keen insight and extraordinary recall make this book essential reading for all of us FOBs as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of one of the towering political figures of our era.”