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The Sun Over The Mountains: A Story of Hope, Healing and Restoration
A memoir of hope, healing and restoration, from star of The Repair Shop, Suzie Fletcher.
Suzie Fletcher is the warm and friendly face on The Repair Shop that viewers look forward to watching every week. But while she tends to be the one repairing and offering a gentle kindness to others - she has also been in a process of change, reflection, and healing.
In her first book Suzie looks back over her life - which moves from England to Colorado and back again - and the places, people and experiences that have shaped the person she is today.
A self-confessed hippy with a deep connection to nature, Suzie's exceptional warmth and zest for life shine through on every page, making The Sun Over the Mountain a truly inspiring read that will resonate with anyone who has faced uncertainty but has the courage and power within them to overcome it.
Suzie Fletcher is the warm and friendly face on The Repair Shop that viewers look forward to watching every week. But while she tends to be the one repairing and offering a gentle kindness to others - she has also been in a process of change, reflection, and healing.
In her first book Suzie looks back over her life - which moves from England to Colorado and back again - and the places, people and experiences that have shaped the person she is today.
A self-confessed hippy with a deep connection to nature, Suzie's exceptional warmth and zest for life shine through on every page, making The Sun Over the Mountain a truly inspiring read that will resonate with anyone who has faced uncertainty but has the courage and power within them to overcome it.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2023
68 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 15, 2023
First off: it isn't the author's fault that it seems ebook sellers were only delivering the first 16 or 17 pages of this book to buyers. I bought it from Google Books using survey reward points, got 17 pages, got a refund, then went back and looked at it there again and it was 250 pages or so, I bought it again, and got the whole thing.
OK now that that is out of the way. As a dedicated fan of The Repair Shop show on BBC, I find all the experts not only skilled but also friendly and appealing. I realize that could just be a TV persona; but I also think they were selected to be on the show because they had a personality they could project to the cameras and the viewers, so I don't feel too silly actually liking these people.
Suzie Fletcher makes allusions on and off on the show to having lived and worked in the US, so it was clear there was a tale there, and this is it.
Do not expect a text that has been polished to a high gloss for the book market. This book has clearly been minimally edited. It's more like having a series of two hour lunches with Suzie than reading an autobiography. That's fine if you can take it that way.
Her narrative of her abusive marriage is told in spare, conversational episodes. I cannot believe she put up with it for as long as she did - I put up with such a relationship for three years, and although she doesn't make the math clear, it must add up to more than fifteen years that she lived that life. You can't escape the feeling that if her husband hadn't developed advanced fatal cancer he might have actually killed her at some point. The one time she actually called the police, when he was ranting and raving and throwing her belongings out of the house, the sheriff told her, yes ma'am I hear you that he has guns in the house - if we come up there one of the two of you will be going to jail, which one will it be? I find that incomprehensible and it's no wonder more women are victims of domestic violence than ever.
Like many women in her position, there is no one clear reason to be found for why she stayed. She was responsible for the safety of many animals (horses, dogs, cats) that she feared he would shoot if she pushed back at him. He was a typical expert gaslighter who always left some doubt in her mind that some of it was her fault. In between drunken rages he was nice to her. All of that is normal. Between that, and how much work it was for her to care for him till he died, it's a tremendous relief when he's finally dead! Now she can go back to being who she was before.
I hope that despite the book's superficial weaknesses, people read it. Marry in haste, repent at leisure! Now I'm even happier to see Suzie on TV - it means she survived.
OK now that that is out of the way. As a dedicated fan of The Repair Shop show on BBC, I find all the experts not only skilled but also friendly and appealing. I realize that could just be a TV persona; but I also think they were selected to be on the show because they had a personality they could project to the cameras and the viewers, so I don't feel too silly actually liking these people.
Suzie Fletcher makes allusions on and off on the show to having lived and worked in the US, so it was clear there was a tale there, and this is it.
Do not expect a text that has been polished to a high gloss for the book market. This book has clearly been minimally edited. It's more like having a series of two hour lunches with Suzie than reading an autobiography. That's fine if you can take it that way.
Her narrative of her abusive marriage is told in spare, conversational episodes. I cannot believe she put up with it for as long as she did - I put up with such a relationship for three years, and although she doesn't make the math clear, it must add up to more than fifteen years that she lived that life. You can't escape the feeling that if her husband hadn't developed advanced fatal cancer he might have actually killed her at some point. The one time she actually called the police, when he was ranting and raving and throwing her belongings out of the house, the sheriff told her, yes ma'am I hear you that he has guns in the house - if we come up there one of the two of you will be going to jail, which one will it be? I find that incomprehensible and it's no wonder more women are victims of domestic violence than ever.
Like many women in her position, there is no one clear reason to be found for why she stayed. She was responsible for the safety of many animals (horses, dogs, cats) that she feared he would shoot if she pushed back at him. He was a typical expert gaslighter who always left some doubt in her mind that some of it was her fault. In between drunken rages he was nice to her. All of that is normal. Between that, and how much work it was for her to care for him till he died, it's a tremendous relief when he's finally dead! Now she can go back to being who she was before.
I hope that despite the book's superficial weaknesses, people read it. Marry in haste, repent at leisure! Now I'm even happier to see Suzie on TV - it means she survived.
August 22, 2024
I adored learning about the animals and the crafting! At times a tough read and worth noting that this book could be a trigger warning about domestic abuse. Susie is a very interesting lady, and a really inspiration. I wanna see photos of all the gorgeous horses and animals!
June 18, 2023
A very interesting read thank you Suzie although at times tears were shed and I could feel the pain you went through, but also the joyful times you had with Rob. I watch the Repair shop religiously and I'm amazed how everyone repairs these different sentimental keepsakes.
June 24, 2024
Very thought provoking. Very brave to write so honestly.
August 13, 2024
This book is written with such emotion. It is full of love, care, despair and ambition. I became engrossed and it was like being alongside Suzie on her journey. Very well written.
June 23, 2024
Yes, I read this because I'm a huge fan of THE REPAIR SHOP and I will read anything written by any of the artisans on that show. If you're a fan, you may remember a particular restoration of a hobby horse that leather expert Suzie Fletcher was doing, and a very emotional moment that occurred in the course of that restoration that left Fletcher in tears on camera and resulted in her brother, resident clock repair expert Steve Fletcher, to come over and take her in his arms. In this book, you find out why that repair hit her between the eyes.
This is not an easy book, surprisingly; Fletcher takes a blunt and unflinching look at her own self and her own mistakes as she moved to America almost on a whim, met a guy almost on a whim, and married him almost on a whim, before she realized that his good qualities were matched with a darker, abusive underbody. Fletcher does not back away one bit from the messiness of human emotions, and while she doesn't have any satisfying answer to the question "Why did you stay?", I think she does a service of demonstrating that often there is NO real answer to that beyond "It's just not that easy." And it wasn't.
I'm glad I read this. A warning, though: if you're picking this up because of the REPAIR SHOP angle, there is almost nothing in this book pertaining to the show itself, other than a few passages mostly at the beginning and in the end. That's not a bad thing, but some folks might have different expectations for this book.
This is not an easy book, surprisingly; Fletcher takes a blunt and unflinching look at her own self and her own mistakes as she moved to America almost on a whim, met a guy almost on a whim, and married him almost on a whim, before she realized that his good qualities were matched with a darker, abusive underbody. Fletcher does not back away one bit from the messiness of human emotions, and while she doesn't have any satisfying answer to the question "Why did you stay?", I think she does a service of demonstrating that often there is NO real answer to that beyond "It's just not that easy." And it wasn't.
I'm glad I read this. A warning, though: if you're picking this up because of the REPAIR SHOP angle, there is almost nothing in this book pertaining to the show itself, other than a few passages mostly at the beginning and in the end. That's not a bad thing, but some folks might have different expectations for this book.
July 29, 2023
The Sun Over The Mountain, A Story of Hope, Healing and Restoration by Suzie Fletcher tells her story in her words. It is not an easy story to read or equate to the expert leather restorer who features on BBC's The Repair Shop with her beautiful personality and radiating kindness to those who visit the Barn or the fellow experts on the show.
Suzie's story is one of contrasts from living in typical market town in Oxfordshire, England with its temperate weather to moving to rural Colorado, USA, with it blazing Summers and whiteout Winters. It does deal with some of the most harrowing aspects of her life living in America with her husband and how she survived this period and returned to the UK to end up working alongside her brother, Steve, the horologist expert on the Repair Shop.
Suzie's story is one of contrasts from living in typical market town in Oxfordshire, England with its temperate weather to moving to rural Colorado, USA, with it blazing Summers and whiteout Winters. It does deal with some of the most harrowing aspects of her life living in America with her husband and how she survived this period and returned to the UK to end up working alongside her brother, Steve, the horologist expert on the Repair Shop.
January 5, 2026
3.75 stars
Suzie’s memoir is a raw and deeply reflective account of a life spent working on the eastern plains of Colorado, set against the painful reality of surviving a marriage of domestic abuse. There is one thing that stayed the same throughout those years, and it was her passion for animals and music.
The book traces the life of a remarkable woman and master leather saddler, exploring themes of empathy, bravery, compassion, and the long, difficult process of finding one’s footing again. Rather than offering neat conclusions, Suzie asks unanswerable questions and lays bare her own thoughts and contradictions.
Most powerfully, the memoir reveals the true complexity of relationships and how a terminal illness can abruptly and profoundly reshape an entire life.
While I thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling, the narrative does become slightly repetitive at times, and a few moments felt as though they didn’t fully deepen the experiences she was sharing. Even so, her honesty keeps the story compelling and emotionally grounded.
It was refreshing to see Suzie openly credit her ghostwriter, adding another layer of transparency to an already candid book. Plus, the additional songs that summed up different stages of her life was unique.
Having only watched a handful of episodes of The Repair Shop before reading, this memoir has definitely encouraged me to add the show to my watch list.
I am just a small part in the big picture, and the sun will shine over the mountains long after I'm gone..
Suzie’s memoir is a raw and deeply reflective account of a life spent working on the eastern plains of Colorado, set against the painful reality of surviving a marriage of domestic abuse. There is one thing that stayed the same throughout those years, and it was her passion for animals and music.
The book traces the life of a remarkable woman and master leather saddler, exploring themes of empathy, bravery, compassion, and the long, difficult process of finding one’s footing again. Rather than offering neat conclusions, Suzie asks unanswerable questions and lays bare her own thoughts and contradictions.
Most powerfully, the memoir reveals the true complexity of relationships and how a terminal illness can abruptly and profoundly reshape an entire life.
While I thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling, the narrative does become slightly repetitive at times, and a few moments felt as though they didn’t fully deepen the experiences she was sharing. Even so, her honesty keeps the story compelling and emotionally grounded.
It was refreshing to see Suzie openly credit her ghostwriter, adding another layer of transparency to an already candid book. Plus, the additional songs that summed up different stages of her life was unique.
Follow your heart, do things your way, use the tools and agency you do have, never give up and take those leaps of faith.
Having only watched a handful of episodes of The Repair Shop before reading, this memoir has definitely encouraged me to add the show to my watch list.
June 20, 2024
This is a must read for all those avid fans of The Repair Shop who have come across the incredible talent of Suzie Fletcher and her leather work skills over the years. As with all the repair specialists on the programme, Suzie has shown an empathy towards so many of the people who bring in their treasured possessions to be lovingly repaired and restored. The one restoration though that really stands out for me is when Suzie and Will restored a beautiful rocking horse that the lady and her husband had started to restore many years before. Sadly the lady’s husband had passed away from cancer and had never got around to doing it. Whilst Suzie was repairing the leather work she found , and restored, the husband’s signature under the saddle. In an incredibly moving moment she revealed that she too had also lost her husband to cancer and knew how precious these treasures were.
The Sun Over the Mountains is Suzie’s story about her life so far and how life and events and choices changed the direction it went in . It is a beautifully written, and at times emotive read as Suzie tells it exactly as it was, not making out that everything was idyllic but the reality of what it was. All too often with an autobiography I find myself asking if they are just remembering the best bits and forgetting the reality about certain aspects. This is not the case with The Sun Over The Mountains. Suzie allows you to know about her family , her love of horses and the adventures she had exactly as it was.
This is a beautiful , emotive read for all fans of The Repair Shop as well as anyone who enjoys an open and honest autobiography.
The Sun Over the Mountains is Suzie’s story about her life so far and how life and events and choices changed the direction it went in . It is a beautifully written, and at times emotive read as Suzie tells it exactly as it was, not making out that everything was idyllic but the reality of what it was. All too often with an autobiography I find myself asking if they are just remembering the best bits and forgetting the reality about certain aspects. This is not the case with The Sun Over The Mountains. Suzie allows you to know about her family , her love of horses and the adventures she had exactly as it was.
This is a beautiful , emotive read for all fans of The Repair Shop as well as anyone who enjoys an open and honest autobiography.
January 24, 2024
I have just finished listening to this book via Audible. It is an extraordinary piece of storytelling, beautifully paced and descriptive, as well as being an honest exploration of Suzie's life, decisions and their outcomes. It is a brave story and I found myself laughing in parts, commiserating in others, and weeping at various times. I find it is a book provoking more questions than providing answers, whilst also, through laying bare her own experiences, her own thoughts, her own reflection, giving hope to others who may find themselves in a similar situation (whilst recognising such situations are as diverse as the people living in them). It is very well written but can be a challenge to read/hear it because, as a listener, the desire is to step in and help, although what help could be offered or even if what help, if any, would be wanted is hard to judge.
With her husband Rob, she gives us a complex character, one we could easily have hated, yet she makes that impossible through her own empathy and love for who he was despite the nature of their relationship. Ultimately, this is a story about love and how positive it can be (friends, animals, family, environment) and how destructive it can be as well.
We can be grateful that Susie came home so we could meet her via The Repair Shop and her brother, Steve. Through this book we get a sense of the story behind the master saddler who helps heal others through leather.
With her husband Rob, she gives us a complex character, one we could easily have hated, yet she makes that impossible through her own empathy and love for who he was despite the nature of their relationship. Ultimately, this is a story about love and how positive it can be (friends, animals, family, environment) and how destructive it can be as well.
We can be grateful that Susie came home so we could meet her via The Repair Shop and her brother, Steve. Through this book we get a sense of the story behind the master saddler who helps heal others through leather.
June 20, 2024
I love Suzie! This is her very raw and emotional tale of happiness, laughter, love, loss and everything in between.
I didn't know anything about Suzie apart from what I'd seen on the Repair Shop but obviously, it doesn't going into the experts as much. I knew her brother was on the show though.
This book showcases how hard relationships can be sometimes, controlling and unable to leave but she also shows how to overcome some of the situations when needed. Suzie is a strong-willed, resilient, independent woman and one I admire. She is an animal lover like myself and I like how she wanted to help and adopt (as it were) the feral cats. Although, cat lovers will know they really pick you, not the other way round. They'll stay where they feel comfortable.
I'd recommend this book as even though it's an autobiography, it's a book to help others get through similar times should the situation arises.
I didn't know anything about Suzie apart from what I'd seen on the Repair Shop but obviously, it doesn't going into the experts as much. I knew her brother was on the show though.
This book showcases how hard relationships can be sometimes, controlling and unable to leave but she also shows how to overcome some of the situations when needed. Suzie is a strong-willed, resilient, independent woman and one I admire. She is an animal lover like myself and I like how she wanted to help and adopt (as it were) the feral cats. Although, cat lovers will know they really pick you, not the other way round. They'll stay where they feel comfortable.
I'd recommend this book as even though it's an autobiography, it's a book to help others get through similar times should the situation arises.
April 25, 2024
A remarkable book
Having seen Suzie Fletcher on the Repair Shop, this memoir was a revelation. She has always seemed a charming, calm, beautiful person - and so she is.
However, she has arrived at this through an extraordinary life. Going to work in America when she was young, falling in love and marrying swiftly to a man who turned out to be a coercive controller, makes for an unputdownable read. How this marriage progressed and ended also is very moving. Thoroughly recommended
Having seen Suzie Fletcher on the Repair Shop, this memoir was a revelation. She has always seemed a charming, calm, beautiful person - and so she is.
However, she has arrived at this through an extraordinary life. Going to work in America when she was young, falling in love and marrying swiftly to a man who turned out to be a coercive controller, makes for an unputdownable read. How this marriage progressed and ended also is very moving. Thoroughly recommended
October 3, 2024
An Interesting Read
This book is about Susie's life from when she left the country to go and live and work in America. As you will know, Susie is a firm favourite on The Repair Shop, mending anything made with leather. Her life wasn't easy, she married a man who could at times be very controlling, but it seems she loved him and weathered the storms. This was an interesting read but not always an easy one.
This book is about Susie's life from when she left the country to go and live and work in America. As you will know, Susie is a firm favourite on The Repair Shop, mending anything made with leather. Her life wasn't easy, she married a man who could at times be very controlling, but it seems she loved him and weathered the storms. This was an interesting read but not always an easy one.
August 15, 2023
Brilliant book, I really enjoyed it, it was like having a conversation with Suzie. I could hear her voice all the way through. I'm amazed at what she went through in her marriage, I did pick up that there was some love between them, but so much pain. I wish it had been different for her, but she really is a survivor.
September 7, 2023
Well written
I was intrigued to discover more about Suzie as I had watched the episode with the rocking horse and felt for her. This book was so well written and details her life in America with her husband. It’s a warts and all book and you do wonder why she stayed at times. But by the time I had read the whole book I understood why a bit more. Well worth reading.
I was intrigued to discover more about Suzie as I had watched the episode with the rocking horse and felt for her. This book was so well written and details her life in America with her husband. It’s a warts and all book and you do wonder why she stayed at times. But by the time I had read the whole book I understood why a bit more. Well worth reading.
September 29, 2023
A brave woman coming out and telling her difficult and complicated story. When she cried on the repair shop I was curious about her deceased husband. She has always seemed like a dedicated and warm person but this book showed her to be a free spirit and with lots of optimism, grit and determination to survive and make the very best she can of her life.
January 5, 2024
The sun over the mountains
I read this book about Suzies life in America. I can't believe what shebang through. But in all that time she stayed true to her husband even all the bad things. She is an amazing woman and I think she did what felt right to them God bless her and Rob. A just read its the best book I've read in a while please give it a go.
I read this book about Suzies life in America. I can't believe what shebang through. But in all that time she stayed true to her husband even all the bad things. She is an amazing woman and I think she did what felt right to them God bless her and Rob. A just read its the best book I've read in a while please give it a go.
July 23, 2024
An inspiring and deeply personal biography from my favourite expert from The Repair Shop.
Having watched many episodes of the tv program, I had heard Suzie refer to her time living in America so when I saw she had written a biography I was interested in learning more. What I wasn’t expecting was for it to be so honest and raw and have me crying within 5 minutes of starting reading it.
Suzie’s choice to reveal painful details of her life and marriage really hit a nerve with me and her strength and resilience are inspiring.
I was surprised by how well written the book was and listening to the audiobook felt like a long overdue catch up with an old friend.
The narration was great and most of the time I forgot it wasn’t Suzie herself reading the book.
The q&a with her brother Steve at the end of the audiobook was a nice touch and lovely to witness how close their relationship is and how they have been able to support each other.
I wasn’t expecting to feel so much while reading this biography but ended up finding it difficult to put down.
Having watched many episodes of the tv program, I had heard Suzie refer to her time living in America so when I saw she had written a biography I was interested in learning more. What I wasn’t expecting was for it to be so honest and raw and have me crying within 5 minutes of starting reading it.
Suzie’s choice to reveal painful details of her life and marriage really hit a nerve with me and her strength and resilience are inspiring.
I was surprised by how well written the book was and listening to the audiobook felt like a long overdue catch up with an old friend.
The narration was great and most of the time I forgot it wasn’t Suzie herself reading the book.
The q&a with her brother Steve at the end of the audiobook was a nice touch and lovely to witness how close their relationship is and how they have been able to support each other.
I wasn’t expecting to feel so much while reading this biography but ended up finding it difficult to put down.
June 10, 2023
Loved the 16 pages which I purchased..... But cannot find the rest of the book. Rating is for Kindle
Loved the 16 pages which were downloaded to me, but I really want to read the whole book So disappointed
Loved the 16 pages which were downloaded to me, but I really want to read the whole book So disappointed
August 19, 2023
Honest and heartfelt emotion
An amazingly honest and reflective story that will resonate with so many women who will then recognise their own situations and be brave enough to speak up.
An amazingly honest and reflective story that will resonate with so many women who will then recognise their own situations and be brave enough to speak up.
October 6, 2023
I really enjoyed Suzie's story, you can really feel how her life was with a controlling partner. Emotional but she had good times with Rob as well as some which were rough. I love her on the Repair Shop a very clever and talented woman.
January 15, 2024
A heartfelt story of great honesty.
Having seen Suzie on television none of it surprises. It sums up our extraordinary ability not to clearly see ourselves when those around us see all.
Having seen Suzie on television none of it surprises. It sums up our extraordinary ability not to clearly see ourselves when those around us see all.
April 6, 2024
Love repair shop
My way of saying thanks to the repair shop for all the hours of joy it brings to me. Expected a Colorado story not one of abusive marriage but glad Colorado was a part of her healing.
My way of saying thanks to the repair shop for all the hours of joy it brings to me. Expected a Colorado story not one of abusive marriage but glad Colorado was a part of her healing.
June 15, 2024
Thankyou Suzi....
...for sharing you, encouraging hope and reminding us all to do our best and find laughter and joy around us. I found the read inspirational; life and the plant are precious so make time to stand, stare, care, be ......
...for sharing you, encouraging hope and reminding us all to do our best and find laughter and joy around us. I found the read inspirational; life and the plant are precious so make time to stand, stare, care, be ......
October 16, 2024
I was so glad to have a chance to get to know Suzie better after admiring her and her work on The Repair Shop. This book is intimate and reflective, if a bit disorganized and repetitive. Consider this also a MAJOR trigger warning for descriptions of coercive and violent domestic abuse.
February 19, 2025
Love Suzie but felt this memoir was a bit long and slow. It glossed over so much of her marriage, then didn’t offer enough Repair Shop deets.
But a quick read and it’s good to have a little backstory for her.
July 10, 2023
I love watching Suzie Fletcher on The Repair Shop so was gifted this book. It’s a very interesting read and Suzie doesn’t flinch from talking about the bad and good times of her life.
August 24, 2023
The Sun Over The Mountains
I love The Repair Shop. Then I saw this book by Suzie, I had to read it. Very good. Seems like the Repair Shop, repairs everything!!
I love The Repair Shop. Then I saw this book by Suzie, I had to read it. Very good. Seems like the Repair Shop, repairs everything!!
January 30, 2024
Amazing read.
May 7, 2024
A spellbinding story of courage, adventure and fears, all brought together in a beautiful way that made you feel happiness, foreboding and fears for what was going to unfold. Suzie Fletcher is a remarkable woman who bared her soul. Thank you Suzie for your honest telling of your story up to now. Keep on and be happy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews