I listened to the audiobook because of the hype and must admit, I'm not very big on romance novels.
My experience with this book was a lot like my experience with the TV-show based on it. The story itself could be pretty good, the vampires coming "out of the coffin" thing is an interesting idea with lots of potential... if you just cut the two main characters. Granted, Sookie is a more coherent character than other romantic "heroines", but she still acts stupid every time the author felt the need to have her protected by one vampire dude or another. Bill is the brooding, "I constantly have to tell you how dangerous I am for you and yet I'm not going to leave you alone", absolutetly boring type of guy. Also, there are endless detailed descriptions of people's clothes, looks and Sookie doing random everyday stuff.

The romance is boring and seems forced, the sex scenes are really bad and I just don't get why romanticised violence is apparently seen as something good and desirable. Also, it's a really boring plot device.
Although Sookie is the main character, Bill's man pain is constantly considered more important than her feelings, e.g. when she fears she will be raped and instantly starts to worry about how it would affect him or when her friend and secret shapeshifter gains access to her house in the form of a dog, watches her undress and then proceeds to sleep next to her naked and when she wakes up and finds out she starts to worry that Bill will kill him, barely touching on her own feelings towards his betrayal.

That being said, although I haven't read many romance novels, I have read worse, so this gets two stars. Mainly because of the story you get when you cut the romance and because it works well as an audiobook you can listen to while cleaning or something. I don't know if I will continue with the series, as I fear the interesting male characters will also start falling in love with Sookie and proceed to act totally stupid because of it.