The lust and attraction are often a given in a romance novel - I want to dig into the elements of true friendship that form a foundation for a solid, gonna-last-forever romantic relationship.

This quote means that the author wants to explore the idea of a successful, long-lasting romantic relationship. Rather than focusing on the physical aspects of relationships such as lust and attraction, the author wants to focus on the more meaningful aspects such as friendship. A strong and lasting relationship begins with friendship, and the author wants to explore how friendship can help create a successful and long-lasting romantic relationship.