Lydia McLaughlin Is Close With Gretchen Rossi, Slade Smiley

Lydia McLaughlin has grown close to her former Real Housewives of Orange County co-stars, Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley.

In her new book, as reported by Radar Online on February 23, McLaughlin opened up about her former rivals, claiming that while they butted heads during filming on the Bravo series, they are now in a good place.

“During filming I mostly argued with Gretchen and Slade, but Doug and I have gone on double dates with them once we stopped filming, and consider them true friends!”

McLaughlin also added, “I am thankful for the friendships with Alexis, Jim, Gretchen, and Slade that continue to grow,” citing Alexis Bellino and her husband, Jim, as friends, as well.

During season eight of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Lydia McLaughlin lashed out at Smiley after he poked fun at her thin frame.

Defending her fiancé, Rossi then slammed McLaughlin, telling her, “I really want to be friends with you and cool with you … but now you’re starting to upset me.”

Ahead of season nine, as the Inquisitr reported, Lydia McLaughlin and her husband, Doug, parted ways with Bravo, with McLaughlin telling press she wanted to have a third child, and do so away from the cameras.

At the end of last year, the couple welcomed son Roman.

In addition, McLaughlin claimed in an interview with Us Weekly, via Ace Showbiz, she had plans to develop her own reality show.

“I want to build my brand outside of the Housewives – I’ve always been really honest with the producers about that. I knew that while I was filming it that I probably wasn’t going to be doing it again. I want to develop our own reality show about our magazine and all the glitz and glamour involved with publishing it.”

Also before season nine, Bravo chose to eliminate Rossi, Smiley and the Bellinos from the series, replacing the ladies with two new housewives, Shannon Beador and Lizzie Rovsek. Danielle Gregorio was also added, but appeared only in a recurring role.

For season 10, both of the new wives will join Tamra Barney, Vicki Gunvalson, Heather Dubrow, as well as Megan King Edmonds and Katie Hamilton, who are new to the series in 2015.

So far, Bravo has yet to announce a premiere date for the upcoming season.

Lydia McLaughlin’s new book, Beyond Orange County: A Housewives Guide To Faith & Happiness, hits stores on April 14.

[Photo via Twitter]