The “Love Island USA” villa is buzzing, but not just with romance. Another couple is set to leave before the season ends, and clues are everywhere about who it might be. It’s a nail-biting countdown to the finale, with hearts on the line and the audience’s votes holding all the power.
The drama kicked into high gear on Sunday, July 6. Islanders like Ace Greene, Amaya Espinal, Bryan Arenales, Chelley Bissainthe, Cierra, Clarke Carraway, Chris Seeley, Elan Bibas, Huda Mustafa, Iris Kendall, Pepe García, Nic Vansteenberghe, Olandria Carthen, and Taylor Williams were all caught off guard. The show’s narrator, Iain Stirling, announced that Cierra had left the villa due to a personal matter. This left Nic suddenly single. Luckily, the villa’s resident matchmaker, Ace, quickly pushed Nic and Olandria to explore their connection again.
This was good news for them because other islanders were already settled in their couples or fighting for Amaya Espinal’s attention. She faced a tough choice when Ariana Madix arrived for a new recoupling ceremony. Amaya had three suitors: Zak, Elan, and Bryan. This exit was a big twist, especially since Cierra and Nic had been a strong pair. Cierra’s departure also came amid a wave of criticism, making her the third islander to face public backlash since filming started. The contestants are deep into their sixth week in Fiji, with new episodes airing daily on Peacock, except for Wednesdays.
Thursday, July 10
After Taylor and Clarke’s exit, the remaining islanders focused on making their connections stronger for the final week. Huda and Chris, however, still had work to do. They clashed over showing affection in public. Chris was upset Huda wanted to be intimate under the covers but wouldn’t kiss him freely. Huda tried to explain her feelings, but they just couldn’t see eye to eye.
Bryan and Amaya, fresh from their Hideaway night, stepped up to play matchmakers. It’s unclear how much their advice helped, but Chris seemed to pull himself together for the final episodes. Elsewhere, things were less complicated. Iris and Pepe were growing closer, and Ace and Chelley were a rock-solid duo. Their strong bond earned them the second Hideaway date before the final.
Then there’s the fan-favorite pair: Nic and Olandria. After several sweet moments, viewers saw their connection blossom. Nic and Olandria grew closer, letting their chemistry lead the way. On Thursday’s episode, this meant more kisses outside of challenges and some playful poses in the photo booth. The preview for Friday’s episode showed islanders getting a visit from their families. This will happen right before another couple is sent home, just shy of the finale.
Tuesday, July 8
Fresh off their night in The Hideaway, Bryan and Amaya excitedly told the other islanders all the juicy details. But they weren’t the only ones getting cozy. Pepe and Iris also had their own secret “journey.” There was no challenge that day, as the guys were sent to play basketball instead. Everyone chatted about their connections, and Taylor even asked for help figuring things out with Clarke.
However, one couple hit a snag. Chris shared his frustration that Huda didn’t want to kiss him in public. He tried to talk to Huda about it, but ended up asking her not to cut him off. That was a clear red flag. Even with Huda trying to explain her side, the couple looked unhappy when the recoupling ceremony arrived.
But before that, earlier that evening, Taylor asked Clarke to make their relationship official. She agreed, and that’s when everyone’s phones buzzed, signaling another couple was about to be eliminated. The public vote decided who would stay. The choice came down to Nic and Olandria, or Taylor and Clarke. For anyone watching “Love Island USA,” it was no surprise that Nic and Olandria were saved. Taylor and Clarke were sent home. With only three episodes left, America will get one more chance to vote before the final four couples are chosen.
Monday, July 7
After a successful recoupling ceremony, everyone was surprised by the “fake baby” challenge. The goal was to care for a “baby” without it crying too much, but not all couples worked well together. Taylor and Clarke won, with Iris and Pepe, Nic and Olandria, and Huda and Chris close behind. Ace and Chelley, and Bryan and Amaya, however, didn’t succeed despite their best efforts. The challenge also showed cracks in Huda and Chris’s relationship. She called him out for how he spoke to her and for ignoring her feelings.
Huda and Chris talked through their issues. Later, Chris told Bryan they had secretly “hooked up” the night before. Bryan, meanwhile, was growing closer to Amaya. Perfect timing, as the Hideaway was now open! Amaya and Bryan were chosen for a special night out. Back in the villa, Nic and Olandria realized their strong attraction. Their chats convinced them to explore their connection before their time in Fiji ended. The preview for Tuesday’s episode hinted that another couple, Pepe and Iris, were about to be intimate, just as the public vote results for elimination were announced.
Sunday, July 6
Week five started with a shocker: Cierra was no longer in the villa. This made Nic question his future on the show. He decided to try again with Olandria, feeling a special connection. Elsewhere in the episode, Taylor set up a date for Clarke to show how serious he was. We also saw Amaya’s search for her “perfect match” get more interesting after a kiss with Bryan. She also chatted with Zak and Elan, as the guys finally realized she was America’s favorite.
Just as Nic and Olandria had another sweet chat — where Nic mentioned the name “Nicolandria,” which quickly went viral online — Ariana Madix arrived for the week’s recoupling ceremony. The Sunday episode ended with Ace and Chelley coupling up again, while Clarke chose Taylor. Iris and Pepe, after finding an unexpected connection, decided to make things official. Chris was Huda’s choice, and Olandria made fans cheer by picking Nic. Amaya was the last to choose. She picked Bryan, which meant Elan and Zak had to go home.