its what i call my escape from the real world (:
For me that's definitely a part of it as well. Real life is full of responsibilities and 'have to's'.....so when I read manga, I can escape into a fantasy world completely different from what I'll ever experience in real life.
When it comes to shoujo, there's usually a heroine who has 2 if not more guys fighting over her, wanting her desperately...now I don't know about you, but that's not my reality, so again it's a fun escapist fantasy.
Finally, the guys in so many mangas are really, really good-looking, so that makes reading mangas enjoyable. Oh, and also, how often are they not only good-looking, but smart, kind (even if it's not obvious at first), usually successful....hey, it's all about fantasy but it's a nice diversion from the real world, when you feel like taking a break!
:happy3: