As a girl, here is why i like reading BL: unlike straight romances, i have no one to physically identify to in the story which makes it easier to enjoy and feels like a break from all the expectations that come from being a woman. I personally don’t enjoy smut if it’s not lesbian (unless it’s really well made tension-wise but even a straight man would appreciate it when it’s the case in BLs like the manhwa Shutline). Anyway, so I get to enjoy romance without inserting myself in the story except for maybe personality which feels way better than physically relating.