"Honestly" is used to add emphasis, to convey a sense of frankness and immediacy, and sometimes to suggest that the writer finds the statement to be an unpleasa

"Honestly" is used to add emphasis, to convey a sense of frankness and immediacy, and sometimes to suggest that the writer finds the statement to be an unpleasant but necessary truth. I think it's likely that you know all this already and are indulging in a bit of feigned surprise.