diff --git a/db/migrations/20240224173636_create_transactions.cr b/db/migrations/20240224173636_create_transactions.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..419ac3d67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrations/20240224173636_create_transactions.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class CreateTransactions::V20240224173636 < Avram::Migrator::Migration::V1
+  def migrate
+    create table_for(Transaction) do
+      primary_key id : Int64
+      add_timestamps
+      add type : Int32
+      add soft_deleted_at : Time?
+      add_belongs_to user : User, on_delete: :cascade
+    end
+  end
+
+  def rollback
+    drop table_for(Transaction)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrations/20240225160631_create_follows.cr b/db/migrations/20240225160631_create_follows.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..62f72b6f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrations/20240225160631_create_follows.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class CreateFollows::V20240225160631 < Avram::Migrator::Migration::V1
+  def migrate
+    create table_for(Follow) do
+      primary_key id : Int64
+      add_timestamps
+      add soft_deleted_at : Time?
+      add_belongs_to follower : User, on_delete: :cascade
+      add_belongs_to followee : User, on_delete: :cascade
+    end
+  end
+
+  def rollback
+    drop table_for(Follow)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_spec.cr b/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_spec.cr
index 739c8d5c2..7a7b88e70 100644
--- a/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_spec.cr
@@ -270,4 +270,49 @@ describe "Preloading has_many associations" do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "override base_query_class" do
+    it "uses the custom query class to ignore soft_deleted records" do
+      user = UserFactory.create
+      good_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user))
+      deleted_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user).soft_deleted_at(1.day.ago))
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_transactions.first
+      u.transactions_count.should eq(1)
+      u.transactions.size.should eq(1)
+      ids = u.transactions.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(good_txn.id)
+      ids.should_not contain(deleted_txn.id)
+    end
+
+    it "has an escape hatch" do
+      user = UserFactory.create
+      good_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user))
+      deleted_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user).soft_deleted_at(1.day.ago))
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_transactions(Transaction::BaseQuery.new).first
+      # NOTE: This is an edge case. It uses the base_query_class defined on the association
+      # not what was preloaded.
+      u.transactions_count.should eq(1)
+      u.transactions.size.should eq(2)
+      ids = u.transactions.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(good_txn.id)
+      ids.should contain(deleted_txn.id)
+    end
+
+    it "extends the custom base query class" do
+      user = UserFactory.create
+      non_special_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user))
+      deleted_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user).soft_deleted_at(1.day.ago))
+      special_txn = TransactionFactory.create(&.user(user).type(Transaction::Type::Special))
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_transactions(&.special).first
+      u.transactions_count.should eq(2)
+      u.transactions.size.should eq(1)
+      ids = u.transactions.map(&.id)
+      ids.should_not contain(non_special_txn.id)
+      ids.should_not contain(deleted_txn.id)
+      ids.should contain(special_txn.id)
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_through_spec.cr b/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_through_spec.cr
index 7bba77dae..645eec173 100644
--- a/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_through_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/avram/preloading/preloading_has_many_through_spec.cr
@@ -210,4 +210,44 @@ describe "Preloading has_many through associations" do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "override base_query_class" do
+    it "uses the custom query class to ignore soft_deleted records" do
+      user = UserFactory.create
+      new_friend = UserFactory.create
+      not_friend = UserFactory.create
+      FollowFactory.create(&.followee(user).follower(new_friend))
+      FollowFactory.create(&.followee(user).follower(not_friend).soft_deleted_at(1.day.ago))
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_followers.first
+      ids = u.followers.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(new_friend.id)
+      ids.should_not contain(not_friend.id)
+    end
+
+    it "has an escape hatch" do
+      user = UserFactory.create
+      new_friend = UserFactory.create
+      not_friend = UserFactory.create
+      FollowFactory.create(&.followee(user).follower(new_friend))
+      FollowFactory.create(&.followee(user).follower(not_friend).soft_deleted_at(1.day.ago))
+
+      # Preloads work in a lot of different ways, so we need to account for
+      # all of the different method options
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_followers(through: Follow::BaseQuery.new).id(user.id).first
+      ids = u.followers.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(new_friend.id)
+      ids.should contain(not_friend.id)
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_followers(User::BaseQuery.new, through: Follow::BaseQuery.new).id(user.id).first
+      ids = u.followers.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(new_friend.id)
+      ids.should contain(not_friend.id)
+
+      u = UserQuery.new.preload_followers(through: Follow::BaseQuery.new, &.preload_follows).id(user.id).first
+      ids = u.followers.map(&.id)
+      ids.should contain(new_friend.id)
+      ids.should contain(not_friend.id)
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/avram/queryable_spec.cr b/spec/avram/queryable_spec.cr
index 3c690042c..4cd363c14 100644
--- a/spec/avram/queryable_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/avram/queryable_spec.cr
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ describe Avram::Queryable do
       UserQuery.new.select_count.should eq 10
       # NOTE: we don't test rows_affected here because this isn't
       # available with a truncate statement
-      UserQuery.truncate
+      UserQuery.truncate(cascade: true)
       UserQuery.new.select_count.should eq 0
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/support/factories/follow_factory.cr b/spec/support/factories/follow_factory.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4dfcf7e6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/factories/follow_factory.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+class FollowFactory < BaseFactory
+  def initialize
+    before_save do
+      if operation.follower_id.value.nil?
+        follower(UserFactory.create)
+      end
+      if operation.followee_id.value.nil?
+        followee(UserFactory.create)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def follower(u : User)
+    follower_id(u.id)
+  end
+
+  def followee(u : User)
+    followee_id(u.id)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/factories/transaction_factory.cr b/spec/support/factories/transaction_factory.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..88ff4a7d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/factories/transaction_factory.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+class TransactionFactory < BaseFactory
+  def initialize
+    before_save do
+      if operation.user_id.value.nil?
+        user(UserFactory.create)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def user(u : User)
+    user_id(u.id)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/models/follow.cr b/spec/support/models/follow.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34c466c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/models/follow.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+class Follow < BaseModel
+  include Avram::SoftDelete::Model
+
+  table do
+    column soft_deleted_at : Time?
+
+    belongs_to follower : User
+    belongs_to followee : User
+  end
+end
+
+class FollowQuery < Follow::BaseQuery
+  include Avram::SoftDelete::Query
+
+  def initialize
+    defaults &.only_kept
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/models/transaction.cr b/spec/support/models/transaction.cr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..583b6f6e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/models/transaction.cr
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+class Transaction < BaseModel
+  include Avram::SoftDelete::Model
+
+  enum Type
+    Unknown
+    Special
+  end
+
+  table do
+    column type : Transaction::Type = Transaction::Type::Unknown
+    column soft_deleted_at : Time?
+    belongs_to user : User
+  end
+end
+
+class TransactionQuery < Transaction::BaseQuery
+  include Avram::SoftDelete::Query
+
+  def initialize
+    defaults &.only_kept
+  end
+
+  def special
+    type(Transaction::Type::Special)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/models/user.cr b/spec/support/models/user.cr
index 0561006d4..a2ce6f1c9 100644
--- a/spec/support/models/user.cr
+++ b/spec/support/models/user.cr
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ class User < BaseModel
     column average_score : Float64?
     column available_for_hire : Bool?
     has_one sign_in_credential : SignInCredential?
+    has_many transactions : Transaction, base_query_class: TransactionQuery
+    has_many follows : Follow, foreign_key: :followee_id, base_query_class: FollowQuery
+    has_many followers : User, through: [:follows, :follower]
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/src/avram/associations/has_many.cr b/src/avram/associations/has_many.cr
index b4a951441..a70251861 100644
--- a/src/avram/associations/has_many.cr
+++ b/src/avram/associations/has_many.cr
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module Avram::Associations::HasMany
-  macro has_many(type_declaration, through = nil, foreign_key = nil)
+  macro has_many(type_declaration, through = nil, foreign_key = nil, base_query_class = nil)
     {% if !through.is_a?(NilLiteral) && (!through.is_a?(ArrayLiteral) || through.any? { |item| !item.is_a?(SymbolLiteral) }) %}
       {% through.raise <<-ERROR
       'through' on #{@type.name} must be given an Array(Symbol). Instead, got: #{through}
@@ -31,28 +31,29 @@ module Avram::Associations::HasMany
     {% end %}
 
     {% foreign_key = foreign_key.id %}
+    {% model = type_declaration.type %}
+    {% query_class = base_query_class || "#{model}::BaseQuery".id %}
 
     association \
       assoc_name: :{{ assoc_name }},
       type: {{ type_declaration.type }},
       foreign_key: :{{ foreign_key }},
       through: {{ through }},
-      relationship_type: :has_many
-
-    {% model = type_declaration.type %}
+      relationship_type: :has_many,
+      base_query_class: {{ query_class }}
 
     define_has_many_lazy_loading({{ assoc_name }}, {{ model }}, {{ foreign_key }}, {{ through }})
-    define_has_many_base_query({{ @type }}, {{ assoc_name }}, {{ model }}, {{ foreign_key }}, {{ through }})
+    define_has_many_base_query({{ @type }}, {{ assoc_name }}, {{ model }}, {{ foreign_key }}, {{ through }}, {{ query_class }})
   end
 
-  private macro define_has_many_base_query(class_type, assoc_name, model, foreign_key, through)
+  private macro define_has_many_base_query(class_type, assoc_name, model, foreign_key, through, query_class)
     class BaseQuery
       def self.preload_{{ assoc_name }}(record : {{ class_type }}, force : Bool = false) : {{ class_type }}
-        preload_{{ assoc_name }}(record: record, preload_query: {{ model }}::BaseQuery.new, force: force)
+        preload_{{ assoc_name }}(record: record, preload_query: {{ query_class }}.new, force: force)
       end
 
       def self.preload_{{ assoc_name }}(record : {{ class_type }}, force : Bool = false) : {{ class_type }}
-        modified_query = yield {{ model }}::BaseQuery.new
+        modified_query = yield {{ query_class }}.new
         preload_{{ assoc_name }}(record: record, preload_query: modified_query, force: force)
       end
 
@@ -73,11 +74,11 @@ module Avram::Associations::HasMany
       {% end %}
 
       def self.preload_{{ assoc_name }}(records : Enumerable({{ class_type }}), force : Bool = false) : Array({{ class_type }})
-        preload_{{ assoc_name }}(records: records, preload_query: {{ model }}::BaseQuery.new, force: force)
+        preload_{{ assoc_name }}(records: records, preload_query: {{ query_class }}.new, force: force)
       end
 
       def self.preload_{{ assoc_name }}(records : Enumerable({{ class_type }}), force : Bool = false) : Array({{ class_type }})
-        modified_query = yield {{ model }}::BaseQuery.new
+        modified_query = yield {{ query_class }}.new
         preload_{{ assoc_name }}(records: records, preload_query: modified_query, force: force)
       end
 
@@ -122,19 +123,36 @@ module Avram::Associations::HasMany
       end
       {% end %}
 
+      {% if through %}
+      def preload_{{ assoc_name }}(*, through : Avram::Queryable? = nil) : self
+        preload_{{ assoc_name }}({{ query_class }}.new, through: through)
+      end
+      {% else %}
       def preload_{{ assoc_name }} : self
-        preload_{{ assoc_name }}({{ model }}::BaseQuery.new)
+        preload_{{ assoc_name }}({{ query_class }}.new)
       end
+      {% end %}
 
-      def preload_{{ assoc_name }} : self
-        modified_query = yield {{ model }}::BaseQuery.new
+      {% if through %}
+      def preload_{{ assoc_name }}(*, through : Avram::Queryable? = nil, &) : self
+        modified_query = yield {{ query_class }}.new
+        preload_{{ assoc_name }}(modified_query, through: through)
+      end
+      {% else %}
+      def preload_{{ assoc_name }}(&) : self
+        modified_query = yield {{ query_class }}.new
         preload_{{ assoc_name }}(modified_query)
       end
+      {% end %}
 
       {% if through %}
-        def preload_{{ assoc_name }}(preload_query : {{ model }}::BaseQuery) : self
+        def preload_{{ assoc_name }}(preload_query : {{ model }}::BaseQuery, *, through : Avram::Queryable? = nil) : self
           preload_{{ through.first.id }} do |through_query|
-            through_query.preload_{{ through[1].id }}(preload_query)
+            if base_q = through
+              base_q.preload_{{ through[1].id }}(preload_query)
+            else
+              through_query.preload_{{ through[1].id }}(preload_query)
+            end
           end
           add_preload do |records|
             records.each do |record|
@@ -196,10 +214,7 @@ module Avram::Associations::HasMany
           .map(&.{{ through[1].id }}_count)
           .sum
       {% else %}
-        {{ model }}::BaseQuery
-          .new
-          .{{ foreign_key }}(id)
-          .select_count
+      {{ assoc_name.id }}_query.select_count
       {% end %}
     end
 
@@ -218,10 +233,7 @@ module Avram::Associations::HasMany
           assoc_results.is_a?(Array) ? assoc_results : [assoc_results]
         end.compact
       {% else %}
-        {{ model }}::BaseQuery
-          .new
-          .{{ foreign_key }}(id)
-          .results
+        {{ assoc_name.id }}_query.results
       {% end %}
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/avram/model.cr b/src/avram/model.cr
index c9c2fbb90..c69ffd41e 100644
--- a/src/avram/model.cr
+++ b/src/avram/model.cr
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ abstract class Avram::Model
     {% for assoc in associations %}
       def {{ assoc[:assoc_name] }}_query
         {% if assoc[:relationship_type] == :has_many %}
-          {{ assoc[:type] }}::BaseQuery.new.{{ assoc[:foreign_key].id }}(id)
+          {{ assoc[:base_query_class] }}.new.{{ assoc[:foreign_key].id }}(id)
         {% elsif assoc[:relationship_type] == :belongs_to %}
           {{ assoc[:type] }}::BaseQuery.new.id({{ assoc[:foreign_key].id }})
         {% else %}
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ abstract class Avram::Model
     end
   end
 
-  macro association(assoc_name, type, relationship_type, foreign_key = nil, through = nil)
-    {% ASSOCIATIONS << {type: type, assoc_name: assoc_name.id, foreign_key: foreign_key, relationship_type: relationship_type, through: through} %}
+  macro association(assoc_name, type, relationship_type, foreign_key = nil, through = nil, base_query_class = nil)
+    {% ASSOCIATIONS << {type: type, assoc_name: assoc_name.id, foreign_key: foreign_key, relationship_type: relationship_type, through: through, base_query_class: base_query_class} %}
   end
 end